Out on the School Grounds Near the Dorms, Wednesday Evening

[batwaffles]

Even a few days in Gotham City was long enough for Stephanie to notice how quiet Fandom was by comparison. She didn't mind; it wasn't a bad kind of quiet, just a little jarring at first

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[hoorayimrich]

"You're back!" Hello to you as well, Tony. Because there weren't enough people with To-- names there yet.

[batwaffles]

EVERYONE BUT STEPHANIE. GOD.

"I am!" Stephanie bounded over to throw her arms around him. "And so are you! Did you peel yourself away from the video games for more than, like, two minutes?"

[hoorayimrich]

Tony took a deep breath, shaking his head before leaning against her. "Bruce and I ended up in the future where we had to fight a giant, robotic Charles Dickens."

Was he joking? It was hard to tell.

[batwaffles]

". . . seriously?" Stephanie eased up on the hugging just a touch. "You did both make it back --" yes, she'd listened to radio this morning -- "so I'm assuming that at least turned out decently."

[hoorayimrich]

"I'm thinking this is a lesson in why I don't go anywhere with Bruce." Sorry, Bruce.

[batwaffles]

"Oh, you shouldn't let that put you off the idea forever," Stephanie replied, always quick to defend him (which was a little dysfunctional, but there you go). Although she could totally see that being a recipe for trouble. "Was it fun, at least?"

[hoorayimrich]

"I built a version of the suit powered by steam." That was totally a yes.

[batwaffles]

"Translation into Tony-speak: a complete blast," Stephanie decided, laughing. "You'd find a way to work on something mechanical on a deserted island, I swear."

[hoorayimrich]

IN A CAVE. WITH A BOX OF SCRAPS.

"Depends on what I have with me. I'm not the Professor, you know. And coconuts aren't good for radios, in case you were wondering."

[batwaffles]

HER POINT EXACTLY.

"They're not?" Stephanie snapped her fingers. "You mean the television's been lying to me all this time?"

And back to the hugging.

"I'm glad you're back. And un-stomped."

[hoorayimrich]

"And you survived home," Tony added. "Oh, I finished your gift after I got back."

Seriously, Tony. The lab wasn't your second bedroom.

[batwaffles]

". . . have you even seen your dorm room since you got back?"

Stephanie and your narrative were on the same track here, Tony.

[hoorayimrich]

"Yes?" Not at all.

[batwaffles]

"Uh huh." Totally not believing you here, Tony.

[hoorayimrich]

"I got distracted by work." Which was the story of his life, really.