From the scene where Tony dies that heartbreaking scene
The way Peter claws at Tonyâs chest is so desperate, itâs like a child grabbing at his parentâs shirt, trying to comfort himself
Itâs like trying to hold onto something he knows is floating away from him
When I first watched it, it feels like Pepper is just pushing him off to the side
But the way she grabs him is actually very gentle, and she immediately ushers him right into Rhodeyâs arms, and the way his hand clasps over Peterâs shoulder is so protective
Because she needs to talk to her husband, but she knows someone needs to hold onto this kid thatâs falling apart
And she also knows that, as long as Peter is right here in front of him, begging him to hold on, that Tony is going to keep fighting, even though they both know itâs a losing battle
I know people read the âweâre going to be okayâ line to refer mostly to Pepper and Morgan, but the âyou can rest nowâ line calls directly back to that scene at the cabin
The scene where Tony thinks about scrapping the whole thing and not risking the life he has now, and Pepper asks, âbut would you be able to rest?â
Would you be able to rest, knowing that people out there are still picking up the pieces, even five years later?
Would you be able to rest, knowing that Peter Parker is out there somewhere, knowing that his family misses him, knowing that, at some point in time, his family grew to include you?
And the answer, we find out in the next scene with that photo, is no
So when she tells him, âyou can rest, nowâ, sheâs also saying, âIâve got them. Both of them. Iâll protect your family.â
Itâs fitting that Rhodey is the first one to get to Tony, because heâs always been the first one to get to Tony, has been there the longest, from the start
And then Peter comes in the middle, because he ushers in this new era in Tonyâs life, is a reminder of how much Tony has grown during this eleven-year journey
And Pepper is last, because sheâs the endgame
Itâs her, itâs always her
Sheâs the only one that can tell him to let go, because he knows sheâll be there to pick up the pieces, just like she always has
He said, once, that he couldnât sleep until he put a suit of armor around the world
But Pepper is right there, his rock, strong as always, vowing to be the suit of armor around his world
Theyâll be okay, sheâll make sure of it
And when he drifts off, heâll dream of her
