[It's an unreasonable expectation, but it helps Tony confirm that he's not just going insane talking to himself. Steve can't tell him about that pathetic night of excuses he'd given over his body, trying to convince himself it wasn't his fault then. He'd told Steve's lifeless body that it was for the best; that he had meant to save people.]

You were gone. I just... I didn't know who else to talk to. You can't tell me you weren't dead now. I saw it. It was really you.