Steve and Tony are sitting at the small breakfast table in the kitchen. Steve's belongings have been moved out of the tower with some reluctance and he still can't believe this is happening. He still doesn't want it to happen, but Tony is pushing for it. He's been pushing for months and Steve has finally broken down and agreed to sign the papers.

But even now as he sits at this familiar table in the place he's called his home for years, he freezes and he can't move because once he signs the papers, it's over. It's over and he'll be Steve and Tony will just be Tony and they'll both be single.

Steve knows he has an amazing group of friends who will get him through this. Tony does, too, and Tony also has his therapist, but even with all of that reassurance Steve is dreading the aftermath of their divorce.

He knows that the media will be all over it; they already have been. He knows there's a chance that Bucky and Tony will resume their relationship. He knows that there will be speculation. He knows that he'll be at the center of the speculation and everyone will see that Steve Rogers has been played for a fool.

Finally, Tony is tired of waiting. "You said you were ready," he says with a sigh.

Steve nods. "I know what I said. It's just—it's hard." He sniffles and rubs his eyes briefly with his free hand as he tries to hold his emotions back. Crying will only make things worse and Tony will only get frustrated.

As hard as Steve tries, he fails. He's crying and he drops his pen so that he can put his head in his hands. He wishes this would all just go away. He wishes he could just not be right now and then he wouldn't have to deal with any of this. He wouldn't have to deal with the emotional agony or the fact that his husband and his best friend have betrayed him to such a degree.

Several minutes in and Steve wipes his eyes and clears his throat to ask a lingering question that's been on his mind. "Do you still talk to Bucky?"

"What?"

"Do you?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Just answer the question, Tony."

"No! No, I haven't seen him in months. What does that—?"

It's stupid, but Steve is so worried about this. "Please just don't— I know how you operate, Tony, and I'm just begging you to please, please stay away from him."

"I don't think you get to tell me what to do anymore," Tony reminds him gently.

Steve lets out a soft cry and nods. "I know, but please, please don't do that to me."

Tony is confused, and he's wondering why Steve is suddenly so upset. "What are you even talking about?"

"You and Bucky! You two getting back together and everyone knowing what happened between you! It's bound to come out sooner or later."

"Steve, no one cares about that."

"Yes, they do! Obviously you don't read or watch TV anymore. It's everywhere! It's humiliating! The entire thing is humiliating and everyone is going to know what you did! Then they're going to look at me and wonder what the hell I did to make you do such a thing and I didn't even do anything. That's the whole entire point. You two were just so selfish and disgusting throughout the entire thing!"

Tony pinches the bridge of his nose. "If you're that upset, you can sign the papers already and be done with me."

"It's not that easy. I'm sorry," he sighs. "I'm sorry."

Tony leans forward and puts his head in his hands. "Please sign the papers, Steve."

"I don't—"

"No." Tony looks up and his jaw sets. "No, you don't get to do this. You said you'd sign them today. It's today." He reaches across the table and pushes the papers toward Steve even further. "You not signing them isn't going to do anything; I can still be granted a divorce. I can still see other people if you don't sign them and I would really appreciate it if you would—"

Steve doesn't want to hear anything else Tony says. He snatches the pen and scribbles his name on the appropriate lines. "There," he snaps. "There are your damn papers."

Tony sits still and Steve is still crying when he gets up to leave. He wishes he could disappear and he wishes he could just fade into the background of everything he's a part of. He's crying and Tony is uncomfortable about it so he stands up to catch Steve's wrist.

"Are you okay?"

"No!" Steve snaps. He snatches his hand away and Tony's sorry that he ever asked because Steve is crying harder. "I didn't want this! Of course I'm not okay!"

Tony crosses his arms and he's quiet as he speaks. "Well, I'm sorry, but I did want this."

"I'm leaving," Steve murmurs. He wipes at his eyes and his hands fumble for his keys. He's so shaken and upset and he wants Tony to stop staring at him, but at the same time he doesn't. He wants Tony to feel guilt and remorse for his decisions and he wants Tony to realize that he's made a huge mistake.

Tony really doesn't think Steve should be riding his bike home in the emotional shape he's in. He clears his throat and says, "Let me drive you home."

"No."

"Steve—"

"I said no!" Steve snarls, and Tony backs down because he doesn't want to argue anymore. He just wants Steve out of his presence because they're both perfectly capable of destroying each other and Tony doesn't want any part in Steve's destruction. He briefly follows Steve on his way to the elevator. "Be safe," he says quietly.

Just before the elevator doors close, Steve looks up at Tony with sad, tired eyes. "Call me if you change your mind."

Tony's sad for Steve because Steve still holds onto some hope that things could ever be okay between them again. Nonetheless, Tony nods. "Sure. Bye, Steve."