Steve... wilts. It's the only word for it, as his shoulders droop and he slumps a little in his chair, closing his eyes. He's said something wrong, or - maybe not, maybe he's said everything right, and it's still not enough. He doesn't know how to get through to her, and more, he knows that sometimes, pushing something only makes it worse, makes it harder for the other person.

Rogue's not ready to accept it, and he's not going to push it. Maybe it is a soulmate thing, or maybe it's just him being able to read people, but he knows now isn't the time to say anything. He'll just stay here, in whatever space she allows him to be in - even if it's just friendship, he's not even asking for anything more, would be perfectly happy if they could just be friends. He'll do or be whoever she needs, wants.

But by God, he's not giving up. Taking a deep, quiet breath, he makes sure his tone is light and friendly when he responds. "Oh, sure! Yeah, sorry, I kinda interrupted your day. Listen, if you wanna talk, just give me a ring. My days are wiiiiide open," he says, a tad sardonically. "It'd be nice to hear from someone. Someone I like," he amends, "who's last name isn't Stark. And who doesn't make me feel like a complete ignoramus for missing the last seventy-years worth of pop culture references.

"Anyway. I'll let you go. You've got my number, now. I'll... I'll talk to you later." He tries, without being too obvious, to let her know that the ball's now in her court; it's her decision how she wants to proceed. It's his turn to say 'I hope I hear from you again. But I won't be surprised when I don't.'