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[Sometime after the dinner, he tracks Steve down. It's not quite cornering him, but, yeah, there is a bit of that feeling to it.]

Woulda appreciated a heads up about Tony's problem.

[For a lot of reasons, actually. And, yes, he just assumes that Steve is responsible for everyone from his world - or at least Tony.]

[Steve doesn't exactly expect to be looked for after the dinner party since he didn't spend much time socializing, but he turns to Sam when he hears him approach, folding his arms at the tone the man uses.]

I don't think it's my place to talk about Tony's personal business, Sam.

[He speaks calmly, but there's a directness in his stance that hints at challenge. Steve is a man that doesn't take being cornered easily, and who has found himself in the corner more times than he can count.]

[Sam closes his eyes, exhales slowly through his nose. The last thing he wants to turn this into is some sort of perceived challenge.]

I think I'm the asshole who just waved booze in front of a recovering alcoholic's nose, so, yeah, I appreciate that it's personal and all, but it sure as shit's the sort of thing I don't wanna make anyone have to deal with.

[He doesn't look away. When Sam opens his eyes again, Steve is still meeting them. There is no defensive anger or ready threat, but Steve is still patiently waiting.]

Did you? I don't remember seeing you try to force him to drink. If Tony couldn't handle it, he'd let you know. He's smart enough to know when to pull back.

I appreciate that you're worried about him, but isn't that something you should take up with him?

It's not about forcing him to drink, it's about presenting him with the temptation. But, hey, just keep going with the whole "real men pretend they don't have problems" bullshit, by all means. You worry about him enough to play watchdog the whole time, but not enough to try and avoid the situation in the first place by just goddamn saying something so I don't inadvertently create a hostile environment.

[Sam runs a hand over his head, making a frustrated noise in the back of his throat.]

I don't know what your Sam does back home, but I'm a counselor at the VA. And addiction isn't my specialty, but I sure as hell see it often enough that even accidentally fucking with someone who's recovering makes me feel like a goddamn asshole. And I'm talking to you about it because you've apparently decided you're responsible for him, and like hell I'm going to force him to talk about it, because that's just a bad idea on so many different levels.

[Steve's expression hardens as Sam goes on. He's definitely not in the mood for this.]

Let me get this straight: You're telling me I should intervene with Tony because you feel guilty about what he didn't feel necessary to share. It's not my place to force him to talk to you about anything, and I'm not going to volunteer his personal life to anyone I just met. Period.

You seem to misunderstand my position here. I was keeping a friend company. Yes, I was concerned, but if he had told me to back off, that is also his call. I can't say I'd agree with it, but that's not something I'd go to someone else about either. I'm not responsible for Tony or his decisions. I don't know how you run things, but if you're upset, talk to Tony.

[The folded arms drop and Steve steps forward.]

If you need someone to swing at because you feel guilty, then you should pick a different target. I can mention you were worried to him the next time I see him. Or you can.

[Sam could keep pushing, but what's the point? They aren't going to come to any sort of agreement or see eye to eye on this, and all he's going to do is just piss Steve off more. As stubborn as he might be, there are times when he actually knows when to stop, and this is one of them.]

Fine.

[He steps back as Steve steps forward; his jaw is still tense, and he has a feeling he'll be hitting the gym after this.]

I'm sorry I- I'm sorry.

[Which is true. Sam isn't necessarily sure what he's sorry about, but he doesn't like to cause friction in what he considers to be a burgeoning friendship, or at least piss off someone he genuinely likes and respects. Even though his mouth is still tight, the emotion shows in his eyes.]

[The pushing is managing to spark some fire in Steve. While he originally wasn't bothered by Sam's questions, being confronted like he's in control of Tony Stark or his actions is quickly turning the conversation sour. Steve Rogers is all about accountability and choice above all, and Sam apparently has some idea that he's the one making choices for Tony.

Of all people, Tony Stark isn't someone Steve can decide anything for. They're still on unsteady terms as well. This is salt in the wound of that relationship.]

All right. I accept your apology.

[He's still a soldier ready for the next fight.]

I'm sure Tony knows you weren't trying to hurt him. He had the opportunity to tell you if he really wanted to. That's got to be his choice. You apparently know something since you're here telling me about it, but since I wasn't the one to give you whatever information you have, I don't know what you know about him or his history.

I honestly don't know what you think you can get from me. I haven't been through it, and if you don't want to force him to talk to you, going behind his back doesn't violate that trust any less. Should I betray whatever trust he might have in me by playing his keeper without permission? Is that what you would do?

[It's not that Sam thinks he's in control of Tony - lord knows nobody is capable of controlling Tony Stark in his world, and he doesn't think it's feasible in any other, either. He'd been viewing the whole thing in the lens of Steve being the team leader, the one responsible for everyone else, and he belatedly realizes that might have been an incorrect assumption.]

I made a few deductions, watching you hover over him like that. [Hadn't eavesdropped - he'd been too busy conducting his own conversations - but it had been impossible to miss.] Don't know anything about his history, and I'm not gonna ask him about it. Which is what makes the whole thing real sticky, to be honest; I understand completely that you don't wanna violate his trust. But at the same time, I don't want to force him to talk about it. A lot of the time, and I'm just gonna make a wild guess and say this is one of them, substance abuse presents with other psychological issues. I'm not his therapist, I'm not treating him, so it's not a conversation I'm gonna have with him.

-and, honestly? This is one of the times when I absolutely would break that trust. [But Sam knows he looks at it as a trained therapist would, rather than as a friend.] No background required, just a moment of 'hey, Tony has problems with booze'. I'm sure you know that you never really recover completely from something like that, and- hell, it's not anything I'm holding against you, it's not even my guilt. It's cause I don't want him to be tempted. No matter how strong you are, no matter how recovered you think you are, whatever problems you have are just- waiting in the shadows. If I thought one of my friends needed that help, then you'd damn well better believe I'd do it and apologize to them later.

If you aren't going to bother to ask him about it, then you have no right to expect any answers. It would be one thing if he simply couldn't talk to you, but that? That's just cowardice. You don't want to take the risk of getting on his bad side, so you confront me. Was it easier? Not being the one to put yourself on the line and upset him?

[After all Sam has said, that Steve apparently considers himself responsible for Tony, that he wasn't going to talk to him but that he wanted Steve to talk about him, to gossip, to share sensitive information without Tony's permission, Steve has reached a point of open disapproval. These are inflammatory remarks, especially when Sam steadfastly refuses to be the one to ask Tony what he feels comfortable talking about. They are groundless assumptions that Steve has seen from the press who always assume that Tony Stark is only a drunk and just a step away from his next failure. And that is something that he doesn't take lightly.]

Some things apologies don't make up for.

[And that statement is cold. The words of hard, bloody experience. There is no apology that heals the scars of being turned on by those that believed they were helping the greater good by hunting him and the other heroes down.]

What exactly are you trying to get from me right now?

Christ, what part of I have a goddamn college degree in this shit is so hard to understand? Believe it or not, I know what I'm doing. I don't care about getting on his bad side. If I thought he was relapsing right now, I would absolutely get on his bad side in a heartbeat if it would help. It's tact, Steve, and not pushing him to talk about his problems because I don't know his history and what might push him over the edge. It's not cowardice, because I can and will confront people when it's what they need. But it's not what Tony needs right now.

[Not when he's seen the shadows of overwork under Tony's eyes, the way he looks just a little too haggard, a little too strung out. Even without the added problems, Sam would be worried about him.

Sam sighs and leans against the wall.]

I don't want anything. I was frustrated and I shouldn't have blamed it on you, okay? If you think I'm trying to get information, then you're wrong. Whatever he wants to tell me - if he wants to tell me anything - he can do in his own time. I don't care about his history; the man's a friend, simple as that. He's a good guy who's got some problems, and I'm annoyed that I put him in the way of temptation because he doesn't deserve that.

You can have as many degrees as you want. That doesn't actually mean you know about someone. And it doesn't have anything to do with this situation, which is you asking me for under the table details. That is what you were doing.

[And it doesn't do anything to convince Steve that Sam isn't just needling him because he's not getting what he wants. The apologies come easily, right between all the justifications and arguments that he was right to do it and he deserved to know. For Tony's good, of course. Not because Sam was being pushy.]

You don't want anything? Then we're done here.

[He walks past him, continuing on his way now that Sam isn't blocking him physically.]

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