Pepper had caught you.

You hadn't been doing anything bad or wrong, no. At least, you didn't think you had.

Just...You had been staring at Tony, at his laughing, happy, handsome face. Just, ya know, taking him in and allowing that feeling to wallow in the warmth that had been almost-but-not burning in your chest. You had sighed and allowed him to sooth your anger, your need for wanton destruction with the dancing cadence of his warm, whiskey shot voice. Had sat still and allowed him to go on and on about things that fly even over your head as you leaned into your palm with your cheek and inhaled his scent of sweat and oil and grease and the ozone of electronics.

And the ginger had only smiled sweetly, sadly at him.

Yeah, she understood.