Captain America's words were anything but polite. The superficial harmony between them had vanished completely.
Their differences were vast. One wanted to defend his freedom; the other believed that in a crisis, that paltry freedom was worth less than stronger organization.
"Give up your stubbornness, Steve. Can't you look a little further ahead? Hm? Do you think you're still leading a squad to blow up German bunkers? Even back then, you needed strategic vision, and you clearly don't have any! That's why you've always been a captain. Okay, okay, sorry, I misspoke. A posthumously recognized captain. Your original rank was only lieutenant!"
Stark unloaded on Captain America, mocking and ridiculing him without restraint, his face full of displeasure. He had thought his old friends would support his policies, but the gap between expectation and reality was simply too great.
Several bills concerning superheroes had died before they could even be submitted for deliberation.
"I'm certainly not as good as you. I never received a higher education, never went to a university on a scholarship, and never gave speeches at the White House or Congress. But I know your approach is wrong. How can you guarantee that what you're doing is right? Based solely on your own judgment? Give power to everyone. Even if we lose in the end, we can face it together and find a solution together."
Captain America's stance disappointed Stark greatly. He took several deep breaths. "Is that really what you think? Always one step too late? Always becoming Avengers only after something happens? Shouting that we need revenge, that we need to do this and that? Can we only be Avengers, never preventers? Heh..."
Stark knew he could not persuade Captain America, just as Captain America could not persuade him. There had always been a thorn