ironheart.

“Imma need you to check me on this.”

Dark eyes were trained on the switchboard that were powering N.A.T.A.L.I.E. The A.I. was glitching slightly. Riri normally would have just fixed it on her own, but she couldn’t turn down the risk of letting her previously deceased mentor’s alternate reality counterpart help her out. It had been a long time since she had seen any kind of Tony Stark, and Riri’s respect for the man remained high. Still, her lab was her space. She wasn’t used to having others in there.

“Uh, yeah. Yeah!” Cindy raised her voice, unsure if Riri heard her over the noise of the welding as she awkwardly stood in the corner of the room.

“I was just gonna ask how you guys are holding up with C.R.A.D.L.E.. But it can wait.”

“What are you welding?”

“You can’t just like, stop for a second?”

“I was supposed to meet with Ms. Marvel, but it seems as though she’s running a little late.”

“you see, history is much more fascinating than you’d expect it to be.”

“Nope, stop right there. Before you say anything— this is just as confusing for me as it is for you. Scratch that— this is way more confusing for me. So just- don’t say anything stupid, alright?”

“hi, i’m bucky. i have one arm –– is that too forward?”

okay, so, riri had been keeping her distance. viv had been making an effort and that was cool, but riri just wasn’t ready. there was the kiss that had left her conflicted and then the fact that they had all thought viv was dead when she was really just helping c.r.a.d.l.e. round them up. she had explained and all had forgiven her. riri had forgiven her too, it was just... complicated.

“just fit inside, you stupid --” she muttered under her breath, trying to wiggle a part into the nanotech gauntlet she was working on. seeing a flash of pink as viv phased into the lab, riri sat back and shoved her googles up into her curls.

“A lot changed for me after Pleasant Hill. Mentally, physically.. There’s definitely been some sort of reality shift.”

“They’re not actual earthquakes coming out of my hands. Technically it’s vibrations.”

Felicia stood and waited for her chips to dispense from the machine, but when they got stuck she let out a groan and hit the glass. “The one time I try to pay for something.” She grumbled to herself.

“What is this Tik Tok that I keep hearing mortals go on about?”

“Careful. I don’t remember if I put my explosive-tip arrows in that bag or not. Or was the acid tipped arrows.. Shit, I dunno.”

“God, you’re telling me. I hadn;t even considered that possibility.”