What if he doesn't want to deal with it, Pepper. What if his dealing method is just running for the hills.

"Yeah," Zephyr agrees. "Wow." This is wistful, and he doesn't say anything more on the subject. Just thinking of those three is... vastly bittersweet. He loves them well, but they aren't here, and it's probably for the better that they aren't.

He keeps a few paces behind her, sweeping a similar scan across their surroundings as he goes. "Everyone's got potential. Not everyone does something with it. Schrodinger?" This isn't a reference he's got.