Reed and Sue: Midnight Lab Mafia

[x-invisiblegirl.livejournal.com]

A chance encounter in the Stormtech labs leads to the creation of a Science Mafia, be afraid, be very afraid.

"That will not be enough", Reed muttered to himself as he re-organized some circuitry. "Or maybe it is.". Dragging a hand through his hair (already longer than it should be), he tapped the top of his skull.

New labs were always an interesting thing, made even moreso by the fact that this was his. All his. Reed had impressed Franklin sufficiently that his position was no longer short term. In addition, he received a lab that was previously used by some Mole character. The name escaped him. It wasn't important.

Continuing to talk to himself, he walked over to the previous lab he shared, trying to calculate exactly what parts he needed for his latest invention. Due to this concentration, he didn't even notice the music until he was standing in the lab.

Sue was there. Barefoot. Goggles on. Listening to some music.

In an evening gown. A beautiful, flowy, gorgeous, ethereal, evening gown. At midnight. In a science lab.

"Susan?"

If it had been possible the blonde would have jumped right out of her skin, as it was her feet did leave the floor with a squeak of surprise as she span around scrabbling for her phone. "Reed!" she exclaimed in surprise, "What're you doing here?" she demanded, purposefully ignoring her own flush of embarrassment at being caught in her lab dancing along to Taylor Swift. She must have been slipping, she realized as she finally managed to recover enough to grab her phone and glance at hte screen, "What're you doing here anyway? It's past midnight!" The blonde was aware she was exclaiming more than was usual but she couldn't help herself.

Reed tried to think of something witty to say with regards to Cinderella, but as usual, he found himself tongue tied around the blonde when it came to social situations. "Your glass pumpkin isn't anywhere in sight," he replied, blinking owlishly.

Sue stared at Reed in confusion, "My Glass pumpkin...," the blonde's brow furrowed in concentration and tongue sticking out of hte corner of her mouth as she tried to piece it together. "Glass...pumpkin....I've never actually worn glass slippers, I figure they'd be really uncomfortable but if someone could make a nice pair that wouldn't shatter I'd love to try them," she responded triumphantly grinning at Reed, it wasn't often she managed to pick apart his statements that quickly.

Smoothing down her dress her grin turned a little sheepish, "I just got back from a gala, you know show up, be seen, fly the family flag but we're testing the new protocols tomorrow so," she gestured at the table in front of her, "I need to make sure everything is working perfectly."

"But you're in silk," Reed said, frowning.  ‎"And taffeta. The fabrics are highly reactive to certain chemicals you're using. In the event of an accident, you'd have to strip naked.".

"So then basically you're saying that you don't trust me to use these chemicals  without spilling them on myself? Or is this a line to get me out of my dress Mr Richards?" Sue teased, "cause I have to admit it's pretty unique as pick up lines go."

Reed looked at Sue, startled. "Of course not! I have nothing but the highest of confidences in you. And while I would not object to a state of undress, I am not implying anything. I still don't understand why you'fre here though," he added. "I could do the protocols. You should be out, enjoying yourself, Susan."‎

"I'm afraid that you need to at least buy a girl a drink before we start thinking about undress anything Mr Richards," Sue noted a smile playing around her lips, "Wouldn't want to give the wrong impression now would we?" The blonde cracked her head to the side and glanced down at the desk in front of her, "I could have gotten someone else to do the set up for me, but then they'd have to spend their night stuck in the lab infront of me and it's my test. I can't  ask someone do do something I'm not willing to do myself and ruin their night."

Reed was still confused. How could lab work possibly ruin anyone's night? "Well, tell me what you need done, and I'll help. I wasn't doing much anyways.". His perpetual motion machine could be worked on later.‎

"You're sure you wanna stay in the lab even longer tonight?" Sue queried, "I mean not that I'm gonna say no to some help but I don't wanna get in the way of any big plans you have."

"Nothing would make me happier than to spend time with you," he said sincerely. "So let's do some science together, and get you back to the ball."

"Why thank you fairy godfather," Sue dipped into a curtsy as she smiled at Reed, "it's too bad you don't have a ring, that would make the scene complete," she complained as she gestured at the table, "Well have at oh fairy godfather. Hey wait," Sue cocked her head to the side as a thought struck her, "since you're my fairy godfather and all what else can you do? Turn fruit into cars? transmute animals into people?"

"A watermelon would be as inappropriate of a vehicle as a pumpkin, although equally as sticky, but wait a second.". Reed scurried out of the lab, leaving Sue alone for a few minutes before he entered, a boyish smile on his face. "A ring, on the other hand..."

He pulled out a small molecular model, fashioned into the shape of a ring. "I was playing with polymers, and fashioned this substance. It's harmless and changes shapes due to electromagnetism. As long as you don't shock it with a magnetic pulse, it should stay in this shape. I wanted to show it to you today and completely forgot about it, but here you go."

Sue stared at Reed in amazement taking the ring and turning it around in her hands, it felt cold and ungiving to the touch, just like a piece of graphite if she was honest. The blonde turned the ring over in her hands one last time before handing it back to Reed, "that's amazing, it seriously changes shape? Into what, anything you want?" she grinned and gestured at his hand, "put it on, it's completely you, absolutely a perfect match, besides, "she grinned at him, "How'm I going to kiss the godfather's ring if he isn't wearing it?"

Reed obeyed and put the ring on, even though in reality he'd made it for her. "It's too feminine for me," he stated before handing it over to her on the palm of his hand. "I think it's better suited for you."

Sue turned the ring over in her hand before slipping it on, twisting her hand to examine it, "hmm, it might be kinda cool to have a ring I can morph into different shapes, you didn't happen to make a mini electromagnetic field generator too did you?" she teased before holding her hand out to Reed. "So since I'm the one wearing the ring...does that make me the godfather now?"

"Better than a godmother," he responded. "We all know the mafia has more power.". That was a joke, so he gave a smile. He hoped it was funny. "And isn't your forcefield slightly magnetic? I bet you could find a way to transform that ring yourself."

Sue looked down at the ring, probing at it with a forcefield as she watched the metal flow around her finger, "This is amazing Reed," the blonde leaned over to kiss him on the cheek, "thank you." she pulled the ring into a stickman, a key before settling on a ring made up of twisting bands. "This is awesome, best present I've had all year."

Reed blushed brightly as he stammered out a 'you're welcome'. He hadn't thought she'd like it that much. "Well, let's get working, huh?". Then he wouldn't have to think about what else he'd want to do.