Floor time is sacred; it's hard truths time, and pointed questions time, and struggling with feelings time. Apparently.

It's better than Steve tiptoeing around everything, that's for sure. He wouldn't be able to stomach being gentle. Kind, compassionate, that's another matter, but Steve's firm in his feelings and his beliefs, and that's just one of many reasons Clint respects him.

It doesn't mean he has to be nice about it. "Neither of those things do anything for me. Am I glad you don't hate my guts? Yeah, sure, of course. But what am I supposed to do with your compassion?" He flexes his shoulders against the hard surface, just to keep the sting up. "Compassion's what made you realize maybe I need a sound beating to get my head on straight? God, I wish you didn't have to hold back. Maybe you shouldn't."