Now Steve is starting to get annoyed. Tony is too ready to throw away everything they were trying to build. He wouldn't even give him a chance, give this a chance. It came from fear, sure. He could see that much. He knows him that well but there's only so far his understanding can go. Couldn't Tony have a little bit of faith? Didn't he believe in them and what they'd built together at all?

This is a hard test, sure. It'll push them and strain things but it's not the end. If Tony would give it half a chance they could survive this. Steve believed in them. He believes they can get through this. It's part of why he brought it to Tony.

"So, you're not gonna fight for me?" Steve frowns at him, the attempt at joking falling flat. "You're ready to take the first out? Give up the first time this gets hard?"

That hurts almost as much as Tony shutting him out. Steve's grip stays tight. If he wants to get out of Steve's arms it's going to be a fight. Maybe they'd do better if they fight. They usually worked out a lot when they fought.

"Come on, Tony, it might not end like that and it sure as hell shouldn't end now. We don't know what the future holds and don't give me that futurist outlook, okay? I know you're good but things can change." Steve wanted to shake him.

Why the hell wasn't he fighting this? Why did he want to walk away already? It couldn't just be the fear of being hurt.

"Damn it, you built a fucking element in your basement. Why can't you make a new outcome with me?" He almost does shake him hands gripping harder for a second before he deliberately relaxes.