Gene shakes his head and takes a few deep breaths. Don't they understand? Saying it makes it real, a possibility, brings it into the realm of the concrete from the abstract. Once it's out there, the idea in their heads too instead of just his own, the virus is going to spread. If he keeps it to himself, he's the only one who has to suffer.

But they've taught him better than that, and, against his will, he's been learning, too.

"Tony, you were, the...usual," he mumbles. "Repulsor through the heart. Pepper..." He glances at Pepper and looks away, unable to meet her eyes.

"You were given the rings instead of me. You didn't just kill me, you...unmade me."