“Use what’s been turned into a glorified super-soldier serum to enhance my longevity? No.” In the interest of total transparency, and because he’s a terrible liar when it comes to the people that he cares about, Tony decides that leveling with him completely is better that trying to talk his way out of it. That has only ever ended badly for everyone involved.

“What I made my mind up to do was to find a way to ensure that I could stay with you. Which, by the way, I was hoping you would be happy about. Not angry or disappointed or disapproving or whatever this is.” It’s not that easy and he knows that there are other issues at work here, but if there’s ever been a more obvious expression of devotion, he doesn’t know what it is. And he thought it would be a good thing.

“Finding Extremis just made it so that I wouldn’t have to start from scratch. But I would have figured this out on my own.” A thought strikes and his eyes narrow. “And if you even for a second entertain the idea of tossing me out of your life to save me or some such stupid thing, forget it. I’ll do it anyway.”