Chapter Text
Robinson Labs was chaotic at the best of times. Wires and blueprints and badly placed cups of coffee. Things were worse now that Cornelius and Wallace were fighting.
“For the security system-”
“Not so loud.”
And it was hard to do much of anything with the boss’ kid half asleep on the vis-a-vis.
“I’m not bein’ loud,” Wallace grumbled. And he wasn’t, leaving the other workers in the lab to scratch their heads.
“Don’t mumble.”
“… Not entirely sure what you want from me, then,” Wallace admitted.
“Ahem.” Hiram cleared his throat, causing Wilbur to slightly stir. “You were sayin’… aboot the system?”
“I’m thinking about how we’ll market this.”
“Wallace, it’s not even done yet and you’re already thinking about-”
“Well, it’s going to be expensive! To make. Not to mention we’ll have to convince the investors. Lord knows they’re already fed up with us. Especially-”
“Don’t say it.”
Wallace threw a scathing look at Wilbur. “After the car.”
Hiram looked at Wallace flatly. “Wally. We’ve been friends for… many years. You gave me my eldest daughter and I am eternally grateful. But for God’s sake, what have I told you aboot tact?”
“Hey! ‘E’s the reason we have to worry about all this!”
“No one said ‘e wisn’t. But he’s also a sick child.”
“ ‘E’s thirteen. ‘Is room is in ‘is house literally right next door with a million other people milling about. ‘E doesn’t need to be here!”
Heinz cleared his throat. “I’m actually with Wallace on this one.”
“You would be.”
“Cornelius-”
“Look, you can deal with your son however you like, but this is my son. This is my house. My lab - and, last I checked, you’re one of my employees-”
“Cornelius!”
“His mother’s not home. The doctors told me to watch him.”
“For a cold?” Wallace asked incredulously.
“You’ve brought your son over when he was sick,” Cornelius snapped.
“ ‘E was at risk of pneumonia at the time. I’m no doctor, but I’m reasonably sure your boy isn’t.”
Pietro wheeled between the two. “Let’s not argue over this. He’s here now. We’ll focus on selling this to our investors once we have something to sell. For now, Wallace, let’s focus on building a prototype.”
“If you can handle the drill,” Cornelius muttered.
“Cornelius. Please.”
“As long as you keep your kid on a leash, I should do just fine.”
“Wallace-”
Another groan from the sofa, louder than the sound before. “Told you he hated me.”
“Mr. Herbertson doesn’t hate you,” Cornelius snapped. “Right, Wallace?”
“Of course not,” Wallace said just as quickly. “A bit annoyed with you at the moment, sure, but I don’t hate you.”
Hiram facepalmed.