Author's Note: Alright we're about to meet a character I wasn't sure I was going to add to this series but hey it ended up happening. I own nothing.
3. Internships
The intercom buzzed and Piper clicked open the channel as Eddie grabbed his bag. He had an event the Bugle wanted him to photograph nearby. The intercom flickered to life, revealing the face of Dr. Curt Connors. Piper held back her flinch. Life hadn't been going all that well for one of her favorite scientists recently. His arm had been crushed under a large slab of metal during the Goblin's attack on the New York Helicarier. Even the best doctors money could buy hadn't been able to save the arm. It had been amputated and Tony had offered him his old job at Stark Industries back. He'd accepted and was currently the head of the Bio Chem division of Stark Industries. He also worked with the Avengers to help identify and neutralize bio toxins and dangerous chemicals left behind by AIM and Hydra. At that very moment though he was six or seven floors below her, working in the R and D Bio Chem lab.
"What's up Doc?" She grinned at him. He shook his head slightly.
"I need to ask you a favor. I've got two new interns who are supposed to arrive in a few minutes but Pepper got called away for a meeting and Tony is… intimidating." Piper laughed and nodded.
"Give me ten, gotta change real quick. Tell Tish I'll meet them in the Lobby." Dr. Connors nodded.
"Much appreciated Miss Parker." Piper rolled her eyes.
"Still Piper Doc." He laughed and hung up. Piper bid Eddie farewell as she headed to the shower. She changed into a deep blue pencil skirt and a white button up over a black tank top. She snagged her rarely used lab coat out of her lab on the way down the hall.
Blue eyes stared around the lobby from behind a set of wire rim glasses. A smile lit up his face, he still couldn't believe that he was here. Avengers Tower, it was bigger than he'd thought it would be, or maybe it just felt bigger. He went up to the pretty brunette receptionist. She smiled at him.
"Hello, how can I help you?" He grinned back.
"Hi, my name is Glen. I'm here for the internship with Doctor Connors." The woman nodded and tapped on her keyboard.
"Last name please?" Glen nodded.
"Stacy, Glen Stacy." The receptionist nodded. A tall boy with short dirty blonde hair stepped up next to him as the receptionist pulled open a drawer on her desk. She handed Glen a packet and a pen before turning to the other boy.
"How can I help you?" The other boy smiled cheekily.
"I'm here for the technical internship." The receptionist nodded.
"Name please." Before the boy could answer a voice echoed from behind them.
"Harley Keener! Is that you?" The other boy turned and Glen glanced over his shoulder and spotted a familiar girl standing four feet from them. The other boy Harley smiled and waved as the girl strode over to them and wrapped him in a hug.
"I haven't seen you in forever! How are you, you fourteen year old disaster?" Harley laughed.
"I've been alright. In town for the summer, the mechanic made sure I got a spot in the tech internship." The girl laughed, bright blue eyes sparkling.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he's already tried to reserve you a spot at MIT." Harley laughed.
"Yeah well you're looking pretty good yourself Miss Iron Lass." The girls stuck out her tongue at him.
"You suck Harley." The receptionist handed Harley a packet as well and the girl turned to Glen.
"I'm sorry I haven't introduced myself." She held out a hand. "I'm Piper Parker. You must be…" She glanced down at the Stark Pad in her other hand. "Mr. Stacy." He nodded and shook her hand.
"Just Glen please. I actually knew who you are. You've kinda been all over the news for a few months." She nodded slightly as Harley was pulled away by another lab coat clad person armed with a Stark Pad. Glen ran a hand through his hair. "Plus you almost ran me over when you were getting off the subway this morning." She blinked at him for a minute before she went bright red, realizing that she had in fact seen him before. He stifled a chuckle and took the badge from the receptionist. Her face was still bright red as she managed to speak again.
"I am so sorry. I.." He shook his head.
"No, no it's cool. It was actually kind of cute." Her blush returned full force. She spluttered slightly as a skinny African American boy stepped up to the desk and received a packet from the receptionist. There was a slightly awkward silence between the two of them before the new boy received a badge as well and stepped over to them. Piper blinked for a minute before she plastered a smile back on her face, her cheeks still pink.
"You must be Mr. Attah." The boy nodded.
"You can call me Abe, Miss. Stark." She shook her head at him, seemingly composing herself.
"Please call me Piper. Let me be the first to welcome the both of you to Stark Industries." She led them over to the elevators. "Today will be an easy day, I'll be your tour guide. I do need to tell you that you need to have your badge on you and visible at all times. If your badge is lost you will be removed from the premises. I know it sounds harsh but we take safety and security very seriously here at SI." She led them into the elevator.
"JARVIS would you please take us to the Recreation Level, please." The elevator began to move.
"JARVIS runs most of the tower, he's very helpful and your badges let him know what you do and don't have access to. Say hello to the new interns J."
"Hello, Mr. Stacy and Mr. Attah." Piper smiled at the looks on their faces.
"He'll be happy to help if you ever get lost or direct you back to the appropriate levels if you accidently wander out of the areas you're allowed in." The doors slid open and she led them out. "This as I said is the Recreation Level. Most people take their breaks here. We have a five star cafeteria, that's to your left. Free for employees and interns. A coffee bar that makes Starbucks look like it's simple also free, that's to your right. A gym, I'll admit that sees less use. A somewhat regular break room." She gestured to each room in turn as she walked them down the hall. The 'somewhat regular breakroom' had plush couches, three tvs and what looked like sleeping pods, like the kind you found in Japanese hotels.
"We try to make sure our employees are always well rested and have everything they need. But overnights happen sometimes so it's nice to have somewhere for them to rest when it's needed." She waved to a few scientist who were drinking coffee and watching what looked like Bill Nye The Science Guy. They waved back and the small tour group continued down the hall. "There are several bathrooms on every level along with chemical showers and emergency eye wash stations." She stepped up to another elevator. It clicked open and she motioned them inside.
"So now we're heading into the actual R and D levels. Now lab safety is of the utmost importance. So we do ask that you follow the strict dress code outlined in the packet you are about to receive." They stepped out of the elevator into a small foyer. Piper gestured to a closet full of lab coats.
"Go ahead and find a lab coat that will fit you." Piper grabbed a set of packets off the table. The boys pulled on their lab coats and pinned their nametags to the coats. Piper handed each of them a packet with their names on them.
"Alright gentlemen time to meet the Doc." She led them through the doors into the main Bio Chem Lab.