They didn't even make it halfway across the mowed meadow back to the Avengers building before Pepper felt Tony get heavier and heavier. His arm was over her shoulders and it had turned from an embrace to supporting him.

She frowned, tried to see his face in the dark, but Tony's head was hanging low. The only thing she received was his wheezing.

"Tony?" she asked, glancing over his back to Steve, who also must have felt the man's last reserves being depleted by having to walk.

Steve gave her a worried glance and lifted the inventor's other arm over his own shoulder keep the other man upright.

"You need a break? We could get a wheelchair," Pepper offered, careful they weren't overheard.

"No. I'm fine," Tony huffed, his voice thin and breathless.

Pepper realised Bruce had fallen back and started to speak to someone. She hoped he had called medical because Tony became weaker by the minute.

She knew Steve could probably carry Tony without even breaking a sweat, but they both knew the genius too well to know he'd fight them tooth and nails before allowing it.

When Tony started to pant like a marathon runner, she slowed down and both Tony and Steve had to do the same.

With her free hand, she lifted his chin up so she could see his eyes.

Tony's gaze was empty but he was aware enough to avoiding her questioning gaze deliberately.

"Can we please not stop? I so need a shower."

"Yeah, Mr Stank, you definitely do!" Rhodey called, catching up with them.

Tony giggled and it sounded a bit frantic.

Pepper could see the effort it took him to slowly put one foot in front of the other.

"Maybe we should..." she started.

"Don't even say it," Tony interrupted her. "You know what I need? One of my latest spare suits - this one is damaged." He looked down towards his chest, where the faint blue light glowed the way it always did.

Pepper assumed he desperately needed iron man to feel save at the moment.

She had so many questions about what had happened, she didn't know where to start.

Tony had not yet asked who else besides Peter had turned into dust. And she was glad he hadn't.

There were things more important right now than facing the horrific list of people they had lost.

In the distance, she saw a few people leave the building with a gurney, then head towards them, leaving the gurney by the door.

Tony must have missed it because he stubbornly moved on.

Some long moments later, the medics reached them. They were carrying a mobile oxygen supply and a large first aid bag.

Pepper and Steve stopped, and only then, the weak man between them lifted his head.

"Oh, please. Can we just not do that?"

"You're breathing as if you're having an asthma attack, Tony," Steve provided.

Bruce made a hand gesture that made it clear he wanted the oxygen mask. One of the medics handed it over and Bruce immediately placed it over his nose and mouth and fastened the elastic strings behind his head.

Stubbornly, Tony started to walk again, clearly not happy about interruption.

"Whoa," Bruce protested but stepped out of the way. The medic hurried to carry the oxygen container after them.

"At least this way I can't smell myself," Tony mumbled.

"What, spaceships don't have showers?" Pepper asked, aware that right now the man she loved was vulnerable and needed to cover it up no matter how ridiculous the conversation.

"Couldn't waste water for washing," Tony answered instead of making an airy remark, which kind of showed how much he was at the end of his tether.

.

They made it past the gurney and into the lit building.

Only when they reached the common room and Tony pulled his arms off Pepper's and Steve's shoulders, she realised how lost he must feel.
He certainly looked like it standing in the middle of the large room.

The brutal bright light underlined his haggard features and the malnourishment. The lack of sustenance had turned his skin an unhealthy colour and the dark circles under his eyes showed how stressful 23 days of slowly running out of air and food must have been – on top of knowing half of humanity was gone and having to witness people turning into ashes.

Tony withered if he couldn't work on something when he was depressed. The boredom must have been an additional source of stress.

"Tony, I want you in medical," Bruce winked them to go on.

But Tony silently shook his head and removed the oxygen mask from his face, then shoved it roughly back at the medic, who had the brains to back off.

"I need a shower first. Then a cheeseburger. After that I might be ready to face the shit."

"Please, you can't have a shower in your state. You might fall over. I want you on liquids and parenteral nutrition for starters," Bruce tried.

"No," Tony just said and turned towards the living spaces instead.

Bruce stepped in his way but didn't try to touch him.

"Tony?" he asked in a gentle tone.

Then it must have dawned on him that the genius just needed a break, because his gaze met Pepper's.

She nodded, although not liking the idea either.

Everyone was aware that Tony was very careful to hide signs of weakness even after all the fighting they had done together, especially when it came to emotional issues.

Tony wearily shuffled past Bruce and headed towards his apartment. Pepper grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, then followed him.

"Any intake - very very slowly! Just a few sips at a time," Bruce advised her.

"I'll make sure."