[ The answer probably is yes, compounded. Pepper breathes a shuddering exhale of her own as he returns the contact, one hand slipping up to delve her fingers into his hair while the other clutches at his shoulder firmer, clinging to him a little more insistently still.
She gives the faintest hum of gentle amusement at his remark, lips curving just a hint for a moment. ]
That's probably true. [ In more ways than one. ]
[ Those little words crowd in the back of her throat again, but what she ends up murmuring quietly against the join of his shoulder and neck is something quite different; normally, she wouldn't be quite this needy, but in the light of recent events she's not quite feeling up to her usual, poised self. ]
Don't leave me alone in this place.
[ It's unfair and below the belt, even she sees it. She knows he can't really make promises like that, couldn't even back home, but right now she'll take a lie if she must. ]
no subject
She gives the faintest hum of gentle amusement at his remark, lips curving just a hint for a moment. ]
That's probably true. [ In more ways than one. ]
[ Those little words crowd in the back of her throat again, but what she ends up murmuring quietly against the join of his shoulder and neck is something quite different; normally, she wouldn't be quite this needy, but in the light of recent events she's not quite feeling up to her usual, poised self. ]
Don't leave me alone in this place.
[ It's unfair and below the belt, even she sees it. She knows he can't really make promises like that, couldn't even back home, but right now she'll take a lie if she must. ]