It's an oddly charged moment. Pepper can't really feel such a light touch through the armor, she knows that intellectually-- and yet... it's almost as if her skin prickles anyway when his fingers fan along the curve of her waist, tracing, brushing, learning every seam and interlocking plate. There's something strangely sultry about it, and for a moment she feels guilty; but is wrong if it's still Tony? Even if not hers.

Pepper has no idea just how intimately he truly does learn it, and far more besides. Private things and memories she hasn't yet even thought of speaking about with this Stark (and maybe never would have) in this onrush of new and confusing issues this world is still throwing at her.

Then all of the sudden he jolts, staggers even, pulling back and... fleeing, inexplicably. At least that's what it looks like to Pepper, whose heart leaps in abrupt fear. Don't leave me alone, flashes through her head sooner than she can fully comprehend it. Her Tony or no, he is at least someone she knows, someone she (hopes) she can trust in this strange place.

She hurries to follow him, boots clacking against the platform under her feet. "Tony! Wait. What's wrong?"