Pawprints

Tony didn't know how long he'd been running.

He just kept doing it.

His eyesight was blurry as he scrambled around a corner. Somewhere behind him were faint shouts of people and pounding footsteps.

But he didn't care.

Steve's words kept crowding his brain as he ran aimlessly to who-knew-where. 'Howard would have been disappointed'. Tony felt a bitter grin curve on his lips. After all, he knew that already. Steve didn't have to tell him. That video he saw, in that tape that S.H.I.E.L.D. had? All bullshit. Howard had never loved him. Never even liked him, for that matter.

Somehow, he registered a door sliding open in front of him. By muscle-memory, he had been heading towards his private lab, the one only he, Pepper, JARVIS and Rhodey had the password to.

Stumbling inside, he collapsed in a heap on the floor. JARVIS' kind voice rang through the speakers. "Sir, DUM-E, You and Butterfingers are coming towards you. They have been released from their charging stations." Tony wearily barked in acknowledgement.

Muted beeps slowly grew louder as the robots approached Tony. JARVIS must have somehow filled them in on what happened, as they were gentler than they would normally be. Resting his claw on Tony's head, DUM-E tried, in his own little way, to comfort Tony. Tony instinctively leaned into his touch, making DUM-E erupt in excited beeps. You and Butterfingers beeped jealously in return, jostling DUM-E aggressively, making Tony crack a smile.

Surrounded by the bots, Tony slowly fell asleep.

XOXOXOOXOXXOXOXOOXOXOOXOXOXOXOOXO

Tony was woken up by several beeps. Looking up, he saw DUM-E, You and butterfingers huddling together, seemingly discussing something. Barking softly to alert them that he was awake, he smiled as he saw them jerk in surprise and break apart.

"They were discussing on how to wake you up gently, Sir." JARVIS' voice betrayed the fondness with which he regarded the robots. Rubbing his eyes with one paw, he winced as last night's events came back to him. "I definitely don't want to bump into any Avengers now- not even Bruce, even though he didn't see what happened." Tony thought despairingly.

"What is the matter, Sir?" JARVIS asked tentatively. Tony was just going to tell JARVIS, when he realised 'Oh yeah, he's a dog, he can't talk' and shut his mouth again was a sigh.

"Do you not want to go out yet? You could stay here for another day, Sir. Those teammates of yours," At this, JARVIS' voice grew cold and unforgiving, "are not deserving of your company." Tony grinned at JARVIS' words. He knew him too well. Growing serious again, Tony barked once and shook his head. He would have to face the team at some point or another, so he might as well leave.

As the door slid open, Tony trotted out slowly. He was in no hurry to face the team's angry faces. As he was stealthily making his way to the Movie Room-It was the place with the least chance of meeting anybody- he unfortunately bumped into Bruce, who was hurrying down the staircase. Seeing Tony, Bruce seemingly screeched to a stop, his jaw falling open. When he had gotten over his initial surprise (caused by who-knew-what), Bruce yelled, "Tony!"

Backing against the wall with his ears drooping, Tony braced himself for a scolding, or anything at all, but was whisked upwards by Bruce's strong arms.

Yelping in surprise, Tony struggled for a while, before going limp. He distinctly heard Bruce talking on the phone, saying, "Yes, I found him! Meet at the Movie Room!"

Sighing in defeat, Tony closed his eyes as Bruce ran towards the Movie Room.