Gladio stood in the shower for longer than he would have normally, just letting the hot water wash over him. It felt good. But he also felt so damn tired. And not just because of the sex, though that probably didn't help. No, he was starting to become emotionally worn down. He was nearing the limit of his endurance and either he'd snap or... hide away like he was now. Gladio was leaning toward hiding away. Burying everything. Dismissing this whole thing as a big mistake and just walking away from it.
But he didn't know if he could. And it hurt. He didn't know if he could do this again. If he could let someone in who could just vanish at a moments notice. Wasn't sure he could deal with the way Tony joked about everything, but took Gladio's own jokes to heart enough to get angry with him. It was driving him insane.
In the end all he could do was sigh and just suck it up. Hiding in the shower wasn't going to help him much. So he washed, cleaned himself up, even washed his hair since he was already there. Then when he got out he took care in drying himself. He slipped into his bathrobe and left the bathroom to go to his room, but changed direction at the last minute to head down to get something quick to eat and drink before returning to bed.
What he didn't expect was to see Tony sat at the kitchen table with his face in his hands. Gladio almost turned around and walked back upstairs. But he was rooted to the spot. Why did Tony look like that? This was what he wanted, wasn't it? Friends with benefits. Could he have really been so upset by his comment, or him leaving, that he'd look like this? Unless it was something else...
Gladio decided to push those thoughts aside and made himself move into the kitchen to make himself a sandwich and some tea. To his surprise the kettle was already hot. "I'm making myself a snack. Want anything?" He asked, proud at how neutral and calm his tone was.
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But he didn't know if he could. And it hurt. He didn't know if he could do this again. If he could let someone in who could just vanish at a moments notice. Wasn't sure he could deal with the way Tony joked about everything, but took Gladio's own jokes to heart enough to get angry with him. It was driving him insane.
In the end all he could do was sigh and just suck it up. Hiding in the shower wasn't going to help him much. So he washed, cleaned himself up, even washed his hair since he was already there. Then when he got out he took care in drying himself. He slipped into his bathrobe and left the bathroom to go to his room, but changed direction at the last minute to head down to get something quick to eat and drink before returning to bed.
What he didn't expect was to see Tony sat at the kitchen table with his face in his hands. Gladio almost turned around and walked back upstairs. But he was rooted to the spot. Why did Tony look like that? This was what he wanted, wasn't it? Friends with benefits. Could he have really been so upset by his comment, or him leaving, that he'd look like this? Unless it was something else...
Gladio decided to push those thoughts aside and made himself move into the kitchen to make himself a sandwich and some tea. To his surprise the kettle was already hot. "I'm making myself a snack. Want anything?" He asked, proud at how neutral and calm his tone was.