"I'm not," I reply frankly, shrugging any tension out of my shoulders before crossing my arms lightly over my chest. While it's not quite a defense mechanism, there's simply something in the other man that makes one want to draw themselves up to full height, in much of the same way that Clark does, when in uniform. But, and perhaps this impression is largely driven by the presence of a younger Clark, his life philosophies and traits more evident to the eye, I don't sense the same type of naivety in Steve Rogers. All the better. I'm not the person to ask to deal with the childish or naive.

"You're a busy guy," I point out, plucking a croissant from my tray and breaking off one of the flaky corners. "You're saddled with any number of responsibilities. And this island can't help but keep the hurdles coming. I've been reading the paper whenever I get my hands on a copy. It's amazing what can slip the rest of us by when we're not paying attention."