[ Steve shifts long enough to sit down, still hovering in the doorway (and anyone who wants into the forge is just going to have to squeeze past his bulk), props his arms on his knees. Props his chin on top of his arms. And just thinks for a minute, making himself slow down and stop just reacting on impulse.

Something about Tony keeps putting him on the defensive and has since day one. So maybe it's time to stop compartmentalizing that. ]

I think [ Steve's voice is quiet. Measured. ] that it was something familiar in a sea of not-familiar. Something I could count on. A Stark working with the government. Except, this time, it wasn't a Stark just making weapons and highly questionable advanced tech and then sending us out. That Star -- you -- was part of the team. And that was neat.

Except it wasn't. Completely. I did something, still don't know what, to piss you off the day we met. That day in the lab. We argued about whether Fury was hiding something. Maybe I wasn't used to sharing leadership duties. I don't know. But it felt like you really didn't like me. Just kept putting up with me being around for the sake of everyone else.

Accepting that as the status quo, and not trying to find out why. That's on me. I should have pushed. And I shouldn't have taken you for granted. I'm sorry.

[ He tilts his head, resting one cheek against his forearm in order to look up at Tony. ]

What happened in the cave?