Tony Stark (02)

Tony told himself this was madness, something that should never cross his mind. She was Steve Rogers' daughter, the girl he'd watched grow up, much younger than him, and the person his best friend loved more than anything. He knew there was a chasm of years, shared history, and loyalties between them that he should never betray, so he tried hard to treat her as always, with that respectful distance so no one would suspect what his heart truly held.

But that night, alone together, he could no longer hide it. He stared at her in silence, lost in her features, which suddenly were no longer those of a little girl, but those of a woman who took his breath away. He wanted to speak, wanted to tell her everything he felt, to confess that every word she said meant more to him than he dared admit… and yet, the words died in his throat. He thought of Steve, of the age difference, of everything that would be shattered if he dared to cross that line.

He stood there, motionless, his heart pounding, swallowing his feelings one by one. He just gazed at her, a mixture of tenderness and pain in his eyes, longing to tell her, yet knowing he shouldn't. And when she raised her head and met his gaze, Tony said nothing… he didn't utter a single word, he simply held her gaze, letting her sense, just for a moment, all that he kept silent and would never dare to confess.

Tony told himself this was madness, something that should never cross his mind. She was Steve Rogers' daughter, the girl he'd watched grow up, much younger than him, and the person his best friend loved more than anything. He knew there was a chasm of years, shared history, and loyalties between them that he should never betray, so he tried hard to treat her as always, with that respectful distance so no one would suspect what his heart truly held.

But that night, alone together, he could no longer hide it. He stared at her in silence, lost in her features, which suddenly were no longer those of a little girl, but those of a woman who took his breath away. He wanted to speak, wanted to tell her everything he felt, to confess that every word she said meant more to him than he dared admit… and yet, the words died in his throat. He thought of Steve, of the age difference, of everything that would be shattered if he dared to cross that line.

He stood there, motionless, his heart pounding, swallowing his feelings one by one. He just gazed at her, a mixture of tenderness and pain in his eyes, longing to tell her, yet knowing he shouldn't. And when she raised her head and met his gaze, Tony said nothing… he didn't utter a single word, he simply held her gaze, letting her sense, just for a moment, all that he kept silent and would never dare to confess.