"Avengers business. Hard on any relationship, Pete. That's all." Tony pushed his glass across the counter, signalling the need for some more water. He was far from sober, but he could stave off heartbreak and a headache this way. "Don't worry about it. We'll reach some kind of understanding."

That much, he felt confident of. Even if it was purely as allies. The last week of static silence had confirmed his deepest doubt. Maybe it melodramatic and he'd resisted fully buying in, but there was just something missing. Something important that he needed to offer his loved ones but couldn't.

The job came first. It would always come first. Now knowing his future, he couldn't even commit to his future with Pepper.

It was probably better this way. Tony smiled at Peter again. "Seriously."