In the morning Lana groggily opens her eyes and stretches out slightly. She sits up and yawns before looking at her clock. She rubs her eyes as the red numbers read 7:13. She groans and flops back down into the pillows and snuggles into her covers.
"Mornin'."
Lana looks at Raph who's on his side with one arm under his head acting as a pillow. Lana moves over and wraps his arms around her again.
"Lana?"
"I'm cold."
He groans tiredly before hugging her tightly. She sighs and smiles loving the warmth he brought into her bed.
"For a reptile you're really warm."
Raph opens one eye and looks at her.
"It's a mutant thing."
"Good to know."
He chuckles and closes his eye again trying to fall back asleep.
"Don't you have work?"
"Nah I'm not supposed to go in Thursday, but I might go in later to snoop around. Casey told me about the stone generals."
"Ya they were strong and weird. Not the normal kind of weird we usually face."
She laughs quietly.
"I heard."
She relaxes in his arms for a few more minutes before slipping out of his grip when she's sure he's asleep. She walks into the bathroom and takes a quick shower before getting ready for the day. When she walks back into the bedroom Raph is still asleep so she tries to be as quiet as she can. Lana grabs clothes and slips into them before struggling with the zipper. She groans and looks over at him hating to wake him up.
"Hey Raph."
He opens his eyes and looks at her before sitting up. The blankets pool in his lap and she walks over motioning to the zipper. She keeps her hair up as he works the zipper up the rest of the way.
"Thanks."
He grunts and lies back down. She continues to get ready and finally puts her shoes on after fastening her necklace.
"You wear that a lot."
"I like it."
She looks over at him and shrugs.
"I feel weird when I don't wear it."
He nods and shrugs.
"You're lucky it's pretty."
She laughs and nods.
"Well I'm gonna go. Do you need anything?"
"No. Have fun."
He rolls over and pulls the blankets over his head. She shakes her head before heading to the front door. The drive to her father's corporation is fast and before she knows it she's in the elevator on her way up. When the doors open she walks out. The sound of her heels echoing on the walls.
"Lana?"
"Hey dad."
"You're not supposed to be here today."
"I came in because I needed to finish a few things."
He nods before looking past her. She frowns and turns seeing a very pretty woman sitting at her desk.
"Uh can I help you?"
The black haired beauty smiles before standing up.
"I'm sorry, we've never met. I'm Sera, your aunt."
Lana's eyes go wide before looking at her father.
"…nice to meet you. I'm Lana."
The woman smiles at her and shakes her hand. She walks around Lana's desk and heads over to Winters.
"I've heard a lot about you."
"That makes one of us."
She smirks at her before her aunt sits on the edge of the desk. She's wearing a tight sleeveless black dress with high-heeled boots. Her hair is black and perfectly straight. It shines when she moves, as does her bracelet. It's a thick metal with a red stone in the center. She's tan and has dark brown eyes. In other words, she's beautiful.
"Sorry we had to meet like this."
"…me too. What can I do for you?"
"I'm just visiting for a few months."
Lana nods and puts her stuff down at her desk.
"Beautiful necklace."
"Oh thank you. It was a birthday present."
"Serp-"
The woman looks over her shoulder coldly before standing up and walking over to Lana. She stands still and watches her. Sera reaches out and picks up the necklace gently.
"…looks old."
"It is."
"Historical I assume."
"Belonged to a famous female warrior apparently."
Sera smirks and nods.
"I'd believe it."
She lets it fall onto Lana's chest. When it does Lana flinches at the burning feeling the metal has on her skin.
"Lucky girl getting to work here."
"I suppose so."
Her father smiles at her before handing her a folder.
"Can you bring this to the 9th floor?"
Lana nods and walks away with just a glance at her 'aunt'. When the elevator doors shut Winters looks at his sister angrily.
"What're you doing?"
"Meeting my family."
"Leave her alone."
She rolls her eyes before touching the stone on her bracelet. She turns back into her stone form with the red eyes.
"She means nothing to me Yaotl."
His sister in her stone form flips up onto the balcony and disappears.
Lana rubs her chest where it's burning. She groans but the doors open and she starts to walk out.
"Hey!"
She smiles at Erik who walks past her.
"You're not supposed to be working today."
"Oh ya I decided to come in. Had some research to do."
He smiles and nods while still holding the elevator door open.
"Want to get lunch in a little bit?"
"I think I'm gonna go home after I drop this off. It's been a weird day."
He nods.
"Oh okay well just let me know if you change your mind."
Lana smiles.
"Of course…you look good today."
He smiles but before he can say anything the elevator buzzer starts going and he gives her an apologetic look before letting the doors shut. She watches before turning around and walking to the office.
"Hello Stephanie."
The cute girl with a heart shaped face and bright blue eyes looks up and smiles at her.
"Hi Lana. What can I help you with?"
"I need to give this to Dana."
She nods and takes it while pushing her light brown hair behind her ear. She has freckles over her nose making her appear younger than she is.
"How's everything else?"
"Good just been a really weird day."
Stephanie nods and smiles.
"Are you still seeing that guy?"
"Erik?"
Steph nods and smiles.
"I think I saw him today. He's very cute."
Lana smiles slightly and nods.
"He's very nice. We went on a date last night."
"Ooh was it romantic?"
"Very. Good food too."
She laughs and nods.
"That's the most important thing."
Lana laughs and nods.
"I agree. What about you? Any guys?"
She blushes and shrugs.
"Aww Steph what's his name?'
"Donnie."
Lana quirks a brow but keeps smiling.
"How'd you meet him?"
"That's the thing…we met in this IT tech support group."
Lana's eyes go wide and she nods.
"Oh okay. What's he like?"
"He's so sweet, and nice, and smart. He's like a genius Lana"
Lana nods with a soft smile.
"…he sounds like a great guy. Are you going to meet him soon?"
"I hope so but we both work such crazy hours."
Lana nods understandingly.
"Well I hope you both find some time…do you know if Lexi is in the lab?"
"She should be."
Lana smiles and waves goodbye before heading to the back of the building and taking the private elevator down to the lab level. When the doors open a fuming red head runs by. Her long hair is braided into pigtails and is tied with bows.
"Be careful with that! It's not a toy!"
Lana shakes her head with a smile.
"Lexi!"
The red head turns and smiles at her.
"Hey girl. What're you doing down here?"
"Just came to say hi."
"Interesting time to come say hi."
Lana looks around at the messy lab. Lexi watches her and shakes her head.
"We're remodeling…want to see something cool?"
"Of course."
The red heads eyes light up and she quickly leads Lana to her private section of the lab.
"Keep it a secret okay?"
"Of course."
Lexi types in a password on an electronic keypad before her metal desk opens up revealing a metal box.
"I've been working on this for months."
She pulls out a metal band with two buttons on either side kind of like a watch.
"What is it?"
"It's a holographic projector kind of."
Lana looks at it and nods.
"Looks very high tech."
"You haven't even seen the cool part."
Lana looks at her and hands it back. Lexi takes it and puts it on her wrist. She presses the two buttons simultaneously and a bright flash erupts in the room. Lana closes her eyes and when she opens them a tall red haired man smiles down at her.
"Uhh-"
"It's me Lana!"
"Lexi?"
"Mhm. Isn't this cool?"
Lana walks around the now manly girl and smiles.
"This is amazing!"
"Thanks. It's like my baby."
Lana nods in amazement.
"Have you told my dad about it?"
Lexi takes off the bracelet and turns back into her normal self.
"Of course, but he's a really busy guy and it's not perfect yet…"
"Lexi you need to get his marketed."
"I'm trying but it's really hard…it constitutes as a weapon."
"How?"
"If it gets marketed then spies would become invisible. It would make the terrorist threat higher and-"
"Spies?"
"Spies are a prevalent issue Lana."
Lana laughs at her friend's serious face and nods.
"Okay I get it. It could be bad, but this is amazing."
She smiles and shrugs.
"Thanks."
"Do these work for anyone?"
"Basically. They just need a DNA signature and you have to program your holographic projection, but they'd work for almost everyone."
Lana nods and looks at the bracelet.
"…can I borrow it?"
Lexi looks at her confused.
"Excuse me?"
"Just for a little bit."
She stares at her and eventually nods.
"You have to promise not to break it or lose it."
"I promise girl."
Lexi puts it back into the box and hands it over to Lana.
"I can't believe I'm letting you take it…"
Lana kisses her cheek before heading off.
"I'll bring it back as soon as I can!"
Lexi waves to her before yelling at the moving crew again.