Unexpected // An MCU Story (Book One)

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Hours later, I sat at the work table next to Tony, watching as he worked on the boot of the suit with one of the robots.

"Next." He instructed. "Up. Not in the boot, Dum-E. Right here. You got me? Stay put. Nice. You're of no benefit at all. Move down to the toe. I got this. Okay, I'm sorry, am I in your way? Up. Screw it. Don't even move. You are a tragedy." 

I nodded to myself, watching how he worked and memorizing it for later.

"Hey, you're just staring at me while I work. It's a bit creepy." Tony said after a moment.

"Well, let me help you and that won't be a problem."

He looked at me for a moment, looking to be considering it for a split second before going back to work. "No."

"Okay, then." I said, staring at him intensely instead.

"Would you cut that out?" He said after a moment of silence.

"Not until you let me help. We had a deal."

"We do not have a deal, this is blackmail."

"Same thing! Kind of."

"If I find you something to do, will you cut that out?"

"Yes!" I said excitedly, leaning forward.

"Fine. Just give me a second and you can help with the test runs. Stay out of my way until then. Got it?"

"Got it." I nodded in agreement.

He worked on the boots for a little longer while I watched him work intently, my fingers twitching in anticipation on the table in front of me. I thought if I memorized his movements close enough I could build my own pair eventually.

"Alright. Time to test it." He said after a while. "You can be the camera man."

I was hoping for a more exciting task, like testing them out myself or something but I wasn't complaining. At least I wasn't being left out again.

"Awesome." I smiled.

He turned on a camera and starting recording, handing it to me before leading me to a more open part of the workshop. 

"Keep the camera on me, you got that?" He instructed.

"Yep!"

As soon as he turned around I flipped the camera and gave a small smile and a quick wave before turning it back to him, thinking he didn't notice. He didn't say anything about it, so I just assumed I had gotten away with it, proud at my little rebellion.

He stepped back as I pointed the camera at him, nodding at me.

"You ready?" He asked.

"I'm always ready." I replied with confidence.

"Good." He put the boots on before walking back a little bit in front of the camera.

"Okay, let's do this right." He said as I watched. "Start mark, half a meter, and back and center. Dum-E, look alive. You're in standby for fire safety. You, roll it." He instructed, pointing at me.

I stuck a thumbs up out in front of me.

"Okay. Activate hand controls. We're gonna start off nice and easy. We're gonna see if 10% thrust capacity achieves lift." He turned to me as he got ready. "Think I can do it?"

"Yeah, we'll see." I shrugged.

"Alright, wow. Loving the confidence." He said sarcastically before turning to the camera. "And three. Two, one."