"We can do that," Pepper said, leaving the food where it was after taking a long drink of water and tucking the bottle back in the pack.
Looking back down into the cavern, she smiled. "It's beautiful here, isn't it? It's been years... I'm glad it's the same. That we were able to come here." There weren't many places like this near them, or even in the world; not caves. Nothing so beautiful or... dramatic. Everything about Tony was dramatic; he worked hard and played hard. Before Afghanistan, she'd cleaned up after him enough to see the evidence of that and after, his armor bore testament to his enthusiasm. But things were changing again.
Pepper turned to look at him, her expression suddenly very serious as she studied his face for a long moment. With careful deliberation, she took him in - a once over from head to toe, the way he held himself, even now. "This is a band-aid, isn't it?" she asked him quietly. "You still have the suit, and the Avengers, but here we are, risking traction because..." There were so many reasons. "You're my best friend, and I'm not going to watch you get drunk and fly your car into Chrysler Building."
Stopping, she drew in a shaky breath. She felt like she was going to throw up and she might have also been a little dizzy, but she took a few steps closer, forcing her eyes to his - universal Pepper language for 'I'm dead serious' - "I need you to think, Tony," she said quietly. "If I'm wrong, if you're going to be just fine, I'll..." 'be amazingly embarrassed.' "Be happy I misread this. But if you know I'm right - and I trust that you respect me enough not to just say I'm right because I'm offering -" she hesitated, taking a step away. Her breath caught. "Then I think we should start sleeping together."
She couldn't look at him; watch his face as he registered what he was saying and then stared - because she knew he would. And then he'd have to consider whether he'd heard right, and -
She couldn't do it, so turning away she took the plunge.