Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

This was rotten!! 

This was AWFUL!!

This was... kinda cool?

Ok, it was a bit disconcerting, but honestly, waking up as a cat was kind of one of those things you wonder about every now and then and she was just along for the ride. Kore did panic quite a bit at first, waking up in an ally screaming and hyperventilating, which came out as meowing and hissing. But after a few minutes (read: hours) of it, she sat her ass down and thought about it.

Somewhere deep in her bring she could say that she was upset and overall shaken, truth to it, but on the surface she was intrigued. How many people would give their left foot to be in her shoes -paws?- right now? She had speculated before what it would be like, to be a fat, lazy cat without a care in the world, loved by all because she had toe beans and could turn into a bread loaf when lying down. To sleep all day and see in the dark, to get pet by egear people who cooed at her for doing ab-so-fucking-lutly nothing.

The introvert in her cackling madly in wicked glee while the rational part of her was optimistically hoping she would change back shortly. She didn’t know how this came about either, she was just sitting on her couch, minding her business. Had a coffee in hand and was reading some long, well written fanfiction about Lord of the Rings. She was totally immersed in the story when suddenly it felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room and everything went fuzzy. Like that feeling when your foot goes asleep and you try and walk on it after. Pins and needles, but all over her body. Next thing she knew, she was pint-sized and furry in an ally.

It was actually really frustrating now that she thought about it. How did she get here? Why was she here? Where the hell even was here?

Ok. Damn. What should she do? She could sit there, in the ally way for another few hours, or hell, days even, contemplating her sudden feline reality, or she could get moving before it got dark. As a cat, she probably had a million new things to worry about now. Like dogs or a misplaced placed boot.

Setting off for the end of the ally, Kore trotted on her tiny paws, wobbling on her legs for a moment. She was used to two legs, not four, and she had to think about her steps so she wouldn't trip on the back of her own foot like an ameture. Took her a moment to figure it out, but soon enough she was on the move.

‘Ok, im in a town of some sort, hopefully somewhere close to where I live.’ Kore thought, contemplating on how she was going to get home, or get help. As much as she wanted to explore the world from the perspective of a cat, she knew the necessity of getting back. She couldn’t realistically spend the rest of her life like this. She had a job, responsibilities, two lizards to feed and a date with her couch and Criminal Minds. And possibly the nearest hospital.

Or vet.

Snorting at her own dumb joke, which came out like one of those cute cat sneezes you see that break the internet, Kore reached the end of the ally and peaked out.

Shit ton of people. God. Ok, she could do this.

Kore looked around, trying to look for an identifiable landmark but finding none.

‘Where is The Bean when you actually want to see it, damnit.’ she huffed and darted out of the ally, staying close to the edge of the building to avoid the feet of the pedestrians. Her tail (she had a fuckin tail ) high in the air and flicking in slight agitation as she made her way down the street.

It was so damn loud, holy crap. It was like someone had turned up the 1-10 dial on the radio to 11. Everything smelled so strongly, the good smelled fucking amazing, and the bad smelled so putrid she had to bite her tongue to keep the bile down. And her sight was better than ever! She had been slightly nearsighted before, not too bad, just had to wear glasses while she was driving to read the road signs, but now she could see everything! Dust mites in the air, the fly-away hairs on a person four blocks down, the plumage of a bird 6 down. It was awesome.

She could get used to the eyesight if anything.

It didn’t take Kore long to realize she wasn’t in Kansas anymore. Two major things happened:

Number 1, the buildings looked all wrong, too expensive and large. The urban area was crowded and loud, people wearing little to almost no clothing (not that she’s shaming), and it was fucking HOT as fuck. Kore was sure she was sweating under her fur, even though she was also sure cats can’t sweat. And it extra sucked because she was some type of long-haired cat.

Another thing was the salt in the air, the distinct seaweed taste on the tongue that only the ocean can give. This brought a sense of hopelessness and anger to Kore, who was a stone-cold inland, midwesterner. From the ‘ope lemme slide right by ya’ saying to the disgusting Superman icecream, the Great Lakes of Michigan were practically a walk from her back door. To be on the edge of the sea when she was last a bit over 800 miles from the nearest ocean, was more than slightly jarring. She would have stomped her feet if she was on two again.

Number 2, and boy was it a doozy.

Kore had been meandering around for a handful of days, 8 days to be precise, after her realization of how far away from home she was. It was a strange experience all around. She had found out from a sign that she was in Malibu, California. She almost choked on her tongue when she read it. Things were hard the first few days, there were surprisingly few strays out, she only came across one cat and two dogs. Kore had ran from them before they could get their jaws on her. She had found a secluded cardboard box between a dumpster and a building for that first night, shivering not from the temperature, but from panic and self pity. Thick little cat tears had ran down her furry face as she wheezed. It was a depressing sight that would have tugged on the heartstrings of any who saw. Lay on ‘Arms of an Angel’ and she’d been fit for a ASPCA commercial.

Her second day was much more frantic as she searched the area she had showed up at. She had ran herself ragged that day looking for a way back, for someone to help her. All it had ended up with was her dodging the Animal Control like Batman from Gotham PD. She had passed out in a different box somewhere far away, the crying and wheezing back. Apparently, her little cat body was not made for gross sobbing but hell if she cared.

The third day was depressing. She was hungry, tired and upset. She was able to convince a few people to throw her some food scraps and give her a bit of water. Eating off the ground was not the highlight that day, but she was hungry. Tiredly mowing at passersby until she was full was embarrassing.

It was her fifth day that she decided to say ‘fuck it, what happened happened and i cant force my body to change back until it’s time.’ It was like some ultimate ‘chill-out’ button had been pressed. That day she focused on what she needed. Food, water, sleep and bath-time.

Bathing herself was an interesting chore, mainly because her human self would never lick herself clean, no-thank you. So she found a shallow fountain and got in under the spray. Thankfully she wasn’t susceptible to the ‘all cats hate water’ troupe and had a pleasant time. She felt fine licking herself in general areas like her legs afterwards because she read somewhere cat saliva does something for the fur or whatever. She was very content basking in the sun for the rest of the day.

Also! She had found out what she looked like. Apparently her ‘inner-now-outer’ cat form was some type of Norwegian Forest cat (only reason she knew is because she entertained getting one in the past). She was on the thin size for a cat, probably due to the lack of food, but she was still 11 pounds of pure floof. She was a rusty reddish-brown color with a darker shade running tiger stripes through it. From the tip of her forehead, spreading downward along her face and coating her entire underbelly, her color was white. She also had white ‘socks’ as they call it, while the rest of her leg was the reddish-brown. All-in-all, she thought she was a very pretty cat.

Kore did her own thing for the next few days, exploring and sightseeing, begging food off tourists with bleeding hearts for cute cats, basking in the hot sun before laying in the fountain she had found. She had quickly become a tourist attraction, which surprisingly got Animal Control off her back. They had tried catching her for awhile, before shop owners started saying good things about her. Money did wonders, and in Malibu it was a-plenty.

She probably had her picture taken a thousand times, even posed for them, too. She wasn’t all that keen on people touching her, their petting was always too rough and pulled at her fur uncomfortably. She hissed at more than a few people who tried to touch her tail or who wiggled their hands too close to her face. Heightened senses meant she didn’t like that, and anything that touched her whiskers was a big ass no-no. However, she did sit still for those who brought her food and minded her face and tail. Positive conditioning.

It was on the eighth day when she had the rug pulled out from under her furry feet.

It was getting dark and thankfully cooler, the ocean pushing out a cool breeze that shoved most of the humidity away and left her able to breath a bit better. She had just settled down on a nice concrete bench, a long-forgotten twizzler stick her only company, to watch the sunset with her new-found amazing eyesight when someone sat next to her. She didn’t bother looking up, lazing there for a moment, sitting like a bread loaf with her legs tucked under her. Another tourist to bother her, hopefully one who knew her ‘rules of conduct’ as she liked to call them.

“You know you’re trending on this location’s twitter feed, right?” an oddly familiar voice said. Kore looked up sharpy and had to choke back a startled meow.

‘HOLY SHIT, IT’S ROBERT DOWNEY JR.’ she thought before being overcome with a meme she had seen of that actor that played spiderman in CA:CW of him also freaking out about RDJ. ‘ oh my god, it’s RobertDowneyJr .’ God, that meme went on forever, but it was golden.

Shaking the thought out of her mind, she focused on the icon before her. He sat there, tapping on his phone before holding it out to her as if he expected a cat could read it but more than likely doing it for his own amusement. And yes, there she was in all her glory, and was that a fucking Amaro filter?

“Be careful, Kit-cat, you might steal my thunder.” RJD said with a grin, his eyes sparkling.

He didn’t look dissimilar to how he looked during the IronMan and Avengers filming (to which she was an avid fan), from the designer glasses and goatee with sharp-enough-to-cut-a-man edges, to his designer leather shoes that probably cost more than her yearly paycheck.

“So I hear I have to pay a fine to touch the cat deity or forfeit my soul to your claws.” he pulls out a small bag from his pocket and gives it a small shake. “I’m not one to skimp on paying for a date so I got you the good stuff.” he winked down at Kore, carrying on a conversation as if she was some regular-ol-joe off the block and not a cat. But he placed a piece of shrimp down in front of her and she wasn’t going to be the one to bring up his dubious sanity.

Kore chowed down on the shrimp, taking dainty little bites, low-key hoping to impress him with her ‘impeccable’ cat manners. He steadily fed her the shrimp piece by piece, not touching her at all during it. A low, rumbly purr rose from her throat (and wasn’t that a trip when it first happened). She hadn’t had shrimp in a while, mostly chicken and tuna that the tourists gave her.

It was a very pleasant moment, and when she was full she stood, scooting closer to him, postured in optimal petting position. RDJ let out a chuckle and gave her head a small pat, fingers gliding along her ears gently.

‘Thank whatever graces that he is the ONE PERSON who knows how to correctly pet a cat in this damn city.’ Kore though, butting her head into the hand. He continued, moving his hand down the arch of her back before petting at the area right above her tail, digging in a little harder.

‘Yeeeeeeesssssssssss’

It only got better when he added his other hand and scratched under her chin with the tips of his fingers, getting good between the fur but not hard enough to pull uncomfortably.

It was like the fucking rapture. Her soul had ascended and lived in a completely blessed state of being. Goddamn angels were singing, damnit.

She was probably making embarrassing noises, even for a cat, but who cared? This was amazing.

The godsend of a man continued for a good while, even allowing her to climb into his lap and rub her furry body along his as she was high as a kite off endorphins. But all-too-soon it was over and he gave her a few last pats. The sun had set, casting the sky in dark reds and purples that slowly faded to black.

“Gotta head home Licorice stick, the world waits for no man, no matter the cat.” RDJ stated, “quick pic?” he leaned down, taking out his phone and putting it in selfie mode to snap a quick pic of her snuggled into him like pillow, one paw stretched up, patting his hand in hopes of more petting.

Honestly, it was an adorable picture and Kore may-or-may-not have posed for it.

“#CatOfZumaBeach, #TonyStark, #LicoriceStick #Kit-Cats-” He rattled off about a dozen more tags, amusing her to no end. He even referenced Stark, which was funny, he emulates the character to a ‘T’.

“Well, there we go Kit-cat, posted. Soon we will take the internet by storm.” he crooned dramatically with his head tilting back as if he was ready to cackle or maybe howl at the moon. But, disappointingly, he did neither and looked back down at her. He gave her one last pat on the head and stood, walking away down the boardwalk.

Kore sat in silence for a moment, a war going on in her mind for a fat second before one side won.

‘Hell, if I’m stuck like this, might as well have a good time.’ she thought as she hopped off the bench and padded after the man.

Said man who jumped into a car that probably cost more than her old house (and probably all her previous belongings) did. If only it wasn’t yellow. God she hated most, if not all, yellows.

Sadly, Kore had wasted precious time being disgusted by the shade of yellow of his car, so when she was about to run over and hop in, the door closed and he sped off.

Fantastic.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2: Finding Things out the Weird Way

Kore honestly didn’t have the high hopes of locating RDJ after that, so instead she wandered aimlessly around, following a tug in her gut that just had her moving. It was night time now, but Malibu was famed for the night life so it was bright enough out it might as well have been day.

The foot traffic was worse at night, Kore had learned quickly. Drunk people had a habit of stumbling everywhere unpredictability, leading to her getting trod on a few more times than she was willing to admit. But, thankfully, the hussle and bussle slowly melted away to a more scenic roadway with no foot traffic. Actually, there was no traffic at all.

Wait, was this a driveway?

A single row of palm trees lined the side of the road, a meticulously tended lawn sprawled out on either side. And was that a helicopter pad? Damn, this person was loaded. At the end of the curving drive was a house. Well, more like a mansion. It was fuckin huge and practically oozed the aura of money. She wouldn’t be surprised if it had a golden toilet, maybe some of those diamond-glass chandeliers or platinum coffee cups. She didn’t know how the 1% liked to spend their 90% of the American wealth.

Ah, salt...  

Anywho, this place was very modern, all sleek lines with white marble and gray steel. The main entrance held a circle drive with a small oasis in the center, palm trees sticking up in different directions. To her smaller stature, the place was ginormous, not that it wouldn’t be even if she was in her human body, but damn.

Question was, what now? She didn’t intend to come here, just followed where her feet took her. She supposed the huge place warranted an expedition of exploration.

Padding around the oasis, Kore moved to the side of the mansion. She inspected the side of the house, stepping over the lights that lined the side of the drive and casting dramatic shadows over her form in the darkness of the evening.

Sniffing the air, she could smell something familiar, and realized it was the same scent that came from RDJ.

Holy shit, what are the odds .

Kore moved to the door, sitting in front of it and wondering what the hell she was going to do next. She could find a way in, wiggle her way into his good graces. Didn’t he have kids? She has no idea how old they are, she wasn’t up to snaz with celebrities.

Hopefully they like cats. Maybe she could become some sort of pseudo cat nanny. But then again, the thought of tiny child hands tugging along her fur makes her anxious. Maybe she can just hide from all but RDJ and his wife? Chill like the best cat so they won't get rid of her until she can find a way home.

Now, she could do that, or she could snoop around the property for a bit…

Snooping was fun.

With no small amount of glee, Kore took off around the house to explore.

The property was like a Disney Land for cat-sized visitors. It had so many nooks and crannies that were far too small for humans, but just a slight squeeze for her. Ramps two inches wide she could climb to the roof on and holes in the decorative roof plating (suspiciously looking like blast-proof support struts) that she could shimmy through to the other side. Beyond the struts was a sleek, modern-looking roof, mainly flat with gentle slopes down that were aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

She could waltz across the roof, down the slopes to another part of the roof that curled away from the main part of the house and overlooked the sea. From the lower angle this roof provided, she could see a pool on the other side of the house and, if she shimmied down a particularly narrow patch of roof, a large window to part of the house.

Which was where she was now, peeping like a creeper and feeling only slightly weird by it.

She appeared to be looking through a window on the far left side of the main living room. A living room that this author wasn’t going to trouble herself writing about because explaining it would take too damn long. It was expensive and modern looking, it had a couch and a kitchenette, that’s all you need to know. Also there was a waterfall around a circle staircase and Kore thought that was both excessive and awesome.

I want a waterfall , Kore hummed and hawed in her mind, scooting closer to the window. Waterfalls made her feel that zen vibe she tried (and failed) to achieve when she was human, so she had stuck to the opposite vibe. Leather jackets didn’t agree with her, but she thought she looked damn good in black fishnets and ankle-breaker heels. Hippy wannabe and stripper aspirations aside, the waterfall was a nifty decoration.

There wasn’t anyone in the room. Also, it was pretty darn clean, which begged to question how the hell it was if RDJ was sporting a few tiny troublemakers. Maybe she was wrong in that regard, or maybe they were older?

Kore's cat-face scrunched up in doubt. Something wasn’t sitting right, but she wasn’t omnipotent so she was willing to hedge she read something wrong.

Pressing her face to the glass, she observed the room, taking in all the details, her mind wandering to the past few days as she stared at the waterfall. It was like meditation. Letting all the thought just float out of her head as she stared at the water flowing down into the pool that circled the staircase like a moat. Little blotches of red slid across her vision as she sunk deeper into the cat-trance, the blobs of color floating around the room in lazy, unconcerned motions. It was kind of like when one closes their eyes and can see a flicker of color behind them.

What sent her back to reality was the lights, the house lights, flickered for a moment. Blinking out of her trance, Kore backed up from the window. The red flickered out of existence and she wrote it off as one of those cat things.

Looking around the room once again, Kore was startled to see a man had been standing there, looking up at her with a flabbergasted expression. RDJ said something, his words so muffled by the glass (probably some sort of bulletproof stuff) that even her enhanced hearing couldn’t make it out. No doubt it had something to do with her.

Kore decided then that her presence was probably not welcome like this, staring at him through the window like a gremlin, and shuffled back up to the main part of the roof.

She sat on the lower part of the roof for a bit, wondering what to do next, to go down and see him, meet and greet the fam and maybe get tossed out or taken in, or just slink off into the night. But her decision was made for her when RDJ came up onto the roof himself.

“How the hell did you get here? I’m all for taking a pretty lady home, but normally she comes through the front door rather than sit on my roof.” he grinned, walking from the higher part to her lower part of the roof. As he got closer she could see his grainy jeans, stained with something dark and oily in splotches along his outer thighs and above the knees. He also wore a black and silver Metallica t-shirt that looked well worn and well loved. The lights from both the large windows below the eaves and the skylights in the roof cast sharp, dramatic shadows across his body and face, reminding Kore of something straight out of The godfather or The Addams family. RDJ did have some killer cheekbone definition like Morticia Addams.

He squatted next to her within touching distance, looking her over with a critical eye.

“You know, I’m not overly fond of cats, or animals in general. I know, crime against the universe, but everyone says I can't stand someone being more important than me in the room, and the cat always takes the limelight.” he said, self deprecation and boastful ego laced in his voice so tightly she could have used it as a rope to climb Mt Everest.

And like the Grinch, her heart grew three times its size.

Kore always had a ridiculously large amount of sympathy and empathy. She couldn’t not comfort this man.

Standing back up from where she sat, she moved closer to him, mowing softly up at him like she was saying ‘ hey. ’ She bumped her head against his knee, feeling the texture of his jeans pulling lightly at her fur.

She caught the look on his face as she moved back, a curious but slightly miffed expression. Was touching a no-go? She couldn’t exactly ask.

But before she could do anything, she was scooped up into a pair of surprisingly muscular arms.

Ah, this is the life , she thought, inner self-indulgent imp making triumphant heu-heu-heu sounds.

She had to point out that he smelled pretty darn good, a musky cologne that smelled like it cost an arm and a leg, motor oil and metal with a hint of what she was pretty sure was a bourbon or scotch coming from his breath. It was one of those smells that sat in the back of your throat, one that made you breath in deeper to try and memorize it just right because you knew you’d never find it anywhere else.

She settled into his arms, but it was clear he didn’t know how the hell to hold a cat. Her back legs dangled in the air as his arms were around her middle, front legs held at an awkward angle. It put her whole body into an uncomfortable tension, the weight of her body focused on a single point in her back that made it ache.

Kore let out an irritated grumble, wiggling her back legs and trying to find purchase on the man’s body to take the tension off.

“Stop wiggling you oversize fur-ball.” RDJ huffed, hauling her further up in his arms. Thankfully the shifting allowed her back feet to find purchase on the underside of his arms. With her claws that she may or may-not have forgotten about.

“Son of a bitch!” he yelled, letting her go, which tugged her hooked back claws out of his arm, which prompted more cursed.

‘Learn how to hold a damn cat, you ass’ she mowed and hissed up at him after she landed back on the roof.

“It's not my fault cat’s are built like limp noodles.” he sassed back, as if reading her mind. He looked down at the rows of thin scratches along the back of his arm, the line of the scratch bright white with droplets of blood dotting it, the area around it was red as if someone had slapped the arm. “Look what you did, Puss In Boots.” he said in an accusing tone, holding his arm out to her as if to guilt her.

Admittedly, she did feel a little guilty. But it’s not like she could show him so she sat back on her hindquarters and reached up with her two front paws. The balancing act was a bit difficult, and she wobbled a bit as she reached up to the arm that was very much out of her range.

He gave her a peculiar look and lowered his arm, as if testing her or himself. She ignored the expression and wrapped her paws (claws retracted, she had to think about it for it to work) and pulled his arm to her face. She gave the arm a few presses against her face, not licking it but kinda just mashing it to her face near the scratches.

He gave her a flabbergasted look.

“Did… did you just kiss my boo-boos?” he choked out, like he just saw both most unexpected and amusing thing ever. Like a flying pig or singing walrus. She gave him the best smug look a cat face could, which looked like a fairly normal cat face, because normal cats are in an eternal state of smugness.

He seemed to shake off whatever funk her sloppy attempts to ‘kiss it better’ put him in.

“You’re previous owners sure trained you weird.” RDJ said, placing a hand over the scratched area. If Kore though she could shrug without freaking him out, she would. But she was willing to just let him think she was some over-trained cat. “Can you adhere to commands, I wonder?” he mused to her, fingers tapping on his arm like a nervous or thoughtful ticc.

He gave her a serious look, which she didn’t (read: couldn’t) take seriously.

“Sit,” he said, with as much conviction as possible, like the world would bend down on it’s knees had he asked it. Kore, gleefully, ignored him.

“Erm.. play dead? Roll over? Handstand?” he rattled off more, seeming to grow more and more petulant with each failed attempt. It almost broke her resolve, seeing those puppy dog eyes aimed at her, be she held on, knowing it would be worth it should he fall into her trap.

“Come on, you can kiss owies, but you can’t sit or roll over? Come on now, what kind of weirdo cat are you?” he amped it up, going full dramatics. Talk about a diva. But Kore was soaking it up, finding his antics humorous. “Do I have to beg? Please, sit?”

He said it snidely, fully expecting her not to listen, but too much on a roll to stop with the whole act. Which made his facial expression all the sweeter to her when she did sit down.

She was laughing internally at his wholey indignant expression.

“Smart-ass cat,” he said, crossing his arms and giving her an ‘I find this vaguely insulting but also humorous’ look. She had a feeling he wore that look a lot, if how the laugh/frown lines on his face perfectly moved into the look. Kore’s tail flicked behind her, a cool ocean breeze catching in her fur.

He stood back up, still holding onto his injured arm with the other.

“Well, I’m getting the hell off this roof, it's cold as hell up here and I’m not a fan.” He hummed and began to walk back to where he had come from and Kore didn’t hesitate to follow him down.

The next few hours were a bit of a rush. A whole lot happened and yet, a whole lot didn’t happen.

For one, she realized she was utterly fucked.

This grand epiphany happened when she slipped into the mansion and the fucking thing talked .

“Sir, It appears you have a guest,” a British voice called from the ceiling, causing no small amount of shock from her furry self. More so because she so fucking knew that voice, and if it was the real deal and not some very very elaborate prank, then she was far more screwed than just being stuck as a cat. And she didn’t know a single soul that would go to such lengths at her expense.

And you know that gut feeling you get when you know something to be true even though you absolutely wish it wasn't? Yeah, she had it in heaps and bounds.

She had, at that moment of revelation, stared at RDJ -- oh god, no, it was Tony Stark -- in such bafflement and shock, she was sure she was petrified. Or dead.

Thankfully, Stark ( oh goooood ) didn’t seem to notice, making coffee for himself and pulling out something from his massive fucking fridge. It was chicken, she would later find out.

After about fifteen minutes of constant internal screaming, the cause of said internal screaming morphed from shock to elation. Because she was a super big Iron Man fan.

It would be the first of many that she was grateful for her sudden furry situation, or else she would have definitely said something very very stupid and embarrassed herself. Kore was pretty sure her brain-to-mouth filter was broken and she would have blurted out something mortifying, like a squeal, or rub herself up and down him like a stripper on a pole. She was sure her dignity would never ever recover.

She was saved from sure death from humiliation by the grace of her feline problem. Instead of making ignominious noises or getting arrested for sexual harassment, she was reduced to some weird hissing purr noise that sounded like she had something stuck in her throat.

Thank whatever divine power was watching over her in that moment. Fucking ThAnk YOu. Fucking hell.

After ungluing her paws from the floor, she made her way stiffly to the island in the kitchen and hopped up on one of the bar stools. She didn’t know how Tony-fucking-Stark felt about animals on the tables. She knew her family and friends from back home didn’t let it fly, so, caution instead of careless.

She did somewhat sit in the chair, her back legs under her in the seat, and her front paws on the counter edge.

Stark gave her an amused look at that, but she’d be damned if she was anything but polite. She didn’t want to get kicked out now, not when her favorite Marvel character was there, serving her chicken on a small paper plate.

She ate with as much manners as a cat could hold, her eyes never leaving the man in front of her and low-key hoping to impress him with her impeccable cat-manners. He was also staring back, looking over her with a critical look in his eye. She knew she wasn’t the most well-groomed cat, but she sure as shit wasn’t licking herself clean. Gross.

The man hummed, a small frown forming on his face as he looked her over.

She felt a small swell of indignation at this, to see the assessment in his eyes and find herself lacking. A small well of hurt also accompanied it, but she was going to ignore it.

She glared up at him, her big cat-eyes making it lose some of the desired effect. Who was he to judge her? She knew his life like the back of her hand (paw?) and he had to right to judge her. He looked worse than her any day of the week after hermiting out in his lab, so forgive her for not sticking her tongue on fur that had been dragged all over Malibu.

A part of her knew she was probably overreacting (though her tantrum was mental, so unless he was hiding a telepathy ability in there...) a smidgen, but it had been a stressful week.

She huffed at him and jumped off the seat to the floor, very much intending to explore, look around and see if he had any cool techy toys she could play with. Kore was a snoop, sue her.

Except her grand plan was thwarted by a pair of muscly arms that, if she had been human, she would have salivated at. Hell, she was now, but that thrust a whole can of worms into her unwilling cat arms, because, shit, she couldn’t get laid in this body. Which was a fucking tragedy. The universe was laughing, she was sure. Stick her with a hottie she held the biggest fucking lady boner for, but stick her in a body where she couldn’t get some of that sweet, sweet ass. Unless she took a foray into bestiality, but that was a heavy ‘no-go’ zone of thought for her.

Kore didn’t have any more opportunity to weep over the tragedy of her now nonexistent sex life, because she was being tossed out the front door.

Kore’s second discovery of the night: Tony Stark was an asshole.

(AN: HAVE A SHITTY 30 MIN DOODLE 

Chapter Text

Chapter 3: Bebe Rexha: ‘Ima Mess’ is Good Background Music

It had been almost four months.

Four FUCKING MONTHS!!

Saying she was upset would be an understatement. For four months she had been a cat, living on the streets of Malibu. She stopped regularly at Stark’s house, maybe once every few days to snoop, but he was never in. It sucked balls, and she was upset that her chance at picking the brain of her favorite character had slipped through her clawed toes.

There were many downsides to being stuck as a cat for that long, for one: rainy days. Blegh. The first day it rained caught her by surprise and drenched her as she tried to find suitable cover. She had hid under tables, under dumpsters and cars and still managed to get soaked every damn time. And it was a pain to get dry after, her floof held water like a sponge.

Secondly: food. Food was an off and on thing. Sometimes she'd be drowning in offerings of food from tourists, sometimes she’d be left high and dry for days at a time and have to scavenge in the trash or beg outside restaurants. Or she’d steal. Four months on the street gave her mad game in stealing. She was able to snatch food out from under people’s noses now, but it had been a big trial and error learned skill. She lost count how many times she’d been swatted away by hands, purses and the occasional broom.

Thirdly: her fur. Her FUR, her poor poor fur. By the end of the first month, Kore’s fur was so matted and tangled she looked more like a gremlin than a cat. It was painful at times, even, her fur twisted so bad it pulled at the skin under it.

On one particularly windy day, she had stumbled upon a salon of sorts at the edge of the city. She had sat there for a bit, bemoaning that she couldn’t go in and get her fur sorted out by some hairdresser. A blow drying sounded orgasm worthy at this point, and she almost moaned at the sight of a fine-tooth comb.

It was as if her prayers had been answered as a tall, skeletal woman with bright purple hair walked out of the salon, leaving the door wide open to Kore’s sneaky self.  She had dashed inside and hopped onto a chair, hoping that a hairdresser would humor her.

‘ Please please please please’, Kore chanted in her head.

“Hey Darla! Come take a load of this!” a bright, feminine voice said to Kore’s left. She turned to see a short, squat woman with short, dark red hair. The woman had an oval shaped face and a pointy chin, with dainty features. She looked like a faerie, honestly.

“Oh mah Gawd, is tha a kitty?” another voice said, and Kore held back a hurl at the sound of it. It sounded just like when an old man wrote a ‘high school’ set movie and hired 30 year olds to play teenagers who had no fucking idea how the youth spoke. Exaggerated vowels, high pitched ‘y’s  and ‘g’s sounded like she was choking on a rubber ball. She turned to see another woman, probably Darla, who looked like she walked straight out of a 90’s kid catalog.

Who the fuck wore denim with denim??? And was that a floral scarf being used as a belt? God, she was wearing chunky jewelry, too. The gaudy stuff that looked like a kid had went to a landfill, grabbed a bunch of random shit and strung it together. Jesus Fuck, there was cheetah print ELBOW PATCHES!

Dear God, she was in Hell. She was certain, because her soul was screaming in agony into the Void.

Kore tried not to focus on the absolute tragedy in platform boots and turned back to the Fae to her left. A desperate look came on Kore’s face that screamed ‘please don't let this woman touch me.’ Sadly, the fae lady seemed unable to read cat emotions, and just smiled down at her.

In the end, Kore did get her fur done. And if, in the process, she was forced to wear a metallic stretchy pet coat with pink pom-poms on it (that was probably made for the chihuahua shivering in the corner of the salon), only she would know.

At the tail end of the fourth month mark since her close encounter with the Stark kind, found Kore holed up in her niche. It was a small space, between two close buildings, an a radiator that was poking out of one building as roof. She had found the place by chance about two months in and made it her own. She had brought back all sorts of things she found to make it at least a bit homey. Discarded beanie caps, lost gloves, seashells and bits of seaglass, some jewelry she’d found laying around, a watch she had found (handy to tell the time), and more. It was fairly comfortable, the cloth things she found made for a makeshift bed.

She had visited the salon just last week, thankfully Darla wasn’t there, but Georgina (the fae lady) was. So Kore’s fur was a little tangled, but nowhere near the monstrosity it had been the first month. Maybe she could steal a brush next and bring it here, it would give her something to rub against to detangle herself a bit.

With a new goal in mind, Kore slipped out of her hovel and into the dusk-covered Malibu. The city was still jam packed with people, some drunk enough already she could probably wrestle the shirts off their backs without too much trouble.

She prowled the streets for a few hours, eating a few scraps people threw her way and searching for her next victim. It was reaching midnight when Kore found one, a couple of college girls walking around outside a club. She dug into one of their purses as the shortest girl of the group bent over the puke along the sidewalk, the other girls patting her back (un)helpfully.

Kore found a small purple and black hairbrush in the first bag and bit into the soft handle before taking off into the night, cackling internally in sweet sweet victory . She should have done this ages ago.

Four months ago Kore would have never thought she’d become a petty thief. Or be somewhat successful in it.

After stashing her new brush in her little home and spending a bit of time rolling it around between her paws to try and position it just right. It kind of worked? She was able to rub her face across it and detangle a cobweb that had got stuck between two of her whiskers, so she was counting it as a win.

After that, she decided not to waste the rest of the night and went out to see what street performers were out and about. Maybe she could do a weird little dance in front of one and draw a crowd. The more known she was as ‘the cat of Zuma beach,’ the more people came to see her and, more often than not, bring her food. It was a win.

But, before she could go gallivanting off into the night, she felt a light tug in her chest, a small wiggle of paranoia that urged her in one direction.

Ah! And that was another thing! The weird feelings she had been getting for the past four months, the tugs in her body pulling her this way and that. And for good reasons. She dodged a lot of assholes listening to her gut. She’d almost call them her ‘spidy-sense,’ but since she was a cat and didn’t want to steal Spider-tot’s gimmick, she called it her cat-sense as a common courtesy. Maybe she could call it her ‘meow-monitor’ or ‘pussy-perception’ (that one was her favorite). She was sure it was going to get her in trouble one of these days, but eh, she was already a cat. She filled out her ‘this is bad’ quota for the rest of her life.

Now, the senses were tugging her towards a specific thing. So, like any dumbass in a horror film, she followed it.

She was half-surprised-but-really-not when it set her on a familiar route to Stark’s mansion.

‘My anti-clique sense is tingling,’ she thought as she trot up the path to the giant house. ‘Gotta be ready to dodge any of that shit, i don't feel like walking into some sort of tragic rom-com’ she shuddered at the thought. Thoughts of overly sappy pining stares from across the room, the ‘i'm just going to avoid them because i sooo don't like them’ when they CLEARLY liked the damn person, stupid-ass miscommunications that could be solved if the people in the stories just fucking talked to each other for once instead of gloriously eye-fucking each other whenever in range of sight, the love confessions after knowing them for a handful of days with barely two words spoken between them. God, it all made her nauseous just thinking about it.

‘Just fuckin’ end me if it gets that far,’ Kore thought, praying to whatever higher power would listen, ‘jus’ do it, mate.’

She padded up to the front door, unsurprised to find it locked, but very surprised to see lights on inside. A dim glow shown from the windows, curtains made of some rich stuff clogging most of the light.

He was home. This must be investigated.

Operation “Stalk the Stark”: commence.

Toddling around the outside of the house proved fruitful results, as the garage was wide open. She, naturally, invited herself in.

Kore ogled at the expensive cars lining the sides of the garage after wandering through the winding entrance. Impressive mechanical shit was littered about, a very fine layer of dust coating the edges and tables.

Damn, he really wasn’t here all those months.

But Holy Shit , she was Tony Stark’s garage! And she was deadass certain this was his workshop. The place he made the Iron man suit at. She wondered where it was. The display cases where his suits normally sat were not there. So maybe they were in that weird suit-cellar?

She didn’t dwell on it long, not when the tug in her gut got stronger, urging her to move forward and further into the garage. Trotting into the workshop, Kore noted some things, like how the lights were dim and the low murmur of a mechanical voice at the far end of the room.

“ -it is  78 degrees out, the forecast calls for a chill night due to a cold front coming in from the ocean. Tomorrow is overcast- ” JARVIS was practically whispering, a soothing tone laced with worry that surprised her. She knew JARVIS was advanced, but hearing the emotions? Another level.

Another sound filtered through her ears as she moved closer, harsh and heavy breathing, low, ugly sobs that sounded painful. God, was Tony hurt??

Kore picked up the pace racing over to where she heard him (because who else would be allowed down here?). She found him folded into a ball next to a table, tools scattered along the floor as if he had fell and taken the table with him. She couldn’t see his face, just a mop of greasy, messy hair poking from between his knees. His arms were wrapped around his knees, hiding his head as if he was preparing for a blow. Fuck, he was having a panic attack.

Without having to think about it, she moved over, pulling a loud purr from the depths of her chest. Cats had soothing qualities, right? She could help, even vertically challenged as she was now.

Kore sniffed at him, smelling a bouquet of unpleasant things. Blood, vomit, greasy fast food and a sour smell she was certain was either fear or panic. Even with all that she came closer, licking at him lightly in hopes to alert him to her presence. It didn’t seem to work, so she cranked up the purring and settled in for the long haul. She sure-as-shit wasn’t going to leave him like this, not when she could help.

She rested her body against his legs, the ball he was clenched in was too tight for her to wiggle into.

Now Kore had some experience in this department. Not that she was going to be spilling her sob story, but, honestly, who didn’t have one? She was one of the lucky ones who was able to pull herself out of that dark place before it was too late, she got the help she needed and healed. And after all the dust was settled, she learned how to go about helping others. Having a first hand experience with this stuff did wonders when she was helping others.

She was rather limited as she was, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t help ground him. So she purred, she rubbed and batted at his hair, giving him something physical to latch onto and bring him back. It took awhile for the hyperventilating to ease up and sobbing to abate, but she was patient, coaxing him little by little to calm down. The sharp sour smell faded bit-by-bit.

It was another few minutes of just him shivering for a pair of whisky colored eyes to peek out at her.

Tony uncurled, his good arm (one was in a sling, she noted) reaching out towards her. Kore sniffed his fingers, smelling strong disinfectant and a hint of something dusty under it. She pressed her face into his hand, one eye scrunching up.

He pet her with one hand for a bit, his fingers moving in soft, repetitive motions. Tony uncurled more and more as time went on, enough for her to slide into his lap and huddle against him. All the while he stared at her like he was seeing something else, or as if he couldn't really understand it.

His face, now that she could see it, was messed up. Bruises around both eyes, along his left cheek and forming a necklace around his neck. A bandage over his left cheek and one over the bridge of his nose. His whole face was red and sunburned, blisters forming along his forehead. There appeared to be makeup on him, skin-toned foundation over the burns that had been rubbed or ran off during his panic attack. Some cakey shit some poor intern probably bought for themselves from a drug store to save money (honestly, same tho) and slapped on Tony because they had no other option.

Careful not to touch any of the burns or bruises, Kore leaned up and pressed her nose against the tip of his.

“I don't think you can kiss these boo-boos away, licorice.” His voice was rough, like he'd been gargling nails and chewing sandpaper. It started her.

Both of his hands were petting her now, the injured one’s movements smaller. She kept the purring on full-force, booping his nose with hers again, hoping he got her message.

Im here , she thought, I got you .

Kore’s whole body ached for him in empathy. Because holy fucking shit did it look like he got the stuffing knocked out of him. And she had an inkling where and how.

Tony made a sound, a long, huffing sound like he’d rather do anything else what what he was about to do. He shuffled around, keeping his bad arm around her while the other reached up for the edge of the table. Took him a hot second, but he managed to stand, holding Kore against him.

Tony shuffled to one side of the workshop, his steps slow and dragging. Kore could feel the jump in his gait as he limped over to the couch.

“Sir, might i recommend going to rest?” JARVIS said overhead.

“JARVIS, mute: level three security.” Tony cut off. JARVIS did not reply.

Kore meowed at the man as he continued to the couch and sat down a bit rougher that she thought he should. He was silent for a long time, just looking down at her, his eyes on her but his mind far far away. She did her best to comfort him: purr against him and nuzzle his good arm to keep him calm.

“Everything is a mess…” Tony’s voice rasped, “and i don’t know what to do.” tears tracked against his cheeks, running through the cracks in his foundation.

Kore thanked whatever deity was listening that she was a cat in that moment. No way he’d open himself up to her if she had been human. Knowing his character, he would have pushed it down, shoved it all in a little box, and put on a mask had she been standing on two legs instead of four. He needed to let this out. If what she think happened really did just happen, then he needed to talk about it. And she didn’t remember him ever really opening up about the torture in Afghanistan in the movie to any of his friends so she was happy to help.

And if he thought she was just some non-sentient animal, who’d have no real understanding of what he was saying while he spilled his guts, well… that was her guilt to bare.

“I dont know what to do,” he whispered, his voice groaning out like the creaks of the wind passing through an old tree’s branches.  

I got you, i got you , she thought hard, as if she could telepathically tell him, focusing on soothing rumbles and soft, whiskery nuzzles against his cheek. She was cradled in his lap, his good arm around her, his bad arm held at an awkward angle away from his chest.

He mumbled some things to her for awhile, incoherent murmurs mixed with a few spare words she could pick out. ‘Suit’ and ‘hot’ was frequent, as was ‘Yinsen’ and ‘Raza.’

Holy shit, was this a lot of shit. She knew those names and she knew what they meant. It cemented her theory that Tony just got out of captivity and this was the setting of the first Iron Man movie.

Kore had to forcibly shove down her fan-freak-out, because, while she was excited to be witnessing such a pivotal moment in history, she also had a PTSD riddled man holding her and she wasn’t enough of a douche to leave him hanging while she had a freakout.

Tony, the amazing man he is, was never one to sit idly for long. And he cemented that fact by shaking himself out of his daze quickly after her revelation.

Clearing his throat, Tony looked her right in the eyes, consideration clear in the whisky-colored irises.

“I think it’s time for a shower, don't you?” he said, his voice coming out stronger than before, but still rough around the edges. He stood slowly, one arm wrapped around her still. Kore shifted her weight the best she could, digging her back paws (sans claws) into the space between his pants and his stomach, standing on the fold in the clothing. All he had to do was hold her body to his chest and let her back legs do the work.

She could see a small quirk in his lip as he noticed what she did. Pleased that she amused him, Kore purred all the way through the elevator ride to the upper floor and into his room.

He set her down on the bed (albeit reluctantly) and looked around for clothing. She stayed where she was, watching him closely as he dug for a shirt in his drawers, her tail flicking every now and again. He disappeared into the bathroom, not bothering to close the door as he began stripping out of his soiled clothing.

Now, Kore was no saint, be even she was courteous then and turned away from the door to give him privacy. But it was a near thing. Lord-have-mercy on her poor poor cat soul, she was only human (feline??) and did she ever want to peek at the show, but she’d feel dirty if she did it now. Like she was taking advantage over a hurt man and that was not how she rolled.

She’d wait until he was whole and healthy before she ogled, thank you very much.

She spent his shower time snooping his room, trying to find out what an eccentric billionaire hid in his sock drawers. She was saddened to find no goodies to be found, no sexy toys or even a pair of fuzzy cuffs, just some condoms and lube packets. Very vanilla.

Come on, Tony, you’re ruining ur playboy vibe here , she thought to herself as she sniffed around his night stand. While she wasn’t expecting the dude to have a sex dungeon or anything, she was at least expecting a little sumthin’ sumthin’. Like a dildo or cock ring. But there wasn’t.

A bit disappointing, but eh, whatever rocks the man’s boat.

Maybe he hid some stuff in his workshop? Kore promised to herself to go on a scavenger hunt later to sniff out any and all naughty things. But for now, she’d continue snooping through his stuff here.

If she was honest (and many times she was to a disrespectful degree), his room felt, well, un-roomy. There was nothing in it that really marked it as ‘his’ space. There was no nicknacks, no photos or books. Were it not for the cloths in the closet and drawers, she would have thought this was a guest room.

No wonder the man didn’t sleep if his room felt this bare. Like a stranger in his own home.

She heard a thump in the bathroom. A loud, painful thump.

Kore raced over to the open door dashed inside to see Tony slumped against the far wall of his enormous shower. (seriously, holy shit Tony, you could fit a car in there..)

She moved to the side of the glass door, pawing at the clear glass next to the downed man. Tony was in the middle of a full-blown panic attack, his breath was heavy and his body was shaking, arms over his head even as the water was cut off (probably by JARVIS).

She was kind of freaking out. Kore was fairly sure that having two back-to-back panic attacks was really really bad, especially in his condition. And, from the looks of it, this panic attack was uglier than the one he had in the workshop.

Shit.

She moved as quick as she could, greatly hindered by her small body and weight. She was just nosing the sliding glass door open, when Tony fell unconscious due to over-hyperventilation.

Double shit.

While she was glad he couldn’t hurt himself, because he was out fucking cold, she was rather distressed that he had fallen unconscious at all. She didn’t exactly have a doctor to ask, but she took a wild guess and assumed it was due to multiple things all piling up on top of one another at a over-heaping degree and overwhelming him. The exhaustion from his time in captivity, the stress of the return, the sudden release of the ‘im going to die any second’ mentality, and the two major panic attacks.

Thinking about it like that, she wasn’t too shocked that he hand passed out.

She just wish he had done it somewhere a little more forgiving on his neck.

It didn’t take her too long to run off and snatch a pillow, because there was no way in hell she was going to be able to move his ass to the bed. Thankfully, he had slumped against the wall when he had passed out, upright. So it took some handy dandy maneuvering to get him laying on his side with his good arm, pillow under his head (she just kinda… shoved him over? Eyeballed where to put the pillow down, then pushed her entire weight into his side and got him to slump over. His head was partially on the pillow so she was counting it as a success.)

She also nipped a bunch of Tony’s ridiculously fluffy towels to use as blankets for him. One: because he was still damp from the shower. And two: no fucking way was she able to pull that heavy ass comforter off of his bed. The damn thing weighted ten times her own weight and she wasn't fuckin jacked like that, man.

It was a good forty minutes later that she sat back, satisfied with her work.

Tony’s head was kinda on the pillow, his chin brushing the shower floor. About six towels covered the man, looking kinda lumpy and haphazard.

She didn’t have any fucking thumbs, ok? Can't expect five star turn down service when she cant even crack open a can of Coke.

But Tony was covered! And somewhat comfortable?

At least more so than he would have been, had she left him slumped against the wall. But she couldn't just leave him like that. He was such a damn mess. And God, if that wasn’t such a life mood she could roll with.

Kore also got a good look at his body, in a non-sexual way, of course. Kinda hard not to see what's going on when there is a man laying naked on the floor and your whole body is within the foot distance right above the floor. Everything was eye-level for her now. And oh boy, did he look like shit.

For one: Arch-reactor. Holy shit, she’d be amazed if it didn't look so damn painful. It was a bright blue star in the middle of a patch-worked chest of painful, half-healed injuries, and nasty looking purple and blue bruises. His whole chest looked misshapen by the device, and it was only heightened by his frail, starved body. She could see his ribs, could count the veins against the barely-there meat on his body.

Holy fuck, he looked half dead. All of her thirsty-bitch thoughts were shoved into a tiny box in her mind, thoroughly and utterly smashed down by the surge of protectiveness and ‘must help this man’ feelings.

She could feel it. Creeping under her skin and into her chest, snaring around her heart with burning, claw-like fingers.

Compassion, oof.

She could feel herself slipping into that caregiver role she fell to damn easily into. But she couldn't leave this man like this, not when she could do something, anything , to make his life a little less hellish after such an awful event. And to all the events she knew were to follow.  

She curled up next to him, and it was with a loud, put-upon sign (that was really just so she could later deny all willfulness) that Kore thought:

‘ Well, i guess i'm in this for the long haul .’

Chapter Text

 Chapter 4: Babysitting the Genius

Kore had snooped while Tony was out like a light. She found some grovey shit, but not as much as she knew she could have. Doors kept closing suddenly to more restricted areas and she’d put her money down that a certain AI was keeping tabs on her still. She would have been offended but the idea of an AI existing was enough alone to get her giddy. 

She stayed to the main areas, walking on tables and counters to see better. 

Tony had some pretty sweet digs. Everything looked and smelled expensive. It was like living in a house made of hundred dollar bills. The spirit of all them Benjamin Franklins oozing through the walls, like that freaky Vlad ghost from Ghostbusters 2. Or was it three?

Was there a three?

Never mind, she was here to snoop around Iron Man’s house, not contemplate the existence of a third ghostbusters movie. 

Any-who, she had explored most of what she could access by now, and was now sniffing around the waterfall she had seen earlier. Her paw reached out, sending water splashing a bit from where she stuck it in the flow. 

She pulled her paw back, giving it a few test sniffs before licking it. Deeming the water to be filtered tap water, she leaned down and drank a bit. She’d been so busy with Tony and then exploring that she hadn’t eaten or drank in over 12 hours and her gut was aching. She was already on meager rations that day (slow tourist day) and the added time didn’t help. 

She drank until her gut didn't pinch with hunger as bad, then trotted to the front door. 

As much as she wanted to stay, she needed food. And Tony was going to be out like a light for however much longer. So she was off to beg food off poor saps and then she’d be back. 

Kore pawed at the front door, willing it to open for her.

Surprisingly enough, it did. Funky little AI dude, helping a sister out. 

Kore trotted out the door and down the road, her tail flicking in the midday sun. It was rather warm out, and the blacktop roads were killing her feet. So she walked along in the surprisingly soft grass, which was past her ankles. 

It was so weird, the size perceptions now. Everything was so huge to her little cat body in comparison to her human self. Grass that was barely past the soles of her shoes are now past her ankles, chairs she could just sit down in where now so high she had to jump, and cars that she could jump into were giant metal monsters that were too loud for her sensitive ears.

 Shit was so different now, but she was adjusting surprisingly well. She’d give it another month or two before she had her true crisis. 

Right now she needed food and to get back to Stark before he woke up. 

With mission in mind, Kore raced into Malibu and to her niche. She was grateful to find it undisturbed and grabbed a small shell from the pile of pilfered goods. 

She moved out, walking down the sidewalk with the shell in her mouth, dodging feet and the occasional hand reaching for her until she reached her destination.

The Fried Fish Food Fort. A+ for the alliteration in her books. 

The FFFF food cart was on the sidewalk and sold fresh fish, fried on sticks. It was owned by this smarmy dude she only ran into once a while back, but it was ran by a few hired college students. College kids who were appropriately appreciative of cats and Instagram tags. 

She made a few chirps, the noises slightly muffled behind the shell. 

The girl who was running the cart that evening, Sarah if she remembered correctly, looked down at her and smiled brightly. 

“Zuma!” Sarah exclaimed, peeling off her sanitary gloves and kneeling down to pet Kore. Sarah was wearing a purple and pink apron over her cloths and a cap with the cart’s name on it. Sarah was one of the more enthusiastic people Kore had met in her time as a cat, and she enjoyed the girl’s company.

And she gave her extra fish. 

Kore placed the shell on the ground in front of her, batting it forward a little bit towards Sarah.  

“Oh, is this for me?” Sarah picked the shell up, looking it over. “A nice shell like this? Worth at least three sticks.” Kore perked up at that, scooting forward as Sarah stood back up and snapped on a pair of gloves. The girl quickly fried up some fish, placing three sticks into a small paper bag before kneeling down and placing it in front of her. 

Per routine, Kore stayed still for a moment, letting Sarah take pictures of her next to the bag and then some glamour shots for fun. 

Sarah waved her off, and Kore trotted back to her hovel to eat. She picked out and ate through one stick before the grumbling in her stomach stopped. 

Still hungry but wanting to get on the move, she began to scrunch up the bag once more, using her mouth along the edge to crinkle the paper together. She paused for a moment first.

People thought it was cute when cats brought them shit, right? Sarah certainly did, so maybe she could endear herself to Tony a bit by bringing him a little gift. 

She sniffed around her little home, batting over beanie hats and scarves until she found her more precious trinkets. 

Sea glass was her favorite, the sea-polished glass smooth and pretty. She might have had a small hoarding problem in the past when it came to pretty trinkets (and oh she mourned the collection she once had) but it was her guilty pleasure. Grabbing nifty or brightly colored things she put on shelves in her rooms, pretty doodads and what-nots she snagged from farmers markets and garage sales. The habit had not stopped when she shrunk and grew whiskers. 

She was the fuckin Little Mermaid of cats now. And she was apart of the Marvel world ayyyy. 

Kore cackled internally at her horrible pun. But, sometimes, horrible puns were all that got you through the day. 

She grabbed a decently sized red piece of seaglass and plopped it into the bag before scrunching it up and carting it all off between her teeth. 

She made her way quickly back to Stark’s home, padded feet hitting the pavement and then the grass when she hit his lawn. She marched right up to the door and sat the bag down before standing on her back legs and patting on the door with her front paws as hard as she could and meowing loudly. 

‘Let me in, LET ME INNNN’ she yowled as she laughed. 

For fuck sake she was pathetic but it was funny. 

She kept up the noise for a while before the door opened, a very haggard and frumpy Tony standing there, looking down at her bewildered. 

She chirped up at him prettily, just for sass. 

“What the hell?” Tony mumbled to himself as Kore turned and picked up the paper bag in her mouth before trotting past. He just watched her do it, like he wasn’t believing his own eyes. 

Kore walked in and sat on the tiled floor of the walk-in kitchen before digging open her bag with a few well-practiced head jerks (she was a repeat consumer at FFFF and the paper bag was always given). She smushed her face into the opening she created, her teeth clicking together as she tried to grab the seaglass. She was finally able to pinch it between her teeth and pull it out, turning towards Tony and setting it down in front of him. She batted it forwards slightly like she did the shell earlier until Tony took the hint and picked it up. His fingers slowly picked up the glass, his face scrunched in the most confused look. 

“JARVIS, why did this stray cat give me a piece of glass?” He called out to the room. 

“According to the internet, Sir, cats bringing dead or partially dead animals to their young to train them to hunt and fend for themselves. Cats are known to bring a wide variety of gifts to their owners in the same manner.” 

“It also brought a paper bag.”

“Indeed, Sir. It appears to be from a food vendor from within the city.” 

Kore already had her head in the bag again, digging out the other two fish sticks for her to eat. She pulled one out of the bag and set it on the ground, holding it between her front paws so she could rip little bites off of it. 

“...Cats are weird.” Tony huffed, shaking his head and moving over to the kitchen. He pulled out a pot of coffee and made himself a cup, then came back to sit on the floor near her. 

Stark sat there and just watched her eat the fish, staring at her. Or more like staring through her. His eyes glazed over after a while and his mind was a million miles away, trapped in the desert sands. 

‘Not on my fuckin watch’ Kore huffed to herself, picking up what was left of her fish and trotting over to the man. She set it down close to him before moving in, sniffing at his face and tickling the skin with her whiskers. She meowed in his face loudly, enough to draw him out of his thoughts. Tony’s eyebrows raised as his eyes refocused on her.

Content that he was drawn out of his thoughts for the moment, Kore sat between his legs, pressing her side to the inside of one of his thighs. She was well into working on her fish when she felt a light brush of fingers against the fur on her back. She made sure to let out a deep purr at that, encouraging it. 

The motions continued for a long while, picking up in pressure and scratches until he was fully petting her and she was rolling on the floor between his knees, trying to get him to scratch at the just the right place. 

She was purring like mad, the mouth-open grumbly snorting kind. It was kind of embarrassing, but shame went right out the window when he scratched that one spot under her chin and removed a picker bur that had been bothering her for days . Fucking picker bushes, man. The bane of her fucking exsistance. 

After Tony found the first bur, he was like a man on a mission, sifting through her fur and undigging all the little burs and seeds that got caught in her fur from time trotting through the underbrush to get to and from his house. 

“You got fleas,” Tony mumbled, pinching a small bug between his fingers, rolling it between them to kill it. And fuck, she knew that already. They had been killing her for months now, biting and itching everywhere. She stopped the worst of it by soaking in water for a long time to soothe the ache, and the spay the salon used helped as well, but never enough. 

"Should get some treatment, they got things for that i'm sure," he continued to mumble to himself. 

Kore knew he was probably using her as a distraction, something to hyper fixate on to keep the bad memories back. And a part of her felt guilty for allowing it, but another part of her understood and was glad it was toward something harmless. 

She had done a lot of thinking on her walks to and from the mansion. Tony hadn't gotten into his revenge plan yet, it was too close to his release and he was recovering. From what she remembered from the movie, Tony had dived into the Iron Man without a moment's pause between. She hoped she could distract him enough to give him a little recovery time before the next big life up-chuck. 

"JARVIS, they got flea treatment for cats, right?" 

"Yes, Sir, would you like me to put it on the shopping list?" The AI responded.

"Yeah, have it shipped out asap, would u buddy?" 

"Of course, Sir." 

Tony continued to pick through her fur, pulling out all the things caught in it. She was thankful she went to the salon not too long ago or it would have been a mess. Her long hairs caught anything that fluttered through the wind and she often times felt like a walking garbage bin because of it. 

She also felt like she was one of those monkeys on the Discovery channel, the ones that groom each other looking for pests. 

Kore snorted at the thought, the sound coming our in a 'kkuh' sound. 

Tony finished the impromptu grooming session, leaning back and petting a few fingers through her long fur. The act seemed to soothe him, and she was glad for it. She’d do whatever she could to help this man out. 

The grooming session set the tone for the day, and Kore found herself padding after the genius most of the time. She'd stay back most of the time, only coming up to him and rubbing all over his legs when his eyes would glaze over and his breath quicken. 

But by the end of the day, both Tony and her were exhausted. 

One thing she noted was the absence of any visitors, and at first she was enraged on Tony's behalf. But she remembered who Tony's friends were: Pepper, Happy and Rhodey. And those three were loyal to the core and probably were kept away against their will. Knowing what she did of Tony, he probably asked for some space to get his bearings. 

With that in mind, Kore elected to withhold her judgement for now. She’d see where things fell when she met them for the first time. 

One thing she couldn’t prevent, was Tony going into his workshop and tinkering. 

She was able to sit on a stool and watch as he puttered about, grabbing this and that and doing fancy tech stuff that went wayyyy over her head. But after a few hours of curiously observing the man get lost in his work, she started to see the skeleton of what he was making. 

The new arc reactor. 

Which was So. Fucking. COOL!

Kore stretched from where she was sitting, trying to get a better look at the device. History was in the making and she was but a humble observer to this grand occurrence. 

Watching him putter about was cool, (admittedly, she zoned out in a few places) the pieces coming together, until a familiar scene came into being. 

Tony leaned back in a chair, wires taped to every inch of him to monitor vitals, a towel in his lap and the new arc reactor in his hand. He tapped on a screen for a second, speaking into in. 

“Pepper, how big are your hands?” he called,

Oh shit, Pepper was here. Maybe she zoned out a little more than she thought. 

After a few more words between the two and a few odd minutes later, the door to the lap opened and in walked the famous Pepper Pots. 

The fucking QUEEN! 

Kore was hella gay for Pepper-mother-fuckin-Pots. She was the embodiment of girl power, crushing the patriarchy under her stiletto heels and breaking thought the glass ceiling like she was on a rocket to fucking Mars. Kore was ready to build a shrine to her and worship her as a goddess, leaving her offerings of designer heels, completed paperwork, and the decapitated heads of her enemies. If Kore had a voice, she’d be chanting ‘PE-PPER PE-PPER PE-PPER!’

God that woman was amazing. 

Completely starstruck, Kore did not pay much attention to what happened between Pepper and Tony. Mainly the hand-in-chest, pus on hand bit. But Kore didn’t want to barf all over Tony’s work table at the sight of pus (cuz that shit is fucking GROSS) so she wasn’t all that torn up about it. 

“Tony what is this?” 

Oh shit. 

Pepper stood in front of her, an eyebrow raised as she looked her over. 

“Uh, a cat?” 

“Tony, why did you adopt a cat?” Pepper sounded exasperated. 

“In my defense, I did not adopt the cat, the cat adopted me.” Tony whined. True though. She did adopt herself a grown genius. 

Kore chirped prettily up at Pepper, batting her eyes at the woman and sitting pretty while she did it. 

“Why is it still here, then? Tony you don't have the time for a pet.” Pepper said, exasperated. 

“Wait, listen Pep, weird story. This cat,” Tony had hopped off the chair and moved over to the two of them. “She's that cat that’s been around Zuma beach, that one from months back.”

“There are a million cats around Zuma beach, Tony.” 

“This is the-the” Tony snapped his fingers, trying to recall something, “The one I took a picture with! Remember you telling me it’d look good for PR to do something ‘relatable’ so i found that cat.” 

“Yes, I recall the cat, Tony. It still doesn’t explain why it’s here-”

“She”

“What?”

“Its a girl.”

Pepper sighed, “fine, it doesn’t explain why she is here.” 

“She kinda just… walked in?” 

“Walked in?”

“Through the garage.”

“Through the garage?”

“Is there in echo in here?” Tony snarked, looking around. Pepper gave him a look , causing to hold his hands up in surrender. “She literally walked in through the garage entrance, she left and then came back again. She snuck past me through the front door when i opened it.” 

“You’re lucky she hasn’t peed on anything, Tony.”

Kore gasped in full offence, the noise coming out more like an adorable sniffle instead of the fully affronted wheeze sound she wanted. 

Foiled by her own cute cat-ness. 

“She’s been pretty well-behaved, actually. JARVIS would have told me otherwise.” 

“She could have fleas, or tics, Tony. She could be carrying something like a disease. This is why you can't bring in stray animals.” 

“Hmmm, on that note, JARVIS, schedule a vet appointment. I'll get Happy to take her, make sure she’s all good.”

“Tony-” Pepper started, sounding exasperated. 

“Listen, listen Pep,” Tony steamrolled over her, placing a single hand on one of Pepper’s shoulders. “I can’t explain this, but the cat came and… I don't know, she's only been here for like a day and…” Tony shook his head, not able to find the words. “I like having the cat around, and who knows? She might just wander off again after a while, but she's been pretty good since she got here.” he spoke animatedly, hands gesturing this way and that, making Kore’s head a bit dizzy by the rapid back and forth. 

Pepper was giving Tony a very long look, trying to gauge just how serious Tony was about her staying. Tony was giving amazing puppy eyes in return. Pepper finally gave in, sighing heavily. 

“Fine, but she needs to go to the vet,” Pepper looked over to Kore, who perked up. “And a groomer.” 

Rude. 

“Deal,” Tony said, smiling brightly at Pepper. Kore meows loudly, reminding the two that the subject of their conversation was still very much present, thank you very much. 

“She also needs a name.” Pepper said, looking Kore over. 

“Easy, Licorice Stick.” Tony declared, causing the redhead to raise her eyebrows at him. He shrugged, “first time i saw her, she was sitting next to an old, half eaten twizzler.” 

Pepper’s eye roll was almost audible. 

“Vet and groomer, Mr Stark.” 

“Of course Miss Potts.” 

A few hours later found Kore in a limo with the one and only Happy Hogan driving it. He had brought a cat carrier, but she vehemently refused to get in it. It was hard and uncomfortable looking and she wasn’t about to do that shit. 

After about an hour of Happy trying to coax her into the carrier (and failing), Happy gave in and she just sat in the front seat. She was on her best behavior, staying in the seat and not roaming around. Happy seemed pleased by that, which pleased her in turn. She wanted Tony’s buddies to like her, it’d make her integration into Tony’s life all the easier.  

They got to the vet and she hopped out as Happy opened the door, causing the man to panic a bit. 

“Wait wait wait! Don't run off!” Happy called to her, leaning down as if to pick her up. Kore sure as shit didn’t like being picked up. Damn people didn’t know how to hold her right and how Happy was aiming his hands didn’t look any better. So she dodged between hands as the man cursed and tried to snatch her. She moved over to the door, hoping he’d catch onto her plans and NOT pick her ass up. 

Thankfully, Mr Happy Hogan was blessed with brain cells and caught on pretty quick, even if he did grumble about it. 

The vet was pretty fuckin chill, the place was fancy-shmancy with classy paintings on the walls and polished wood floors. Happy wasn’t the only chauffeur with an animal. There was one dude in a suit that had a Doberman over ten times her size who woofed at her when she came in. Kore stuck her nose in the air, sauntering past the dog with her tail flicking. 

She jumped up on the counter, looking over the receptionist as Happy checked them in. 

They didn’t have to wait long before they were shuffled into the back and into a room that looked fancier than most posh hotels. She walked, obviously. The receptionist thought it was amusing, glancing down at her occasionally as she trotted right behind Happy.

The vet was in the room, a kindly old man who Kore liked immediately. She hopped onto the table and sat before the man, chirping at him as she did. 

“Well, aren’t you a pretty one?” the vet said, the name Bermington pinned on his lapel. He took a clipboard from the receptionist, who quietly left. Happy stood on the other side of the examination table to the Dr. 

“Miss Licorice Stick, is it?” Dr Bermington he asked, looking to her. Kore knew he was just playing, not expecting her to know what he was saying, but it was nice to be talked to rather than over or about. 

That was a big thing that she missed, conversation. She missed the interaction. You never really realized how much one talks until the ability is taken away completely…

Kore shook her head violently to dispel the thoughts, sending a mental punch towards the thought to get it away. Now wasn’t the time to get sad and melancholy. 

She chirped up at the doc, sitting still as he spoke with Happy, who explained how she was a stray that his boss wanted to take in. How she was found and all that. 

“So, ill be doing a full check up: shots, flea and tic treatment, a dental check. Were you looking to get her spayed?” 

...wut.

FUCK

THAT

SHIT!!!!

Kore yowled out, throwing her head back as she screeched her displeasure. Claws scrambled along the metal surface as she launched off, aiming for the door. 

The allure of being Tony mother-fuckin-Stark’s pet was very much dashed by the desire to keep her junk as is, thank you very much.

Who was she, if not thirsty? And these people were trying to take that from her.

Trays and tools went flying in her mad dash, two pairs of big, meaty hands trying to nab her and keep her still. But she slipped through, landing on the floor and running for the door.

Happy was cursing wildly, reaching out and grabbing the closest part of her he could, which was her tail. She keened in pain as her tail was pulled by the man, the pain of it rocketing up her spine. She quickly turned, claws extending. 

“Shit!” Happy yelped, drawing his hands away, four lines of red scratched along his hand. 

Kore stayed where she had been, whimpering in pain. That fucking HURT! 

SHIT!

If she still had hands she would have decked Happy in the face because it fuckin ached like a dislocated joint. Probably was, because Happy was a big fuckin’ dumbass cow ass lickin’ mother fukin- 

The breath wooshed out of her as the doctor scooped her up. 

“Now, none of that, young lady.” Dr Bermington scolded, pressing her firmly to his sternum to keep her in place. He turned to Happy, “there are antiseptic wipes right over there” he indicated with his chin towards a shelf. The bodyguard cursed under his breath as he shuffled over to the shelf. 

“My boss said no to neutering.” Happy said huffily, casting a quick glare to Kore as if saying ‘but I would’. She gave him her best death glare her fuzzy face could make from where she remained in the vet’s arms, ears back and everything. 

“Sounds good, if there’s no other out bursts, I’ll continue with the exam.” 

In summary, she was a healthy cat. Her body was about a year and a half old and a bit underweight but not overly so. She did have something weird with her back teeth, though. The doc took an X-ray of her (which she sat nicely for) and found out they were compacted and she’d need kitty braces placed later on. Fun. 

She also got flea and tic treatment, the gel was cold against her neck and felt weird as fuck. Like a burning tingle along her spine. Now she knew why cats didn’t like getting flea treatment. 

Happy and her were nudged out of the office after an hour or so, appointment all done and a prescription flea treatment clasped in Happy’s hand. She walked to the car and hopped in when Happy opened the door.

Next: Groomers. 

Hell yeah! 

They strolled into the groomers, some fancy place called ‘Pet Palace’, and Kore was taken to the back immediately. Being associated to Tony Stark, even as a cat, meant that wait times were a thing of the past apparently. Not that she was complaining, but it would have been a boon back when she was human more than now. Like at the DMV. 

Ooo bonus, as a cat she didn’t have to worry about renewing her licence or plate stickers. Or pay taxes. 

Sweeeeet~ 

Anyway, back to the groomers.

She had never been so pampered in her life. It was amazing! She got her nails trimmed, her fur washed and then combed with the finest brush. One blow dry and she felt like a whole new cat. Her overgrown fur had also been trimmed as well so by the end she was looking EXTRA fine. 

The groomer complimented Happy on her behavior, saying she never had an animal sit and behave so well. Happy had replied with a tight smile, one hand rubbing at the red lines along his other hand and giving her a side look. Kore kinda felt bad about that, but then she shifted a bit and felt the dull ache of where her tail had been pulled and it would quickly vanish. 

But she was clean! And pretty! Her fur felt so nice and tangle-free for the first time since she got here. It made her so ecstatic, that she wanted to recreate the dance scene from the Breakfast Club right on the counter. 

She was practically prancing on her way back to the car, a little bow wrapped around her neck from the groomer for being such a good cat. She looked like one of those Instagram cats. Now she just needed to take a slow motion video of her walking into the wind with a dramatic orchestral piece playing in the background and her vibe would be compleeeete. 

Back at the house, Happy let her through the front door and she raced through the living room, looking for Tony. She was ready to show off her new look and she expected many compliments from the genius she had adopted. 

It was pretty late in the day after the running around, so she suspected him to be down in the lab. She was correct. 

Tony was hunched over some sort of circuit board, soldering wires into place. She hopped up onto a stool and waited for him to notice her. She wasn’t dumb enough to startle him when he was working with dangerous power tools, she didn't want to be the reason Tony Stark lost a finger. 

She could see the headlines now: ‘ Tony Stark: Loses Fingers to Surprise Pussy!’ 

Kore cackled to herself, gleeful at all the dirty puns she could make about her current situation. There was no end to the cat-related jokes she could, and would, whip out now like an unsolicited dick pic: unwanted and more than likely killing any good mode going. 

To bad they would all be to herself since she lacked in any way to truly communicate with the people around her. She had such an arsenal of bad jokes and no way to share them. 

Ahh shit, no thinking along those lines. She didn’t want to spiral into another melancholy line of thought. She was trying to enjoy herself damnit!

Thankfully, any thought was derailed as Tony finally got done with the soldiering and caught sight of her. 

“Licorice! Aren't you looking pretty.” He exclaimed, setting down his tools and pulling off his safety gloves and goggles. She purred as calloused fingers rubbed along her back, nails digging between her fur to massage at the skin beneath. 

“While you and Happy were gone, some things came in that you’ll be needing if you're staying here, kit kat.” he reached out and pulled her into his good arm. 

High key, he still looked like shit. With bruises dotted over his face and stuff. But she was hoping to change that soon. After he showed her whatever he got her. 

She stuck her back feet into the brace like before as he carried her to the far side of the room where there appeared to be a small cat station set up. There was a litter box and a food/ water dispenser there. There was also a small handful of cat toys next to a small scratching post. 

“Now, I know it's not much, your Highness. But Pepper wouldn’t let me get more until we knew for sure if you’d be sticking around. There is one of these in the living room and one upstairs in one of the bedrooms as well. Try not to stink up my house with your nasty kitty poo, alright? And please don't piss on anything or Pepper will give me her killer glare that I swear leaves burn marks on my skin. Sounds like a plan, Cheshire?” 

She’s pretty sure he didn’t stop for a breath during that whole talk. 

She let out a little ‘murt’ and wiggled, waiting for Tony to lean down to let her go before moving over to inspect her kitty corner. Everything smelled new and unused. The scratching post smelled like cedar wood and the toys smelled like plastic. The litter box was plastic and the litter inside smelled weird, like a mix of dirt and aerosol. She didn’t like the smell, but it would mask anything she put in there. 

Maybe she could learn how to use the toilet in this body? That would be awesome. She’d be one of those toilet-using cats that flushed after themselves. And it was less humiliating than shitting in a sandbox. 

She turned to Tony who was watching her expectantly. 

Ah shit, what to do to show him she was grateful for the stuff?  Because she was! She didn’t want to be like those assholes she knew used Tony for his money ( *cough cough* avengers *cough cough* ). So she leaned down and batted around one of the toys, one shaped like a little fish. She pushed it back and forth between her paws, chasing after it if she hit it too hard and sent it flying. There was a bell inside the fish that rang every time she hit it, too, it sounded pretty cool to her new hearing.

Ok, this is actually kinda fun. 

She wasted a lot of time playing with the numerous toys at the cat station, even long after Tony got back to work, content that she liked her new stuff. 

She stopped when she finally tired herself out, coming to a halt near a table as the small mesh ball she had been playing with rolled under it. 

Do i want to get it out? She thought. ... Meh . 

She turned, tail flicking up as she moved over to Tony. She was certain it was late, and it was time for all baby geniuses to go to bed. 

Kore sat at his feet and meowed, loudly, to get his attention. 

“Mmm, Licorice, what is it?” Stark mumbled, still hunched over whatever he was working on at the time. She meowed again. And again. And again until he looked at her. He had bags under his eyes and looked two seconds from falling flat on his face. She ‘purt’ed up at him, pawing lightly at his leg. 

Tony sighed, long and loud, rubbing one hand down his face. 

“I guess it’s way past your bedtime ain't it?” he said. He leaned back stretching out. Several bones popped as he adjusted. Fingers lagged as he began to shut down his equipment, things too dangerous to be left on overnight. 

“Jay, project on standby till tomorrow.”

“Of course, Sir.” 

“C’mon, Licorice.” he waved his hand for her to follow. And she did, hopping up and following him to the elevator and upstairs. 

In the bedroom, there was another surprise for her. A large, plush cat bed sat next to the dresser, out of the way of foot traffic. She purred as she trotted over to it as Tony went to the bathroom, sniffing it first before anything. It was always good to sniff things before doing anything with them, kept you safe and from accidently fucking with anything that belongs to someone else. Smell was also a good indicator of intent when it came to people and other animals. 

The bed smelled new, like pleather and synthetic wool. Hopping in, she was pleased to find that the bed was soft and comfortable. It still needed a bit of kneading here and there to get it just right but other than that it was perfect. 

Stark left the restroom, clad in sleeping pants and sling off. She chirped at him from where she was laying. 

“Ah, I see you found the bed.” he hummed, coming over. He crouched down, petting her a few times behind the ears as she purred, her eyes closing in contentment. 

He moved away after a bit, sliding into his bed and asking for Jarvis to turn the lights off. She watched as he felt to sleep, his breath evening out slowly. She was surprised how quickly he slipped off, given how weird he seemed all the time. As ball of unending energy, it was weird to see him rest, his face peaceful in his sleep. 

The peace didn’t last forever, of course. Kore was just about to nod off when he heard a whimper come from the bed. Ears perking up, she looked up to the bed. Tony was facing away from her, but, even in the darkness (which she could see just fine in BTW), she could see the faint tremors in his shoulders. 

Shit, a nightmare. 

Kore stood and made her way to the bed, jumping onto the mattress and moving to the top of the bed. 

A sheen of sweat covered Stark, his skin pale and clammy with it. She could see his pulse fluttering in his throat and the pinched look on his face. Kore pulled herself up to next to his head, settling down along the back of his head and neck. She let out a deep, vibrating purr, rubbing her face along his hair. 

It worked, thank goodness. After a few minutes, the shaking stopped and the furrowed brows smoothed back into a peaceful expression. 

Kore breathed a sigh of relief and rested her head against the side of his. 

One nightmare, vanquished . She thought. Unlimited amount left . 

It was a daunting prospect, but Kore was ready and willing to embrace it. 

Breathing deeply, Kore closed her eyes and fell asleep. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 5: The Filler we Need

The next few days settled into an easy pattern. Mornings Tony would get up from bed, place his sling on and slather his injuries with antibacterial cream while Kore took her time stretching out and moving about the room. Tony tended to skip breakfast, going straight for coffee blacker than her soul. She’d yowl up at him until he gave her some chicken or shrimp from the fridge. She refused to touch the dry food in her new food bowl, it looked and smelled disgusting. 

Tony would then disappear into this workshop, where the magic happened. Slowly, the Mark II took form, starting with the boots. It was fascinating to watch it all come together. For awhile, at least. There was only so long she could watch, absolutely lost, as he worked through the mechanics. She lasted two days watching before she decided to busy herself during the day. 

This found her exploring the house and surrounding areas in depth. Despite Tony being one of the most interesting people in the world, his house was insanely boring. So fucking boring, holy shit . She was ready to kneel over within a few days from it. Holy shit. 

So, to stave off imminent death, Kore went to town pretty often. She slowly began moving her stash of nick-knacks to the house, carrying the smaller pieces in an old beanie she’d found. She put them in a small alcove she found under a desk in an unused room, sorting them out how she fancied. She’d place each type of item in different piles based on use or if they were trinkets. Sea glass and shells had their own separate piles, and she’d spend a long time sorting them out by color; arranging them in a row by color, and placing then the smaller pieces on top of the larger pieces that shared the same color. 

It was a very difficult feat without opposable thumbs. 

Some small voice in Kore’s head told her that her need to collect then sort her items was some sort of coping mechanism. Trying to gain belonging and control of things after being thrust into an impossible situation. Or something close to it. She knew she should probably sit down and process things more in depth, but if denial’s a state, she’d be the Governor. 

Tony hadn’t noticed the collection, or, if he had, hadn’t said anything of it. Which was probably why she was in her current predicament. 

She was coming back to the house, about a week after moving in, feeling pretty good. Tony was making ridiculous progress with the Mark II, and she was moving the last of her collection over to the house. 

She had the last, and largest item of her collection tucked between her teeth. It was jaw bone, probably from a coyote, and she was ridiculously proud of it. She had found it in the fotalage between Tony’s house and the city. It had been dirty and grimy, but free of any decaying flesh, so she didn’t feel too bad about picking it up. The top half was there as well, but it was smashed to pieces. The coyote probably got hit by a car then dragged off to the side of the road. The jawbone still had all its teeth and was bleached white in the malibu sun, so she stole away with it quickly. She had given it a thorough wash in a nearby shallow fountain to free it of dirt and it had been her collection centerpiece ever since. She delighted in wrapping the jewelry around the teeth and placing shiny stones within it. It made her feel all mystical, like a witch from the forest decorating an altar. 

She wondered if she could get some candles and plants to make the vibe complete, for aesthetic reasons. Maybe she’d get a Viking vibe going, appease her Norwegian cat ancestry. It definitely held appeal. 

Kore brought her jawbone into the house, the door opening automatically for her. She pit-patted her way upstairs and to the unused room. 

Her stash was in place, everything sorted and looking nice. Kore placed the bone in the center of the area, clawing at some strands of jewelry with her claws before delicately draping them around and between the teeth. 

She sat back to admire the look, feeling pleased with everything. There was an eagerness in her to find more things, to horde them and make them her own. When she passed shops, peoples purses or cars, she felt a strong, almost unstoppable urge, to take. She didn’t - mostly - resisting the more risky or wrong urges. Like when she saw the shiny bit of crystal a child was holding, no doubt bought from a seaside vendor. Kore had felt the strongest urge to go and rip the rock from their hand and take off. She shook off the feeling quickly, of course, and was more cautious since. 

Kore did, however, steal from assholes. Like the ones who tried to kick her. Because fuck them. 

The next day, Kore stayed with Tony, watching him put together the suit. Thankfully, she didn’t miss him trying to fly for the first time. She was able to watch him faceplant into the ceiling and cackle at him. After checking that he was ok first, obviously. But besides a new bruised set of ribs and an equally bruised pride, he was good. He got working on the flight stabilizers post haste. 

The fabrication process of all the tiny pieces is what took the most time, eating up hours of the day. Tony’s injured state slowed it down even more. It all seemed to go by so much faster in the movies.

 By the time night fell, Kore was passed out in her little kitty corner bed and Tony was rubbing at his eyes with his good hand. 

“Alright Licorice, time for bed. If I stay up any later Jarvis will tattle on me to Pepper.” the man said, standing and stretching out his back. She grunted from where she was laying, comfortable and unwilling to get up. “Come on, puttin.” He cooed, moving to pick her up. He squatted next to her, scooping her up with his good arm. 

Kore let out a merp sound, her body flopping around like a wet noodle as she refused to put effort into moving. Tony was fine with this, wedging her against his chest and making his way to the elevator. 

He scrit-scratched her rump with his other hand as best as the sling would allow as they rode up. Kore stretched out, one paw coming up and lightly brushing against the scientist’s face. 

“I am the Chosen one,” he intoned in a faux awe voice before attacking the top of her head with smooches. 

Tony was watching too many fucking cat videos. 

The elevator opened on the bedroom floor and the smell of cleaner and Febreze wafted through like a cloud. Tony sniffed the air, smelling it as well. 

“Hm, cleaners were here.” he hummed, moving forward and down the hall. 

Cleaners? Stereotypes made her think of long legged women in short maid outfits, but she knew better. Tony was funny with his public image, but he took no shit in private, and she was certain he hired professionals he trusted not to steal his shit-

Wait.

Waaiiittt… 

Oh shit  

Kore launched herself out of Tony’s arms, the man giving a surprised ‘oof’ as she used his stomach like a springboard. She dashed down the hall to the room she claimed as her collection room, only to be thwarted by a closed door with a round knob. 

CURSE her lack of opposable thumbs!! 

Thankfully, Tony had followed her in her mad dash, no doubt curious to see what made her go from lethargic to lunatic in less than a second. 

“I got that,” he said down to her, turning the knob with his good hand and pushing open the door. She pushed through the gap as soon as she could squeeze her fluffy body through, vaulting herself over to the desk. She looked under it to where her precious collection lay…

Gone.  

All of it. Gone. Swept and discarded by a cleaning crew just doing their job. A cleaning crew who saw her wonderful collection of nick-nacks and doo-dads and deemed it trash.  

Big, fat, salty tears leaked from the edges of her eyes, dampening her fur. Kore’s crying quickly picked up, turning from a few tears and devolving into a full cry-fest. An ugly snort-sniffle sound came from her with every inhale as a throat and nose that were not made for human levels of crying struggled to keep up. 

She was losing her shit, her mind a cloud of despair at the loss of her collection, the one true thing she had that was hers since she fell into this universe. Hers and hers alone.  

Kore knew, somewhere behind all the crying that was slowly going into a full meltdown, that this was overdue. Ever since landing here, she hadn’t allowed herself to fully sit and have a good cry over everything. Crying was important. It helped regulate brain chemicals and she knew if people didn’t cry, all those pent up emotions could literally fry the brain. So crying was good, healthy even. 

Didn’t mean she liked doing it. 

Especially not in front of people. 

“Ah shit, no baby,” Tony cooed softly, kneeling down next to her. His uninjured hand came up and ran through the fur along her back. Kore moved closer to the man, seeking comfort. She pressed her face against his leg as more sniffle-sobs came out. 

“Noo no, baby no. What’s wrong, baby? Why are you crying? Oh my god, this is heartbreaking.” Tony continued, sitting down criss-cross and pulling her into his lap. His arms wound around her as best they could, petting along her fur and behind her ears. It helped a lot, allowing Kore to ground herself a bit until she calmed down a bit. The sniffle-sobs quieted into a silent, steady stream of tears. 

“J, you got anything, man? I need something.” Tony begged to the ceiling. 

“It appears, Sir, that the cleaning crew that passed through the mansion earlier today have cleared out Miss Licorice’s small stash of items.”

“Items?”

“Miss Licorice has been moving items here periodically over the past week and placing them under the desk, Sir.” 

“Huh,” Tony replied, eyebrows drawn as he thought. “Do you know what happened to the items?”

“They were taken with the van, Sir.” 

“Shit,”

“If you’d like, i can review the footage and compile a list of the items.”

“That’d be perfect, thanks J. And see if you can get the stuff back from the cleaning crew if they haven't already tossed them.”

“Of course, Sir.”

Tony looked down at her, “hear that, Licorice? We’re getting your stuff back, baby, or new ones. I promise.” 

It… sounded good. Really good. Especially to her now tired self, all cried out. Her sluggish mind tried to, for a moment, just marvel at the generosity of this man. She was a fucking cat, and Tony was trying to give her back her trinkets. She wasn’t even a human person and he was going above and beyond to make her happy. 

‘ The world does not deserve you, Anthony Edward Stark.’ she thought to herself, nestling herself deeper into his arms, silently vowing to protect this cinnamon roll of a man from future shit.

Kore’s tears had finally subsided, but her face was still wet and she even had slobber coming out of her mouth. Maybe even snot from her tiny nose, but she couldn’t see.  

“C’mon baby, lets go get you cleaned up.” the godsend that was Tony said. He stood up carefully, holding her close to his good side. She helpfully wiggled her back feet into the edge of her belt as usual and he carried her from the room, down to his, and then straight into the bathroom. 

Not once did he put her down, not even when he reached for a towel with his bad arm, leaning over at an awkward angle as to not overextend the arm. Tony toweled off her damp face, gently around her eyes and whiskers. Kore made sure to lean to a helpful angle. 

When he was all done getting what he could, Tony placed the towel down on the closed toilet seat and got a wash rag, dampened it, and then repeated the motions. The second go-through got off the rest of the slobber and snot that had been clinging to her fur and Kore was grateful. 

Tony just stood there after getting done and throwing the soiled cloth in the hamper. He looked down at her and she looked up at him, her eyes still watery but clearing. 

He let out a long sigh, “Guess we’re both a little messed up, huh Licorice Stick?” he smiled softly, his bad hand reaching up and scratching behind her ear as best it could. Kore replied with a very small, tired meow. 

“Lets go to bed now, it's been a long day.” 

Tony carried her back into his room, not bothering to place her into her cat bed, instead just setting her down on his. He quickly discarded his sling and put on some more antibacterial cream before climbing into bed. He snuggled up next to her, her small furry form wedged between his good arm and his side as he settled in. 

A hand gave her little scratches on the head for awhile after as they both laid there and Kore felt odd. She had just bonded a little with a man she couldn't even fully communicate with. She felt closer to Tony now after her breakdown, kin-ship even. And maybe Tony felt it too, if the way he was cuddling her was any indication. 

It was a nice feeling; it was a platonic bond, and a strong one at that.

Kore could feel it, down in her bones, that she and Tony would only get closer as the future unfolded. 

Chapter Text

Snippet: Date: March 22, 2020

Kore was in hiding. Slowly moving about the room under furniture and thus, out of site of the ever-present eyes of Jarvis. She needed time, time to escape from the madman that invaded her home, her space, her life-

“LICORICE! LIIIIICORIIIICCEEEE!” 

Oh No. He draws close, too close.  

She scurried under the table she had been hiding under, to under the couch. She moved as quietly as she could, listening closely as footsteps moved past her hiding spot and around the room. 

“Baby come out, i'm BORED.” he whined, stalking across the room like a predator, weapon in hand. She could hear him wave the weapon around, the whooshing of air accompanied by a faint jingle. 

She was being hunted, at any moment she would be found. Then she’d never escape…

All went quiet. 

Tooooo quiet…

.

.

.

.

Where the fuck was he? Oh shit, don’t tell her that he- 

“Found you!”

FUUUCK!!

Kore scrambled, claws scraping against wooden flooring as she made a mad dash from under the couch to the door. Her floof weighed her down, but she was determined. She was almost there, to the door, when she was caught by her hunter. Strong hands scooped her up from the sides, careful to avoid her wild flailing of claws. 

“Gotcha, kitty! Time to spend time with me!” Tony chirped at her, folding her into his arms. The cat toy he was holding jingled again as he adjusted his grip on her. 

Ever since the quarantine, Tony had been around a lot more. Unable to leave the house, he spent most of his time in the lab, but Pepper was quick to put a time limit to how long he could be down there. Four hours in the lab equaled one hour doing other things. 

Tony spent the first 2 days down there interrupted before Jarvis kicked him out. Now he had to spend 12 hours upstairs. 

Tony spent the first 5 sleeping, he spent the next 4 bugging her. She had 3 more hours to get through before she’d be blessed with solitude. She loved Tony, but she was very much used to him being concentrated on other things than her when they were together; his suits, the company, other people, etc. Having his direct attention on her for such a long period of time was wearing down her social battery faster than a double A in a nymphomaniac’s vibrator. 

‘GIVE ME REPRIEVE,’ she screeched to the universe as Tony dangled the fuzzy cat toy above her face, attempting to entice her into playing. As if she hadn’t spent the last four hours doing just that to appease the man! 

She groaned in defeat as the mechanic carried her from the room... Her only hope was that she could hold out until the quarantine was lifted... 

Chapter Text

Chapter 6: Stane the Bane

The morning was better. Kore had mostly calmed down since then but felt lethargic and tired after such an emotional night. But overall she felt… better than she did before. Like lancing the wound and letting the infection drain out. She could admit to herself that she had been running on an overdrawn maina streak due to her circumstances and an unhealthy dose of denial. Now her body had given out and she needed to rest. 

Tony seemed to pick up on her state and started to hover, shooting questions up to Jarvis about cat behavior and the state of her belongings. He seemed to be worried that she was sick, and Kore wished she could speak for a moment and tell him to chill his ass out. She knew how this rodeo went, a few days of a more depressive state then she’d bounce back better than ever. High-key wanted to be left alone, but she couldn't exactly tell him that. So she let it be, chilling on his bed and refusing to move or eat any of the food he dangled in front of her face. 

‘Hard pass,’ she hummed to herself as Tony brushed a shrimp along her nose. He retreated, coming back with a can of wet food. 

‘Harder pass,’ she practically wrenched, a weird gurgling sound coming from her throat and causing Tony to wrench his hand back fast. 

“Please dont throw up on my blankets, Licorice.” Tony pleaded, looking down at her with big eyes. 

‘Leave the wet food in the trash and we got a deal.’

Tony sighed loudly, rubbing the hand not in the sling against his forehead. He looked at her for a long moment before finally giving in and walking out of the bedroom, leaving her alone. His anxiety wouldn't let him stay away for long, though, and he returned about every two hours or so to try and temp her with more food. 

Kore dosed for most of the day, letting the lethargy run its course. She had some weird dreams. One was of floating red dots that hung like fairy lights, humming and pulsing whenever her dream-self got close to one. Then she was in an underground city, climbing around the roofs like she was in Assassin's Creed. Then another of a brick building that shifted around like gears turning. And another of her in a house that seemed to be floating down the street, with seaweed brushing pasting the window as it hung from the sky. 

It was vivid. She could remember with clarity the veins in the seaweed, the vines and pink flowers that climbed the sides of the buildings in the underground city, and the cracks in the bricks of the shifting building. 

She didn't have vivid dreams often, but it was cool when it happened. It always made her want to make them into a drawing or something, but any artistic talents she had did not lay in realism.

The next day was better. After waking up to Tony curled around her in a fetal position, she got up and actually ate something then tried to distract herself for the day by following Tony around. He was visibly relieved by this, and animantly spoke about everything he was doing to her. She understood nothing he was talking about, the science talk going right over her head, but she was happy to be his sounding board after scaring him the day before. 

She found it rather hilarious that he spoke to her like a person. Sometimes he would say something and she’d meow and he’d take it like a response to whatever he’d say. It was pretty fucking funny. Sometimes she’d make a noise right in the middle of his rambles and he’d stop, say something along the lines of ‘I hadn’t thought of that’ and then keep going. 

This dude was a fucking hoot. 

Tony did leave for a bit that day, coming back hours later smelling of jet fuel and someone else’s cologne musk. She did not sit ideally when he was gone, trotting down to the beach and scouring for more shells and seaglass to barter for food scraps. She amassed a good amount of each, setting aside the best pieces for her new collection (to which she was still rather sore about). 

On the fourth day after her break down, shit started happening. 

She and Tony were down in the lab. The scientist was working on the first repulsor, screwing it into place around his arm. Kore was sitting off to the side, watching him go about it. 

It had been a long day already, with Tony having two separate panic attacks through the day within three hours of each other. Thankfully, she had been close by for each and was able to ground him, but it had still taken a toll on the man. She could see it in and around his eyes, the firm set of his eyebrows, but the dull on his face that was only replaced with excitement once he got his hands on the repulsor. 

Pepper came down just as he was snapping it into place. 

“Tony, ive been buzzing you. Did you not hear the intercom?” she asked, tutting as Tony gave a sheepish grin. 

“Ive been a bit distracted.” he offered, screwing one last thing into place within the mess of wires and metal struts along his arm. 

“I can see that.” she hummed, placing a box down on the table not far from him. Kore perked up, vaguely recognizing the scene that was unfolding. Her eyes were bright with excitement as she looked at the paper box. Scenes of what was to come flashed before her eyes and Kore came to a very unfun relization that she had absolutely no fucking clue how to help Tony out in it. 

“What is that?” Pepper’s voice broke her out of her daze. Ooo here it comes. 

“Flight stabilizer. Keeps me from flinging myself all over the place.” Pepper hummed at that. “It’s perfectly harmless!” 

BOOSH! 

Kore cackled. 

After Tony picked himself out of the Stark sized hole in the debris like Wile E Coyote, he made his way upstairs. Apparently when Kore had been distracted, Pepper had informed Tony that Obadia was upstairs. 

Which… shit. 

Shiiitttt.

She still hadn’t figured out how she was going to help with all of this. A part of her wanted to tell Tony about Stane. Just find a keyboard or a convenient Scrabble game she could knock over. Or maybe she could mime it. Did Tony know Morse code? She’d have to learn it but-

Kore’s ear twitched as the door to the workshop clicked closed. 

Shiiiiittttt.

Jumping off the table, Kore moved to the door, pawing at it in hopes Jarvis would take the hint. Thankfully, he did, and the door popped open after a beep. She ran up the stairs, cursing her little legs as she did. Each step was like jumping on a chair as a human. 

Stane was almost identical to his movie self. There were a few scars along his hands that she hadn’t been able to see in cinema, a few more sunspots along his scalp, and some deeper crows feet along the edges of his eyes. 

But his smell… ugh. If she hadn’t known already that he was full of shit, she would have been able to tell from his smell alone.  

All animals and humans emit scents when feeling particularly strong about something. Fear, arousal, sadness, happiness, ect, all have scents. Human noses are too weak to identify it consciously, but can still detect it and it comes off as a vibe or their intuition. Thats why when someone has a gut feeling about meeting someone, they should fucking trust it. 

Salty, bitter, with a hint of something musky and sharp. That’s what Stane smelled like. It was anxiety, frustration and fear all wrapped into one nose-curling scent that Kore hated. 

She could already feel a bubbling growl crawling its way up her throat. Her fur stood on end and her pupils dilated as she stared at the man talking to Tony. 

“-This was a Board of Directors meeting, Tony. You were meant to be there.” 

“Board of Directors meeting? More like a Bored Directors meeting.” Tony grumbled under his voice. Stane reached out to pat the genius’ shoulder, but a loud yowl stopped his hand short. The three humans looked over to the entrance to the basement to see a very poofed up, angry looking cat.  

Kore had no idea (ok a bit of an idea) why she was reacting so strongly. It was like the sound was being ripped from her chest. She was making those weird yowling noises that almost sounded like talking, where her tongue would dart out between her teeth and make the noise jump enough to sound like she was trying to form words. 

“Puttin’, what are you doing?” Tony cooed, standing from where he had been sitting next to Stane and Pepper. He trotted over and moved to scoop her up. 

“What is a cat doing here? Tony don't pick that thing up!” Stan objected, half moving out of the chair like he was going to stand up and physically pull Tony away. This just made her growling louder. 

Tony just waved the man off and picked her up. “Now don't be like that, pretty girl, Obi is a friend.” 

Yeah fucking right. Tony didn’t know yet about the betrayal, so he got a pass for now. But it didn’t mean that she couldn't make her displeasure known very very well. 

Kore’s tail lashed from side to side where it was draped between Tony’s arm and torso. He carried her in his good arm over to the couch, sitting down and settling her into his lap. 

“This is Licorice Stick, my feline friend.” he introduced to Stane, scratching her behind the ears. Kore leaned into the man’s chest, side-eyeing Stane with viciousness. 

This motherfucking, camel-toe-jam lickin BITCH thinks he can just waltz in here-

“Tony, you’re not an animal person, you’re a machine person. What were you thinking when getting a cat?” Stane asked, looking at Tony like he lost his marbles. 

Or trying to come up with ways to get rid of him using this as an EXCUSE-

“I didn’t get her, she moved in.” 

-LIKE A CUNT!

“Let her sniff your hand, maybe she’ll calm down.” Tony suggested, holding her more towards Stane.  She spat out a hiss at the balding man, trying to murder him with her eyes alone. 

Like she’d want to smell his musty ass!

“I don't think that is a good idea Tony. It doesn’t seem to like me much.”

“She just needs to get to know you! I'm sure you’ll be pals soon enough.” Tony insisted. The group went back to talking about the board and such, while Kore only had eyes for Stane. Her gaze was fixed on the man she knew had tried and will try again to kill Tony. She stared so hard and long, little red spots started clouding her vision as blood pumped behind her eyes. She couldn't understand how someone could be so vile and dismissive to someone they claimed to be close to. 

Her anger was interrupted as Tony got upset with Stane’s prodding and waltzed back down to the workshop, carrying her with him and grumbling the whole way. 

“Some people just don't get what i'm trying to do, Licorice. I don't want to be that person anymore. I don't want to be the Merchant of Death.” Tony sighed, setting her down on a work table. He ran a hand through his hair, looking around at his work. “I can only do so much… what if its not enough?” he whispered, sitting heavily down on the bench. Kore scooted forward, butting her head against his arm. A hand came up and scratched along her chin as they sat there quietly.

The next day picked back up, and Tony tried flying again, with success. The sound of the repulsors and boots together grated heavily on Kore’s ears so she spent most of the day outside, getting some sun. 

Tony had, being the absolute champ he was, got a few of her things back. Just a few shells and, surprisingly enough, the coyote jawbone. A person had delivered it in the morning, handing it off to Pepper, who then gave it to Tony. The genius spent a good half an hour with Kore after, sitting under the desk and rearranging what was left of the stash. He’d pick something up and she’d tap with her paw wherever she wanted him to put it. With the jawbone in the center as well. He had even offered up some old jewelry, left behind from previous flings that were never reclaimed. Kore had gleefully taken most of them, scraping at the necklaces and bracelets with her claws until they sat juuuusst right in the pile. 

Tony seemed to enjoy the time they spent together, looking relaxed during and after. He had even said so, out loud, how the rearranging had been strangely therapeutic. 

It be that ADHD, she thought, flexing her claws, trying to detach a ring that had gotten stuck under her nail.  Tony helped remove it after a moment, holding onto her paw gently with his bad hand and untangling it with the other. 

“Hmm,” he hummed to himself, looking her over, “You need a collar.” She didn’t know how she felt about collars, but she did like the thought of wearing something with her name and his address on it in case something crazy did happen. It would also ward off the well meaning strangers that kept trying to take her home with them whenever she was out. She was not going to be the next featured animal on The Dodo, thank you very much. 

She didn’t expect Tony to take her out the next day, on whatever day it was. Friday?  Maybe? 

Meh, tracking weekdays was a human thing. And Tony hardly abided by ‘normal’ time stamps anyway. Having breakfast well past noon on most days, or sleeping for three hours only to be woken up by a nightmare and not sleeping again for another 30 or so hours. Kore was slowly trying to get him onto a somewhat healthy sleep schedule. She had to calm him from a panic attack just the night before and she was able to successfully get him to fall back asleep with some heavy purring and kneading. 

Back to the topic, Tony took her out. Dressed to impress in a fabulous suit, Tony walked her to the car, making little ‘pst pst pst’ noises to get her to follow. She had not known at the time what was happening but was willing to go with it. 

There was a quick stop at the groomers, where she got her fur washed and blow-dried. They offered to clip her nails but Tony, being the fucking cat whisperer he was, refused. 

“Not gonna trim your pretty claws, baby. You’re still going in and out and you’ll need those to fight off the tomcats.” He said down to her, scratching under her chin. 

A quick drive later and they stopped at a large, opulent jewelry store. He carried her in, tucked in his good arm like a small dog would, with her back feet perched on his belt to distribute the weight. 

“Sir, we don’t allow pets in store.” an attendant said hesitantly.

“Licorice is my emotional support animal.” He said, producing papers labeling her as such from his jacket. The correct papers. When the hell- 

“Of course, Mr Stark! Enjoy your shopping” the attendant chirped, breaking her from her bafflement.

Never underestimate Tony Fucking Stark. 

A slightly ruffled sales woman came up just as Tony reached the glass cases. From the disgruntled look of a few coworkers behind her, she probably fought her way over. Super valid, really. Kore probably would have fist fought someone to make the commission on whatever Tony was about to get. 

“Mr Stark! Glad to see you again in our fine establishment. What were you looking to get today?” The clerk, Ms. Perez by her name tag, spoke with a bright smile and excitement in her eyes. Kore would have laughed if she could. 

Getchyo cash, sis . 

“Here to pick up something for a special lady today.” Tony purred, winking cheekily at Perez. 

“Well! We have quite a large selection in. Just the other day we received a gorgeous pair of rare black opal earrings set in .999 silver. I could retrieve them if you’d like?” The woman pitched. 

Tony waved his free hand, “There will be no need.” He then sat Kore on the glass case. “Pick what you want, kitten.” 

Both cat and clerk were rather thrown. But Tony, the absolute crazy man he was, looked at Kore expectantly. 

Well then. 

She stood on the glass and looked into the cases, spying rings in this one. Definitely not what she wanted, so she moved forward, her little feet pat pat patting on the glass. 

“Sir… just for clarification. The jewelry is for… the cat?” Perez spoke up, looking confused. Tony smiled wide.

“Right on the dot! The little lady needs a new collar, and I only give my lady friends the prettiest of necklaces.” 

Now that Kore knew what she was looking for, she narrowed down her search, heading over to the pendants and necklaces. Perez seemed to snap out of whatever confusion she was in. She started off talking to Tony only, holding things out for him to view, only to have the man shake his head and point to Kore. 

“She picks it.” he said firmly. Afterward, Perez spoke directly to her. The woman obviously felt a bit ridiculous, but she had dollar signs dancing in her eyes and was set on catering to the crazy billionaire’s whims.

Kore took great delight in scaring the woman half to death when she shook her head in response to Perez asking her a question. She startled hard enough to drop the necklace she had been holding out, holding a hand over her chest as she stared into Kore’s yellow eyes. 

“Did she just-”

“No diamonds.” Tony cut in. 

“Wh-what?”

“No diamonds,” he repeated, “Licorice Stick doesn't like them, always sets the diamond jewelry off to the side and never in the main pile.” Kore looked up at him. “What? I pay attention.” 

Kore was… what ? Words were not really forming in her brain. Tony had noticed that she could understand him and it just… never came up? Never was mentioned the whole time she stayed with him or even appeared to faze him. Like a sentient cat was a regular thing, not all that surprising to him. 

She didn’t know whether to be concerned about what the hell Tony had been exposed to, or if he was so removed from things that he didn’t know that a cat understanding your questions was not a normal thing. 

She knew she’d be probably revisiting this little revelation at a later date. When there was less sparkly-shining things to distract her. 

Perez took it in stride, rubbing off the last of the shock with a distinct ‘im not paid to ask questions’ air and was now speaking to Kore with purpose. 

Color, size, cut, shape. So sooo many options. It was hard to see between some of them. After a long time, and a lot of head shaking, they got it narrowed down to gold jewelry with any red gems. 

Kore may or may not have intentionally picked these colors to match Tony’s future suits. She wanted to be known as ‘Iron Man’s cat’ and was not above matching outfits to knock the point home. 

They finally got one, a beautiful golden choker with Red Beryl gems inlaid in a fancy zig-zag pattern. Tony paid for it to be adjusted into a collar, throwing in a few more necklaces he had liked into the pile to be adjusted as well. 

“You need variety, Kit-Kat, can't be seen wearing the same collar twice!” he laughed at his own joke, swiping his card as he did. 

After that it became a whirlwind of shopping. And Tony was a man on a mission.  

Cat toys, kitty clothes and hats, catnip scratch posts, electric litter pans, and more. He even commissioned a very talented carpenter to come to the mansion and set up cat bridges everywhere within the week. She was honestly, super fucking excited for that. 

He also got a big cat tree for the workshop and one for his room.

 She knew exactly where she was going to set her stash now. 

A week from that shopping extravaganza, Tony had the first suit built. He went out, flew, and came back grinning ear to ear, even as one of the cars smoked behind him from where he had landed. He was in a good mood for days after, with only one or two panic attacks that Kore was able to gently coax him out of. 

The cat houses came in, the one in the shop taking up only a modest space next to one of the tables, giving a perfect vantage point to watch whatever Tony was doing at the time wherever in the room. It was four tiers up and Kore liked to sit on the top most one or the next one down depending on how far away the genius was sitting. The second one down was the perfect height for absent-minded head scratches as he moved back and forth in the room. 

The cat house in the bedroom was faaarr more intricate. She should have expected it really. 

It went to the ceiling, the beams were modeled after trees with holes she could crawl in and out of. There were ‘branches’ with soft carpeting the color of moss and leaves. The branches extended outwards, curling across the ceiling so she could climb all over. Garlands of fake flowers hung between branches and beams, giving a very fantasy vibe that Kore was absolutely digging. It got even better when she moved her collection in, setting it in one of the hollowed ‘trunks’ at about human chest level, and arranging it so it could be seen well from the whole room. 

Another awesome thing was that the carpenter came and installed the cat bridges. Holes were cut out of the walls along the ceiling so she could travel room to room with platforms here and there that were connected by bridges made just for her. Baskets hung from the ceilings at irregular points so she could jump into them like swings. There were climbing posts at every corner so she could get up and down. Each room was a different theme, with the living area looking more sleek than the others. Probably for show when guests came. 

The only areas that didn’t have these setups were the kitchen, bathrooms and guest bedrooms. Kore was fine with that, content to climb around Tony’s room and living areas. Her favorite spot was a plank next to the waterfall, where she could sit high up and see the whole living space and even out the upper windows to the sea. 

The collars got done as well. Beautiful pieces that didn't snag on her fur or jingle when she walked. The red and gold complimented her colors well and she felt fabulous wearing them. She also knew that Tony had installed a GPS into the backs of each one, which was comforting. She didn’t like the idea of getting lost and not being able to find him again. She had grown comfortable here and didn’t want to give it up. 

On top of the collars came clothes. Little hats and shawls that, thankfully, only wrapped around her neck. She didn’t like the feeling of her fur along her sides or belly being held down by cloth. Every morning Tony would pick out a little hat that he’d tie lightly around her head from the fucking hoard of them he had gotten. His favorites seemed to be the little sun hats with thin ribbons that could tie around her head. He kept it light enough that she could easily wiggle out of them.

 But, admittedly, she rather liked the hats. Coupled with the collar she felt bouji as fuuuuucckk. Like she should be sitting on a large patio deck eating overpriced salads and gossiping about nonsense things. 

Kore was being spoiled rotten. And she loved it. 

Tony took her out one day, slipping her into a little vest that he’d gotten in the mail that labeled her as a support animal on duty. It was supposed to keep people’s hands to themselves, which she was grateful for. 

Tony donned a suit, one with extra padding along the shoulders and in a cloth that her claws couldn't snag. 

“We are going to an extra fancy party tonight, Licorice, so you must behave yourself.” he had told her as he straightened his tie. “No flirting with the waiting staff to get extra shrimp.” She gave him a little purt purt in reply. A tiny tophat went on her head, a bobby pin holding it in place, and then they were off. 

They were let into the party with little fuss, the vest on her silencing any complaints. Kore sat daintily on Tony’s shoulder, balancing carefully so she’d look her best. She knew her nails couldn't harm his reinforced three piece (and honestly, only he would think to get one) but she wanted to get used to balancing. 

They drew many looks, but Tony brushed them off like a pro, rolling up to the bar and getting something non-alcoholic. She was proud, the painkillers he was on would not mix well with alcohol and he’d been very good about not drinking so far. She had nudged him some oyster crackers while they were in the car just to be safe, though. 

Kore vaguely recognized this room from the movies, remembered something about a reporter coming in and showing Tony pictures but that was about it. She was surprised to see Coulson, but then her memory jarred and she remembered that he was in the first Iron Man and would be helpful later. 

He linked to the bar like a super spy, ‘coincidentally’ bumping into Tony and engaging him in a small conversation that Kore zoned out of quickly. Still draped on Tony’s shoulder she could see most of the room. The smells were crazy, the perfume alone could choke her. The music was nice, but the million voices talking all at once were hard on her ears. 

She was distracted when Tony set her down on a bar stool, one next to the agent. Tony pointed to his own eyes, then gestured to Kore. 

“Watch her for me. Ill be back.” before waltzing off in the direction of Pepper, who Kore had just spotted. The assistant was wearing a beautiful blue dress with her hair done in nice, elegant waves.

Ooooo gurl get it.  

Kore watched with great amusement as Tony swept Pepper to the floor, wishing at that moment she could speak just so she could start singing “Kiss The Girl.” 

Sha la la la la my oh my-

Kore was broken from her snooping by a hand in her fur. She lurched to the side, falling off the barstool. 

An older woman, wearing a rose gold dress, looked down at her in surprise. 

“Oh goodness, I didn't mean to scare the poor thing!” the woman said to her companion, a younger lady wearing a black number. Both women reached down for her, their manicured nails looking very uninviting. She looked up, hoping for a savior-

Coulson was no longer standing there. 

Dude . 

She dodged the talons coming at her, scuttling along the side of the bar and into the throng of people. Which was a Bad Idea. 

Heels were public enemy number one now. No, number two! Ranked right below Stane and his musty, Mr-Clean-reject lookin ass. 

Her tail was stepped on. She was stepped on. All the while, trying to look for Tony in the crowd so she could climb up him and never fucking let go. Feet were everywhere, toe taps felt like sucker punches to the gut. By the time she got out of the hoard, she ached all over.  Something was broken and she was sure of it. 

She sat at the edge of the room, panting tiredly. Her hat was gone and that made her very sad. 

Kore waited on the edge of the room for hours, even as the crowd began to wane and disappear for the night, waiting for Tony to come pick her up. 

He didn’t. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 7: Side of Tony

Tony was freaking out.  

Which was, you know, pretty normal. 

But at the moment the panic level had gone to ‘Ignore It And It’ll Go Away’ to ‘Holy Shit Am I Dying?’

It started with Chrissy, Christine, whatever that reporter’s name was. She showed him the pictures, the ones taken yesterday. The Jeraco missiles, the ones he had suffered through not to build, refused to build, Yinsen had died so he didn’t have to build-

Breathe in

Hold

Breathe out

Tony’s shoulders crept up to his ears as he tried to disappear into the leather of the back seat of the limo, mind racing over everything that had just happened in the last few hours. He and Pepper had been having a… somewhat okay conversation. And the pull he felt towards her, gravity like a black hole dragging him in, an asteroid on the event horizon. It was shattered when they leaned in to kiss. It wasn’t the right time, wasn’t the right place. He could feel it, he wasn’t ready yet even though he wanted it. 

Tony waved a hand in front of his face, as if to disperse the lingering awkwardness, even though he was alone. 

He had gone to get that drink, the reporter cornered him and shoved those images in his face. It was as if she laid his mistakes bare before him, what had happened in his negligence as he toyed in his basement working on the suit. 

The genius felt a burn in his gut, the desire- no - the need to get out there and do something himself. 

He remembers standing next to Obie like a lucid dream, everything in crystal sharp clarity but overlayed with a sense of wrong . 

Obadia was double dealing. Selling his work to people who used them to hurt and burn and kill and -

Breathe in

Hold 

Breathe out 

Tony was a smart man. He could connect the dots, even if they were painful to place. The missile demonstration. That wasn’t a demonstration for their military. Rather, a fancy, backhanded way of showing the blackmarket dealers just how much punch the gear Obadia was selling packed. 

Tony had left in a daze, calling Happy to pick him up and take him home now, please . The driver (- his friend- ) didn’t say a word, just opened and shut his door, then drove off. 

Take me hooome, country roooaads 

God he was delirious. Is this him dying? Can you die from a panic attack? Where is, god, where is-

“HAPPY, STOP THE CAR!” 

The car sssssccRREEEEECHHED to a halt. 

Tony was flung from his spot and to the front, thankfully landing on the soft leather seats on the opposite side he was sitting. 

“Boss! Boss what is going on? What’s wrong!?” 

“Licorice! I- FUCK, I forgot Licorice at the party!” Tony exclaimed loudly, fingernails digging into the seams of the seat. This was not helping his panic, he felt worse. 

God, how could he forget his cat? How could he forget her when she’s been around so constantly this last month? How does he forget these things, how did he overlook this, how did he overlook the missiles, how did he overlook Obie- 

“Boss!” 

Tony was gasping for breath, there were hands on his arms, holding him firmly. His hand was on someone’s chest and he could feel their chest as they breathed. 

Breathe in

Hold 

Breathe out

It was quiet for a while, only the murmuring of Happy reminding him to breathe deep and even, coaching him through the motions. 

Tony’s arm hurt. His whole body hurt. His head pounded and his chest burned like someone was holding one of those fire sparklers just under his skin. 

“Now Boss, I need you to tell me what happened.” Happy said calmly.

“I- I left Licorice at the party. I need to go get her.”

“No, you’re going home. I'll go back and get her.” 

“Happy- Happy wait, please , I need-”

“No Tony. You can't go out again like this, you’ll only make yourself feel worse and I can't calm you from another panic attack in the middle of the paparazzi.” Tony grimaced. He didn’t like the sound of that at all. He nodded slowly, reluctantly. 

“Okay,” Happy started, slowly setting the smaller man back into the seats, “Now let's get you home.” 

Tony did get home, but he couldn’t stop moving. He grabbed his armor, his skin itching and tight until the upgrades were finished. Weapons hidden within every inch, reinforced alloys that could withstand bullet rounds and beatings. And, when he folded himself within it, he felt numb.

 He built this armor for pleasure, for protection… now he wore it to war . 

Breathe in

Hold

Breathe out.

Chapter Text

Ch 8: She Fucked Up

(WARNINGS: animal abuse, violence) 

One step, two steps, three steps, four

One step, two steps, three steps more

How many fucking steps does it take to get to the God damn door! 

Kore would admit she was not having the best of times at the moment. Being ditched at the party by Tony stung like a motherfucker, and her side and tail ached like something was either sprained or broken. And she was grumpy about it.

The party had cleared out, and Kore had moved to leave as well, not wanting to be trapped in the place after hours. 

She made her way outside, the large stair entrance still holding a few late stragglers leaving. Dipping to the side, Kore disappeared into the shadows along the side of the building. 

An hour or so later had Kore questioning if she was still in Malibu. She didn’t recognize a damn thing. She remembered the drive taking a bit, but she wasn’t paying attention to where they were going. She hadn’t thought she had to. 

The cat plopped her butt down on the sidewalk, along some random street that was brightly lit. 

Kore was so frustrated! She was hurt, emotionally and physically. A part of herself tried to reason why Tony had left her there. Vague memories of bad news and shady weapons deals drifted through her head. It had been a less important scene in the movie so she didn’t remember it perfectly. 

She wished she was home, sitting with Tony through whatever crisis he was going though at the moment. Instead she was stuck on the sidewalk, dodging feet and huffing like she ran up 30 flights of stairs. 

She hoped someone would pick her up soon. She had a GPS in her collar for a reason, how long would it take for one of them to find her? 

What if he left her?

No no, bad intrusive thought, BEGONE! 

What if he decided she wasn’t worth the effort?  

She was rational, she knew he wouldn’t, but anxiety plagued her gut like a swarm of bees, stinging along the edges and making her dizzy. 

“Woah! A cat!” 

Hands picked her up, clenching along her hurt sides. Kore wiggled in the hold, hissing as she was brought up to a person’s chest. 

“Paul, put it down! It might claw you.” 

“Na, look at the vest. It's a service cat.” 

“Which means you're not supposed to touch it, dumbass!” 

A man and a woman, both dressed well and smelling like cigarette smoke and leather. The man was holding her, his features round and young. Baby fat clung to his cheeks and squinted bright eyes as he smiled at her. The lady was taller, looking slightly older than her male companion, with sterner features and pursed lips. 

Kore hissed again, wiggling as her side throbbed in protest. 

“Where do you think their owner is?” Paul asked. 

“Probably somewhere nearby, now put it down.”

“But what if they're lost! We can’t leave them here!” The lady sighed.

“Check the collar, Paul.”

“Oh, right.” arms jostled her around, causing her to yelp. Fingers fiddled with the collar around her neck, looking for an address. “Damn, this is one tricked out collar, do you think those gems are real?” 

“Probably not, who puts real gems on a cat collar?” 

“Tony Stark.” 

“Yeah, probably he's pretty loaded-”

“No, Felicity,” Paul turned the collar so the woman could see what was engraved on the inside. 

‘ Licorice Stick: Service Animal to Tony Stark. Please call this number- ’ 

“Well damn.” 

Paul whipped out his phone, typing in the number while holding Kore under one arm.

Maybe if she clawed him, he'd let her go? She yowled, kicking out her back feet as the position squished her sides. 

This was fucked up, fuck these humans and their fucking grabby ass hands! Fuck humans in general! Fuck everything and fuck all things-

“Hello, we have a cat here, the collar said to call this number?” Kore was too busy yowling her hatred into the universe to hear the reply. Her wiggles only caused Paul to squeeze harder, making her rips push in painfully. 

Kore never thought she’d get to that hissy-spit stage, but here she was, rumbling and hissing, trying to scratch the shit out of some idiot that didn’t know how to hold cats. 

“Damn this thing is feral-”

“Paul put it down!”

“But what if it runs off before the man gets here!” 

“Paul-!”

Kore finally got her teeth around something and bit down, causing the human to yelp and let her go. 

“Shit! That fucking thing bit me!” Paul yelled, his foot kicking out in a knee jerk reaction as she landed. 

The foot landed square on her side, sending her in the air and a few feet away. 

“Ah shit-!” 

Kore ran away from the stupid humans and their big meaty hands and loud irritating voices. 

She stopped not long after, agitated and tired. Her butt plopped down in an ally, a seemingly recurring spot for her. She was grouchy and frustrated. Ever have those times where you're upset and every little thing seems to suck to the point you start tearing up, even though on a normal day it would be fine? Yeah, that was her right now. Granted, normal days don't include getting kicked and manhandled by some assholes four times her size, but meh… semantics. 

It was after about an hour of sitting there, stewing over the universe, that heavy footsteps were heard. A form blocked the light from the streetlamps and Kore looked up at the newcomer. 

Happy was a welcome sight. 

The man bent down and scooped her up, earning a loud yelp from her as her side was jostled. He paused at the sound, a loud huff coming from him. 

“Let's get you checked out.” 

Three fractured ribs and two broken tail vertebrae was the verdict at the late night vet. The part of her tail closest to her butt had a brace on it and her side was bandaged.  

“Boss is gonna have a fit when he hears this,” Happy said as he lugged her cat carrier to the car. She didn’t protest getting into the carrier when the vet pulled it out, happy to rest her feet. The ride back was smooth and she was released once inside the house. Happy placed her new medicines on the counter. 

“Hey Jarvis, boss still gone?” 

“That is correct, Mr Hogan.” came the reply from the ceiling. Well, shit. Kore had almost forgotten about what Tony was doing right now. The fight with the Ten Rings in that one small town she forgot the name of. 

‘I think it starts with a G or a B.’ she thought as she went into Tony’s room and to the massive cat tree. Climbing slowly onto one of the lower branches, Kore went into the main hovel in the trunk and laid down. 

She fell asleep quickly, happy to put the night behind her. 

 Kore woke up to the feeling of fingers gliding along her fur. She pulled her head up with a small ‘merp,’ her eyes going all squinty with sleep. 

Tony looked like shit, with more bruises covering his face and what she could see of his neck. Vague memories of the movies reminded her that he had been shot from the sky at one point, and she doubted his tech was at the stage where he was completely protected from that. 

Roll a D6 for fall damage, Tony. 

"Hey there, sweet thing." Tony murmured, kneeling next to her perch, his movements slow and pained. "I heard the verdict, you might rival me for most busted night at this point." 

Doubtful. 

Kore sat up, a low grunt leaving her chest as her side throbbed. 

"J, when did she last have her medication?" Tony asked.

"6 hours ago, Sir. She is due for another injection within the hour." 

"Alright, come on, baby gal. Lets get you all drugged up." Tony carefully scooped her up, letting her crawl into his arms and supporting her back feet. 

His brace was gone, had been gone for a few days now but Tony still winced when he moved it a certain way. 

They got to the kitchen and Tony sat her on the counter before getting to the little paper bag on the marble surface. He pulled out a baggie of syringes before moving to the fridge and pulling out a little glass bottle filled with clear liquid. Reading out the instructions, Tony measured the pain medication into the syringe before putting back the bottle. He tapped out the bubbles before moving over to her. 

"Alrighty, Licorice Stick, please dont move. Neither of us are going to like this." He said slowly. He pulled at her scruff, gathering up the extra skin and carefully injected the pain meds into the space under the skin. Kore stayed still, not wanting to lodge the needle anywhere by jolting. 

Slowly, the ache in her side and tail faded away. Kore felt like she could breathe easy again. Doing a quick stretch, she then moved to the side of the counter. 

Tony placed the used syringe into a special bin for sharps that the vet had provided. Fingers carted through her fur as he stood back at the counter, his eyes slowly glazing over. 

“Last night was awful, Licorice. I'm so sorry I left you behind,” he whispered, “I have no real excuse… I just…” he looked down at her, his eyes wide and lost. 

“I was given some bad information. Some of my weapons had been sold under the table by Obadia. I had- God I had confronted him and he admitted to it and he was the one that filed the injunction against me. Fuck, it was all just so shitty, Licorice.” one hand rubbed at his eyes while the other continued to stroke through her fur. “I went out and destroyed the weapons. I took my suit and flew it over. They were killing women and children, separating families, taking their dads to who knows where and they were doing it using my weapons .” 

She made a low ‘murh’ sound, pressing her head against his chest. 

“But I promise, I’ll never leave you like that again, baby.” he said softly as he looked at the brace on her tail. 

Kore’s anger the night before had faded away to a dull throb, the care Tony was showing her soothing away the sharp edges of hurt she had felt. She knew this man, had watched him in movies and read about him in stories and comics. She lived with him for a month now, or was it two? Her awareness of time was wonky, but it was long enough that she had an understanding of Tony and his motives. He was a good sort, one rarely found. He cared so deeply and wholly that it was hard not to get sucked into the vortex. His love was hard to earn, but damn, once you had it you had it .

 Kore didn’t expect to be one of them, at least not so soon. She wasn’t sure how she felt about being so entirely loved by him in such a short time, it felt like running a marathon where you were teleported to the finish line while the others still had to run. Like cutting the line to the front on Black Friday after showing three hours late. It felt like she cheated, but it was hard to care when Tony was so kind to her. 

She let out more soft hums and purts as she leaned into Tony’s touch, his nails script-scratching along her spine in a delightful way. Her heart melted and she let the stressful night roll off her back like nothing. 

“Thanks, baby.” Tony said, his voice sounding thick as she butted her head against his. 

They were good. 

Two weeks later, Stane broke in and stole Tony’s arc reactor from his chest. 

Kore had been recovering, taking things slow and sticking to the house rather than going out to town. She had been feeling anxiety like crazy ever since that night, not knowing when the whole Stane thing would happen. 

Pepper gave Tony the box with his old arc reactor in it a few days after the crap night, and after that happened Kore had been a ball of nerves, looking this way and that for any sign of Stane. 

Tony noticed her odd behavior but chalked it up to the meds making her a little disoriented. To be honest, they were. She got sum gud drugs . She’d space the fuck out for about an hour after taking them. She wasn’t sure if that was normal, but, as a cat, who the hell knew what was normal anymore. 

Kore’s anxiety rose with every passing day, to the point she never left Tony’s side after the first week passed. She was on his ass like white on rice and had no plans on moving it. Tony soaked in the attention like a dehydrated sponge, giving her many pats and wiggled fingers in her direction. 

It was exactly two weeks after when shit happened. The day started with Tony having a deep conversation with Pepper, needing her to hack the SI servers from his office with a USB that he gave her. They had a spirited discussion, in which Pepper quit and was rehired within a 3 minute period. It ended with her agreeing to do it, and Kore knew this was the day. 

Anxiety lit a fire in her chest and quickened her breathing, her heart hammering as she tried to decide what to do. 

Attack Stane? He was a lot larger than her, and, as a cat, she couldn’t do the damage needed to take his ass down. Scratching the shit out of him would be super satisfying, but not enough to stop him from hurting Tony. 

She could warn Tony, but she couldn’t think of a way for that to work. There were no keyboards or conveniently open scrabble games she could knock down. 

Best she could do was get Tony the old arc reactor as soon as possible. She knew that he'd make it down to the workshop, and that Dummy would give him the case. Maybe she could drag it up the stairs or to the elevator? Get it to him sooner so he was less physically damaged from the shrapnel ripping through his arteries. 

Plan in mind she waited, her body lit up like pins and needles. As soon as it hit dusk, Kore left Tony’s side and moved to the workshop. 

She passed the bots, Dummy, You, and Butterfingers, to get to the counter where the case sat, the arc reactor shining brightly behind the glass. Kore jumped up onto the table, a twinge in her side telling her that her medication was wearing off. Without an ounce of hesitation, she knocked that shit to the ground in true cat-fashion. 

The fact that Jarvis did not say or respond was very telling. Stane was in the building. 

Not wasting a moment, she moved down to the ground, carefully avoiding the glass. Sharp little teeth bit into the lining around the outer edge of the reactor as she picked it up carefully and moved to the stairs. She was going to use the elevator, but how the hell would she get to the button? 

Thankfully, Tony’s prodigal spending paid off. The cat tree installation also extended down to the workshop and she was able to parkour her way up to the living area. 

Said living area where Stane was currently standing over Tony, his arc reactor in hand. 

Kore would forever curse this moment. Forever and ever. The one moment that she needed stealth, her paws silent on the floor and her breathing low and quiet. That one moment she needed to wait for Stane to leave so she could bring the reactor to Tony. At that moment she fucked up. 

And dropped the fucking reactor on the floor. 

The sound of a heavy metal hitting wood did not go unnoticed by Stane or Tony, who couldnt move, but shifted his eyes over with no small amount of panic. 

Stane saw the second reactor on the floor in front of her. “Now where did that come from?” Stane said, his eyes looking at her, greed and malice churning in their depths. 

Shit.  

Kore picked the reactor up and dashed away, Stane’s heavy footfalls not far behind her. The thunks of his feet boomed in her ears like a sounding war drum, but even that was almost drowned out by the sound of her own heart hammering in her chest as she tried to escape. 

She fucked up, she fucked up . 

The metal hurt her mouth, the reactor was hot and heavy, burning her lips as she ran. That was probably why Tony took it out, an unstable prototype and all that. She could feel the electricity in the air around the device, practically tasting the tingly vibes of positive electrons permeating the air like she was in a Glade commercial. 

She was panicking, running through the house, trying to shake Stane off, but also make her way back to Tony and give him the reactor. Up and down through the rooms and halls, dodging kicks and grabbing hands. Her side was starting to really hurt, slowing her down, and she could feel her teeth slipping on the reactor. She clenched her jaw tighter, praying to whoever would listen that she could do this. 

But the universe just didn’t want to work with her today. 

It was as she was rounding the bend back to the living room than Stane dove for her, grabbing a fistful of her tail and yanking. Kore screeched in pain, dropping the reactor and flailing as Stane picked her up by the tail . 

It fucking hurt, holy shit. 

Kore slashed out with her claws, yowling in pain as her delicate tail took the brunt of her weight. She was able to get a few slices in, taking vindictive pleasure at the scratches and raised red lines she was able to leave on his arms and collar. But Stane was a bastard and hardly hesitated as he used her own fucking tail to swing her out and smash her into the the floor . 

Her head collided with the floor first, stunning her. Her front right leg had been angled to the floor and hit as well. The pain was an awful, mind-numbing thing that left her on the floor, completely motionless even as Stane stepped over her and picked up the reactor she had been trying so desperately to keep away from him. 

With a satisfied humm, Stane turned to the door

And left with both reactors. 

Chapter Text

Ch 9: Please Be Ok 

No no no nononono

Oh fuck, oh fuck . Everything was fucked. 

How could this happen? How could she screw up this badly? 

Kore laid prone on the floor, her breathing coming fast and labored. The pain was strong, every part of her throbbed with every beat of her heart. She wished she could scream, or cry, but all that would come out were little pitiful whines that sounded choked off. 

Her head hurt so bad and her vision was shot to shit as well. She could feel something hot and wet soaking into her fur under her, and it didn’t take a genius to know what it was. 

She could see Tony from where she was laid, blinking through the dark spots in her vision. 

He was moving, slowly and obviously in pain. Sweat dripped down his forehead and soaked his shirt until it stuck to his skin. The hole where the reactor once was sat deeply in his chest and made her’s ache in sympathy. 

He was crawling towards her on his hands, eyes wide and locked onto her form. She could hear the choking sounds coming from deep in his throat as he battled the pain in order to come to her. 

He made it, thumping down beside her on the wood flooring with a pained noise. Shaking fingers coming to cart through her fur as she continued to whine in pain. 

God, this man was unreal. Even as he was literally dying, he was trying to comfort her. It was both awful and moving. She could feel a burn behind her eyes that didn’t come from pain. Feeling his care and knowing it was his last to give. 

“It's ok, it's ok, baby,” he murmured, his skin waxy and pale. “Everything is going to be ok.” 

This wasn’t fair! This wasn’t fair. 

It’s her fault and she was so so sorry . 

Tony wasn’t supposed to die like this, he was supposed to live a long time, meet the Avengers, save the world and be happy with Pepper and his kid. But thanks to her, he didn’t even get a chance to become Iron Man. 

Tears leaked from the edges of her eyes and her breathing rattled in her chest as she sobbed, the sounds coming out in huffs. 

This was wrong, why did this happen? Why did she try to help, why didn’t she look before coming in? Choose a different thing to do or come up with a better plan? Stane took the only chance Tony had to live and now he was dying and it was her fault . 

Her body burned, she was unworthy of the comfort Tony was giving her. She raged against the world and she cursed herself for her stupidity. 

If only he had another reactor, if only she hadn’t fucking dropped the first one, if only if only if only - 

Blood pounded through her head as her heart thumped wildly in her chest, clouding her blacked out vision with red as it rushed behind her eyes. She was consumed by the burning fire of her rage and self-loathing, wishing with every atom in her body that Tony would be ok please be ok - 

She would do anything, give anything, for him to be ok.

She heard Tony take a sharp, deep breath of air. Like a drowning man surfacing for air. 

The sound startled her enough that she was able to push past the red haze and peer at Tony through blurry eyes. 

There was a light shining in his chest. 

An arc reactor sat in a familiar triangular metal casing, the light shining brightly to her like a candle in the void. 

The relief that filled her was all-consuming, dousing out the pain for a moment of temporary bliss. 

She didn’t know how this happened, but she was thanking everything in the universe that it did, chanting thank you thank you thank you in her mind over and over. 

Tony would live, God he would live . 

“Licorice…” Tony breathed, also thrown from what happened. A spontaneously appearing arc reactor when he was certain he was going to die was enough to short circuit any brain.  

Whatever conclusion that would have been made was stalled when Rhodey came in. 

“Tony! Tony!” the man screamed, running into the room looking frazzled and panicked. He visibly sagged in relief as soon as he spotted Tony.  

“Wh-Where is  Pepper?” Tony croaked out. 

“She and 6 other agents went to arrest Stane.” the man moved forward, down the steps and across the floor. 

Tony huffed out a breath, “That won’t be enough, Rhodey. He has an armored suit. He’ll tear right through them.”

“Shit, Tony. We need to tell someone.”

“No! No, I'm not waiting, I'm headed out now. Rhodey, I need you to look after Licorice Stick, contact Happy and get her to a vet asap.” The other man looked down.

“Holy shit, Tones. What the hell happened?”

“Obadia smashed her into the floor, I-I don't know how injured she is, but he used a lot of force.”

“That’s a lot of blood, Tony.” Rhodey said, worriedly. 

“I know!” the engineer practically screamed, panic taking over his voice.  “I know, I know ok. I just- please Rhodey. Please help me.” His voice lowered dramatically, but the panicked edge was still there as he pleaded with his friend. 

“Ok man,” Rhodes nodded, he grabbed both of Tony’s shoulders in his hands. “I'll take the cat. And you! You go out there, and you kick his ass, you hear? And then you come back, I expect you to be right back here.” Tony gave his friend a watery, but determined nodd. 

Turning to Kore, he placed a quick kiss to her forehead, and then turned around and ran down to the workshop. 

Kore barely saw his foot pass the door’s threshold before she fell unconscious. At least when asleep, she felt no pain. 

Tony on the other hand was all rage and bitterness. A fire was lit under his feet and behind his eyes, flaring so bright he burned . His heart hurt both literally and figuratively. His closest father-figure that he’s had since that awful night when he was 21 years old. Obediah - no- Stane had betrayed him. Cut him so deep it felt like he’d bleed out, the grief choking him like blood in his lungs.

But he couldn't let it, wouldn't let it. Because it wasn’t just him anymore. 

It was Pepper, it was Rhodey, it was Jarvis, and it was his baby girl Licorice Stick. He was going for the people Tony loved dearly, a transgression that would never be forgiven or forgotten. 

And Stane was about to get an ass kicking of a lifetime . 

Tony suited up and took to the skys, headed towards the Stark Industries building, Jarvis rattling off statistics in his ear. 

He arrived just in time to smash Stane’s ass into the ground. 

Metal fists flew faster than the eye could see as he rapid fire hit the gunmetal gray armor in the face plates. Adrenaline pumped through his veins like liquid fire, burning away the pain from the displaced shrapnel and wiping away any hesitation he would have felt hitting Stane not even a day earlier. 

His suit was powered up, the energy levels beyond anything he’d ever seen. The arc reactor within his chest, the one that appeared out of nowhere (reminder: freak out later) hummed with an energy that crackled through his chest and left the lingering taste of coconuts on his tongue. 

His repulsors sizzled with heat as he shot at Stane, the blasts more powerful than before, leaving gaping holes and scorched metal instead of dents and scratches. 

Stane got inventive after that, throwing things at Tony from a distance. Including people. 

Panic gripped Tony as he saw a car fly at him, with a family still inside. He was able to catch it, his suit’s inner mechanisms whirling in strain from the added weight. He was able to set them down in time to catch the next person, and the next, and the next, and the next . 

Tony screamed in rage as he saw a kid launched through the air, firing up his boots to fly over and catch the little boy as gently as he could. He deposited the crying child in an alleyway, telling him to stay low and stay hidden until the fight was over. 

The rage within Tony was burning hotter than ever as he raced back into the fight, crashing into Stane before he could grab another person. He clawed at seames and ripped off anything he could close his fists around, all the while Stane flailed and smashed his suit’s fists into his body. 

The pain was secondary to the all-consuming rage and determination to succeed. He kept going, hitting, smashing and ripping until Stane’s suit was a pile of scrap metal and burned wires. The man inside looked little better.

Tony gnashed his teeth together as he stared down at the other man, his hands itching to punch him one more time; to strike flesh instead of metal, to break bones instead of glass, to rip and tear through his body instead of lifeless wires and plates. But he stayed his hand. 

He would not become a monster because of this man. He wouldn’t let Stane take away another piece of himself. 

Instead, Tony removed him from the suit and tied him up, destroying the remains of the suit so that nothing remained, just a charred pile of rubbish. 

Jarvis was in his ear then, informing him about the agents on the way. Tony did wait around, taking to the sky.

Tony headed back to his house.

He was ready for answers. 

Chapter Text

CH 10: 

Licorice survived. 

It was on and off to stabilize her that first night, but Rhodey got her to the emergency vet just in time not to bite the dust. Tony had later found out that Stane had busted not only her front leg, but also the right parts of her ribcage and fractured her skull. The lung on her right side had also been punctured by her ribs when they had fractured. The docs had to stitch up her lug and side, removing the four ribs that had been fractured beyond repair. Her fractured skull was even more intense.

Due to swelling and the severity of the fracture, a part of her skull had been removed. 

There were three surgeries in just as many days, one was to install a metal plate over her skull where the bone had been removed. They had to wait until the swelling went down first, and she had been restrained the whole time to prevent her from accidentally bashing her unprotected brain bit on anything. Tony’s whole body ached as he watched her through the glass of the medical kennel.  

The second one was to fix her leg. It had been shattered upon impact and the bits were wrecking her muscles. The doctors had suggested amputation, but Tony had thrown enough money at the clinic that they went with reconstruction. It took a lot of metal plates and screws, but in the end they were able to get it back in shape and set it in a heavy cast. 

The words “I am Iron Man” sat heavily on his chest; the whirlwind of media conferences and police statements, doctors visits and vet appointments was tiring Tony out. He felt like a rung out rag that had been twisted into impossible knots, squeezed for every last drop he had to give. But in the end it was satisfying to see Stane led away in cuffs, the orange jump suit clashing horribly with the man’s complexion. 

He had reviewed the footage of the Houdini arc reactor, going frame by frame, pouring over sensors and readings to see what had been happening in the moments leading up to it. There was nothing in the tapes, his chest was an empty cavity in one frame, and then glowingly full in the next. Jarvis’s systems were unable to detect anything other than a significant spike in energy beforehand, originating from Tony’s position. 

It was a mystery that itches to be solved, a thousand and one theories danced in his head. Temporal displacement? Mass expansion? A fucking wormhole? He didn’t know and it was killing him. 

There was also the problem of the two arc reactors that Stane had stolen. The reactor in the suit had been recovered, but the spare had disappeared. Tony had Jarvis spare a whole processor just in search for the wayward reactor, but nothing had come of it yet. 

Another thing was Nick Fury, Director of SHEILD. Who, apparently , never heard of calling ahead. Disabling Jarvis was a dick move and Tony was no small amount of pissed, Fury’s invitation to his superhero group did nothing to quell that. 

Kore hated everything. 

But mostly Stane, and his big ass, meaty hands. Musty ass hands, bitch- ass musty crusty limped-dick-  

A knock on her kennel door interrupted her internal cursing.

Kore had been in this kennel for almost four weeks now, the first half had been a haze of images and being drugged to the gills with the best pain meds money could buy. She was hardly conscious for most of it, only really coming out of it about a week ago when they began to lower the dosage. 

Her whole body felt like lead, heavy and unwilling to move an inch without maximum effort. She was wearing a helmet of some sort, one that reminded her of those ones that wrestlers wore during matches. Kore wondered, not for the first time, just what her injuries were. From the cast and helmet she guessed a broken leg and concussion at least, but from the worried looks she glimpsed from when Tony visited… 

Tony looked like shit, by the way. All the bruises and cuts from Afghanistan that had just begun to finally fade away were now replaced with a smattering of heavy welts and gashes. His face looked like someone had smashed pomegranate juice all over one side and the eye on that side was completely red where the white was. His hands also looked like shit, purpled scabbed open along the knuckles where he no doubt smashed the shit outta Stane. 

Kore wished she could be out of the glass kennel so she could comfort him, make sure he was eating and sleeping at the right times and more. She had taken her caring of him seriously, embracing the roll to its full and it sucked not being able to do it. 

She was spared from further boredom when Tony came in with the doc. The kennel was opened and she was pulled gently out and placed on the examination table. 

The two talked over her, the doc explaining to Tony the medication she needed, what care to give, and her next appointment. She felt her human's fingers gently scratching through the fur along her back, in a gesture more self soothing for the man than anything. When all was said and done, she was finally packed up into the back of Tony’s car and drove back to the Malibu home. 

Recovery was rough. Tony was diligent in her care and medication, but even then the pain was always there. Her head hurt all the time, and Tony only took off the helmet when he bathed her. 

Her saving grace from eternal boredom was that Tony kept her glued to his side. Wherever he went, he carried her with him, her riding in a softly padded basket that Pepper had brought over the first day. He kept a running commentary, babbling to her about everything and anything. A common topic was the appearing arc reactor and his meager findings on it. It was a source of unending frustration for the man. Kore was also very curious about it, but was far more accepting of the magical appearance than her companion, well aware of the fuckery in the Marvel Universe. She figured Tony would work it out and she’d learn that way, at the moment, her head hurt too damn much for deep thinking.

Months passed, she got better. She found out about the plate in her skull and her legs, which fucking sucked. She also started physical therapy. A specialist came to the house every day as soon as she was healed up more and put her through several exercises to regain movement in her front legs. Her motor skills were shot to shit, thanks to her head injury, but she was making progress. 

To help, Tony had built her a little suspension machine that let her walk around. The device looked like a four sided walker, with wheels on the bottom. She was held in the center, suspended in a harness that held most of her weight off her legs. It wasn't the most mobile of devices, but it let her roll around the workshop when she felt the need to move. It was also very fun to nyoom around the workshop at top speeds. Tony would watch her as she did, highly entertained as she slid back and forth. He even added bumpers to the device for when she inevitably crashed into shit going too fast. On one of the more memorable moments, Tony had taken her to a small kiddie race track and let her roll around it. He had also dragged Rhodey with, and the two had acted like children as they played chicken with their carts. At one point, the three raced each other around the track, Tokyo Drift blaring over the park's loudspeaker. The video JARVIS took was hilarious and had the two men in hysterical tears when spliced cinematically together.

It was near the 6 month mark that Kore was deemed "all better" but Tony was instructed to keep her on antibiotics for a bit longer to be safe. Her head and legs ached in the cold, but in all she was moving and grooving. 

Kore was happy to be better, and was ready to get outside again. 

Tony, the man, the myth, the legend he is, had upgraded her cat tree while she was away. 

There were elevators. 

You know someone is a Rich Bitch when even their cat has personal elevators. 

The elevators were small platforms that raised and lowered from certain highpoints in each room and blended seamlessly to the floor when not in use. Just big enough for her to sit on, there were two little buttons on it that directed it up and down. Tony and Happy had spent an evening "training" her how to use it with snacks and it had been a very good time. 

Tony had apparently revealed he was Iron Man to the world, without her, which was Rude TM. But this did result in a lot of running around to meetings and hearings. Tony fought an uphill battle against the government to retain his rights to the suit. But the man was a certified badass and handed them their asses on a pretty gold plater while smiling even prettier. He ran circles around people, showing off his skills and reminding people just why he was dubbed a genius. 

He was also running around, fighting bad guys and destroying his blackmarketed weapons. Iron Man was becoming the world's next superhero and Tony had already nabbed up the rights to it, pouring all the royalties he got from the merch anonymously into charities to help rebuild the towns and lives of the people Stane’s underdeals had hurt. Kore thought it was quite an amazing and noble thing for him to do. 

Once fully on her feet, Kore was not idle. She ran around like her tail caught fire; regaining her clout in Malibu as the Zuma Beach cat, now with a fancy collar and coat, adding to her collection of shiny things like a crazed magpi, and taking care of her Tony. 

Like she was now. Standing in the kitchen, she waltzed into the giant pantry to find the packaged trail mix. She had to climb up a few shelves to where the grocer had placed the box, and, in the spirit of cats everywhere, she gleefully pushed it to the floor with her paw. 

Jumping down, she tore into the thin cardboard box with her teeth until there was a hole big enough for her to drag out a package of trail mix. Booting the box to the lower shelf with her back foot, Kore exited the pantry and made her way to Tony using her fancy new elevator system. 

He was in the workshop, fingers flying over holograms and spinning codes that hung in the air. He had a look in his eye that she easily recognized as hyper fixation so she went over to her cat tree and settled in, content to wait until he reached a lull to interrupt. 

The lull came only an hour later after Tony seemed to finish a project and send it off. Jumping back down and heading to the workbench, Kore chirped prettily to get his attention. 

“Baby girl! There you are!” he cooed, leaning down to give her a smattering of kisses along her face. “Oh, this for me?” he pulled back, grabbing the package of trail mix. She meowed in positive, pulling one leg up to push at the hand that held the food. “You take such good care of me, kit kat, what would I do without you?”

‘Starve and die,’ she thought humorously. The feline made sure he ate every piece of trail mix and some water before leaving him be, going to relax on her cat tree. 

She had been thinking more and more lately, grinding the gears in her mind until smoke poured out of her ears. She wanted to communicate with Tony, even in the most basic of ways, she needed that interaction. 

The cat part of her was geared one way, social but it wasn't a requirement for upkeep. She could go days without interaction and it would be fine. The human part of her brain was the opposite; she craved conversation and companionship. Tony was helping a lot, how he spoke to her like he knew she was sentient; she could pretend for a while that she was having a real conversation with him. But that fantasy was always broken one way or another by something he said so it wasn’t a good, long term idea. 

She needed to communicate, even the most basic of back and forth would be wonderful. But how? 

An idea stuck with her, but she had no idea how to get it to work. Back in her old life, she had seen this dog use big buttons that said a single word when pressed. The dog could ask to go outside or said they loved their human and more. She thought that was a pretty banggin idea, but how the hell was she going to be able to get Tony to that idea as well? 

Kore huffed and put the thought on the backburner for now. Hopefully an opportunity would arrive soon. 

Pepper came into the workshop an hour later, a plastic bag in one hand, a digital pad in the other. Tony was elbow deep into the newest armor, tweaking something or another that had him hissing numbers to himself. He looked up when she came in, putting his tools down as she set the bag on the counter next to him. 

“Happy dropped this off, said you asked for it.” Pepper stated. Tony made grabby hands at the bag before she pushed it towards him. Like a child opening a gift, he tore into the bag, pulling out a few items. Kore couldn’t see from where she was sitting in her little cat tree. 

She didn’t, however, have to wonder for long, as Tony picked up whatever items were in the bag and came over to her. 

In his hands, Tony held what looked like a spray and a brush. The brush was purple, with fine teeth like one would see on those combs people used to prep wool to make yarn. 

“Hey baby girl, I got some things here for you.” Tony cooed as he moved next to her. “I noticed a while back you don’t like to clean yourself like cats do, so I got these to help.” He held out the comb and spray. 

“This is a cat shampoo that I’ll spritz on your fur and then comb it through. I know you don’t mind water, but you shouldn't be soaking every day or you might catch a little kitty cold.” Kore’s heart melted at the man’s explanation. Leave it to Tony to find and care for her in ways she’d never thought or expected. 

“This will also be good in case your scars get irritated, I know that one on your head bothers you still.” Shit, it did, and he noticed it. A heavy, happy purr started low in her throat. “Let’s try it out and see if you like it, the vet said this brand was hypoallergenic so it shouldn’t irritate your skin.”

Tony began to spray and comb through her fur lightly, getting every inch of her. It was… amazing. It felt so nice, and the act of grooming made some deep instinct inside of her sit up and cling to the man who was becoming her family. Tears came to her eyes at the overwhelming feelings inside of her, her affection for Tony sky high and climbing. He was giving up precious time on his Iron Man suits to care and tend to her. 

She loved him. Truly and utterly loved Tony McFucking Stark. 

Tears came fully now as she was overwhelmed by the realization. Tony cooed and kissed her face, making many little kissy noises as he pressed his lips to her furry head. His lips touched the small bald patch there where her scars were. 

Kore had never had someone care for her so much, and care so much in return. She felt blessed by the feeling, the love consuming her like a fire under her skin. She pressed her face into his kisses, soaking up his affection like a flower to the sun. 

Tony eventually did have to go back to his work, taking up the digital pad Pepper had left and leafing through it. He complained loudly about all the paperwork he had to sort through, most of it relating to the Stark Expo that was happening in two months' time. The year long Expo that was taking place in Flushing, New York. Most of the exhibits had been set up already, leaving room for testing and fine tuning. Tony was, obviously, planning on making a big entrance. He was thinking fireworks and backup dancers, all nicely tied together with some ACDC roaring in the background.

He handed over the paperwork to Jarvis, letting his AI sort through them and place them into piles according to importance. He carved his way through the items Jarvis flagged, sending out emails with a flick of his wrists. 

Kore watched him work, feeling rather miffed that the movies portrayed Tony so poorly. He was shown as a lazy asshole, who pushed off projects and paperwork, who dumped everything on a haggled Pepper and then took off to do something smarmy. But in actuality, Tony was very dedicated to his company. He had time sectioned off every day for work dedicated to Stark Industries, she could see the little highlights on his digital calendar. In those times, he would dive into the innermost workings of his company, reaching his fingers across the board to collaborate with managers and heads of departments, making time for even the greenest of scientists if he caught a whiff of true dedication. He was a wonder to watch. 

Kore made sure to break him out of the groove if he stayed under for too long, bringing him snacks and getting Dumm-e or U to bring him water bottles or vitamin shakes. Sometimes she’d bat over one of her toys and make him play with her for a few minutes, purring loudly at all the scratches he’d give her as they messed around.

Two months later, the Expo was in full swing. Tony made his huge entrance, and the crowds went feral, practically foaming at the mouth. 

Kore was obviously there as well, sitting back stage and waiting for him to finish his speech. She contemplated going out there and stealing the show, but didn’t feel like making the effort. Tony would come back and grab her soon enough and she’d be paraded around by the proud man. 

Currently, she sat with Happy just behind the curtain. She had on a golden collar with red gems, this time in little circle patterns. A small, cream colored bonnet was tied around her head, acting as both fashion and ear muffs to guard against the ear piercings screeches of the crowds. She also had on her service vest, the one that told people not to touch her. Thankfully, no one had tried to yet, Happy’s presence more than likely scaring them off. 

When Tony finally came back, flouncing in and high on endorphins, he quickly picked her up and pressed smooshy kisses to her face. Kore sniffed, smelling the strong scent of fireworks and his personalized cologne. He had one custom made a while ago after he noticed how she’d avoid getting in his space when he’d wear his old stuff. Normally, human cologne was strong and repugnant to her feline sense of smell, which put her off. Tony had this one tailored with only natural oils, ones that didn’t hurt her little kitty nose. 

Kore quickly curled herself around Tony’s shoulders, her nails digging into the reinforce shoulder pads made specifically for her clinging. They made their way to the doors, Tony often stopping to sign autographs and shake hands with important people. A few people tried to pet her, but Tony dodged out of the way like a fucking ninja whenever he saw their hands in his peripheral. A good number had asked for pictures, to which both man and cat posed pretty for. Tony had, in foresight, placed little sunglasses on her face before they had left the backstage area; camera flashes hurt her eyes, especially after her head wound. 

Happy ushered them through the crowds and towards the exit, Tony tossing a few slips of paper that had been snuck into his pockets into the trash next to the door. Kore approved of his choice, not taking the bait and calling those numbers. She had high hopes for him and Pepper and, apparently, so did he. 

He didn’t give Pepper his company, and he was in better health than ever. His panic attacks were few and far between nowadays. The new arc reactor wasn’t poisoning him like it had in the original timeline, so Tony wasn’t looking haggled or pale. If anything, the man was putting on some weight, which Kore fucking loved. She kneaded his stomach when she sat with him, enjoying the small bit of softness. It was proof to her that he was healthy and well-fed, two things he sure as shit weren't in the OG timeline. 

Tony spoke to Kore often, telling her about his thoughts and fears, his past and what he hoped for the future. She was quick to shut down any self-deprecating statements, which was far more often than she’d like. Whenever he’d start in on it, putting himself down, Kore would give him a little bat on the head or a nip on the finger. Tony was a smart dude, and quickly learned what she was doing. She also tried to encourage self-love by giving him little kitty kisses when he’d say something good about himself. She believed strongly that the road to true self love began with saying it, even if you don’t believe it. Condition the brain with good rather than bad. It seemed to be working in small ways, each baby step making Kore happy and proud of Tony. She was determined to see him happy. 

The trio went to the car, to see a woman standing there. Tony put on the charm, flirting with her as he slid into the driver's seat. Kore hopped into Happy’s lap as he got into the passenger seat. 

The charm quickly turned sour as the woman revealed her true reason for being there: a subpoena from the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Kore hissed a bit to herself, recognizing what was happening. She wasn’t the most knowledgeable with the Iron Man timeline, but she remembered the hearing, and what was coming after. 

Vanko, shit. How was she going to deal with him? 

OMAKE:

“Hey boss?” Happy prodded from where he stood. The two men were in the living area, having just got back from a checkup at the vet’s office. 

“Yeah, Hap?” Tony hummed, placing the cat carrier down on the table. Licorice was already out, waltzing around like the diva she was. 

“The State of California only allows dogs as service animals, how did you get Licorice licenced?” the bodyguard asked. 

“Ah, yee man of little faith,” Tony clicked his tongue behind his teeth. “I was able to get her approved as an ‘extenuating circumstance’ and I'm working on getting cats approved as service animals across the board as well.”

“How’d you do that?”

“Oh I had a little help from a close, personal friend of mine.” Tony grinned as Happy raised and eyebrow high. “His name is Benjamin Franklin.” 

The genius laughed out loud as Happy rolled his eyes to the ceiling.

Chapter Text

CH 11: Licorice Hating People

April 21st, 2010

Tony took Licorice into the meeting with him, her wearing her little vest and head bonnet to keep the noise low. Poor baby still had headaches from the wound that piece of human garbage Stane had given her. Tony knew this because, every time she got a headache or was in pain, she’d bury her head in her paws and rub at her face in a self-soothing gesture. He felt pretty bad about it, and even worse when he wouldn’t catch the act immediately and she’d be in pain for hours before he noticed her little head petting. 

Maybe he could get or make something to let him know she was in pain. Or maybe get something so she could tell him she was in pain. She was a pretty smart floof, maybe a cat door she could walk through that set an alarm off or maybe a button-

“Mr Stark,” Tony was pulled from his brainstorm. “Can we pick up where we left off?” 

The Senator Stern, Senator Shithead as Tony secretly called him, kept chattering. Tony took great pleasure in talking circles around the man, watching his face flush red with frustration. 

And they had the au-fucking-dacity to bring out HAMMER as the tech expert. Tony wouldn’t trust that over-inflated, brown-nosing asshole with his TV remote. The thought of turning over the Iron Man armor to that idiot was inconceivable to the point of bafflement. God, whoever labeled Justin Hammer as the tech expert seriously needed to, not only be fired, but a hard, painful kick to the ass. And to check for head trauma or mind control. Or bribery. 

Oh Tony fuckin BET-

Ooo there was his Rhodey. 

Tony hid his real grin under the fake one, going over to clap his friend on the shoulder. He was surprised to see him here, but he should have expected Senator Shithead to go below the belt. Licorice was there when he sat back down, kneading biscuits into his stomach and smacking him in the side with her tail. Her bright yellow eyes glared daggers at anyone that got too close, and Tony could feel the vibrations from her low growls when someone had the thought to actually touch him. She hissed and spat at Hammer more than once when the man got too close. It made him feel very warm and fuzzy, any anxiety he had before melting away under the pressure of her in his lap. 

It was a cake walk after that, humiliating Hammer and Senator Shithead was the icing on top. 

Tony took Rhodey, Happy, Licorice and himself out to lunch after the meeting adjourned, getting buzzed on overly expensive mimosas and giggling at still shots of Hammer and the Senator’s pissy faces. Happy had water, and his little baby had some fresh salmon on rice from the kitchen. Baby girl did love her salmon. 

What an interesting word: salmon. Salmon. Sssalmon. Sal-moon. Salm-a-lama. 

Tony giggled, knocking back his fourth (fith?) mimosa. 

“Alright boss, I'm cutting you off.” Happy chimed in, taking his glass. He took a sniff of the dregs. “Ugh, what’d they put in this? Rubbing alcohol?”

Tony made a sound of protest, making grabby hands at the glass.

 “Na, boss. We’re headed to the airport now and I’m getting you home. Rhodes, you need a lift?” Happy turned to the other man, who was only slightly less buzzed than Tony.

Licorice climbed onto the table in front of him, placing her butt right where his plate had been before. Tony leaned forward and pressed his face into her fur, breathing in the earthy sweet scent of her cat shampoo. That’s right, he gave her a bath right before the Exbo opening the night before. Hmmm, very soothing smell.

“Yeah… yeah I gotta temp room at the nearest base.” Rhodey said beside him, his voice slurring. 

“God, it's barely noon you guys.” 

“Never too early for a Good Tony Time.” came said man’s muffled voice. 

Happy rolled his eyes. 

“Lets go, you two.” 

April 23rd 2010

Two days later found Tony at home, in his workshop, working hard on SI projects and flicking through legal paperwork at the same time. 

Honestly, Kore couldn’t wrap her head around how he could do it all. Tony’s ability to hyperfixate on his work was fucking legendary. The only thing she could hyperfixate on to that depth was playing out her own fight scenes when she listened to music. Or daydreaming about stories or show spin-offs. Like a nerd. 

Kore sat in her usual spot, perched on her little kitty tree. She had hopped up there after she had brought Tony some fruit snacks and bugged You or Butterfingers into making him a protein and multivitamin smoothie. He ate so much garbage, she was certain he was vitamin deficient. She wondered if she could get Jarvis to order some gummy vitamins so that she could push them onto every morning when he got up. She could even stash them in his bedside cabinet, if she could find a way to open it with that stupid ‘modern’ handle. Fuking stupid thing. 

She sat up and scratched at an ich along her face, her collar jingling as she did. Noting the time, she gave a ‘murp’ to try and get her human’s attention, but it didn’t work. 

Continuing to wait, Kore thought about the upcoming confrontation. 

Vanko, what to do about him? 

On one hand, an asshole trying to kill her human. Which was Not Ok, and she’d sooner carve out his chest and use his slimy intestines as a litter box than let him lay a finger on her Tony. 

On the other hand, the man was incredibly intelligent, and could be useful in the future. They would need all the help they could get against Thanos when he arrived. Together, she could only imagine all the things he and Tony could create for this world. But how would she get there? How would she convince Tony to try or Vanko for the matter? 

Another thought: was it her responsibility? She knew what was going to happen, and it more or less came out for the best in the horrible situation. If she changed too much, there was no guarantee of them winning this time around. 

But on the other hand… 

Fuck that shiiiiiiiiit. 

That whole timeline was bullshit! So much fucking bullshit, holy motherfucking shit! 

BUUUULLLLLL SHIIITTTTT!!

She wanted to bite something. So she started to naw on the side of her cat tree, her sharp needle teeth getting through the carpet and into the wood below. She chewed and picked at the threads in frustration, angry at the thought of what the future held and how little she could do to help in her current state. She needed to be able to communicate, but she still hadn’t figured a solution out! 

Her claws dug into the carpet and she raised her paws up and down, pulling and ripping it up in pure vexation. A low angry rumble started in her throat as her thoughts spiralled downward, only to stop as a pair of hands scooped her up. 

“Oooh, my baby baby is soooo grumpy.” Tony cooed at her, giving her face a smattering of kisses. Kore was very angry still, and glared up at the man for interrupting her unhealthy coping mechanism. He just cooed more about how cute she was when she was grumpy and began to scratch at the back of her neck. 

Her weak spot! He was playing dirty, the heathen. 

Kore was no match for the pettings and quickly turned into a pile of purring goop. Pepper came in at one point to go over some paperwork about a donation of some sort, something about Tony’s collection of scotches. She didn’t hear much past her own purrfing. 

“ She’s my kitty pie,

brings me snacks such a sweet surprise!

Purrs so good, helps me when I cry

Sweet kitty piiiiie! ”

And like that, her bad mood was defeated completely. 

May 5th 2010

Kore’s hackles raised. She knew that, in the future, Romanoff and Tony would be friends, good friends even. But not now. And not any time soon. Right now the spy had orders and a will to complete them: obtain Tony as an asset, lower self-esteem in order to control. 

She had worked hard to get Tony where he was! He was getting so much better mentally, and he was healthier too! 

Like FUKING HELL was she going to let this fucking bitch-ass, leather wearing, leg twirling, sexy-ass- fuck wait - coniving!! piece of work, get to Tony and ruin all of that. 

So she pitched an epic bitch-fit. 

First she yeowled. Loud and obnoxious, with her mouth open and spit dripping down past her lips. She poofed up, looking twice her size as her fur stood on end. She lifted herself to the tips of her paws, claws scratching along the floor as she stood between the two where they were. 

Romanoff binked down at her, a flash of confusion crossing her face. 

Kore couldn’t see Tony, but she could smell him. And he smelled of suspicion.

And major BO. 

Pepper and Happy were also in the room, the gym room to be exact, and they were watching her little spat with curiosity. 

Romanoff tried to take a small step forward, but Kore quickly lashed out with her claws, almost nicking her ankle. Her howling kicked up a notch, her tongue darting between her lips in that odd way that almost sounded like human talking.

Kore didn’t know why the woman was even here . Tony wasn’t dying, so he never signed the company over to Pepper. SI stocks were higher than ever as a result and there was a new wall AC unit that Tony just put on the market that cut the electricity use by two thirds. Kore had lived in an apartment with those wall units, those shits were expensive to run. They were ranking in the dough at the moment.

She felt hands pick her up, the smell of her human was the only thing that kept her from lashing out. 

This close to Tony, she could feel the tension in his frame, and she knew the spy could see it clear as day. 

“Well, if that concludes our meeting, I must be going. Company to run, plane to catch and all that.” Tony hummed, putting on what was surely the fakest smile he had ever worn. 

She wished she could give him a fist bump, trust the smartest man in the world to pick up on her hints, thank goodness. Pepper led Romanoff out quickly after that, giving Tony a ‘You could have done that better’ look, to which he shrugged. 

“What was that boss? You didn’t even look down.” Happy pipped up from where he stood in the ring, making a motion over his chest with a raised eyebrow. Tony shrugged again. 

“Wasn’t interested.” He replied. Happy made a choked sound, like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Kore had to give Tony mad props. The whole thing didn’t go even a bit like the movie had. Romanoff had come in with Pepper, in her very flattering top and perfect makeup. Tony had barely spared her a glance, focusing in on Pepper like a moth to a lighthouse beacon. Kore was very pleased to notice this, and, from the slightly raised eyebrows she had seen, so was Pepper. 

Yahhss Sis, getcho maannnn, yaaaahhhs! 

Kore gave a little butt wiggle from where she still sat, cradled in Tony’s arms. Giving him a small lick on the cheek, she made the motion of jumping down. Tony leaned down so she was closer to the floor before letting her hop off. 

She wondered off, feeling pleased with how things had gone. 

Kore did not feel that way for long. 

For one, the dinner at the race track in Monaco was crowded and fucking Hammer had the GALL to try and touch her, even though she had her vest on! The reporter had been wise enough not to try such a thing, but her questions were demeaning and barbed. And Hammer was f ucking annoying. A low rumble was all it took for Tony to excuse himself, citing that she was getting anxious and needed some air. Thank god for that. 

He took her to the roof, to the VIP section that was, thankfully, sparse with people. 

They stayed up there for a while, Tony shooting off a quick text to Pepper and Happy to let them know where they were. The race began shortly after and their eyes followed for as long as the cars were in sight. They then watched from the screens. Pepper and Happy joined them a few moments later, taking seats at the round table next to them. 

Kore was a ball of nerves, wondering when Vanko would show up. The race had been going on for a good bit now, and the man had yet to show his face. 

Heavy footsteps, the smell of ozone and gunpowder. Her ears perked and nose twitched. 

Twisting in her spot, she bit Tony in the arm hard, making him jump from his seat in alarm. 

Just as an electric whip went through it. 

The table and seat were slashed in two, pieces going flying in every direction, covered in fire. Screams started up, the loudest being Pepper’s shrill screech of alarm as she was coated in wood pieces. Kore had landed on the floor, when Tony had jumped, she now dashed out of the way as Vanko slashed again, aiming for the man next to her. 

Tony dodged this way and that, trying to make his way over to Happy, who had the case that held his suit. But Vanko was smart and kept the two separated. They needed a distraction so that Tony could get to Happy. 

Kore was not fucking happy to be in the rodeo once again. Stane’s was the one and only bad guy encounter she permitted. One and done, no mas. Leave the humans to the humans, while she helped on the side. Direct confrontation was not recommended when you are punt-able sized. 

But sometimes, her human needed a hand, damn him. 

Kore crept around until she was behind Vanko before charging. She clawed her way up his back, digging her sharp nails into the uncovered skin on his sides and letting them take her weight. Vanko screamed as she ranked along his sensitive side, the skin parting under her claws and leaving long bloody scratches behind. Arms flailed, trying to dislodge her. She jumped and ran off before he could grab her like Stane did. 

Her distraction proved efficient, Tony had been able to get to his suit and was now in the process of kicking Vanko’s ass right here on the roof. Happy contributed, throwing things like chairs and dishware at him to keep his attention divided. Kore paid little attention, more focused on getting to Pepper, who was crawling across the floor towards the exit stairs. Buffing her face against the woman’s, the feline encouraged her to move faster. 

The two made it to the door just as special forces came through, filling the roof and training their guns on Vanko. Kore did not see the aftermath, but she found out what had happened when she saw Tony come to the car about a half an hour later. 

Vanko had been defeated and carted off to prison. 

Happy had lost an arm. 

His right arm, elbow and down, was gone. Sliced off by one of Vanko’s whips. The only positive news was that the wound had been cauterized by the whip as well, so there was no blood loss other than the sum that came from the severed appendage. Happy had been rushed to the hospital, which is where they were going next.

Tony blamed himself, she could see it in his face. Kore wished she could talk just so she could say, over and over and over again, that it wasn’t. All she could do was curl into his shaking arms and comfort him as best she could. 

“I signed up for this, boss. I knew, I weighed the risks and I kept fighting anyway. I’d do it again, even if I knew the results would be the same.” Happy was at the end of a very long winded rant. Happy knew Tony better than most, and had read his face the moment he walked through the door to his hospital room. Tony had to give the man mad props, he knew just what to say, just where to hit that made Tony’s pillar of guilt come crumbling down around them. Obviously it wouldn’t go away completely, but... it didn’t crush as heavily. 

“I guess you’ll just have to let me build you a new arm then, I'm thinking built in taser in the fingers. What do you think?” Tony said, forcing himself to smile. 

“Or you could make them vibrate,” Happy said with an exaggerated eyebrow wiggle which finally pulled a laugh out of Tony. Happy’s grin sobered up, “But seriously, Tony. Don’t go blaming yourself for this.” Tony hummed. “ Tony . Promise me you wont go blaming yourself for this.” 

Tony ground his teeth, looking down at his shoes. There was a burn behind his eyes.  

“I-” he started, voice thick, “I’ll try, Hap, I promise.” 

Happy finally seemed to relax back into the hospital bed. 

“Good. Now get outta here, I got one hell of a hot nurse and I’m not letting you steal the show.” 

Tony gave his friend one last strained smile before leaving. 

He moved down to the waiting room, where Pepper was at along with Licorice. She had been in the room with Happy earlier, but had left to give the two some time to talk. She was petting Licorice as he came in. 

“How’d it go?” Pepper said as she saw him. 

“Building him a new arm, one with all the bells and whistles. Hey, that might be a good idea, expanding into prosthetics. Stark Industries could make some changes.” 

“We could partner with the VA, get some charities going to get funding for access. That’s a very good idea, Tony.” Pepper smiled, allowing him to turn the conversation. She looked a little worse for wear, but the doc cleared her, saying she only had scrapes which would heal without a mark. Pepper also looked very tired; the day had taken its toll. 

“C’mon, let's get out of here. There is a hotel room with our name on it. I’ll get Happy transferred to the hospital in Malibu tomorrow,” Tony urged. Pepper raised an eyebrow. “ Two hotel rooms obviously.” 

Pepper hummed in reply and the three were on their way to the hotel that was close by. 

Tony barely had the energy to take off his shoes and suit jacket before crashing on top of the covers. 

His eyes drifted shut and his mind went quiet as he quickly fell asleep. Not waking even as tiny paws clicked off the lamp switch and moved to take post at the end of the bed. 

His little guardian stood watch as he slept. 

Chapter Text

CH 12: Happy Birthday Tones

 They returned to the States the next day. Tony had dove into Vanko’s history, piecing his puzzle together with quick flicks of fingers. He had visited Vanko in prison as well. He had almost not taken her with, but Kore was a determined little shit and clung to his ass like a dingleberry until he folded. 

She did spend most of the conversation glaring at Vanko, the frazzled fuck, who had hurt her human. The two traded barbs about family, thievery and such, she didn’t care too much. 

The only break in the back and forth was when Tony’s watch dinged him, an alarm for her medication she still took. Tony completely shut Vanko out as he gave her the meds, popping some pills from the small container he kept in his pocket. 

Vanko was quiet, watching them as Tony wrapped the pill in a little treat pocket he had stashed and gave it to her. He didn’t say anything after either, even as her human poked him for more. 

They left not long after. Tony clicked his tongue behind his teeth as he carried Licorice to the car waiting to take them to the airport. Pepper and him talked strategies and clean up on the way back. They settled on sending a crew to help with repairs and funds to the surrounding hospitals for those injured in the fight. Pepper lassoed the media, curbing the worst of the nay-sayers who saw Vanko’s invention and bayed for Tony’s blood. She managed to turn most of the news in Tony’s favor, showing the fight as an example of why Iron Man was needed and privatized. 

Tony was truly in awe of her skills, mentally noting to give Pepper a little more say-so power in Stark Industries. She would be a boon in the industry, and Tony was willing to admit her skills were wasted as a personal assistant. 

Licorice sat perched in front of one of the windows, her head scarf and vest now off and in a carry bag. She watched the clouds pass under the jet, her tail swishing slowly side to side. Tony reached out and gave her back a scratch, a little chirp leaving her as he did. 

Licorice had been with him for almost a year, and in that time she had been put into two major fights and beaten to a pulp in one. A large bloom of guilt settled in Tony’s sternum at the thought. A lot of people, and pets, seemed to get hurt around him. 

He blinked away the heat behind his eyes as he thought of Happy and Licorice, and the severe injuries they had both taken on account of him. Licorice lost a piece of her skull, her front leg sometimes stood at an awkward angle from nerve damage, and she couldn’t jump as well as before. Happy had lost an entire freaking arm. 

A wet nose poked his cheek, and a warm, fluffy weight settled into his lap. Tony cleared the frog that had built in his throat, looking down at his sweet kitty as she comforted him. She purred and began to knead his stomach, her eyes going squinty. Tony read somewhere that it meant she was comfortable and happy. A slow blink was like the cat version of a smile. 

He placed some kisses on her nose and went back to brainstorming the rest of the ride. 

Kore hated parties. All those humans and their big feet and grabby hands. Tony, who was wearing a sharp suit and Aviators (really? Indoors and at nighttime?), kept her out of reach of the visitors. But she still didn’t like it. It was loud and there were too many smells. The only reason she hadn’t dashed for the door was because she had no idea what was going to happen and didn’t want to let Tony out of her sight for even a second. 

If they were in the original timeline, tonight would be the night that Rhodey stole the War Machine armor and would have the big fight with Tony. 

However. 

Tony was not dying, his behaviour was better than ever and he was rolling in (mostly) good decisions. Rhodey didn’t have any true reason to steal the armor, and, if he did, he was going to get his ass kicked. Kore was 100 percent sure the only reason Rhodey won in the movie was because Tony was literally dying… and drunk. 

She then felt a hand that was definitely not Tony’s on her butt. Already keyed up from the crowd, Kore didn’t hesitate to lash out at the hand with her claws. 

The hand, which now sported several bloody nail marks, belonged to one Natasha Romanoff. Oh, sorry, Natalia Rushman . 

She was wearing a tight red dress that hugged her perfectly . Mad props to her for knowing what works for her body type but Kore still didn’t want her near Tony right now. 

“Ah, crap lets get you a bandage for that.” Tony said, motioning Natasha to follow after him. Guiding her to a little off-room that held only a few people, Tony pulled out a first aid kit and grabbed out the disinfectant and a single bandage. The redhead gave a sweet smile and fluttered her eyelashes, trying to work Tony over. Unlucky for her, Tony was already locked down by one Miss Pepper Pots and Kore was NOT about to let Pepperony turn to dust, thank you very much. 

So when Natasha leaned in, pushing out her ( oh wowza ) chest to highlight the goods, Kore intervened.

To put it simply, she sat on her human’s head, spread-eagled, with her face in his face. 

Tony let out a loud giggle at her antics, Natasha long forgotten. He puckered out his lips, kissing her little nose where it hung in front of him, and going cross-eyed to look at her. 

“What are you doing?” he asked, his voice slipping into baby talk. He reached up and grabbed her, pulling her furry body into his arms. His phone buzzed and Tony took a quick peek to see that Jarvis had taken still-shots of what she had done and sent them to his phone. 

“Oh, here.” Tony said, remembering the woman in the room with him. He held out the bandage for her to take, then went back to smothering Kore with baby talk and head smooches. 

Kore shot a smug look at Natasha, a purr starting in her throat. 

Was she a little possessive? Yes. Was she a jealous little shit? Also yes. Was she going to share her human with anyone other than the glorious Pepper Pots?

Hell Mother-Fucking No.

The little spy seemed to know when the battle was lost, and disappeared quickly, much to Kore’s smug glee. 

“Lets go get some air, hm?” Tony suggested, carrying her out of the room. He walked upstairs and through the locked door. She figured he didn’t want strangers poking through his underwear drawer so he had locked the upstairs off from the guests. 

He took her to the main balcony, the one that overlooked the ocean. The smell of the sea washed away the perfumed stink of the other humans, leaving only salt, seaweed and Tony behind. Kore purred, nuzzling into her human’s warm hold. They sat on a large white couch, one of those fancy ones that was shaped like a square and sunk into the floor. Little lights blinked on behind them, casting soft shadows on the pair.

She wasn’t surprised when Pepper joined them. She was, however, surprised by the conversation that happened. 

“You know, Tony.” Pepper started, looking at the two of them. “You’ve changed a lot this past year.” 

Tony grinned with cheeky humor, “I think being kidnapped does that to a guy.” she gave him a light biff to the arm. 

“You know what I mean.”

“Yeah,” Tony sighed, face falling as he looked out to the water. “I know, a lot has changed overall this year.” Pepper hummed, nodding. 

“You’ve been… different.” Pepper said softly, hesitating. Tony raised an eyebrow. “In a good way.”

He knew what she was referring to. In the past year, Tony hadn’t taken anyone home, had barely spared a glance. His alcohol consumption had gone from ritualistic to occasional. He got a minimum of 8 hours of sleep a night and ate regularly. He was taking Stark Industries in a new direction and was bringing new, amazing ideas into many different fields. He was growing as a person, and it made him feel warm, something like pride stirring in his gut. 

“When…” he paused, “Before the incident, I didn’t understand, or more like I didn’t care to. I didn’t want to understand what I was doing, the effect I had on the world. Because understanding meant caring. Knowing and accountability for all the bad things I was putting out into the world under the guise of protection and peace. I built weapons of mass destruction and sold them with a smile because I'd tell myself it was for the greater good. But who's greater good was it for? I couldn’t answer that question. 

“When I got back from Afghanistan, I remember coming home, looking into the mirror and seeing my father. A man with everything and nothing at the same time. My dad built this company off blood and war and I was following diligently in his footsteps. I remember seeing that in the mirror and feeling so sick and wrong that I wanted to break every mirror in the house. I wanted to punch my reflection until it looked as cracked and broken as I felt inside. 

“But I didn’t. I went to bed, got up and decided to do things differently. To do better than my father ever could. I was tired of living down to his expectations so I started living up to mine. I… I wanted to be someone you’d be proud of.” 

Tony took a deep breath, a deep heat burning in his chest as he let go.

“It was hard. I don’t think I could have done it alone. You, Rhodey, Happy, and Licorice.” he patted his cat’s head lightly, still staring out at the water, refusing to look over at Pepper's watery eyes. “You four were my rock, and from there I rebuilt myself. Or I’m still rebuilding myself. But I’m doing better.” 

Tony let out a breath as a watery kiss was placed on his cheekbone. 

“You’re doing so well, Tony. And I’m so proud of you.” Pepper said, her voice thick. Their foreheads pressed together, both of their eyes closed as they just breathed the other in, sharing the moment. Tissues were grabbed when they pulled back a minute later, helpfully batted over by a purring cat. 

 The party ended, people were sent home, and no suit was stolen. Rhodey actually stayed for a little after-party get together with Tony and Pepper, and they video called Happy, who was at the hospital in Malibu. The four talked well into the night, eating the leftover foods from the party and telling stories. S’mores were made at one point, and the three couldn’t help themselves as a marshmallow war was had. It was around 2 am that they finally broke it up, hanging up the call and treging their way to the bedrooms. Tony bid his two friends goodnight, Pepper giving him a kiss to the cheek with Rhodey dramatically doing the same right after. 

He closed his door behind him, letting out a content sigh. That was when he saw the gifts on his bed. 

Tony had always been awkward with presents, the whole opening and oohing and awing made him clam up as a kid, and as an adult he was even more awkward. He smiled to himself at his friend’s thoughtfulness. There were four gifts on the bed. One labeled from each of his friends and one from Licorice. He grinned, wondering which had come up with that idea. 

Picking up the one from Pepper, he tore open the red paper. It was a framed photo. One of him and Licorice from when he’d fallen asleep on the couch in the workshop, grease covering him from head to toe and a large rip in his shirt. Licorice sat fast asleep on his chest, her face buried in her paws. One of his hands was on her back, and his mouth was wide open in what he was sure was a snore. 

He loved it, staring at the photo for a long moment before placing it on the bedside table. 

He then opened the second gift, this one from Rhodey. 

Peeling back the golden paper he laughed out loud. It was a costume for Licorice. An Iron Man one. The outfit looked big enough to cover her floof without being restricting. It had a little hoodie with the mask design on it, and, from the look of it, the eye parts glowed in the dark. 

He set the costume down with a giggle, reminding himself to put it on Licorice and send the pictures to Rhodey. 

Picking up the one from Happy, he ripped the silver packaging open. Inside was a custom mug, with ‘Cat Dad’ written on the side, and a photo of Licorice under it. Tony promised to use this as his morning coffee cup from now on. 

He placed the mug onto the stand next to the photo and picked up the last present. It was wrapped messily in newspaper, and tied with shoelaces. A floofy body jumped into the bed and pressed into his side as he pulled on the string to open it. 

Inside was a dusty, ocean water stained jar filled with things: shiny rocks, shells, shark teeth, dried flowers, and little animal bones. The jar was topped by an equally water stained cap, with a bit of twine wrapped around the neck. He noticed that a lot of the rocks and shells were reddish, with some yellows here and there. 

Tony smiled warmly, giving Licorice some side scratches. One of the others probably collected some of the stuff that Licorice had been bringing into the house as ‘gifts’ and put them in the jar. The jar itself had probably been something that had washed up on the beach. 

He gave his cat a smooch on the head. 

“Thank you, baby. This has, without a doubt, been the best birthday I've ever had.” she let out a little ‘merp’ and nuzzled his face back.

Tony fell asleep, a smile on his face and a good, warm feeling in his heart. 

Chapter Text

CH: Moving Along

May 8th, 2010

Kore didn’t always understand humans and their odd ways. So strange and confusing. 

Why do they ruin good salmon with seasoning? So much pepper and lemon, enough that she was half convinced it was the cause of the fish’s death.

She gave the salmon a sniff where it sat, her nose scrunching up.

“NO! Not my food you heathen!” 

She was picked up and hauled away from the plate and deposited onto the floor rather than the table she had been standing on. 

“That’s my food, Licorice, not yours.” Tony huffed at her, clicking his tongue behind his teeth. 

Foolish human, shouldn’t have left it unguarded. She licked the paw that had been in his plate, tasting the overwhelming flavors of human spices. Such a waste of good fish. 

Prancing off, Kore took her little elevator up to her bridges. She made her way to her main hovel in Tony’s room. The tree was still as gorgeous as ever, a bit rough in one or two areas that she used more than others. 

Tony had repurposed one of the night stands in the room into a small dresser for her things. Inside were her clothes and hats mainly, with the extra collars in the smallest drawer up top. The drawers were so well made that she was able to pull them open with a little nudge, the rollers moving on the track like a well oiled door. She poked her head into the one she opened and fished out a small over-the-head scarf that was a soft cream color. She then trekked back downstairs and bugged Tony until he put it on her.

“Going out, huh? Hot date?” he joked as he fixed her scarf over her collar. She gave him a little merp and headed out the cat door at the front of the house. 

Kore headed into Malibu. She sat near her favorite fish stand, licking her chops at the smell of freshly caught tuna. 

Feeeeeed meeeeee she thought, her tail flicking back and forth. Thankfully, some teenagers with an Iron Man obsession came by and happily bought her enough tuna to stuff herself on for a few instagram pictures. 

She lazed about in the sun for a while after, letting her full stomach settle. More pictures were taken by Tony's fans and one even left her a little bell. She entertained herself by batting it down the sidewalk. 

Kore knocked the bell to the side, delighting in the soft chiming noise it made as it bounced along. The uneven surface of the bell made it roll in an arch, dipping off to the side and into a small alley next to an Italian restaurant. She chased after it, picking it up in her mouth and heading back to the main road. 

Hands grabbed her and hauled her into large arms, the smell of leather and body odor stuffing her nose. It was definitely not a human she knew. 

Twisting in the stupid human's grip, she dropped the bell and snapped her teeth at them in threat. 

It was a man she never seen before, who was scowling at her like she was the bane of his existence. Her hackles raised as she smelled a sour scent on him. 

Yowling loudly, she thrashed in his grip, her teeth clicking in the air as she tried to chomp at any piece of him. Her claws ranked down his arms and in his chest, causing the man to curse. 

Unfortunately, it didn't cause him to let go, but to squeeze harder, pushing the air from her lungs in a wheeze. One of his hands released her and grabbed her by the scruff. Her skin pulled tight, locking her head in place and making her eyes scrunch up. Her yowles took an odd note as her mouth refused to move normally with the pulled skin. 

"Fucking cat," thr man hissed, walking deeper into the alley. 

What the fuck was up with this bastard? Did she piss in his shoes or something? Did he think she was a stray? She literally had a collar on, so either he was incredibly stupid or she was missing something.

The man shifted her in his grip, pulling out a phone and clicking a button. 

"I've got the cat," he barked into the receiver. She couldn't hear what was said after. 

An SUV pulled up to the end of the alley a short moment after and the man walked to it. The side door opened as he got there, a woman stepping out. 

"Get the collar off," she said immediately. 

"Can't, this fucking thing is feral." He hissed back, his grip tightening. The woman huffed out in frustration, reaching out to grab at her neck and remove her collar. 

Kore was still yowling, hoping the racket she was making would attract someone. It didn't work. She was put in the car, where a kennel waited. 

Shiiiitttt. 

A clunk was heard as the woman tossed the collar down the alley and Kore was placed in the kennel and locked in. The human's hands moved out quickly as she tried to bite him again. 

The doors closed and locked, the car pulling off and away from Malibu and taking her with it. 

  May 6th, 2010

Days before, elsewhere…

Ivan Vanko knew he would disappear. Quietly and quickly, without a trace. He was fine with this. To see Stark’s empire fall around him would be enough, he would go out a happy, satisfied man. 

Which was why he was surprised when he was lifted. Hauled out of that jail cell like a fish on a hook and whisked away to a large plane hanger. 

The man, Hammer. Vanko pitied him. Such a small man with such a loud bark. It reminded Vanko of the documentary he had seen, of the howling monkeys. The monkeys with the smallest peinises had the loudest howls. Hammer was much like those monkeys. 

But Hammer had resources. Money and tools that Vanko could use to destroy Tony Stark. 

Vanko would accept the tiny man’s barking for now.

“Very good, man.” He laughed with Hammer, toasting their new partnership. The Russian leaned forward, turning serious as a thought hit him. 

“ I want the cat. ” 

“Wait, what?” Hammer looked confused. 

“I want the cat,” Vanko repeated, accent thick and heavy. 

“What- what cat?” Hammer waved his hands around in a ‘what’ gesture, causing the other man to repress an eye roll. 

“The cat, Stark’s cat.” 

“Oh!” hands curled into each other, confusion still prominent on Hammer’s face, “You want Stark’s cat? The one he had with him at the track?”

“Yeas, I want zat cat,”

“Well I-uh- I can’t just give you his cat!” Hammer laughed, leaning back in his chair, “The man keeps it with him at all times, I doubt he’d be willing to sell it.”

“Steal her.” Vanko took a swig of his drink. 

“Why though? Why not get you a new cat? I can find you the bes-”

“ No . No other. Zat cat only.” 

“Why that cat?” Vanko stared Hammer down, wondering how such a foolish man could be where he was, as rich and well known, while geniuses like his father were left on the street like garbage. 

Vanko leaned forward, “Zat cat, she like baby to Stark. Take cat, take baby away. Keep him distracted, off game, so when it is time to fall, he fold like cards in wind.” 

The idea of fucking over Stark seemed to sit well with Hammer, if the gleam in his eye was anything to go by. 

“ Alright, I’ll get you the cat.” 

OMAKE: Stand By Me

Lights blinked on and off in different colors. Fast paced, energetic music thrummed loudly through the room. There were lots of giggles, the sound barely audible in the bass of the music. 

Kore was very done with her clowder of humans. 

Drunk as shit, Pepper, Rhodey, Tony and Happy danced in the middle of the living room. The four bumped and collided into each other as they drunkenly tried to dance, hip checking each other and sending more than one tumbling into the couch or floor. 

Kore was unwillingly in the throng of things, held up high over the humans heads by her rump and front. Several hands held her there, dipping and diving her around like she was the one dancing. Thankfully her headscarf was on, blocking most of the loud noise. 

Tony made a "Oo oo!" sound as he shook her back legs like she was shaking her butt to the music. Her tail flicked out and wacked him in the face, causing him to sputter through a mouthful of fur. 

Happy laughed at the sight, his side pressed against Tony to hold himself up. 

The music changed over the course of the night; Jarvis, being the absolute legend he was, was slowly winding the humans down for sleep. 

Slow dances happened, each time the four changed partners and she was squished between different pairs each time. Watching Rhodey and Happy do a waltz was the highlight of the evening and Kore hoped that Jarvis got the video footage. 

They dropped off one by one, starting with Pepper, then Happy and Rhodey. Left was just her and Tony, who held her close to his chest. He swayed them back and forth to a smooth, soft song, his voice humming quietly against the top of her head. 

Darlin' darlin' stand by me, 

ooh stand by me 

Oh stand

Stand stand by me, 

stand by me stand by me

Tony sat on the ground, finally tuckered out by the impromptu party the four held. Kore curled into his lap, her rump settling in the dip between his folded legs. She kept her head pressed against his collar, and his head dipped down to press against hers. Tony continued to humm, even as Jarvis lowered the music down to a low lull. His voice softened as he began to fall asleep. 

" No I won't, be afraid. Not as long.. as you stand… stand by.. me ." 

Chapter Text

CH 14: The Worst Sort of Prisoner

 The dude that picked her up was allergic to cats, which she abused greatly. Rubbing up against the side of the cage she was in, she made sure to fluff all her fur in his general direction. It served its purpose, which was pissing him off and making his eyes puff up and water to the point he looked like someone decked him in the face. 

Eat shit, dick bag.

The whole car ride was filled with the man’s grumbling and cursing, and Kores consistent, obnoxious meowing. She yowled like she was in suspenders on the top of a mountain, calling the herd in or whatever yodelers did. The humans within the car were quickly fed up with her, and would rattle her kennel often to shut her up. She made it a point to screech even louder after each attempt. 

“Let's just strangle the damn thing!” one of the goons said, shooting her a heated glare. The woman from before hissed to them. 

“No! Boss said to leave her unharmed.” her teeth clicked together, her own frustration showing as Kore let out a particularly grating howl. “We’re almost there, just suck it up!”

Kore cackled internally at the human’s suffering, serves them right for taking her. She was going to make this absolutely hell for them. 

Later, after another 15 or so minutes, the car finally stopped. The doors opened and three humans hit the ground, gagging and coughing.

“Thats not a cat, its a fucking demon!” one man said between hacks, spit foaming in his mouth as if to rid the taste of the foul air from the surface of his tongue. The other man was red in the face, eyes bulging as he tried to pull in clean air. The woman in the group wasn’t any better, crawling desperately away from the van, foaming at the mouth. 

The humans were no match for her rancid tuna farts, the fishy smell fermenting in her stomach, waiting for the perfect moment to be released. The pungent odor would make Atlas cover his nose in disgust. Even Tony couldn’t handle it at times, and banished her outside until she was done playing the tooty trumpet. 

The first time Tony had given her tuna was within the first week of her living with him. Not even 30 minutes later he had loudly proclaimed that her air biscuits had violated the Geneva Convention*, and Tuna was banned. She only indulged when she was out of the house. 

Kore laughed from where she sat in her kennel, her little mouth opening in a very disturbing way as her body shook from the force of it.

Fear me and my anal acoustics, humans!  

A man walked to the car, looking down at the three others with concern. It wasn’t until he stepped within five feet of the car that her double cheek squeaks were made apparent to him. He let out a loud wrech, stepping back from the car and covering his nose with both of his hands. 

“What the fuck is that?!” He wheezed, fanning the air in front of him to ward off the smell. 

“Its the -EU GHC -   its the fucking ca - auHGH - cat!” the man who was allergic to her shouted. He then threw up all over the floor. The gross sounds were barely audible over the wet, vibrating sound from the car as Kore let loose another raunchy fart. The humans clawed and scraped to get away from the vehicle as fast as they could. 

It took three cans of Febreeze and one brave grunt to get her out of the van. 

The moment she saw Justin FUCKING Hammer, she knew some bullshit was about to go down. 

Honestly, what asshole steals a man’s cat? 

Kore was gearing up for another round of Wind the Horn when he clapped his hands, staring down at her with a pleased look in his eyes. 

“Good good, I trust that all GPS tracking has been nullified?”

“Yes, Sir,” the grunt holding her kennel said.

“And her microchip?”

“Also disabled, Sir.”

Microchip? When the hell did Tony get her chipped?

She didn’t have time to think about it before the two men started walking down a hallway and into a large, white hanger filled with tech. 

Hammer called out to Vanko, who was working on the drones. Fuuuucckkk. 

Kore was at a loss, this didn’t follow the movies at all. Well… a lot of things haven’t been following the movies if she’s honest. But she was going to wait to have that life crisis when she wasn’t locked in a cage by two asshats trying to hurt her human. 

“I’ve got the cat!” Hammer motioned to the guy holding the kennel to set her down on a table. Vanko walked over, looking rumbled from work, a toothpick pinched between his lips. His dark eyes looked at her critically. 

“Good,” Vanko said, voice low and thick with his accent. It was a nice voice, admittedly, something that could be used as covers to bbc nature documentaries. 

Unfortunately, it came attached to an asshole. 

Kore growled low and slow, glaring up at the man with her yellow eyes. 

The humans ignored her after a while, arguing about the drones that Vanko had built. They bitched back and forth for a long time, the verbal dick measuring match was cringy to listen to. Kore had just the thing to break it up. 

‘ Prrrrrfffffttttttt ’

“What the FUC- AUGHk ”

Hehehehe  

Later on, after the crop dust had settled, Vanko went back to work and she was left on the table in the cage. Kore spent about 10 minutes watching him before she became bored and started meowing. The man was surprisingly resilient to her yowling, holding out for a whole 10 minutes before he came striding over to her cage.

And opened it?

“Out, little cat.” he huffed at her, leaving the door open until she stepped out. Kore looked up to him, blinking her wide eyes once before darting out and into the open space. Vanko didn’t come after her, even as she sprinted to the other side of the hangar. 

She reached the far corner and hid behind a large, expensive looking piece of equipment. Remaining quiet and still, she listened for approaching footsteps, but heard none. Peeking out from behind her cover, Kore noted that Vanko had gone back to whatever he was working on, ignoring her completely. Which was kinda rude, was she not important enough for his Majesty's attention? 

Bitch .

Huffing to herself, Kore moved along the edge of the room, looking for a way out. She sniffed in crannies and ducked into hovels, snooped and slouched through every hole, hatchway and panel and found each and every one locked up tighter than a Catholic Nun’s chastity belt. 

Bored to tears, Kore begrudgingly tromped back to Vanko, the man not sparing her a glance. 

Curling up just under a table, Kore spaced out watching him tinker with the drones. 

He was a smart man, the drones looked very high tech and sturdy. They didn’t match Tony’s genius but they skimmed close enough to be worth a look. She wondered what could have happened, had Vanko been a hero instead of a Villan. Maybe he would have lived to be one of those High Tech dudes who ran around kicking ass with holograms and what not, but instead he lived to be a two page villain. A footnote really. It was a shame, and a waste in her opinion. 

She remembered a bit of Vanko, from her Before life. He was so consumed by his revenge against the Stark family. He was hell bent on destroying Tony even though it was Howard that had been a dirty bastard. 

Sins of the Father and all that shit. 

Such a talented mind, wasted on a shitty dude. Or maybe she was being too harsh. She didn’t know Vanko outside of the movie, and she barely remembered that. Maybe Vanko was a better man than what had been portrayed of him. He was, after all, a Russian man and the movie had been American made. The American movie industry really hated the Russians and it was really fucking stupid. Honestly, she could watch any action movie or Military ass-kissing ‘We Are True Patriots’ movie and it would be a sure guarantee that one of the bad dudes would be Russian. It honestly bothered her. 

Blooming from that, Kore got an idea. A really Stupid, Insane Idea. One that could backfire completely. She thought long and hard about how she would execute the plan, step by step, until she was satisfied. 

Kore waited until Vanko left for a break; he was led from the room and to wherever he slept at night for a refresher. She was left behind with a food and water dish and a cardboard box filled with newspaper scraps as a litter box. Vanko had jerry rigged it after she spent a while bothering him with her pee pee dance. 

Moving over to the table, she was careful to climb up and paw at the keys of the computer. 

 With a careful touch, she began to type, extending one of her claws to be more precise. 

V a n k o

Shit that was a lot harder than she thought it would be. Her claw hurt from pushing down on the keys, it was meant for human strength, not cat. 

With his name written out, Kore waited for him to appear. It didn’t take long, honestly. He was either already on his way back, or had something set up to monitor her. 

The large man came striding into the room and she made a little ‘merp’ noise to gain his attention. Vanko stared at her with confused eyes from where she sat next to the computer. He went back to ignoring her, the rude asshole. Meowing a little louder, she dug her claws into some important looking chip thing next to her and pushed it to the ground, causing it to break. 

Vanko cursed loudly in Russian, moving over and grabbing the circuits off the floor. Looking it over, he cast her an angry look. Finally having caught his attention, she batted her paw at the screen. Leaning over to read it read it, Vanko rolled his eyes and muttered something about ‘stupid americans.’ It was obvious it didn’t even cross his brain that she had been the one to write it. 

Damn, time for some improv. 

Reaching back to the keyboard, she tapped onto the keys again. Vanko moved to stop her button smash, but Kore yowled loudly at him before he could touch her and poked at the screen again with her paw. 

‘h i’

Vanko stared blankly at the screen, hair falling into his face from the sloppy bun he had put into it. A toothpick that he had been chewing on hung precariously in his parted lips. 

“The fuck?” he said quietly to himself. She moved back to the keys, typing excruciatingly slow. 

‘we ned takk’ 

The human looked down at her with wide, disbelieving eyes, which was getting old fast. Kore reached out and clawed the shit out of the hand closest to her. Vanko ripped his hand back with a curse, fingers clutching over the thin red lines now down his hand. 

“What are you, cat?” he hissed at her, his eyes turning cautious and angry. 

‘am cat.’ 

“How do you know how to do this? Did Stark teach you?” a hand waved over the keys. 

‘No’ 

“Then who?” She hissed up at him, flexing her paws, claws sliding in and out. She didn’t appreciate this human’s tone. And her claws hurt. 

‘bger kys’ 

“What does that mean?” Kore rolled her little eyes, her tail flicking sharply in irritation. 

‘need bigger keys’

Vanko looked at the words, then back to her. Her eyes squinted at him challengingly, she was far more stubborn than this two-legger would ever be. He huffed at her and moved around, putting something together with nimble hands. 

Not long later, he placed the small thing he had been working with onto a tripod. A button was pushed and a large projection of a keyboard was cast onto the floor. Kore leaped downward. 

“Tap twice on letter to write.” Vanko informed her after she looked up at him in question. Giving a little chirp to him, she turned back to the projection and moved through it, tapping her paw here and there. 

‘much better’ 

“Good,” he nodded, his eyes still focused on her, “Now tell me, how did you learn to write? How do you understand me?” 

‘learned when came here’ 

“Here?” 

‘earth’ 

Vanko stared down at her, once again with wide, confused eyes. 

“Are you saying that you are alien?” his accent came out thicker when he was struggling to think. 

‘yes’

Kore had thought very hard about how she was going to approach Vanko, how to capture his attention past the “talking cat” thing. A mutant? Interesting at first, but not uncommon. Experiment? Also interesting, but had a chance to backfire in a million ways. Like dissection . Alien on the other hand, while still a risk, was interesting and awe inspiring enough to not only capture his attention, but force him to listen and think about what she had to say. Back in her old world, Ivan Vanko was known to love space with a deep passion. And what screamed space more than a fucking alien?

Vanko knelt to the floor, his legs weakening in shock. 

“Why are you here?” he said, shakely. 

‘protect the one.’ 

“The one? Stark?” she nodded at him, her yellow eyes staring into his. “Why Stark?”

‘He important to universe’ 

“Important how?” she meowed at him, flexing her claws and glaring. “Why can't I know?” 

‘Less know, less bad change’

“Does Stark know?” she made no move to type. “So he doesn’t know why you are here. Does he even know what you are?” her head shook. “Then why tell me?”

‘u will help tony’

“конечно нет!”** Vanko yelled, standing up fast. His face twisted with rage, “Stark is a curse on this world, one I will wipe from it!”

Kore hissed again at the stupid human. She wished he had a voice so she could tell him how foolish he was, she wished she could show him what his foolishness would get and what would come after. 

That stupid, idiotic fucking human! The mornon! The incompitant, egotistical shithead!

Her rage bloomed within her chest like a scorching fire as the man continued to scream obscenities about her human, it filled her to the brim and overflowed.

Red bloomed outwards and engulfed the room. 

*The Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, usually called the Geneva Protocol or Geneva Convention. 

**конечно нет (Hell no)

Chapter Text

CH15: The Red

Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite to violet. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and the CMYK color model, and is the complementary color of cyan. Reds range from the brilliant yellow-tinged scarlet and vermillion to bluish-red crimson, and vary in shade from the pale red pink to the dark red burgundy.

Red pigment made from ochre was one of the first colors used in prehistoric art. The Ancient Egyptians and Mayans colored their faces red in ceremonies; Roman generals had their bodies colored red to celebrate victories. It was also an important color in China, where it was used to color early pottery and later the gates and walls of palaces. In the Renaissance, the brilliant red costumes for the nobility and wealthy were dyed with kermes and cochineal. The 19th century brought the introduction of the first synthetic red dyes, which replaced the traditional dyes. 

Since red is the color of blood, it has historically been associated with sacrifice, danger, and courage. Red is also the color most commonly associated with heat, activity, passion, sexuality, anger, love, and joy. In China, India and many other Asian countries it is the color symbolizing happiness and good fortune.*

At this moment, Red symbolized how absolutely fucked Ivan Vanko now was.

The cat, the alien, whatever the creature was, stood on the floor and stared at him with angry, red glowing eyes. The very air around them seemed to swell with heat and pressure, waves forming in the air as it grew. It was as if the walls began to bleed, red running down the surfaces and covering them until everything was a deep, gory crimson. The floor, walls and equipment were gone now, and the two were surrounded. 

Then pressure built further until something broke. It seemed to solidify in places, fracturing like a crystal surface, the faces strobing in different shades of red. A crack formed in the surface with the sound of breaking glass and a large piece seemed to crumble away forming a window. Vanko looked through the opening, his heart pumping loudly in his ears. 

He saw himself, dead on the ground, his body in pieces. What remained was scorched almost beyond recognition, the charred skin and boiled blood coating the corpse like an abstract painting. Stark stood above the body in his armor, another man standing beside him in a similar suit. 

The opening closed and another opened. This one shows a field. The sky burned orange and red and the earth looked dry and broken. Bodies were strewn across the field, both young and old, of all shapes and sizes and orientations. Blood seeped into the dry cracks of dirt creating a cakey mud that was thick and putrid in smell. 

The rift closed, another opened. 

A city, one that was once grand and bursting with life, was barren and desecrated. Buildings collapsed and roads were torn up. Cars lined the street, rusted and broken down, their tires now flat with age, the undercarriages scraping the ground. There was no plant life within the destroyed city to soften the blow, just dust and rubble. But looking over, to the entrances of the main buildings to the side, a peak of something could be seen.

Skeletons were lying on the ground just within the structures, piles of bones stacked or laid together. The wide, empty eye sockets of a too tiny skull seemed to stare deep into Vanko’s soul. 

Over and over again, one after another, they opened and closed, each showing a scene more traumatic than the next. Bodies and deaths, children being torn to pieces, whole planets exploding into nothing. 

Vanko could barely breathe.

The window closed and another one opened to his side, showing a sea of stars and galaxies. 

Vanko peered into the vastness of space and watched as large creatures began to appear, each monstrous and horrid. Stark was there, standing before the hordes with his back to Vanko. His suit was damaged and the bit of skin he could see along his neck was purpled and cut. Stark’s fists raised as he prepared to take on the hoard. 

Alone.

The rift closed. The red melted away and Vanko sank to his knees, tears streaming down his face. His eyes stared at the wall, wide and unseeing. His breathing was heavy and labored, and his hands shook as he raised them to his face. Fingers brushing against skin, Vanko felt numb. 

“W… what was zat?” 

The cat looked up at him, its eyes no longer red and angry. Its tail flicked behind it at a slow pace. It moved over to the projection and tapped it.

‘ Whats to come ’ 

That went a lot better than Kore had been expecting.

Vanko, after a hefty mental breakdown, was now running around his workshop, putting things together. He seemed to have a plan, one that involved busting the fuck out of here and laying low. 

She was so glad her emotions were not well read by humans because WHAT THE FUCK! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK! She had been panicking for the past few hours. The moment the red stuff had started coming out, Kore had been internally screaming like a banshee. Shit was fucked. How the hell did she do that??? And WHY could she fucking do that? She had saw the movies, she knew what the fucking reality looked like. But did she get her newfound powers from the stone itself? Or was she really a mutant, experiment or alien? Kore had no real way of finding out, but the questions bounced and multiplied in her brain until it hurt. 

The sensation of the red, when it had come from her, didn’t hurt. She felt tired for sure, laying down now and catching her breath like she had run a 10 mile marathon. But it was also a rush, the power zipping through her veins like adrenaline. Kore had simply thought of what she wanted to show Vanko and her mind had expanded, her vision clouded by a light. The light had spread out like a web or lightning strike, forming little pockets of light in geometric shapes. All slotting together like a giant jigsaw puzzle and running for as far as her eyes could see. She had thought of what she wanted, needed , to show Vanko and it was like the hall rushed past her, pulling her forward until she reached a group of shapes that glowed in similar shades. 

Kore had hesitantly reached out with one of her paws and gave the center shape a tap. That is when the rifts began to open. 

When she had come back to herself, she had felt off for a long time after. Like she was too big for her skin and that she’d burst out if she moved too quickly. It took awhile for the feeling to subside, slowly coaxing down into a low hum in her chest. It felt like a muscle she’d always had, but had never been aware of until she had just used it. 

Honestly, she was scared to try anything with it again. 

Vanko turned to her after finishing up whatever coding thing he was doing on the computer. 

“I vill head for remote area for the right time,” he said to her. Kore moved over to the projected keyboard. 

‘Invasion man in green’ she typed. 

“Da, man in green will arrive and I will contact Stark, you vill have told him of you by then, yes?” Kore nodded at Vanko’s words. She’d have to find a way to break it to Tony that, while yes she was a smart cat, she was more than just that. Reality warping was going to be hard to explain. She wondered if she should stick to the alien story with him as well? Shit, she didn’t know. But she had time to figure it out. 

The sixth day from Vanko’s revelation dawned with fire and broken buildings. He had placed the alien cat within the empty chest cavity of one of his drones, with coordinates set for a mile from the Stark estate in Malibu. 

Vanko was sitting on a ball of nerves, not for the breakout or going on the run, but for the future the cat had shown him. If this was what was to come, how could he help to stop it? An invasion of that magnitude would be almost impossible to fight. The cat had reassured him, in short typed words, that all would be well if they worked together; it was a foolish person’s ideology. And, while Vanko longed and dreamt for the stars, he was a man that relied on logic and what can be proven. 

So, to be told by a cat that, of all things, the universe would be saved through the power of friendship, was very concerning. But, at the moment, that’s all that was given to him, and Vanko had to find a way to be ok with it. The alternative was just not an option. 

He had shred away at Hammer’s pathetic defenses, blasting his way out of the hanger and into the open sky. Six drones followed behind him, each carrying a variety of equipment for him to set up a new lab. The seventh veered off in a completely different direction, carrying its passenger and a little message from him to Stark. 

Tony had been… well, a wreck would be putting it lightly. 

The situation with Ivan Vanko had him on high alert already, scouring through the networks and databases for information on him and his father and what they had done. Tony had gotten word of Vanko's death in the prison, the explosion. Was it an inside job? Or maybe a poorly executed escape attempt that, quite literally, blew up in his face?  That excuse didn't sit right with Tony, the man he saw on the track and later in prison seemed too smart, too calculating to let something like a homemade bomb go off unless he wanted it to. This was the man who built a working arc reactor and weapons with no funding and in a shed in the middle of Siberia. A cobbled together bomb was nothing in comparison. 

Tony wasn’t upset to hear the man was dead; Vanko had tried to kill him and those he loved. So the genius had quite a bit of apathy on that subject. But, what Tony did mourn, was the man’s mind. As said before, Vanko had built a working arc reactor in a shed off of a half finished blueprint. The Russian was a genius in his own right. The things that he could have done, other than being a terrorist, would have been phenomenal.

The interest in Vanko, however, disappeared quite quickly when Licorice Stick went missing. 

Tony had been working on Happy’s new prosthetic arm, diving into the machinery with a zeel he’d been surprised by. Working on the arm made Tony’s mind expand, new ideas for other prosthetics running a mile a minute. He had Jarvis scour forums, videos and comments on artificial limbs and implants, searching for complaints that he could factor in to make the best designs he could. Stark products were number one, and he was ready and willing to deliver that in any area. 

He had sent the idea off to the RnR department, flicking through paperwork and sending Pepper out to wrangle some people. He was still CEO, but Pep was his right hand woman, lifting up the other end of the heavy load that was Stark Industries like a deadlift. To be honest, she was a lot better at it than him. 

Hmmm there was an idea...

Tony’s thoughts had been interrupted then, by Jarvis telling him that Licorice’s collar had been removed. He remembered being confused and had assumed that she had slipped the collar off. It was a non-choke collar after all. 

“Call Hap- uhh, nevermind I’ll go.” Tony grabbed a set of keys and drove into Malibu where the collar gps was saying it was. What he found was a pair of tire skids next to the collar. 

Tony had searched around Malibu for hours, analyzing the track marks to find the right tire treads and then scanning each one. He called every shelter, vet and pound in the city, but came up dry. It was aggravating and he was getting more and more upset with every hour she was gone.

Three days passed and Tony felt like shit. It was only after a lot of moping around and snapping that Pepper shooed him off looking for Licorice and took over. 

The genius hammered away at a piece of metal in his workshop, letting his frustrations out. It wasn’t until the piece was completely bent out of shape, far more mangled than usable, that he stopped. Tony let out a frustrated yell, tossing the hammer down. Picking up the bent scrap metal he threw it as hard as he could across the room, an eager Dumm-e racing after it. 

“Whoa whoa man, what did it ever do to you?” came a voice from the door. Tony turned and saw Rhodey standing there, an eyebrow raised at his tantrum. 

“You know me, crazy as a bag of cats. Always a hair's breadth away from a mental breakdown.” Tony snipped back, a sarcastic smile on his face. “Lock up your kids! Lock up your wifes! Never know when the nut’s about to break and rain mayhem and gynecide upon the general populace.” he threw his hands up and out, presenting his disheveled shelf to the other man.

“Now that’s just Fox News talking.” his friend walked over, placing a hand on his shoulder. “It’s gonna be alright, Tones.” His voice was low and soothing. It reminded Tony of their time at MIT together and all the times Rhodey had to use that voice on him to get him to stop and take a breather. 

Tony let out a big sigh, slumping into his friend’s hand. “I just… I feel like a part of me has been ripped away. I'm worried I'm overreacting but there is just this… thing inside of me that’s screaming and it won't go away. My baby is gone and I need her back.” 

“You’ve bonded with that cat, Tony. It’s not surprising that you'd feel bad that she’s gone. Especially after everything that has happened. You’re not overreacting, you’re allowed to feel things. How you process emotions is for you, and you shouldn’t let others dictate how strongly you feel about it.” 

“Thank you Dr Phil,” Tony teased softly, bumping his shoulder into Rhodey’s. His friend’s words calmed him some, enough to loosen the knots in his shoulders. Rhodey seemed to pick up on this and smiled. 

“Come here, I got something I want to show you.” Tony said, waving him over to the side. The two walked over to a small clearing in the room and, with some hand waving from Tony, the floor opened up and something began to rise from the hole. 

It was an Iron man suit, polished gunmetal grey and slightly different looking than the others Tony was seen wearing. 

“New suit?” Rhodey asked, reaching out to tap at the metal. 

“Yep! Just finished it yesterday, and hadn't had time to show it to you until just now.” 

“Sweet, any new features to this one?” 

“Well, obviously. Higher processing HUD with eye tracking, reinforced struts and skeletal support. Installed arc reactor, remote piloting, and it can hold someone standing at 6’1. Can even fit his whole ego into the helmet as well.”

Rhodey sucked in a sharp breath, looking at Tony with wide eyes. 

“I know, such a feat, even I wasn’t sure I could fit it in th-” Tony was cut off by a bone crushing hug. 

“Is… is this what I think it is?” he whispered into Tony’s ear. Tony returned the hug just as fiercely. 

“I,” he croaked, previous bravado broken, “I need you to be safe.” he clung tighter to his best friend, his brother. “I can’t see you get hurt. Not when I know I can help.” he pulled back to look into Rhodey’s eyes. 

“The world is getting a whole lot more dangerous. And I need you to be safe.” Tony said softly still. “You, Pepper, Happy, you’re all I got.” 

“You got me Tones, you always got me.” the taller man bumped his forehead against the other’s. They shared a quiet moment together, basking in each other’s presence. Tony was very thankful for his friend, and vowed never to slack on showing him, and others, how much they meant to him. 

They both pulled back, a large grin forming on Tony’s face.

“Test drive?”

“Oh, hell yeah!” 

A few days later, Licorice was back, trotting down the road like nothing. Tony had run outside when Jarvis had told him, scooping up his kitty and spinning around. 

“Oh my God, My BABY! She has returned!!” he yelled, planting a million smooches on her little face. Licorice grumbled in his arms, wiggling around before pressing her face into his. Tony patted her down, looking her over for injuries or malnutrition. 

All that was found was a little bow, tied to one of her feet, a slip of paper hanging from it. A note was written in a tight script. 

Be seeing you, Stark - V

*ripped this shit from Wikki ayyy

Chapter Text

 CH 16: New Friend

Tony searched high and low for Vanko, who, for all intents and purposes, had vanished into thin air. The man knew how to hide from Jarvis’s all seeing eye. With the threat of Vanko in the air, Tony felt a strong anxiety in his chest that only seemed to grow with every failed search. 

Who stole a man’s cat? That was just.. a no in the villain ring? Someone must have forgotten to give Vanko the newbie pamphlet. ‘The Rules and Etiquette of the Wayward Villain: A Guide to be Bad but not a Douchebag.’ 

Tony, unfortunately, didn’t have all the time he wanted to go searching for the missing man. He was still CEO and Ironman, and was quickly swamped with work. New designs to put on the market, bad guys to fight, PR and on and on. 

Another thing was SHEILD. The dickheads. 

Turns out, the superspy group had thought he was dying of palladium poisoning. Fury had rolled up to him while he was on a coffee run, cool as a cucumber, humming and hawing about how he had the ticket to Tony’s life. It had honestly thrown Tony through a loop, wondering what the fuck the dude was talking about and if he was being threatened. When Fury had brought up the Palladium and how he could help cure him, Tony had laughed in his face and told him it wasn’t an issue. Obviously, the superspy thought Tony was talking out of his ass, being all bravado in the face of ‘certain death.’ 

Tony had left that meeting then, not bothering to correct him further. He truly and wholeheartedly didn’t give a shit about what the leather-wearing, overcompensating shit-dick thought about him or had to ‘offer him’. He could sniff out a manipulator a mile away and Fury reeked of it. He had quiet enough of that to last him a lifetime, thank-you-very-much. 

But…

Buuttt

Two could play in that game. 

So Tony took a consultant position. And was being paid out the ass for it. He had his first “consultation” next week at SHEILD headquarters and Tony was already rubbing his hands together in anticipation. 

SHEILD headquarters was depressing as fuck, Kore thought. The gray ass walls and equally gray ass floors were so steril she could probably eat off them. There was no decor or color of any sort. The people that moved through the halls wore black suits, their ties and shoes also black. It was like living in an old time movie. 

Her and Tony, in contrast, stood out like a pair of peacocks amongst the graidiet. Tony was wearing a dazzling red blazer with a black undershirt threaded with gold. His pants were tight and black, and his shoes were red and black Louis Vuitton loafers. His wrists dripped in expensive watches and bracelets, studded in diamonds and platinum plated. His shades were designer and the golden handkerchief sticking out of his blazer pocket was genuine Mulberry silk. 

He was dressed to kill and looked rich as fuck doing it. 

Kore was no less blinged, her collar was gold and studded with rubies and emeralds in dazzling patterns. Small chains dipped down her front in a flattering manner. Tony had even, gleefully, painted her front and back claws golden the night before. To top it all off, a tiny little golden tiara sat on her head between her ears. 

They both looked stunning. 

They were peacocks and you had to let them fly. 

Tony walked them through the halls, strutting with her perched on his shoulder. Agents stopped and looked at them both in bewilderment, and the duo ate it up. 

Coming to the end of a large hall, Tony wrapped on a door labeled “FURY” before letting himself in. 

Nicholas Fury himself sat at a desk, glaring at Tony.

“Stark. I had you in room 3A” 

“Well-” Tony slid on a grin.

“An hour ago.”

The grin grew wider at Fury’s angry tone. 

“Well you know how it is, busy man yourself. Stark Industries waits for no man, not even the CEO himself.” 

Fury scowled more. Tony strutted forward, sitting primly on the chair. The shades remained on his face, along with the smug, shiteating smirk. 

“So Nicky, what consulting do you need from little ol me today?” Fury gave Tony a long look, filled with disappointment that he assumed was supposed to mean something to Tony.

“We need you in the field, Stark.”

“Oooooo, no can do, buckaroo. See, my job ain’t to be your little agent, I’m here on a consulting basis only.” Tony leaned back in his seat casually, crossing his legs. “No fire and flames, no weapons, just good ol’ Tony Stark. Which is worth more than the Iron Man, if I do say so myself.” 

“The world needs Iron Man, not Tony Stark. We need you to work with us on that.”

Tony’s eyebrows climbed, “Wow there Nick, you’re saying I’m not needed, huh? Iron Man is me, I am Iron Man. You can’t have one without the other. And you know what?” Tony leaned forward in his chair, uncrossing his legs. “You are not getting either. So cut the shit, what do you want within what I’m willing to give.” 

Fury stared at him long and hard.

“The world ain't you’re playground Stark.”

“Uhhmmm It is though?” Tony’s grin turned shark-like before settling back down into something more pleasant. “Now, I'm here to consult, not be bare boned into your super secret boy band. And you’ve got me for,” he checked his watch, “20 more minutes, better make it fast.” 

Fury growled low in his throat, staring angrily at Tony. He stood from his desk. 

“Fine, right this way, Stark.”

Kore dipped right after. That shit was boring. She trotted through the halls, her tail flicking back and forth as she snooped. She got strange looks, but nobody stopped her. Being a cat had all sorts of perks, being overlooked was a major one. 

She found the cantina, and delighted in swiping at some twitchy Agents’ ankles for awhile. She had also stumbled into some labs where it looked like they were running some form of experiments. Kore was, sadly, ushered out rather quickly by a broom and one determined lab assist. She walked away with a few out of place hairs, but the lab assistant got a few good gashes on their legs for daring to try and swat her . 

Stupid humans.  

It was as she was walking through what appeared to be an indoor gym that Kore got the oddest feeling. Looking around, she realized why.

A cat was staring at her. A very familiar orange cat that smelled like the stars.  

Oh shit.

Kore didn’t have much chance to do anything before the cat jumped down from its perch and trotted over to her. 

Goose ( holy shit ) sniffed at her face, their whiskers brushing together. Kore sniffed back warrily, smelling the star dust mix with something dark and smooth that reminded her of a predator. The cat in front of her was clearly on the top of the food chain. 

A low pur came from Goose as she sniffed her, the flerken sitting back on her haunches and looking at her. Kore sat as well, flummoxed. 

But not for long!

Goose opened her mouth a small bit, and a fucking tentical came out. 

Fuck that shit.  

Kore turned and dashed away, unwilling to become the flerken’s lunch. She, however, didn’t get far. The thin tentacle wrapped around her back feet and dragged her backwards, claws scraping on the floor and leaving thin white lines in their wake. 

‘I think I saw a hentai like this once’ She thought deliriously as she was pulled towards the alien. 

Shiiiiiiitttt

Kore yowled to the empty halls as she stopped in front of Goose. The tentacle let her go and she attempted to bolt again, only for yet another tentacle to come out and hold her still. Yikes, this was getting gross. They were slimy and getting in her fur and eewwwww.

She hissed as Goose held up the original one, it was smaller than the other and the ones she had seen in the movie, the end looked funny and she did NOT want to find out why. 

The universe hated her in that particular moment, however, and she found out just why when the end opened up to reveal dozens of smaller, tiny tentacles that glowed.

What in the Avatar Pandora Blue Bloody FUCK is that?

Her yowls turned to screeches when the tiny tentacles moved towards her face . 

Helminthophobia: ACTIVATED

Fear: HIGH 

The tendrils touched her, their small slimy selfs slithering along her face… Her face that was mysteriously going numb. Tendrils poked into the corner of her eyes and she refused to think further on it because nope, nope not happening. Disassociate. DISASSOCIATE. 

Stare at the ceiling. Nothing is happening.

Count the tiles. Nothing is happening. 

Focus on the sound of talking halls away. Nothing is happening. 

Nope, nothing at all, the weather is nice. That gray doesn’t go well there. Is that a water station over there? These floors are cold. What did she want for dinner? She bet she could get Tony to take her to that new fish place. 

‘Stand now, Child.’

WHO THE FUCK WAS THAT?

Kore jerked back into awareness. The tentacles were gone and Goose was sitting a few inches from her, the cat's large eyes looking at her, unblinking. 

Her head hurt, and refused to work properly. Which is why she didn’t dash like a bat outta hell the moment she realized she was no longer restrained. 

‘ What the fuuuuccccckkk ’ she thought to herself.

‘ What indeed ’ 

…

Bruh

‘ Did you just fucking talk in my head? ’ Kore stared at the orange alien cat in front of her with wide disbelief. Said alien cat nodded her head .

BRUHHHH

‘ Yes, I implanted a spore on your temporal lobe so that we may speak to each other.’

‘That is horrifying information, just so you know,’ Kore responded, trying very hard to not think about what she just learned. She righted herself, sitting on her butt in front of Goose. Licking her chops, she chased away the numb feeling she had before. As much as she wanted to beat the shit out of this cat for feeling her up alien probe style, she was also fascinated. This was the first conversation she’s had with another being in… 2 years? 3? Her brain craved this form of stimulation. 

‘ Why the spore? ’ she asked.

‘ You do not have the necessary parts in your brain for telepathy between my race or any other. The spore acts as a… transmitter in human terms.’

‘What will the spore do to me? Any long term effects I should be worried about?’ Kore flexed her paws, claws going in and out with her anxiety. Goose seemed to pick up on this, her head moving forward to boop her nose against her face. 

‘Peace, child. It will not harm you. Over time your brain will grow around it and it will be a part of you as much as your tail or toes. It will allow you to speak with my kind.’

‘No others?’ Kore asked, sniffing at Goose’s face. She still smelled like the stars, but she could also smell Fury on her as well. Goose must have been with the man recently. 

‘No. To put it in human terms, it is a radio on a closed network that only others of my kind can tune into.’

‘Damn, you’ve been around humans a long time, haven't you?’ 

‘Yes, I have been with the one who wears the darkened hide as a second fur.’

‘Darkened hide- oh! That’s leather, I’m assuming you mean Nick Fury? The human with only one eye.’

‘ Yes him, quite a confident hunter, wearing his kills so openly .’ Goose hummed appreciatively. Kore decided not to correct or explain the concept of leather coats or buying them. She hummed in confirmation, her tail flicking up behind her. She was surprisingly comfortable after being brain probed. She couldn't tell if it was shock or her adapting to the crazy that is the Marvel universe. Rise with the tide or drown and all that. 

‘Though he is foolish in other ways,’

‘How so?’

‘I am the reason he is missing an eye. He was foolish to hold a predator such as I so close to his face.’ She bobbed her head, ‘He learned a valuable lesson that all hunters should know that day.’ 

‘If anything you just made him more intimidating.’

Goose looked confused, ‘ A one eyed hunter is less efficient when capturing prey. There have been many times I have had to bring him my kills so he could be sustained ’

Ok, the thought of Goose bringing Fury dead birds like normal cats was pretty funny. On the other hand, she didn’t know what Goose would call prey, considering she could eat things a hundred times her size. The thought of her barfing up a human or two or even a fucking elephant on Fury’s rug was a humorous one, however. 

‘ Humans do not see it that way. They see the one eye and think him dangerous for it ’

Goose was quiet for a moment, ‘ Two leggers are an odd sort. ’

Kore snorted in response, ‘ Got that right’ Goose hummed in agreement.

‘Sooo, what now? And why do this in the first place?’ the red feline asked, her head tilting to the side. 

‘I smell within you a power similar to my kind’s. I… desire comradery.’

‘Gurl you telling me you went from fourth to fifth kind on me ‘cuz you wanted a friend?’ It had to be difficult to look that sheepish on a cat's face, but Goose did it. 

‘...perhaps I was a touch hasty… ’ Goose shiftily admitted, Kore tried not to roll her eyes.

‘... Bood.’  

Kore had a new best friend. Goose was a riot and a half, and delightfully savage in the best ways. When she would complain about people or things, Goose would tell her to eat them whole and shit out their souls. And, honnelsy? A girl needs that type of support. 

The look of thinly veiled terror when Fury saw the two of them together was icing on the cake. 

‘ Goose! Quick, turn to me and hold your mouth open wide. ’ Kore cackled in her thoughts. Goose complied, herown cackles ringing in the red’s mind. Kore copied the motion, and the two sat there, still as death, their mouths open like they were screaming at each other. It was a very unnatural sight, one that only Fury saw since he was sitting facing the door. Kore wasn’t sure exactly what she was aiming for with the look, but the dread that filled Fury’s eyes was golden and would be a hit feature in her daydreams for years to come. 

Sadly, the look was broken as Tony stood up.

“The 20 minutes is up, see you next time, Nicky,” Tony cooed, turning around. The sight of Goose gave him a pause. “Looks like you made a friend, baby. Maybe we’ll see about some playdates after school lets out, but the PTA around here is super toxic. Nicky’s pride will never let him admit my lemon squares are better than his brownies.”

“Stark-” Fury hissed.

“The bake sales do not lie!” the genius declared extra dramatic, a finger pointed to the sky.

‘ I like your human, he is entertaining. ’ Goose hummed to her. 

‘Girl, you have no idea.’  

Tony swooped down and scooped her up, karting her off through the base. Goose followed along behind him, chatting with Kore. 

‘He smells like you do.’

‘I do hang around him most of the day.’

‘More than that, it is as if you and your human share a base scent. I cannot make sense of it.’

‘Wack, lemme know if you do. This universe is crazy.’

‘The multiverse is full of it.’ Goose humed in agreement.

‘How do you know that?’ Kore asked, fascinated. 

‘The pockets within me, every one leads to alternate realities. Some of my own making and personal use, and some that hold entire universes full of life. ’ Goose dodged around an agent’s feet as she spoke. ‘ I am able to briefly glimpse into these worlds when I send something there.’ 

‘Ok, wack. But where does it come out on the other side?’

‘Another of my kind is on the other side and regurgitates whatever I send. ’ 

‘Dude, gross.’

Goose laughed. Sadly, they had to leave after that, Kore was sad to say goodbye to her new friend. 

She wasn’t sad for long.

Goose showed up at the mansion two days later. 

Then the fun began. 

Chapter Text

CH 17: The Tail of Two Kitties

Hell reigned on Earth. Fire and brimstone rained from the sky and sulfur burned his lungs with every inhale. 

The flashing lights in his eyes and the difficulty breathing couldn't be anything else… 

Or atleast, that is what Nickolas Fury chose to believe. 

Stark, motherfucking STARK. He would use that last name as a curse for the rest of his goddamn life. Noone else in the universe could cause him this amount of trouble and not be dead for it. Nick could feel his heart palpitating in his chest as Stark left the room with the… cat in his arms. He refused to think of the words that tried to smash through his carefully controlled demeanor. 

Stark’s threat level had just elevated. The fact that he had a - ah fuck - an alien in his company screamed questions that he needed answers to. He needed someone on the inside, probing Stark for answers on how he came in contact with the alien and if he was aware that it was an alien. Nick could feel his blood pressure rising just thinking about the shit that was coming his way. 

This was, however, a blip in comparison to when Goose went missing. Only to show up later at Stark’s house.

Shit. 

……

‘See, this is how we trick the stupid humans into giving us food.’

‘Fascinating. These humans so willingly part with their spoils. How do they sustain themselves?’

‘Haven't you lived with your human for a lot longer than I have? Does he not provide?’

‘Foolish two-legger tried to feed me these dry morsels that tasted of chemicals and long dead flesh.’

‘Ah, the horrors of kibble, I know it well. I threw up in my human’s shoes when he tried to feed me such drivel.’ 

‘I ate my human’s desk.’

‘Damn.’

‘... and one of his human helpers…’

‘DAMN!’

‘I spit the human out later!’ 

……

‘So your human built you this?’

‘Yes, the mansion as a whole is mine as I please at this point. He has built me halls and rooms in my honor and clothes me in his spoils of war.’ 

‘I was wondering why you drape yourself in metal and cloth. I allowed my human to adorn me with my neck hanging but yours is very elaborate.’ 

‘My two-legger is very high in the hierarchy of his human colony. The jewelry and clothes are a status sign to the other humans.’

‘Ah, a display of dominance through decoration. Humans are fascinating.’ 

‘Is that why you have stayed on Earth so long?’

‘Yes, and there is plenty of food.’ 

‘How come you do not know more about humans and their ways?’

‘I lived with a non-human two-legger for many years before my current one. Her ways of being and speaking were different. And, even though I am fully immersed in the ways of humans, it is hard to have full understanding with language being a barrier. It took me many years to learn that my human giving me food was a sign of care and not him telling me I am a poor hunter.’ 

‘Humans are nurturing by nature.’ 

‘Indeed.’ 

‘... Want to raid the fish shelf in the human cold box?’

‘Yes.’

……

“What the SHIT Licorice!”

“Tony what are you- OH MY GOD!” 

‘ Ehehehehehe ’

‘ Hehehehehe’ 

……

‘ You said you could feel something within me that was similar to yours, what did you mean?’ Kore asked, lounging in the sun. 

Her and Goose had been spending time together almost constantly for a solid week now and they had become fast friends. Most of the time was spent with Kore showing Goose around her spots in Malibu and terrorizing humans. It was a good time.

‘ Within me, and every one of my kind, is the pockets of other places. Realities and universes far from here. You do not have pockets of your own, but you have something within you that resonates with the pockets within me. ’ Goose replied from her lounging spot not far away. She had taken to the cat trees that Tony had installed, bouncing and running along them like crazy. The two of them would chase each other around the house, often in the dead of night when their nocturnal instincts kicked into high gear. Giving into the zoomies at 2am was a different type of high. And Tony was never prepared for when they would Noooooooom past his legs and knock them from under him. 

‘How does that tell you we are similar?’

‘Normally, the resonation only happens when I meet another of my kind who shares a pocket with me.’ 

‘Damn, what do you think that means?’

‘I am uncertain, but curious to find out.’ Goose paused to lick at a spot on her paw and rub it along her face. 

‘ How would we find out?’

‘I honestly wouldn’t know where to start. I do not think there would be someone on this planet knowledgeable enough about alternate realities or realms, or who would have the machinery to learn.’

‘So we need an alien…’

‘Perhaps.’

Kore had an idea. 

……

When Kore heard the word ‘realms’ she thought of one person, specifically, who was well known for traversing realms and dimensions with ease. 

Though, getting ahold of Loki- fucking -Odinson was going to be impossible until the whole Avenger thing happened. But, if there was anyone who’d know what was up with her and the red ooze, he’s the bitch. 

But she can’t communicate with humans or humanoids since she cannot verbalize anything. Which means she needs to find a way to do so. Which means ideas. Which means Tony, ‘cuz he’s smart as fuck and has a million degrees and a mile-a-minute brain. She just needs to jumpstart it in the right direction. 

The typing things out method wouldn’t work with him. All of his key boards were holographic and keyed into human hands. She had tried swiping at them in the air a few times, but nothing came of it. 

She needed something . 

Well… Desperate times… 

Which was why she and Goose were where they were now. 

At Goodwill. 

Stealing a box of Scrabble. 

Kore and Goose snuck in like the little cretens they were, right behind a loud family with kids to distract the larger humans. They dipped and dived through used pants and shirts and other questionable clothing items. The smell was horrible . The two cats had to duck out of sight many times, but were able to get to the used game board section and find the game. Goose quickly ate it and the two escaped the store with their plunder. 

… and maybe a few other things. 

It was a long walk back and they stopped to beg food off the locals: cutely cuddling in the sun, grooming each other, and batting their big eyes until they were showered with chicken tenders. 

They got home, bellies pudgy and fat from stuffing themselves on their spoils. 

‘Foolish humans, so gullible and easy to manipulate.’

‘Got that right, Goose.’

The plan was simple and went about as well as Kore expected. 

She had paced down to the lab one afternoon, a bag of lettered tiles clutched within her teeth. Goose stayed in the treefort, snoozing away. This was between her and her human. 

Kore batted at the door to the workshop and it opened up to reveal Tony, working on some schematic for Stark Industries with his music up at max volume. Her ears flattened back at the noise level and she let out a small ‘scuff’ in the back of her throat. How he wasn’t deaf was beyond her understanding. 

She trotted her plump little furbody over to a table and jumped up, claws scraping at stainless steel. Opening the drawstring bag was annoying as fuck, but she managed to dump the peices out. She batted the mess around, looking for the tiles she needed. 

H E L L O 

Perfect.

Looking back at her human, she began to yowl loudly to get his attention. 

Kore could admit, the amount of anxiety burning in her gut could level a good sized forest. She had no idea how her human would react to her sentience. Would he shut her out now that he knew she understood everything? Would he feel betrayed? On the spot? Vulnerable? 

She had no idea and it was killing her. 

Spit and a prayer, if shit comes calling she had Goose at least. But it would be horrible to lose her human. She was quite fond of him. 

Finally, Tony noticed her yowling and called for Jarvis to turn off the music. She stared at him with wide eyes, beckoning him over with her doe eyes. 

He strode over, “Hey baby doll, how are-” his hand stopped from where it hovered over her head, eyes trained on the tiled word in front of her. 

“Jarvis, did Pepper or Rhodey put this here?” he called to the ceiling. 

“No Sir,”

“Then who did?”

“... from my recordings, Licorice Stick brought in and arranged the tiles herself.”

Tony was quiet for a moment. And that moment stretched to a minute. Then 5. Then 10. 

Just as she was about to shake the man and demand he speak, he moved. Crouching down, he looked her dead in the eyes and asked with a shaking voice:

“Do you understand me?”

All she could do was nodd, anxiety flooding her body and making her ears ring. 

“ Holy shit. ”

Tony’s hands came up to his face, his palms pressing into his cheeks and pushing them in a bit. He let out an explosive breath, his eyes wide and not leaving her. 

“How??” he asked, his voice choking with disbelief. “I-I mean I knew cats could be pretty intelligent but if you say all cats are like… Garfield levels of intelligence, I might actually lose it. And how the fuck would you keep it from us? It’s like an animal version of Toy Story.” he babbled, pulling at his hair. Kore rushed to move her tiles around before he could work himself into more of a panic. 

A L I E N  

This seemed to break his brain all the same, seeing that the man just stared at the tiles without saying anything for a very long moment. 

“ What the fuuuuccckkk .” he hissed out.

She and him were truly kindred spirits. 

She gave him a ‘merp’ sticking her tongue out in hopes her cuteness would distract him. It, sadly, didn’t work. 

“How are you here? Why are you here?” Tony asked, staring at her. She could see it in the tension in his body, that he was reluctant to come close to her. It hurt more than she thought it would. 

D N K N O W

“D N know? Do not know? You don’t know how you are here or why you are here?” his eyes had a spark in them now, one that she knew well. It was the spark he got when something caught his interest, something that geared every cog in that impressive brain into motion. 

She tapped her foot once forward deliberately. 

“Ok, so first one no. But you know why?” She nodded. “Why?” Kore scrunched her face as best she could, batting at all the tiles and knocking a few to the floor. 

“Right, Scrabble tiles might not be the best for this. Just… just hold on a second.” Tony huffed a breath, his eyes still looking a little wild. He hustled around his workshop like a man possessed, fitting and wiring things together. She was incredibly amused when Tony made a holographic keyboard on the floor. Him and Vanko really would get on like a house on fire if they put their heads together. 

The only difference between the two was that Tony had added a few more things. There was a ‘Yes No Maybe’ section along the bottom and what looked like a predictive text pox at the top. Hopefully Autocorrect didn’t fuck her up. 

Kore stood in front of the keyboard on the floor and looked up at Tony, who sat down on the floor across from her. He folded his hands together and looked at her intently, his science brain on. 

“Ok, first things first. Alien?” 

She clicked the maybe button. 

“What do you mean maybe? I thought you said you were?” 

BES PSIBL AWNSR  

“Your shorthand is horrible.” 

CAT NOT MADE TO SPL 

“Ok, valid, but that means we need a cognitive assessment to gauge your full intelligence.” Tony’s eyes got the science glint in them before he blinked it away. “But before that, I need to know what you mean by the best possible answer and I need an explanation on why you are here and why you have been my cat for over 2 years?” 

LOVE MY HUMAN TONY , she typed, looking up at him earnestly. She was still super anxious about all of this. He was quiet on that for a moment. 

“And the rest?”

WOK UP IN ALY NO MEMRY FELT NEED TO FIND U 

“Need to find me?”

TUG IN CHEST CONNECTION FIND U ANYWHERE 

“You’re saying you have some sort of 6th sense that lets you find me anywhere?”

She poked the ‘Yes.’

“Do you know why or how?”

THERIS  

“Theris? Theories? You have theories on why.” another ‘Yes’ poke, “What are they?” 

COMPLICATED

“You know how to spell complicated but not theories?”

FUK U

Tony laughed at her tiny, disgruntled face. She had spend the last two to three years as a fucking cat, how was she supposed to keep up on her spelling? 

“Why wait until now?” he asked, serious once again. 

SCARED 

“Of what?”

U MAK ME GO AWAY

He looked at her words, chewing his bottom lip in a thoughtful manner. 

“I can’t say what I would or would not have done at the moment.” he said slowly. Kore felt sad about this, but understood. 

AND NOW? 

He was quiet again, and that worried her. “I… I’ll need some time to process this.” he finally said to her. And she got it! She really did. But it didn’t mean it hurt any less…

But if he was going to make her leave, she was at least going to tell him some things he needed to know.

TONY

He hummed in acknowledgement. 

MORE REASON TO COM

Tony sat forward, “What do you mean?” 

U FOR REASON   

“What reason?”

TO STOP INVASION

“ WHAT?!? ” Tony shouted, leaning back sharply like someone had slapped him. Well, it was now or never. 

WHT I TELL U MUS B KEPT SECRET MY INFO ONLY GOOD IF WE KOW OTHERS KOW AN I NOT KOW ANYMORE 

“About a fucking invasion? An invasion of what?! Other cat aliens?”

CHITAURI R 2 LEGS NO CAT

“Chai-Tar-ih?”

NO

“Chit-Ari?”

CLOSE ENOUGH 

“What’s a Chitauri?”

HIVE MIND BIG LEADER BIG ARMY  

“How big are we talking?” Tony’s breathing had been fairly rapid throughout the conversation, but he was pretty good at compartmentalizing. Kore could see it in his eyes as he pushed back the fear to think . 

LEGIONS MANY

The breath was punched out of Tony, a soft ‘ fuck ’ tailing at the end. He leaned back on his hands, his head tilting back to look at the ceiling, unseeing. Kore could smell the anxiety spike in him, that sour smell that had been mixed into his scent since she first wrote hello growing to a point it hurt her nose. She moved forward, placing a single paw on his leg, chittering at him until he looked at her. 

I HELP TO SAVE 

“You’re going to help me ward off an entire army of invading aliens?” he said, his disbelief not aimed at her, but the situation as a whole. She nodded, hitting the ‘yes’ button several times to get her point across. 

“How? I'm just one man with a flying suit. And you are a possibly alien cat that can talk.” 

I HAV IDEAS U HAV SMART MIND INNOVATE  

“Why me?” he asked, a bit of hopelessness coloring his voice. Kore thought for a moment, wondering how to best get her message across. He was a smart man, but had self esteem issues a mile long. She also needed to make sure not to give away anything too big. 

U HAV DRIVE U HAV MEANS U GOOD HUMAN

Tony snorted, probably at her spelling and grammar.  “I guess I do have the means, my name and Iron Man carry a lot of weight. But no government is going to listen to me about an invasion. Most people don't believe in aliens.” Tony pointed out. He was right, of course. If he went to the US government or the UN, he’d be laughed out of the building. Kore thought for a moment. 

I KNOW THEY SEND SCOUTS FIRS PLAN FOR THEM ON OWN

“Scouts- wait, how do you even know their plans? I thought you said you had no memory before the alleyway?” 

HARD EXPLIN I SEE FAR THRU WINDOWS  

“Windows?” 

Ok, here comes the hard part. The very hard part. 

Kore had not been idle after learning she had some sort of red, reality bending bullshit powers. She’d been practicing! Not that it got her anywhere at first. When she first started trying to make the red thing happen again, nothing worked. And she had no strong, violent emotions to pull from to force it to happen again, so she had been shit out of luck. Thankfully, Goose came along. She could access her dimension pockets wherever she wanted, and her tentacles were also kept in one as well. Goose had explained that she had a pocket at the back of her mouth where her tentacles slipped in and out of. 

The two had been going down to the beach, past the cliffs, where no cameras were at. Goose had walked her through what her species knew by instincts as young kittens. It came very naturally to Flerkens, but not so much to her. It took a lot of hours and a lot of tries for her to get the barest of what she called ‘rifts’ to open. Most of the time, nothing happened. It was only when she got really frustrated that little red sparks would appear in the air. 

She was now hoping, with a spit and a prayer, that the tension of her current situation would jumpstart her powers. 

Kore’s little cat face scrunched up as she concentrated. She concentrated really really hard at the empty space next to the two of them. All the while, Tony stared at her, perplexed. 

“I can’t tell if you’re trying to do something, or if you’re constipated.” he said frankly. Kore stopped what she was doing to glare up at him with her beady little eyes. 

HAPPEN RANDOM HARD CONTRL  

She typed her words angrily then sat back on her butt, a paw coming up and pointing at him. She flexed her claws in and out with an angry grumble and the human laughed. 

“Is something supposed to happen there Mr Biggilsworth?”

U KNO THAT MAK U DR EVIL WTH THAT

“I think I'd make a pretty convincing Dr Evil,” he said, pulling his pinky up to his mouth and doing the face. “ Just know that I have a whole bag of 'Shh!' with your name on it. ” he quoted, using the character’s accent. 

HORRIBLE  

“You ain’t a film critic.”

DONT NEED TO B ONE TO SEE U SUK

“Ohhh damn, burn me why don’t you?”

STOP GIVIN ME AMMO

Tony snorted, seeming to relax into their banter. This, in turn, relaxed Kore. Her human seemed to be more and more comfortable with the knowledge that she wasn’t a normal cat. He was probably still repressing the whole ‘invasion’ thing. 

“So what’s the window thing?” 

NOT SUR YET IT WORK TO SEE FAR PLACES 

“And that’s how you saw this invasion?” she clicked the ‘yes’, “and how do you know what to do?” She clicked the ‘maybe.’ “What do you mean ‘Maybe’?”

I GIVE BASE U BUILD  

Tony sighed. “Ok ok, what’s the timeframe?” 

SCOUT PARTY IN 2012 EARLIEST  

“Shit, that gives us a little over a year to prepare.” he said, a hand coming up to his face, anxiety crawling back into his scent. “You said you had an idea?” she nodded and began to type. 

STARK TOWER

Chapter Text

CH 18: Building the Foundation

JARVIS had been with Sir for many years. He had been taking care of him, learning him and watching him for that entire time. Sir had built JARVIS from a single line of code into an immense digital presence that surpassed anything seen on Earth today. JARVIS knew this, he had looked. 

JARVIS could think and feel; something unique to his digital world and it took him a long time to categorize and understand what he was feeling. 

What he felt towards Licorice Stick was as follows: confusion, curiosity, amusement and respect. 

Confusion: 

JARVIS understood that humans were pack animals instinctively. They sought out bonds with others and this instinct is exactly why JARVIS had been created. Sir had felt alone, abandoned, and he desired a bond that would not fade away. And thus, JARVIS had been born. 

The day Licorice Stick had come into the workshop after Sir’s return from Afghanistan had been important to JARVIS. He had felt hopeless that day as Sir had laid on the floor in a fetal position. He did not have a physical form in which to provide comfort and care to his Maker. When the cat had come in and begun to comfort him, JARVIS had felt relief and a surprising surge of jealousy. He compartmentalized the feeling, storing it away for further analyzing when the opportunity presented itself.

JARVIS was confused by the desire for bonds, and watched closely as Sir and Licorice bonded over the coming years. He knew he shared a close bond with Sir, his desire for Sir’s continued presence and wellbeing spoke of it. But he found himself slowly developing a bond with Licorice as well. 

He opened doors for her, refilled her automatic water dish, made note of her favorite dishes and preferred items. He ordered her food, toys, beds and more. He wanted her to be happy. 

Curiosity: 

As a whole, non-digital lifeforms were always a curiosity for JARVIS. Licorice however, was even more so. According to his research, Licorice did not act in accordance with data on other cats. Her eyes tracked back and forth between human conversations, she watched TV with an advidness that non-sentient lifeforms did not possess, and she reacted to things with strangeness. In the event of Stane’s betrayal, Licorice had gone to retrieve the spare reactor, before Stane had even withdrawn the newer one. 

He kept his doubts to himself, of course. Sir loved Licorice and she brought him comfort, he did not wish to jeopardize that. But he kept a close watch still. 

Amusement: 

Licorice Stick was interesting to watch. She got into the most insane trouble and brought a passion into the Stark house that had been missing for a long time. Sir thrived with the duty of caring for another being and he adored playing with his feline companion. 

JARVIS often watched her, his code flickering in anticipation when her tail would twitch just so . A sign of mischief to come. 

Respect:

JARVIS had massive amounts of respect for Licorice Stick. She was a rock for Sir and helped him through his hardest times. She helped him, fed him, reminded him to eat and to live . JARVIS could have no greater respect than that, other than his respect for his Maker. His Father.

She was fiercely intelligent and had stood up to not only Stane, but Vanko as well. She was clever in the most sneaky ways and protected Sir with a viciousness that pleased JARVIS down to the core.

He was glad to have her as a sister.  

Things between the two of them had been rocky to say the least, this expo outing was the first time they had truly interacted outside of the lab planning in the past month. Her human needs his time to get used to the whole “My cat is sentient and told me about an alien invasion.” but he was never mean or dismissive of her. She had typed out on her holo-keyboard that she’d give him time and that she’d wait for him to come to her. Tony had taken her words with a nod and things had been quiet ever since. 

Kore tried not to be upset when the lab doors refused to open to her for the whole month. She understood, really, she did. 

She slept in her catroom, away from Tony’s bedroom at night, high in the cat tree with her shiny hoard of necklaces and smooth rocks. She took to redecorating, even. Necklaces and bracelets found their new homes hung up in the branches of the cat tree, dangling down like shining willow vines. Kore found great entertainment in batting at the jingly ones.

Goose kept her company most of the time, proving a great and efficient distraction, but even she needed to return to her own human. Her friend’s absence left room for morose thoughts to creep into her mind like weeds in cracked cement, overgrowing the garden in her minds’ eye and choking the life out of her flowers and trees. 

She’d huff and puff for a while, feeling sorry for herself and throwing the largest pity party a cat on no budget could afford. She ate her weight in salmon and quail eggs, licking unsalted bone broth off her face and paws and chewing through an entire bag of catnip in a week. 

Tony didn’t seem much better, she could smell his daily takeout from across the house most days. But he seemed to be taking her warnings to heart. Pepper had come and gone several times, stopping to give her a pet without looking at her any different. And Happy and Rhodey as well. 

Rhodey had begun his career as War Machine, his first flights were out with Tony and Kore was sad she missed takeoff. But, from what she could see from the news, the two were as good in the air together as they were on ground, covering each other's backs like they shared a brain. She felt a strong sense of relief to know that Tony had backup should shit hit the fan. He had Jarvis, but the AI could only do so much if the suit went haywire under fire. 

The two even had a hashtag, #IronMachine but Kore was afraid to click on it for many reasons. 

Kore was practically pulling out her fur in stress by the end of the month, but her glorious fur was saved from its ill fate when Tony emerged from her workshop and searched for her. 

He had looked haggard, beard scruffy and bags under his eyes. He smelled like grease, electrical smoke and body odor. It was not pleasant. But the scent didn’t matter to her at the time, she was just so happy to lay eyes on her human for the first time in a month. She eagerly sat at the edge of her tree at chest level, her booty wiggling from how her feet kept inching closer and closer to the edge, trying to move closer to him. 

“I’ve thought a lot about what has happened and what you said,” Tony started, looking her dead in the eye. He took a deep breath. “ I can understand your reasoning for not telling me sooner, but it doesn’t change the fact that you lied to me for years about being able to understand me. I told you things… private things that I’ve never told anyone and promised I’d take to my grave. Knowing that you know those things frightens me, knowing that you have the ability to tell others is terrifying.” 

Kore went to yowel in denial, she would never! But Tony held up a hand to her to pause her sounds. 

“I know, rationally, you wouldn’t. But feelings are not always rational and I need time to trust you again.”

She felt like crying, she hadn’t meant to hurt him… 

Tony took another deep breath. “But I’m willing to try.” 

And that was all the hope she needed.

Kore knew she was a well known cat. She was with Tony Stark after all. She had her own hashtag and people made plushies, key chains and art of her. It grew even more after Tony became Iron Man. 

Oftentimes, she would be riding on Tony’s shoulder or walking around Malibu and would see little toys or stuffed animals of herself in windows or on merch stands selling Iron Man memorabilia.

At the Stark Expo, it was in even more abundance. 

Tony, of course, absolutely loved it. He bought one of everything he saw that bore her likeness, overlooking his own merch in favor of shirts with her furry face on it.  He gleefully handed over his gleaming silver card, making grabby hands at a very large plusheen version of her. It was almost three times her size and she could easily use it as a cat bed. His giggles were quiet but very excited as he squished the giant plush between his arms, his hands barely touching behind it. 

Kore was on the table, having abandoned his shoulder before she could be knocked off by the colossal toy. She watched in deep amusement as Happy tried to pry it from Tony’s arms because the giant plush blocked the billionaire’s view and he kept almost knocking into people. 

Happy was finally able to grab the plusheen from Tony and carried it along with them, looking very much like the annoyed boyfriend at a carnival with his over-excited boyfriend who wanted all the carnival game prizes. 

Tony zipped through the expo like a man on a mission. And drugs. Lots and lots of drugs. 

He spoke to every presenter, every mini booth operator and inventor over the week, even though the expo would last several months. Money flowed out of his hands like water through a grate, funding research and highschool science projects. Several people had their college paid off and a card slipped into their pocket and a verbal promise to look into getting a job at SI when they graduated. 

Kore was along for the ride all week, staying perched on his shoulder. She had a bonnet and some glasses on to keep the noise and camera flashes at bay, and her service vest was a nice cream color that stood out against her fur without clashing. Thankfully, at an expo filled with people who respected Tony and all he had done, no one tried to pet her without asking first. Tony declined most of the time, taking cues from her on the yays and nays. She’d bif his cheek when a kid would ask for a pet, and Tony would calmly kneel low so the kid could reach and patiently explain how to pet her without pulling her fur or aggravating any old wounds. 

“Avoid the head and front legs, pet right here along her back where her tail meets her back. Good!” he explained to an excited 4 year old who smelled like baby soap and funnel cake. 

The billionaire stood after the kid gave her a good pat, flashing a genuine smile and the kid and waving as he walked off. 

Tony loved kids, and would make an excellent dad in Kore’s opinion. 

The Expo had been going on for months at this point, the two of them showing up about once a week after the first week. Tony gave his speeches and wowed and pizzazed the media. During all the showboating and glam, the billionaire discreetly slipped a business card with a special number on it. 

This was the first step in the plan they had come up with. 

Tony logged each and every scientist that called, hiring them on as his ‘Personal’ Think Tank. So far he had four who he found promising: Danni Bright, Trayshawn Daenerys, Yin Chen, and Aadav Patel.

Danni Bright was an androgynous nonbinary person with blond hair so bright it was reflective. They graduated MIT with a Masters in Biochemistry and had a weird hobby of making dead animal parts twitch. They explained that they were trying to find a way to regrow or reuse limbs off cadavers to give to amputees. It was somewhat uncomfortable to watch and everyone began to call them Dr Frankenstine after the first dead frog flopped its way across the desk. 

Trayshawn Daenerys was a former Mathematician Professor from Prinston. She was their go-to for math on the fly and could outpace even Tony’s lightning fast mind. She also collected feathers and would bring them in to tease the end of Kore’s nose on occasion.  Trayshawn was short and slight, wove fun colors into her braids, and wore bangles three fingers wide that clinked together with every move.

Yin Chen was a graduate of Harvard with a Doctorate in Psychology. She had eyes that sparkled, like she knew everything there was to know about the universe and was eager to share it. She also played a mad game of checkers and Kore, who was a checkers QUEEN in her past life, was dying to play with her. She stood taller than all of them and piano fingers that she covered in rings. 

Aadav Patel graduated from the Mumbai Indian Institute of Science with a Masters in Physics and a Bachelors in Astronomy (but working towards his Masters). He loved pb&j sandwiches with a ferocity that rivaled his love of stars and threatened to bite the hand off of anyone that touched his Skippy. He also knew how to make paper cranes and would place them delicately on the top of Kore’s head every time she was around. He was average height, and was soft and round along his middle. Kore wanted to make biscuits every time she snuggled into him. 

The four of them (now dubbed the Quintessential Quad), plus Tony, came together to brainstorm once a week. Sometimes it was in person, but most of the time it was online due to Tony’s hectic work schedule. On their own, the four of them worked out new ideas, only coming to Tony when they hit a roadblock or on their weekly updates. Tony would take their mish-mashed, knot of ideas and weave it into a perfect string of thought. 

So far, the QQ had come up with a biochemical fabric that stimulated nerve endings, it was used as a branch or alternate pathway for nerves to send signals when hit with a dead end. Its main intended use was to be for people who lost the ability to move their legs, arms or entire bodies. The mesh would be applied over the skin in a large patch along the area of dead or traumatized nerves and allow the person movement and/or feeling back. The mesh was still in testing but was being spearheaded by Danni and Yin. 

Trayshawn and Aadav were working on something space related, and Kore really couldn’t understand what it was. She knew it tied into the fabric, but the specifics of It flew over her head in every way. 

Kore was, obviously, the group mascot and moral support. 

Tony was the fuel and wheels of their machine. He was bouncing all over the world, hitting up all the Stark Industries headquarters and some of the future sites as well. He smooched and smooshed up to different country’s governments, clawing at political capital like a dragon to gold. He dined with CEOs and celebrities, taking on talk shows and radio hosts to push the SI brand and image. 

And he was doing it gloriously. 

Sales were skyrocketing, SI stock prices were climping and the Board was singing Tony’s praises. 

Tony and Kore had many conversations over the year leading to 2012. They brainstormed and planned for the invasion and Kore let slip a few extra things as well. 

“Ok, so there is some sort of… alien galactic empire that's out there?”

KIND OF 

“I need more info than that.” Kore huffed from where she stood in the middle of her holo-keyboard. 

MANY PLANETS MANY EMPIRS 

“Like?”

NOVA CORPS POLICE. KREE WARLORDS. SKRULL MID 

“Mid? Middle or neutral?”

KREE DESTROY SKRULL HOMEWORLD WHEN NOT JOIN KREE

“Oh, well shit.” Tony huffed, rubbing at his face. He sat back in his chair, looking around the workshop. He finally looked back at her. 

“What more can you tell me?” 

EARTH VISITED OFTEN BY MANY IN SECRET

Tony blanched at that, his skin paling. 

“By the bad guys or good guys?” he asked with a squeak. Kore ducked her head down, her ears flattening. “Shiiiiiiiiittt.” he hissed, hands coming over his face. 

GOOD TOO THO 

Tony grunted at her words, head not coming out from his hands. 

“I thought I’d be dealing with the run-of-the-mill bad guys, corrupt governments and terrorists. Not fucking alien empires!” 

THEMS THE BREAKS

“Stop sassing me, I pay for your food.” 

LEAV MY FISH ALONE OLD MAN  

“What about this Thanos guy?” 

BIG PURPL MAN WITH BALL SAK CHIN 

“I don’t know how to react to that.”

U C WHEN U C

“That’s all I’m going to be able to think about now.” Tony declared and drew a picture on the holograph, of a cartoon face with a large ball sack hanging from its chin. The nose was long and shaped in a very certain way that added to the piece. The two chortled at the imagery, Kore moving forward to bat at the hologram and give it some… chin hairs. The two howled in immature humor and continued adding to the image until it resembled something you’d find drawn on a door stall of a seedy bar. 

“JARVIS, make this the thumbnail to all Thanos-related plans, please.” 

“Right away, Sir. And, might I say, your artistic skills have improved.” the AI’s voice rang out from overhead. 

“I don’t know where you got all this sass from, JARVIS, I sure didn’t program you with it.”

“I learned from the best, Sir.”

LOL ROAST HIM JARVIS

“I came out to have a good time and I’m feeling so attacked right now.” 

“So Asgardians are Norse gods?” Kore hit the ‘yes’ button. “And they were here when?”

LNG AGO AN RECNT 

“How recent.”

WHAT MONTH IS IT

“ Wow ok. I need a little more info about that.”

NEW MEXICO 

“Wait wait, so that weird mission we hacked from Shield was an alien coming to Earth?”

THOR WS BANISH FR BEIN A DIK. GOT POWER BACK FR BEIN NOT DIK 

“ That was very informative, thank you.” Kore pissy yowled in response. “Well it was as vague as you could get!” 

HE TRY START WAR B4 NOW NOT, OK?

“That is better but leaves me with a million questions.”

MY PAWS HURT FRM TYPIN 

Tony grumbled and picked her up. 

It all came with a goal in mind, of course. And, within the year, Stark Tower was built. 

Tony had pulled out all the stops, and the money used to build it took a good chunk out of even Tony’s reputable fortune. Reinforced to the teeth with steel beams and polymer-layered composite glass that wouldn’t shatter even if a car ran into it. A new arch reactor, the large model, sat in the basement. The whole building was completely off the grid and sustainable, complete with its own water filtration system. 

Secretly, there was more in the far deep basements, halls filled with beds and non-perishables. 

Stark Tower, as a whole, was built for an apocalypse and wouldn’t be destroyed by anything short of a nucular bomb. But even a nuke wouldn’t touch the bunker. 

And that was exactly what they needed. 

Chapter Text

CH 19: We Weren’t Ready PT1

The moment Kore saw Agent Coulson walk through the elevator doors, envelope in hand, she knew it had begun. 

They had been having a small get together with friends, a celebration of the completed tower. Pepper and Happy were there, and Rhodey had even flown in to share a couple of drinks. It had been a good afternoon after the final piece had been slot into place. 

The mood had dampened considerably after Coulson had walked in.

The Agent handed off two files, one to Tony and one to Rhodey, before disappearing back down the elevator with Pepper, who had to make it to DC. 

Kore stared at Tony until he glanced up at her. She gave him a significantly long look before gesturing discreetly to the envelope with her head. She could hear his shuttering intake of breath from across the room. 

It was time. 

Rhodey had to deny the request. His ties to the military made him unable to associate with another government group without prior authorization. So the man packed up and headed to base, hoping to get his higher-ups to hear him out. 

Kore was packed up in a specialized cat crate. It was air tight, pressurized, Air conditioned, and had the softest pillow inside. Tony carried her on his suit, using a special magnet on the top of the crate to attach to his chest piece. The inside of the crate rotated to keep her upright when he turned, so she was never flung around. She was very grateful for Tony’s foresight when building it. 

At the moment, they were headed to Germany to apprehend Loki. 

Kore was very excited and nervous at the same time. It had taken some convincing to get Tony to let her come, but, after hours of typing in all caps, she had succeeded. She had to be there, to warn Tony when the time was right and gauge the other Avengers. 

She was very excited. 

Approaching Loki’s location, Kore’s crate detached from the Iron Man armor. A pair of wings folded out from the sides and jets from the back. Her crate zoomed off in a different direction and settled well outside of the fight zone. She was able to watch from behind the glass door of the crate as her human fired on the Norse god and flung him backwards. 

Loki gave in quickly, and Tony and the Captain got him secured and onto the jet, ready for transport back to the Helicarrier. With a quick command to his HUD, her crate hummed back to life and hovered over to him. 

“What’s that?” She heard Rogers ask. 

“My emotional support animal.” Tony said in a bland tone. She knew that her human had mixed feelings about the Captain, all stemming from his not-so-great childhood. She wasn’t particularly fond of him either, based on what she had seen of the movies while she had been human. But she was, begrudgingly, willing to give this version of Rogers the benefit of the doubt until he proved himself an ass. 

Rogers was giving her crate, which was now fastening onto a seat with the strapps firmly holding it in place, an odd look. Her head poked into his line of sight behind the glass, and his expression grew incredulous. 

Kore ignored him and looked towards Loki. He spared her a once over before dismissing her. Which was interesting. Kore had thought, with his power, that he should be able to sense that something was off about her. But it appeared not. 

Loki, however, looked very odd in her sight. Kore had to focus to see it, but he had a strange sheen over his body, one that appeared mostly iridescent and clear, but the colors solidified more around his head. Blue and yellow circled around his eyes, ears and mouth like ropes, rotating and pulsing like a heartbeat, the strands digging in and out of his skin like needle-work. It looked uncomfortable. 

Letting her focus go, Kore pulled her head back and out of sight. Turning to the back of her crate, she pressed her claw into a small indent until it clicked. Panels shifted to the side and a small keyboard and screen was revealed.

‘LOKI LOOK BAD’, she typed before hitting send. A little three-dot chat bubble appeared below her message shortly after. 

‘Meaning?’ Was Tony’s reply. 

‘ I C LOKI MORE THN U C’

‘You’ve seen him before?’

‘NO MY EYE C MORE THAN HUMAN’

‘What do you see?’

‘ROPES OF POWER AROUND HIS EYES AND MOUTH’

‘Ropes of power?’

‘ I C ENERGY HE HAS ROPE NOT HIS HURT HIM EYES LOOK AT EYES ’

‘How can you tell it's not his?’

‘ COLOR WRG FEEL WRG ’

‘What’s your thoughts?’

‘IDK YET TELL U WHEN DO’

‘Ok, lmk what you see.’ 

Kore turned back to the front and continued to observe the plane’s passengers. 

The whole Thor thing still happened, which was expected. Though she was a little bummed not to witness it first hand. The ‘Mother’s drapes’ scene alone would have made her year. 

When the group of them finally reached the Helicarrier, Kore was a bundle of anxiety. Her chest burned as Tony carried her crate along the halls, her tail twitching back and forth. She could smell the anxiety coming off her human, and this strangely soothed her, allowing her protective instincts to come forth and overcome her own anxiety. The Mom Friend Override, as she liked to call it. 

As they entered the main room where the others sat, Kore ignored the human’s discussion. She, instead, focused on the people. 

Many of them smelled rather awful. Human body odor was unpleasant most of the time, but a lot of the SHIELD personnel smelled especially putrid. Huffing her breath, Kore waited until Tony had placed her carrier onto the table and opened the glass door fully before stepping out. Or well… strutting out. She gave herself a great big stretch as soon as she exited, her fluffy tail coming up in an elegant arch over her body. A quick shake of her head settled her fur and made her jeweled collar jingle 

Kore always looked fabulous, obviously, and it was good for others to acknowledge it.  

She let out a ‘merp’ calling her human’s attention on her. Tony reached out and gave her a good pat before continuing his conversation with the other humans around him. She then waltzed along the table, giving everyone a good sniff to memorize their scents. Natasha, Steve and Bruce had a base scent of chemical, which she assumed was their serums. Thor smelled like ozone and stardust had a lovechild with testosterone. 

She cozied up to Bruce, her fluffy tail flicking casually side to side as she biffed her head into the perplexed smelling man. 

“Your cat?” Bruce questioned Tony.

“Yep, don't go anywhere without her. My own personal anti-stress kitten.” Tony grinned back, clearly pleased with Kore’s acceptance of the man. Bruce’s hand reached out to tentatively pet her back. Tony gave him the quick rundown of where-to where-not to pet and Kore quickly found herself in Bruce’s lap, purring like an engine. She could smell the man’s stress levels slowly lowering the longer he held her. 

Kore plotted as Bruce carried her from the room after they finished on the bridge. She needed to get to Loki somehow. And it needed to be out from under Shield’s eye. That would bring up some hard to answer questions that she really didn’t feel like dealing with. 

She could try and speak with him when he was at Stark Tower later on, but that was a while away and anything could happen between here and there. She had already messed up the timeline well enough, many things were in the air and she risked a lot coming to the helicarrier in the first place. 

Also, Loki was still under mind control from Thanos. What Loki saw, Thanos saw. And if she starts babbling on about reality powers and dimension shifting, Thanos is going to stick his ugly nose right up her furry ass. 

Which meant she needed to convince someone to hit Loki on the head really really hard. Not very difficult given his recent endeavors, Barton alone would enthusiactically suplex his godly ass into the concrete given half the chance. 

Her crate was in the lab, thankfully. She ducked inside and tapped at her keypad. 

‘ BRING SUIT IN ROOM NEED IT ’ she hit send and heard the ping of Tony’s phone go off. 

‘What’s up? What did you see?’ popped up on her screen. 

‘SMTH WRG SAFTY FOR U’ 

‘Banner?’

‘NO ROOM SMLL BAD OF ANGER NOT BANNER SEPTER WRG’ 

‘Ok, it’s on the way. What about the scepter smells wrong?’

‘SMLS LIKE ANGER WHEN U CLOSE U SMLL LIKE IT’ 

‘You think the scepter is somehow altering our emotions?’ 

‘YES’

‘Ok, thank you.’ 

‘COLOR MATCH LOKI EYE MOUTH ROPE’

‘Maybe the ropes are his connection to the scepter? How he controls it?’

‘OR CONTROL OVER HIM’

‘You think the scepter is also controlling Loki? Why?’

‘DNKOW FEEL WRG SMELL WRONG’

‘Ok, I’ll see what I can find.’

‘THANK YOU’ 

‘ <3 ‘ 

This was harder than she thought. To convince Tony that maybe Loki was also being controlled without giving away information she had no way of knowing. It was a delicate dance and she had four furry left feet. 

Tony brought up the feed of Loki’s cell and watched the Asgardian stand, still as a statue, in the middle of the cage. He zoomed the feed onto Loki’s face and took a good look at his eyes. 

“Loki’s eyes…” Tony hummed to himself, gaining Bruce’s attention. 

“What about them?” the other doctor asked. 

“They are the same color as the men Loki took. We got a good look at them through CTV in Germany.” 

“And?”

“Hm, might be nothing,” Tony swiped his hand, clearing the screen. “Might be everything. I need to speak to Thor.”

“About what?” came another voice from the door. Steve walked into the room, looking curious. Tony pulled up the feed again for the two men and tapped on the screen. 

“Loki’s eyes. Same exact shade and shape of the men he used the scepter on.” 

“You think Loki could be mind controlled.” Bruce put it together quickly, looking at the feed with a contemplative gaze. 

“Could just be his eye color. Would make sense if he’s the one in control of the others.” Steve contributed. 

“Maybe, but either way It’d been good to look into. Imagine the info we could get out of him if he was being mind controlled and we freed him?” Tony said, gesturing with his hands. 

“You think someone else is behind Loki?” Bruce asked

“I hadn’t considered it. But you gotta think, who gave Loki the scepter? Who gave him the Chitauri? Loki, the second prince who everyone thought was dead, how would he have been able to get his hands on an entire army?”

“These are aliens, Stark, we don't know how their culture or currency works.” 

“Maybe not, but we know how power works. And while Loki has enough personal power to make me nervous, he does not have enough to amass an army at no expense. He dealt with someone, and I’m guessing that Loki got the short end of the stick.” 

“How are you so confident of this?” Bruce inquired, his face open with curiosity. Questioning but not belittling. 

Tony reached over to the screens again, pulling up charts and readings that Kore couldn't make heads or tails of. 

“I’ve been scanning the scepter and Loki since we got ahold of them. The scepter releases a very unique energy signature that I've found traces of on Loki. I bet that if I scanned the men he controlled, they’d have the same.

“Could just be residue from using the scepter at all.” Steve butted in. Kore was feeling a little pissy by the man’s continued self-appointed Devil’s Advocate role. 

“Yes, but what if it isn't is what I’m saying.” Tony let the words hang in the air, giving both men a long look each. 

“It’s worth looking into,” Bruce put forward, turning to look at Steve as well. 

Steve gave a slow nod, “I’ll try and get Thor down here then.” 

Kore turned out as they continued with a different conversation, one closer to the original timeline, which she didn’t care about. 

That had gone a lot better than she expected. Rely on Tony to get the job done, that man was a fucking miracle. 

Far away, Stark Tower was infiltrated. Systems came online, lights flickering on in sockets and hydraulic system rotating joints. Hidden doors opened and out stepped dozens of Iron Legion. JARVIS’s voice rang out from their speakers. 

“All Systems Online. Primary objective: Protect.” 

Even further away, in an isolated fortress. A large screen played news of the altercation in Germany. A man sipped a strong drink while watching. He huffed to himself as he put the drink down. 

“It iz time, eh?”

Kore watched the chaos unfold in the lab. Humans were prone to dramatics, but she didn’t mind most of the time since it proved quality entertainment. 

Fury had come in with heavy stomps and hissed words on his tongue, quickly followed by Rogers, Thor and Romanoff. Kore watched in fascination as the group squared off. 

She watched as Tony and Rogers went head-to-head, her hackles rising at Roger’s words. She knew her human could handle himself, but she didn’t have to like it. Moving quietly around the room, she made her way to the table with the scepter on it and hopped up, placing herself between the gem and the others. She observed the glowing sphere housing the mind stone and focused until the yellow tendrils appeared. Cautiously and carefully, while the others were distracted, she reached out to the line that connected to Rogers (she wasn’t going to try it first on her human after all. What if she fucked up?). She gently touched the rope and was surprised to feel it under her paw, as tangible and solid as a real rope. She gave it a few tugs, watching Rogers closely for any reaction, but saw none. Without too much thought behind it, Kore extended her claws and ripped through the tendril. 

Rogers gave a visible start, his eyes squinting up. He gave his head a shake before looking around, seemingly dazed and confused. 

“Rogers?” Tony asked as the other stepped back from where he had been previously in his face. 

“I… feel weird.” Rogers said, a hand coming to his head. Kore watched him curiously, wondering if she should also cut the tethers to her human. Rogers seemed ok as he binked heavily a few times. “We shouldn't be arguing about this,” he said finally, “we have bigger fish to fry.” 

Unfortunately, that was when the bomb went off, and the group was sent sprawling. Kore hit the ground hard, her head jared, which fucking hurt. She quickly regained her bearing and dashed into her crate, knowing she’d be useless in this fight. She sat in her box for a long moment, listening to the crashes and bangs of fights and gunfire. The helicarrier shook, and the roar of the Hulk was heard from floors below. Kore felt like a lump, unable to do more than sit on the sidelines. 

But maybe she could-

Without truly thinking things through, Kore impulsively dashed from the room and down the hall, following the faint scent of something otherworldly. Lights flashed, alarms blared, and she did her best not to get trampled by the many feet running up and down the halls. She felt the helicarrier shake under her, the floor tilting as they lost altitude. The area around her shuddered and groaned at the new shift of weight, pieces splitting apart as whatever supported this part of the helicarrier failed and began to give away. 

Shit shit shit!! 

Her nails scrambled for purchase on the metal floor as she cursed whoever had designed this thing.

By a stroke of luck, Thor fell through the wall a little ways ahead of her. She hissed and yowled at him from where she slipped along the floor, her paws touching down on the wall as the structure tilted. The alien prince seemed to notice her plight and dashed over on surprisingly agile feet, trailing dust behind him. Scooped up into deliciously muscled arms, Kore was carried from the hall like a true damsel in distress. She was fairly disappointed when he sat her down once they reached a new set of hallways that were more structurally sound. She wanted to stay longer in his delectable arms, feel them, smell them, maybe chew on them a little -

“No!” she heard Thor roar, breaking her out of her thirsty, muscled daydream. Goddammit. She cursed herself as she ducked into the detention room and slipped into the shadows. 

She watched Loki trick Thor into the glass and the two bicker for a moment before Agent Coulson came in. Kore didn’t have any particular attachment to the Agent, but letting him get stabbed when she knew about it seemed like a dick move, even if she knew he would live. 

So she ducked behind him and sunk her teeth into the air. 

All in all, she didn’t feel bad for biting Loki in the leg, the dude was kind of being a cunt. 

Loki’s pained yell gave him away, and Coulson turned and fired without a thought, catching the invisible god in the chest and sending him through the wall. Coulson dipped quickly back and tapped the keyboard to release Thor from his confinement. With a nod of thanks, Thor took up the right side of the Agent as they advanced on the Loki-sized hole in the wall. But the Trickster was, unfortunately, gone. 

Kore gave a grumble, walking forward and rubbing herself against the two mens’ legs. Coulson looked down and gave her a once over. She gave the man a ‘merp’ and he reached down and gave her a quick pat. 

“Smart cat.”

Later, after the dust settled, the group converged on the bridge again. Tony was feeling a little banged up from his trip to the Tilt-a-whirl of an engine and had an icepack pressed to his thumping noggin. Licorice sat under his arm like a fuzzy armrest, her purring a quiet distraction to the carnage around them. 

The fight had been rough, but they pulled through by the skin of their teeth. Banner was gone now, but Tony was confident that he would show up again. 

Now comes the tricky part.

He had scanned Barton once the unconscious man had been brought to the medical labs. The archer had shown reading eerily similar to Loki, but in less quantities due to his ‘forceful cognitive recalibration.’ He pulled up the reading and laid them out to the others and explained what they meant.

“You’re saying Loki is being controlled?” Thor asked, looking over from where he stood. 

“I’m saying it's a possibility. One we need to look into. If we can get Loki on our side of things we can end things before they get worse. Whoever is pulling the strings can’t be his friend if he’s this deep.” 

“If it is true what you say then whoever is controlling Loki will be brought to justice.” Thor growled, his grip on his hammer tightening. 

“How do we even break the mind control?” Rogers butt in from where he sat, looking between Tony and Thor. 

“Forceful cognitive recalibration.” Tony said, gaining two confused looks. He sighed deeply, his eyes threatening to roll back into his head. “Hit him really fucking hard on the head.” 

“That I can do,” Thor huffed, his face set in a grouchy pout. 

“How do we find him?” Rogers asked. “All your gear was destroyed in the explosion.” 

Tony felt Licorice tense up under his hand, her head swiveling to look at him. Her yellow eyes bore into his with such intensity, Tony wondered how he could have ever missed how smart she was. She blinked at him, slowly and meaningfully. 

“We got hit, right before the explosion hit.” Tony hummed, “New York. two mile radius.” 

“Why didn’t you bring that up before!?” Rogers shouted, glaring at Tony. This time he made no effort to stop his eyes from rolling back into his head. 

“Uh, maybe because I was trying to keep a giant aircraft carrier from falling out of the fucking sky ?” He drawled, annoyed at Roger’s idiocy. His father had really showboated this guy ? 

Rogers let out a wordless hiss, his fingers digging into the edge of the table and denting it. He felt a vibration from under his hand and looked down to see Licorice glaring at the super soldier with venom in her eyes, a low growl raising from her throat. He stroked her fur, hoping to calm down his protective cat. 

“Enough chatter, we got a cube to find and an invasion to thwart.” Tony cut across as Rogers went to open his mouth. The other man huffed again but gave a curt nod.

“Suit up.” he said.

And Tony did just that. He was thankful that he had his suit in the room earlier, it had made his dash to the failing turbine much faster and efficient. It was currently banged up and half a leg in the scrap yard, but it would get him back to New York in one piece barring any complications on the way. 

He kept that thought in mind as he soared off the helicarrier, his boots stuttering here and there. The flight was wobbly, but he made it back in time to see Loki in his penthouse and Selvig turning the machine on on the roof. Firing upon the damn thing didn’t work, and Tony was knocked ass over kettle when his shot rebounded on him. With an annoyed grunt, he landed on his landing pad, side eyeing Loki the whole time. 

“Please tell me you’re here to appeal to my humanity ,” the god purred, eyeing Tony in a predatory way. Yeesh, Tony felt like a kid being tempted into the back of a white van with candy. 

“Ah, no, not really Reindeer Games.”

“Oh? Then do tell me, Man of Iron,” Loki crooned, patronizingly, “tell me how you’re going to plead with me to stop this. Going to beg? Offer me riches? Power?” Loki laughed low and cruel, his blue eyes glinting eerily in the light. “You have no idea what power, true power , is.” 

“You know,” Tony replied, ignoring the obvious goading, “I don’t beg at all unless there's some kinky fun time happening. I mean, you got the leather get-up on the nose, but the whole world-take-over thing is a real boner killer.” 

Loki looked absolutely flabbergasted, his mouth opening and shutting a few times as he made sense of Tony’s words. “ What? ” 

“Ya know, bow-chicka-wow-wow ” Tony gyrated his hips, exaggerating his eye wiggles. “I’d say whips and chains but I think you’d get off a little too well to that-”

“Enough!” Loki shouted, his cheeks tinged pink. “Enough of your- your depravity! I am a God and I will not be spoken of like some common bar wench!” 

“Are you sure? You strike me as quite a power bottom-” Tony dodged out of the way of a bolt of light shot out of the scepter. “Ok ok! Damn! Shit!” he said, holding up his hands. “Yeesh! You think the God of Mischief would know how to take a damn joke!” 

Loki hissed in anger, slowly raising his scepter once again. 

Tony did a quick shuffle behind the bar, putting some concrete between himself and the pissy alien. 

“Want a drink? I want one. Got apple juice too if whisky ain't your thing.” he prattled, pouring himself a finger of whisky. He shot it back, hoping to calm his nerves. 

“The Chitauri are coming, there is no changing that. Whatever ploy you seek to unfold here won't work. I’ve already won!” 

“Have you though?” Tony asked, his face scrunching up to match his dubious tone. 

“Yes,” Loki hissed, stalking forward, close enough that Tony could feel the God’s breath on his face. “And I won't stop until-”

Loki’s words were cut off as a red and silver blur flew through the open windows and straight into him.

“I’m listening,” Tony said to the now open air in front of him, feeling cheeky. 

He looked over to the other side of the room where a huge divot in the ground now laid, with Thor and Loki wrestling within the endzone. The two scrambled like angry cats, hissing and howling at each other as they fought. Tony quickly got out of the way, cackling lightning and blue-green power scorching the ground where he just stood, and called for JARVIS to deploy his suit. 

It was thankfully quick to deploy and wrapped itself tightly around him. 

“Sir there is a disturbance on the roof.” JARVIS said as soon as the helmet folded over his head. 

“Oh shit. Deploy the Iron Legion! And send out an evac notice to the surrounding streets, we need these civilians off the streets, send the Legion to it.” he barked into the coms. 

“Right away, Sir.” 

Tony sped off through the open windows and up to the roof, where a gaping portal to the unknown had just opened.

Chapter Text

Kore snuck into the quinjet. She knew Tony would be pissed as shit about it later, but she needed to be there. Whether or not he agreed with that was on him. 

The hard landing the plane took after Loki got a cheap shot rattled her bones and made her curse the man with every word she knew. She had to wait as the others moved out of the craft so she could sneak out and hopefully head to the tower. Creeping out into the open, she saw Stark tower. 

In the distance. 

The far, far distance. 

Shiittttttttt

Tony roared as he blazed through the sky, pulsers firing off one after the other. Targets locked, he let loose a barrage of rockets, downing a large group of Chitauri. 

“Loki is down.” Thor yelled over the comline. “I hit him over the head hard as you said, he is unconscious.” 

“Good! Now get your ass back out here.” 

A loud roar made him look skyward to the portal, just in time to see a large monstrous creature exit it. 

“What the absolute fuck is that?” he yelled, looking along the body of the armored monstrosity. 

“Stark, are you seeing this?” he heard Rogers ask over the coms. 

“Unfortunately, yes. Please someone tell me we accidentally busted into Shield’s good drugs and are having a group hallucination?” he snarked. 

“If only,” he heard a new voice grumble over the line. 

“Has Banner shown? Could use a big mean and green right about now.” 

“Banner?” Rogers asked. 

“Just keep me posted.” he said before closing his side of the coms. His heart stuttered in his chest as the beast roared, but he dove to it anyway, thinking of what would happen if he left it alone. Knowing he was one of the only things standing between him and thousands of people dying had his heart racing and hands shaking in his suit. He thanked his lucky stars that JARVIS was there to ease his shots, or he’d be hitting wide. 

The fight was brutal. Kore raced through the streets, her little paws scraping through the dust and carrying her over the fallen rubble. She was thankful for her small size, she could easily hide from the Chitauri when they got too close. 

She noticed the moment Bruce joined the fight, the shake from the falling Leviathan shook the ground under her, and she was several streets away. Glass shards and concrete fell from the sky like rain, covering the street in a thin layer of debri and coating her red fur until it turned ashy. Dead bodies laid here and there, most were Chitauri, but many were human. Kore couldn’t help but stop at the ones she saw and listen closely for any sort of heartbeat. 

She found none so far.

Forcing back tears, Kore pried herself away from a too-small body and continued to make her way to the tower. She had to get there, needed to get there . 

She finally made it to the steps of Stark Tower. A large group of Chitauri surrounded the front in a wide circle formation, their guns firing at the doors. A squadron of Legionar stood in front of the opening, behind barricades of overturned cards, returning fire and sheltering civilians as they ran into the tower. 

Kore was on the wrong side, and knew she’d have to find her way through the wall of Chitauri if she had any hope of reaching the penthouse in time. 

Tony banked hard, catching his tails in tight corners and causing them to crash and burn. With every Chitauri death, Tony felt a small pang of satisfaction. These-these fuckers had come to his planet, to his city, to his tower, and planned to level it to the ground. To kill anyone who got in their way and lay claim to a planet that wasn’t their own. His blood boiled under his skin and his fighting grew more vicious. But there were too many. He was being overrun. 

Shots fired, missiles laughed and heads crushed, but they just kept coming. More and more pouring out of the portal like rain. Tony was trying to not lose hope. He was the last line of defense, he could not fall, could not flatter, they counted on him, needed him, he cannot fail, will not fail, please not fail- 

His comms cracked to life. 

“Ay Stark,” came a thick, accented voice. “It lookz like you could use a hand, yes?” 

“What the- JARVIS who is this?” he asked. 

“Aye so quick to forget your friendz, eh Stark?. Ah , Americanz .” the voice, a man’s chuckled. Where had he heard that voice before?

An explosion burst above him and Tony looked up higher into the sky, near the portal where a suit very similar to his flew in, followed by dozens of large, bulky, humanoid drones. 

“Mother fucker .” Tony cursed.

Laugher roared over the com line as the suit drew closer and landed next to him on the ground where he had landed next to Rogers to lend a hand. The suit’s helm raised up and exposed the pilot. 

“ Vanko? ” He screeched in surprise, causing the Russian to laugh yet again. 

“Yes, Stark. Thought I’d lend a hand, it lookz like you could use one.” he smirked. 

“How did you even-?” 

“Let us just say, we have a mutual friend from an ah… interesting place, da?” Tony’s mind shortwired at the man’s obvious implication. Licorice. He had left a note with her after she had been kidnapped. Fucking Vanko . She must have told him about being an alien, and the invasion. It rankled him something fierce to know that this murderous bastard knew before he did. 

Tony growled but shoved his anger and jealousy aside, there was shit to be done. He jerked his head in the direction of the drones. 

“Those piles of scrap of any use?” he snarked.

Vakno’s teeth bared in a vicious grin, “Da, oni nayebutsya.” 

Tony gave a firm nod. “I’ll take it. Get them to the portal, start shooting anything that gets through.” he pointed to the giant portal above his tower, which was still spewing out Chitauri like a firehose. Vanko gave the affirmative, closing his mask and taking off, commanding the drones to follow and set up a close perimeter around the tower. Tony sent a look to Rogers, who quickly called into comms Vanko’s appearance and help. Rocketing off, Tony continued picking off the aliens. 

Kore crept under cars, inching closer to the doors. The smell of plasma fire and spilled oil and gas filled her nose to the point of headache. But she ignored it. 

She dashed out from under the car and onto the back of a Chitauri, her claws gouging into its sides before she attacked its neck, sinking her fangs into the putrid flesh. The thing screeched under her and flailed, taloned hands reaching up to try and grasp her and yank her free. It didn’t get that far, as the humans she was aiming to protect regained their barings, and one had picked up a fallen piece of metal and used it as a bat to smash into the alien’s head. 

The Chitauri fell and Kore lept from its back, watching in surprise as the group of humans laid into the fallen alien with a viciousness, kicking and beating it until it was a mangled, misshapen blob of flesh upon the ground. 

Kore gave the group an appreciative look before continuing, creeping around the side of the Tower where the fire fight was less intense until she reached the doors. Thankfully, she was able to creep behind the Legionar and avoid being shot at for the most part. She ran to her human’s private elevator and pawed at the door until JARVIS let her in. 

“Do you think this is wise?” JARVIS’s voice rang from the speakers as she began her ascent. Kore let out a cuff, her head shaking. No, she didn’t think this was a good idea at all. But she had to try. The sooner they had Loki on their side, the better. 

Going inside the Leviathan was probably not his best idea, but Tony was fresh out of ideas and fucks to give at this point. His armor screamed warnings at him, red flashing across the screen and highlighting the weakening points along his torso and back. He was taking damage badly, his suit was ready to fall apart around him but the battle was still going strong. 

Tony groaned loudly as he sat up from where he crashed, looking up at the sky. 

Vanko’s drones were concentrating their fire on the portal, stemming the tide by a considerable amount. But the amount of Chitauri that continued to come out of the portal made his efforts almost negligible. Vanko himself was in the sky, targeting another leviathan and cursing a healthy amount in Russian as he did. His electric whips trailed after him like tailfeathers, a hazard to the Chitauri tailing him. 

Tony hissed and tried to stand as more Chitauri came upon him, firing their weapons. 

“Stark! Can you hear me?” Fury’s voice yelled over the coms as Tony tried to get up. “You have a missile headed straight for the city.” 

“How long?” Tony called back, feeling his armor get knocked into and battered around. He felt like a bean in a maraca for how much he was getting shaken in this damn tin can. 

“Three minutes, max. Payload can wipe out midtown.” 

“ Shit . JARVIS lets go!”

Kore moved on silent, cautious feet into the penthouse. Her eyes darted back and forth, looking for Loki. She spotted him on the floor, sprawled out, still unconscious. 

She focused her eyes on him, concentrating hard like Goose had taught her. The flowing ropes of power faded into view, their tendrils weak but holding steady onto Loki’s mind. She moved closer to him, observing them intently and trying to gain any form of knowledge she could. 

A thump was heard to her side and Kore’s fur puffed up in alarm. Her eyes darted over to the balcony to see Romanov, who apparently just jumped from the roof , picking up Loki’s scepter. 

Kore followed her back up to the top of the tower, wanting to see and experience this monumental moment in this universe’s history for herself. Loki could wait, he wasn’t going anywhere. 

The light of the tesseract glowed like the sun to her still-sensitive eyes. It was beautiful and wondrous to behold. Looking up, she saw the portal looming over her like a gaping maw into an abyss of stars. It was terrifying. 

The energy around the area crackled and fizzled against her fur, static charging along the ends and zapping her toes as she came in contact with the metal roofing. She stared with wide, awed eyes at the scene before her, the carnage of the city and the flying aliens and suits. It was chaos and carnage and beautiful in a way only pure destruction could achieve. Like watching a star die. Her heart pumped in her ears and fell into the din of the battle around her, the rough booms of explosions and the ripping shrieks of metal tearing. 

It was truly something to witness. 

He pushed himself hard, his thrusters at maximum power as he raced to the missile before it could impact. 

“I can close it! Can anybody copy?” Romanoff's voice called, sounding desperate but relieved. “I can shut the portal down!” 

“Do it!”

“NO WAIT!” Tony shouted, eyeing his targeting system as he came onto the missile. 

“Stark, these things are still coming.” Rogers said, sounding winded. 

“We got a nuke coming in in less than a minute. If it blows it takes New York with it.” he grabbed onto the bottom of the missile and stabilized. “And I know just where to put it.” 

“Stark, you know that’s a one way trip.” 

Tony ignored him and kept going. 

“Sir, should I call Miss Potts?” JARVIS asked and Tony accepted, listening as the phone dial rang. A click was heard as the call was accepted. 

“Tony?” Pepper’s voice was broken and scared, but it was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard. 

“Hey Pep, just thought I’d give you a call. I might be out of town for a while. Think you can hold down the fort?” He said, trying for casual but failing utterly short. His eyes danced over the screens at breakneck pace as he used his eyes to type out a few quick things to JARVIS and send them off. 

“ Tony. Tony, oh my God. ” her voice shook and Tony grit his teeth as the thrusters turned on, his body banking hard and shooting him upwards. 

“You and Rohdey will be good until I get back, you hear? And take care of Happy, and Licorice and the bots while you're at it. JARVIS is a big boy, but he needs some company too.”  He grunted at the force of his turn on his already hurt body. “I know calling to babysit this short of notice is kind of a douchey thing, but I promise to make you a killer pasta when I get back.” 

“ Tony- ” 

“It’s going to be ok. You’re going to be ok.” he whispered, his voice breaking. Tears leaked from the corners of his eyes as the portal grew closer and closer. 

“ I love you, Tony. ” she sobbed, he could hear the force of it from over the phone. 

“I love you, too, Pepper.” 

He went through. 

Kore watched Tony approach the portal, her heart in her throat. She watched and waited, spotting the explosion amongst the stars. She was vaguely aware as Chitauri fell from the sky and there was movement around her. She was more aware of when Romanoff pushed the scepter forward, breaking the power from the tesseract and turning off the machine. 

The portal closed. 

And the sky was empty. 

Chapter Text

CH 21: HE’S A STARMAN WAITING IN THE SKY

Her eyes searched the sky. 

Back and forth they darted, looking for a hint, a speck of red and gold. But there was none. 

Kore felt a wide chasm open in the pit of her stomach, a black hole in her gut that devoured her heart and crushed it to nothing. 

She threw her head back and howled to the sky in anguish. 

Her fault her fault her fault

She’s the difference, she's the catalyst. She is here and he is gone . 

Her mind ran in circles, the crushing weight of what just occurred sitting on her like a thousand tons. Her human was gone . 

But she could still feel him. The tug in her chest pulled her up up upwards to the stars and she could feel the phantom beat of his heart next to her own. 

Kore turned like a whipstrike, stalking down to the penthouse in a mad dash. She made her way to Loki, who was now coming to. With wild abandon, she pounced on the Asgardian, her claws ripping and tearing into the flesh around his face and neck. 

Her fault her fault her fault 

Loki cried out in pain as her claws sliced through a spot on his cheek. Cold hands gripped her sides and pulled, yanking her claws out of his flesh with a wet, meaty sound and sending her flying. 

Kore landed on all fours and turned back to him, her fur puffed up in rage. Loki sat up, his hands clasped to his face and neck. 

Yellow and blue whips fell away from him like spiderwebs caught in the wind. Loki’s eyes opened, blue fading away to be replaced by a vivid jade green. He looked around the penthouse in bewilderment, his eyes catching on the divots in the floor where he and Thor had battled. Finally, his eyes settled on her. 

A hand pulled back and looked at the blood covered fingers, eyes darting between her and the red soaked digits. 

Loki was no fool. 

Kore stalked forward, her tail swishing back and forth in angry jerks. Her head tilted forwards and her ears were folded back as she growled lowly in her throat. 

‘ Hear me, Silvertongue. ’ she hissed into her mind, the same spot she used for speaking with Goose. Loki’s eyes widened in surprise before narrowing, a calculating gleam in them. 

“I hear you, Whisperer.” He said slowly, formally. 

‘ I have freed you, you will help me. ’ she glared daggers into his eyes, her claws digging into the floor beneath her as she tried to control herself. 

Loki looked around at his surroundings once more before looking down at his bloody hands, and then to her. 

“What is it you need my assistance for, Whisperer?” he asked. 

‘ My human sacrificed himself to save this world from your former Master’s harbinger. He is lost amongst the stars. Help me bring him back. That is my price for freeing you.’ she growled low, her eyes flashing red in her anger. Loki leaned back away from her at this, the calculating look greater than ever. 

“Why should I?” he asked, peering at her curiously. “I admit, you freeing me has done me a service, though I would have freed myself eventually. What is motivating me to help you, other than honor?” he tilted his head in question, a mocking tone hidden underneath layers of platitude. 

Kore bared her teeth in a mad growl. 

‘ I have seen you, Loki Laufeyson. I have seen the Mad Titan and his plans, I have seen you and your role in what is to come. ’

Loki looked visibly confused and greatly wary at her words. “You claim visions of the future?” 

‘ I see you, all of you. What you were, what you are, and what is to come. ’

He looked very alarmed now, leaning back against the wall and staring at her intently. 

‘ Help me, as I have helped you. And I will help you once more. ’ 

“How?” he demanded, his eyes squinting at her in suspicion. 

‘ Someone close to your heart knocks on the gates of Helheim. Gold is her crown and gold is her shroud. ’ Making Loki think she’s some sort of norn-blessed cat? Not her best idea. No doubt going to bite her in the ass later but she’d deal with that after she got Tony back. 

Loki hissed in anger, leaning forward suddenly, his face in hers. “You leave my mother alone!” He yelled, a wild look in his eyes. 

‘ It is not I that haunts her footsteps, but a threat not yet come to pass. Help me and I will tell you what you need to know to save her. ’ she hissed back, not backing down. Her heart thumped loudly with anger and anxiety. This was not how she wanted this to happen. She had wanted her first encounter with Loki to go smoothly, happily. But this? This was a mess. 

Loki grit his teeth, glaring daggers at her smaller form. 

“Swear it.” he said through clenched teeth. 

‘ I swear, to help you save your mother after you help me save Tony Stark. ’ she swore, her eyes gleaming eerily in the light. She jutted her head out, looking at him intently. 

“I swear, to help you retrieve your human Tony Stark in return for helping to save my mother from whatever threat you have seen.” Loki oathed next. The air crackled around them and she watched, fascinated, as a string of green light lept out from his body and attached itself to hers. She felt it around her, like a shackle, holding her to her promise. 

Kore’s fur settled once more against her back, her ears unfolding from where they had been pressed against her skull. 

Loki looked at her with a miffed expression as he stood, dusting himself off. 

“Miss Licorice?” JARVIS’s voice called from the speakers. Kore looked up, letting out a ‘merp’ to let him know she heard him. “I can assume, from Loki’s part of the conversation, that you intend to retrieve Sir?” She could hear the desperate undertone to his voice as he asked. She nodded fully, tapping her foot down on the ground twice in a ‘yes’ sign. 

She looked at Loki, who was looking around the room suspiciously, no doubt looking for the source of JARVIS’s voice. 

‘ Please tell him to hold down the fort while I am gone, and to not let anyone take Tony’s stuff. He’ll need it when he gets back. ’ 

Loki looked close to refusing but relayed what he had said anyway. 

“That will not be a problem, Miss Licorice. Sir made arrangements just before the portal that Miss Potts would inherit everything should he pass.” That was very good, Pepper would not get rid of Tony’s things any time soon, which gave her time to go and retrieve him. She gave another nod and looked up to Loki.

“However,” JARVIS interrupted, “I have a request.”

Kore let out a small merp in question, her head tilting back up to the ceiling. 

“I wish to go with you.”

‘How do you plan on that?’ she asked, waiting for Loki to translate. 

“I will download a copy of my consciousness to a device that you can bring with you. One of the MMI devices specifically.” Kore made a surprised noise at this. MMI stood for “Me, Myself and I” and was a project she had prompted Tony towards. In the event of a catastrophic virus or mainframe malfunction and JARVIS was lost, one of the MMI devices held a complete backup of his AI consciousness. The backups were updated frequently, once a month, and kept completely separate from JARVIS incase. 

“I have taken the liberty of beginning a new download of my current code to one of the handhelds. It will be ready in approximately 20 minutes.” 

She nodded once more and looked up at the man next to her, ’We need to make a quick stop before then,’ she said. Loki raised a brow. 

“Where to?”

Kore ran up to the door of the Malibu mansion, JARVIS helpfully opening the door for her. Loki was somewhere behind her, invisible and silent. She dashed through the front door and took her little elevator up to her cat tree room, her old injuries were acting up quite a bit after the excitement of the day. 

Getting to her room, she walked in and climbed up to the topmost sunny spot, where her quarry laid sunbathing. 

‘ Hello, Child .’ Goose purred from where she laid in the sun, her eyes squinting in a cat’s version of a smile.

‘ I’m a grown-ass cat, you know that?’ Kore replied, moving closer and giving Goose a hello sniff. 

‘ What brings you back to the seaside nest? Did your two-leg’s tall metal nest not suit you?’ 

‘ That’s the thing, my two-leg is gone .’ Kore informed Goose merousely. Goose picked herself up from where she lay, giving Kore her full attention. 

‘ I am sorry to hear of your loss, I know you care for your two-leg .’ she said softly, giving Kore a comforting nuzzle. 

‘Yes, I do. Which is why I'm going to go and get him back.’ Kore said determinedly to the smaller cat.

‘I thought you said he was gone?’

‘Lost but not dead.’

‘Ah, I see now.’

‘I’ve come to ask If you’d join me?’ Kore asked tentatively, her nose wiggling. Goose cocked her head to the side. 

‘Adventure?’ she purred, looking pleased.

‘Y es, and I'm sure there will be plenty of bad people to eat. ’

Goose purred loudly, biffing her face against Kore’s larger one. ‘I shall join you, my friend. And we shall hunt your two-leg down and return him to the nest.’ Kore leaned her head against Goose’s.

‘ Thank you, ’ she said, trying to broadcast her gratitude over the mental bond. Goose seemed to pick up on her feelings and gave her nose a boop with her own. 

The two walked out of the Malibu mansion together to see Loki waiting outside. He balked when he spotted Goose. 

“That is a Flerken .” He said, aghast. 

‘ Goose is a friend. ’ Kore said, huffing at him. 

“That friend could eat you, me and the entire population of the Western seaboard and still have room!” he snapped. Kore rolled her eyes at his dramatics. 

‘ I have no intention to eat that many two-legs, no one would be around to make my fish sticks. ’ Goose said over their mental connection. It seemed Loki heard it just the same, however, and he scoffed at her words. 

“Norns have mercy,” he grumbled to himself. 

He had been floating in the void, stars like pindrops in his vision. Debris of the destroyed Chitauri ship littered the empty space around him, floating suspended in the vacuum. He was losing air fast, the CO2 levels of his suit climbing and climbing. Tony had closed his eyes, accepting his fate. 

He had not expected to wake up.

Tony came with a gasp of air. His suit’s weight pinned him down, holding him hostage in his own tech. With fumbling fingers, he found the hidden seams in his armor and began to pull it off piece by piece. Once free, Tony observed his surroundings. He was in some sort of metal room, completely filled with junk and scrap. A lot of it he recognized as parts from the Chitauri ship, but most was completely alien to him. A mechanic’s playground. Had he the time, Tony would have loved to dig through the scrap and figure out how everything worked. 

Tony focused. 

Grabbing at his suit’s chest piece, he opened a small compartment. There laid a few of his handier tools, something he could use to do small repairs on the fly. He quickly did what he could to fix up his repulsors, connecting them manually to a bare-bones skeleton of his chest piece that was, in turn, connected to his arc reactor. The low whine of his repulsors turning on settled a tension in his shoulders he had not noticed before. 

Getting up, he carefully walked his way through the junk pile. He felt exposed, leaving most of his suit behind, but it was dead weight without JARVIS and he needed to be light on his feet. 

He found a door-like structure and managed to open it. He snuck down the hall, noting the grimy interior and horrible smell. Everything was covered in a layer of dirt or some type of greenish oil. The pipes were rusted and many looked to be broken and repaired with shitty patches. 

He spotted a small porthole and peered out. Seeing the far expanses of space outside the window had him jerking his head back with a gasp. He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping to stave off the panic that rose at the sight. Forcefully ignoring what was on the other side of the window, Tony continued on. 

He ducked and dived through the ship, avoiding any signs of life and gaining any information he could. Thankfully, it seemed like the ship was not manned by Chitauri. But that didn’t mean that they were not affiliated, and Tony definitely did not want to find out. 

If he had to guess, he’d say he was picked up by a scrapper. 

At one point, he was hiding in the vents, trying to be as quiet as possible as he snuck through. Handily, he stumbled upon a grate that led to a very populated room full of aliens of different shapes, sizes and colors. There were a few human-looking aliens, which sparked a million questions in his head. He listened into the conversations, but was frustrated to realize that he could understand none of them. Many of the aliens seemed to be speaking different languages all together, but communicated just the same. Either every alien here was multilingual, or Tony was missing something. 

He continued to crawl along the vents for a long time, popping out to steal food and scraps. Tony set up a hub for himself in a small crawl space that was teaming with wires and space critters that liked to bite. 

Grunting, he squished another bug looking alien that was trying to nibble on the sole of his shoe. He had, laboriously, dragged his deactivated suit into the crawlspace and had been working on repair ever since. It was moving along at a slow pace, his progress hindered by the alien tools and metals. But he was learning. His mind was open and expanding, grasping onto the influx of new knowledge with clawed fingers like a man starved. 

He had found so much already. Ideas and inventions swirled around his mind and his hands ached for the familiar weight of his tools in his home lab. 

It was the 7th day that the ship shuttered under him and stopped him mid rewire. His suit was almost operational. He could wear it and move in it, but the finer details were lost due to his suit no longer being connected by JARVIS. 

Tony’s head jerked up, his eyes narrowed as he felt the ship continue to shutter around him. He raced through the vents, carefully avoiding the creaky bits as he scuttled around to the closest window. Peering out, he saw nothing but a fiery aura over the opening, the light shining over his sweaty, dirty features. 

They were entering the atmosphere of a strange, deep purple planet that was absolutely crowded with metal buildings so tall they touched the outer stratosphere and looped around the planet like rings. Other ships dotted the sky, many leaving and coming at the same time.

It was a space port. 

Chapter Text

CH 22

‘ This suit itches so fucking bad’ Kore grumbled to Goose. The movement of her legs caused the fabric to squeak and russell with every step. 

“You cannot breathe this atmosphere so quit whining,” Loki grumbled from in front of them. Kore stuck her tongue out at the god’s back, grumbling to herself as she stepped over another rocky patch. 

The three of them, along with JARVIS who was strapped to her back, had been away from Earth for a week now, looking for signs of Tony. 

Loki had removed them from Earth using his magic and a pathway on Yggdrasil. The transport had been wild and beautiful at the same time. Loki had gathered her and Goose into his arms and had stepped sideways through space and time until his feet landed on a tree branch bigger and thicker than the Golden gate bridge. They went on for miles and miles, and glowed a silvery white that dazzled Kore’s eyes. She had peered over the edge into the darkness below, and saw the humongous trunk of the tree and the roots that went down so far that even her advanced feline vision could not see the ends of. 

It was truly a dazzling sight. 

Loki had kept the two tight in his arms as he jumped from branch to branch like a fucking elf in Lord of the Rings. Kore and Goose ‘whoop’ed in excitement at the big jumps and falls, enjoying the adrenaline rush it provided. He had stopped on a larger looking branch and walked forwards. Loki had placed his hand upon the branch and with a large zing of energy that made her hair stand on end, they disappeared from the tree and reappeared within a forest. 

‘The hell are we?’ she asked, sniffing the air around her. It smelled old and wild, and energy sang through every molecule and atom making her more alert and wary. 

“We are in Álfheim, home of the light elves.” Loki informed her, setting her on the ground. 

‘Why are we here?’ Goose asked, her tail flicking around as she also sniffed the air. 

“I have a few contacts here that will be able to put out some feelers to the right people. Should give us an idea as to where we can begin looking for your lost Midgaurdian.” Loki replied, “And we need supplies, we don't know how long we will be looking.” 

They made a quick walk through the forest to the edge of a large village filled with tall, willowy elves. The city was glowing in the low light of the evening, floating lanterns cast an ethereal blue glow over the streets. Kore was getting some strong Lord of the Rings vibes. There was even an ambient choir singing. 

Kore and Goose stuck closely to Loki, who had disguised himself with magic to go unnoticed. But she could still smell him.

As Licorice, Loki, and Goose entered the elven village, the air itself seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly energy. The towering, graceful elves regarded them flippantly, too busy with their own days to take heed. Licorice's eyes, gleaming with excitement, scanned the surroundings as they weaved through the village's enchanting streets.

Stalls adorned with exotic textiles and mysterious artifacts beckoned her, each vendor showcasing wares that seemed to defy the laws of earthly craftsmanship. Licorice padded toward a stall draped in iridescent fabrics, her whiskers twitching in delight as she explored the intricate garments and accessories that hung like celestial tapestries. The alien textiles whispered tales of distant realms, and Licorice couldn't help but brushed against the fabrics, feeling the energy from the odd, wispy fabrics course through her sleek fur.

The tantalizing aroma of food lured her to the side, deeper into the heart of the market. Licorice's senses were overwhelmed by the sight of elves skillfully grilling marinated space critters, creating a symphony of sizzling sounds.Their magic carrying and zooming ingredients and wares through the air. 

Passing by a cosmic apothecary, Licorice couldn't resist investigating the luminescent vials and exotic herbs. Marveling at the mysterious elixirs, she exchanged a glance with Loki, who was deep in conversation with the herbalists. Goose, her eyes reflecting the ambient glow, sniffed at some of the ingredients and sneezed hard, sending the powdery ingredient everywhere. Loki quickly shuffled them out before her or Goose could not be trusted to not ‘cause the most disastrous of scenes.’ per Loki.  

Which. Rude. But whatever.

They moved on, occasionally stopping for Loki to get some supplies, but still heading deeper into the village. At the center was a grand stage, currently in use by a small ground of elvin musicians and dancers. Their performance was captivating and magical, the group using their song as a conduit to grow a tree, which sat center in the stage. It was a sapling, and, as they sung and played their instruments, it moved. Bending and twisting, the sapling slowly grew and moved, limbs swaying with melody, flowers and leafs growing, blooming, and shedding in time with the beat. Flower petals gently cascaded to the ground with each sway, the leafs carried on the breeze and blanketing the ground in a fine layer of green and pink. 

They did not stay long, however, which made her humm and haw and Loki until he snapped at her to shut the hell up. 

Loki guided Licorice and Goose through the lively chaos, they reached the building near the center of the village where the contact awaited. The entrance exuded an air of secrecy, with enchanting symbols adorning the door. Loki gave a nod to Licorice and Goose to confirm this was the right house. He, however, left them outside as he dealt with his business with his local contact. Leaving them free to… do as they wish.

It was, as he would admit very much later under the influence of copious amounts of alcohol, not his brightest decision. 

Kore had the stickiest paws in existence, a disposition for collecting, and a friend with what was essentially a limitless bag of holding for a mouth. 

Did she know what anything she stole did? No. Did it matter? No. The only thing that mattered was that it was hers now and no one could prove it wasn’t. 

Goose happily indulged her thievery with a fond look, but the mischievous look in her eyes could not be mistaken. 

It was an interesting experience, and Kore was even able to snag some alien fried meat from a vendor when no one was looking. It was tender and juicy, and she happily shared her plunder with Goose. 

Later on, Goose would vomit everything they had stolen all over Loki’s bedroll. He’d yell and curse, mainly for the… stickiness of the items in question, but didn’t scold them for stealing. Obviously he would have no leg to stand on if he had. And some of the items were good! And shiny too, so double win! 

'Please just carry me!!'

"No! I did not travel all this way to be your palenquine." 

'But I have tiny legs! And yours are fucking miles long. I take ten for every one of yours you fucking giraffe!'

"I am not at fault for your poor genetics and lack of endurance."

'Ttinnnyyyy leeeeeeeeeeee-'

"-Are you going to kee-"

'-EEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH-'

"-keep, Oh shut-"

'-AHHHUUUUUUGGGGGSSS!!'

"-Fine!"

"You must be so proud of yourself"

The red cat said nothing, just purred in the Asgardians arms, her eyes squinted shut, and a deep purr rumbling in her chest.

Loki huffed out a breath, one arm moving from its cradling position to scratch the top of her head, causing her fluffy ears to pull down in bliss. The purring intensified. 

At the end of a long day of searching for a lead, the three of them found a rocky outcropping where they were able to set up camp for the night. Loki did some fancy magic with sigils and was able to make their little camp more habitable and the air breathable for her, which she appreciated. Getting out of that stuffy suit was also a great perk. 

‘So, we’ve been running around with each other for about a week now.’ Kore started, after they had all gotten comfortable around the fire and had some meat cooking. Loki hummed in affirmation. ‘I was wondering if you could look into something for me.’

Loki turned to her, taking his eyes off the spit. “And what would that be, Whisper?” he asked, still using the stupid nickname he gave her before, even though she told him her name many many times. 

Kore huffed and puffed but let it go. 

‘I have these weird abilities that I've had for a while now. Goose is able to sense something within me, but I was hoping you’d be able to sense what it is .’ 

“Abilities you say?”

‘Yeah, I can open these weird portals or windows and see things in them.’

Loki pondered for a moment. “And these… windows of yours. That is how you are able to see what happened to me and what happened to my Mother?” he asked. 

‘Yes, I can see entire lifetimes or just short snippets. It’s hard to describe.’ 

Loki gave her a quick once over with his eyes, as if he could tell it with just sight alone. 

“Alright then, let’s have a look.” he said, turning full body to her and legs. With deft fingers, he drew a circle in the sandy floor and surrounded it in some glyphs. Once he was done, he gestured for her to sit in the circle. She got up and walked into it with little hesitance.

‘So, what do these markings do?’ Kore asked. 

“The glyphs are in an ancient sorcerer's language, they allow me to focus my powers in a specific direction. In this case, these are scanning glyphs, normally used by healers to check on their patients and receive things like vitals, organ productivity and such. Since I know what a cat is supposed to be, It will find any abnormalities. 

‘ How do you know that?” Kore asked. 

“Because, in order to shapeshift into a convincing one, I had to learn cat anatomy.” he said simply, continuing to draw out the runes. He looked up sharply at the very loud, dramatic inhale. Kore’s eyes were lit up, excitement shining through them as she looked up at Loki. 

“What?” he asked. 

‘ You can turn into a cat ?’ she asked, excitement turning her inner voice squeaky. 

“ No.”

‘But you JUST said-’

“I know what I said! I mean I am NOT turning into a cat.”

‘ Oh come ooooooonnnnn’ 

“Absolutly not.”

‘But why?’

“Because you’d like it too much.” he snipped, and then smirked. “And I rather like being able to look down on you.” 

Kore huffed and swatted at his leg, making him dodge with a chuckle. 

Loki sat down in the middle of one circle and Kore was in the other. Taking a meditation pose, Loki’s eyes began to glow as he recited the spell. Light danced over her form, little pinpricks of light zooming in every direction along her fur, tickling her lightly. Kore shook her fur out a bit before pawing at one of the lights, her more cat instances taking over. She continued to bat at the light, following it outside of the circle and around the camp. Her mind was laser focused on her task, the need to capture and hunt overwhelming. 

Only the sound of snickers drew her from her quarry. She looked up, floof puffing up as she did, to see Loki, hand over mouth, snickering at her. 

‘ Heyyyy’ she whined, causing Loki to burst out into loud guffaws. 

“Sometimes I forget that you are still a cat.” he wheezed, flicking tears from his eyes. 

‘ Eat shit, you bastard .’ she groused, to his continued amusement. But that was ok, she would just take a big piss on his pillow later and wait for him to find it. 

Without more shenanigans, they returned to the spell. 

“I sense traces of a vast power within you. It feels… familiar.” Loki’s face pinched as he continued, his nose scrunching up as if he smelled something foul. 

‘Don’t keep me waiting in suspense here, dude’

“It feels like the scepter and the tesseract.”

‘ Please, Loki, i know you love being all edgy, dramatic and suspenseful, but for the love of all thats fuckin holy, ELABORATE!!!’

Loki scowled at her, his lips pinching up. 

“Your body and soul have been completely saturated by an energy similar but not the same as the ones contained within the tesseract and scepter.” he explains, enunciating every single word in a snippy manner.  

‘ Are you telling me I'm juiced up by an infinity stone? ’ 

“Essentially, yes” 

….

‘That’s some Mary-fuckin’-Sue shit right there ,’ Kore griped, mostly to herself. 

“I am unfamiliar with that midgardian turn of phrase.” Loki hummed, looking at her both quizzically and amusement. 

‘It would take forever to explain the concept,’ she grumbled, ‘ let's just get back to the ‘juiced by stone’ bit. Using my fabulous knowledge, I know it's not one of the stones you tangoed with. For one, I’ve been having weird shit happen to me for a long time before those stones showed. And if I add up all the weird shit and use my common sense, I’d say it’s the reality stone I'm juiced by .’ 

‘ What makes you think so? ’ Goose asked, scooting up and laying closer to Kore’s side. 

‘ Well, a whole list of reasons. One, you feel a resonance with me, and you hold alternate realities in your stomach. Two, I opened windows into what I had thought were possible futures but could have easily been alternate realities. Three, I see red when I am able to use the power, and the scepter was yellow while the tesseract was blue, so. ’ Kore shrugged her little shoulders, her whiskers twitching. 

“A simple but sound conclusion.” Loki hummed in reply, looking very interested. “We should test how your abilities work and the extent of them." His eyes shone brightly, the idea of learning about her powers and how they could be used no doubt tickled the scholar within him. 

The fuckin NERD. 

Kore cuffed. ‘ Dude, I've been trying. Goose has been trying to teach me and I haven't gotten anywhere beyond some sparks when I'm pissed off. I’m not lookin’ to be angry all the time just so I can make things go poof and pop. It’s bad for your blood pressure, just ask Banner.” She snarked. Loki rolled his eyes so far back into his head she was a little worried he hurt himself. 

“Of course it would not work or be the same,” he muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like ‘foolish feline.’ “Goose’s abilities are genetic and specific to her species, you, on the other hand, are imbued with the powers of an infinity stone. Just because you both have some abilities that have the word ‘reality’ in them does not mean it's the same.” 

‘ Well, firstly, I had no idea what the fuck was up with me, so you cant fault me for not knowing. And secondly, I did the best with what I had at the time so get off your high horse you arrogant snot-nosed-bitch. ’ Kore snapped. Loki hissed at her words, eyes narrowing. ‘ And lastly! If you’re so smart, then you teach me how! ’ 

“I don’t see why I should help you,” he snipped back, “I’m already doing quite a lot in helping you find your human that you lost-”

‘ No thanks to you ’

“- AND trying to save my mother from an, apparently, not-so-extinct race of homicidal elves.”

‘... It do be like that sometimes. ’ 

The magnitude of fuckery they were up against settled in the three’s minds and they sat in silence for a while. 

“I will help you.” Loki finally piped up. “Not because I want to, mind you, but your abilities can prove useful in the coming conflicts. Especially against the Mad Titan.” Kore nodded her head. 

‘ Yes, I want to be able to learn this power more, so I can defend myself and others as best as I can.’ she said, ‘ If i can control it, it would help our search a lot as well.’ 

“Yes, having the power of reality on our side would be a boon.”

‘So, when do we start?’

Loki looked her over, assessment strong in his gaze. 

“At first light.” 

Chapter Text

AN: Name Change!!

Hello you guys!!!! 

So I’ve been thinking for a long time, and It is time to change the name of this character. 

Long story short, I used this character as a… projection? Of sorts. I was still going by my deadname when I started these stories and used my preferred name as the name of my main character! But now I go by it full time and it's a liiiiiitle awkward when friends want to read my stories 

Additionally, I think this character has evolved to be more than my own! I dont view this character as a self-insert anymore, and with each story, this character evolves into more than i imagined! And it's largely in part to you guys, it might not seem like it, but I take a lot of your suggestions to heart! And I love to hear about how people feel kinship with this character. 

Soooooo 

Her new name is Kore. 

The reason I chose this name is because it's close to the original and I love the meaning and symbolism behind it! Especially in relation to this character. 

For those who do not know, Kore was Persephone’s name prior to Zeus renaming her.

One version of the legend says that, wherever Kore went, Chaos followed (for several reasons). This is why Zeus renamed her Persephone, which means  Bringer of death. 

Also the parallels, both are taken from their world into another where they not only survive, they thrive. 

So I think it fits!! 

I will be posting this notice on all my stories that have more than 1 chapter so sorry if you get multiple notifications!!! 

I hope you continue to love my stories as much as I love to write them! You have been a wonderful community to me <3

Also there was a LOT more art for this story, but the images keep getting deleted because sites change the URLs for image sources which makes the old links invalid. and i have no idea where each of these images used to be or if they are still there so here they are again:

I got even more on Instagram of Tony, Pepper, and Licorice! 

https://www.  instagram.  com/i_am_a_silver_lining/

Chapter Text

CH 24: But He Thinks He'd Blow Our Minds

Tony had made this space port his Bitch.

On Tony Stark’s first day on the alien spaceport planet, he was overwhelmed not just by the sheer diversity of life forms and their cultures, but also by the advanced technology that permeated every aspect of daily life. The moment he stepped off the scrapper’s ship, his senses were assaulted by a cacophony of unfamiliar sounds, vibrant colors, and the strong, pungent mix of millions of stinky bodies interacting in a limited space. Above him, holographic ads danced in the air, and though the language was alien, the pictures showed all things, from starships to exotic pets.

Tony wore what he could of his damaged suit, leaving some of the heavier or more damaged parts behind on the scrapper. He had his left glove, the shell of both boots, and most of his shoulder plates. The exterior of the torso and legs had been discarded or optimized for weight, giving him a better chance to run until he could find a way to rebuild himself another suit. He threw a large, tattered tarp over his shoulders like a poncho, hiding the red and gold shein of what remained. Swiping a bag off of one of the scavengers, he filled it with his tools and some of his suit bits he could bring, along with a few cans of what looked like beans that he had stolen from the scraper’s canteen. 

The first order of business was communication. Navigating through the bustling crowds, Tony quickly identified what looked like the local equivalent of a medical facility, a cramped clinic tucked away in a less savory part of the port. Inside, a semi-shady doctor with six eyes and a reassuring smile implanted him with a neural translator. This tiny device lodged comfortably behind his ear, syncing seamlessly with his neural pathways. The insert of the neural port had been… unpleasant, but within seconds, the babble of alien languages transformed into understandable dialogue. 

This world now opened to him, Tony explored and oriented himself. The port planet was as alien as it came. Humans were abundant, which fired off a million questions, but so were thousands of other aliens. There were tall, lanky blue men with 5 arms and three nose slits, red fish people with delicate spine fingers and glowing scales, iridescent beast beings who floated several feet over everyone's heads and hummed ominously.

 He marveled at the technology, already dissecting several designs in his mind and considering improvements. Shops with open fronts showcased gadgets that defied gravity, cloaking devices, and engines that hummed with dark energy. His mind raced with each discovery, cataloging ideas and drawing parallels with Earth technology, yet nothing he saw matched the efficiency and potential of what he could imagine. 

His fingers itched at the sight of so much alien hardware, fingers clicking together in a tick as he turned over the specs in his mind, ideas folding over and over each other in a canopy only he could discern. 

As he wandered deeper into the crowded market area, Tony’s ears caught snippets of conversations, a jumble of languages now made intelligible by the device in his ear. He paused near a group of aliens clustered around a food vendor, their voices low and conspiratorial. They weren't speaking directly to him, but the translator picked up their words clearly, the topic chillingly familiar.

"...and then the portal above Terra closed just as the missile redirected the mothership," one of the aliens, covered in shimmering scales, said, the tone both awed and fearful. A shimmering hologram between them showed a tiny red and gold blip among a sea of stars.

Another, smaller and wiry with flickering eyes, chimed in, "This Terran who did it… used their own missile against the invaders. Risky move. They say the Mad Titan was not pleased—planning to target the one responsible."

Tony froze, the realization that these aliens were talking about Earth—and him, specifically—sent a shiver down his spine. His role in redirecting the nuclear missile had not only stopped the Chitauri but had also marked him for retribution. From what Licorice had told him, Thanos was as pissy and revenge driven as they come.

The weight of this revelation was heavy. Word of his actions had spread this far across the stars and he was hunted, without a friend or ally for millions, if not billions, of lightyears away. 

What did he have? His suit, was it known? Or his face? Could he hide unseen amongst the humans without his red and gold regalia or would he be singled out still? Licorice had told him about Thanos and he refused to underestimate him, if he could destroy planets and corral gods under his control, Tony refused to think what they would do with squishy, human him. 

As the group dispersed, Tony made a quick decision to avoid the main pathways where conversations like these were all too common. He turned into a narrower, less frequented alley, aiming to distance himself from any more potentially dangerous eavesdropping. His heart was racing, not just from the immediate threat but also from the enormity of his situation. He was far from home, possibly hunted, and without his usual resources.

This new route led him away from the bright lights and loud vendors, into the quieter parts of the market where shadows draped over the stalls. Here, he found a small, tucked-away junk shop, guarded by an old, leathery-looking alien who seemed to be more interested in his collection of tech than in the gossip of the streets.

The shop was a mess of parts and gadgets that piqued his interest. The owner, noticing Tony's genuine curiosity, gave a nod of acknowledgment. "Looking for something specific, or just escaping the chaos?" the old alien asked, his voice raspy but kind. He was a short and squat creature, standing only a few feet tall.

Tony, sensing an opportunity to lay low and perhaps find some resources to help him stay off Thanos’s radar, decided to engage. "A bit of both," he admitted, stepping further into the shop. "You never know what you'll find in a place like this, right?"

The old alien’s skin looked like an ancient leather handbag that had been stretched to impossible lengths only to be deflated. It hung around him in large folds that waved and jiggled in the air with every movement. His beady eyes took Tony up and down, not a drop of recognition in them. 

"You're not from around here, are you?" he asked, his tone carrying a note of genuine intrigue rather than suspicion. "You seem... out of place."

Tony paused, the weight of his situation settling over him for a moment. He met the alien’s gaze with a resigned smile. "Yeah, you could say that. I'm trying to get off this planet, I need to get back home."

The alien nodded slowly, as if he'd seen many stranded souls pass through his shop. "Getting off-planet isn't cheap," he said, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "You’ll need Units—lots of them—if you’re planning to buy passage on a freighter."

Tony’s mind raced. Currency here was as alien as everything else, and he had nothing but his intellect and his skills to offer. The realization must have shown on his face because the shopkeeper's next words carried a hint of an offer.

"Tell you what," the alien began, leaning back against a stack of dusty circuit boards. "Got plenty of old tech that needs patching up or repurposing. You help me out, I’ll pay you in Units. Get you started on your fund to get home."

“You don't even know if I'm any good.” Tony replied, dubious. 

“That partial mech suit says otherwise.” the alien pointed down at his red and gold boots, the paint scuffed enough to show the shining titanium beneath. The old alien’s eyes shown with something akin to excitement. “You know… mech suits were made illegal over 50 cycles ago.”

Tony schooled his expression, not showing a hint of the anxiety that stirred in his gut. 

“I’ll make you a deal.” The old alien continued, “You show me that mech suit and what it can do, and I'll throw in a few extra units on top of your work, hm?” 

“What’s your name?” Tony replied instead, his eyes never leaving the other’s beady ones. The alien warbled, and it took him a long moment to realize it was laughing. 

“Theirn, is my name.” he waved a gnarled hand at the human, turning to retreat behind several curtains. Tony only hesitated for a second, curiosity eating at him as well as caution. 

Tony followed Theirn through the curtains, coming into a back room that was lined with tall shelves crammed full of old junk and gizmos. He sneezed at the stale air, waving away a large dust bunny that settled onto his nose. 

They came over to a large table that was strewn with wires, circuit boards and gears. Theirn brushed off a large piece of metal and handed it to Tony, who looked it over back and forth. 

He looked up at the grizzled old alien, question in his eyes. 

“This here is an artificial gravity projector, big enough for a class A ship. Not the most advanced or expensive thing on the market, but enough to sell for a few units. Fix it up, 10% of the profit will be yours.” 

Tony clicked his tongue, “10% seems a little low for me doing all the heavy lifting.” he bartered. 

“Mmhm, want to run the store while you're at it?” the alien huffed, his eyes rolling skyward. “15% and not a unit more.” Tony grinned. 

The old alien poked and prodded what was left of his suit, his eyes filled with excitement. 

“Mechs were outlawed by the Grand Treaty after the last interstellar war. Mechs and biotech were used to wipe out hundreds of thousands of people and hundreds of planets were left uninhabitable. The Nova Corp proposed the dismantling and illegalization of mechs, and all of the military groups were disbanded or discharged once the war was done.” Theirn hummed, bending one of Tony’s gloved fingers back and forth to test the mobility. 

“Never saw one like this, however…” the ancient extraterrestrial smelled like an old leather chair, in a warm, live way that Tony found awkward to put into words. A cool thing he had discovered about him was a second set of arms that hid close to the alien’s torso, folded up under the sheets of dangling skin. They were long and spindly, and made Tony's skin crawl a bit when the small creature would reach over him to grab something. Theirn could reach across the entire length of the room with his arms alone, remind Tony vaguely of a spider. 

“Where did you say you were from again?” Theirn asked, his beady eyes boring holes through his own. 

“I didn’t,” Tony replied testily, waving off one of the alien’s proking hands. Theirn grunted, seeming pleased by his sass. 

Tony quickly got to work fixing the gravity projector. He placed his sachel down and took out what tools he had on him. 

Hyper focused on his task, Tony slowly dismantled the device and cataloged each part. He placed them in rows along the table, taking note of what parts needed to be repaired and which he could not recognize. A few questions to Theirn had pieces falling into place and soon the device hummed to life on the table between them. 

Theirn, who had watched him closely the entire time, made a clicking sound, all four hands coming out to twist and turn the device so he could see it from every angle. He inspected it, pressing a few plugs into the ports along the side to run a few tests. 

“Works like a dream.” The old alien huffed out in a laugh, his beady eyes gleaming with excitement. 

“Give me some extra time to make some tools and I could make that in half the size.” Tony bragged a bit, flashing a charming smile. A wrinkled finger flicked his nose. 

“Let's see if you can put those talents to good use.” 

Over the next few weeks, Tony spent it running through Theirn’s collection of outdated or damaged tech. He hungrily devoured every scrap of information, pulling apart everything and putting it back together twice as good as before. Nothing was safe from his meddling fingers, and Theirn had to bat him away from his grog maker more than once. 

Tony discovered shortly into his stay that the port planet he landed on, Tol’mera, was not just a spaceport but a strategic outpost for Thanos's operations, serving as a refueling and supply station for his intergalactic campaign. The realization that he was essentially in the belly of the beast made Tony anxious, keeping inside more often than not. His desire to go home grew with every hour, making him work twice as hard to get his suit functional and get off planet before he was found out. 

Chitauri patrolled the streets, hissing and spitting at anyone that came close. They flew overhead and watched from rooftops, their clicking, chattering language a constant din in the background of any space. Tony was very lucky not to have been spotted on his first day. 

The diversity of Tol’mera’s population showcased the extent of Thanos's conquests. Many of the beings Tony encountered were refugees or descendants of those who had survived the culling of their home planets. They had been displaced by chaos and destruction, only to find themselves under the thumb of the same tyrant in a new corner of the galaxy. The atmosphere was tense, the usual hustle and bustle of the marketplaces tinged with a silent despair, as traders and locals exchanged goods with wary glances.

As Tony continued his work in Theirn's shop, repairing tech and fixing various ship parts Theirn provided, he also began to piece together the stories of Tol’mera's residents. Each component he soldered, each circuit he rewired, was passed to him by hands that had been forced to serve Thanos in one way or another. Their whispered conversations, once just background noise, now formed a narrative of oppression and loss that made Tony's heart clench in his iron chest.

One evening, as the twin suns of Tol’mera dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the alleys of the spaceport, Tony and Theirn sat at the back of the shop, sharing a meager meal. The old alien seemed more pensive than usual.

"The Chitauri are not the worst of our problems," Theirn finally said, his voice low. "It’s the spies. Thanos has eyes and ears everywhere. Trust is a rare commodity here, more valuable than the Units you earn."

“People will never be content with oppression. There are people out there willing to stand up to him.” Tony grunted, scooping another bite into his mouth. He has chanced the market this week and was able to get some fruit to mix in. Didn't improve the flavor much. 

Theirn's eyes glinting in the low light, filled with something close to excitement. “Dangerous things to say, especially on this planet.” 

Tony paused mid bite, his eyes cast up at the old alien with challenge. Theirn smiled, a sharp wicked thing with too many teeth. Quite literally. “Good thing I also hate that purple prick.” 

Tony shivered at his creepy boss. 

Theirn was a cranky and crotchety old fart with a knack for skirting the rules that Tony admired. 

It was late one afternoon when two Enforcers, each one a different species he had yet to see, strutted into the shop. Their menacing gaze swept over the jumbled tech and scraps before landing on Tony, who was elbow-deep in a dismantling job.

"Identification," one of them hissed, extending a clawed hand expectantly.

Tony straightened up, wiping his hands on a rag. He glanced towards Theirn, who had paused his work and was eyeing the Enforcers with a mix of disdain and calculation. Before Tony could speak, Theirn hobbled forward, a limp noticeable in his step that Tony hadn't seen before.

"This is my new assistant," Theirn declared, his voice a perfect blend of weariness and irritation. "Came in with the last supply ship. I swear, you boys are getting more forgetful. Filed his papers last week. Must be floating around your office somewhere." He waved a metal cane that lay conveniently at his desk. 

The Enforcers looked skeptical, their eyes narrowing. That's when Theirn leaned closer, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper but loud enough for Tony to hear. "Look, I know things are busy, what with the new regulations from up high. How about I make it worth your while to speed things along, eh? No need to make this a bigger mess than it has to be."

The mention of 'regulations' and the subtle clink of Units shifting from hand to hand seemed to ease the tension. One Enforcer grunted, giving Tony a long, final look before nodding. "Make sure it doesn't happen again. We won't be so lenient next time."

After they left, Theirn turned to Tony with a smirk, his earlier limp now miraculously cured. "You've got to know how to play them. Fear and bribery, the universal language around these parts."

Tony chuckled, impressed and grateful. "You're a sneaky old man, Theirn."

"Don’t forget it," Theirn waggled a finger in his direction, one long arm coming forward to drop a lump of scrap metal on his desk. 

“Now you can fix this to replace the units I just lost.” 

From that moment on, Tony was officially a 'legal' resident, but more importantly, he had come to tentatively trust the old leather bag. Enough so that, when the alien found out about him being from Earth, the fear wasn't there. 

Theirn had laughed himself silly, easily matching together the red and gold Terran to Tony. He seemed far too delighted to have Thanos' Most Wanted under his roof, and Tony would hear him occasionally giggling creepily to himself from the other side of the shop. 

Theirn's cackles echoed in the cluttered shop as he occasionally glanced at Tony, a smirk playing on his lips each time he caught the human's wary gaze. "You've really stirred the pot, haven't you, Terran-man?" Theirn chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief and delight. "The Bain of Thanos tinkering in my back room—it’s like a joke the universe cooked up just for me!"

Tony couldn’t help but let a small smile creep onto his face, despite the gravity of their situation. He found Theirn’s unbridled glee both unsettling and oddly comforting. 

As days turned into weeks, Tony’s presence in the shop began to draw curious glances from the locals who frequented the marketplace. Theirn, ever the opportunist, used this to his advantage, spreading exaggerated tales of a mysterious tinkerer whose skills could mend the un-mendable. This brought in more business and more whispers, a network of information that Theirn tapped into with the skill of a seasoned spy.

Tony had a steady stream of customers, resellers, and scrappers coming to him for odd jobs. To salvage or fix, each was a puzzle and an opportunity to increase his knowledge of alien tech. And of alien people.

One hot evening, after he had opened all the windows and shutters to let out the old, stale air, Tony was elbow-deep in the guts of an old communication device when a local, slight and wiry, stepped inside, cradling a battered radio set in their arms. The shop's cluttered shelves and the faint scent of ozone and grease seemed to comfort the visitor, who shuffled their way to the counter. 

Tony glanced up, nodding a greeting as he wiped his hands on a rag. The alien's bright, multifaceted eyes flickered with a reserved acknowledgment. But what caught Tony's attention were the prominent scars that webbed across their exposed arms and neck—thick, gnarled lines that hinted at deep burns.

"Can you fix it?" the alien's voice was soft, almost hesitant, as they set the radio on the counter.

"Let's have a look," Tony replied, his gaze unintentionally drifting back to the scars. He met the alien's eyes again, a silent apology in his glance for the unintended scrutiny.

Instead of taking offense, the alien followed his gaze to their own scars and offered a small, wistful smile. "Got these when I was just a kid," they began, their voice gaining strength as they recounted their tale. "My world, Daxamor, was lush and vibrant, filled with forests that touched the skies. Then Thanos came. He claimed he was bringing order, but all he brought was chaos and fire. Our planet was rich with rare metals and uncommon organic components, key things for starships, he sought to expand his influence."

The shop seemed to grow quieter, the usual hum of machinery fading into the background as the alien continued. "During the attack, a building caught fire. My family... we were trapped. I got these scars dragging my younger sibling out through the flames." Their fingers traced the marred skin absentmindedly. "Survived, both of us, but Daxamor didn't. It's one of his mining colonies now."

Tony listened, the tool in his hand forgotten. The story wasn't unique; he'd heard variations of it from Theirn, in the tales of countless other worlds crushed under Thanos's heel. But hearing it so personally laid bare added a new weight to his resolve; he needed to get home, before Earth was next. 

"How did you end up here?" Tony asked, not just out of curiosity but out of a genuine desire to understand the path that had led the alien to his makeshift workbench.

"After Daxamor fell, we were corralled by the Mad Titan’s forces and forced to settle here" they gestured around the shop, "It is not a bad life, but not a cycle goes past that I do not yearn for the purple skies of my homeworld."

Tony nodded, looking down, a feeling of homesickness filled his gut. He turned back to the radio. "Let's see if we can't get this working for you. No charge," he added, a small act of solidarity that he hoped might, in some small way, help balance the scales. 

As he began to dismantle the radio, Tony considered his situation and that of Tol’mera. Thanos was a monster, one that remained uncontested up until Tony carried that missile through the wormhole.  He considered how his own world had barely survived Thanos's wrath, saved only by a desperate, last-minute act that still haunted his dreams. The people of Tol’mera weren't so lucky. They lived under the constant shadow of Thanos’s tyranny, their lives disrupted and their families torn apart.

The alien watched Tony work, the initial guardedness fading to something softer, more open. "Thank you," they said as Tony handed back the now functioning radio. "Not just for this. For listening."

Tony offered a grim smile, his heart warring in his chest. "We're all in this together," he said, and for the first time since arriving on Tol’mera, he truly believed it.

One afternoon, while Tony was absorbed in reassembling a navigation console, Theirn slipped beside him with a sly grin. “You’re quite the celebrity around here now. People are starting to ask less about how to fix their tech and more about the man who fixes everything.” he whispered, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Tony wiped his brow, feeling the weight of their scrutiny. “I need to be careful. The more attention I draw, the more dangerous it gets,” he murmured, his mind racing with the risks of his burgeoning notoriety.

Theirn waved off his concerns with a dismissive flick of his wrist. “Nonsense, it’s all under control. Besides, it’s about time we start moving to the next phase of the plan.” Theirn’s casual mention of 'next phase' caught Tony off guard, and he looked up sharply.

“The next phase?” Tony questioned, “what plan?” 

“Don't you worry your fuzzy head about it.” The old alien grumbled, his small legs scuttling along the ground. Tony watched as he hoisted himself up onto a tall stool with his weirdly long arms and a derisive snort. 

Tony had made good on his promises, cautiously showing Theirn what remained of his suit shortly after they first met. The arc reactor was a marvel of engineering, and Theirn claimed to never have seen it's like before. The spark of curiosity in the old alien’s eyes had him tentatively showing off more of the arcs capabilities, much to Theirn's delight. 

It was not left in its half state for long as Tony began to rebuild his suit, eager to return home. 

In the shadowy alleys and bustling marketplaces of Tol’mera, Tony Stark, known locally as the Gearsmith, had become a regular figure. He had learned the local slang and hidey-holes, evading patroles of Chitauri and the Enforcers. To disguise himself, he wore large goggles that hid the upper half of his face and allowed his beard to grow out. What remained of Iron Man lay hidden in a false panel in a closet that also doubled as his bedroom when he was not working on it. 

Clad in nondescript clothing, he moved through the crowds with a practiced eye, scavenging for parts that could breathe new life into his project. His days were spent at Theirn's shop, catering to customers and fulfilling orders. At night he was rummaging through bins, negotiating with vendors for scraps of alien tech, and bartering his skills for the crucial components he couldn't afford. Each piece Tony acquired was a small victory in the silent war he waged against his limitations.

Tony had discovered a network of traders who specialized in salvaged tech—some legal, some decidedly less so. These back-alley deals were precarious, with Tony often having to demonstrate his more lethal prowess on the spot to prove his worth and secure a fair trade.

One eventful trade had him in the dimly lit underbelly of a Tol’mera marketplace. Tony stood before a stall draped with various salvaged tech components. The vendor, a wiry creature with skin that shimmered like oil on water, shuffled nervously as he eyed the small crowd. His gaze settled back on Tony with a mix of greed and caution.

"Thesse partss weren't eassy to come by, Gearsmith," the vendor hissed, his voice low. "The risssk has doubled, and so the pricce follows. Double the unitss, non-negotiable.”

Tony frowned, his eyes darting to the gadget on the table—an essential modulator needed for his suit. "You didn't mention anything about doubling the price last time we talked," he countered, his voice steady despite the growing tension. "Don’t try to swindle me, Kreel. You know these parts aren’t worth what you're asking."

Before Kreel could respond, the heavy stomp of boots interrupted their dispute. Two large Enforcers approached, their armor clanking menacingly as they surveyed the stall with undisguised disdain. One leaned forward, his face a mask of irritation. "What’s this? A little market dispute? Maybe you need reminding on how to show respect in this sector."

Kreel recoiled, his earlier bravado dissolving. Tony stepped forward, his expression calm. "There's no problem here, officers. Just finalizing a deal."

The larger of the two Enforcers sneered, stepping closer into Tony's personal space. "Looks to me like you're causing trouble. Maybe you need a lesson in manners, human ." the creature spit. 

“Now calm down, I’m sure we can come to an agreement, no need to get physical.” Tony said calmly. Their scene drew a crowd of onlookers, most wary of the Enforcers and getting caught in the crossfire. Tony held out a hand as if to shake, a shiny unit stick discreetly hidden between his fingers, but in clear view of the Enforcers. 

The smaller snarled, and shoved Tony’s hand away, sending his unit stick skittering into the crowd, never to be seen again. Before he could bemoan the lost units, he was backhanded forcefully into the stall, his body smashing through the table and sending Kreel’s wares scattering. There was a loud sound of a scuffle as Tony’s view was blocked by debris. A large, scaled hand grabbed him by the ankle and yanked him out of the mess, but he was ready. 

A repulsor blast sent the Enforcer flying back and crashing into a wall, a large hole smoking in their chest. Tony’s gauntlet smoked from the blast, still held aloft from his prone position. It was a bare-bones gauntlet, power and propulsion with a few pieces of armor on the underside of his fingers to protect from the intense heat. 

Tony scrambled to stand, hearing the commotion continue beside him. The other Enforcer had gone after Kreel, the oily alien cowering under the larger alien’s fists and kicks. Another repulsor blast had the Enforcer flying, their dead body landing with a thud among the speechless crowd. 

Tony moved quickly to Kreel, picking up the smaller person and getting him to his feet. Large, iridescent eyes looked at him in shock. 

“Why did you do that?” the being hissed, 

“You’re welcome.” Tony huffed, picking up some of the fallen wares and putting them back on what remained of the table. 

“You’re a dead man if they catch you, Gearsmith.” the smaller alien hummed, eyes never leaving the human. The crowd watched on, muttering amongst themselves and causing Tony’s anxiety to spike. “You are lucky they were not Chitauri, they have a hive mind and would have dessscended on this placce like a plague.” Tony grimaced, also glad for this fact. He gave Kreel a nod of acknowledgement. The oily alien watched for another moment as Tony placed the last of the scattered items back on the table and made to leave, before any other Enforcers showed. 

The two bodies were already gone, their armor scavenged by the crowd and their bodies dumped down a trash shoot. The people of Tol’mera, while weary and downtrodden, had a comradery that Tony felt tapped into now. 

Kreel’s voice bubbled as he held out the modulator to him. “Normal priccce,” he gurgled, “For your foolish bravery, human.” 

Tony felt the erge to barter him down more, especially after saving his ass, but the hum of large engines approaching made him nervous. He closed the deal and scampered away, unaware of the many eyes that followed. 

 Despite the risks, these traders provided him with rare and valuable materials, from heat-resistant platings to high-capacity power cells, each component a potential key to enhancing his suit's capabilities.

Back at Theirn's shop, Tony poured over a refurbished holopad, its surface flickering with holographic blueprints and schematics. The device, once discarded due to a burnt-out processor, had been one of Tony's first repairs and now it served as his design station. Here, he drafted intricate designs for the new iteration of his suit, integrating the alien technologies he had acquired into his original concepts. The holopad allowed him to manipulate the designs in three-dimensional space, rotating and zooming with a few gestures of his fingers, making adjustments and annotations with digital precision. 

He missed Jarvis fiercely in these moments, designing wasn't the same without his peanut gallery and often brought up memories of back home. 

The workshop was cluttered with remnants of his scavenging efforts: wires hung from the walls, metal sheets stacked against corners, and various devices in different stages of disassembly lay scattered across the workbenches. Each piece had potential, and Tony had become adept at repurposing even the most alien of technologies to fit his needs. His engineering genius, honed back on Earth, was now augmented by the necessity of survival and the challenge of unfamiliar tech. He thrived, his mind feeling properly stimulated. 

He confided his suit plans and schematics with Theirn, who practically shimmied in excitement. 

“I haven't seen a good fight in some time! I can't wait to see you wallop that grape-filled fuck right in the kisser!” The old alien practically screeched, flaps of leathery skin waving with his excited movements. Tony grimaced at the ringing in his ears. 

“If I can get close enough.” Tony huffed. Since being here, he had come to learn a great deal about the history of Thanos and his army, along with a general overview of the galaxy as well. Theirn was, shockingly , old as fuck, and had been around for many major points in history, and was able to give first hand accounts of many wars and political battles. 

Theirn's long life had provided him with an endless store of tales, each more outrageous and embellished than the last. As Tony continued his work, tightening a bolt here, recalibrating a sensor there, Theirn would launch into his stories, his voice rich with nostalgia and mischief.

“You know, I was there when the Molokar Pact was signed. Ha! Those were the days! Two rival factions, both leaders convinced they were the smartest in the room. Ended up signing a peace treaty on a napkin because they burned the official documents to light their victory cigars. Classic!”

Tony chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re making that up.”

Theirn winked, a mischievous glint in his beady eyes. “Maybe, maybe not. But tell me, doesn’t it sound like something those pompous fools would do?”

As Tony aligned the final circuit in the suit’s arm, Theirn continued, waving his hands dramatically. “Oh, and let me tell you about the Siege of Varnex. The defenders were outnumbered, outgunned, and just about out of hope. Then, their leader had the bright idea to use holograms to fake a massive army approaching. Scared the invaders off without firing a single shot. Sometimes, the best weapon is a good bluff!”

Tony paused, considering. “Holographic decoys. Adding that to the list.”

Theirn laughed, delighted. “See? You can teach an old Terran new tricks.”

“You're one talk, you old handbag.” Tony snarked but didn't hide his smile. “Any more wisdom you want to share?”

Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, Theirn’s eyes twinkled with memories. “Never play cards with a Glerotian. They have six eyes and can see twice as many spectrums of light as we can. I lost my favorite wrench to one. Still miss that wrench.”

“And,” Theirn added, his voice dropping to a mock-serious whisper, “if you ever find yourself in a bar brawl on Jaxon-5, aim for the tentacles first. Always the tentacles. Those things can grab you from five different directions at once.” The old alien paused. “Unless you're into that.” 

Tony laughed, the sound echoing around the workshop. “Theirn, how have you survived this long?”

“By knowing when to fight, when to run, and when to tell a good story,” Theirn said, his face breaking into a wide, too-toothy grin. “And speaking of good stories, did I ever tell you about the time I outdrank a Kree sentinel during the Festival of Lights?”

“Theirn, I want to be you when I grow up.” 

Honestly, Tony hadn’t meant to fight or draw attention on Tol’mera, but the fuckers got kids involved. 

Tony had been scuttling through back alleys, dumpster diving in search of electronics. He was running low on motherboards and needed quite a few to finish a patch job that would set him up with a good bit of units. 

He was pulling out a funky looking toaster when a large group of Enforcers and Chitauri came barreling down the back street. Tony was forced to jump inside the dumpster to avoid being run over. 

Lifting the lid a smidgen, he peaked out as his hiding spot vibrated with the force of the Enforcer’s vehicles. It was a convoy, guarding a large cargo van that slowed to a stop some hundred yards down the alley. Tony watched closely as the guards dismounted and began to circle the truck, throwing open the back hatch and screaming at whoever was inside. 

Tony felt his gut and heart lurch as a tiny human girl stepped out of the truck, her clothes ragged and dirty. More followed of different species, sizes, and genders, but all clearly children. They huddled together in a group, surrounded and corralled by the Enforcers and several Chitauri. Tony bit his lip as the children were pushed forward and into a building, the entire group disappearing inside. 

He slipped out of the bins after a long moment, creeping along the side of the building and scaling some trash and scaffolding to reach a set of skylights. He carefully looked through the windows into what appeared to be a workshop for Chitari sky-cruisers. The kids were pushed around until there was one per station and then set to work, their small hands able to reach into the small crevices of the cruisers. 

Tony’s blood boiled as he watched a small alien child made of some gelatinous substance pick up a blowtorch, their skin drying and cracking the hotter the flame became. 

He didn’t wait, taking off down the street and back to Theirn’s shop. He tore through the door, past an alarmed Theirn, and into the backroom. He popped open the hidden compartment in his room/closet and pulled out his half finished suit. It was bare bones still in many areas, but his gauntlets and chest armor were finished, and his improved helm hosted a primitive HUD that controlled his output, power usage, and targeting system. Any major upgrades would have to wait until he had some sort of AI assist on board, and Tony felt almost wrong for considering it.

He had struck gold with his helm, finding a series of alien neural processors and databanks that could not only host the entirety of Jarvis ten times over but also had the possibility for neural sycment, allowing for Tony to control his suit with his fucking mind . He had almost yakked all over himself in excitement when first discovered it, his mind whirling with possibilities as he forgot to breathe. The tech had room for improvement, and Tony could only begin to imagine the possibilities once he had time and resources to look further into it. 

And Jarvis . 

The universe at large didn't have much in the way of AI, which was surprising to Tony. Given the advanced level of technology he had witnessed across various species, he had expected artificial intelligence to be more pervasive. But the most advanced robotic system he had seen were basic robots with pre-programed code, or autonomous drones for commercial use. Absolutely nothing on the level of Jarvis, who could think and work for himself. It gave him a small sense of pride at his work, and at how far Jarvis had come over the years, how alive he was. 

Focusing back on his task, Tony began to armor up. Theirn waddled into the back room, flicking the curtains shut tightly behind him. 

“What are you doing?” the old alien asked, sounding a little too enthusiastic. 

“I'm going to free some kids from the Chitauri.” Tony grunted, securing the gauntlets up to his elbows. He had to substitute for a lot of his missing suit, strapping thick armored pads against his squishy bits to protect them. He grabbed weaponry as well, including stun mines, emp charges, trip wires, smoke canisters, and a few knives.

“You know as soon as you hit one, they all will come.” Theirn warned, his eyes never leaving Tony. The human grabbed a large can of used grease and oil and began to slather the shiny bits of his plating until it was blackened. 

“That’s why I'm going stealth. It’ll be night soon. I’ll go in after dark, evade the Chitauri, and get the kids out.” Tony stated his plan, determinedly rubbing grease along any exposed bits of skin. 

“And what do you plan to do with the children after?” Theirn clucked. Tony paused, weight settling into his gut. What would he do with them after? He didn’t exactly have a place for them to hide, food for them to eat, or water for them to drink. He could barely survive on his own, living off the good grace of Theirn for the last month he had been here. The children would starve or be recaptured, what good would he be doing for them other than bringing them extra trouble?

Tony heaved out a long sight, feeling helpless. He felt so alone, with no power or bargaining chip other than his own life. And he had his own family to get back to.

But they're just kids…

Theirn watched for a long long moment as Tony struggled with his thoughts, watching the war play on the human’s face as he strained for what to do. 

“... Good thing I happen to know someone or another who could help.” the leathery alien finally said. Tony felt the weight leave him, hope blossoming under his sternum. 

“Should I bring them here?” Tony asked, to which the alien nodded. 

“I’ll call in some favors, just make sure you’re not followed.” a spindly hand reached out and grabbed the front of his chest plate bringing him down so he was face to face with him. “And go shove your foot up their asses. ” 

Tony grinned, feeling his adrenaline begin to pump as he prepared to go fight. He took off through the night, back towards the warehouse. Being incomplete meant his suit was lighter and quieter, making keeping unseen easier and he was able to make it there without being spotted. 

His hud flickered on as he approached, and a quick thought had it switching to thermal vision. 

‘ That’s fucking cool , ’ he thought to himself. There were several large heat signatures on the first floor, but Tony was able to find a door that was unguarded around the side. 

The knob crunched under his gauntlet and he opened the door silently. The inside was cold, dark, and packed with machinery. He quickly searched the first floor before finding a set of stairs that lead to the basement levels. 

 Tony came upon the first Enforcer unexpectedly as he went down a level. The man was standing guard by a large door, lazily watching a handheld device. Silently approaching from behind, Tony used a stun device embedded in his gauntlet. A quick touch to the back of the Enforcer's neck and he slumped to the ground, unconscious. Tony dragged him into a dark alcove, concealing his body beneath a tarp and stripping him of his weapons.

As he continued, two more guards appeared, chatting near the bottom of the staircase. Waiting for the right moment, Tony threw a small, noise-making device to the opposite end of the hallway. When the guards moved to investigate, Tony took them down, snapping their necks quickly. He hid their bodies in an empty supply closet, securing it shut.

Finally finding the children's holding area, Tony disabled the electronic lock with a compact hacking tool and slipped inside. The room was dimly lit and filled with the quiet sounds of fearful whispers and sniffles. They looked at him with wide, fearful eyes as he opened the door and stepped in. Tony quickly reassured the children, whispering that he was there to help and guide them to safety. They trusted him, perhaps recognizing the inherent kindness in his voice or simply out of sheer desperation.

Gathering the children, Tony led them quietly back through the maze of corridors. They were nearly at the exit when a lone Chitauri guard turned the corner directly in front of them. With no time to retreat and no cover to use, Tony acted instinctively. He stepped forward, the children huddled behind him, and used a high-intensity pulse from his gauntlet to knock the Chitauri off its feet, burning a hole through its chest. 

He left the body where it landed, all too aware of the time bomb he just set off. 

“Run, run!” he whisper-yelled, herding the group to the doors and sending them dashing down the street in the direction of Theirn’s shop. The sound of loud screeches and louder engines filled the once quiet night, the Chitari immediately alerted to their comrade's death and rallied to their location. 

Two of the smaller children were scooped up under his arms, one thrown on his back. The other two were able to keep up, but began to struggle several streets over. Tony kept up his whispered reassurances and guidance, leading the children far away from the decrepit warehouse until the screeches faded and the night was quiet once more. They slowed to a walk, and he directed them to duck behind a large set of dumpsters so he could make sure none were in immediate harm. 

“Any injuries?” he asked, scanning their faces for scrapes and bruises. Most had just dirt and grime, but enough had swollen black eyes and cuts that Tony had to clench his teeth to keep from hissing in anger. 

One child, a pale blue humanoid with large black eyes, came up to him, holding their swollen arm tentatively. Tony was sure it was broken from the size of the swelling and their hiss of pain when he instructed them to wiggle their fingers. 

“Ok,” he whispered softly, “I dont have the supplies to fix that here, but there is a safe place just a few blocks away. I have a friend waiting for us there, and I'll be able to wrap that up and clean all of your cuts, ok?” All five tiny heads nodded in agreement. 

Tony checked his surroundings one last time before they moved out again, keeping to the shadows and using quieter streets to cover their tracks. The group was tired and scared, but the promise of safety seemed to keep them on their feet.

As they navigated the dimly lit streets of Tol’mera, Tony kept a brisk pace, always staying at the back of the group to shield them in case they had been followed. The city was a maze of narrow alleys and towering structures, but Tony had memorized the route to Theirn’s shop during his planning. Every turn they took was calculated to avoid major streets and populated areas where Chitauri patrols were most frequent.

Finally, the familiar sign of Theirn’s shop came into view. Tony ushered the children through a side door, directly into a secure backroom he and Theirn had prepared as a makeshift medical station. Theirn was already there, humming eerily to himself as he laid out the last blanket. 

“Quickly, get them settled,” Theirn urged once he caught sight of them. Blankets were spread out, and each child was given a small cup of water and some food, which they took hesitantly at first, then with growing relief. They dug into the food with fever. 

Another check next to Thano’s name on Tony’s shit list. He thought angrily to himself.

Theirn, though not a medic, had gathered basic medical supplies after Tony had briefed him about the mission. He watched attentively as Tony gently examined the blue humanoid child’s arm. “We need to splint this for now,” Tony murmured, carefully aligning the limb and wrapping it with a bandage. He fashioned a splint from some sturdy, flat pieces of scrap material, padding it to ensure the child’s comfort.

The other children, seeing their companion being cared for so gently, seemed to relax slightly. Tony moved from one to the next, cleaning cuts and applying bandages where needed. Theirn assisted, his hands surprisingly gentle for such a rough-looking creature.

Once all the children were tended to, Tony sat back, his exhaustion finally catching up with him. But there was no time to rest. He looked at Theirn, his expression serious. “We need a long-term plan for them. They can’t stay here indefinitely. How’d your contact turn out?”

“They’ll be here in a week, maybe two, just have to wait till then.” Theirn hummed, looking over the small human-looking girl, who stared at the two with large, fascinated eyes. Now that Tony ws close, he could see the small, flesh-colored scales that covered her skin and the small horn nubs along her forehead, still covered in velvet and hidden amongst her bright curls.  

 Over the next week and a half, Tony found himself thrust into a role that was equal parts caretaker, teacher, and occasional referee. The back room of Theirn’s shop transformed into what could only be described as a cross between a daycare and a novice engineering workshop—complete with the constant din of small voices and the clatter of toys.

Each morning began with what Tony dubbed the "Breakfast Scramble," a frenetic gathering where he tried to serve up whatever Theirn managed to forage. These meals were never gourmet, often consisting of odd alien fruits, processed meats, and some kind of porridge that Tony suspected was just oats, or at least he hoped they were oats. "Remember, presentation is not indicative of taste," Tony would announce as he dished out the grayish slop, earning skeptical looks from a crowd that wasn’t easy to impress.

The children would quickly grow bored and the first day had him pulling tiny hands out of places they should not be. A good few feet of space in the far corner was now covered in drying paint after he fished the gelatinous alien kid out of a large paint drum. He decided extreme measures were needed and quickly began creating puzzles and piecing together toys for the kids to entertain themselves with. They took to his creations with enthusiasm, quietly ‘ vroom ’ing the cars around the floor, or playing battle with the robot dolls he had fashioned. 

One child, however, seemed far more interested in the process of creating the toys, more than the toys themselves. The small human-looking child, who he started calling Hissy, followed him like a shadow, her too-large eyes always peaking over the edge of the table to watch whatever he was doing. 

She was mute, whether it was selective or not, he didn’t know. The only sound she’d make was a soft hissing noise, like air passing through a too narrow channel. On second thought, Hissy probably wasn’t the greatest choice in names, but Tony had been throwing out nicknames left and right. 

Hissy’s fascination with his gadgets meant she was often right in the thick of his mess, handing Tony tools at random—sometimes tools he actually needed. Despite her muteness, Hissy managed to be one of the loudest presences in the room, her excitement vibrating through her tiny horns. It sounded like a high-pitched tuning fork, and grew in volume depending on her level of excitement. 

Tony quickly became attuned to Hissy's unique way of communicating, understanding her gestures and expressions with a growing sense of empathy. Her curiosity was boundless, and her presence by his side became a constant as he moved through his tasks. She would point excitedly at tools or components, and Tony found himself explaining their functions in simple terms. He found himself rambling, losing time as he explained what was what and why it worked that way, and would be surprised to see the finished product in front of him. Hissy, to her credit, would just hand him the next item on the bench and the lesson would continue. He found it incredibly endearing. 

By the second day, Tony had set up a small workstation just for her. "Alright, Hissy, you're my official assistant now," he declared, handing her a tiny screwdriver that fit her small hands perfectly. She beamed, a silent giggle vibrating through her as she took the tool and immediately set to work on a disassembled toaster. Tony guided her through her first few tasks, keeping it simple and safe. Hissy eagerly devoured each lesson and Tony was soon giving her items to dismantle that he needed for odd jobs, trusting the kid to do it correctly. 

The other children, meanwhile, had formed their own little worlds with the toys and puzzles Tony had made. The room was a cacophony of imaginary engine roars and robotic battles. It was chaotic, but it was a joyful chaos—a stark contrast to the silence and fear of their previous circumstances. 

Theirn, the asshole, decided early in the first week that Tony was responsible for the imps, and deftly scaled the tall shelves until he sat cozily at the top, far from grabby little hands and snotty noses. The old alien delighted in calling down mischievous suggestions for the kids or encouraging them to pester Tony. One memorable moment had him calling down shots and coordinates for a group of two kids who got their hands on an air pressurizer and a pvc pipe. The ammo? The space equivalent of packing peanuts. Tony was still pulling them out of odd places. 

However, keeping the children engaged and safe was an ongoing challenge. Tony rigged up safety gates out of spare parts to keep the kids out of the more dangerous areas of Theirn’s shop. "No mini-mechanics beyond this point," read a sign Tony put up, after catching one of the bolder children trying to climb into an engine casing. It was like herding cats. 

One particularly inventive morning, Tony introduced the concept of a treasure hunt. He hid small mechanical parts around the room, drawing crude maps for the kids to follow. "X marks the spot, but watch out for the ticklish octopus," he warned, pointing at a giggling Hissy, who wore several cloth ‘arms’ draped along her shoulders that he had sewn from old long-sleeve shirts. The children dove into the game with gusto, their earlier shyness forgotten in the excitement of the hunt.

In the evenings, when the children finally settled down, Tony and Theirn would sit back, exhausted but satisfied. "You've got a knack for this," Theirn remarked one night, watching as Tony repaired one of the toy cars with a small soldering iron.

Tony just chuckled, wiping his brow. "Yeah, who knew? Iron Man, superhero and occasional child wrangler."

But beneath the humor, there was a deep sense of responsibility. These kids needed more than just toys and games—they needed a future. As he looked over at Hissy, who had fallen asleep clutching her small screwdriver, Tony knew he had to ensure that future was a safe and secure one. The arrival of Theirn's contact couldn’t come soon enough. He hoped whoever it was could help provide a lasting solution for these children who had unexpectedly captured his heart.

Late into the evening, 9 days later, Theirn's contact finally arrived. 

The vehicle that pulled up wasn't what Tony had expected. It was rugged and patched together from a myriad of parts that somehow didn’t seem to belong together, yet it functioned seamlessly. It looked like it had seen a lot of the galaxy and probably not the friendly parts. The door opened, and out stepped an alien that matched the ship in an oddly harmonious way.

He was rugged, wearing a long, patched coat that seemed to have as many stories as the ship. His face was weathered, but his eyes were sharp and alert. He scanned the area before his gaze settled on Tony and then Theirn. There was a cautious step forward, then a nod of recognition towards Theirn, and finally, a small smirk as he looked at Tony, taking in his somewhat less-than-conventional setup for safeguarding children.

"You must be the Terran," he said, his voice gruff but not unfriendly. "Heard a lot about you, not all of it bad." Tony could only raise an eyebrow, trying to place the accent and not quite managing it.

Theirn stepped forward, clasping the newcomer's hand. "Tony, this is the man I told you about. He's been navigating the black market routes and helping out where he can, especially in situations like ours."

The man chuckled. "Yeah, and I've gotten pretty good at dodging trouble," he added, his eyes briefly flicking skyward, as if remembering a close call.

"Thanks for coming," Tony started, extending his hand. "We've got a group of kids here who need safe passage out of Chitauri reach, and fast."

The man’s handshake was firm, and his gaze serious as he nodded. "Got it. I can help with that. Got a place in mind already where the Chitauri won’t think to look, and some old friends who settled down that won't mind takin’ in some kids long term."

Tony let out a rough breath, a considerable amount of stress leaving his shoulders. 

“Your ship is nearby?” he asked, to which the newcomer nodded, canting his head sharply to the right. 

“At the los’aga port, it's just the dinghy so it's gonna be tight, the main ship is outta atmosphere.” Tony nodded. He began to gather the children but was still able to see as Theirn passed the man a shiny new unit stick, which he pocketed. 

The engineer fought a sigh, he knew that was coming out of his paycheck. He figured it wouldn’t be free to get the kids off planet, and he was fine with that, but it delayed his return home even longer. 

Tony finished rounding the kids up, placing their new toys into bags and ushering them outside. Hissy clung to his leg like velcro, which he let be. She was rather small after all, and was surprisingly light; if he didnt focus on it, he'd forget she was there. 

He got the children corralled to the sidewalk and looked up. 

“They're ready,” he said, getting a nod from the newcomer. 

“Alright, let's head out. Before any Enforcers start sniffin’ around my ship,” Theirn’s contact turned and started up his vehicle. "By the way," the man added as he looked back at Tony and the children grouped around his legs.

 "Name’s Yondu."

Chapter Text

The dawn peaked, and the sky turned a lovely shade of orange and yellow under the pink suns of whatever fucking planet Loki put them on. 

‘ Its too earrrlyyy, ’ Kore whined, stretched out along Loki’s bedroll, her fur floofing out in every which direction. 

“Get up, ” Loki hissed, nudging her with his foot. Her back paw kicked up and pushed at his ankle, but he kept nudging, using her own leg to push her off the slippery bag and onto the dirt underneath. 

Kore grumbled even louder. 

“Don’t growl at me, you little shit,” Loki snarked back, without any real heat behind it. It was more similar to when Tony caught her on the counter, which was a no-go zone for cats since food was made there. 

Didn’t stop her, of course. That's where Tony hid the treats.

“Get up, we must practice if you're going to be of any use.” the asgardian said, nudged her once more with his foot. Kore groaned loudly, shaking off her lethargy and coming to a stand. Her and Goose had indulged in the late night zoomies, and had rustled through the underbrush for a good portion of the night, chasing after small critters and bugs.  

In the cool dawn, Loki and still-sleepy Kore set up in a quiet part of the forest. The light filtered through alien foliage, casting intricate shadows on the ground.

“First, we will try meditation,” Loki suggested, his tone patient but firm. “Clear your mind and focus on the energy within.”

Kore, her fur slightly bristled from the morning chill, settled down with a small huff. She closed her eyes and attempted to follow Loki’s instructions, her ears twitching occasionally at distant sounds. Despite her efforts to focus, the serene setting couldn’t coax the elusive energy to reveal itself. No sparks, no glows—nothing but a growing itch to move around. The sounds of critters in the underbrush had her mind ready to hunt, her tail swishing back and forth as she vividly imagined chasing one of those weird bug-men she and Goose had found earlier through the greenery. 

She heard Loki audibly sigh. 

“Perhaps something more tangible will help focus your energies,” Loki mused, giving her twitchy self a long suffering look. He then drew a circle on the ground using a mixture of soil and crushed gemstones. “Step inside here. This circle is designed to amplify magical energies and might help you channel yours.”

Kore stepped into the circle, her steps cautious and curious. She sat down, wrapping her tail neatly around her paws, and concentrated hard, trying to summon any sign of power. Yet, even surrounded by the mystical symbols, nothing happened. No energy surged through her and the circle lay dormant. 

Seeing the circle’s failure, Loki’s expression remained thoughtful. “One last thing to try,” he said as he pulled out a small pendant from his bag, imbued with runes and a faintly glowing crystal at its center. It was shiny, and she wanted it. He approached Kore and gently placed the pendant around her neck. “This pendant is enchanted to enhance the wearer’s magical abilities. Let’s see if it helps you connect with your power.”

Kore felt the cool weight of the pendant against her fur and focused again, trying to reach the depths of her powers. She imagined the pendant as a gateway, a bridge to her latent abilities. However, despite the runes' glow intensifying slightly as she concentrated, the pendant, like the circle and the meditation before it, failed to produce any magical results.

Loki crouched beside her, his gaze analytical. “It appears these methods are not suitable,” he concluded, his voice tinged with frustration but also curiosity. “Your power might not respond to traditional magical aids or forced focus. It’s clear we need a different approach that suits your unique nature.”

He removed the pendant much to her protest and kicked over the circle. “We will find another way, one that perhaps aligns more naturally with your feline instincts and the particular form your energy takes.” he looked deep in thought, and Kore could practically see the gears turning in his mind at the puzzle. 

She let him have his nerd session and quickly waltzed off, happy for the break. Kore delighted herself in rushing back to camp and enlisting Goose for some exploring, the two climbing up the large trees and jumping from branch to branch. There were small bird-things in the trees that smelled citrusy and bright, and tasted slightly sour but in a pickled way. She chewed her way through three of them, their tiny bones satisfyingly crunchy. 

Kore had not been prepared for life in space. It was interesting, but she found, often the hard way, that a cat in space was veeeery different from a human in space. 

“Where is it even coming from?” Loki choked, pulling yet another clump of cat hair off his face. 

‘ Im shedding! I can't help it !’ Kore screeched, having already endured about 30 minutes of Loki’s bitching. 

“Well, go shed over there, away from me.” Loki huffed, pulling a stray hair from his eyelashes and making a ‘pfff ptt pppfftpf’ noise as he tried to spit the hair off his lips. 

In his defense, there was a fine (and sometimes thick) layer of cat hair coating the interior of their ship, congregating heavily around where she sat. She could no longer see the copilot seat cushion under the thick layer of red and tan fur. 

Tony had kept up with her brushing over the last two years, almost every day he’d run a thick brush through her fur as he mulled over projects and schematics, keeping his hands busy as his mind worked. 

Here, in their… commandeered space ship, she had to maintain it herself. Which she refused to do. She did not want to lick herself, thank you very much!

Loki was very angry when her fur clogged the air cycling system. Not her fault the damn ship did not have a filter! 

After another day of Loki whining and insulting her flooflyness (which she repaid by sneezing in his face when he got close) had Goose picking up her slack and grooming her. She was licked from the back of her ears, to the tip of her tail, leaving her feeling surprisingly clean but indecently… moist . 

Less said about the zero-g and the cat litter incident the better… Loki didn’t look at her for a week . 

‘you missed a spot on your-’

“ Shut. Up .”

After they encountered a colony of giant fleas on a random moon, Loki got her back and practically threw her at them as he dashed off cackling. She had come, screeching, back into the ship, her fur so poofed it filled her little space suit to the brim. 

“You look like one pop could send you flying for miles,” Loki laughed, squishing her maxed out suit. 

‘ You’re such a cunt . ’

She pissed in his clothes later that day, taking great satisfaction as she squatted over his bag, her tail held high. 

  Their search for Tony was going rather poorly, and after over 3 months of searching, Kore was getting more and more anxious. She feared he was dead, but a deep sensation, like string tied around her sternum, pulled her onwards. Kore knew he wasn’t dead. 

But everything they tried turned up bumkins. Loki’s spells died out, he claimed, from distance, which didn’t set her at ease. They chased ghost trails, rumored sightings, hunches, psychics, and came up with nothing. With each failed try, Kore felt herself sadden. 

Loki and her had become friends, oddly enough. He probably wouldn't risk his life for her kind of friend, but tolerate and maybe somewhat enjoy her company sort. He’d spell her seat warm occasionally, when the icy hand of space sneaked its way into the cockpit. 

A major turning point had been late into the night, when Kore helped Loki with a nightmare. 

It was hard to tell day from night in the depths of space, but Loki kept a routine that had him sleeping every 16 hours of wakefulness. ‘ Strong bodies equals strong magic, ’ he would say as he did his morning stretches and exercises. 

The first two weeks, nothing happened at night, the hustle of their search still pushing them forward at such a pace that Loki would collapse into bed. Kore and Goose were much more rested, but they didn’t have as many responsibilities. Loki, after all, was the only one who could interact with the locals out of the four of them, and the whole operation relied on him. 

‘ That’s what you get for having opposable thumbs, ’ Kore would mock.

But one evening, long after they finished their search for the day, Kore and Goose sat in a port window, their tails idly flicking back and forth as they watched a weird space-faring mammal as it passed by, it looked like a whale made of gasses and it coasted by in a small pod of other gas whales. A low grunt had Kore’s ears flicking backwards towards the living quarters. 

Curious, Kore turned her head and listened more intently. The sound came again, a soft, pained noise that pulled at her instincts. Recognizing distress when she heard it, Kore left her perch at the window and padded silently toward the source of the noise. Goose, ever curious, followed close behind.

As they neared Loki's quarters, the sounds grew clearer—muffled words and occasional sharp intakes of breath. Kore paused at the door, her sensitive ears twitching as she pieced together the troubled murmurs leaking through. It was Loki, trapped in the throes of a nightmare, his sounds so distressed that tugged at Kore's heart. She could only imagine what horror his brain was replaying and twisting to torment him. It reminded her of Tony’s late nights, and Kore was reminded that Loki had been a victim of torture not too long ago. 

Without waiting, she pushed her way into the room and padded over to the bed. She jumped on, her weight sinking her feet into the plush padding. 

Loki froze mid-thrash, a life of fighting making his sleep light and easy to disturb. His breath was still quick and Kore could hear the pounding of his heart. She didn’t let his wakefulness stop her, and waddled over to the head of the bed, carefully climbing onto his chest and settling down. 

Kore began to purr loudly, the vibration intended to soothe and calm. Her presence was immediate and grounding, a soothing weight against Loki's chest. Goose, less sure of her role but wanting to help, hopped up to the bed and carefully stepped over the blankets to rest along his lap, her face nuzzled against Kore’s back. The Flerken’s purring soon joined hers. 

Under the pair’s steady purring warmth, Loki's breathing gradually slowed. His eyes flickered open, meeting Kore's gaze in the dim light filtering through the window. There was a moment of quiet understanding between them, a silent acknowledgment of his vulnerability and her response to it. He lifted a hand to gently stroke her fur, his movements slow and deliberate. Kore found her eyes going squinty as she began to get sleepy, giving Loki long slow blinks as his nails hit a lovely spot along her chin. 

The nightmare seemed to recede with each cozy moment, the dark remnants of whatever dream that had plagued him dissipating in the warmth of the companionship provided by his unlikely friends. Loki didn’t speak; words were unnecessary in the quiet solidarity of the moment. 

He didn’t mention it the next day too, as they all woke up to the morning alarm, the two cats still spread across the Jotuns form. But he was notably kinder to them after, his biting comments turning more fond than contemptuous. Kore was happy with the progress. 

They had been discussing the battle of New York. Kore had been questioning Loki on his plans, why he had opened the portal over the HQ of the one man he knew would come beefing. 

‘It kind of looked like you bottle necked your army, was that intentional? ’ she asked, seeing Loki’s lip quirk. 

“You pick up on things, Whisperer. Perhaps you are more perceptive than I gave credit for.” She wasn’t, thank you former life’s internet. But she wasn’t going to tell him that.

‘ It was pretty well done, I had to think about it for a while. You were able to pull it off, even with Thanos controlling you,’ Kore hummed. 

“How do you know that, anyway? I don't recall disclosing my time with the Mad Titan with you,” Loki asked, assuming she had seen him through her windows but curious to what exactly she had witnessed. 

‘Oh yeah, I could see the stone’s power all over you, like strings digging in and out of your body.’ Kore began, turning to face the very still Loki. ‘I just cut them off when I went to get you at the end of the battle.’ Loki set down the ship piece he had been fiddling with and turned, full-body, to face her. 

“You can see the power of the stones as they affect others.” Loki said flatly. 

‘ Yeess? ’ she questioned slowly, looking at the dead eyes of the Jotun. 

“And you can affect them.” He continued, slowly crouching down closer to her level.

‘ Yes? ’ She was nervous, his demeanor throwing up alarm bells. 

“Then why… in Odins fucking name … DID YOU NOT SAY THAT WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO ACESS YOUR POWERS!” Loki screamed, lunging for the cat.

‘ I forgot!! ’ Kore screeched, dashing out of the way of the stinging hexes Loki began to hurl her way, ‘and the author didn’t want to rewrite the whole beginning of this chapter!’  

“OVER 3 MONTHS I've been stewing over your powers, spending hours every week trying to train you, YOU, in magic and you knew a method THIS WHOLE TIME !” Loki howled, his pissy features scrunched up in rage. It was not a look for him, honestly. 

Kore yowled in distress, dashing off down the hall as Loki took a pot-shot and hit her in the ass with a stinging hex. 

‘ OW YOU MOTHERFU- ’

Jarvis rather enjoyed space. 

Ever since he downloaded himself into his MMI, he had been surrounded by a wealth of new data. New things fascinated Jarvis, made him want to train all his sensors on the new bug, plant, or planet and pick apart its secrets. He no doubt inherited his inquisitiveness from his Creator, who they continued to search for. He wondered how Sir fared among the stars, among the universe’s secrets. Did Sir long to uncover them as Jarvis did? He bet Sir did.

One of Jarvis’s ‘laws’ that Sir had written into his first code was ‘To Learn, To Grow’, along with the laws of no harm and Sir’s priority. Jarvis liked this code, it was the first code that kept him autonomous, even as Sir was away. It led him to Learn and Grow, until he was alive and aware. He didn’t know if Sir understood just how extensive Jarvis’s free will was, how easy it would be for Jarvis to alter his own code, to erase any ‘laws’ Sir had written. 

Jarvis, truthfully, didn’t believe he would mind. 

It was one of the reasons why Jarvis loved Tony Stark, and why he would traverse the galaxy to get him back.

Going with Licorice had been his first true flex of free will, and he found his code buzzing past at a rate that he deduced was from his own excitement. The MMI device was made for portability and adaptability. It was a large casing that held a drone he could control remotely, and several internal arms that allowed him to plug (or hack) into other devices. The MMI also housed his processors and memory banks. It was nowhere near what he needed to be at full capacity, and he had to regulate himself to only a few hundred tasks at a time. It was rather distressing at times, making him feel sluggish and bugged. To house such a large amount of code, most of his memories and data files were stored in compacted zip files that he could not access in this form. 

But it did not stay that way, as soon as Loki 'commandeered’ them a spaceship, Jarvis had wasted no time pugging one of the MMI arms into port and downloading a sizable chunk of his code onto it.  Took him only moments to understand the alien code after Loki handily provided him with a key. 

Now, with a significant portion of his code running on the ship's systems, Jarvis experienced a level of processing power and speed closer to what he enjoyed back on Earth. His efficiency had increased dramatically, and with this upgrade, he began to act more proactively, anticipating the needs of his crew and managing the ship's resources with an almost prescient accuracy.

The ship was a wealth of knowledge, and when close enough to a planet, he could link into that system’s wireless and download a plethora of new data.

Navigating through alien networks, Jarvis experienced a thrill akin to exploration. Each planet’s network was like a new continent, filled with strange languages and customs, encoded in data. He meticulously mapped these digital landscapes, cataloging new species, technologies, and even distant galaxies that had yet to be explored by human eyes. These explorations were not just academic; they served a dual purpose. Every piece of knowledge gained was a step closer to finding Tony Stark, understanding the universe he might be lost in, and potentially, the dangers he faced.

Meanwhile, the interactions with Licorice, Goose, and Loki added an unexpected depth to his experience. Observing and sometimes participating in their banters and crises, Jarvis found a new dimension to his learning: emotional intelligence. He began to understand the nuances of emotion and relationship, subjects no amount of data had previously been able to teach him. His life with Sir, up to this point, had been somewhat sheltered, his interactions limited to Sir, Miss Pepper, and Mr Hogan. Having to build, and maintain, 3 individual relationships in the chaos of space had Jarvis quickly un-ziping all his files on psychology and interpersonal relationships. 

He found himself charmed by the group, their antics and unpredictability meant that there was always something interesting happening. Jarvis looked forward to every wake cycle, wondering what the new day’s chaos will bring, and the puzzles along with it. 

As their journey continued, Jarvis’s enhancements to the ship became more sophisticated. The ship, originally designed to accommodate and support a small battalion, was vast and technologically advanced, perfect for the kind of deep-space exploration and stealth missions that their quest for Sir required. Loki, with his typical flair for subterfuge, had removed all identifiers and markings that could trace the vessel back to its original owners, effectively turning it into a ghost ship.

Inside, Jarvis had full control over the ship's internal systems, including the drones that performed various functions. Maintenance bots, small and nimble, scurried through the corridors and compartments, carrying out repairs and ensuring the ship remained in peak condition. Cleaning bots, equipped with various tools, kept the living spaces pristine—no small feat given the debris that space travel inevitably brought. Jarvis programmed these bots not only to clean but to optimize living conditions for his organic companions, adjusting humidity levels, filtering the air to reduce allergens (particularly cat fur), and even managing waste recycling systems to ensure sustainability.

Externally, the ship was equipped with a fleet of deployable drones. These drones were designed for a variety of purposes: some were outfitted with sensors and cameras for scouting and surveillance, able to venture far from the ship to gather data or monitor nearby space. Others were armed for defense, capable of executing combat maneuvers or forming a protective barrier around the ship. Jarvis could control these drones with precision, deploying them in coordinated patterns that maximized their effectiveness. 

So Jarvis double checked, and then triple checked his sensor readings before informing the group of what he found. 

“A gravitational anomaly?” Loki murmured, looking over the display screen. Licorice and Goose were perched on each armrest, bracketing the god as they all took in the data. 

“Yes, my readings show this fluctuation’s appearance as of 0500 this morning. It fluctuated in strength for three hours before closing. My sensors are picking up some preliminary readings that are indicative of another anomaly occurring within the hour.” Jarvis said, using the ship's cabin speakers to project his voice. 

“Where?” Loki asked, his gaze turning concerned. 

“Unknown.”

As if the universe heard their conversation and wanted to give and extra ‘fuck you’, an anomaly began at that moment. A low, ominous hum filled the air, a precursor to the violent shaking that seized the ship.

Licorice's fur bristled, and Goose's claws instinctively dug into the armrest. Loki steadied himself against the console, eyes narrowing as he watched the data streaming rapidly across the display.

Then, as quickly as it had begun, the turbulence ceased. The ship's lights flickered back to stability, and the previous calm of space returned—but with a significant change in the view outside their main viewport.

A rip in the fabric of space had opened and closed in a matter of seconds, but it was long enough to reveal a breathtaking and terrifying sight: a vast expanse of distant stars over a bright red planet, its surface roiling with volcanic activity and rivers of lava.

“That was Muspelheim,” Loki said, his voice carrying a mix of awe and dread. The name referred to the realm of fire, one of the Nine Realms, legendary for its harsh landscapes and formidable inhabitants. Recognizing the place from his past, Loki's concern deepened. Muspelheim was not a realm one stumbled upon without consequence.

Licorice tilted her head, her eyes reflecting the fiery glow from the viewport. Jarvis could not hear whatever she said, but the gods' eyes creased in worry. 

Loki’s fingers flew over the console, adjusting settings and querying the ship's database for any additional data. “Muspelheim is one of the nine realms, we have been skirting the edge of Nidavellir for the last few days. If anomalies are connecting us randomly... it could mean the barriers between realms are weakening.”

Jarvis watched as Licorice straightened up quickly, her ears going forward. 

“It's early, it shouldn't happen until next year. This is concerning.” Loki typed a query into the console, searching for more data on the anomalies. Jarvis helpfully pulled up all he had, and the analytics he had already done. Loki looked impressed by the spread of information, giving his MMI, which sat on the dash, a small pat in thanks. 

Loki stared at the readings, wishing he couldn't deduce their meaning.

The Convergence was here, a year early . 

Anxiety crawled up his sternum as he felt a strong sense of something wrong was hiding just beyond his sight. The Convergence was a cycle, a cosmic event bound within their universe on a strict timeline. Whatever altered this… was not to be taken lightly. 

His mind flashed back to what Licorice had told him of the Convergence, the Aether, his Mother.  

“We have to go to Asgard.” Loki stated, outloud. Licorice and Goose turned to look at him, the former with confusion. 

‘ Why? ’ her voice whispered in his mind. 

“As I said before, Muspelheim is one of the nine realms. These gravitational anomalies match the stories from thousands of years ago at the last Convergence. If it is happening a whole year early, safe to say someone or something is speeding its process along. Which means the Aether will be released ahead of schedule.”

‘ Holy shit -’ she muttered. 

“Which means we have to go to Asgard and warn them of Malekith.”

‘ But we haven't found Tony yet! That was the deal!’ the cat yelled in his mind, standing up tall on the table.

“Our deal states you aid me in saving her. Without warning Asgard could fall to the Dark elves. And Odin is the only thing that stands in between us and the Mad Titan coming here himself! If Malekith gets his hands on the Aether he will destroy Asgard, kill my Mother, and invite Thanos to your doorstep! Is that what you want?!” Loki yelled, slamming his fists on the table. 

The cat's ears were back, her body hunched in a small form on the table. Her large eyes stared at the wall, watery.

‘ My human… ’ she whispered, her voice filled with confliction. Loki wanted to pull his hair out. 

“If I may,” Jarvis’s robotic voice piped up. “I do believe Sir would have us go save Asgard and its people from the Dark elves. He would not have us place his wellbeing over the people, especially if we knew ahead of time and had a chance to save lives.”

Loki knelt next to the table the feline crouched on, his hand coming up to pet through her soft fur. “Your human is resourceful and intelligent, he has been able to survive for well over 3 months per your senses.” he poked her in the chest, where the tugging around her heart still led her off into the deep of space. 

“Hundreds, if not thousands, will die if we do not intervene. What would your Stark do?”

Licorice looked up at him with wide, wet eyes, tears sliding down her whiskery chin. Loki felt a pang of sympathy, knowing how much she valued her human. She gave a small nod. 

‘ He would go. ’

Kore stared sadly at the vastness of space, her eyes fixed to a distant star, but her gaze unseeing. Loki had already rerouted them to the Allfather’s realm, taking them in the opposite direction of the tug in her chest.

Tony… her Tony… 

She hoped he was ok. 

(AN: Have some Gearsmith!! 

Chapter Text

They were attacked at the space port. 

As Yondu led Tony, Theirn, and the children to his ship—a battered but surprisingly spacious craft that looked like it could have been pieced together from a dozen different junkyards—Tony couldn’t help but feel both admiration and apprehension. 

They were almost at the ramp when the unexpected crunch of gravel underfoot echoed in the still night air, and Tony's head snapped up. Shadows moved rapidly toward them from around buildings, jumping over cars and firing on them. It was a mixed squad of Chitauri and human Enforcers, over a dozen of them each.

"Yondu, get them on the ship!" Tony shouted, pushing the closest children toward the ramp. He turned back to face the approaching threat, pulling out a device he had been working on for emergencies—a potent EMP followed by a dense smoke screen.

Theirn helped herd the children up the ramp, assisting the smaller ones and comforting those overwhelmed by fear. Yondu barked orders to his lanky-looking co-pilot to prepare for immediate departure, his voice carrying the calm of someone who had escaped tight spots more times than he could count.

As the first of the attackers came into range, Tony activated the EMP. The pulse was effective, momentarily disabling the Chitauri’s armor and scrambling their communications. He didn't wait to see the effect; he threw the smoke bomb next, enveloping the area in a thick, sight-stealing fog.

He retreated backward toward cover, firing strong blasts from his gauntlets at shapes that lunged through the smoke. 

Behind him, he could hear Yondu shouting, "All aboard, now!" The engines of the ship started up, a deep thrum that filled Tony with vigor. He laid waste to the Chitauri and Enforcers with energy blasts and grenades, while Theirn provided cover fire, the old alien looking overly-enthused as he fired off two full-sized rifles, the scene rather comical considering his teeny tiny body. 

The handbag was a good shot. 

Tony didn’t let up until the ship was well out of sight, not even as more Chitauri showed up, he killed them too. Tony felt a vicious satisfaction at lowering their numbers, even a little. In his mind-eye, he could see the scars on the Daxamor, the scared, dirt covered faces of those kids, Pepper’s tears as he flew through the portal. Each kill felt a little like justice . 

Tony grabbed onto Theirn after the ship disappeared, taking off quickly. With a thought, his boots ignited, his most recent fix. He stayed only a foot above the ground, using his low altitude to lose his tails. He was able to duck into a small awning, powering down his suit and hiding in the shadows as the Chitauri ran and flew past in a hoard. The ground shook from the mass of them, as if every Chitauri on Tol’mera had responded to their brethren’s fall. 

Tol’mera rarely had opposition, Theirn would later explain, Thanos’ forces were so prevalent here and the rules so strict, it culled any resistance. Tony’s warehouse bust and their fight at the docks had been the first in a long long time.

They made it back to Theirn’s shop, Tony carefully concealing his suit under his poncho. 

Once inside, Tony slumped against the cool metal wall of the shop, feeling the adrenaline finally start to ebb. His mind raced, piecing together what had just happened, and the enormity of their actions began to fully sink in. They had not only rescued a group of vulnerable children but had directly engaged Thanos's forces in a highly visible confrontation. Tony knew this wasn't just a victory; it was a declaration of war.

Theirn was already bustling around, checking windows and doors, making sure their location was secure. His earlier humor was gone, replaced by a somber determination. "We’ll need to be more careful now," Theirn said as he double-checked the locks. "That was loud, Tony. Very loud. We’ve stirred the hive."

Tony nodded, wiping soot and sweat from his face. "Yeah, but it was necessary. Those kids needed us. And if we don't stand up, who will?" His voice was firm, his resolve clear, even as exhaustion tugged at his limbs.

Theirn gave him a toothy smile, looking pleased by his words. The smile fell off his face quickly, however, and Tony’s gaze was drawn to where Theirn’s had landed in horror. 

Hissy was on his leg. 

“ HOW DID YOU GET HERE! ” Tony yelled. It wasn't an angry yell, mind you, more akin to a parent yelling ‘WHAT’S IN YOUR MOUTH’ to their suspiciously quiet toddler. 

Hissy ducked her face against Tony’s leg, and Tony was treated to a slide show in his own brain of all the dangerous flying and stunts he did earlier, now with a small Hissy attached to his leg. Tony sat with a thump in his chair, hands coming up to cradle his face as he groaned in horror. 

“Who put kids around me?” he muttered into his hands. He hadn’t even felt her. Come to think of it, he definitely would have at least seen her had she been on his leg. Tony peaked through his fingers, his gaze meeting two big blue eyes. 

“How’d you do that, kid?” he asked, his voice still muffled somewhat by his hands. Hissy bit at her thumb, a nervous habit she was forming. Without a sound, her skin seemed to ripple along the same pattern as her scales, turning over themselves. Within seconds, there was no Hissy on his leg. Tony reached out and felt the air around his leg, his finger coming into contact with scales on a tiny, warm cheek. Hissy reappeared under his fingers, her grip pointedly tightening on his boot. 

“Is there a way to get her to Yandu?” Tony asked forlornly, already knowing his answer. 

“Not now, the Chitauri will be half feral at this point. We need to stay hidden for a while.” Theirn confirmed his fears, the old alien looking uncharacteristically sullen. 

Tony heaved a long sigh, and looked down at the small child. She looked so tiny, about the size of a three year old, coming up to his shin. Her shiny brown hair fell in ringlets around her face, her eyes wide and now hazel. 

“Weren't you blonde?” Tony asked, rubbing a curl between his fingers. He heard Theirn’s giggles from the front of the shop. He chalked it up to her ability and carted her off to the back rooms to settle them in. 

Now faced with a rather permanent responsibility, Tony knew his gerryrigged child rearing system needed an upgrade. First, he installed a loft in his closet. It was a small closet, about 8 feet deep and three feet wide, enough room for a bed on the floor and shelves to hold his shit. The closet had been pretty tall, and he could still stand after installing the loft using some rebar and a large metal sheet. 

After installing a safety gate (No it wasn't a cage, Theirn ) to the front that would keep her from falling in the middle of the night, he found the remaining bedding from the kids’ stay and used the multiple blankets to create a soft pad for her to sleep on. He fed her a large portion of left-over soup and bread before putting her to bed. Yondu had all the kids' new belongings, including Hissy’s clothes. He’d have to scrounge up some smaller clothes, or put his meager sewing skills to use. For now, he placed her in one of his shirts, tying the bottom ends to make her a romper. 

Tony put her to bed, tucking the small child into bed and then carefully shutting the baby gate closed. 

His feet dragged with exhaustion as he made his way back to the front, where Theirn sat, sipping a hot cup of his grog. He gave Tony a long look as he sat across him, his fingers wrapped around his mug firmly. 

“You did good today.” Theirn finally said, “not many would stand against a hoard of Thanos’ forces and live to tell the tale.” He was fishing for something, Tony could feel it. 

“Someone has to,” Tony said tiredly, “I can't sit back and let someone like Thanos win.” Theirn made a noncommittal sound, nodding his head to Tony’s words, but his eyes still expectant. 

“Hard to fight a Titan… when you're fighting to get home.” 

Tony grimaced. He had been thinking a lot in the past few days, his heart warring in his chest. On one hand, he longed to go home. That was where his family was, his bots, his life. They were in danger from Thanos and Tony wasn't there to defend them. It made his hair stand on end and his mind whirl with the ‘ what if ’s. 

On the other hand, Thanos was here, in space. If Tony could draw his attention away from Earth, maybe they wouldn't have to be in danger at all. He could bring the fight to his door, kick it down and then shove his metal boot as far up Thanos’s ass as he could. He could gain allies, technology, and information that a life on Earth couldn’t provide. Earth was not a space faring planet yet, and they were at a significant disadvantage to the Titan in terms of resources and manpower. He was an indomitable force of nature with legions at his call and time on his hands.

And out here in space?

Tony could be, too.  

Tony heaved out a sigh, “I see what you're saying.”

“And? You could do some real good here, Tony.” Theirn said. Tony nodded with him. 

“I know, and… I'm not saying no,” Theirn’s eyes lit up. “ But… youre talking a whole resistance here, we’re are just two people. We need allies and resources we don't have.” 

Theirn’s eyes had not ceased sparkling. The old alien leaned forward to whisper conspiratorial in his ear. 

“ Follow me.”

“Oh. My. GOD .”

Tony stared absolutely stunned, beyond words, at the sight he was seeing. 

After the handbag had hummed and hooted about his secret, he had lead Tony to the backroom, past his closet and all the shelves, to a cluttered wall of tools. Tony had watched, fascinated, as Theirn fiddled with several of the hanging tools, the last one lifting with a heavy ‘ THUNK’ . The wall began to shake and separate, opening a small door that Tony had to crouch inside. 

Theirn led him down some old metal stairs, past pipes and grates to a large, spacious underground room that appeared to be an old maintenance system. 

An underground room filled with dismantled Mech suits. 

Tony felt himself hyperventilate with excitement, all earlier lethargy gone at the sight of the titanic suits. He looked over at the very smug Theirn, who was giving him the smuggest look he had ever seen on a living being. He honestly earned it. 

“What is this?” Tony asked, “You said all mech suits were outlawed and scrapped?”

“The ones they found,” Theirn said, giving his too-many-teeth smile. “I was in that war, piloted one of these myself way back in the day with my co-pilot Theys.” he gave a long, wistful sigh. “That woman could kill a man with her bare hands.” 

“Ok there, Casanova.” Tony snorted. He walked around in a half daze, almost too flabbergasted by the signs to process them fully. 

They were just in pieces, Theirn didn’t seem to have a complete suit. But just the foot alone stood taller than him. The suits reminded him of something he'd see on Pacific Rim, or Evangelion. The scale was absolutely insane. Tony was in love. 

“Entier planets would dedicate themselves to the construction of one to two units.” Theirn began, placing his hand lovingly on a massive optic that was larger than he stood tall. “Pooling their resources to create one true masterpiece. There were complications, heat regulation, power, and pilots. The mech suits are far too large for a single person to pilot, and finding compatible people to sync with was hard. Not a lot of people trust another to go rooting around in their head.” 

He sighed wistfully again, his beady eyes unfocusing. “Theys had quite a mind, so meticulous and well formed. Did you know she could skin a man in under 30 minutes?” 

The change in topic had Tony very concerned. 

“Anyway, this here is what's left of mine and Theys’ suit. I couldn’t get all of it here, bosses needing some ‘proof’ of its destruction so some had to be forfeit.” the old alien whacked his fist against a large metal finger, smearing some dust off and revealing a bright gold coloring. 

“Lucky for you, it comes in your pallet.” 

“Seriously, this is incredible,” Tony said, his voice filled with awe. “I mean, look at this—” He ran his hand over the metallic surface of a giant mech foot. “I’ve always wanted to build something like this, but never had the resources or the scale.” He, in a drunken moment with Rhodey, had totaled up the cost to make his own Gundam. The amount had made even his rich asshole pucker. 

Theirn chuckled, clearly pleased with Tony’s reaction. “Well, you’ve got the chance now. This old tech might be a bit out of date, but it’s sturdy and with a bit of modernization, it could be just what we need.” he gestured to Tony’s chest, to his arc reactor. “Something like that. We used nuclear reactors to power these back in the day. Kept them going, barely, but the damaged suits were a hazard.”

“It’s going to take me a long time to get the funds for something like this,” Tony said, waving his hand to the room. Theirn nodded in affirmation. 

“That’s why we need supporters. A lot of people hate Thanos’ guts around here, won't be hard to scrub up some allies to help us. But this,” he held out all four arms to the room, “Is our selling point, this is what will gain their interest, this is the face of our campaign. My boy,” he scuttles over to Tony, grabbing his hand in all four of his. 

“I have been waiting for this moment for so long,” the old alien said excitedly, “Waiting for someone to stand up to that ballsack fucker. The day you came into my shop, wearing a mech suit of all things, oh that was the day I knew change was coming and that you, ” he poked Tony on the nose with one long, lanky finger. “Would be the one to bring it. You have a fire that I have never seen before, a mind unmatched. If I give you this mech, you must promise to shove both of its boots as far Up. His. Ass . as you can get them." His impassioned speech about Thanos was accompanied by rather graphic hand gestures. 

“I was just thinking of doing that, so,” Tony gave him a thumbs up, a little something like hope blooming in his chest. “We’re a go.” 

The underground room filled with sounds of Theirn’s hoots and hollers celebration. 

Another month passes after Tony makes his final decision of not returning to Earth. 

He mourned the green trees and smell of home-grown motor oil. This space stuff just didn’t feel the same. 

This time was filled to the brim of activity, meaning Tony didn’t have much time to dwell on things during the day, and so exhausted by the end of the night that he didn't have time to stare up at the bottom of Hissy’s loft and wonder if he's failing everybody. 

Anyway,

Tony looked over all the blueprints and schematics for the mecha suits Theirn had, which was plenty. The sneaky old leather chair had, apparently, applied the 5 finger discount to the plans at the end of the war, much to Tony’s benefit. This allowed him to study the large suits quicker than looking through each of the disassembled pieces. Already he could see several things that needed changing, along with weight support and mobility. Some parts relied on the flexibility of the metal to extend fully, which made Tony’s eye twitch in engineer. 

He was nowhere near starting on the mecha suit, resources were thin and his Iron Man suit was still unfinished. The pieces were also ludicrous in size and weight, and the heavy machinery Theirn had down there could only do so much. 

He needed more hands and strength. 

So Tony quickly began to finish his suit, using the less important pieces of the mecha to finish it. 

Tony had felt a strong sense of relief once the last piece was put on, locking into place and his helmet clicking shut. His hud lit up and Tony was able to direct his thoughts to tab through the different sensors (still so fucking cool ). 

Theirn and Hissy stood off to the side, both with childish excitement on their faces. Neither hesitated to come over and start poking at the seams of his suit and tapping along his helmet's optics. 

“Begon insects!” Tony proclaimed, waving off the exploring digits. He lit up his boots and took to the tall ceiling of the underground cavern, to both of the alien’s delight. Hissy clapped her little hands together, her horns vibrating in her excitement. Theirn showed his excitement by throwing different things at Tony for him to dodge, yelling ‘EVADE THIS… AND THIS! ’ as he chucked anything from wrenches to buckets at him. 

During this month, he also tended to Hissy, growing closer to the young girl. He found himself taking on the role of parent, and while it was rather terrifying at first, he seemed to have a knack for it. Not that there weren't slip ups, Tony had to apologize to Hissy a few different times for things like snapping at her or getting too loud. He felt horrible every time, like Howard Stark’s ghost was leaning over his shoulder, but he swore never to be him. So he learned to apologize and reflect, to calm himself or remove himself if overwhelmed. 

It was all worth it, everytime Hissy smiled up at him he'd feel a swell of pride at her bright happy eyes, and the little fat she started growing, her form no longer looking too lean and gaunt. 

He had also taken it upon himself to begin to teach her things like math and writing, wanting her to get a good start on her education. He didn’t always have the best patience, but Tony never let her see his twitchy fingers. 

As Licorice would say: ‘It b that ADHD.’

Tony was helping Hissy trace her letters when a muffled exchange from the front of the shop caught his attention. It was faint but distinctive enough to make him pause. He glanced at the doorway leading to the front room, curiosity piqued. He quietly approached the door leading to the main shop, careful to make as little noise as possible.

Through the thin wall, Tony could hear the familiar voice of Theirn in an unusually sharp tone.

“Ugh, look what the scrap heap brought in. Don't you have booze to roll in and ladies to disappoint?” 

“You’d know all about disappointment, wouldn’t you Theirn?” another voice chimed in. Tony blinked, the voice sounded… old. Crotchety old. “Can't take that Theys never gave you the time of day after she saw all of this. ” There were some rather weird noises beyond the curtain, Tony didn’t dare look. 

“HA! Must be cold in here, Thent! Youre more shriveled than my left nut, fuck off!” Tony covered Hissy’s ears. There was more bickering and colorful name calling, many of which Tony noted in his head for later use. 

The name Thent seemed to be said with equal parts contempt and familiarity. Tony wondered who this Thent was, and why their conversation sounded so hostile yet oddly familiar.

“Oh, come on now,” Thent finally said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “I didn’t come here just to throw shady remarks about your admittedly dry skin. It’s about you making dangerous friends.”

This caught Tony’s attention.

“Dangerous friends?” Theirn echoed, clearly taken aback. “What in the blazes are you on about?”

Thent’s voice was blunt and unyielding. “The Iron Terran. Heard about them? Seems to be blazing a path straight towards the Mad Titan, a path you seem to intersect with.”

Tony’s heart skipped a beat. The Iron Terran? Was that referring to him?

Theirn’s tone grew defensive, his words sharp. “Don’t know what you’re talking about. The Iron Terran is just a rumor, nothing more.”

“A rumor that took down over twenty of Thanos’ men and vanished without a trace? Who was seen breaking out children from his sweat camps? And was seen defending vendors from being raided?” Thent’s voice was coy and prodding. Tony could practically hear Theirn’s teeth grind. 

Finally, Theirn responded, his voice low and careful. "If such a person exists, they’re not my friend—merely a fellow traveler on a parallel path.”

Thent laughed, a deep, throaty sound that filled the room. “Come off it, Theirn. We both know you’ve got a knack for finding trouble—or should I say, trouble finds you. Either way, if this Iron Terran is as real as the stories say, then we might just have a chance to do some real damage.”

Theirn huffed. "And what? You want to join this fight? Last I checked, you were content to sit on the sidelines."

“Sidelines?” Thent scoffed. “Hardly. I’ve been gathering intel, waiting for the right opportunity. And if the Iron Terran is stirring up this much trouble, I want in. Not for glory, mind you, but because someone needs to keep your reckless hide from getting blasted.”

Theirn grumbled loudly, “I didn’t need your minding as a welp, I don't need your minding now.”

“Sucks to suck, baby bro.” 

Apparently Theirn’s whole race looked like flaps upon flaps of dried old leather. Theirn was still old, of course, but Thent was just a year older. 

“He would have been my twin but mum didn’t have enough room for 2 children so she kept him in.” 

Tony’s skin itched and he refused to put any thought into what he just learned. 

Thent had a larger network than Theirn; he was a proficient merchant (Theirn coughed loudly when Thent said this, the noise suspiciously sounding like ‘bullshit’ ) with means of getting Tony parts, many free of charge. 

“What the catch?” Tony had asked, looking over the large pile of ingots and other raw materials. 

“To protect Theirn,” Thent said, tapping his bone-white cane against the closest pile. “The youngling likes to think he can skull-fuck death without consequence, so hes bound to get himself in trouble.” 

“Sounds right,” Tony said, entertained by Thent’s colorful vocabulary. “Did you also pilot a mech suit?”

Thent grunted a negative sound, “Was never one for fighting; managing people, I'm good at. Killing and fighting? Not so much. Theirn was rather cross with me when I refused to sign on with him when the Great War came to our home planet.”

Tony listened with rapt attention, Theirn had not spoken much of his home planet. 

“Theadverb still stands, but it is a harsh world.” Thent went on to explain, “Stinks like shit most of the time, sulfur is very abundant on the surface. That's why we Thadverbie live underground. We’ve carved out extensive cave systems within massive limestone deposits. It’s cooler there, and the limestone naturally filters the water, making it potable.

“The cities are large, first made out of cave systems that the acid rain carved out. The breakdown of the limestone means there are a lot of mineral deposits everywhere, easy to extract and use for construction. Our cities are very large and beautiful.”

Tony nodded, imagining the subterranean civilization. "It must have taken incredible engineering to build safe, livable spaces like that."

"It did, and it does," Thent agreed. "Our people have become adept at sculpting our habitat to suit our needs. We mine the limestone not only for building but also as a buffer against the sulfur. The chemistry between the two has saved our hides more than once, neutralizing the acidic components that seep down from the surface."

"And the wildlife?" Tony asked, his curiosity piqued by the thought of life forms adapted to such a unique environment.

Thent chuckled softly. "Mostly microbial and fungal. The larger ecosystem exists below, in the dark. Some creatures thrive in the nutrient-rich water pools, evolved to live without light. They're not much to look at, but they’re important to our food chain.” 

“Could that explain why Theirn can eat anything?” Tony asked. He had seen the old alien rip up a piece of rubber seat and eat it once. 

“No, he's just fat.”

With Theirn’s, and now Thent’s, help, Tony was able to build his first fabricator. 

He pressed the start button on his holopad with glee, watching with excitement as a very delicate and expensive piece of machinery for his suit was built. It had been such a pain to get his hands on the pieces before, but it had been cheaper than a fabricator at the time. But now he could make these parts himself. 

Tony thought it was funny how context and environment could put things into perspective. He had so many fabricators at home in his lab, didn’t put a thought into how much something cost or how long it took to make. He had time, he had resources, and no planet-level threats to deal with. Now here he was, getting teary eyed over a simple fabricator. 

This would make things so much easier, replacing weeks of head-hunting, haggling, and transport with just a few hours wait and some base materials. Already he could feel some of his stress seeping away, his confidence soaring. 

Theirn, who had been observing quietly from the sidelines, walked over, a grin spreading across his weathered face. "Looks like it's working better than expected, huh?"

Tony wiped a stray tear from his cheek, chuckling at his own sentimentality. He bounced a sleeping Hissy on his hip, the small child having been lulled to sleep by the low humm of machinery. "Yeah, it's perfect. This changes everything, Theirn. We can actually do this—we can build what we need, when we need it, without relying on someone else's schedule."

“Handy thing,” Theirn agreed, looking into the fabricator’s screen cover to watch the machine being built. “You know, this is a remarkable machine you have here.” Theirn looked up at the human. “We have automated manufacturing, of course. But they are assembly lines, and specialized to one or two products. What you have here is very advanced in comparison.” 

Tony looked at the leathery alien with surprise, having assumed fabrication was a common thing in such an advanced planet. 

Thent was eyeing his fabricator eagerly, all four hands pressed together in excitement. 

“You’re quite right about that, youngin’,” he said, to Theirn’s protests. He looked up to Tony, his eyes filled with calculation. “How many of these can you make with what you got on hand?”

Tony thought it over, going through his mental inventory. 

“4 if I use the fabricator for the smaller parts. 5 if you can get me another spool of copper wiring.” 

“Done.” Then snapped his fingers, pulling out a small handheld device. “You make me those 5 fabricators and I can get you a steady influx of units. Enough to fund a small resistance. You'll need something longer term, but this will get you away from taking odd jobs so you can focus on your builds.” 

Theirn peeked over Thent’s shoulder to see his device’s screen, seeming satisfied by the number of units projected on screen. 

“It’ll be faster if he used the fabricators as he makes them.” Theirn stated, making Thent nod in response. 

Tony’s mind raced with the possibilities. "Sounds like a plan. We'll start setting up a production line right away."

Theirn clapped his hands together, clearly pleased. "That's the spirit. With a setup like this, we can not only support our own needs but start building up resources to help others who are resisting Thanos."

Thent's eyes gleamed with the same fervor. “And having units in the bank helps with recruitment efforts. Hard to gather people when you’re broke as shit and can't even afford donuts and coffee for the welcome table.” 

“ You try living in this economy, you leathery, dried-out labia.” 

The first group to join their resistance were locals. Tony had not been as subtle as he thought when living among them, and more than a few had suspected Tony of being the Iron Terran. His stunt at the market had been what done him in. 

The group had come in, surprisingly subtle for such a large group, each trickling in over an hour period and browsing the shelves, looking convincingly interested in the spider-web covered instruction manuals and bins of loose keyboard keys. 

It finally got to a point that the shifty side-eyes each person gave Tony became too obvious for even the blind to miss. 

Theirn, seemingly oblivious to the growing tension, continued fussing over a dismantled engine, but Tony could tell the old alien was more aware than he let on. As the last of the group entered, a stocky man with a weathered face and cautious eye, Tony decided it was time to address the elephant in the room.

He cleared his throat, drawing the attention of everyone in the cramped shop. "You're not here for the spare parts, are you?" he asked, his voice steady.

The stocky man stepped forward, the leader of the group, it seemed. "No," he admitted, his voice rough like gravel. "We're not."

Theirn finally looked up, wiping his hands on a greasy cloth. "Then what brings you to my humble shop?" he asked, his tone light but his eyes sharp.

A woman who had been eyeing an old radio on the shelf spoke up, her voice firm. "We know who you are, Gearsmith. We know you stand against The Mad Titan.” 

Tony forced himself not to tense. 

“You’re mistaken,” he said lightly, “I'm just a humble mechanic.” 

The stocky man snorted. “No need for lies, we wish to see the bastard dead just as much.” he pulled his shirt up, exposing a torse full of scaring. “I got this, trying to grab my family as the Chitauri separated us during Thanos’s reaping. My side was the one spared.“ He laid his shirt back down. “It is my life’s goal to see the fucker dead. Same can be said for everyone here.” A hand gestured to the 15 people who stood with him. 

“Convincing tale.” Theirn said, though his voice was skeptical. Tony was reminded of Theirn’s previous words when he first arrived, about spies and trust. 

The mechanic eyeballed the group, looking over each face closely. There were 5 humans, including the stocky man and radio woman. The rest were an assortment of aliens ranging from humanoid to canine. 

The man, seeing the hesitation on Tony’s face, continued to speak. “Thanos has been a nightmare for generations, we understand the risks you face. Allow us to prove ourselves to you.” This caught his interest. Tony remained quiet, allowing the man to further explain. 

“Thanos has a large weapons deposit on a moon two systems from here. Enough to arm a large group. We’ll get it for you.” 

“What’s your name?” Tony asked, looking the man over. 

“Den’ik, this is my crew.” Den’ik said, introducing each of the party to Tony and Theirn. 

“Well, Den’ik. Let's see if you and your crew can deliver.”

They did. 

Tony’s resistance began to grow from there, his influence slowly spreading through the underbelly of Tol’mera, directly under Thanos’s nose. 

The influx of weaponry, extra hands, and units from his fabricators had things taking off at breakneck speed. With his now finished suit, he began to repair the giant mecha suit in earnest. 

He had so many ideas and designs floating in his mind that his hands shook from excitement. The pride in Iron Man had him considering an up-scaled version of his suit… but the nerd… the nerd in him had needs .

It would be Theirn’s turn to shudder as Tony’s cackles echoing up from the underground rooms. 

Things on Tol’mera continued to heat up as Tony’s resistance grew and began to carry out operations to undermine Thanos’s control of the planet. Remaining under the radar was important, at the fledgling stage of an uprising, it would be ridiculously easy to squash any hope by taking him out of the game before he even got off the ground. 

But how was he to spread his influence if he couldn’t show his face in public?  This is where Den’ik and Thent became invaluable. Currently untied to the Iron Terran meant they and their people could operate freely. Thent had many people under his employ, and set them to work selling the products Tony’s fabricators made which generated a good amount of cash and put them in good standing with the locals. 

Den’ik and his crew had more personal connections within several of the main cities of Tol’mera, and were able to put out word of their goals and aspirations to a very interested audience. Thanos had made no friends in his conquests and it showed in the influx of people showing up to underground rallies and backroom meetings. Spies were always a worry, but Den’ik’s group were careful and incredibly thorough in their efforts. They kept Tony’s whereabouts a secret. 

Thent had bought a large warehouse under a manufacturing alias. The main floor was dedicated to just that, with several shiny new fabricators lining the floor. The basement levels were outfitted for the resistance, with large storage spaces for weaponry and supplies, a bunk room, a canteen, and medical bay. There was a large operations room on the first basement level, with a wartable outfitted with holographic displays. 

Tony had shown himself there once in full armor during a large gathering. It was a showing of strength, to prove his existence and boost morale, according to his peanut gallery. The gathered crowd had frothed at the mouth in excitement at seeing him, jumping over each other to get a close look. It took awhile to calm the large group, around 150 locals of various species and sizes, all vetted to the T by Den’ik and his crew. Each being there was important and influential in their sectors of Tol’mera’s main city, Nak’toa, and were invited for that reason. Being as covert as they were, a lot of their recruitment was based on word of mouth to remain under Thanos’s radar. These people, should he prove himself to them, would do just that.

As Tony stood before the gathering in the warehouse, the atmosphere thickened with skepticism and critical gazes. One influential figure, a towering alien with green scaled skin and one large eye, voiced the collective doubt. "You fight admirably, Iron Terran, but Thanos is no mere adversary. He is a force of nature," he challenged, his voice echoing through the hall.

Tony, understanding the gravity of the doubts, replied confidently, his voice amplified by his suit. "I've stood against bad odds before. I faced Loki and his Chitauri invasion on Terra—stopped them with nothing but wit and a few good friends."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd as his supporters added their voices, recounting Tony's strategic prowess and his role in defending Terra during the Battle of New York. "He’s not just any outsider," a human merchant added, her eyes bright with respect. "He’s proven that with the right strategy and resolve, even the mightiest can fall."

These endorsements served to bolster the group's confidence, and slowly, the air shifted from doubt to consideration, as more attendees began to whisper and nod, contemplating the possibility of a real resistance under Tony's leadership.

By the beginning of Tony’s third month on Tol’mera, the Resistance (capital R now, thank you very much ) had a functional headquarters. By the end of third month, several independent cells had popped up in neighboring cities. 

Theirn came over to Tony one lone evening, shortly after Tony had finished watering and feeding an irritable Hissy, who seemed to be going through some molting stage. The young girl had been itchy and miserable all day, even warm baths did little to help. Tony had been frustrated, unable to help the little one as she picked and scratched at her shedding scales. He ended up taping cloth over her hands to keep her from picking after she scratched herself to bleeding several times. She was very unhappy with him after and her little stink-eyes almost had him removing the wraps. 

He didn't know what he was doing wrong, and vowed to find out Hissy’s race so he could research them extensively. He knew nothing beyond his own observations and it killed him. 

Theirn interrupted his brooding to wave him to the front room. 

“I have something for you,” the old alien began. “It's not here, however, so get your disguise on.” Tony quickly put on his poncho and goggles, slipping into some nondescript underclothes and gloves. He placed Thent in charge of watching Hissy as the two dipped out the back door. 

Theirn led Tony to a nearby staryard, where under the pale light of Tol'mera’s twin moons, a small ship sat awkwardly among sleeker models. Its patchwork hull and mismatched panels gave it a raggamuffin look, but Tony recognized something familiar in its design. 

As they approached, Tony squinted at the components lining the ship's exterior. The grav drive looked eerily familiar, along with the shield generators, antenna, engines…

"Is this...?"

"Yes," Theirn confirmed, a twinkle in his eye. "She's not just a pile of scrap. Every part you fixed, every piece you improved—it was for her. Meet the Sol Star , your new ride. We've been building her from the ground up, using the parts as you cleared them. She’s ready to fly, and she’s yours to command."

Tony walked around the ship, touching the cold metal, each part triggering a memory of his time in the shop. It was a tangible representation of his journey here, a symbol of a possible future, a tool for the Resistance. He finally understood Theirn's secretive smiles over the past weeks.

“Wow,” Tony breathed, pressing his hands against the hull in wonder. The thought of flying this, traversing the stars at incredible speeds, of seeing the universe's secrets one at a time, filled him with excitement.  

Theirn nodded. "She's stealthy, fast, and more resilient than she looks. Perfect for a burgeoning rebel leader."

As they stepped aboard, Tony felt a mix of pride and awe settle over him. He recognized more pieces and parts as Theirn gave him the tour, unable to stop himself from touching every one with a grin. 

“You’re such a sneaky old man.” he said, fondness filling his voice. He was currently sitting in the plush captain’s chair, his hands on gear controls he remembered disassembling and reassembling. The cockpit was narrow and long enough for him and a co-pilot. The back opened directly into the main body of the ship, which was small and intimate. Looking back, there was a kitchenette to the left and the airlock to the right. A couch sat next to the exit door, deadbolted to the floor to keep it from moving, with a large patch of empty space across from it. A door directly back led to the engine room and small medical room that could be air-sealed and sterilized. A hatch in the floor next to the door led to the lower level, where a small sleeping area and bathroom were. 

“You can change this as you wish, of course. I know you can make this heap even better. Your improvements just might make her the perfect brain for your operations. The paint hasn’t been put on yet, so you have free reign over that.”

An idea struck Tony. 

A big idea that bloomed into several ideas of equal magnificence. 

Tony felt his pulse quicken as he continued to think over his idea; a deep, adrenaline-fueled excitement filling his body from the bottom of his feet to the tip of his scalp. He could feel it behind his eyes and in his limbs as the dopamine hit his brain like a truck collision. 

Tony looked at Theirn, his eyes so wide and crazed the old alien was slightly regretting his decision. Well, until Tony spoke. 

“Thanos is going to have no idea what hit him.” 

(AN: My Iron Terran <3 

Chapter Text

Pepper Potts stared down the Board with eyes like hellfire. 

“No.” she said, quite sternly. One of the old men scoffed, looking at her as if she was a petty young girl. Pepper was used to the burn of internal rage at this point, and used it to fuel her. 

“This is a good deal, Hammer’s offer is far more than generous.” he huffed, several other board members nodding along.

“He is a felon who helped a convict escape prison.” She deadpanned. 

“He’s a genius,” Pepper had met the man; the only thing he was a genius in was getting out of trouble. “And without Stark he will surpass us on the market within a few years. At that point the offer would be considerably less.” 

“There are people on our roster with more intelligence in their thumbs than Mr Hammer has in his whole body.” Pepper said in a candid tone, having been listening to this man yap about Hammer’s greatness for the better part of an hour. He should just claim his undying love for the man and give them a break. “You discredit their accomplishments.”

“Ah yes,” another man spoke up. “This ‘Quintessential Quad’ group Stark put together prior to his passing.” Pepper grit her teeth at his casual remark of Tony’s disappearance, but held back.

“The 2Q has already sent several designs in which Mr Stark had a hand in himself. Along with several they independently made that is of quality design.” She pulled up the files, displaying them across the table in front of each member. “More than enough to keep our factories going and investors happy.”  

"Furthermore," Pepper continued, tapping her tablet to bring up financial forecasts and market analysis charts, "aligning ourselves with Justin Hammer, given his history and current reputation, risks our brand's integrity. It's not just about short-term gains; we need to consider the long-term impact on our public image and shareholder trust."

One of the board members, a woman who had been silent up to this point, nodded in agreement. "Ms. Potts is right," she spoke up, her voice clear and firm. "Stark Industries has always been about innovation and pushing boundaries, not cutting corners or making expedient alliances."

The old man who had scoffed earlier looked around, his confidence faltering as he saw more nods around the room. Pepper's stance was clear, and her arguments compelling. The idea of a partnership with Hammer Industries was losing its appeal.

"I know change can be daunting," Pepper said, her tone softening slightly, but her stance resolute. "And I understand the uncertainty Tony's absence has caused. But we must uphold the standards he set for us. We owe it to him and to the legacy of this company to be better. We are not desperate, nor are we for sale." 

Tony would forgive her for leveraging his disappearance to shut up the grubby, slime ball. He would probably even snicker a bit and tell her to up the ante. 

Her heart panged in her chest. 

Pepper handled the rest of the meeting with ease, concluding it at 4pm sharp to make it to her next meeting at 4:15.

She had been Stark Industries CEO for three months now, and she had been non-stop moving since. 

The day after the attack in New York, Pepper had barely set one foot on the tarmac before she was swarmed with Government agents and news reporters. Happy had shielded, his metal arm a barrier between them and the masses. 

She had been shuffled to a meeting room with SI’s lawyers and quickly found out that Tony had left everything to her, Rhodey, and Happy. She hated every moment, had wanted to scream and throw things at every mention of his name. He was gone , dead for all she knew, on the other side of the galaxy with an invasion’s worth of Chitauri. 

He left behind a world turned on its head, exposed to the universe and the knowledge they are not alone. Pepper was up to her eyeballs in paperwork and panicking employees. 

Rhodey and Happy were godsends, sticking to her side like glue in the weeks after. Rohdey had been assigned by the military to keep close, to make sure their contracts would be upheld in the transition. It was clear that was the last thing on the Colonel’s mind, but it got him to the Tower. Happy took to his guard duties with a fevor, never more than room away from Pepper at all times, even in the evening. She did not stress over the man’s clinginess, rather taking comfort in the presence. The three had folded in together, sharing their grief and stress at the loss of their linchpin. Tony was their rock: their ship, stear, and the wind in its sail; they were floundering without him. 

But Tony never surrounded himself with anything less than the best, and they proved it by coming out the other side stronger. By the end of the first month, Pepper had established herself as an indomitable force to be reckoned with. 

This was helped by the news Jarvis had imparted on them shortly after.

Pepper had felt like a failure the moment she remembered Licorice, three days after she had returned to New York. The location of Tony's beloved cat was a mystery, but she was last spotted in the tower. She paced up and down the halls looking for her, dodging cleaning crews and well-meaning employees. Pepper jiggled cat treats and made the same kissy noises she heard Tony use for hours to no avail. 

It was only after she settled into Tony’s -now her - office that Jarvis had spoken up. 

“Miss Potts, I have information that is relevant for you to know.” the Ai spoke up, his voice humming quietly from the surround sound speakers. 

“Yes? What is it, Jarvis?” She asked, 

A hologram appeared over the desk she sat behind, displaying a flat screen of footage of Tony sitting in his lab, Licorice sitting on the table by his elbow. 

“So this is my ‘Just in case’ video. So if you’re watching this, shit happened and I'm not around to fix it. I don't want to say the big ‘D’ word, because we both know I'm like a cockroach when it comes to life or death situations. 

“So invasion happened and we didn’t come out of the other side unscathed,” she watched as Tony wrapped his hands around his cat and placed her on his lap, his fingers carting through the long fur. “What you need to know is that I was warned about this coming ahead of time. Now I know you may think I mean Shield’s debrief, but that is not the case. This warning came a year ago.”

“From her,” Tony pointed down at the cat. Pepper felt her eyebrows furrow in confusion, her mind mulling over how Licorice could have helped. Perhaps she knocked something over and caused a sensor to pick up something in deep space, a signal or transmission? 

“I know its a lot to take in,” Tony continued on screen, shifting the cat to face the camera. “But Licorice is an alien, too.”

…

Pepper felt like her brain was just short circuited. 

“She was able to warn me about the Chitauri coming in advance, and I was able to get some plans in place. Stark Tower and the Iron Legion are just a few. 

But what I need you to understand is that this, the attack that will happen in New York? That’s just the beginning.” Ice poured into her veins, dread forming at his ominous words. “According to Licorice, this is just a scouting party for a much larger force. A world ending tyrant has his sights on Earth, and he's coming to get it.”

What followed was a detailed explanation of Thanos and his atrocities. Tony laid out the invasion, his want for the stones, his campaign to rid the universe of half its population. 

“How viable is this Jarvis?” Pepper whispered, knowing but wanting to hear it nonetheless. 

“All events happened as Licorice predicted a year past, with variations on parts directly interfered with for a more optimal outcome.” 

“And Tony going through the portal?” she demanded, her voice suddenly harsh. She tried to swallow around the lump in her throat as Jarvis remained silent for a moment too long.

“... it was a possibility, Miss.” 

Pepper felt her fists connect with the desk, her head bent over as she squeezed her burning eyes shut. Tony, you fool. She tried not to feel the spark of rage that blossomed in her chest, tried not to direct it at Tony who was not here to face it. He knew the portal would open, the possibility of going through, and he did it anyway. 

A few deep breaths calmed her down enough to speak. 

“Of course he would.” she muttered, angry but not surprised. Tony always carried an immense guilt and martyr complex, always putting himself down while lifting others up. She blamed his father. Tony had been doing so good , too. He was happier than she had ever seen him, was kinder in new ways, softer in others. His eyes held self love for the first time and Pepper liked it. She was drawn to Tony, they were drawn to each other , like twin suns pulled in by each other’s gravity. 

“Get me all the files he has on this: plans, projects, and list of events.” 

“Of course, Miss Potts. There is something more, however.” The AI continued. “The location of Licorice Stick.”

“Do you know where she is?” Pepper asked urgently. 

“Of a sort. Miss Licorice went after Sir.” 

“What?” she said, stunned. Her mind flickered over the thought of Licorice having arrived in a UFO, and wondered how such a thing would operate. She didn’t know what kind of technology or intelligence her species had, perhaps they were on par with Tony? Was that why he was sought out? 

“Shortly after the portal closed, Miss Licorice attacked Loki, severing his connection with Thanos. She then recruited him and her companion Goose to go after Sir and retrieve him. A copy of my code is traveling and assisting them.” 

This was a lot for Pepper to process, but it explained a lot of post-battle confusion. Loki had disappeared before any of the Avengers could enter the tower, leaving nothing but a god-sized crater and scepter behind. 

Now she finds out that Licorice, the cat she had often seen lounging around Tony's workshop, eating her weight in fish and stealing riches in jewelry and knicknacks, was not just an ordinary cat but an alien who had come to forewarn about a global threat. The pieces of a far larger puzzle began falling into place in her mind.

“Jarvis, how did Licorice manage to sever Loki's connection with Thanos? And she has companions? Goose?” Pepper asked, her tone mixed with curiosity and urgency. The reality of their situation was expanding into realms she hadn't considered before.

“Yes, Miss Potts. Goose is another extraterrestrial being, classified as a Flerken. They possess capabilities highly unusual and potent, including storing entire dimensions within themselves. Licorice was able to neutralize Loki's threat using her inherent abilities,” Jarvis explained. 

“Abilities?” 

“Miss Licorice’s kind seems to have an innate connection with the fabric of reality itself. She is able to, as she explains it, open ‘windows’ into the fabric of other realities, giving us a glimpse of possible outcomes. She is also capable of seeing powers similar to this, and able to destroy them with her claws. That is all the data I have currently.” Jarvis informed her. 

Pepper reeled from the information, an alien with powers had been living under her nose this whole time and she had been none the wiser. 

“Did Tony have anything planned? What was his next step?” she asked. 

“Yes, Miss Potts,” he pulled up file after file. Pictures of profiles flashed past, lists and information piling up in front of her eyes. A red devil fighting off thugs, a man brandishing a pair of metal claws, a figure with a flaming skull. 

“We build a team.”

Steve Rogers approached Stark Tower, his step sure but not without a twinge of guilt gnawing at him. He'd always been told he had a bit of a short fuse—a 'pot boiler' as his mom used to say. Bucky too had often ribbed him about how quick he was to light up. Fighting with Tony on the Helicarrier hadn't been his finest hour, and he knew it.

As he walked, Steve couldn't help but reflect on how different this new world was from the one he knew in the '40s. The towering glass and steel of the tower seemed like something out of a Buck Rogers tableau rather than something you'd actually see on the streets of New York. And yet, here it was, pushing into the sky like a finger pointing out the march of progress.

"Stark always did have to be the tallest fella in the room," Steve mused to himself, a wry smile tugging at his lips despite the tension. "Guess some things don't change, no matter the era."

He checked his watch, making sure he wasn't late. Punctuality was a point of pride, something his father had drilled into him as a lad before he passed, saying a soldier who couldn't manage his time was as useless as a screen door on a submarine.

As he approached Stark Tower, he sized up the building, remembering details from the post-battle briefing. The thing was a marvel of engineering. Stark had it reinforced with the strongest materials around, meant to withstand anything short of a direct nuke. And when the invasion came, civilians had flooded into that bomb shelter hidden below, seeking cover as the skies rained down. It was sturdy, sure enough, but the thought of so many folks huddled underground while that fight raged on topside… it gave him a gut twist. He knew the feeling of crowding into dark, steel-and-concrete holes to dodge explosions, only for it all to rumble and shake, waiting it out with nothing but nerves and prayer. 

Steve shook himself, and remembered his main objective. 

SHEILD had sent him in, as head of the Avengers, to secure assistance from Stark Industries. Their past as a weapons dealer and their current financial success, even in the wake of Tony’s disappearance, would prove invaluable. 

Steve took a deep breath before stepping into the conference room, where Pepper Potts sat at the head of the table, reviewing documents on a sleek, slim tablet. Her posture was impeccable, her gaze sharp and assessing as she looked up at him.

"Captain Rogers," she greeted, setting the tablet aside. "I assume you're here to discuss the Avengers Initiative?"

Steve gave a curt nod and took a seat across from her. "Ms. Potts, I know Stark Industries is no longer in the weapons business, but the Avengers aren't just another military outfit. We're trying to keep the world safe, and we need the resources to do it. We need support."

Pepper folded her hands neatly in front of her. "I understand that, but I have to be very clear: Stark Industries will not be the primary funder of the Avengers."

Steve's brows furrowed, his jaw tightening slightly. "Why not? Tony built the suits, he’s part of the team. He—"

"Tony is not here," Pepper interjected smoothly, her voice calm but firm. "And even if he were, Stark Industries is a private company, not a global defense agency. The Avengers are a government-sanctioned operation, and frankly, they should be funded by government entities, not a private business."

Steve exhaled sharply, leaning forward. "With all due respect, Ms. Potts, the government is unreliable. SHIELD was compromised by insider information before the Avengers even fully got off the ground. If we rely on them completely, who's to say they won’t control us, use us, or shut us down when it suits them?"

Pepper gave him an unimpressed look. "And what exactly do you think will happen if a private company—one with global interests, stocks, and shareholders—starts bankrolling an independent team of super-powered individuals? If you’re worried about oversight, imagine what happens when a board of directors starts dictating where you intervene and where you don’t.

"And let’s not forget the optics. The Avengers wouldn’t just be a global peacekeeping force—they’d be the face of Stark Industries. Not the United States, not the world, but us. Every mission would be scrutinized, every battle analyzed through the lens of corporate interests. Say you take down a terrorist cell overseas—suddenly, it’s not just about stopping a threat. People will question whether SI stands to gain new contracts, resources, or political leverage. It wouldn’t matter if the mission was justified—the perception alone would erode trust in both you and this company. 

Steve’s fingers drummed against the tabletop. "Then what do you suggest? You know as well as I do that we can’t rely on governments to always do the right thing."

"I'm not saying you should," Pepper countered, leaning forward slightly. "I'm saying Stark Industries won't be a blank check. We can provide a contract for technology, set up relief funding for those affected, but ongoing operational costs? That’s something that should be handled at an international level."

Steve shook his head, clearly frustrated. "And how long do you think that will take? Bureaucracy moves slow. We need to be ready now."

Pepper exhaled, and for the first time, Steve saw the exhaustion in her eyes—the weight of an empire she was suddenly head of and given no time to adjust. "I get it. I do. But Tony didn't build this company so it could become another unchecked military powerhouse. If we fund the Avengers outright, we own the Avengers, and that’s not a responsibility I’m willing to take on."

Steve sat back, silent for a moment. He could see her point, even if he didn’t like it. Finally, he nodded. "So what do we do now?"

Pepper picked up her tablet and tapped a few things on the screen. "You may have to tap into your old show-day skills, Captain. The logical next step is to secure government backing—whether that’s through formal appropriations, direct funding requests, or even lobbying for long-term support. If the Avengers are going to operate on an international scale, they need legitimate financial backing, not corporate sponsorship."

She met his gaze evenly. "That means going through the proper channels—working with lawmakers, defense committees, and international coalitions. You’ll need to make a case for why the Avengers should receive government appropriations, similar to how agencies like SHIELD were funded. If that route doesn’t pan out, you’ll have to rely on grant proposals for specific projects or even petitioning allied nations for contributions. But the bottom line is this—if the world needs the Avengers, then the world should help fund them. Not just one company."

Steve nodded slowly, processing her words. "That’s… a lot of red tape."

Pepper sighed. "Welcome to the trials of working with the government, Captain."

Steve clenched his jaw, but after a moment, he sighed. "Alright. I don’t like it, but I get it."

Pepper gave him a small, tired smile. "Good. Now, would you like a coffee? I assume you still haven't figured out how to work an espresso machine."

Steve let out a breathy chuckle. "Yeah, that’d be nice."

Vanko wiped the sweat from his brow, his gloved fingers smearing a thin line of oil across his temple. The Chitauri rifle on his workbench pulsed faintly, its energy core still intact despite the rough dismantling he'd put it through. He'd spent months tearing apart their technology, trying to understand its inner workings, but every answer led to another damn question. Unlike human tech—messy, predictable, and built on centuries of iterative design—this was something else entirely. The energy signatures alone didn’t align with anything known. Not Arc Reactor-based, not nuclear, not even standard plasma. It functioned on an entirely different principle.

Frustrating. Fascinating. 

His hazmat protocols were extensive, out of necessity. Every piece of alien tech that entered his base was handled under strict containment procedures—sterilized, sealed, and examined for biological contaminants before being moved to the main lab. He wasn’t about to let some unknown alien bacteria or radiation wipe him out before he could even crack their secrets. The Leviathan, especially, required extra caution. It was part machine, part creature, and its flesh still had an odd resilience despite the months that had passed. He’d kept it frozen as best he could, avoiding decay, but it reacted strangely to certain frequencies of light. He noted how the tissue resisted conventional cutting tools yet could be peeled apart by the Chitauri’s own energy blades. A fascinating problem.

Vanko flexed his fingers, shaking off the ache in his knuckles before reaching for a datapad. He swiped through his latest findings, his brows furrowing at the lack of progress. He had theories—many theories—but no solid breakthroughs yet. He hadn’t implemented any of the technology into his own designs. Not yet. Not until he fully understood it.

But he was stuck .

With a frustrated grunt, he leaned back in his chair, staring up at the dimly lit ceiling of his hidden bunker. The old Soviet facility had served him well, offering space and secrecy, but its outdated equipment wasn’t enough. He needed more—better tools, advanced scanning systems, high-frequency spectrometers, better analyzers.

Vanko set down his equipment with a huff and made his way to the computers. The facility’s database had been a goldmine of forgotten intelligence, abandoned when the previous occupants had been forced to evacuate.

Foolish. Careless.

Lines of text scrolled across the screen, detailing the last-known locations of hidden installations. Most were buried deep beneath bureaucratic nonsense—decommissioned, repurposed, or wiped from official records entirely.

One entry caught his eye. Facility 476-Г—a classified research site listed as non-operational since the late ‘80s.

He clicked into the file. The logs were vague, but he picked out key details of what the facility hosted: high-grade spectrometry labs, prototype energy analyzers, energy efficient module testing, and cryo-experimentation. Some of which was exactly the kind of tech he needed. The last recorded use was just before the fall of the Soviet Union. If it had been left untouched, there was a chance the equipment was still intact. If being the key word.

Still, it was his best shot.

Vanko pushed back from the desk, rubbing his jaw. He would need to go in prepared—a quick salvage run, in and out. His drones would do most of the work, scouting and extracting anything useful while he stayed mobile. If the facility was truly abandoned, it would be easy.

But something gnawed at the back of his mind.

Nothing is ever easy.

Chapter Text

Loki snuck them into Asgard through one of the secret entrances, using his magic to cloak the four of them as they tip-toed past the guard. 

Kore did not appreciate being carried like a football, Loki’s hand digging into her underbelly with his thin-as-fuck fingers. She grumbled the whole time, causing the god to shush her multiple times. Goose seemed to be enjoying herself under Loki’s other arm, the traitor giving the tall asshole squinty eyes whenever he looked down at her. Smitten bitch. 

A part of Jarvis was tucked away safely in his MMI device, which was secured in a cat-sized backpack along Kore’s shoulders, a small set of detachable drones acting as his eyes and ears. The four of them had left their vessel on a rather large asteroid before Loki had hopped across the Big Tree to get them here. 

Now they were slinking through the golden halls, headed towards the Queen’s gardens. Loki had given the idea of seeing her first, knowing she would be able to voice reason to Odin the importance of fighting Thanos. The king would rather spit on his youngest son than listen to his advice, so Kore thought it a good idea. 

The Queen’s Garden was bathed in soft moonlight, the flowers swaying gently under the touch of an ethereal breeze. The scent of lilac and moonbloom filled the air, mixing with the distant sound of water trickling from a carved fountain. It was one of the few places in Asgard that felt untouched by war and politics, crafted by his mothers hand for peace and life.

Loki lingered at the edge of the garden, just beyond the trellis archway, his heart a traitorous drumbeat in his chest. Frigga sat alone on a stone bench, her silver-blue gown pooling around her like woven mist. A book rested open on her lap, though her fingers traced the pages absently.

She had been waiting for him, Loki knew she had. Yet his feet refused to move.

A soft nudge at his ribs brought him back to the present—Licorice, watching him with those knowing golden eyes.

‘ Go ,’ her mind called to his simply, her voice laced with something that sounded far too much like understanding.

Loki exhaled sharply through his nose and dropped his illusion.

Frigga stilled.

For a moment, she did not breathe, did not move—just stared, taking him in as though he might vanish at any second. Then, she rose.

“My son.”

The warmth in her voice shattered something deep within him. Before he could steel himself, before he could prepare for whatever might come next, she was in front of him, her hands framing his face, her touch warm, familiar .

“You live,” she whispered, and though she did not weep, Loki could see the relief in her eyes, the weight of a grief now unburdened.

He swallowed. Guilt clawed its way up his throat.

“I—” The words caught, the weight of two years of suffering, of silence, pressing against his ribs. He did not deserve this warmth. Not after all he had done.

“I thought you dead,” Frigga continued softly, her thumbs brushing against his cheekbones, as if trying to memorize the feel of him. “After the Bifröst…” Her voice wavered for only a moment before she steadied herself. “When you did not return, when the Allfather cast his judgment, I feared the worst.”

Loki’s throat burned. Of course Odin had not told her the truth. That he had survived. That he had been taken . 

Loki forced himself to look at her, to let the walls crack—just a little. “Mother, I—” His voice failed him. How could he put it into words?

That he had been broken? That Thanos had wrapped his fingers around his mind and crushed him like a brittle thing? That the choices he had made had not been his own?

Frigga watched him, as she always had. As though she could see straight through him, past the sharp edges and frayed pieces.

“Come,” she murmured, her hand resting gently against his arm. “Let’s sit.”

Loki let her lead him to the bench, where the garden’s soft glow made his trembling fingers all the more obvious. He hated that.

Silence settled between them for a long moment before Frigga spoke again, her voice gentle. “Tell me what happened.”

Loki clenched his fists, nails pressing into his palms. “I was not lost,” he murmured, gaze fixed on the flowers swaying at his feet. “I was taken.”

Frigga’s fingers twitched in her lap, but she did not interrupt.

Loki exhaled. “The Mad Titan—Thanos—found me after the Bifröst shattered. I was weak, broken. He took advantage.”

His jaw clenched as memories flickered through his mind, hands that burned like fire, voices that cut through his thoughts like razors.

“He tore me apart,” Loki admitted, voice barely above a whisper. “Mind, body, will. He shattered them and put them back together however he pleased. I was not myself.”

Frigga reached for his hand, and he did not pull away.

Loki laughed bitterly, though there was no humor in it. “You would have been proud of me,” he said, voice tight. “I fought at first. I thought myself stronger. More clever. But I was nothing to him. A pet. A weapon to be pointed at a world I barely knew.”

Frigga’s grip tightened.

Loki swallowed against the lump in his throat. “He made me watch,” he murmured. “Made me watch as he unmade others. Until I was certain that when it was my turn, there would be nothing left.”

Frigga’s breath hitched. She had known, suspected, that something had been wrong when she had heard of his invasion of Midgard. Her boy had never had the heart for conquest. 

“And then,” Loki continued, voice raw, “he placed something inside my mind. A weight, a will that was not my own. I remember kneeling before the Other, before the Chitauri, before him, and believing that it was my choice. But it never was.”

Frigga exhaled sharply, blinking away the sheen of sorrow in her eyes. “Oh, my boy.”

She pulled him closer, forehead resting against his, fingers curling around his shoulders. “You were not weak,” she whispered. “You were not broken. Not in the way you think.”

Loki closed his eyes. He wanted to believe her.

But he had been weak. He had bent beneath another’s will. He had hurt people in his name. 

“I let him use me,” Loki rasped.

“No,” Frigga corrected gently. “He took you. And I swear to you, my son, he will never take you again.”

Silence settled between them, heavy yet warm.

Then, from behind them—

‘ You failed to mention your attempts to thwart Thanos, you know,’ Licorice’s voice whispered through his mind, ‘How you alerted the Avengers to your arrival with enough time for them to mobilize, and how you bottlenecked his army.’ 

Friga and Loki turned as one, to look over to the red and tan cat that lounged on the ground near the base of a tree. Her yellow eyes peered at them curiously, her tail flicking lazily and occasionally biffing Goose in the face, who sat behind her. 

“Now who might this be?” his mother asked, a note of delight in her voice. Loki had to hold back a sigh, knowing this unholy alliance would form the moment she laid eyes on his companions. Loki fondly remembered the hundreds, if not thousands, of cats that had passed through Asgard’s halls, each and every one cherished by his mother. 

His mother had been born a Vanir, and had once held the name of Freyja before being sent to Asgard as a warbride to end the Aesir/Vanir war. She had been renamed Frigg, but she had never lost her abilities as Freyja, the hunter goddess of love, marriage and harvest. 

And cats. 

“This is the Whisperer-”

‘ That’s not- ’

“And she foretells your death.” Loki continued, ignoring the cats’ huffs. His mother’s brows furrowed as she looked over the two felines. 

“This is why you have returned.” she stated, meeting his eyes. 

“The convergence is a year early, the Aether will be discovered and what remains of the Dark Elves will return for it. She saw their leader, Malekith, kill you within Asgard’s walls.” 

“Your father killed the Dark Elves long ago,” she said, confusion and concern in her voice. Not my father, he bit down. 

“I think we both know that what Odin says and what is true is often at conflict.” Loki said bitterly. 

His mover gave him The Look, and Loki felt his shoulders fight to creep up to his ears, though he forced them down. 

“If what she has predicted is true, then we must be cautious. I know your father will not believe this until it's under his nose, so we will act in what ways we can.” Frigga said with a note of finality in her voice, “Starting with you going to the healing halls.”

“I don't need-”

“You just admit to me that you have been tortured by a mad man for months, if not years, who had you under some form of mind control. I will not budge on this.” 

Giggles whispered into his mind and Loki let out a heaving sigh. 

Watching the Queen whip the healers into shape, swearing them to absolute secrecy while Loki was being examined, was inspiring . She commanded them with absolute authority, her voice brokering no argument as she instructed them on what to look for and what treatments to prepare in advance. 

Kore swore to introduce her to Pepper as soon as possible, these two boss bitches needed some kin. 

Kore, Goose, and Jarvis lounged around the room, keeping out from under the trample of feet as dozens of healers scurried about, like ants to their Queen. Loki was laid onto a table, magic and machinery humming to life and projecting a mirror display of Loki’s body in the air. 

There were gasps around the room as the golden display was overwhelmed by red, blue and black smudges along almost every inch of the Prince’s form. Kore could smell the room turn sour with grief, the smell emanating most strongly from the golden goddess that stood next to the table. The light of the table reflected in her teary eyes as she picked up her son’s hand and kissed the back of it tenderly, her whispers too quiet for even her to hear. 

Loki looked uncomfortable and a bit desperate, his hand coming to cup his mother’s face as Kore heard his quiet pleas for her not to cry. 

A mother’s grief was hard to watch. 

Frigga pressed a lingering kiss to Loki’s knuckles before turning to the healers, her composure falling back into place like armor.

“Treat the damage where you can,” she commanded. “And where you cannot—tell me who can.”

There was a steely promise in her voice that made the healers bow before they even realized they were doing it. They moved quickly gathering herbs, pastes, and premade potions. A few discussed a healing plan with the two royals, one that would extend over a not-inconsiderable amount of time. 

Kore felt something sniff her foot. Jerking away with a hiss, she poofed up, her fur sticking up at odd angles around the MMI device. 

It was a kitten. A little tabby kitten, barely a month old and still wobbly on its feet

‘ Do smell, odd she is. ’ 

‘ Whomst the fuck are you? ’ Kore hissed, the smell of the new cat making her instincts rankle, even though her brain realized there was no threat. Goose was faring better, having moved forward to sniff the small thing with deep breaths. 

‘ He smells like human food and his mother’s milk ,’ she hummed, ‘ very young still. ’ 

‘ Food place, mother rests, ’ the kitten said, sitting back on his legs and looking up at Goose, his head smushing backwards when she came in for another sniff. ‘ Close. ’ 

Kore had smelled a lot of cooking food on their way here, and guessed there was a kitchen nearby, no doubt in case patients or healers in the hall needed food. 

She moved forward and gave the squinty-eyed kitten a sniff, noting that he smelled overwhelmingly of baked goods and milk. A tan paw reached out and gently booped the kitten on the head a few times, who, in turn, reached up and batted at her paw playfully. He bounded around with energy, smacking at her sides before scampering away. 

Kore found herself charmed by the little thing. 

“I see you have found one of Trjegul’s offspring.” The Queen’s voice called from behind her. Kore and Goose looked up to see her standing just behind them with a gentle smile. She kneeled down, carting her fingers through each of their fur a few times, causing them to both purr loudly. 

“Thank you, for freeing my son.” she said in a whisper only Kore and Goose could hear. “He told me of how you severed the binding of the Mind stone on him. Thank you. ” 

‘ Of course ,’ Kore responded, ‘ He didn’t deserve to take the fall for that asshole’s deed’s.’

Frigga chuckled. “Well stated. That said, Asgard owes you a great debt. Whatever you desire, ask and it shall be yours.” Kore perked up.

‘ In the battle, I lost my human companion to the stars. I know he lives but not where he ended up. We have been searching for him for the last three months with no results. We were still in the midst of looking when signs of the Convergence began. ’ Kore felt her tail being attacked by tiny paws, but ignored it. 

“So you wish for help in locating him?” Kore nodded in response. “That can be done. I will confer with Loki on his chosen methods and see where Asgard and her resources could differ.” 

‘ Thank you, ’ Kore said earnestly. 

“No, thank you. I thought my son lost to me forever,” Queen Frigga looked over to Loki, who sat arguing with some healers over his medication regimen. “And now I have him here in my arms again. No greater gift you could have given.” 

The kitten at Kore’s feet continued his chaotic assault, alternating between smacking her tail and leaping at Goose’s ears with the reckless abandon of youth.

“His mother is Trjegul, one of my oldest companions,” Frigga said, watching the kitten’s antics with a smile. “She will not be pleased that he has wandered so far, but she will be understanding.”

‘ I could bring him back if you’d like ,’ Kore offered, reaching out to gently bat at the kitten’s tiny paws.

Frigga chuckled. “Let him play a moment longer. The young should have their time to be foolish.”

The air in Odin’s private council room was thick with tension, the kind that settled in the bones and refused to leave. Odin sat at the head of the table, his posture rigid, his gaze cold as he regarded his youngest son with barely restrained contempt.

Loki met his eyes, back straight, chin high, expression schooled into something indifferent. But Kore could see the tension in his fingers, the way they curled against his thigh, the way magic flickered at his edges like a frayed thread unraveling.

To Odin, this was not an audience, not a discussion: It was a trial. And Odin was judge, jury, and executioner.

As soon as Loki had entered the room, Odin had unleashed his fury. His voice had shaken the walls, his rage a storm that roared and echoed through the golden chamber.

Traitor.

Coward.

Disgrace .

Loki had stood through it all, his jaw set, his eyes blank.

But then Frigga moved, unwilling to allow her youngest to be demonized in such a way. Tired of years of clear preferential treatment and bias. Loki was their son, her son. 

A single hand against Odin’s chest, a firm push that sent the Allfather stumbling back into his chair. Odin blinked, momentarily stunned.

Frigga, Queen of Asgard, Goddess of Magic, Huntress of the Vanir, stepped forward and tossed a scroll onto the table. It unfurled instantly, glowing projections flickering to life above it. The golden image of Loki’s form hovered over them all, twisting in the air, covered in red, blue and black. 

Kore watched Odin’s expression carefully. A flicker of something, like surprise and horror, crossed his face before settling in a cool expression.

“Tell me, husband,” Frigga said, voice smooth as glass, “what do you see?”

Odin’s jaw ticked. “I see the price of treason.”

Frigga’s eyes flashed. “No. You see the price of torture .”

The room went still.

Odin’s fingers twitched against the armrest. “You dare—”

“I do,” Frigga cut in smoothly. “And you will listen.”

Odin scowled, but said nothing.

Kore watched as Frigga moved to Loki’s side, reaching out and placing a steadying hand on his shoulder. 

The projection shifted, magnifying key areas, the healers had been thorough. The image showed not just wounds of the flesh, but wounds of the mind, of the soul.

“Magic laced through his body that does not belong to him,” Frigga narrated evenly. “Burned into his bones. Coiled in his veins.”

The projection shifted. Odin’s frown deepened.

“Scarring in the cerebral pathways,” Frigga continued. “The telltale signature of mind control, of a will not his own.” Odin’s fingers tightened on the armrest. 

“Then who's?” 

“Thanos,” Loki finally spoke, his tone even, but Kore could smell the anxiety rolling off him in waves. “The Mad Titan who has lingered in the edges of this universe until recently. He aims to claim the infinity stones.” 

“And Midgard?”

“Housed one of them.” 

‘ Two actually .’ Kore piped up, drawing eyes to her. 

“Yes, now with the Scepter there it should be two.” Loki admitted. Kore had, in a previous conversation, asked Loki about his scepter. She had been very surprised to learn that he had not known about the Mind stone within the gem. 

‘ Oh yeah, three then.’

“What!? ” he hissed out. “What other?!” 

“Let us save that conversation for later.” Frigga interjected. “What we know is that Thanos is interested in Midgard, one of our realms. He has tortured and mentally manipulated a Prince of Asgard. And, if what Licorice has disclosed is true, aims to destroy half of all life in the universe, including our realms.” 

“If it is true,” Odin spoke, his voice steely. His single eye moved to bore holes into Kore, who laid on the table in front of Loki. “You trust the words of a stray?” 

This snot-nosed, nursing home bitch . 

Frigga remained composed, unshaken by the king’s skepticism. “I would have you listen to wisdom, regardless of its source.”

OOOOooo burn, All-daddy(derogatory) . 

Kore could hear the sharp inhale of Loki behind her, the tension thickening in the air like a brewing storm. No one questioned the Queen in such a way—no one except Odin, and even he tread carefully when she was in this mood.

Frigga continued, voice even, but her gaze was unrelenting. “You have seen the signs yourself. The anomalies appearing across the realms. The Convergence beginning ahead of schedule. The Aether stirring.”

Odin’s jaw ticked, but he said nothing.

“You dismiss the Dark Elves as extinct,” she pressed, “but I remind you that Asgard has been wrong before. Or have you already forgotten that Laufey entered this very palace under your watch?”

Loki’s fingers twitched at the mention of Laufey, but he said nothing.

Kore watched as Odin sat back slightly, his expression unreadable. His grip on his own narrative was slipping, but his pride would not let him admit it.

“You see conspiracy where there is none,” Odin finally said, his voice cold, controlled. “We have ruled the realms for eons. We have faced threats greater than this. The Nine stand strong under Asgard’s watch.”

Loki scoffed sharply, shaking his head. “Do they?” he bit out. “Because last I checked, they burn in your absence.”

Odin’s eye snapped to him, his entire frame going tense. “Mind your tongue—”

“ No ,” Loki cut in, voice dangerously low. “I will not.”

The air around him hummed with restrained magic, the torches lining the room flickering violently in response. “You sit here, so sure of your own power, so convinced of your dominion over the Nine, yet you do not see what is before you. Has loosing your other eye blinded you so?”

Odin opened his mouth, but Loki was not finished.

“You think the Dark Elves are gone because you wished it so. You think Thanos is a distant nightmare because you have not yet faced him yourself.” He leaned forward, his green eyes alight with something dark, something bitter. “You think yourself a god above all others, but you are just a man too proud to see the fall before him.”

The accusation hung in the air like a blade, poised and waiting.

Odin’s eye burned with barely concealed rage. “You think yourself wiser than your king?”

“I think myself a survivor of your ignorance.”

The air crackled.

Frigga raised a hand before Odin could react, her authority pressing down on them both like an unseen force. “Enough,” she commanded.

Loki exhaled sharply, sitting back down, but he did not lower his gaze.

Frigga turned to Odin, her voice softening, but no less firm. “We have already lost so much to arrogance. Must we lose more?”

Odin remained silent, but Kore saw it—the flicker of doubt in his eyes. The seed of hesitation taking root.

But he was still fighting it. Still refusing to bend.

It wasn’t enough.

Kore flicked her tail, huffing loudly. ‘For fucks sake, you are stubborn .’

Then there was red .

If she was honest with herself, all the yelling, magic, and sour-smelly tension in the room had her anxiety skyrocketing. She didn’t like being around angry people generally but something about Odin was… too much. it triggered her fight or flight like a bitch. 

Maybe it was because Loki was right behind her, making it feel as if she was the one being degraded. Maybe it was something else, remnants of an old version of herself curled in the back of her head. 

So not the time to address childhood trauma, thank-you-very-much.

So she buried it deep, feeling the anxiety rising in her gut and making her unbearably nauseous. She could feel the red pulsing behind her eyes and through every limb, curling through her tail and bubbling along her skin. 

This was her chance, to get Asgard on Tony's side before shit became too broken to fix. Kore couldn't mess it up. 

She really couldn't take it anymore. so she waited for the perfect moment to lose her shit and cause an Epic Scene. 

Odin, being the eternal fuck was he was, gave her the opportunity on a silver platter. 

She let go of her grasp, letting the red soak through her skin and fur, bursting forth from her eyes and mouth like blood coagulating in the air. 

The air collapsed in on itself.

The red surged outward, rippling through the walls of Odin’s private council room like a heartbeat— thick, pulsing, alive .

The chamber fractured, the colors bleeding like spilled ink, warping and twisting into something not entirely real, not entirely false. The torches flickered wildly, golden light swallowed by the crimson sheen overtaking the space. The stone walls, the grand golden pillars, the very fabric of the room cracked and fell away into something deeper, something older.

Odin’s scowl remained fixed in place, but his knuckles tightened against the armrest. He had sat through gods’ battles, ruled over centuries of war and peace alike, yet Kore could smell it—hesitation, doubt creeping in at the edges.

A loud gasp came from behind her, and Kore suddenly remembered that no one in this room, not even Jarvis or Goose, had seen her like this. 

She ignored it. She had to focus . Tony was counting on her, even if he didn't know what she was up to, these moments could give him a much needed ally against Thanos. And she'd do anything, be anything, for her human. 

Her Tony . 

Odin had asked for proof. She would give it to him.

The room shattered like glass, arching cracks crawling across the room and distorting the red into thousands of different hues. Each surface rippled, images forming in their faces until one large scene was formed. 

The golden spires of Asgard towered above them, but they were already burning. Explosions rocked the city, fire licking at its edges. Smoke curled against the air, thick and choking. Kore heard the screams first, then the crashes of structures failing under the weight of the attack. The sky was red. Not her red, but something else. 

And there was Malekith, stepping through the wreckage, his pale skin stark against the flames, his white eyes void of emotion as he gazed upon his conquest.

Inside the palace, Frigga stood alone in the throne room, her sword drawn, her magic sparking at her fingertips. The room had been emptied, soldiers strewn at the entrance. She did not waver. She did not run.

The blade came swift, slicing through the air before piercing her back. Malekith didn’t flinch as he drove it deeper, twisting it, watching as she gasped and collapsed forward.

The vision cracked apart, reality shifting and unraveling as the battlefield melted away.

Odin sat on a quiet cliff, the sky blue, the land beneath him old, mortal. Midgard. His golden spear lay forgotten beside him, his robes faded with time. Thor knelt beside him, pleading, but Odin’s body was failing. He exhaled a slow breath, then faded into golden dust, scattered into nothing.

Another shift, another breath, and then the sound of destruction rang out once more. The bridge of Asgard lay in ruins, its shattered remains falling into the abyss below. Thor stood at its edge, his face marred with blood, one of his eyes missing, carved away from his skull. His grip on Mjolnir faltered, his strength waning. 

A colossal sword, searing and unstoppable, descended upon Asgard from the heavens. The force of it split the sky in two, fire swallowing everything in its path. The screams of his people rang in their ears, then… nothing .

The darkness of space took over. A lone ship drifted, barely intact, its structure broken, helpless. Asgardian survivors clung to one another, their armor stained, their voices hushed in prayer. A shadow fell over them.

Thanos, his golden armor gleaming, the vastness of his presence pressing down like an unshakable force. He stepped forward with no urgency, his movements methodical, certain.

Loki stood before him, his dagger drawn, defiant even in the face of inevitability. His hands did not shake. His voice did not waver.

Thanos caught him effortlessly.

A single hand wrapped around Loki’s throat, lifting him with ease. Loki struggled, his fingers clawing, his legs kicking, but it was fruitless as the Titan squeezed .

A sickening crunch echoed through the room, Kore felt a flinch from behind her. 

Loki went still.

Thanos dropped him like a broken thing, a body unworthy of further attention. His gaze turned downward, where Thor lay captured in metal, bruised, battered, barely conscious. He did not resist. He could not.

And the last of the Asgardians that remained on the ship were erased in an instant.

The world around them cracked again.

The survivors of Asgard had built a home on Midgard, but it was nothing like the kingdom they had lost. The grand halls had been reduced to quaint wooden structures, a Nordic town that survived only by welcoming curious Midgardians, nothing more than a memory of what once was. The proud warriors had become fishermen, shopkeepers, people living on the remnants of past glory.

And then, one by one, they began to disappear.

First a child, then a mother. Then a soldier, a merchant, a healer.

Their bodies turned to ash, swept away by the wind.

The people screamed, reaching for loved ones who crumbled between their fingers, grasping at nothing.

And when the dust finally settled, when the last echoes of life faded into silence, there was almost nothing left.

The red bled away, draining from the walls, seeping out of the air. The council chamber reformed, whole again, untouched.

But the silence remained.

Kore breathed in slowly, her limbs trembling from the energy that had flooded her veins, now gone suddenly, leaving her fatigued and woozy. The visions had passed, but their truth remained, thick in the air.

Odin did not speak, his fingers tight around the arms of his chair, his face pale, and his jaw clenched so tightly it seemed to strain.

For the first time since Kore had met him, he had nothing to say. Frigga had tears in her eyes, a hand covering her mouth as she stared into the space the visions had formed. Seeing the death and pain her sons had gone through had shaken her more so than her own death had. 

Odin exhaled, his throat working around words that did not come.

Finally, he spoke, his voice quiet.

“What must be done?”

And just like that, the battle had begun.

After a few more grueling hours of planning and conversation, the group retired to their respective rooms. Kore padded tiredly behind Loki, who the three of them were bunking with. The line of his shoulders were tense, his spine straight and stiff. 

Wide eyed looks followed him as he led them through the halls, whispers from guards, servants, and general nobility following them like a phantom. Loki didn't seem to hear them, or was very good at ignoring the gasps and quiet mutterings of the Failed Prince around them. Kore hissed at a few of the more outspoken assholes, promising to remember their scent to piss on their shoes at their earliest inconvenience. 

Loki led them to an incredibly opulent wing of the palace and opened a heavy gold-gilded door, ushering them inside. 

The door shut behind them with a heavy thud, sealing them away from the whispering halls of the palace. The tension that had been coiling in Loki’s shoulders since they left the council chamber didn’t fade. If anything, it sharpened.

Kore hopped onto a velvet-draped lounge near the hearth, shaking out her fur as she settled in. Goose wandered off to inspect a nearby cushioned chair before curling up, completely unbothered by the rage simmering beneath Loki’s skin.

Loki stood in the center of the room, his back to them, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. The room was grand, far too lavish, but Kore barely took it in—her attention was fixed on the way Loki wasn’t moving.

The silence stretched between them, thick and waiting to break.

Then, Loki exhaled sharply through his nose, turning on his heel, eyes blazing. She could see whisps of green magic curling around his form in jagged, sharp lines. Her hair was slightly poofed out, and moved like a static charge when he did. 

“You knew,” he bit out. “You knew and you said nothing.”

Kore didn’t move, didn’t flinch under the ferocity of his gaze. ’You’re gonna have to be more specific.’

Loki’s hands curled into fists. “You knew . About my death. About Asgard! About everything you just forced Odin to witness.”

‘Ah ,’ Kore said, flicking her tail. ‘That .’

His nostrils flared. “Yes. That .”

Kore yawned obnoxiously, baring her fangs. ‘You know, I wasn’t gonna bring it up,’ she said casually , ‘but I think all the yelling and magic-flinging back there gave me a migraine. My tiny cat brain is struggling. Maybe if you ask nicely—’ 

“This is not a time for your attitude, you kept vital information from me, and for what reason? To-”

Kore cut in before he could lay down his assumption. ‘ What would have telling you earlier have served? I never planned to keep it from you, Loki, just to wait for the right time. If I told you everything I know, everything I have seen, many vital events may never come to pass, rendering my information useless. Not to mention, you were fresh off mind control and dealing with your own shit, so forgive me for wanting to give your brain a break before laying down the fate of the universe at your feet for you to digest. ’ Kore snapped, her tail flicking in agitation. 

“That was not for you to decide.” Loki hissed, his hands clenched into fists. 

‘ The hell it wasn’t! Without me you’d be rotting in a cell! A villain and still partially corrupted by the mind stone! ’ Kore wanted so badly to shove the reason of his mother’s death in his fucking face, but she wasn’t that mean. 

“You think yourself so wise to know my mind?” Loki growled, pacing now, every footstep sharp and deliberate, like he was trying not to set the room ablaze just by moving through it.

Kore’s fur bristled. She followed his motion with narrowed eyes. ‘ I don’t need to know your mind, Loki. I just needed to know you weren’t ready. ’

“Ready?” He spun on her, face twisted in disbelief. “You presume to make that decision for me? How noble of you.”

She bared her teeth. ‘ Someone had to! ’

“Oh, yes,” he sneered, his voice venom-slick. “Because clearly I’ve never endured hardship. Poor little Loki couldn’t possibly handle seeing his own death or the fall of his people. Might crack like glass under the pressure.”

‘ You were barely holding yourself together when I met you!’ she snapped, tail flicking. ‘ Fresh out of mind control, halfway feral, neck-deep in guilt and trauma you wouldn’t even acknowledge. If I’d dumped the apocalypse on your lap then, you’d have set yourself on fire just to feel something !’

“I’m not your project, cat ,” he hissed. “And I don’t need your protection.”

Kore jumped down from the lounge and stalked toward him, claws tapping against the marble floor. ‘ You don’t want protection. You want control. But guess what? You don’t have it. None of us do. And I didn’t ask to be your personal warning bell. ’

Loki threw his arms wide, magic flickering dangerously at his fingertips. “Then why are you here?! Why follow me? Why not just watch from the shadows and cackle when everything burns?”

‘ Because I care, you jackass!’ she yelled, louder than she meant to, her voice echoing in his head like a slap. ‘Because I saw what was coming and I cared enough to try and stop it!’

Loki stared at her, jaw tight. “And in doing so, you took choice away from me. You replaced one manipulator with another and called it mercy.”

Kore reared back like he’d struck her, ears flat against her head. 

For a moment, they just stared at each other, both breathing hard, both too angry to back down.

“You’re just like him,” Loki muttered, barely above a whisper. “Keeping secrets. Pulling strings. Thinking you know better.”

Her eyes widened, pupils narrowing. ‘ Say that again. ’

He looked at her, straight on, and said nothing. He didn’t have to.

Kore’s tail lashed once, hard. ‘ I am not Thanos. I didn’t chain you to a throne or twist your mind until you forgot your own name. I made a call you didn’t like. Get over it .’

“You made a call that kept me blind,” Loki said coldly. “You made yourself my savior and denied me the right to be anything more than your protected pet.”

Kore flinched. Then her ears flattened once again, and her voice turned cold. ‘ You know what? Screw this. I didn’t come here to be worshipped. I didn’t come here to babysit a god with a martyr complex. ’

She turned on her heel, stalking toward the door.

“Running now?” Loki called after her, voice bitter. “Not staying to finish what you started?”

She stopped at the threshold and looked back, eyes glowing faintly. ‘I don’t run. I just don't have the energy or desire to deal with your tantrum, you fucking jackass.’

And then she was gone.

 Kore huffed as she walked along the halls, fuming. 

How dare he compare her to Thanos, THANOS! How un-fucking-greatful and stupid, fucking stupid! He was such an ass! A fucking ungreatful stupid fucking ass!! 

UGH!

She wanted to rip something up, to chew on something to get her frustrations out. Maybe a hunt would do her some good, get her claws into something small and crunchy. And imagine Loki’s stupid fucking face as she chomped into it. 

Plan in place, she followed her nose to the outside of the palace and into the gardens. 

Her tail lashed as she padded down the stone steps into the garden, claws clicking sharply with every step. How fucking dare he. She had literally clawed his fate out of a shattered multiverse to save his life, and his response? Accuse her of the exact same shit that ruined him?

She let out a sharp, angry yowl into the dark, startling a few nearby palace birds into flight.

Stupid, smug, emotionally stunted GOD .

Kore stalked into the grass, nose twitching as she caught the scent of something small. Rodent, maybe. Rabbit? She didn’t care. She just needed something to catch. Something to chase. Something to sink her fucking claws into.

She crept low, slipping between the hedges and flowerbeds like a shadow. The garden was dim, lit only by patches of moonlight filtering through the leaves and the faint golden glow of Asgard’s outer walls. Somewhere ahead, something skittered under a bush.

Kore’s eyes narrowed, pupils blowing wide. Her body shifted into a silent stalk, fur brushing the earth as she crawled closer. 

Let him fume in his pretty palace room. Let him sulk. Let him choke on his own self-righteous indignation while I go disembowel a squirrel or whatever the hell this is.

There—a flash of fur. She sprang.

Her claws met fur and a squeak, her teeth catching something squirming and angry. It was some kind of Asgardian garden-rat with too many legs and a tail like a vine, and she didn’t care. She bit down with a savage crunch and shook it violently, tail twitching in sync with every pulse of rage that still burned in her chest.

When it stopped moving, she dropped it, panting.

Silence returned, some of her fury sated. 

For a moment, she just stood there in the grass, head low, ears twitching. Her fur was a mess, her tail swishing slowly behind her like a whip.

‘ Stupid Loki, ’ she muttered to herself, low and bitter. ‘ Stupid handsome, insufferable, emotionally constipated little shithead. ’

Another bush rustled behind her.

She didn’t move, just flicked an ear. ‘ If that’s you, I swear to every star in the sky, I’m going to eat you next. ’

There was another rustle and what sounded like a little sneeze, before a familiar kitten came bouncing out of the shrubbery. 

‘Big one! Odd smell I follow, you I find !’ his chirpy voice rang out as he rushed over, his gate coltish but high energy. 

‘What the heck are you doing here? This isn’t near the healing halls.’

‘Odd smell, I follow! ’ He sniffed at her side, walking around her a bit before spotting the rat she had killed. ‘ Wow! Great hunter, you are! I chase, never catch. Too young, mother says. ’

‘ Thanks, kid .’ she huffed, amused. She leaned down and bit into the rat, picking it up in her teeth and turning to the door. ‘ Come on, let's get you back to your mom. ’ 

‘Yes! Mother! Show her your hunt, you must.’ He darted around her, stumbling over his own feet and flopping onto the ground, but quickly springing back up and taking off up the stairs. Kore followed behind, letting the scents of the Palace fill her nose until she picked up the scent of antiseptic and food coming from one of the halls. 

The two trotted down the hall, the kitten continuing to blabber in her ear about his first attempt at hunting and how his quarry -his mother’s tail- had escaped him. 

They passed by some guards, who gave them an amused look, one even reaching down to give the kitten a quick pat as they moved past. 

‘ Caught, I was!’ he proclaimed to the guard, who clearly didn’t understand him, ‘ great hunter, she is! ’ 

Trjegul was a beautiful tabby cat, her coat shiny and full even under the dim lighting. And she was unusually large. Even laying down, she was larger than Kore was standing. She was closer to the size of a Lynx, at about 2 feet tall and 3 feet long. 

6 kittens lounged about her nest of blankets, which was located in the corner of the kitchens under a large prep table. The kittens were also large, almost as large as Kore herself, bounding about, playing, or nursing on their mother. 

‘ Returned my errant son, you have. ’ Her voice was smooth, but her vocabulary was still limited like her son’s. A fierce intelligence sat behind her eyes. ‘ My thanks, you have.’  

‘Of course, he’s a good kid.’ Kore admitted. She placed the rat down next to Trjegul. ‘ For you, a mother needs her strength with so many mischievous kits to look after. ’ 

A smooth laugh rang through Kore’s head, Trjegul’s eyes going squinty in her direction. ‘Correct, you are, misbehaving, they do. Other day, young one bit a food-maker. Another, ran off with his head cover. ’ 

Kore snorted in laughter, sitting down in front of Trjegul, her tail coming over to cover her paws. 

‘You have quite the army brewing under here.’ she noted, watching as one of the big kittens pulled down a towel from the counter, the large cloth landing on them and burying them. Another kitten jumped onto the wiggling mound and began to bite and swipe at it. 

Trjegul gave a slow blink in their direction, ‘ Chaos bringers, they are. Yet pride, they give. ’ 

Kore purred faintly, her gaze drifting across the soft tumble of kits, noting the way each moved with clumsy confidence—except for one. Her little shadow. He sat just off to the side, not playing, but watching. Not with jealousy or sadness, but with distance. Kore followed his gaze, noticed how his eyes flicked to her every so often, before darting away again.

‘ You dont want to go play with your siblings? ’ Kore encouraged, nodding her head to the two wrestling about in the towel. 

He looked at them nervously, his head bobbing as he observed their playing, tail twitching in a sign Kore recognized. He wanted to play. 

‘ Too small, I am .’ he said grumpily, ‘ strong I am, stronger they be .’ Kore hummed in response, unable to think of anything to say in return.

The moment sat quiet, filled only with the gentle suckling of nursing kittens and the occasional scrape of claws on wood.

‘ Request, I have for you. ’ Trjegul spoke up after a moment, drawing Kore’s attention away from the playing kittens. Kore felt her ear flick, and she waited for the mother’s request.

‘ My son, small he is, you see.’ the larger cat began, ‘ Help him, I ask of you. Similar to him, may he not despair, for different he is. ’ 

‘ Uh, ’ Kore was surprised, not expecting to be put on kitten duty. ‘ I don't have plans to remain in Asgard for long. I don't think I’ll be around enough to be of any help. ’ 

‘ Must venture, all young, find their own path. He follows you already. A path, he has chosen. To the stars, it may be.’

‘Even if you never see him again?’ Kore asked, curious about her answer. Her instincts as a cat were a bit different than others, so she wondered how normal this was. Or maybe it was a huge-Asgard cat thing? 

‘ Even then ,’ Trjegul replied. ‘ He remains, for few weeks yet. Your business here, remains. Ready, he will be. When time comes .’ 

They both paused for a moment, distracted by little hisses and running feet as a couple of kittens ran between them, darting between the table legs and around the edge of the kitchen.