“Yup,” Steve mumbled quietly, agreeing because it was easier. That and he could take it. He could take the anger and the hatred and the abuse, he was good at that. It was weak and he knew that but it was who he was. He’d lost so much it was hard to keep that smile on his face. Because people looked up to him and wanted to see someone strong, someone that couldn’t be hurt, someone damn near inhuman and that took all his energy.
Didn’t leave much for Steve of course but no one noticed and it hadn’t been much of a concern until now.
Hearing the door, he glanced over to see that Tony had left and that was enough to cause concern after what happened but he could also see that Tony clearly wanted space away from him and Steve would give that to him. In all honesty he would do anything for Tony and sometimes leaving was the best option. He was better under somebody’s heel.
“Tony get back in bed before you hurt yourself worse,” he snapped, easing himself up and ignoring the tugging flare of pain in his side. “Medic didn’t say it was safe for you to walk around.”
“D-don’t p-pretend… You CARE.”
His palms pushed against the floor, trying to get himself
up again but his limbs felt as though they still bore the
weight of the chains; heavy and dragging him down.
He was more injured than he had first thought, his body
trembling with pain when he had finally managed to get
himself up to his feet, staring leaning on the wall with
heavy breaths to try and sidle across it, to get some
distance. He didn’t want to look weak, he couldn’t afford
to look weak when everywhere people were judging him
for the smallest things.
Eventually he pushed away from the wall, staggering his
steps to try and carry on forward, finding it harder than ever to stay upright.