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Tony flinched.
"Hold still," Pepper said absently as she dabbed the concealer over his bruises, leaning over him.
It was far from the first time Tony had to give a press conference with a black eye. Hell, it wasn't even the first time he would have to give a press conference after being beaten to hell and back by someone he loved. Somehow, though, this was worse.
Somehow, he had trusted Steve more than he ever trusted Obadiah.
Maybe it was because he always knew Obi was a capitalist, through and through, in it for the money in a way that Captain America never was. Maybe it was because his Aunt Peggy had told him stories about Steve when he was a kid, and he grew up feeling like he knew the man.
Tony had spent years trying to live up to Steve's expectations of a superhero. And when he finally did — when he finally took responsibility for his actions, and expected others to do the same — that was when Steve decided to go rogue?
His life was some kind of cosmic joke, he was sure of it.
"There," Pepper said, leaning back. "The cameras might pick up some discoloration, but you look more or less awake and unharmed."
"Thanks," Tony muttered, dropping his head back. "Pep, am I doing the right thing?"
"You mean by keeping the truth from the press and taking the fall?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "I don't know. I really don't. You don't deserve it, that's for sure."
"It's not about what anyone deserves, Pepper," Tony argued, not for the first time. "It's about what's best for the world."
"I know, Tony," she said gently, running her fingers through his mussed hair. The motion soothed him, and he closed his eyes, leaning his head against her. "I just don't know why you have to suffer for it."
"I don't know either," Tony whispered. He was tired, so tired of always being the bad guy.
"Then don't," Pepper said, suddenly fierce. "There have to be other enhanced people out there, people who want to protect the world. There has to be an option that isn't the Avengers. I know you're worried about aliens, and after what you saw in New York, I can't blame you. But how can you trust them to protect the planet if they can't even protect one city? If they can't even listen to the people they're protecting?"
Her voice softened as she took in his exhausted appearance.
"Just go out there and tell the truth, Tony. Tell them what happened in Siberia. You deserve justice. We can worry about the world later."
Maybe she was right.
Maybe the world could wait.
Just for a while.