"She's enraptured to be sure, but I fear her interests are sorely misplaced." He just smiles a wry, little smile to himself. He isn't dim enough to think she isn't enamored with him, but it doesn't offend him enough to do much about it.

"I know many men who would better suit lessons of the mind, but he will not escape the inevitability of learning to defend himself." He looks thoughtful for a moment, wondering if he really trusts Stark to mentor anyone. "The two can be one and the same, of course, but there is practicality in throwing punches."