[She's ready to fight him. To match whining with willfulness, with reason until he relents and gets off the couch. Pepper expects Bruce to try and struggle, for the hands that have shifted to her hips to be used to pull away the blanket in some ridiculous childlike tug-of-war. Instead with those words and that little effort, Bruce relents, sitting up and looking at her with such sadness it's heartbreaking.
Because that's not what Tony would have done. If he'd gotten lost in one of his projects or partied too hard one night, he wouldn't have just said he was sorry.
She swallows, looking down as that guilty realization hits her. Still, she's started something, so she should finish it. From the looks of him, Bruce needs her to.]
It's okay. [It's not. It's understandable, but he can't let himself get like this. Pepper should have checked in on him sooner. Once she's sure the blanket is free, she picks it up, needing to do something with her hands, quickly folding the cloth into neat thirds, halves, and so on.] You should shower. I'll pick up around here while you're gone.
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Because that's not what Tony would have done. If he'd gotten lost in one of his projects or partied too hard one night, he wouldn't have just said he was sorry.
She swallows, looking down as that guilty realization hits her. Still, she's started something, so she should finish it. From the looks of him, Bruce needs her to.]
It's okay. [It's not. It's understandable, but he can't let himself get like this. Pepper should have checked in on him sooner. Once she's sure the blanket is free, she picks it up, needing to do something with her hands, quickly folding the cloth into neat thirds, halves, and so on.] You should shower. I'll pick up around here while you're gone.