“Military technology sells. And gets the headlines,” Tony continued, but he knew he really should back off. He felt on the verge of collapse but this little runt had gone so far to provoke him that he couldn’t let it go. Even when he really knew he should. “No one bothers to remember the irrigation systems or the communication technology or the earthquake protection for high rises I’ve developed.”

His smirk was sickly. His skin was growing pale and clammy.

“How about the billions of dollars donated to NASA when the government stopped most of their funding?” He could feel himself getting dizzier but he could be just as tenacious as Steve. “Or the rockets I developed from our weapons R&D department that got us our first good look at Pluto? So. Fucking tired. Of being... of being the bad guy,” he blurted out, very much unlike him. It was a wonder what stress and a failing heart could make a man do.