[ Good luck with that. Tony is a master of avoidance, and perhaps best of all, himself.
Gradually, he lets more of his weight rest against her, allows himself to relax with her touch and her presence and accept at least a part of what she's offering here. He keeps trying to reinforce his shielding, but the physical at least, he allows to take what it needs. Her hand along his back helps a bit, the hug a bit more, and gradually he calms down in increments until the totally-not-trembling stops and he genuinely feels a little better.
He has no idea why he's thanking her in particular, just that she's trying to help and he knows what she just did was difficult; that she's here with the aftermath and willing to deal with his issues; that she understands at least to some degree what the problem is and had some sort of idea to counteract it - there are enough uncertain reasons for him to thank her that he doesn't need to know the specifics right now. He can do it anyway just fine without them.
Eventually though, he pulls away again, and it's less out of self-consciousness this time and more just because he felt a little better. Felt like looking her in the face, even if it's just for a moment before his eyes start glancing around the room again. ] It's not that bad. [ In general. And, yes, actually, it is, but it's better than it could be, with her here. ] And you're squishy without a suit, okay, you're gonna get a suit.
no subject
Gradually, he lets more of his weight rest against her, allows himself to relax with her touch and her presence and accept at least a part of what she's offering here. He keeps trying to reinforce his shielding, but the physical at least, he allows to take what it needs. Her hand along his back helps a bit, the hug a bit more, and gradually he calms down in increments until the totally-not-trembling stops and he genuinely feels a little better.
He has no idea why he's thanking her in particular, just that she's trying to help and he knows what she just did was difficult; that she's here with the aftermath and willing to deal with his issues; that she understands at least to some degree what the problem is and had some sort of idea to counteract it - there are enough uncertain reasons for him to thank her that he doesn't need to know the specifics right now. He can do it anyway just fine without them.
Eventually though, he pulls away again, and it's less out of self-consciousness this time and more just because he felt a little better. Felt like looking her in the face, even if it's just for a moment before his eyes start glancing around the room again. ] It's not that bad. [ In general. And, yes, actually, it is, but it's better than it could be, with her here. ] And you're squishy without a suit, okay, you're gonna get a suit.