Detour
[[OOC: The Vanko mentioned is rebuilt_retake and he is used with permission and love.]]
Hammer found himself staring. That wasn't his intent when he had come to the workshop. The plan was to check on Ivan, ask him for the daily progress report, then leave. Instead he had inspected the drones himself, stopping when he noticed talons perched on metal. He tilted his chin up, looking the cockatoo in the... beak. As if it had read his mind, the bird cocked it's head sideways, seemingly looking at him directly with one eye.
This initially caused nothing short of a jump and a shielding of Justin's face with his hands. Then after giving him a few moments to compose himself, Hammer craned his neck forward, determined not to lose a staring contest to a bird.
"I- Ivan..." he called out shakily, not breaking his stance or eye contact. "I thought this thing was staying in your room."
"Man shouldn't be so afraid," rumbled the Russian's voice. Ivan stood behind the drone his bird had claimed, with a full view of his boss' uncertainty. He talked as he worked, eyes focused on the wires threaded between his fingers.
"I'm not afraid, Ivan, it's just a bird." As if to convince himself, Hammer stood straighter. He had stopped leaning forward but he still kept his attention on the eye of Vanko's pet. "A bird that could make a mess. Now I don't want it turning my space into a litter box, you got me?"
"Litter box is for cat. Bird very clean."
This was granted a snort and a roll of the eyes before Hammer directed his attention to Vanko. "Yeah. Tell that to the pigeons."
The only response was a clank of metal on metal.
Justin frowned. He wanted to keep his employee happy, but the pet-in-the-workplace idea had to go. Perhaps if he coaxed the bird out from atop the drone he could direct it toward Ivan's room. Who didn't like going home?
Changing his expression from suspicion to faked cheerful curiosity, Hammer grinned widely at the cockatoo, taking a step toward it. "Hey there, pretty bird. How're you doing?" The bird jerked it's head, facing Hammer once again.
Pleased with this reaction, Justin continued forward, closing the space between him and the drone. "You want to go back to your nice house? We can get you some kind of small animal to eat. How about a lizard? Do you like lizards?" As he talked he slowly reached his hand forward, hoping to prompt the bird to hop onto his arm as he had seen Ivan do so many times before.
Instead the bird jerked it's head forward, clamping onto Justin's hand between the thumb and index finger with it's beak. "Jesus Christ!" came the yell of pain as the bird flew away, joining it's owner and scuttling around Ivan's feet. Having forgotten about the drones for the moment, Justin brought his hand to his mouth, pressing his lips to the small but bleeding wound in an attempt to alleviate the pain. He stalked out of the workshop, slamming the door behind him.
With a chuckle, Ivan knelt, stroking his pet along the back. "Very good bird."
Hammer found himself staring. That wasn't his intent when he had come to the workshop. The plan was to check on Ivan, ask him for the daily progress report, then leave. Instead he had inspected the drones himself, stopping when he noticed talons perched on metal. He tilted his chin up, looking the cockatoo in the... beak. As if it had read his mind, the bird cocked it's head sideways, seemingly looking at him directly with one eye.
This initially caused nothing short of a jump and a shielding of Justin's face with his hands. Then after giving him a few moments to compose himself, Hammer craned his neck forward, determined not to lose a staring contest to a bird.
"I- Ivan..." he called out shakily, not breaking his stance or eye contact. "I thought this thing was staying in your room."
"Man shouldn't be so afraid," rumbled the Russian's voice. Ivan stood behind the drone his bird had claimed, with a full view of his boss' uncertainty. He talked as he worked, eyes focused on the wires threaded between his fingers.
"I'm not afraid, Ivan, it's just a bird." As if to convince himself, Hammer stood straighter. He had stopped leaning forward but he still kept his attention on the eye of Vanko's pet. "A bird that could make a mess. Now I don't want it turning my space into a litter box, you got me?"
"Litter box is for cat. Bird very clean."
This was granted a snort and a roll of the eyes before Hammer directed his attention to Vanko. "Yeah. Tell that to the pigeons."
The only response was a clank of metal on metal.
Justin frowned. He wanted to keep his employee happy, but the pet-in-the-workplace idea had to go. Perhaps if he coaxed the bird out from atop the drone he could direct it toward Ivan's room. Who didn't like going home?
Changing his expression from suspicion to faked cheerful curiosity, Hammer grinned widely at the cockatoo, taking a step toward it. "Hey there, pretty bird. How're you doing?" The bird jerked it's head, facing Hammer once again.
Pleased with this reaction, Justin continued forward, closing the space between him and the drone. "You want to go back to your nice house? We can get you some kind of small animal to eat. How about a lizard? Do you like lizards?" As he talked he slowly reached his hand forward, hoping to prompt the bird to hop onto his arm as he had seen Ivan do so many times before.
Instead the bird jerked it's head forward, clamping onto Justin's hand between the thumb and index finger with it's beak. "Jesus Christ!" came the yell of pain as the bird flew away, joining it's owner and scuttling around Ivan's feet. Having forgotten about the drones for the moment, Justin brought his hand to his mouth, pressing his lips to the small but bleeding wound in an attempt to alleviate the pain. He stalked out of the workshop, slamming the door behind him.
With a chuckle, Ivan knelt, stroking his pet along the back. "Very good bird."