Conflicted, but emotionally inept, Deadpool struggled with the urge to reach out to her and pull her back. Was it just that simple? Could it be?
But the alarm bells were going off in his head, already deep into panic mode, and she was offering him a chance to escape. He had to take it.
"I'll walk you back," he said, at last, knowing that if he just took off, it might look like he was running away.
They started walking back to Stark Tower, Deadpool looking completely out of place strolling with her through Central Park. A child ran across their path, chasing a ball, and stopped short at the sight of Deadpool, mouth gaping.
Distracted away from his inner turmoil, Deadpool bent over, so that he was closer to the child's level, and said, without inflection: "Boo."
The child shrieked, in glee or terror (or both) and ran away again, ball forgotten, still shrieking.
Straightening up, Deadpool grinned, feeling better immediately. "Still got it," he said to Pepper, proud of himself.