Something faintly devastated flickers across Pepper's expression at that, rolling her lips into her mouth as she glances down at their hands like she's only now realized they're still holding hands, just in time for Tony to let go. She supposes that's a fair enough reasoning-- but when he goes and adds that, she snaps her head back up with a little frown.

"You know me better than that," she says, tone still quiet and earnest. She hopes he does, anyway. Knowing this exchange is turning too real and too much all of the sudden, she makes an effort to match his wryness with her own, mustering a little smile as she tips her chin up with her habitual pep.

"You know if I ever decide to quit, I'll do it to your face."