Immediately, Tony withdrew his hand, passing it over his stomach and smoothing his sweater as if that had been the intent, not to go anywhere near Pepper and incur any emotions. His tongue darted out, too, wetting his lips before he could give Pepper a blithe smile. "It's in his blood," he said, turning his palm up instead. "Not the kidnapping," he clarified, waving that away, "the level-headed clarity even when under pressure." Hoping that was enough to quell any further stutters in Pepper's posture, he gave her an apologetic look with raised eyebrows for the intrusion, then moved to retreat around his desk. It, the kidnapping, probably would have never happened at all if he had been there, or if he had been kind enough to respect and protect their privacy in the first place.