Field Trip to the Golden Age for rekindledtitan

[red_room]

There's a whole lot to like about Steve's new place in the Nexus.

It's in a quiet part of the multiverse, plenty of open air and room to train or scout undisturbed. It's a bigger place with a lot more room for furniture and a spare room that Natasha has already commandeered for a makeshift safe house including a bug out bag all ready to go at the drop of a hat. Ready for missions or trouble and ready to come back and have a safe place if her own place is compromised.

The other nice thing about it is having a perpetually warm doglike creature napping over her leg as she cleans her weapons next to one of the windows. Thanks to the Accords and Steve's determination to have that all go sideways and the fallout because of it they'd be on the run a lot more if they were frequenting their home. Having a safe place to escape to in the Nexus for a breather is every kind of good for the soul.

Natasha spies the bots PINpointing to the front walkway and tosses a look over her shoulder toward where Steve's sitting with his sketchbook in lap.

"Looks like the party's about to be started, Rogers."

She'll let Steve worry about getting up and answering the door for Blaze and Ghost. It buys her a minute to finish with her guns.

Comments

[rekindledtitan]

Ah. Ghost bobs slightly at Natasha's look. If they're going to repeat this visit, they're going to have to make sure they exercise the same care as they did today. Blaze is only going to get less comfortable with how much they're hiding. The more they get to know Stark, the more he does for them, the more he becomes a friend as well as Steve, then the harder it will be for her to accept lying to him.

But neither bot would accept putting Natasha or Steve in danger, so they'll have to take the alternative.

"Right. I'll always be available for contact," he says for now.

Actually exchanging details will have to wait, however. Just now Tony's getting swept up in a big metal hug from the Titan, stray sparks and all. Blaze doesn't know what this job represents for him, but she knows what it means to her, and her gratitude is intense.

[red_room]

"Romanoff what--?!"


Every line in Tony's posture is rigid and startled by the hug. His arms halfway raised as though he's not sure if he should defend himself or reach up to touch Blaze. Given the level of Tony's PTSD when it comes to robots trying to kill him Nat's honestly surprised his knee-jerk reaction wasn't to summon his suit.

Is someone else hugging this wreck of a man lately? Pepper, while affectionate, isn't much of a hugger. Curious.

"I think it's called a hug, Tony." She makes sure to drawl out the words just enough so that Tony's clear that Natasha knows there's no danger here. She's careful to watch until Tony relaxes ever so slightly and accepts his fate.

"Okay that-that's nice let me go. We don't do hugs here."

[rekindledtitan]

"Blaze." Ghost's optic flits over them, assessing carefully. But his Guardian is already releasing Tony and stepping back.

"Right. Sorry." She's a little sheepish, moreso when she realizes how tense Stark looks. There's an awkward rub at one antenna before she folds her arms. Most people she knows can be a little twitchy about sudden physical contact, but Stark definitely doesn't care for it. Probably better they establish that now, anyway. "I'm just- extremely grateful that you're willing to help. Thank you."

[red_room]

"Try. I'm wiling to try to help. Your tech kit is way different to what I'm used to dealing with. Honestly getting to learn more about your structure and systems are only going to help me out in the long run, so it's no trouble."

The more weird ass things Tony can study and reverse engineer the better off they'll be in the long run as stranger and stranger threats keep making themselves known. Without the Avengers (the proper Avengers at least) around to handle things Stark's trying to take on as much as he can manage on his plate to help keep things safe.

This will be a much needed research opportunity with something that won't potentially end in death or an all out war.

"You're welcome. I'll shoot you a message when I'm ready to do some follow up work. Until then, relax, have some fun. You should be running a bit better than you came in here."

[rekindledtitan]

Despite Tony's attempt to temper her hopes, Blaze doesn't look the least bit swayed. It seems she's determined to trust in him no matter what he'd prefer.

She gives him a nod, and turns to join Natasha while Ghost sorts out the contact details. "I owe you for this, too, Romanov. Both a debt and my thanks."