Pepper had told him about the parental figures who'd arrived during the influx, including Gene's mother. Bakura had already known the woman was dead -- that had been tangentially related to the whole thing with Bianca, when it came right down to it, which had led to their first encounter -- but to have her back and knowing it was only temporary...

The thief nodded. "Yes," he said. "They have been. Harder for you than the others," he added. Not quite sympathy, but understanding. Tony and Pepper would see their fathers when they went home.