"It doesn't?" Gene says, and laughs bitterly. "I always thought the world worked on the rule of an eye for an eye. And I'm due a lot of blinding; I can't ever make up for what I did." The implication that by staying he remains a coward is left unsaid.

"I won't do it again. How could I? And if we go home...I vowed to turn myself around and protect the world. I want to make things right. But I'm scared, Tony, I...I don't want to lose you."

This is the most open he's been about his fears in a while. Thanks for that, Dust.