She had no idea how much time had passed; so many things in the past days blurred together, from discoveries and renewed memories to the fire that she hated burning under her skin, the infusions she found herself secretly craving when Extremis once again held meaning for her. Although the compound healed her body quickly, Pepper was worn out from the sleepless nights that had preceded the return of her memories, and every emotional trial she'd endured since. So when Loki came in, Pepper didn't so much as stir. Her sleep was deep, and blissfully void of dreams.

So he read on, and it was some time before his voice reached her. At first, she didn't realize its significance, or even recognize its owner. She wasn't at all alarmed at the familiar tone and steady cadence of words, because in her barely awakened haze she heard his voice and felt a sense of ease--even trust. But that wasn't real, a fragment left over from a fictional life, even as part of her still struggled to grasp to it. That was why when Pepper opened her eyes, shifted so she could see him, she only stared at Loki in silence. Memories new and old, true and false told her two entirely different things about his presence there, and in those waking moments, she wasn't sure which to believe.