Fic - Pets (wish_list fill)
Just a wee fic for socchan as a wish_list fill.
Fandom: The Avengers (MCU)
It all started because Tony read something somewhere about service pets - not just service dogs, but service pets - and it gave him ideas. Well, it actually started years before that because Tony was never allowed to have a pet. Not even a hamster. Not even a fish. There was some talk about his lack of responsibility and a conversation about putting his energy into other areas. He did get a sweet Erector Set out of the deal - not bad for a four year old. However - the precursor to a robot was not a dog, and when Tony overcompensated for a shortcoming in his childhood that he blamed on his father, he really overcompensated.
It was a benefit of being a genius billionaire philanthropist.
Surprisingly, he started small - literally and figuratively. The first one was an accident really. JARVIS alerted him to a litter of kittens that had been abandoned behind the food court on the lowest level of Stark Tower. There was no good reason why JARVIS should’ve shared that information when Tony was elbow deep in reconfiguring Sam’s Falcon wings, but Bruce happened to be in the workshop and his ears perked up at the news. Tony didn’t think much of it because the new alloy he was using to strengthen and lighten the wings was being difficult and Bruce left to investigate or take care of it or whatever.
Later that evening when Tony’d put the wings on the shelf for the night, he wandered down to Bruce’s lab. He wasn’t surprised to see the lights on; he was surprised to see Bruce walking around with a baby blanket and a bottle of milk.
“Something you want to tell me about, Bruce?” Tony teased from the doorway.
Bruce looked up and smiled, then he immediately ducked his head giving his attention back to the bundle in his arms. “I found the kittens JARVIS mentioned earlier…”
Tony’s eyes rolled up toward the ceiling working hard to make the connection.
Bruce chuckled. “You have no idea, do you? I brought them to the shelter, but this little one was too sick and too weak. It’s a good place but they’re always overwhelmed. So I took this little gal off their hands - if I can help her, great…and if not, at least I tried.”
Tony drifted closer. Bruce peeled back the blanket covering the tiny black head. He would not - would NOT admit it - but the kitten was ridiculously adorable. In lieu of acknowledging the obvious adorableness, Tony did what he did best - threw money at the problem.
“JARVIS order a supply of the best kitten food out there. Wait, first research the best kitten food out there and then order whatever Dr. Banner needs.”
Bruce tried to protest. “Hold on, Tony. We don’t even know if she’ll make it through the night.”
“But if she does,” Tony argued, “You’ll need supplies.” He looked around Bruce’s sparse lab. “Anyplace would be a good spot for a cat tree, yes?”
Bruce continued to argue, Tony continued to ignore him and together they kept each other company as the kitten nursed through the night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Her name was Midnight which, as far as Tony was concerned, was the most cliché name to give a black cat. It was not quite as bad as “Blackie” but not by much. Bruce loved that damn kitten. And, unlike most of her aloof brethren, Midnight loved him right back. It probably had something to do with the fact that Bruce carried her around in his shirt swaddled close against his chest those first few weeks. He said it was for “warmth”, but Tony thought that tucking her in like that was more for Bruce’s benefit than hers.
When she was older and stronger, her favorite place to perch was on Bruce’s shoulder as he worked. She peered so attentively at whatever it was he was doing that it looked as though she was researching right along with him; until she started to bat at or nip his ear. After all, she was a kitten. She was as goofy, dopey and excitable as any kitten out there. She would spaz out over random things and Bruce would have to stop what he was doing to talk her down. Tony built a laser-yarn-ball thing which kept her running in circles for hours - it was hilarious and oddly soothing to watch. Suddenly cat videos on You Tube made much more sense.
That kitten brought something out in Bruce; he was more relaxed and at ease. That was great and all, but what really sold Tony on the pet idea was that having a pet implied “home”. There was something important and solid and significant about taking in a creature to love, not on a temporary basis.
Suddenly, it became imperative that pets were a thing in the Tower. There might be a litter of puppies on the way right now; a family of Labradors that might have already been named Truth, Justice and American Way.
Fandom: The Avengers (MCU)
It all started because Tony read something somewhere about service pets - not just service dogs, but service pets - and it gave him ideas. Well, it actually started years before that because Tony was never allowed to have a pet. Not even a hamster. Not even a fish. There was some talk about his lack of responsibility and a conversation about putting his energy into other areas. He did get a sweet Erector Set out of the deal - not bad for a four year old. However - the precursor to a robot was not a dog, and when Tony overcompensated for a shortcoming in his childhood that he blamed on his father, he really overcompensated.
It was a benefit of being a genius billionaire philanthropist.
Surprisingly, he started small - literally and figuratively. The first one was an accident really. JARVIS alerted him to a litter of kittens that had been abandoned behind the food court on the lowest level of Stark Tower. There was no good reason why JARVIS should’ve shared that information when Tony was elbow deep in reconfiguring Sam’s Falcon wings, but Bruce happened to be in the workshop and his ears perked up at the news. Tony didn’t think much of it because the new alloy he was using to strengthen and lighten the wings was being difficult and Bruce left to investigate or take care of it or whatever.
Later that evening when Tony’d put the wings on the shelf for the night, he wandered down to Bruce’s lab. He wasn’t surprised to see the lights on; he was surprised to see Bruce walking around with a baby blanket and a bottle of milk.
“Something you want to tell me about, Bruce?” Tony teased from the doorway.
Bruce looked up and smiled, then he immediately ducked his head giving his attention back to the bundle in his arms. “I found the kittens JARVIS mentioned earlier…”
Tony’s eyes rolled up toward the ceiling working hard to make the connection.
Bruce chuckled. “You have no idea, do you? I brought them to the shelter, but this little one was too sick and too weak. It’s a good place but they’re always overwhelmed. So I took this little gal off their hands - if I can help her, great…and if not, at least I tried.”
Tony drifted closer. Bruce peeled back the blanket covering the tiny black head. He would not - would NOT admit it - but the kitten was ridiculously adorable. In lieu of acknowledging the obvious adorableness, Tony did what he did best - threw money at the problem.
“JARVIS order a supply of the best kitten food out there. Wait, first research the best kitten food out there and then order whatever Dr. Banner needs.”
Bruce tried to protest. “Hold on, Tony. We don’t even know if she’ll make it through the night.”
“But if she does,” Tony argued, “You’ll need supplies.” He looked around Bruce’s sparse lab. “Anyplace would be a good spot for a cat tree, yes?”
Bruce continued to argue, Tony continued to ignore him and together they kept each other company as the kitten nursed through the night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Her name was Midnight which, as far as Tony was concerned, was the most cliché name to give a black cat. It was not quite as bad as “Blackie” but not by much. Bruce loved that damn kitten. And, unlike most of her aloof brethren, Midnight loved him right back. It probably had something to do with the fact that Bruce carried her around in his shirt swaddled close against his chest those first few weeks. He said it was for “warmth”, but Tony thought that tucking her in like that was more for Bruce’s benefit than hers.
When she was older and stronger, her favorite place to perch was on Bruce’s shoulder as he worked. She peered so attentively at whatever it was he was doing that it looked as though she was researching right along with him; until she started to bat at or nip his ear. After all, she was a kitten. She was as goofy, dopey and excitable as any kitten out there. She would spaz out over random things and Bruce would have to stop what he was doing to talk her down. Tony built a laser-yarn-ball thing which kept her running in circles for hours - it was hilarious and oddly soothing to watch. Suddenly cat videos on You Tube made much more sense.
That kitten brought something out in Bruce; he was more relaxed and at ease. That was great and all, but what really sold Tony on the pet idea was that having a pet implied “home”. There was something important and solid and significant about taking in a creature to love, not on a temporary basis.
Suddenly, it became imperative that pets were a thing in the Tower. There might be a litter of puppies on the way right now; a family of Labradors that might have already been named Truth, Justice and American Way.