Chapter 2
Next morning Tony woke up later than the previous day. J.A.R.V.I.S successfully chased him out of his bed at 9 o’clock. Fortunately, he didn't have a meeting until twelve o’clock. The genius went to the elevator wearing an old black sabbath t-shirt and grey sweats.
Upon entering the living room, Tony immediately started drooling from the heavenly smell. He knew that Bruce was cooking in the kitchen from one whiff alone. He went there and moved to the coffee machine in a straight line ignoring everything else. Because priorities.
“Aww. Not even a hello?” Clint's voice was heard from the table. He knew that the genius would ignore everything before he took his intake of coffee, but he couldn't help himself. “You are so harsh Tony. What did I do to earn this fate!” He complained to Natasha who was drinking her tea next to him.
“If you waited a few minutes, you wouldn't have to suffer this outcome, Clint.” The archer gasped dramatically at her answer, causing Bruce to snort under his nose and Natasa to lightly smirk.
“Hello Birdbrain. I'm so sorry to cause you this much pain.” Tony smiled in his cup as he rejoined the rest of the world. “ Where is Steve?”
“He went to the bathroom.” Bruce answered his question. “Now everyone, help me carry the food and get the table ready in the living room or you won't eat it.” Tony and Clint took the food, while Natasha set the cutlery and plates. In the meantime Steve came back. He turned on the TV and sat down with everyone.
Clint and Natasha told them why they were early. Apparently they mistook how long the mission would take. A rare thing to happen to them. Steve told them about this cartoon he watched that was about Captain America and how funny it was. Tony and Bruce mostly talked about their experiments. The rest of the group stopped listening to them after three fourths of their conversation was in scientific terms.
In the meantime the program on the TV changed to the news and the group focused on it.
“... Our witnesses state that last night, an unidentified flying object was seen above Forest Park, Queens. Many people are asking if it's a repeat from the last alien invasion. Is Earth safe from the dangers of outer space and…”
“Man, one alien invasion and people are getting paranoid.” Clint commented. ”This is probably someone that is testing their toys in the middle of the night. Sounds like someone I know.” He winked at Tony.
“Hey!” The genius cried out, offended. “I see that you don't want these new arrows I made you.” He turned away from him.
“No! Tony, you know I didn't mean it!” Clint then started begging him to reconsider that though. The rest of the Avengers ignored their squabble.
“They do have a point.” Bruce said. “Their entire life was turned upside down that day.”
“And it is close too.” Natasha pointed out.
“S.H.I.E.L.D didn't give us a mission so it must be a mistake.” Steve reassured the team.
“Well, it doesn't matter.” Tony spoke up, but before he continued J.A.R.V.I.S interrupted him.
“Sir, you have a meeting with Miss Potts in half an hour.”
“Ughhh. I don't want to go…” Tony complained, but dutifully went to his room to make himself more presentable. “Don't have too much fun without me kids!” He yelled at others with a smile.
“I promise to break the toaster at least!” Clint yelled back and the last thing Tony heard as the elevator closed was laughter from the Avengers.
Tony was exhausted. He wondered if there was the chance to skip them in the future.
“You know Pepper wouldn't actually kill you if you ditched her, right?” Happy looked at him with a serious face.
“I was that obvious?” He asked while Happy started the car.
“It was written all over your face, boss.”
“This is a torture Happy. Whoever discovered the paperwork was Crazy with the capital C. Maybe I should create a time machine to convince him to not do that.”
“No, boss. Pepper would actually get angry at you.” The driver smiled.
Suddenly Tony spoke. “Hey, stop here.”
“What?”
Tony jumped from the car and ran toward the alley. He doesn't know why but he must go here. Happy cursed at him and tried to find a place to park. Tony crouched next to the old box with the worn out label. He could only read out ‘FREE’, but it wasn’t what caught his interest. He could hear almost too quiet noises from the box. Tony opened it.
Inside he could see 2 small kittens. One was a black with white paws and the other was ginger. The noises were coming from the black kitten. Tony slowly lowered his hand inside the box while Happy came closer.
“Is the ginger dead?” He asked as Tony held them up to the light.
“No.” He moved his finger to the kitten chest. “See, it’s moving. Here, hold them.”
“Why?” Happy protested, but still went to take them. Then the billionaire took off his jacket, wrapped it around the kittens and took them.
“They are in bad condition. We need to go to the Tower. Where is the car?” He said determined.
“Around the corner. I can't talk you out of this, can I?”
“Nope. Now, come on, it's cold here.”
The ride was over before Tony blinked. Fortunately, nobody was inside the lobby. It looks like Kate took a bathroom break. Without losing more time, he quickly walked to the elevator.
“J.A.R.V.I.S, I need the best veterinarian in New York the fastest you can get to come here.” Ordered Tony. “We need toys, food, litter boxes and everything the internet says is the best for the cats. Also, do I have food in my fridge?” He looked worried at the kittens.
“The products in your fridge aren't suitable for cats, sir. I suggest using leftover chicken from the fridge on the Avenges floor.” J.A.R.V.I.S advised.
“Is someone there?”
“No, sir. Mr Barton and Miss Romanov just started their exercise and Mr Banner is in the laboratorium.”
“Perfect.” He walked to the kitchen and left the kittens on the table. Tony opened the fridge, took the chicken and put it on the plate he found in the cupboard. He put it before the kittens. The black one immediately goes to the food while the ginger doesn’t move an inch. Tony picked up a small piece and tried to feed them.
“Come on. You can do it.” He murmured to the kitten. Finally they opened their mouth a little bit and Tony put a really small piece inside it. They repeated it a few more times. Tony was in the middle of putting the last piece of food when he heard someone behind him.
“Tony? What… What are you doing?” The one and only Steve Rogers asked from the door. Tony looked at him with wide eyes. “Is that… kittens?”
“J.A.R.V.I.S! Why didn't you tell me he is coming to the kitchen!” The genius panicked as he put the meat in the kitten's mouth.
“You didn't ask me to, sir.” Came a sassy reply. The black kitten walks over to his sibling. They closed their eyes, asleep in seconds.
“Why do you have kittens Tony?” Steve asked again, confused.
“...I found them in a box on the street.” Tony finally murmured, seeing that he can't evade that question.
“Why didn’t you give them to the shelter?” The captain couldn't find logic in the behavior of his friend. Wasn't it easier to give them to an experienced person?
“They are going to live with me!” The genus changed his act seeing he wasn't going to win. “You can't change my mind.”
“What!” Now Steve is panicking. If the billionaire has decided on something, you can not talk him out of it. “No, you can't do that.” He tried to talk it up to Tony's sense of duty. “It is too dangerous for them to live here. The tower got attacked so often.”
“I will just upgrade our security.” Countered Tony. Then he used his final weapon. Big eyes. Steve always surrenders to them. Maybe because Aunt Peggy taught him that handy trick. “Please. I can’t leave them.” He upped them more when he saw his friend waver.
Steve, in the meantime, was having a hard time. The genius is handsome on a normal day, but when he makes his eyes so big, he looks so cute! It is straining his will and Tony always looked so happy afterward anyway.
“This is cheating and you know it.” Steve smiled, defeated. He opened his mouth when J.A.R.V.I.S interrupted him.
“Sir, Mr Cleuso is coming to visit in an hour. He advised to clean the kittens in warm water before he gets here.”
“Okay.” Tony stood up and took the kittens. “No time like the present. Come Steve.”
“Huh?”
“You will help me with the kittens.” He stated.
Steve laughed. “Of course Tony. How will you name them?” He asked curiously.
“Oh! You reminded me.” He looked under the cats. They squicked in protest. “They are both females, so the black one is Luna and the ginger Cleo. Come, the bathroom is waiting.”
J.A.R.V.I.S announced Mr Cleuso was waiting in the lobby, by the time they got out of the bathroom.
“Let him up, J.” They put down the clean kittens on the couch. The elevator doors opened and an old blond man with glasses walked towards them. He was wearing a white coat and in his hand was a medical bag.
“Hello, where are the kittens?” Steve sweatdropped, while Tony showed him the small treasures. He must be serious about his job, when he doesn't waste time with pleasantries. Mr Cleuso was examining the kittens when Bruce walked into the room. He immediately stopped. Tony and Steve looked at him frozen.
”Tony? Who is this?” He looked closer at what the vet was doing. “… are those kittens?
“Yhh... yes?” The genius answered nervously.
The scientist turned to face Steve. “You couldn't say no to his eyes?” He deadpanned.
“...no.” The blond man answered embarrassed.
Bruce signed. “So Tony is adopting kittens. This is practically normal.” In the corner of his eye he saw Tony ready to defend himself. He doesn't need to do that. Who they were that can tell Tony can’t have a pet. Or pets in this case.
The vet interrupted them at that moment. “Both kittens are females. They are both about 7-8 weeks old. They are too skinny for their age. They both need food and rest. Fortunately, they are a bit weak but healthy.” Then he talked some more and prescribed vitamins for them to get stronger. “My job is done. Goodbye.” And he went straight to the elevator.
“Right.” Tony clapped his hands. “J.A.R.V.I.S, when will things get here?”
“Tomorrow sir.”
“As Thor would say, it is an occasion to celebrate!” He looked at his friends. “Steve, can you order our usual?” At their asking eyes, he clued them in. “We are doing the movie night. J, call the spy duo. Bruce, we are making the room.”
Tony didn't know what time it was when he stirred. He only knew that the TV was off and Luna with Cleo were purring on his lap. He was leaning against a strong but strangely comfy body. He sleepily opened his eyes and saw blue. There is only one person on the team who has blue eyes like the ocean.
“Shh. Go back to sleep.” Okay. I'm too comfortable to move anyway.
“Clint, can you cover him with a blanket?”
“Of course.” Tony blinked and found himself wrapped in more warmth. With each blink his eyes opened less and less. Finally he succumbed to sleep.
The Argadians searched the whole forest in half of the day. They discovered that human buildings are surrounding the place they are bunking. It couldn't be better for them. They started the next step of the plan. After they changed their form, they analyzed their new surroundings and took a few people from the street, who looked like they wouldn't be missed.
In the middle of it all they all reported the Captain one thing. The tallest building with letter A on it.
“We will investigate it after we take more people. It will help us to know who lives here and what their status is.” Their leader stated. “Continue with the plan.” He smiled. His subordinates quickly went separate ways. That smile creeps them out.
At the corner, a group of three looked closely at their boss.
“I have a suspicion that the Captain is feeling lucky…” Lucian stated.
Edward looked at him. “He is not the only one. Their social structure is similar to ours. It significantly raises our chances.”
Albert looked like he wanted to jump from joy. “We might have finally hit a jackpot.”