Whether or not you were 'allowed' to do that was never a hinder for Tony. He wasn't like Steve, and he wasn't going to sit here and take it like a good boy because it may have been more polite. There was no need for Steve to go up there by himself and take all the heat if they were truly a team. It was best that Steve was the way he was, but hey. That's what a team of differences was for, right?
"Mr. Defense Attorney..." Tony began back, relaxing into his chair again. He really hoped this wouldn't last much longer. He could only keep up this facade for so long, and he was just about to pass out from exhaustion.
The Lawyer gave Stark a stern glance before beginning his questioning, much more gently and professionally than Mr. Fitzgerald. "It's in my understanding that these 'Avengers' are freshly new, and not everyone has quite a clear sight on who they are. What exactly is this Avenger's initiative?"
"It's the defense for the people for things, uh, that not necessarily our average defenses would be able to combat with. The above-average protection for the above-average threat, I guess."
"You guess, Mr. Stark? I was under the impression Mr. Rogers was the one who was able to recruit you, not Director Fury. What could you tell us about Captain Rogers, this supposed 'betrayer' of his own people?"
Oh boy. He was going to have to make nice in front of everyone now. "Steve did convince me, yes. But I guess you can say that he's just a very convincing person. I mean, look at him--he's Captain fucking America. His morals go far beyond anything our corrupted system can go against, and his selflessness is almost disgusting." A sigh, shift in the chair, and then, "But I've only known Steve personally for what? A month? And that's all I need to know, I knew everything there was to know about him the moment I saw him because there is no underlying layers with him--you get what you see. Steve Rogers' interests are with his people. It's what he thinks, breathes, and lives. If both of those options in Washington were wrong, he took the lesser of two evils, and still kicked himself for it."
"I see. And would you consider the others--Thor, The Avengers, or Director Fury to be more of a harm to the system, or more of a help?"
"I see it as the biggest benefit this system is ever going to get. I mean, you have America's strongest heart and will, a God, and my resources and intelligence all pooling together to benefit the people and the people only. I haven't lost seventy-six hours of sleep this week for myself, and neither has Steve, Fury, or the other Avengers."