The sooner he takes it in the sooner he'll understand that when Stephen speaks about this place, it's from experience. That when urgency creeps into his voice, or instruction falls from his mouth, it's not because he thinks he has any real authority over Tony Stark. It's because he knows Rubilykskoye, all the threats that have come before and linger now.

Stephen's half-ready for the question when it comes. Ready enough that he answers without a pause.

"No." Twisted as the implication of some better news might be, it's better than a lie. "I was back for a while first."