The louder the better- he's bent to his work, squinting at a long strip of steel he's shaping with sharp, ringing blows against red hot metal. It's no pulsing bass or wailing guitar but it's a familiar kind of music and rhythm, something he does in time with his heartbeat. A comforting kind of physicality in imposing his will on the world and crafting something that'l make someone's life easier- between that and the roaring of the forge? It'd be hard to hear anyone.

But Alec's odd roar is enough to get his attention- he brings down the hood to bank the heat of the forge and sets the steel bar back on the coals to keep warm, stripping off his gloves and stepping out into the light. Soot and sweat cover his arms, smears against his forehead and neck where he'd been wiping it away. Tugging a rag from his back pocket he squints at the large green blob that is his latest science associate. Getting used to daylight after staring at fire takes a moment. "Yeah, Treebeard?"

Its a younger face than Bruce might have known personally. An upright sort of posture, a lean tone to his shoulders, his arms, fewer creases around his eyes, no grey at his temples or in his goatee. "Oh hey, fresh meat-" His eyes swing to their company, ears still ringing so the soft murmur of Bruce's voice doesn't register until he sees him and-

Barnes said he'd been fine. It's one thing to hear- another to see. "...Bruce?"