[It hurts, having Billy go. Even after she closes her eyes, Pepper can still hear the sounds of his stumbling, the tears in his voice before his steps fade into silence. One more pain layered upon all the rest, losses and betrayals and Pepper doesn't know what she'll do when the numbness holding her together now finally fades.
But she is numb, emotion forced aside because she can't deal with any of it right now. She can't think about the consequences of every word each of them has said, from Billy's guilt to Tony's anger, to her own quiet rebuke of the boy's longstanding invitation. She just can't.
Maybe she's not numb, but tired.
Either way, it's easy to go when Tony draws her in, her arms sliding around his shoulders. She can feel the way he trembles, so she holds him tightly to her, offering the one reassurance she can after all of this.]
I've got you. I'm here. [It's all they have. It's all they ever seem to have, in the end.]
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But she is numb, emotion forced aside because she can't deal with any of it right now. She can't think about the consequences of every word each of them has said, from Billy's guilt to Tony's anger, to her own quiet rebuke of the boy's longstanding invitation. She just can't.
Maybe she's not numb, but tired.
Either way, it's easy to go when Tony draws her in, her arms sliding around his shoulders. She can feel the way he trembles, so she holds him tightly to her, offering the one reassurance she can after all of this.]
I've got you. I'm here. [It's all they have. It's all they ever seem to have, in the end.]