Somehow, Steve hadn't expected to hear Tony Stark of all people advising caution. He was well used to it from Clint and Peggy, and even his formative years had involved a whole hell of a lot of, "Don't do anything stupid," from Bucky. But that sort of prudence didn't mesh with what Steve knew of Stark. That he was taken aback by Stark's recommendation was surely written all over Steve's face, because what was being proposed could mean additional years of waiting, and that went against every single one of Steve's instincts. If the districts were stirring now, they couldn't afford to wait; that would just give Stane the opportunity to assert his authority once more, and they'd lose their chance to actually make a difference.
He was just about to respond - and if the tension that had suddenly crept into his neck and shoulders was anything to go by, it probably wasn't going to be a particularly measured response - when someone behind him cleared their throat. Steve whipped around, suddenly terrified that this had all been a trap, and oh, he'd walked right into it -
But it wasn't a Peacekeeper standing behind him, or a member of Stane's cabinet, or even Stane himself. It was Stark's Avox, looking - well, disapproving, really, though his gaze was leveled at Stark, rather than Steve.
And then he opened his mouth and spoke.
If Steve had still been holding his glass, there was no question he would have dropped it right then. Because Avoxes didn't speak - or, more accurately, Avoxes couldn't speak. Steve had gotten the rundown from Erskine and Peggy on his first trip to the Capitol, when he'd insisted on thanking the Avox who had brought them dinner. He'd furiously insisted that his Ma had raised him with manners, and it was only right to acknowledge the person waiting on you hand and foot.
Once he'd finally realized that this meant punishment for the woman who'd been assigned to him, Steve had desisted, opting instead for the occasional smile or nod whenever no one was watching.
But here was Stark's Avox, speaking in a strange, computerized voice - and more than that, he was practically scolding Stark, the sort of action that would surely get an Avox shot on the spot. It was a lot to take in all at once, and Steve simply stood dumbly for a few moments, staring at the polished, put-together and heretofore silent man before him.
"You can talk," he croaked after a moment. "You - how can you talk?" It might have made more sense to direct that question to Stark, but that seemed unbearably rude, to talk around someone as if they weren't even there.