Try not to overthink it. Stress ain't good for you - think I can already see a couple greys comin' through.
[ the seconds drag on in silence as he holds his glare, searching in familiar eyes and finding very little of what he recognises. ]
It's corrupt, yeah. I won't argue that... but you were never a slave to it.
And what exactly is it you're trying to build?
Well, no, but I noticed that too.
... You were never gullible.
And you definitely weren't a goody-two-shoes, either. That was just the part you played.
[ fixed glare dropping briefly to scan over Steve like he's trying to diagnose the issue. ]
++






