Forever

50

"She'll probably tolerate you more than she tolerates me." Pepper cautions and Tony sighs.

"What do you mean?" Steve furrows his brows slightly.

"Well, she clearly has a favorite parent." She motions to Tony. "He's just been around for more of her life than I have and she knows it, all three of us know it, so she's found it easier to talk to him. She attaches to certain people in a different way than the rest of us."

"That's why it was so easy for her to see Pietro the way she did as quickly as she did." He motions a bit towards the elevator and stairs.

"So, being that her brain was so attached to this one person, she's going to find it even harder to get through this?" Nat guesses and they nod.

"You said that it lasted up to two weeks," Bucky starts, "do we know how long it's been going on so far?"

"I think it's been almost a week already." Thor nods.

"But, because she's come so far from the last time this happened and she's found someone as important as him, it's going to hit harder and, most likely, last longer." Tony nods with a slight shrug of warning. "It's all very unpredictable."

-

Bree is laid on her back on her couch when Tony steps out of the elevator and she sighs while closing her eyes.

"Bree, you haven't updated anything in a week, people are wondering if you're still alive." He states and she lays her arms over her eyes.

"Tell them I am. Or tell 'em I'm dead, I don't give a shit." She shrugs and he furrows his brows. "They didn't seem to care before."

"Bree, you know they do." He shakes his head.

"Do I?" She puts her hands up. "'Cause last time I checked, two goddamn minutes ago, they still hate me." She nods angrily. "So, please, just stop."

"Bree, come on." He sighs.

"No, Dad." She places her hands on her eyes with her elbows up.

He shakes his head with his tongue poking his bottom lip before hanging his head.

"Have you taken care of yourself at all?" He asks in a softer tone and she takes a deep breath as her eyes water. "Have you eaten? Showered?"

"Dad." She calls in a warning tone.

"Bre-"

"Dad!" She sits up with her hand out. "Stop! Just go! Please."

He stares for a second before shaking his head with a sigh and walking out the door, using the stairs to leave. She watches him go before the tears break free, quick to turn to sobs of just straight outrage.

"She's so angry." Tony shakes his head when he gets back down to the common room.

"What happened?" Pepper worries.

"She doesn't give a shit." He grins. "Those were her exact words after I told her people think she's dead." He nods and Pietro takes a deep breath while setting his head on his hand after getting down there just seconds ago. "I tried to ask her if she was taking care of herself at all and she lashed out at me." He shakes his head before looking at Pietro. "I don't think she's eaten in days."

"What would happen if he tried?" Nat asks with furrowed brows.

"It'd probably be worse." Pepper nods.

"She doesn't want to hurt any of us, she just can't help it in this condition." Tony shakes his head. "It's clearly not the best idea for anyone to interfere anymore."

"It's become a danger for her and the relationships she holds so close to her heart." Pepper states.

"We can't even begin to understand what's going on in her mind, right now." Bruce states and Pietro shakes his head.

He'd understand. If she told him, like she would when he could convince her, he'd do whatever he could to make her feel heard and understood. That's all he wants for her. He'd give anything for another moment like that.