[ He's actually somewhat pleased when just having thought it at her seems to have worked, she's reaching for the gag, and there's a split second where he wants to say something, is thinking of what he is going to say despite how not more than four seconds ago he had decided he didn't feel like talking. There's this split second that happens before the choice is once more removed from him, and he's grateful for that all over again, just as much as he is that she listened and is letting him have this, have this kiss. She's kissing him like he's worth something, like he's something she considers valuable, something she wants to keep, and it brings the tightness in his throat and some of the water in his eyes right back. He ignores them both though, kissing her back as much as he can with his limited range of movement and the way she's controlling the kiss itself. He lets her claim him, feels warm and wanted because of it, but pushes back occasionally in the attempt to also say something with the kiss. It isn't often that Tony Stark can accurately express gratitude - and maybe that's not what this is, per se, because he's still accepting the thing he's supposed to be giving her thanks for - but this is fairly close, all considered.
As long as she's not leaving, as long as this kiss lasts for at least a minute or two, after that, he doesn't know. He isn't thinking that far ahead right now, really. He's not thinking ahead too much at all - his trains of thought are all moving sluggishly, overloaded and too heavy to run in the smooth lines and systems they're typically used to. He just knows that right now, this moment, he's okay. ]
fun to play out anyway
As long as she's not leaving, as long as this kiss lasts for at least a minute or two, after that, he doesn't know. He isn't thinking that far ahead right now, really. He's not thinking ahead too much at all - his trains of thought are all moving sluggishly, overloaded and too heavy to run in the smooth lines and systems they're typically used to. He just knows that right now, this moment, he's okay. ]