The Armorer

My project with the relocation of the guards was completed first; Tony spent forever messing around with the pressure sensors. I don't know why; sure, the particle/waves of the light of Loki's projection had mass and therefore weight, but not nearly enough to tip the switch on even the most sophisticated pressure sensors. I think it was just a chance to mess around with something new. But in any case, the guards were close in case of any further incidents--although there were none--and protocols were rewritten to test any appearance of Loki outside his cell before opening the door. Loki saw the benefit of this change--nervous guards wouldn't be charging into his cell with guns out--and actually helped them in their training exercises by providing projections. Either he saw the benefit or it was just a break in the routine. I'm not quite sure which, but whatever.

After my part in Loki's security arrangements was over, Tony asked me for an alloy for a new Iron Man suit; of course, the one he liked the best was the one that needed the most manipulation on my part, so each part of the suit had to be custom fit. He turned out to be a lot more patient with the process than I'd anticipated, and his new suit, both the inner and outer skins, were a lot lighter, which required a lot less power to operate. There was better articulation in the joints as well, and then I worked with Tony and Jim on a more advanced exoskeleton for Jim's legs. My alloy allowed for the removal of long areas in the long metal parts, which provided a certain aesthetic as well as making it even more lightweight. Cooler, too, since air could circulate better. Then Sam wanted an upgraded suit. I had orders backed up for months just for the suits alone. Then Clint wanted to experiment with strength and flexibility in his bows, which also meant that the arrows needed to be upgraded as well. Peter crept in to see me on one of his breaks out to the new facility and, red-faced, requested a lightweight, unbreakable cup. There'd been an incident while webslinging. He didn't volunteer details, and I didn't ask, out of compassion. He was so embarrassed at having to ask that it was a miracle his face didn't melt from the heat of his blushes, but he provided a cup, pointed out how he'd like it customized, and sort of faded away. I put other work on hold so it could be completed during his visit and added cushioning around the edges as well as a wicking layer. We did not speak of it further; I had it delivered to his room by inter-office mail.

When Tony was finally ready to proceed on the installation of the new floor, Thor and I helped Tony supervise Loki's removal from his cell for a day while they installed the floor in his cell, which also involved disassembling the cell walls since the wiring had to go under them. We spent the day outside (Loki declined sunscreen, to his detriment), also carefully watched by the pups. Torburn had easily doubled in size since I got him, but he was still sweet as could be. Loki twitted Thor about the name again, but I shut that down.

"He's going to get a complex," I admonished them firmly, stroking Torburn's soft puppy fur. "He likes his name, and I won't have him thinking there's something wrong because you guys think it's funny."

"I don't think it's funny," Thor grumbled.

"He looks up to you," I said crisply. "You should take it as a compliment."

Predictably, Loki got bored fast and I produced a traveling cribbage board. After he learned to play, he got peevish that he kept losing, so Tony challenged him to chess. The games were so hard fought and ended with the loser sulking, so I stepped in. Loki always beat me because I'm not a good chess player, and in the end out of desperation for a decent game began teaching me. Then we went inside when it began to get dark, where we watched TV. Steve joined us for the popcorn and soda, then around nine we got word that the floor was finished and the cell was back up and had tested out ok. After Loki was safely back inside, Thor went to Asgard to report on Loki's conduct. He came back with Munin, who was here for a visit.

"We're not running a petting zoo," Tony cracked, and Thor tried to wither him with a glance.

"My father would like to observe Loki's conduct," he said, and Sigurd, looking very put-upon, transported the raven on his back to the cell for a few days. The raven observed Loki's interactions, then went back home, I guess. He left, anyway. The next time Thor went home for a visit, he returned with a present from Odin for my apparent civilizing effect on his son, a billowing azure cape (that was about a foot too long) and a pair of metal clips. "They will attach the cape to your armor," Thor instructed, then blinked. "You don't have any armor," he said, just realizing this. Tony, Steve, Wanda, and Clint, who were with us in the third floor playing pool, started to laugh. A couple weeks later, Thor returned with a silver collar, very broad, that had attachments for the clip.

"You should make yourself some armor," Steve said lazily.

"The rest of us have suits," Tony was quick to pile on. "You should too."

"We could start bringing you into the field if you did," Jim said. "You could make repairs on the fly if they're necessary." And the rest of them piled on. In the end, I agreed to make some armor. Tony wanted drawings so he could make some last minute adjustments to my action figure.

"So, you know, keep it kind of the same," he instructed, and Thor sketched Sif's armor as a possible prototype.

They wouldn't let me shove it to the back of the queue, either. Aided and abetted by Nick, who found the whole thing funny, I ended up with a Corinthian-style helmet (R&D provided an enhanced fabric to cover the open parts of the helmet over the face-- I ended up just making a simple mask like a burglar's stocking mask instead, which also covered the throat and neck) with a blue-dyed crest over the top that matched my cape, a pauldron that looked like a bolero jacket, breastplate and backplate, a leather fitted plackart around the waist, and the collar lay over my shoulders. The collar was bulky and sat up off my shoulders a couple inches to make the cape look extra good, but a knotwork design decorated the edge, done by repousse and engraving, so it was pretty as well as serving a purpose. I had fingerless gauntlets that covered my forearms for the look of the outfit, and I wore fitted leather trews that tucked into supple leather boots with greaves permanently attached to protect my shins. Tony insisted that I add a short Roman-style leather war skirt, essentially studded leather strips attached at the waist. I refused to wear the Xena-style costume he initially pushed for. I used metal alloys that looked like silver with bronze colored accents and charcoal gray leather to match the fabric of my mask; the costumers made the fabric parts for me. It looked cohesive and not entirely ridiculous, the cape covered my butt and swirled magnificently (although I couldn't get that scene from The Incredibles out of my head where Edna is explaining why she won't design with capes) and it got the others off my back. Tony had arranged for photographs to be taken of me in my get-up and sent off to the toymakers. I was so glad for the stocking mask that obscured my face; I found the process to be embarrassing though I knew the others took it seriously. They were heroes, though. Wanda and Natasha helped me put it all on.

"You have a nice figure," Wanda said as she handed me the gauntlets.

"Same size as I was in college," I said, as I pulled my mask on. I carried the helmet as the two women pushed me into the room where a backdrop had been set up for photographs. Tony was also there, as was Thor. Really glad I had the mask on, and I shoved the helmet over my head. Tony nodded approvingly. Thor handed me a hammer that was a quarter scale model of Mjolnir. I rolled my eyes, concealed.

"It is functional," Thor assured me. "Our blacksmiths assured me that it will perform in your work." I heft it; there's a cool little buzz about it, but nothing like Mjolnir. "Father enchanted it to do its best for someone of your skill," he added offhandedly. "But it is not a weapon." My eyes opened big. That was pretty cool.

The photography process was over much more quickly than it had taken to get dressed, and soon I was back in my workshop. I'd had a concealed shallow cabinet installed that held my new, unnecessary armor. I had a special stand and everything. I shut it all away, except for the hammer, and tested it out on an alloy I was experimenting with specifically for knives. It worked really well.

I worked off and on that week finishing a sample knife, which had a graceful curve to it, engraving a nice pattern along the unsharpened edge, and had the costume department make a simple sheath for it. Then I gave it to Thor to give to his dad as a thank you for my nice new cape and the hammer. I felt the hammer in particular deserved more than just a thank you note. Thor reported that it was the hit of Odin's court, and that it was being rumored to be able to cut the wind. Nice and flattering, but inaccurate.

Everybody was getting excited; the new visitor center was set to open the next week. I was excited too; I was going to get to attend the opening too. The heroes were going in costume, but Nick was going to hang out with me and watch the festivities too.