He knew what it was now. Sometimes when the anger grew, there was a clarity that couldn't come to him any other way, and he had been waiting for such a moment to occur in the first place. There it was, that moment when he realized why he was unable to have what so many - all the men apparently - could have with Stephanie that he was denied despite he being her bond. He'd figured it out, but that didn't make it any easier when all he had right now was her and a misguided purpose to try to heal and get better.

He stopped when Barton moved, turning his face aside as if the wall next to him was the most interesting thing in the world. He didn't acknowledge the other man, but that was more common than when he did, so he doubted that it caused any kind of stir, not when the carnie had a phone call to make anyway.

He should leave, let her get on with whatever she had been doing with Barton, though it looked only to be sleeping. He was so close to just walking away, and he didn't know what kept him there when he knew at any moment, Tony was going to pop in and take the seat or whatever it was that the man did alone with Stephanie that he wasn't privy to. No matter, he knew why.

"I'm coping," he murmured. That was what Banner told him to say when he couldn't answer the question otherwise. He didn't care much for the difference. "I'm not familiar with movies or television. It would be pointless for me to watch anything."