And that? Is exactly the rationale Howard had been looking for.

He hadn't wanted Tony to be pushing him to forgive Gene solely because he's the only other familiar face around here, he'd wanted another reason. He'd wanted proof the other boy had been working to turn himself around. And he's relieved, deep down, that Tony had been able to see the person behind the mask of Mandarin, the persona of the last of the Khans. Howard had seen the mask slip rarely enough, seen the child hurting beneath it, failing miserably, and turning to cold villainy to salve his wounds.

"Ending the cycle," Howard says, and nods. "Okay. I can accept that." Now I just have to see if he's really made himself worth this second chance.