Pepper was falling. Into a fiery abyss.
"You've got to let go. You've got to let go. I'll catch you, I promise." He didn't catch her and she was falling. Pepper was falling. Probably hit the ground already. She wouldn't survive that fall. Pepper was dead. And it was his fault.
She had nearly died when he had been arrogant, telling his enemies where he lived to prove he wasn't a coward. Except that was nearly. This wasn't nearly, this was actually. Pepper was dead. What have I done?
"A shame, I would've caught her."
All Tony felt was rage and emptiness.
...
Thank God she was alive.