[Ahaha... of course Teddy would be thinking of him, too, with a gift like that. And if this was an impulse gift, he'd be right to question it, but after long hours of brainstorming each card, drawing the pictures on them, designing the whole idea...]
...I thought about that. I had a lot of time to think about it, actually... and about us, too. That's the thing- it isn't all about you, but it isn't about me, either. We're living together now. We're a family. On our own. And you only just turned eighteen. This is huge, Tee. I don't think it hit me how huge it was until recently.
[With Tony and Pepper getting engaged, getting married soon, and with he and Teddy being so naturally domestic, taking care of each other, always finding a way to be together even when this place tries to pull them apart. Like they're fated to be this way, like what they have here is so powerful that no amount of magic or science or whatever can ruin it. It's real. It's so real, and he feels so much stronger because of it.
He shifts a little to face Teddy properly, remaining close, reaching out to take one of Teddy's hands and twining their fingers together.]
You shouldn't need some stupid cards to... I don't know, get permission to do this stuff. It should be natural. But you're so much better at it than I am. And you're so respectful of the boundaries that I set up because I'm stuck in my ways, because I'm so used to being on my own or keeping distant to protect myself or whatever screwed up reasoning I have for it. And I figure... it's okay to push those boundaries a little. Get me off my butt and give back when you need it. And this can be your way of telling me. I want this. And then eventually the idea is that you won't need the cards, I'll just... know. Like you do.
[He leans in, eyes lowered, resting his forehead against Teddy's, looking shy.]
I think we're in this for the long haul, you know? So I want to be everything you need, the way you are for me.
[action]
...I thought about that. I had a lot of time to think about it, actually... and about us, too. That's the thing- it isn't all about you, but it isn't about me, either. We're living together now. We're a family. On our own. And you only just turned eighteen. This is huge, Tee. I don't think it hit me how huge it was until recently.
[With Tony and Pepper getting engaged, getting married soon, and with he and Teddy being so naturally domestic, taking care of each other, always finding a way to be together even when this place tries to pull them apart. Like they're fated to be this way, like what they have here is so powerful that no amount of magic or science or whatever can ruin it. It's real. It's so real, and he feels so much stronger because of it.
He shifts a little to face Teddy properly, remaining close, reaching out to take one of Teddy's hands and twining their fingers together.]
You shouldn't need some stupid cards to... I don't know, get permission to do this stuff. It should be natural. But you're so much better at it than I am. And you're so respectful of the boundaries that I set up because I'm stuck in my ways, because I'm so used to being on my own or keeping distant to protect myself or whatever screwed up reasoning I have for it. And I figure... it's okay to push those boundaries a little. Get me off my butt and give back when you need it. And this can be your way of telling me. I want this. And then eventually the idea is that you won't need the cards, I'll just... know. Like you do.
[He leans in, eyes lowered, resting his forehead against Teddy's, looking shy.]
I think we're in this for the long haul, you know? So I want to be everything you need, the way you are for me.
[For the rest of our lives.]