[Blame the practice she's gotten dealing with reporters. Those vultures would feast upon a single misspoken word. Between that and Pepper's inability to lie worth a damn, she has to be incredibly careful when she deals with them. She doesn't want to give Loki anything he can use either, at least nothing more than she already has.

But redemption is a tricky thing; even if it accomplishes none of those things, it's still something they have to strive for. They have to at least try to make the world better, and not by being the lesser of the evils.

So even if Loki were to speak of Thanos, claim his actions were for the better? She wouldn't accept it as an excuse for what he'd done, and certainly not a pardon. He's right in that she won't see what he claims to be the whole of the picture.

And Pepper's not ashamed of it in this case.]

Incapacitate only. [Does Loki need the reminder? Probably not. Yet for Pepper it still bears repeating to a being that's known for having a twisted sense of mercy.

But maybe it would offer him a small comfort to know that their situation isn't that dire. Certainly once Extremis activated within her, Pepper could do greater harm. But she's from a time after Tony has managed to stabilize the reaction itself, even if he hasn't undone the effects of the compound. Her DNA has been warped, mutated into something that haunts her to try and define, but she wouldn't die from it.

And neither would he.]

Okay. [Both hands then, and Pepper walks towards that shouting, holding the staff with all the expertise of someone who might have only carried a baseball bat once or twice in her life. She calls out to the guards once they come into view, smiling at the insanity of her own situation as she draws their attention to her.]

Hey guys; I think I got a little lost. I'm trying to find that illusive soulmate your company kept promising me, but so far, no luck.