[ A— laugh, half under his breath, bewildered more than anything. Never before has anyone put their head in their hands because they're happy to see him.
But it's not necessarily a good sign, is it? The tension's broken, it's gone the right way in spite of the gnarls in the knit of their brief bond and Tony's earlier tirade. That spreading grin on the other man's face had brought with it a light note of joy from Stephen's half of the bond, gladness made tangible in more than his own hitching smile - but this speaks to how marked his absence had been.
After a few held seconds, Stephen sinks into a crouch of his own to be on a level, voice light with humour wielded not at Tony's expense but his own. ]
Hey. This is the best reception I've had, maybe... ever. Take your time.
[ The first part's tongue in cheek, the second pitched to sound it too, but he's earnest. He'll just hang out down here while Tony takes whatever time he needs, watching him, ready to meet his eye with a wry smile or glance his gaze off as though Tony's somehow not the only thing in the room holding his focus if that give me a sec turns out to be an earnest need for privacy. ]
no subject
But it's not necessarily a good sign, is it? The tension's broken, it's gone the right way in spite of the gnarls in the knit of their brief bond and Tony's earlier tirade. That spreading grin on the other man's face had brought with it a light note of joy from Stephen's half of the bond, gladness made tangible in more than his own hitching smile - but this speaks to how marked his absence had been.
After a few held seconds, Stephen sinks into a crouch of his own to be on a level, voice light with humour wielded not at Tony's expense but his own. ]
Hey. This is the best reception I've had, maybe... ever. Take your time.
[ The first part's tongue in cheek, the second pitched to sound it too, but he's earnest. He'll just hang out down here while Tony takes whatever time he needs, watching him, ready to meet his eye with a wry smile or glance his gaze off as though Tony's somehow not the only thing in the room holding his focus if that give me a sec turns out to be an earnest need for privacy. ]