om_main | Tony and Betsy, Backdated 09/02

Betsy returns to New York and interrogates Tony about what she's missed.

Betsy was once again incredibly grateful for the apartment in Tony's building when she finally got back to New York. It would be a couple of weeks before she started sleeping in her room at the school again, and most likely that would be secondary accommodations for days when she was teaching or training. The apartment afforded her much more privacy and felt much more like a second home. After she got settled back in, saving the brunt of her unpacking for later, she checked to see if Tony was in residence. It was pretty late, but since JARVIS let her up Betsy assumed he was open for company.

"Tony?" she called into the pent house. "You decent?"

"Never," he called back, before appearing out of the kitchen cradling an impressively large mug. Though he was at least wearing his at-home clothes, so that was something. "You need something?"

"I wouldn't go so far as 'need'," Betsy said with a small smile. "I'm here for you. What do you think?"

"Well, you're back in the news," Tony said with a small smirk and headed in her direction. "Maybe you're too big time for little old me anymore."

"You are pretty old news," Betsy said dryly. She headed over and dropped a kiss to his cheek. "I guess I may still like you for your brain."

"And my brain appreciates it," he promised solemnly. "I did see the press conference. Nice work."

"Thanks," she said softly. "Glad to be back in the world. Are you ready to let me parade you around like arm candy yet?"

"Always," Tony said, though the thought of Steve did make him pause just briefly. Steve would probably understand, though. He hoped.

Betsy glanced up sharply. Then shook her head. "So what do you have to tell me from my time away?"

"Not much," he said with a liquid roll of his shoulders, something that wasn't quite a shrug. "Been working. Getting more furniture. And I'm kind of dating someone."

She nudged his shoulder. "Kind of dating someone. Would this someone happen to be tall, blonde, full of patriotism and a generous spirit?"

"It might," Tony said, drawing himself up with all of the dignity he could muster. "And maybe more than kind of. We're just...not public. Or not public public." Of all people, she'd probably get that distinction the best.

She brushed her fingers through his hair, a casual gesture of affection. "How about with the school? Not that you're there, but they'll probably still invite you to parties now as a plus one status."

He leaned into her with a faintly pleased sound. "Long as nobody's planning on selling us out to the tabloids, the school should be fine. I mean, I wasn't planning on posting a notice on the walls or anything."

"As long as I'm allowed to comment--especially seeing how I'll be living here most of the time, so I'll be privy to any walks of shame."

"As if I could stop you," Tony said fondly. "He'll probably turn interesting colors, but he does that anyway."

"I like him. He's steady. And he cares for you, so I may actually approve."

"Thank you," he said dryly, though there was some actual honesty buried under it.

"Ooh, do I get to be the one who gives him the ominous speech that if he hurts you he'll have to deal with me? Please tell me no one else has given the speech yet."

And that, oddly, drew him up short. "Uh," Tony said with an owlish blink. "Not that I know of?"

She laughed softly. "Fantastic. I'll have to visit him. I'll have Pietro on call with cookies after."

He gave her a slightly wary look. "Please don't terrify him. He's still willing to put up with me at the moment."

"I'll only scare him a little bit," she promised.

"Thank you. I think."

She laughed and nudged him further into the room. "Catch me up on everything I've missed? If nothing eventful has happened you can tell me about your handholding and love poems."

"There were no love poems," Tony said with a snort, and allowed himself to be propelled towards the sofas. "And not much to report around here, other than you may want to start knocking before you come in the workshop."

"More like, I may want to start shielding before I come to your workshop," she said with a delicate snort.

"Same difference," he said with a dismissive wave. "I mean, I would invite you to watch, but Steve's head might explode."

She laughed at that. "Oh god. Yeah, you're both precious, but that doesn't really do anything for me."

"Well you're allowed your lapses in taste."

She reached to dishevel his hair. "My lapse. I dare not get anywhere near your teen romance. At least the two of you can't be any worse than the entire school filled with UST."

"Has it gotten worse over there?" Tony asked with a snort and dropped onto the couch. "Hormones everywhere."

"I was doing my best to avoid it this summer," Betsy admitted. "I guess I'll find out when I head upstate to catch up with my schedule. I'm sure they've multiplied."

"Oh come on," he said with a grin and nudged her with his shoulder. "You love it. It's like your own personal soap opera, except you actually get to smack people for being stupid."

"Sadly, I don't get to smack them," Betsy said dryly.

"You should. It'd probably do wonders for your stress levels."

"I'd get fired, but it's not like I need the income," she said with a snicker of amusement.

"See? There you go," Tony said brightly. "Just let me know ahead of time so I can bring the popcorn."

"Thank you Tony for your wise advise." She reached and patted him on the cheek.