That was the heart of the problem. There was a fluttery, dreading panic growing in Tony's gut that he couldn't admit to, not without arguing against Steve's happiness and growth and whatever blahblahblah. It was painful being supportive. There were other ways to build the team, of course, but it was hard for even Tony to imagine without Captain America at the heart of it, and he had a lot of repairs to make before he started bringing up big ideas and demanding bigger responsibilities of anyone who could take up the torch.
He needed that hand on his to ground him, and threaded his fingers through Steve's for a deep breath before carefully withdrawing and moving deliberately for his coffee with a hidden glance toward the door. "So, what, you going on a roadtrip or something? Back to school, really embarrass Cassie? Or is this, like, a midlife crisis thing, you're going to get a disgustingly overpriced car and a tattoo and a condo out West?" he wondered with a wry grin.