"Rhodey's better at the tough love part. Trying to be three types of friends at the same time is not easy." Bruce was fairly good at his part of things, but it was an easy one in comparison. They kept their conflict to projects and bigger picture problems. Personal troubles were usually handled by someone else. He didn't have much to add in that area. His personal life was non-existent. For all of Tony's issues, that seemed to be something he was actually doing well at. Bumps on the road, yes, but he had a beautiful woman he respected and treated well.

"It feels like you're cheating on her. That's my perspective. That's how I would see it, if it were me." It wasn't him, and Pepper was capable of defending herself. She didn't actually need him to swoop in and try to defend her honor when she wasn't there. But someone had to at the same time. "I don't think being faithful only counts when the person still exists in your space. Being faithful counts when they're not, and you have opportunities, but you choose not to take them. I can't imagine Pepper doing this to you if the positions were reversed." Maybe he was putting her on a pedestal, or maybe Pepper struck him as someone who shared his values. He thought about Betty and his fidelity to her when he still believed they could make things work, but that was a choice, one she never asked of him or followed herself.

"If I haven't yelled at you about other things, I'm definitely not gong to yell at you about this." Ross was ten times more personal and offensive. Bruce relaxed when Tony touched him again. He wasn't that mad then. They could still be them. He snuck out a hand to steal Tony's own again, thumb gently running along his palm. "I worry sometimes, that if I bug you enough, you won't want me around anymore." It isn't a rational fear, but for someone like Bruce, who was used to being rejected and isolated, it was a very real concern. "I'm not giving you mindblowing orgasms or distracting you from bad things." He was replaceable.