As a couple of days passed, Tony moved from the medical room back to his own bedroom. Or at least one of his bedrooms, since this time you were still in the Tower. A beautiful floor with countless bedrooms for whoever from the team needed to stay at any moment. But the seriousness of the situation didn't let you grasp the beauty of the rooms and their designs fully.
Although, the comfort of his room had begun to feel like a safe place. Warm, reflecting Tony's personality with details, and quiet. Tony's bed was softer than anything in the medical bay, and his arm around your waist grounded you like nothing else. For the first time in what felt like forever, sleep came easily, your body melting into his like you were trying to make up for every moment you'd spent without him.
But peace was a fragile thing. A sudden jolt rocked the bed. You blinked awake instantly, disoriented, heart racing in your chest as your eyes found him.
"Tony?" you asked quietly.
He didn't answer. His body was tense, limbs twitching, forehead damp with sweat. The arc reactor's soft glow pulsed too fast, almost erratic. You glanced over to the nearby monitor, and your stomach flipped. His heart rate climbing. His breathing shallow. Muscles flexing like he was mid-battle.
"Tony" you whispered again, sitting up and leaning over him. You gently cupped his cheek. "Baby. Wake up. You're safe" you said, louder this time.
He flinched violently at your touch, jaw clenched tight. Your heart clenched.
"Tony, hey, it's just me. It's just me" you spoke, shifting closer, trying not to panic as you moved your hand to his chest, grounding him. "You're not there. You're not with him anymore"
Still no response. His eyes fluttered behind his lids, like his mind was locked in something far too real. Something far too dark.
"Tony. Wake! Up!" you sat up straighter and spoke more firmly.
Finally, his eyes shot open, shocked like he couldn't even process what he was seeing. He sat upright in bed, gasping for air. His hands flew out instinctively, ready to fight something that wasn't there. You reached for him gently, grabbing his wrists before he hurt himself, or you.
"Hey, hey, hey, it's okay" you said, your voice shaking as you moved onto your knees and cupped his face again. "You're here. With me. In the Tower. It's okay"
"He-He was there-He had me again. I-I thought I was still-" his entire body was trembling now, breath shaky, shoulders rising and falling like he couldn't get enough air.
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"No. No, you're here" you interrupted softly, sliding into his lap and wrapping your arms around his torso. "He doesn't have you anymore. He doesn't touch you. Not while I'm here" you spoke softly.
He didn't hug you back at first. He just sat there, wide-eyed, trying to come back into his body. So you held him tighter, whispering anything and everything that might help. You kissed the side of his head, his jaw, the scar under his collarbone.
