[...Barnes is apologizing in a rush of words suddenly and it all sounds like a dull buzzing noise in Tony's ears. Yeah, okay, he's not over the fact that his mom and dad were assassinated by HYDRA, but honestly? It's the furthest thing from his mind at the moment. (He doesn't blame Barnes anymore, he's come to the understanding - after a lot of wrestling with himself - that he wasn't responsible for it, that he was brainwashed. A tool in HYDRA's hands.) While some part of him might appreciate the apology at any other time (not that it can undo what's been done), or might at least accept that it gives one of them something like closure, Tony can't process it right now.]

It's- [he pauses for a moment] Fuck. It's not okay, but you don't need to apologize. [That doesn't make any sense, wouldn't make any more sense on a perfectly normal day.] Please don't apologize, I hate apologies. I've heard thousand of insincere ones, and I just-

[What is he even doing right now? Tony rests his forehead on the table for a moment and it suddenly strikes him that wow, he could probably fall asleep right here and now.]

I know it wasn't really you. [Tony peers up again, little more than brown eyes and a shock of hair visible over the top of his forearm.] I know what happened. And right now, Barnes, I do not give a flying fuck about anything because the kid I promised to protect crumbled to fucking dust in my hands and- [his voice cracks and breaks and Tony just can't say anything else because his throat's closed up. He lowers his head again, and this time, tears spatter against the floor.]