The conversation ends abruptly as Pepper composes herself. “We need a few minutes,” she says, voice stronger than what Tony expects, but he shakes his head at her. He hadn’t noticed that Loki was getting closer, but now that he’s focused on him, he can tell who is just through the door. Tony feels relief and annoyance at that relief, and maybe both of those show on his face as Pepper pulls away from him. It’s the first time she’s done that, almost as if she was afraid of being caught. “Oh. Him.”

“He probably could tell I was—“

“Upset? You? Tony,” she sounds so tired and maybe a little broken. Had she slept at all since the attack? “He did this. All of this. They’re saying that there’s over five thousand people missing. Thousands have died or were hurt—“

“Pepper, this wasn’t anyone’s plan. He’s not happy about it either,” Tony counters, under his breath, purposefully not mentioning how fulfilling an experience it’s becoming for him.

“Why not Thor?”

Tony frowns. “It doesn’t work that w— Wait. Why Thor?”

“That would have been sexier,” Pepper says as her heels click on the floor. She’s approaching it to open it for her boyfriend’s new... well. They don’t have a name for it other than soulmate and she’s not using that one.

“So is Thor your type now? Because he’s not mine.”

“I thought you like blondes,” Pepper shoots back, then clears her throat and wipes her eyes before she opens the door. Her gaze is steady. “Did you need something?”