Cooper walked down the fire escape, heading to the shop where Max worked. Her face was unwashed and creased with stress, and her hair was untidy even by her standards. She had been a foreman on a lot of major repair projects in the city since her training, and was heading out to a new one soon. It was a hard job, especially when they were in upperclass neighborhoods. People there tended to be hypercritical of their work; the slightest mistake or inconvenience to them, and their like-minded administrators would slash the Metalhearts' pay.
She walked past the shop and faintly heard Max talking, but couldn't see anyone else in there when she looked through the window. She smiled wearily and went inside. "Talking to yourself again, Maxie?" she asked cheekily.