On ops phones are silent, a special app Tony installs for all that has 'em vibrate when one calls but soundless. Several times they try his cell and no answer.
"There he is!" says Layla pointing at the woodline. Chester's relieved but Steve is not. He has a very good guess as to where he's been and he's very wary what he'd say and do now; the look on Howard's face prepped to agonize was not in any way aidful.
"Venting to a tree do you any good?" he jeered.
"Stark," Chester called short of patience.
"What, like I'm supposed to let slide him storming off into the woods-"
"Enough alright?" Steve told as wordless Tony approached made no eye-contact.
"Wouldn't have done that if you'd kept your hands to yourself," this from a Marc so bitterly regarding Howard who at him snaps:
"I'm sorry, who the fuck asked you?" notes his son past them turns to round the car – he grabs his arm asks sternly: "Where do you think you're going?" Mid-panic wary Loki'll appear and karata-chop off Howard's head – both look to Steve who stomped to locked round Howard's wrist a grip demanding stonily:
"Howard. Let him go. Now." The Stark cocked a brow high, seething dares:
"Or what, Steve?"
"Howard, let's go," commanded Chester on edge as the rest who've had it each and were prepared to intervene whatever the outcome.
Disregarding the lot back he locks his gaze to Tony's alert browns, threatening intently: "…You pull a gun on me again, I'll break your hand."
Though his expression'd frowned in disdain smug-like he answered: "Don't worry. Won't happen again." Howard couldn't read decipher the words between, chalked it up to typical insolence and released him, simultaneously as did Steve whom at he shot a stone-hard glare that clear as crystal said he'd not let the next time slide.
From Tony's tone, Steve suspected there'd not be a next time.