There go the walls. Steve's familiar with the way Tony tries to protect himself because he knows this isn't Steve's usual way of coming home either. He's never been good at the dog and pony show. He can't pretend everything is okay when it's not. What he has in his hands will hurt Tony so much and Steve thinks again about hiding them or lying about it but... he can't. He can't do the dog and pony show.

Maybe if he didn't love Tony so fiercely it might be easier to do that. Steve doesn't like to think of himself as that kind of person but maybe he could. Maybe.

He leans forward and kisses his temple, just a little something before they get to the ugliness that is what Steve holds. He leaves his lips there for a few seconds longer than normal because he's nervous and worried before he drew back.

"I found something in the last Hydra base and I need you to look at it." Steve offers him the files but he doesn't let Tony take them right away. "You're not going to like it. It's... it's about Howard."

There's more to it. Steve's tone says as much. It's grim and a little sad. Steve's bracing himself to break the heart of the man he loves. And put his best friend in danger because he knows Tony's temper too.

He has to do the right thing, though. He can't hide this. He can't be that sort of man. That's not who he is. He does the right thing even when it's hard. Even when it's going to hurt. He just hates that it's going to hurt Tony.