Disclaimer: Unless you don't recognize them, I don't own them. No money or other profits are being made from this attempt at entertainment.

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I've decided to turn the initial story into a series showing the development of the relationship between Bruce and Tony. The title is in honor of the Word of the Day that served as the inspiration for the initial piece.

For those of you that have already read the first chapter, you may want to go back a reread it. I have made quite a few revisions (though the overall theme and most of the dialogue remains the same).

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The first time Ironman met Batman it was Bruce's turn to need restraining, not that Tony was aware of it being Bruce at the time.

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"What the hell are you doing in my city?"

"Fucking hell!" Tony couldn't help but jump in surprise at the sudden angry voice that came from behind him. Turning around, he beheld the infamous Batman in all his gothic glory.

Tony was thankful that the mask hid his disgusted grimace; millions of dollars of equipment was built into his suit, and a man dressed as a giant bat managed to sneak up on him. Back to the drawing board.

Regaining his equilibrium, Tony took in the man before him. Without a doubt, his physical presence was impressive. But that hadn't been why Tony had been so anxious to meet this man. He had to know…to understand how a man that, from all accounts had absolutely no superpowers still managed to be one of the most respected and feared of heroes.

Now, the focus of all that barely contained menace, Tony thought he understood the feared part at least. Such confidence! Tony was fully geared up in his Ironman suit, with all sorts of weapons and powers at his disposal. And yet there stood the Batman, rudely demanding and seemingly fully confident in his ability to handle things should he deem it necessary.

"Um…I was in the neighborhood…" a warning on his internal screens captured Tony's attention as he was answering. Something was heading their way…something incredibly fast…

Tony shifted into a more offensive position, only to stand back down again when a very famous alien came to a sudden halt behind Batman. Those impossibly turquoise eyes would have been incredibly disarming, if Tony hadn't already had blank white lenses pinning him to the wall behind him. Seriously, what kind of man made Superman seem nonthreatening by comparison?

"I asked you a question, Stark," was growled out impatiently. Tony shook himself out of his musings and found himself wishing for a glass scotch as the menace radiating from Batman actually seemed to increase. The hand that Superman not-so-casually placed on Batman's shoulder did make him feel a little better. Until he noticed just how warily the Man of Steel was regarding the Bat.

"I…ah…I happened to be in Gotham for business…er, Stark Industries' business, and thought it might be a good opportunity to…introduce myself?" Tony offered, beginning to think that this was a very bad idea.

"I don't care what you do in your role with Stark Industries. But I don't need some bored little rich boy playing superhero in Gotham."

Tony noticed Superman give Batman an odd, pointed look at that. He was too disappointed to pay too much attention to it, however. He had come here to meet and hopefully learn from a legend. Instead he found a pretentious, egotistical jackass.

"Oh come on!" Tony cried, throwing caution to the wind, an ache in his heart. "Maybe I haven't been around as long as you, but I'm just as qualified – if not more so, if it's true that you really are just a regular guy."

Superman was looking at him as if he had grown a second head, but he didn't care. No one ridiculed Tony Stark. In spite of the dangers, he had successfully pulled Stark Industries out of the weapons business. Sure there had been a few rough months at first, but now they were back in the black and steadily making a name for themselves in other technology-related areas. He had put countless hours into designing and training with his suit. He had successfully accomplished three missions with S.H.I.E.L.D. and one on his own since becoming Ironman. He wasn't some second-class superhero, some sidekick around to amuse the big boys.

Batman snorted, obviously unimpressed. "Keep thinking that. I'll be sure to send flowers to your funeral. In spite of what you seem to think, a fancy suit does not make a hero. I don't care what you do back in Malibu but as long as you're in Gotham, the only suit you will be wearing is your business suit."

"I'm not a damned kid! I can take care of myself, and I'll do what I want, when I want, where I want regardless of what you say! The last I heard, you hadn't been made King of the Superheroes." Who did this son of a bitch think he was?

"As if I'd want to be responsible for you lot," Batman sneered. "Believe me, the less I see of you all, the happier I am. All I ask is that you stay out of my city."

Before Tony could let the bastard know exactly what he thought of that little declaration, Superman broke in. "Look, Ironman, I know he sounds…perhaps a bit presumptuous," the Man of Steel sent a quick look over to Batman at the audible grunt of disdain that followed that, "but it really is for the best that those unfamiliar with Gotham not get involved without Batman. The villains here are uniquely dangerous, beyond what you will probably see anywhere else - at least at the same scale. It's not so much that Batman doesn't want other heroes encroaching in his domain, but…"

"I get tired of rescuing them when they get in over their heads and wind up getting injured, captured and/or brainwashed," Batman interrupted as a sheepish look appeared on Superman's face.

And there went the little bit of calm that Tony had regained during Superman's speech.

Suddenly the night sky was alight; the call going out that Batman's assistance was required. The Dark Knight drew himself up, glancing briefly at his symbol outlined in the sky, before turning to Superman. "I'll take a look at the file you brought over when I get a chance and let you know when I find something."

Then he faced Tony, the full weight of his intimidating presence hitting Tony like an actual blow. "As for you, Stark, listen to what I said. Keep Ironman out of Gotham. It's in your own best interests."

With that he pulled a grappling gun of some sort seemingly out of thin air and took off through the night, flying through the skies without powers or suit.

Tony turned back to Superman, who was still standing on the rooftop watching him with a considering stare. "How the hell do you put up with that bastard?" He honestly couldn't understand why Superman of all people – the superhero of superheroes – let that arrogant asshole brush him off like that.

A fond, amused smile came to Superman's face. Tony had the impression that this wasn't the first time he had been asked that question. "I'll admit, Batman can be a little prickly at times…alright, most of the time," he corrected when Tony tilted his head in disbelief, "but he really is a good friend, and a better man. What you said…about him not having powers…frankly, I think the fact that he does what he does, risking his life to protect Gotham even though he is only a 'normal' man, makes him more of a hero, not less."

Tony couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You can't really believe that! He just blew you off as if you were completely below his notice!"

"Not below his notice, it was just that Gotham was calling," Superman corrected gently. "With Batman, Gotham always takes precedence over anything and everyone else."

"I still think he's an arrogant bastard." Tony folded his arms over his chest, realizing after he did so that he probably looked like the spoiled brat Batman had accused him of being. Dammit! Now the Bat had him questioning himself. This was not the way their meeting was supposed to have gone!

A shrug was his response. "He doesn't let people in easily – or all that willingly. If he had his way, he'd keep the entire world at arms' length…or several arms' lengths. But you won't find a more loyal, dependable person to call friend."

Here Superman paused. "He really is right, you know," he said earnestly, his expression begging Tony to believe him and not take offense. "He could have phrased it better, but you really are better off not involving yourself…involving Ironman…in Gotham until you've got more experience under your belt and have done your research when it comes to the villains you'll find here."

For crying out loud! Even Superman was doubting him. "Not you, too! I'm not some wet-behind-the-ears newbie! I've been at this successfully for six months now. I've fought big, bad, evil men bent on world domination."

"Hold on, I don't doubt your experience or ability," Superman interceded, holding his hands out in a calming motion. "But I'm speaking from experience here."

That pulled up Tony short. "What?"

Superman shrugged, a self-depreciating grin on his face. "When I first met Batman, I'd been Superman for over a year. He gave me the same speech he gave you, about staying out of Gotham. I didn't put much stock in it, but for a while my attention was elsewhere. Then, about a year and a half later there happened to be a lull in activity in Metropolis. After scanning the world for emergencies, a situation in Gotham brought me back here. I ignored Batman and rushed right in as I usually do. And wound up under Poison Ivy's control, at her mercy until Batman was able to free me though not until I nearly killed him."

Tony could only stare in shock at the other man. So Batman really was just looking out for him – in his own overbearing way. The odd pressure in his chest abated a bit as he took in Superman's story. Not that that excused the Bat for treating him like shit…but it did give him hope for the future.

"Yeah, well…he's still an ass."

"Trust me, the attitude grows on you after a while," Superman laughed, putting a friendly hand on Tony's shoulder. Together they stood looking out over the dark city below them, thoughts on her equally dark protector.