[What is he supposed to say to that? Maybe he's supposed to be on his own. Objectively, he knows that he chose a life where his friends and family were going to be in heightened danger, that it's not (always) his fault when someone dies. But he can't help but feel like the common factor, and Bruce may not be dead this time but it still feels like a wake-up call to just stop kidding himself and pretending otherwise. And maybe he just doesn't want to be around other people right now, doesn't want to wonder if or when they're going to be ripped out of his life, too.
no subject
So for now, he just leaves it unanswered.]