[Audio: Filtered] Tying Loose Ends: (Friday, Week 19)

[pepperspray]

[Filtered to Tosh, Lyall and the three Avengers still above ground and breathing:]

I'm a little concerned with how the second stage is hitting me. I don't want to worry people generally, but I know all of you can keep on top of things.

[Pepper honestly sounds more dead level than concerned, voice a colourless murmur and the video kept off.]

Just in case I'm too out of it: if we get samples, or a dose of vaccine. Anything. Let people know to talk to Captain Silene. She has a communicator, she's a contact at the port town. Knows me. She might know where manufacturing facilities are.

[Filtered to Tony:]

I... Tony. I would really like you here right now.

[This, spoken privately, is where the concern has gotten to. Beyond that, there's a thread of naked fear that's been missing from Pepper's previous determined sulking her way through Stage One.]

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[Audio]

[pepperspray]

Thank you.

[There's a long silence after that, broken only by the light and too-rapid breathing that at least reassures that Pepper's still in the land of the living for the moment.

When she does speak, it's with the air of someone saying something while they can still get it out.]

I can't say I don't wish I was still in New York, but... I'm glad to have met you, Randolph. You're a good man.

[Audio]

[professorwolf]

[Lyall doesn't say that she shouldn't talk like that and she certainly won't die-- her breathing doesn't sound right, as it is. It sounds too much like people who have died, here in the hospital and the sickrooms.]

Who knows, Miss Potts? Perhaps someday in your world, if we ever get back to our own places and times, you will meet me again. Though I am not entirely certain why I would go to New York.

[He does add, more seriously-- though that was fairly serious, anyway, despite the words themselves,]

And I you, Miss Potts. You are wonderful to work with, and I would hate to take on this whole arrangement on my own. Take care of yourself. I will be by again in the morning, all right?

[Audio]

[pepperspray]

Well, now I have two reasons to pull through this.

[Pepper's tone is light but threadbare, as she reaches for humour and confidence enough to fake it for Lyall's sake.]

Finally getting you to call me Pepper, and finding a way home so we can have lunch in Manhattan.

[Audio]

[professorwolf]

Now, Miss Potts, that would be highly inappropriate. Mister Stark might take it amiss, my being so familiar with you.

[He's joking. Sort of. Mostly. It is, however, unlikely she's going to manage getting her given name just yet.]

Even if you do not, Miss Potts, there is still the option of the pods. Chime came back... you have every chance that he does.

[Audio]

[pepperspray]

Hope for him. Hope for Bruce...

[Pepper's fading out badly, and her breathing is getting sharper and faster.]

Keep hoping. For all of us.

[It takes another minute before the connection is dropped, but aside from the continued fight to breathe there's no further word from Pepper.]

[Audio]

[professorwolf]

I will, I promise.

[And he listens to her breathing for a minute until she disconnects. For a moment, he strongly considers contacting Stark right then... not to mention stopping by her apartment. Though what the latter would do... he really doesn't know.

For now, he just puts the phone down and gets back to his rounds.]