Howard nodded his head, listening to Steve as he spoke. As much as he didn't want to, he could slow down a little for the man who used to be his friend. He wasn't deluded enough to think he ranked up there with Barnes, but he had thought that he might have a small spot in Steve's life. It was complicated, to say the least.

His grip on Steve's hand loosens as he grips his glass a little tighter instead. There's something in his eyes, hurt perhaps. Thinking about that particular memory with Peggy isn't one he really wants to focus on too much. "I... I'm not sure you want to hear that story, Steve. You might sock me too." He already had let her down. He couldn't let him down too.

He turns, looking out the glass at the stars around them. "What is there to explain? I am staring at the stars, Steve. And they are so close that I could touch them!" He took another sip of his drink, leaning back in his chair. "Do they have a lab? Alien tech that I can hold and possibly play with?"

His voice lowers and he leans in a little closer. There was so much he wanted to say, but he just didn't know where to begin.