It was gratifying to finally see any joy in her and Tony hoped she would remember some of that by the time her own Tony finally got his ass back here, or this would have all been a huge waste of time and effort. Still, even as Tony grinned at Pepper's teasing and her laugh, it was hard with an irritation he couldn't just put aside at her misunderstanding. Before she was finished-- when she brought up her strange, far too personal, miscast husband, Tony was approaching her again, coming around the desk with his brittle smile and hands waving to slow her down so she could listen. This was serious, Tony was kneeling by her feet he was so serious and Pepper needed to give him her hands so he could explain, "No, Pep, I don't want that. I don't want you to do that-- anymore." That the other Tony put up with anyone 'looking after' him, especially putting Pepper in that demeaning position, was personally offensive, but it took Tony a moment to consider that might not have been what it sounded like. "I want to take care of you," he clarified, but even that seemed like it could be misinterpreted and Tony heaved a sigh, bowing his head into her lap in defeat.