The silence lasts all of 5.7 seconds.

It’s a record for Tony.

“…actually, you know what, forget that I said that, okay? Awesome! It was just me— talking and I totally didn’t mean anything by it and - oh yeah it’s Tuesday and I totally have to finish that new compound bow for Clint. He wanted that like, yesterday so I’ll just…um, go.”

The genius is halfway to the lab when he is stopped with a hesitant touch on his wrist and a fond smile.

“You talk too much.”

Steve’s still smiling as he muffles the retort with a kiss.

The Avengers are quick to point out that Tony keeps staring at nothing (but seeing something), talking to people that aren’t there (conversing with, actually), responding to news that no one else can see.

Apparently, it’s distracting to have the world more-or-less in your head and, to have so much information at your fingertips; the physical world seems like static in comparison.

Nothing holds Tony’s attention for very long, nothing can compete with coding and information and more.

Well, nothing except bright eyes and too blond hair and that quirk of a smile that makes his newly healed heart race.

“Sir, it has been twenty-nine hours since you last consumed something other than battery acid.”

Tony snorts, amused that Jarvis picked up Steve’s nickname for coffee.

“Your point? Still standing. Now, throw me those specs with the adjustments.”

Jarvis does. Jarvis also removes the lockdown, effectively letting a quietly fretting Steve into the workshop.

Tony is almost upset when he realizes there is no food in the soldier’s hand.

“Tony.” He looks up, hair a mess and face streaked with grease, and Steve smiles.

“C’mon, time to shower and eat. You’re going to waste away down here.”

Tony doesn’t resist.

Tony has always believed that love would kill him. He thought that would be proverbial, not literal.

Thinks this until he finds himself flipping the Iron Man faceplate back, ignoring Jarvis’ warning about the air being toxic, just on the off chance he might be able to bring Steve back.

“They need you more than they need me, Cap.” He still can’t quite say ‘I need you’, but he thinks it might show through the cracks in his voice, the way he just closes his eyes and takes a breath and prays that, for once, love doesn’t let him down.

Steve hates hearing Tony swear. He frowns and chastise (‘it’s impolite, Stark’) Tony, only to get more cursing and perhaps some laughter for his efforts.

Steve starts to slip, stops reprimanding Tony because he is too busy watching the play of coding and schematics and light across the genius’ face.

Steve knows he is in trouble when he starts to find it endearing, starts hiding laughter when Tony curses a blue streak halfway under a car, tools clattering to the ground.

Steve starts to love it when it’s pressed into his skin, slurred between ‘please’ and his name and ‘more’.

Steve only finds the genius because Jarvis helped.

Apparently, when Tony panicked, he took his best bottle of brandy and hid on the roof. It almost makes Steve smile.

“…Jarvis, you bastard.”

That makes Steve smile.

“Don’t get mad at him, Tony. I’m persistent.”

Tony snort, taking a swig from the bottle. “That what Fury calls it?”

The blond doesn’t answer, just settles himself next to Tony in the silence and stares at the too bright night sky. It isn’t until the sky turns red with the morning sun that Tony speaks, the soft ‘thanks’ almost lost in the sunrise.

“What.”

Tony is sure that he misheard. There was no way Steve just said that, even if the blond was staring at him somewhat sheepishly now, smile curling the edge of his lips.

“You look more like Maria.”

“…right.”

There is a moment of nearly awkward silence where Tony tries not to look too stunned (or pleased) and Steve tries to pretend he isn’t watching Tony, fingers itching for a pencil.

“Uh, thanks. No one-” Tony smiles a little. “No one ever remembers her.”

Steve looks almost fond. “You look more like her when you smile.”

Tony panics and flees.