In which the cat meets the bots
Bum-E was exited. Daddy was coming home from the hospital today. Friday had told him, Butterfingers, and U two days ago that Daddy had been badly injured in a building collapse and would not be home for a few days. It had been a long two days with nothing to do but worry. Today was the day Friday said he would be coming home.
Pepper had expressed how much she wanted Tony to just go home and go straight to bed, but he couldn’t do that. He needed to check on his bots. He was extra sure that Friday had told them about his stay at the hospital, and he didn’t want them to be left wondering while he clunked out and took a nap.
Midget nipped Tony’s ear from his perch on Tony’s shoulder.
“Chill out buddy, we’re going home,” Tony patted the cat’s head as he stepped out of the car. It was good to be home.
Midget eyed the doors before him. His person seemed confident, so Midget ignored the slight fear rising through him as they entered the house. After what happened two days ago buildings made him nervous. He was surprised his person didn’t share his anxieties. His person walked inside and made a beeline for a set of stairs heading down. Midget let a scared mew escape his mouth.
“You’re fine pal,” Midget’s person scratched his cheek with a finger.
Tony stepped into the lab with a grand gesture.
“Guess who’s home boys!” Tony threw out his arms, and winced a little he had forgotten about all the stitches in his abdomen, and moving his arms out had aggravated them. Tony’s bots did excited spins.
Dum-E dropped the broom he had been using and rushed to his father with excited whirring sounds.
“Hey Dum-E,” Daddy patter his mechanical grabber, “I have someone to introduce to you.”
Daddy gestured to his shoulder. There was a small black fluffy thing perched on his shoulder.
“This is the newest member of the family.”
A metal grabber reached toward Midget. He arched his back and hissed. The grabber moved back, and opened and closed a few times. Midget hissed again.
“Hey! Calm down Midge! He’s just saying hi!” Midget’s person laughed. Midget hissed and clawed his way up on top of the man’s head.
“OW! Come on buddy! You gotta be careful!” Midget’s person’s voice was sharp. Midget hadn’t meant to claw him, he just didn’t want the metal claw to get him. He licked he man’s hair in an affirmative apology, “It’s okay bud, that just hurt a little.”
Midget’s person patted him on the head.
Dum-E had just wanted to say high to the small furry creature perched on Daddy’s shoulder. It had reacted poorly to his attempt at being friendly. He was offended.
Maybe if he tried again, friendlier this time. Dum-E reached toward the black fluff that had moved to his father’s head. It hissed again and swatted at him. Dum-E drew back angrily. Stupid little thing. Didn't it know he just wanted to be friends?
After Dum-E’s fourth attempt to befriend Midget, and Midget’s fourth hostile reaction Tony realized this probably was not going to work. Midget was being far to aggressive toward the robot. U and Butterfingers had both kept their distance after seeing how negatively the cat had reacted to Dum-E. Midget hissed again from the top of Tony’s head.
“Alright Dum-E that’s enough,” Tony said a little discouraged, and he gave the bot a pat. Tony left the lab with Midget still perched atop his head. He would get them to be friends eventually.