"...and that was me underestimating you, and shutting you down for no damn reason," he realizes. There's a slight twitch of a smile. "I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that."
He hadn't snapped, but he had entirely stopped trying and gotten defensive about it. No big guilt fest there, at least, just some the apology and a bit of almost... pained embarrassment.
It's not like he doesn't know Clint's a good guy. He is a little surprised Clint's worried about him. Which is probably insulting, though it says more about Steve's view of himself than it does Steve's view of Clint.
And not a single word about to come out of his mouth is anything but trying too hard, awkward, and kind of uncomfortable. Not apologetic after the actual apology, but fumbling through his own head, and then trying to... both explain and reassurance Clint. Not with any expectation of it changing anything, but from a basic drive to be fair--
-- and try to hold onto a connection with Clint. He does not want to admit how much that matters to him.
"Before the serum I always wanted to be able to... I don't know, matter. To be able to at least fight back against some of what was wrong with the world. The serum gave me that. I'm grateful for it, but aside from the team I didn't really have a whole lot else going on. Right now, neither one's there. We lost the most important fight I've ever come near. I've got my time filled doing something that's...useful, and that helps. Knowing where you are helps. Constructive violence will help. I'll be okay. It was just... a real abrupt stop for everyone."
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He hadn't snapped, but he had entirely stopped trying and gotten defensive about it. No big guilt fest there, at least, just some the apology and a bit of almost... pained embarrassment.
It's not like he doesn't know Clint's a good guy. He is a little surprised Clint's worried about him. Which is probably insulting, though it says more about Steve's view of himself than it does Steve's view of Clint.
And not a single word about to come out of his mouth is anything but trying too hard, awkward, and kind of uncomfortable. Not apologetic after the actual apology, but fumbling through his own head, and then trying to... both explain and reassurance Clint. Not with any expectation of it changing anything, but from a basic drive to be fair--
-- and try to hold onto a connection with Clint. He does not want to admit how much that matters to him.
"Before the serum I always wanted to be able to... I don't know, matter. To be able to at least fight back against some of what was wrong with the world. The serum gave me that. I'm grateful for it, but aside from the team I didn't really have a whole lot else going on. Right now, neither one's there. We lost the most important fight I've ever come near. I've got my time filled doing something that's...useful, and that helps. Knowing where you are helps. Constructive violence will help. I'll be okay. It was just... a real abrupt stop for everyone."