Tony may not have liked being ignored on a good day, but the complete lack of a response kicked his swearing up a level. Steve was fading fast, that much was obvious, too fast to be able to wait this out. He had no idea what would actually happen if Steve's body shut down again, and he wasn't about to let either of them find out.
With one last hiss, Tony straightened up and took a couple of steps away to strip jerkily down out of the rest of his clothing. The cold air barely had time to hit him before he took a deep breath, let it out, and before he could second guess himself he changed.
He'd been warned. Over and over, it had been drilled into him never to let anyone find out. Enough for even his teenage rebel without a cause self not to even consider it. But all of those warnings had never mentioned an emergency situation like this, so fuck it. Tony would be damned if he would see Steve hurt when there was something he could do about it.
He kept the change slow in deference to the small space, but Tony was pretty sure he'd have no trouble fitting. Skin flushed red and then hardened into scales, his entire body slowly stretched and then expanded, his shoulderblades twitched as two massive wings pushed their way outwards. By the time he was done, his dragon form did take up most of the cave space, but not without room for him to move. Okay. A few more twists to make sure he could maneuver if another fight came to them, and then Tony settled his greater bulk down, carefully curled so that he was facing the cave entrance.
Once that was done, he reached out with one clawed hand and almost delicately tugged Steve's unresisting form into the curve of his body, tucking him right against the heat of his flank. Once he was sure Steve seemed as comfortable as he was getting, he draped one wing over the man, just make sure he was as insulated as possible. No point in doing this if he didn't do it properly.
And then just set his head down on his forelegs and settled himself in to watch the snow drifting down outside.
no subject
With one last hiss, Tony straightened up and took a couple of steps away to strip jerkily down out of the rest of his clothing. The cold air barely had time to hit him before he took a deep breath, let it out, and before he could second guess himself he changed.
He'd been warned. Over and over, it had been drilled into him never to let anyone find out. Enough for even his teenage rebel without a cause self not to even consider it. But all of those warnings had never mentioned an emergency situation like this, so fuck it. Tony would be damned if he would see Steve hurt when there was something he could do about it.
He kept the change slow in deference to the small space, but Tony was pretty sure he'd have no trouble fitting. Skin flushed red and then hardened into scales, his entire body slowly stretched and then expanded, his shoulderblades twitched as two massive wings pushed their way outwards. By the time he was done, his dragon form did take up most of the cave space, but not without room for him to move. Okay. A few more twists to make sure he could maneuver if another fight came to them, and then Tony settled his greater bulk down, carefully curled so that he was facing the cave entrance.
Once that was done, he reached out with one clawed hand and almost delicately tugged Steve's unresisting form into the curve of his body, tucking him right against the heat of his flank. Once he was sure Steve seemed as comfortable as he was getting, he draped one wing over the man, just make sure he was as insulated as possible. No point in doing this if he didn't do it properly.
And then just set his head down on his forelegs and settled himself in to watch the snow drifting down outside.