I wish it were that simple. [ He knows Tony is trying to be supportive, but he just can't bring himself to look at it that way, after the way he's always lived his life. Ned lets out that breath he's been holding, considers, switches the video setting to private. ]

'What people think' matters. 'What people think' can be life and death, if you're... [ He almost says 'a freak' but changes his mind. ] ...like me.

[ But Tony knows that. He was there when Ned ran into Dean, helped defuse the situation. Ned's expression softens and his voice is quieter when he adds ] I didn't get a chance to thank you yesterday. If you hadn't been there to calm that guy down... [ He trails off. Tony can probably figure the end of that sentence out on his own. ]