Stark Industries, Thursday

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

Tony had a problem.

Somehow during the remodeling and moving back in, he'd managed to lose his welder. He knew it hadn't been damaged in the fight and so it had to be around here somewhere. That might explain why he was crawling under one of his work benches on his hands and knees, cursing the name Stane rather colorfully.

Stark Industries was open for business!

Comments

[lil-yellow.livejournal.com]

Pushing the door open, Bumblebee ducked into the store almost warily; not that he expected to be attacked, but it was just rather fresh in his memory still. "Is there anybody out there?"

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

Sir, you have a visitor.

Tony paused in his search, pulling himself up off the floor by using the desk. His ribs needed to heal faster.

"In the workroom!" He called, holding his side for a moment before getting that under control.

[lil-yellow.livejournal.com]

Following the voice, Bumblebee stepped into the workroom and paused as he searched for the proprietor within. "I hope I'm not interrupting."

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

"Not at all," Tony said, smiling between something genuine and a grimace. And then was invading Bumblebee's personal space to look over any damage to him without so much a how do you do.

[lil-yellow.livejournal.com]

The mech squeaked in surprised, but held still, the behavior not entirely unknown to him. As far as damage went, the superficial seemed to be healing nicely, though there were still some scratches and scrapes - internal was something altogether different, of course.

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

Already reaching, Tony paused and remembered his manners. "May I?"

[lil-yellow.livejournal.com]

He nodded slightly. "Of course. It's why I came," he admitted.

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

Moving his hands over the-- was that healing?-- damaged metal, Tony cocked his head to the side. "Where is the most damage?"

[lil-yellow.livejournal.com]

Bumblebee tilted his head, quiet a moment. "There's some problems with non-essential wiring," he said finally.

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

Tony prodded at his side as gently as he could. Because he didn't want to get accidentally smacked for doing something to hurt Bumblebee. Had enough of his own injuries, thank you.

"Would it be possible to replace them with what I have here?" He asked, mostly talking to himself.

[lil-yellow.livejournal.com]

"More extensive repairs have been made utilizing earth-born parts," he said. About 10% of said repairs, anyway. Still, no lie. And Tony was capable of much more than your usual medical human. "I will help as much as I can, but if you are uncomfortable, I do understand."

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

Tony hummed, turning away to grab a pair of goggles to give the damage a closer look. "Uncomfortable? Are you insane?"

[lil-yellow.livejournal.com]

"I'm just making sure," Bumblebee said, standing as still as if Ratchet were examining him. "Though I admit, you're more eager than most to delve into our internal structures."

The scrapes and scratches in his armor looked like any damage you might see on a car in some accident, though they did look better than they had the day of the fight. Tony's poking about didn't seem to phase him at all, the mech watching with more curiosity than apparent apprehension or annoyance.

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

"I've never seen anything like you before it--" He shrugged slightly, dipping his fingers along the metal to feel for any cuts in the wiring--muscle?-- beneath.

"--of course I'm eager. Aren't you about how we work?"

[lil-yellow.livejournal.com]

"Academically," Bumblebee said. "In practice, you're very... messy." If he sounded slightly apologetic, it's because he was, not wanting to offend. His optics then flickered as Tony's fingers found something under one edge that had been dented in the fight. The dent was nearly back in place, but beneath it lay the problem. "--There, Tony. The sensory receptors are getting strange feedback." He glanced at where Tony's hand was. "I can provide better access, if you need it."

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

"That would be good," Tony replied dryly, pulling his hand away. "Messy is a good description."

[lil-yellow.livejournal.com]

"It's not bad, really. It is just a distinctly organic property," he agreed "Is there somewhere I can sit? If something does go wrong, I'd rather not add falling down on top of everything."

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

Oh. Right.

Tony gestured toward his work bench. "If it creaks, I'd suggest getting off quickly," He said, still far too interested in what was beneath the armor. "Not everything can make sense."

[lil-yellow.livejournal.com]

Bumblebee nodded and moved to take a seat, lowering himself carefully to where it seemed like it would accept his weight for the moment. "There is much about you that seems nonsensical, but obviously you thrive despite it," he said.

Glancing down, the armor of his chest began to fold in on itself and then retract to the sides. Below it lay an intricate web of wires and tiny nodes, tubes and mechanical miscellany, surrounding a central space where glowed a blue light that shifted and flickered gently. He pointed carefully to an area to the right and below the light source where wires and some small parts had been compressed due to the armor denting in against it, half-welding it into a small mass of metal and other things.

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

Tony's eyes were drawn to the light for a moment. It was strange how similar designs were despite no real connection between them.

"We have our moments," He muttered, reaching over to grab one of his fine picks. "How much feeling do you have here?"

[lil-yellow.livejournal.com]

"Too much." He went still, except for his antennae which twitched upwards. "It doesn't feel correct."

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

"Pain?" He frowned, running the toll along to find were the damage ended. "Do you feel pain?"

[lil-yellow.livejournal.com]

"Generally, or specifically now?" He asked, watching Tony's hands. The damage wasn't terribly extensive, but there wasn't much to be salvaged within that area with how compressed it was.

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

"Now. How much can I do to remove this patch?"

[lil-yellow.livejournal.com]

"Whatever you need to," he said. "I turned off my system warnings and scaled back the feedback intensity."

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

That was... somewhere between disturbing and fascinating. "I'll need to replace the entire damaged area," Tony said, turning to grab a torch.

[lil-yellow.livejournal.com]

Bumblebee craned his neck, peering at the area. "I appreciate it," he said simply. "How are your injuries, since last week?"

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

Tony didn't answer for a moment, absorbed in his work. "Hmm? Oh! I'm fine. Just a firm lecture about waiting a few weeks to fight anymore giant robots."