Tony Stark had made a major concession, which greatly pleased Old Captain America. He believed things had not yet reached the point of no return.
"Disband your team and let everyone return to the Avengers." This was a sensitive subject, at least more sensitive than Mechanical Thor, yet it had to be raised. A split was unquestionably wrong, no matter the reason or purpose behind it. Old Captain America seized on the core issue. On this matter of principle, he believed he was right.
The overriding premise was that the Avengers could not be divided. They were one whole and should be as close as family.
Though he himself had no desire for power, no one could refuse power itself. Old Captain America did not know what Stark, who had once served as Secretary of State, thought of power. He only knew Stark's view was certainly different from his own.
He wanted to phrase his words as gently as possible. This was not an order or a demand. He simply hoped everyone could come home, sit down together again, lay out the problem clearly, and see whether there was a way to solve it.
Ten seconds, twenty seconds—Stark remained silent for a full half minute. He had not worn his armor this time. Looking somewhat thinner, he stared directly into Old Captain America's eyes.
"If you were in my position right now, what would you do?"
Old Captain America answered directly, "I would choose dialogue. I would use communication to resolve the dispute between us."
Stark snorted. "Wrong. You're lying! If you were still the Captain America I knew, if seventy years hadn't worn away your resolve, you would persist to the end. Believe me, I wouldn't be wrong about this. That's the kind of person you are. Yield when