Super-honey? [No one else could have gotten Pepper to laugh as she does then, warm and sudden at Tony gives her yet another nickname. His hand lingers sweetly warm on her cheek, and Pepper lets her eyes close as she leans into that touch.] That has got to be the worst superhero name ever.

[And she doesn't have words to express how much she loves him for saying it.

He had indeed said he would save her, make her human again after Killian's attempts to turn her into a trophy. She doesn't need to hear that the choice is hers to know Tony would do whatever she asked, fix her or leave her as she is. She leans down without another word, presses her lips to his and thanks whatever force that has drawn them here for bringing them both. She prides herself on her ability to not only cope, but prosper in adverse situations, to make sense out of chaos in whatever method she can. She was okay here on her own, without Tony at her side.

But God, she feels so much closer to whole just having him there.]

I don't know why that should surprise you. It is Natasha. [Her voice is soft only because she's still close to him, breathing in his scent even as she chides him a bit.] I'm also pretty sure you skipped over a big part there. What exactly do you mean by "generally unpleasant stuff."