41: Tinker Mode

Aiden spun around in his chair, startled by Celeste's unexpected entrance. Nimbus let out a little squeak, hopping from Aiden's shoulder to the desk, as if equally surprised. Celeste stood at the doorway, tablet in hand, her usual poised demeanor softened by a curious tilt of her head.

"Aiden," she said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "My father wishes to speak with me, and I assumed you might want to be part of the conversation."

Aiden raised an eyebrow, leaning back with a smirk. "You barged into my rock concert for a family call? Didn't realise I was part of the guest list."

Celeste rolled her eyes but smiled faintly. "You were singing so loudly, I doubt even the neighbouring houses could ignore it. But it's important." She set the tablet on his desk, nudging aside the scattered sketches and tools.

The screen flickered on, revealing the familiar stern face of Lord Kael, the head of the House of Armoured Titan.

His piercing gaze immediately made the air feel heavier, even through the digital medium.

"Celeste. Aiden." Kael's deep voice filled the room, calm but commanding. "Good evening."

"Lord Kael," Aiden greeted casually, giving a mock bow in his chair. "To what do I owe the honour of this late-night interruption?"

Kael's eyes narrowed slightly, but a faint trace of amusement lingered in his tone.

"Still as irreverent as ever, I see. I've been informed of Celeste's adjustment to her new surroundings. She tells me she has taken on the task of 'protecting' you."

Celeste stood straighter, her tone respectful but confident. "Yes, Father. Aiden has a way of attracting... unique situations. I thought it best to stay close."

Aiden scoffed, crossing his arms. "Unique is one way to put it. But don't pretend you're here just for duty. You missed me, admit it."

Celeste glanced at him, her cheeks faintly pink. "You're insufferable," she muttered before turning back to the screen.

Kael observed the interaction with a neutral expression before addressing Aiden. "I trust you're handling yourself well in this unfamiliar world.

However, I'd remind you both that your positions demand responsibility and caution. The ties between our houses are significant, but your actions carry weight beyond your personal whims."

"Noted," Aiden said, his tone light but respectful enough to avoid pushing too far. "I'll make sure Celeste doesn't overstep."

Celeste shot him a glare. "Father, I'll keep an eye on him, as promised. Is there anything else you require?"

Kael's gaze softened slightly as he looked at his daughter. "Take care of yourself, Celeste. And Aiden... try not to cause too much trouble."

With that, the screen went dark. Celeste exhaled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear before turning to Aiden.

"Do you always have to antagonise him?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"It's a talent," Aiden replied, grinning as he leaned forward to resume his work. "He's fun to mess with. Besides, it's how I show affection."

Celeste sighed but couldn't hide her amusement. She glanced at his desk, noticing the chaotic sketches and notes scattered around. "What are you working on this time?"

Aiden tapped the page with his pencil. "Just a couple of gadgets. Might revolutionise drone tech and personal optics if I get it right. Want to help?"

Celeste raised an eyebrow. "Only if you promise to stop singing for at least five minutes."

"No promises," Aiden quipped, handing her a pencil.

Aiden leaned over his workbench, pencil in hand, sketching a rough outline of the visor on a fresh sheet of paper.

Celeste stood beside him, her arms crossed as she examined the design with a discerning eye.

"Alright, here's what I'm thinking," Aiden began, adding swift strokes to the page.

"Golden trim for flair—because you deserve nothing less—and winged temples for that elegant but commanding vibe. They'll double as antennae for enhanced communication and sensory input."

Celeste leaned in closer, her finger tracing the sketch. "Functionality matters more than flair. What abilities are you planning to include?"

Aiden smirked, tapping his pencil on the page. "Oh, you'll love this. First, augmented reality integration. You'll be able to pull up tactical overlays, enemy positions, and energy readings in real-time. It'll sync with your quirk, giving you precise feedback on incoming attacks before you reflect them."

Her brows raised in genuine interest. "That could be useful. And the wings?"

"They're not just for show," Aiden replied with a grin. "They'll house micro-drone launchers. Think of them as little surveillance units. You could send them out to scout an area or create distractions mid-battle."

Celeste tilted her head, impressed. "That's actually clever. What about durability?"

"Titanium alloy frame with energy shielding," he said, scribbling notes. "Lightweight but nearly indestructible. You could probably take a direct hit from Bakugo's explosions, and the visor wouldn't even scratch."

"Not bad," Celeste admitted, her lips curling into a small smile. "Anything else?"

"Of course! This isn't just a visor—it's a masterpiece." Aiden flipped the paper over and began sketching the inner mechanisms.

"I'm adding thermal and night vision, voice command integration, and a neural interface. You'll be able to control everything with a thought."

Celeste's eyes widened. "Neural interface? Isn't that... experimental?"

"Not when I'm the one designing it," Aiden said confidently. "Trust me, it'll work flawlessly. I'll even throw in a custom AI assistant. You can name it whatever you want."

Celeste shook her head, chuckling. "You're really going all out on this, aren't you?"

"For you? Always." He shot her a cheeky grin, causing her to roll her eyes, though her smile lingered.

As the design began taking shape, Aiden pulled out a holographic projector and started rendering a 3D model of the visor.

The golden wings gleamed as they extended from the sleek black frame, the intricate circuitry visible through semi-transparent panels.

"Final touch," Aiden muttered, adding a small energy crystal embedded in the centre of the visor's bridge. "This will power the whole thing. Self-recharging and completely clean energy."

Celeste leaned back, crossing her arms as she studied the hologram. "It's... perfect," she admitted.

"Of course it is," Aiden said, leaning back with a triumphant grin. "Only the best for my favourite knight."

She smirked, giving him a playful shove. "Just make sure it works as well as it looks. I'm not going into battle with a dud."

"Have a little faith," Aiden teased, saving the design. "Now, let's get this prototype started."

The two dove into the fabrication process, their banter filling the room as they worked side by side. Celeste even allowed herself to relax, enjoying the creativity and camaraderie as they brought the visor to life.

[Later]

A little later, Aiden decided he wanted a new suit, his current one was too regal for his liking. So he began planning.

Aiden sat at the holographic table, the glowing image of the desert-inspired armour rotating slowly in mid-air.

He leaned forward, chin resting on his hand, scrutinising every detail.

The angular plates and golden trim screamed royalty, but it was too... *polished*. Too much like the image of a prince that everyone already knew.

Celeste stood nearby, arms crossed with a sly grin. "So, a new look, huh? Finally tired of being mistaken for a golden statue?"

"Not tired," Aiden said, smirking, "but I need something different. Sleeker. A blend of royalty and functionality—something that screams 'practical badass.'"

Celeste rolled her eyes but leaned over the table, tapping the air to adjust the hologram.

"Alright, so we keep the gold. You've got to stay on brand, after all. But let's strip away some of this 'look at me, I'm a king' vibe."

"Exactly," Aiden replied, grabbing the stylus.

Aiden began with the hood. "The hood stays. But instead of just being decorative, let's integrate a retractable visor. Something with AR (augmented reality) capabilities, night vision, and—"

"—air filtration," Celeste finished. "Smart. If you're dealing with smoke or toxic environments, you'll need it." She sketched a sleek golden visor, its edges trimmed with subtle wing-like patterns. "This will keep the royal look while adding some mystery."

"And it's practical," Aiden added. "Perfect."

The base of the suit had to be lightweight but protective.

Aiden adjusted the armour plates on the chest and shoulders, making them sleeker and more dynamic.

"I'm thinking nanomaterial here," he said, spinning the hologram. "Lightweight but durable. Something that doesn't slow me down."

Celeste nodded, adding layered robes underneath the armour. "These layers can be multifunctional—light enough for movement but able to transform into a protective cloak when needed. And we'll ditch the long cape. It's cool, but it's a liability in a fight."

They both laughed as Aiden mimed getting tangled in an imaginary cape.

Aiden grinned. "And here's where it gets interesting. Let's incorporate my upgraded ODM gear."

Celeste raised an eyebrow. "The ones you've been tinkering with for months? You're just going to slap those into a suit like it's nothing?"

"Not slap—integrate," Aiden corrected with a smirk. He highlighted the sides of the suit's thighs and wrists on the hologram.

"The grapple hooks go here. The cables can retract seamlessly into the armour. The thrusters I've been working on can go in the boots and back for propulsion."

Celeste whistled. "Alright, I'll admit—that's pretty cool. And it fits your whole 'high-flying adventurer' vibe."

"Exactly," Aiden said. "Plus, the gear is compact enough that it won't weigh the suit down. It's perfect for mobility without sacrificing protection."

Celeste zoomed in on the waist of the hologram. "What about a utility belt? You're always carrying random tools and gadgets. Might as well make it official."

"Good point," Aiden agreed. They designed hidden compartments for a compact med-kit, EMP grenades, and a holographic interface for communication and mapping.

The belt's golden trim matched the rest of the suit, but its practicality made it far from ornamental.

With the functional elements settled, Celeste and Aiden turned their attention to the aesthetics.

"The gold trim stays," Aiden said firmly. "But we need contrast."

Celeste adjusted the colour scheme, adding white accents to the underlayers. It softened the regal gold without losing its impact.

The wings motif on the chest and shoulders was refined, made more angular and modern.

"And the hood," Aiden added, "needs to have that edge of mystery. It should look like I'm ready to step out of a sandstorm and into a battlefield."

As they leaned back to admire their work, the hologram spun slowly before them. The golden visor gleamed under the virtual light, the sleek armour panels catching every detail.

The integrated ODM gear gave it a dynamic edge, and the multifunctional layers added practicality to its elegance.

Aiden grinned. "Now that's a suit."

"Sure," Celeste said, smirking. "But let's see if you can actually build it. Or are you just going to have *me* do all the work?"

"Teamwork," Aiden said with a wink, grabbing the 3D printer's control tablet. As they began prototyping the suit, Nimbus scampered into the room, hopping onto Aiden's shoulder as if to approve the design.