Her gaze was wide and blank, unfocussing. “My grandfather is dead.” Even less tone marked these words, as if she barely knew what she was saying. Then she blinked, once, and tears slid down her cheeks. Summer’s face worked, and mechanically she shoved the phone back into her pocket before both hands came to cover her face and she made a horrid half-muffled wail. Her shoulders shook with the effort of smothering gasping, strangled sobs, mingled with more of those aching cries.
Jarvis was hugging her again before he could fully process it, though only for a moment. One hand on her shoulder, he gave her a few quiet moments to gather herself, before gently asking her, “Would you like some privacy, or shall I bring you to Mr. Stark?” Mr. Stark’s office was empty for the moment, and would likely remain so for the rest of the day. He didn’t see any harm in letting her borrow it if she needed to.
“I don’t know,” was all she could manage. “I don’t — I can’t — ” Another wail struggled out of her throat. This wasn’t like when she was crying after fighting with Dummy; this was infinitely more painful, tearing anguish that rocked her whole body. “It’s already so awful for him, I can’t — I should just — ” She wanted Tony, desperately, and struggled with the part of herself that didn’t want to add to his burden. “Please?” she whimpered finally.