UH, a little over three. They had to be careful about the biological component during the defrosting process. I actively remember about two and a half weeks.

[ Pouring over the files of his dead friends. Not yet having the courage to get in touch with Peggy, who was having medical problems already.

I should have just died in the ice. Would have made everything simpler. At least for him. And isn't that the problem. He tends to go for the direct route. Even as a skinny little shrimp, he'd get his ass kicked because it was easier to tell some bully off than sneak around and help the situation by deception.

No, that's not just Tony's voice echoing in Steve's head. That's his actual. Voice. ]

I'm Captain America, Tony. That's what I'm supposed to do. It's okay. We don't ... we didn't talk about that kind of thing when I was growing up. You just suck everything up and walk it off.

[ Sometimes I wonder if Steve ever existed

He takes a deep breath, not quite sure how to shield his thoughts, and leans against the archway leading into the forge. ]

Tony, it's not your fault. I'm an asshole. I've always been an asshole. I break rules, don't listen to my superiors half the time. Just -- it's not your fault. I don't need fixing.