Are you? [Well, far be it from Pepper to undo the good, however unintentional the method is. Billy does look more relaxed, and that had been her goal.] Good.

[And better, since Billy seems ready to veer to a new topic. Pepper's glad for it, and she easily matches Billy's smile as she counters his question.]

Are you sure you want to hear about my love life? Which is apparently more important than I realized, considering the fate of superheroes everywhere apparently hinges on my continued relationship with Tony Stark.