Nora's surprise at Tony's unexpected invitation to the lab was palpable. She blinked, momentarily taken aback. The man who usually flaunted his genius and arrogance now extended an olive branch—an invitation to share his domain. It was like witnessing a cat offer a mouse a seat at the table.

Hold on, why the hell am I comparing myself to a mouse?! 

"Join you in the lab?" Nora quirked an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. "Is this some elaborate plot to test my sanity or perhaps an experiment to see how long it takes for me to flee in terror?"

The comment arose amusement from Tony, he leaned back, feigning innocence. "Oh, come on. I promise the lab won't bite. Well, not unless you accidentally activate the malfunctioning AI prototype. But that's a minor detail."

She sighed, the tension easing. "And here I thought you'd be too busy calculating the trajectory of your next quippy remark."

"Ah, but I've got a soft spot for insomniacs, being one of the proud member of the community myself," he said, tapping his temple. "Keeps me company during late-night tinkering sessions?"

It wasn't always Tony allow anyone to enter his lab, preferring to keep it his sanctuary. A place where only he can be and pour his heart out during what he does best-- make things. Or just spent the difficult times of night, when the burden on his heart felt far heavier than the one on his eyes.

Nora's lips curved into a wry smile, her eyes filled with sarcasm, "So, I'm your midnight muse? Should I expect a poetic ode to sleeplessness?"

"More like a limerick," Tony replied. "There once was a girl named Nora, who—"

"—who couldn't sleep, so she joined a billionaire's lab," Nora finished. "Sounds like the beginning of a twisted fairy tale."

He leaned closer, their banter dancing on the edge of camaraderie. "And they all lived sleepily ever after."

Nora shook her head. "You're incorrigible."

"Guilty as charged." Tony stood with his trademark smirk, offering her a hand. "Shall we, my insomniac accomplice?"

She hesitated for a moment, then took his hand, "Just promise me no exploding experiments or sentient robots."

She had nothing to lose by agreeing after all, if something it would provide her a way of distraction to say the least. 

"Deal," he said, leading her toward the lab. "But no guarantees," he completed. 

As they walked side by side, Nora realized that maybe—just maybe—Tony Stark wasn't entirely insufferable. Perhaps he was the unexpected ally she needed in her sleepless nights, a distraction from the ghosts that haunted her.

And so, with a mix of curiosity and trepidation, Nora stepped into the heart of invention, wondering if this odd partnership would lead to answers—or more delightful chaos.

And so, the night she once spent clawing at her memories start to turn into something more. At morning the training session and the moon time was filled with seeing Tony tinkering with his stuffs and a playful banter here and there.

She never thought she could achieve normalcy to this extent, but she was grateful for it. 

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The lab hummed with activity—glowing screens, whirring machinery, and Tony's frenetic energy. Nora stood by a workbench, eyeing a holographic blueprint. She'd expected chaos when she first entered here, but everything was pretty normal... well as normal as it can be with Tony and for her. 

Happy? Who could have thought that she would ever associate herself with that emotion but standing beside him while he is working, talking with him about his past missions or when she talks about hers', she might just feel it. Tony stark was surprisingly a very good listener. She was not used to talking about herself, preferring to conceal herself rather than opening up. 

She didn't know how good it felt before she started spending time with him. She was wary at first, talking and opening up with him--even if it was just standard SHEILD missions containing a lot of espionage and covering up your identity-- even if it was far from her past. Expecting him to get bored, or not listen at all, or worse--say something that she knew would cut her feelings deep. 

But somehow, he didn't. He was a good listener--the best. He would hear her speak, while he tinkered with his stuff, giving her a smirk or amused smile in between whenever she reach to any saucy part, he would listen and listen without judging. If anything, he ground her, his quippy remarks whenever he would felt the undercurrent of sadness or uncertainty in her tone. The subtle change of topic, if he could feel it treading into an uncomfortable territory. 

He was...nice. 

And then there was this night when a blinding flash of light erupted from one of the experimental devices. Nora's instincts kicked in; she ducked, her heart racing. The energy blast sailed over her head, singeing a lock of her hair.

"Tony!" Nora's voice cracked as she straightened up. "What in the fucking hell was that? Are you planning to kill me?"

Tony emerged from behind a massive contraption, his hands raised in mock surrender as his hazel orbs analyze the blast that erupted from one of the repulsors, "Kill you? Nah, I reserve that for Mondays. Today's a Thursday-- it was just a friendly fire."

"Friendly fire?" Nora's glare could melt Vibranium. 

He grinned, undeterred. "Look at it this way: You've now survived an almost-death experience. Builds character."

"I have built enough character by now, then," Nora's fingers twitched, itching to throw something at him. "You're lucky I ducked. Otherwise, I'd be-- I don't know, maybe dead."

Tony leaned against the workbench, feigning innocence. "Hey, I've got a stellar track record. Only a 10% chance of accidental disintegration."

"10%?" Nora crossed her arms with a glare, "That's not reassuring."

"Fine, fine." He waved a hand. "I'll recalibrate the repulsors. But next time, maybe wear a helmet or something."

She huffed. "I'm not wearing a helmet indoors."

"Suit yourself." Tony gesture toward his Iron Man armor on which he was working, "I've got one, and it's fabulous."

Nora shook her head. "You're insufferable."

"And you're still alive," he quipped. "So, win-win."

As they resumed their work, Nora wondered if this was what camaraderie felt like—the banter, the near-misses, the shared danger. 

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"You were not in your room last night, where were you?" Natasha's voice was casual, but Nora had been in the same game as her for quite some time, the casual-ness doesn't hide the undercurrent of suspicion.

The setting sun was casting its warm embrace on New York. Steve, Clint and Thor decided that today they will cook dinner, Nora had no idea why, but oh well. She hopes that at least that will be edible. 

She was enjoying her peace at the rooftop, when Natasha presence alerted her as much as the question did.

Her mind spiraled, what should she say? The truth, that she was with Tony in his lab? She doesn't know, will Natasha take it the wrong way? Or do even Tony wany others to know that she accompanies him in his late-night tinkering session?

She did not know why she was wondering if he wants others to know or not, maybe because she felt that he kind of trust her, even if it is a little, to allow her in his lab. She did not want to break his trust by saying something she did not want to—not when she'd spent years craving a connection, a place where she belonged.

"You are taking quite a lot of time answering," Natasha quipped, making Nora a little irritated. It was not Natasha's remark, but the suspicion lacing her voice. 

"I do not think I am answerable to you, Natasha," she said with an unreadable expression. It was not just now, she had noticed Natasha suspicious gaze on her every time, it's disturbing to say the least. 

"Why are you even so suspicious about me?" she asked now with a hint of irritation, "You know, it's not like I force all of you to let me join your team. Fury believed I will be of help, he recommends me, Captain agreed." 

"This team is like my family," Natasha said, "I don't want you to hurt them," 

Nora's patience snapped. She turned to face Natasha, her eyes blazing with a mix of frustration and hurt. "You know what, Natasha? I've had enough of your suspicious glances and thinly veiled accusations. It's like you're waiting for me to slip up, to reveal some dark secret that'll shatter your precious team."

Natasha sighed, her eyes flickering toward the horizon. "I've seen too many betrayals, Nora. I won't let it happen again."

"Oh, spare me the tragic backstory," Nora retorted. "I get it—you're the Black Widow, the master spy with trust issues. But guess what? I'm not your enemy. I'm just a woman trying to find a place she belongs to."

Natasha turned toward her, frustrated. "And what if hurting this team is your goal? What if you're trying to find your place by destroying ours?"

Nora clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "You know what, Natasha? Maybe I don't need your approval. Maybe I'll keep my secrets and my alliances to myself. And if that means I'm not part of your precious family, so be it."

She'd keep her own counsel and let the rooftop hold its secrets. After all, sometimes the truth was a double-edged sword—one that could cut both ways. And Nora wasn't ready to bleed just yet.