This Steve was more gentle with him than the one Tony knew at home, so Tony finally relented and leaned over like he had wanted to, pressing his shoulder to Steve's to assure him he couldn't have been much better. Maybe that was a change he had already consciously made, though; why he was so sensitive. Tony had no such reassurance for any guilt that he could imagine trying to work off. That was an ongoing project that he doubted Steve could talk him out of.

Pepper was the part that had him actually shaking his head, and he muttered, "He shouldn't have done that to her in the first place. He knows better. That's the alternative." He looked over with a challenge, skeptical that Steve thought he had a better one to propose.