[ It's absolutely unfair, and that it comes from Pepper at all sends a pang through him like some kind of electric shock.
He already feels guilty for transgressions not yet committed, because this damn place - it may not be as bad as it was aboard the Moira, the danger may be more spread out, but he's been waiting for the other shoe to drop. Hawke's haunt on the slaver planet and Elena's death just confirm it. They may be playing house well enough for now, but they'll never really be safe, not until they get home.
Except, not even there.
His fingers trace absent-minded circles in the small of her back while they both dutifully ignore that reality. ]
Cross my electromagnetic heart.
[ She knows he can't make promises like that; he knows he can't make promises like that. But Pepper had been his reason to keep fighting even before she'd arrived, so there's no reason to pretend otherwise now. If there's anyone he'd try for, it's her. ]
no subject
He already feels guilty for transgressions not yet committed, because this damn place - it may not be as bad as it was aboard the Moira, the danger may be more spread out, but he's been waiting for the other shoe to drop. Hawke's haunt on the slaver planet and Elena's death just confirm it. They may be playing house well enough for now, but they'll never really be safe, not until they get home.
Except, not even there.
His fingers trace absent-minded circles in the small of her back while they both dutifully ignore that reality. ]
Cross my electromagnetic heart.
[ She knows he can't make promises like that; he knows he can't make promises like that. But Pepper had been his reason to keep fighting even before she'd arrived, so there's no reason to pretend otherwise now. If there's anyone he'd try for, it's her. ]