Inheritance of ash

don't.

Later that day, Vicky was sprawled across her bed, half-watching some old movie on the tablet Tony had left in her room. The flickering light cast shadows that barely masked her restless expression. The oversized T-shirt was still hanging off her like a tent, and her sweatpants were bunched up around her ankles. It was the kind of afternoon in that felt more like a pause than a reset.

Before she could even finish the scene, the door creaked open.

Bruce stepped in quietly, holding a small black case in one hand and wearing the kind of cautious curiosity that never quite left him. "Hey. Mind if I bother you for a minute?"

Vicky blinked, then sat up a little straighter. "You mean, besides walking in on me watching probably too many rom-coms?"

Bruce smiled, the edges of his eyes crinkling. "That's not what I was thinking, but... sure."

He set the case on her desk and glanced at the bracelet glowing faintly on her wrist. "I've been looking into this. The readings are... unusual. Like nothing I've seen before, but I want to run some tests, try to get a better sense of what exactly it is."

Vicky narrowed her eyes, fiddling with the band. "Does Tony know?"

"Yeah, he knows. He's not thrilled about me poking at it without him, but I think it's important. For you, too."

She looked up, curiosity sparking behind her usual guarded gaze. "Mind if I come with you? I want to see what you guys actually do in the lab. And... I want to see if there's anything in those machines that might help me figure out what this thing is."

Bruce hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "You're welcome to come. But it's not exactly a walk in the park. Lots of equipment, some loud machines..."

Vicky smirked. "Sounds like my kind of place."

Bruce chuckled. "Alright. Let's see what we can find."

As she stood, the bracelet hummed faintly against her wrist, as if it recognized the moment was turning into something more than just science.

Maybe this was the start of answers - or at least, better questions.

⸻

Bruce led Vicky down the familiar corridors of Stark Tower, the faint hum of high-tech equipment growing louder as they neared the lab. When they stepped inside, the room buzzed with energy - screens flickering with data, mechanical arms moving with precision, and an assortment of gadgets strewn about.

In one corner, crouched over a workbench, was Peter Parker, fingers deftly adjusting the tiny mechanisms on a pair of web shooters. His glasses were slightly crooked, and his tongue poked out at the corner of his mouth in concentration.

Bruce cleared his throat gently, and Peter looked up, cheeks flushing a bright red. "Uh, hey, Dr. Banner. Oh-hey, Vicky. Didn't see you there."

Vicky raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Upgrading your toys again, Spider-guy?"

Peter chuckled nervously, pushing his glasses up. "Yeah, you know... just trying to make them a little more... efficient. Hopefully less sticky this time."

Bruce smiled. "He's been at it for hours."

Vicky glanced at Peter's shooters, then back at Bruce. "So, what's the plan? What kind of tests are we talking about?"

Bruce pulled up a chair next to a scanning device. "First, I want to analyze the energy signature from your bracelet. See if it responds to any frequencies or energy fields. Then, maybe try some controlled stimulation - gently - to observe reactions."