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What Happens When Hope is Lost?

"You really think I'm broken?"

Her voice was filled with sadness but her eyes were filled with hardened rage. She refused to cry in front of him. Barely anytime since she woke up and she was already regretting her decision.

Bruce held his breath, shaking his head, "No, that's not what I-"

Emily cut him off with a sharp glare. She huffed, tucking a strand of hair away. "No, it's fine. I see where you're coming from. I mean I left everything and everyone behind just to run off to space to try and find you after you abandoned me. Only someone with serious problems would do that."

"I didn't abandon you," Bruce countered, his frustration growing as well. "I was pushed into a hole! That wasn't exactly my fault, was it?"

The air in the room grows heavier.

"You were trying to run from the fight. You were being a coward."

"I was trying to keep you safe."

Emily laughed dryly, shaking her head, "I have never needed protection."

"Except when you got shot and almost died. And now? You... you're like me, you're..." Bruce cut himself off before finishing.

Emily already knows what he was going to say. How could she not? "A monster? That's what you were going to say. Something that needs to be cured."

"That's not what-"

"Then say what you mean!" She blurted out, tears finally springing in her eyes. "I'm sorry I'm so messed up and can't be normal. I'm so sorry that you had to have me as-

Bruce pushes his glasses up his nose, scoffing slightly. "Let's not kid ourselves. You did fine without me. You even found someone who was better than me apparently. You even took his name."

Emily rubs her arm, lacking the ability to look him in the eyes, "Tony... was here. At this point, I've known him longer than I've known you. And to be honest? It's easier with him." Her voice softens considerably. "It's easier to love him," she admits quietly. Bruce's face twists like he had been punched in the gut. "But you? It hurts. It fucking hurts to love you. Out of everyone that leaves, it hurts the most when you do."

Bruce's face falls. He takes a step back, his breath slowing to the point of nonexistence. The world in all its chaos is frozen. Slowly, he speaks, "It hurts to love you too. You don't care about your own life. You're constantly trying to throw it away and I have no idea why."

"BECAUSE OF YOU!" She yells out of nowhere, clenching her fists until they turn white. "You're not listening! You're more than just my dad. You're the first person I connected with when I got my emotions. When you left it didn't just make me feel sad. I was devastated. You shook the foundation of everything I was built on- everything you built me on! Tony is the only reason I'm not dead right now!"

"No... did you...?" Bruce trailed off, not being able to finish. It's not possible. She wouldn't. Deep inside Bruce knew it was true. Her eyes had lost their hope.

She drills holes into the ground with blurry vision, "I pushed everyone away. I completely isolated myself. I'm at my worst when I'm alone. I couldn't see a way out.Hot angry tears splatter onto the ground. Her fists tremble at her side. "Tony found me. Even after all I did to push him away, he still cared. I only ever needed one thing from you.  Allowing myself to love you ruined me."

"Then I won't make you. If it's so painful being around me......" He turns away from her, hiding his own tears. "...then you shouldn't be around me."