Yet another piece of my weekly homework. Enjoy!
"You can't isolate yourself forever, Tony. I know you feel like you're complicit in all the havoc, but trust me, you're not." Delicate fingers ran through the dark, messy locks and Tony couldn't help but close his eyes for a moment. "I don't deserve this." His voice was merely a whisper. "Impunity, I mean. Why should I deserve it when they don't? They're no villains!" Pepper hated to hear his voice being that shaky. He wasn't known for being insecure or feeling so guilty, – not to the public anyway. But Pepper knew better than that. "You mustn't listen to those rumors. You're traumatized, I understand that, but Tony, what you're doing… It's social suicide. You're a victim." Silent tears ran down his cheeks and he didn't say a single word. Pressing a soft kiss to his temple, Pepper wrapped her arms around him and decided to be strong for him while he couldn't be.