Suddenly sheepish, Tony pivoted back around to preoccupy himself with the painting. It occured to him that while Tony had certainly been rather friendly with their mutual teammate in Steve's presence, he'd somehow held back from ever speaking of it or making any obvious showing about the nature of their relationship.

Was he avoiding the judgement? 'Since when has that stopped me?' Was he somehow embarrassed? 'I ripped open his shirt to show off his abs. More than once.'

No, nothing like that. But he simply, on a visceral level...didn't want Steve to know. Or, that, he didn't feel as if he should.