"That's all you have to say about it?" Tony asked incredulously, looking at her with his eyebrows raised.

"You want me to say something else?" Elaine asked, looking at him. "Tell her she can't go, make her stay here, that sort of thing?" She shook her head. "Neither of us have had this sort of freedom, before. If she wants to go, I'm not going to stop her. She wouldn't stop me if I wanted to go somewhere, after all."

Tony threw up his hands in frustration. "Fine," he grumbled. "I'm going down to the workshop."

Elaine watched him go. There wasn't much else she could say right now, and she doubted he was in the mood to listen, anyways. After a moment, she took her tea and went to go find Steve.

Steve was feeling lazy (a rare occurrence for him) so he was sprawled out in the sun on the roof. It was a little chilly with the breeze, but the sun was nice.

Elaine eventually (with some help from Claudia) found him.

"Since when do you steal Clint's territory?" she asked, sitting down next to him.

"Since it's nice and warm up here." Steve smiled a little. "It's relaxing, really."

"And I know how important that particular criteria is for you," Elaine said, scooting closer to him. She was quiet for a moment. "Tony isn't pleased right now. Apparently, Kae's considering going to the X-Men."

Steve blinked, startled. "She is?" He blinked again. "That's... surprising." He'd thought she was happy enough there, but maybe she wanted to do some mental exploring. He could understand that.

"I thought so too," Elaine said. "I mean, she's talked a bit about visiting more, but this is more than that. Tony made it sound like she was going to stay there."

"Huh." Steve was quiet. "Well, that's her decision, certainly her right." But he knew things would be a little odd without her in the kitchen at all hours now.

"I agree," Elaine said, nodding. "I think if she wants to go, she should go." She was quiet for a second. "I think Tony's upset."

"I... don't think I blame him." Steve was quiet. "Just because you're willing to let someone go doesn't mean you want them to go."

"I know," Elaine said softly. "He didn't sound like he was willing to let her go, though. He implied that he wanted someone to talk her into staying here."

"Well, you two have both been around since before he found out they were related," Steve pointed out. "Maybe he doesn't want to lose any more family? Even if she's only moving to a different part of the state?"

"Maybe," Elaine said. She sighed and looked at him. "Promise not to tell anyone else what I'm about to tell you? Like not even Tony, I'm technically not supposed to tell."

Steve blinked but nodded. "I won't tell anyone," he said obediently. Now he was curious.

"Kae... isn't Tony's only family," Elaine said reluctantly. "He found not too long ago that there's one other person."

Steve blinked but nodded. "So that's why he was so odd a little while back," he murmured. "But his other family member isn't here."

"Right," Elaine said. "And no, she's... out in New Mexico, last I heard. Though I can have Phil double-check on that. Or Thor, he might know."

Steve nodded. "Well, with Tony, who knows? He bullshits us so often I'm not entirely sure what he thinks half the time."

"True," Elaine admitted. "But still..." She sighed. "I don't want to bring this up to Kae, because she'll feel guilty about going and might even not go even though I know she wants to."

Steve sighed. People were so difficult sometimes. "But she might be just as upset if no one tells her," he pointed out. "Although Tony might if he thinks it'll help."

Elaine just sighed. Steve had a point.

"I don't know what to do."

"Don't do anything for now," Steve said quietly. "We don't even know for sure what Kae's planning to do. For all we know she won't go anywhere."