Tony Stark is a soft, emotional boy. Growing up in his father's shadow did Tony a great amount of psychological damage, especially when his father was extrmeley neglectful towards him. Everyone expected Tony to grow up to be nothing like his father; just an honoruable mention at most in his fathers biography, but Tony proved them all wrong. His father is now a mere footnote in Tony's biography, but even that is not good enough. Tony is now called a narcasisst, egotistical, selfish. He is either adored, or loathed, but it's so much easier to pay attention and believe the negative comments.
With Tony's husband, Stephen, in the shower, Tony is left alone to think about all the negative comments that have been made about him. Bringing his knees into his chest, he can't help but let out a choked sob. His thoughts cloud his mind, making him feel claustrophobic in his own skin. He hates when he gets like this. He can't help but think that he's pathetic.
As the shower head turns off, Tony's heart drops. He can't bare to let Stephen see him like this. He can't let his boyfriend like this. The thought of the man he loves thinking that he's not as strong as he's always acted terrifies him.
He takes a deep breath as he tries to compose himself before his boyfriend comes into the room, but nothing he does can take away the pain in his eyes or the stains of tears in his cheeks.
"Tony, baby boy, what's wrong?" Stephen asks, his voice soft and filled with concern.
Tony shakes his head as he wipes his eyes, muttering a soft 'nothing'.
"Tony, you don't have to hide things from me. You don't have to be strong. You're allowed to be weak sometimes, you're allowed to cry and be upset. You don't have to hide anything from me. I love you."
Tony takes in a deep, sharp breath. He doesn't particularly want to talk about anything that makes him sad, but he knows that Stephen will get it out of him no matter how hard he tries to keep it in.
"I don't know... I'm just letting things get to me too much. Just thinking about bad things and it sucks. Just being pathetic."
Stephen pulls Tony tight into his chest, desperately trying to console him. Despite the lack of emotion in Tony's voice and body language, Stephen knows that he's merely just putting on his tough guy persona again.
"You're not pathetic. At all. Even the strongest people get hurt, babe, and you're no exception. What people say about you really sucks and you have every right to feel mad or upset about it. Feeling emotions, Tony, doesn't make you any less tough. It makes you human. Don't forget that."
Tony smiles lightly at his boyfriend. His heart swells at the thought of his boyfriend loving him despite and throughout his fragile mental health. For the first time, he feels comfortable feeling emotions that don't fit the stereotypical man. Stephen makes him feel comfortable in his vulnerability, and he couldn't thank him enough for that.
"I love you, Stephen." he whispers. "Thank you."
And with that, tired Tony cuddled into Stephens chest and fell asleep to the sound of his heart.
"I love you, too, my precious boy." Stephen whispers.
