This time he's careful, deliberate. He's not about to blurt out something else stupid when he clearly hit a nerve. Maybe he should apologize for real, damn. And when he and Sam had gotten together, Tony had begun to understand why that weird out-of-left-field confession about his dad meant something. Because something could have happened, if they'd both been up front about it or whatever.

All of this is only now slotting together, because he's a dick. And he feels like one. He no longer thinks he deserves back-rubs, actually backing off enough to put a bit of distance between them, though he can't bring himself to completely untangle their legs, foot still resting against Steve's calf.

"Dude, I'm sorry. I've never had a friend who was... you know. I don't know the etiquette." It's all earnest, even if it's also completely high school. He knows it is, too. Tony wraps his hands in his pillowcase and sighs. "Or like any friend etiquette. Or any etiquette ever. Should I introduce myself again?" Hi I'm Anthony Dicknose Stark. Sigh sigh sighs some more.