There was silence for a moment where Pepper just looked down at her drink. Then she nodded. "Yeah, I know," she said quietly, and smiled sadly at him. "That's why I'm here in the middle of the night, when everyone is asleep. Well, Gene's probably awake, but I heard my dad snoring."

Even if Pepper might have preferred Bakura simply comfort or commiserate with her, she appreciated the bluntness. He was right, and he didn't avoid pointing out when she was doing something unwise. He didn't coddle her, but he didn't make her feel like an idiot, either.

"The house just... feels different. It's quieter here, even if they're all sleeping. More normal. Plus, you know, I like spending time with you," she added with a light shrug. "Figured no one would notice if I slipped away for a few hours."