[ He says that, but Pepper can't help but feel it was. It was her fault. Her logic says they were all taken against their will and turned into something none of them were; that is wasn't really them.
But she can't shake this thought it was still her, making those decisions, duping all those people. Duping Steve. Just when they had started to forge the beginnings of an actual friendship. How could they ever go back to that? It hurts, and makes her feel hollow. ]
I don't think it makes any difference, does it? [ She shakes her head, lips flattening into a wan, bitter smile. The damage is already done any way you slice it. ]
Nobody ever mentioned this place had the power to do something like that. It was all "oh, sometimes it changes our clothing" and innocent, stupid things like that.
[ She huffs out a breath, chest and throat feeling tight. It's misplaced, but she feels a stab of bitter anger that nobody had thought to prepare her for this. ]