"What, dating?" Pepper asks softly after a beat, before clearing her throat delicately. "Or, well..." she trails off a bit awkwardly. Pretending to date. She doesn't know why pointing out the distinction makes her feel so apologetic. She's just doing what she'd been tasked to -- they both are. But the evident vulnerability on his face gets under her skin and burrows deep, some knot of emotion lodging behind her breastbone. She hadn't expected any of this when she'd reluctantly went along with Fury's plan, and she's left feeling slightly adrift herself.