Stark Industries - Monday

[slothbabyproductions]

Today, Kamala was still riding a high from the weekend so she was in an even better mood than usual. Yes, last week she was a sloth but the last couple of days more than made up for it.

Plus she was eating leftover cake for breakfast so there was also a sugar high involved.

Enter Stark Industries at your own risk. Kamala was likely to be extra cheerful today.

Comments

[imafuturist]

Things might have been a little hectic in figuring out Steve's world's whole thing right now, but JARVIS was kind enough to nudge him about missing a birthday here.

Which was why Tony was stopping in the shop after class with a new phone prototype with a bow on it. "We'll make sure to get your birthday on J's calendar next time."

[slothbabyproductions]

"Thank you, Mr. Stark!" Kamala said, beaming. "You didn't have to do that. I was just still figuring out the last one you got me at the beginning of the summer. Besides, last week I turned into a sloth. I don't think I would have appreciated the gift."

She pulled up a tupperware container. "Want some cake?"

[imafuturist]

"Well, this one is a prototype, so go to town on it," Tony replied, inspecting the offered cake with interest. "Normally I let the team stress-test them."

So many smashed phones, Kamala. So many.

[slothbabyproductions]

It's a homemade chocolate cake with chocolate chips and buttercream frosting. Breakfast of champions.

"Oooo. Sounds like a job for an intern," Kamala joked. "Leave to a teenager to really put it through its paces. Any new features I should be aware of?"

[imafuturist]

"Advanced camera functionality, but I think R&D will push back on the cost," Tony said, definitely swiping some cake with glee. Chocolate? All over that. "Should also work in low orbit, but try not to do that."

NORMAL THINGS TO CAUTION ABOUT.

[slothbabyproductions]

"My version of Nick Fury and Carol Danvers have me grounded on Earth for the time being," Kamala said holding up the phone to test the selfie capabilities.

She's a kid. This is a priority test. Smile Tony!

"So I'll keep my tests within sea-level altitudes."

[imafuturist]

Oh, immediate PR smile there. The moment a camera was on him.

"Nick and Carol, huh?" Adorable and weird duo for him.

[slothbabyproductions]

"Yeah, there was the whole quantum entanglement thing when I was sixteen," Kamala said with a shrug. "And even though I helped save the world I'm-"

Activating finger quotes

"-'too young' to run around the galaxy. Or start my own super team."

Kamala was pretty sure her mom threatened to kill them if they allowed it.

[imafuturist]

"You are too young for that," Tony agreed, licking frosting off his thumb. "So take the time to enjoy that."

Stress-free!

[slothbabyproductions]

"But isn't it my obligation as a super-powered individual to help those in need?" Kamala asked in her usual enthusiastic and cheerful manner.

[imafuturist]

"Street level," Tony countered like this was just another negotiation. "Not planet level. Like Spider-Man. Or the Heroes for Hire."

Wait.

"Do you have those guys?"

[slothbabyproductions]

"We do have a Spider-Man," Kamala said with resignation. "I keep wanting to run into him but he and I don't really cross the Hudson."

Kamala was more likely to fall into the Hudson.

"I haven't heard of Heroes for Hire. I don't think I could take money for helping people, though. I guess I'll keep my amazing abilities and powers to the streets of Jersey City. And this island of course."

[imafuturist]

"They're in The Bronx," Tony said like that might help. And it might! One day! "I think they've only ever charged me, honestly. We didn't exist for a hot minute and they had to fix that with some other people."

With Rhodey. And Ben Grimm. And Wolverine.

Look, it'd been A Thing.

"I think Spider-Man hangs out by the Bugle office if that helps."

Assuming a lot of similarities there, Anthony.

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

Arden showed up and, was only proper, brought Red Squishies along with her. "Kaaaaaams," she called.

[slothbabyproductions]

"Ooo! Squishy!" Kamala said with a small bit of applause. "You are the best bestie that ever bestied."

She had cake for breakfast. Can you tell?

"What's up?"

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

Arden looked at her, eyes narrowing. "I feel like I should be fetching you a sandwich with real vegetables on it," she said, though she handed over the Squishy with no further fuss. "Anyway, I have three things for you, so pick your order: present, crime, or trouble."

[slothbabyproductions]

"There will be trouble if you force me to eat a vegetable right now," Kamala declared. But she took the Squishy and gestured for Arden to join her. "Sit. Tell me the trouble first."

Her cheerfulness was gone right now. If there was trouble she was not going to joke about it.

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

Arden took out some nipper bottles of rum and tossed it onto the counter, waiting until the squirrel snagged it and ran off. "Well, sorta trouble," she said. "Nothing seems to have come of it, so maybe it'll be okay."

She sighed, and hoisted herself up onto the counter. Sorry Professor Stark. "When Cal and I were out to dinner the other week, someone recognized me. Unsure if it was me-me, or just what I am, but...they were definitely planning something. One of them cornered me in the bathroom. First he tried to get me to go with him, and then he was gonna make me."

[slothbabyproductions]

All cheerfulness left Kamala now. "Was this because of our practicing thing? I thought they would be able to trace that to you there?"

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"I honestly don't know," Arden said, trying to sound cool. "The one that followed me said he was gonna get a lot of money for me." She shook her head. "It wasn't here, at least. It was in Baltimore. We'd popped over when the island was traveling to go to this French fry place and...they were there first? So they didn't follow us, I think they just...attack of opportunity?"

Wait, that phrase felt wrong for some reason. Weird.

[slothbabyproductions]

“Okay. So they were waiting for you in Baltimore? Or you were there and it just happened,” Kamala said with a heavy exhale of breath. “That’s not cool at all. How did you get away from them?”

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"I think we were there and it just...happened?" Arden said. "I don't know any more than that. I only know that they recognized me because Cal picked up on it. And then he took them out and we ran. One was a half-elf and the other was a werewolf..." She shuddered. "He licked me. The were, I mean."

And had said something, something important, she was pretty sure, but she'd been dizzy and scared and in pain and she couldn't remember it.

"Once they were dropped, we ran, because the were wasn't gonna be down for long and the low-bloo--" She stopped and flushed. "The half-elf would be up not long after that. Called for a portal and it showed up and..." She spread her hands. "That's all I got."

[slothbabyproductions]

“Cal took them out?”

Kamala let out another exhale of breath. “Okay. That’s a lot.”

Should have started with the lighter stuff, Khan.

“Okay. Clearly we need to be careful when we leave the island. Or we take a portal to another place that isn’t Baltimore when we want to go off island. Or you have someone with you who can handle those creeps. Which includes me, by the way. I will handle those creeps.”

This might be the first time you’ve seen Kamala get mad, Arden. Her fists were clenched and glowing purple and her eyes started to glow too.

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

There was a birthday present and everything! But nope, right to the mood-killer.

"But I think it's okay," Arden said quickly. "Nothing's happened since then. Our scent trail ended when we stepped through the portal, so I don't think they could track us. And...yeah. I just don't go to Baltimore or anything."

Beat.

"Um, Kams? You're uh. Glowing?"

[slothbabyproductions]

Kamala looked down at her hands and frowned. She shook her hands off and the glow disappeared from her eyes and hands. “Sorry,” she said sheepishly. “I just don’t like the idea of that happening. At all.”

She reached out to touch Arden on her arm. “Are you sure you’re okay?”