Apparently some things gold stayed. So long as that gold was a titanium alloy blend pieced together by nanobots.
Iron Man stayed.
And that wasn't really something new, not really. He'd tried being a constant for a long time now, tried making everyone aware that they knew exactly where to find him -- back home and here in Starklandia and that he was willing to be there for them. Long gone were the days where he was flighty, and uninterested or unwilling to make choices that lasted more than a night or a few weeks at a time or make connections that actually mattered. Tony never thought much of himself, not really, but he did know that he was more solid, in some regards. Practically a sure thing, for Steve.
"Good," he said, tone firm, and then - only then - did he squeeze back in that grip. "Keep that in mind the next time you go around thinking about kissing your New York Missed Connections." He didn't mean to make light of Steve's obvious troubles and feelings, but something had to give, and no one could ever say that Tony wasn't generous.