Chapter Text
The quinjet was quiet.
Only the steady hum of the engines filled the cabin.
Tony Stark sat near the back, one arm draped over the seat beside him. The mission had gone well.
Nobody had died.
These days, that counted as a win.
Across the cabin, Steve Rogers sat alone.
That wasn't unusual.
What was unusual was the way neither of them looked at each other.
Months had passed since they'd started working together again.
Months of awkward conversations.
Months of careful distance.
Months of pretending everything was fine.
It wasn't.
Tony felt Steve stand before he heard him move.
A shadow appeared beside his seat.
"We should talk."
Tony let out a short laugh.
"That's never a good opening line."
Steve didn't smile.
"I'm serious."
"That's somehow worse."
For a moment, Steve just stood there.
Patient.
Stubborn.
Very Steve.
Tony hated how familiar it felt.
Finally, Steve sat down across from him.
Close enough to talk.
Far enough to leave.
"I know things can't go back to how they were."
Tony stared at the dark window then got up to leave Steve’s face dropped into an annoyed look directed at Tony
He watches as Tony gets up to move away from him a little disappointed at how he won’t even listen to what he has to say
“Can you at least let me finish?” Steve asked irritated