Flower Child (Peter Parker, MCU)

How Do You Call Your Loverboy?

Honeybee - The Head and the Heart

"Do you have clearance to be here?" The woman perched behind the desk kept her voice clipped, hardly looking up from her computer. She already seemed to have formed her judgment at the two teenagers in front of her.

"Um, n-no, we were just looking-" Lila started, shaking her head slowly. She was trying her best to be polite, but the hand the woman held up seemed to Lila like the receptionist was trying very hard to poke her patience with a stick.

"If you don't have clearance, the door is right behind you," She spoke, typing on her computer. She regarded Lila and MJ, who stood next to her, with an air of dismissal. "We're not doing school tours today, either."

"Why would you?" Michelle asked. "It's a Saturday."

"I can't help you. Have a nice day."

The air left Lila's nose quickly, her frustration brimming. "We're l-looking for Sophie Nelson. Her girlfriend t-told us she was h-here, and Sophie said we could come in-"

"Sorry, but this is Stark Industries," The receptionist was acting more impolite by the second. She said the words slowly and very sounded out, like the girls she was talking to were stupid. Michelle's jaw twitched and Lila felt her back stiffen. "I'm sure you can understand that the things that go on here are very important. I can't just let you waltz through because you don't have the clearance."

"I do, though," All three heads turned to the elevators to see none other than Sophie Nelson step through, tablet tucked tightly under one arm, and the other extended to Lila. "Hey, Phish Food." She pulled Lila in for a tight hug, kissing her head. She smiled at MJ, and pulled her in for a hug, too (though that one was stiffly reciprocated).

She looked really good. Sophie was completely in her element at Stark Industries, talking on the daily with the press in regards to her employer's vision. She'd cleaned up the Blip fiasco that left Pepper's company in disarray like she was cleaning her kitchen, and smoothed out wrinkles within company operations that left Stark Industries a well-oiled machine. Pepper was delighted and relieved, happy to have that stress taken off her already full plate. Within a few short weeks, Sophie was promoted, and now was head of public relations for Tony Stark's legacy. It wasn't the journalist dream she'd started out with, but Sophie was working a dream job.

Being so successful was in part due to Sophie's no-bullshit policy. Unfortunately for the receptionist, she was about to learn that. All Lila could do as Sophie turned her stilettos to the woman behind the desk was watch with a pitying gaze. "What are you doing?"

"Miss Nelson, I-"

"You've worked here since March seventh, Mandy," Sophie said, narrowing her eyes at the woman who now looked concerned. "Not long at all."

"I assure you, Miss Nelson, I complied with protocol. These girls don't have clearance to make it past the front desk."

Sophie held her hand up and Mandy fell into a submissive silence. Lila bit back a smile as her friend continued. "Your time here has been brief which makes you lucky, because if you had been here longer than a month, I might have reported this." She pointed back to Lila without looking away from Mandy. "That girl there? She's like my little sister. She's the most respectful teenager you might ever come across. Her friend is a different story but I still vouch for her." She shrugged in apology while Michelle smiled and nodded in thanks.

"Now, I'm well aware that just because she's family doesn't excuse it, but I think if Pepper Potts heard you'd turned Lila away, she'd be more than a little disappointed."

"Miss Nelson, I-"

"Lila Landry and her father Ted are very close associates with the Stark family and Stark Industries. So, yeah, I'd say she does have clearance and permission to be here."