[Nightlight]

[seeagreatergood]

So things got awkward and Auggie moved his stuff back out of the Stark household into Milliways.

And he's been totally fine with it. Honestly. It's been kind of a relief not to have to keep such a close eye on himself the last three or four days. Milliways is kind of anxiety-inducing, but less anxiety inducing than living in a house with those two young men.

Of course, he misses the easy camaraderie. But it's not like this is the first time he valued safety over friendship.

Comments

[if_inconvenient]

His restraint is appreciated! Ahem.

Sherlock leads the way up the stairs.

[toblameforit]

Tony follows by Auggie's side. His arm is available if Auggie wants to take it.

[seeagreatergood]

He's good -- walking with other people is nearly as good a physical deterrent as the white cane. Plus his hands are full.

[toblameforit]

In that case, nothing much happens until they're upstairs and Tony is deciding this is one of those situations whiskey won't improve and flopping drinkless onto the couch.

[seeagreatergood]

"Point me towards a chair?"

[toblameforit]

"How's another couch suit you? One o'clock, other end of this one from where you're standing."

[seeagreatergood]

"Thanks." He heads for the couch and settles in.

"So. Same question as downstairs."

[if_inconvenient]

Sherlock settles back into lapcuddle configuration while Tony is thinking about it.

[toblameforit]

He sighs.

"Okay, so here's the thing. I know it could get bad, I know there's a reason why older people having relationships with teenagers is generally not a good idea. But I just... that kind of problem doesn't come out of nowhere, y'know? If I was gonna have trouble with that, I'd be having it with Obie, and I'm—not. And he doesn't really give a shit if he's manipulating me. So I don't think there's a huge danger here."

[seeagreatergood]

"Because you don't think I'll manipulate you, or you think you'd notice if I did, or what?"

[toblameforit]

"I do not think you'll fuck with my head on purpose, no. And one of us would notice. We notice when Obie thinks he's pulling something on us, but he's mostly figured out by now that the best way to get on my good side is to quit lying all the time."

[seeagreatergood]

He blows out a breath.

"Okay. Good."

[toblameforit]

"So where's that leave us?"

[seeagreatergood]

". . . I don't know."

He puts his drink aside and runs his hands through his hair.

"Look, I haven't been in a serious, honest relationship since before Iraq. I haven't had a relationship with a guy in longer than that, I haven't even done anything with a guy since I was blinded, and I've never had a relationship with two people at once. I don't know what I want. I guess I'd like to be able to touch you without feeling like everything is going to, to break, but I honestly don't know if I can do that."

[toblameforit]

"Nothing's gonna break," Tony says softly. "I promise."

[seeagreatergood]

Tired: "You can't make that promise, Tony. You can't guarantee it."

[toblameforit]

"Guarantee that one hug is not going to irrevocably fuck anything up? Yeah, actually, I can."

[seeagreatergood]

--He laughs, in spite of himself.

[toblameforit]

Smiling: "Okay?"

[seeagreatergood]

"Fine, okay, a hug isn't going to irrevocably fuck things up."

[if_inconvenient]

"What exactly," Sherlock murmurs, "are you afraid of fucking up?"

[seeagreatergood]

"You guys." A deep breath. "Me, my head. My career. Your future."

[if_inconvenient]

"I cannot help with your career. I don't know if I can help with your head. I can tell you that I will not let you break me."

[seeagreatergood]

Another breath.

"That's good."

[toblameforit]

"Ditto me," Tony adds.

"And if we can help with you, we will."