Tony got himself settled and Steve did too, holding him and being held and keeping him right there. Not broken, not hurting, just warm and solid. Steve placed a hand over the reactor, touching the light with gentle fingertips and still they shook. But this was better, it settled him just enough to help push back from the fuzzy edges and the way everything had started to sound far away and under water. Tony was reality and Steve could touch him still.
Their noses touched, lips brushed not in a kiss but just a nudge as Steve breathed slowly. Personal space was gone and what he needed was to borrow from Tony the strength to continue, to stand it and he gave it so willingly. He breathed and it smelled of the man he loved, earthy and a little spicy and a tear ran down Steve's cheek.
"I didn't have anything to live for," Steve told him after a beat. "No one who needed me and it should have been me, you fool," but it wasn't said with bitterness, or anger, but in reverence. "You were out and I came to you, I pressured you to help us to get everyone back and you? You already had everything you wanted and you did it anyway. Because that's who you are and you-" his voice cracked and another tear slid down to join the other. "You were incredible. You held every one of those stones and saved the whole damn world."