It only starts because he’s been encroaching on her territory. During the daytime, Tony is hard at work rebuilding Timely into the settlement she was meant to be. At nighttime, after the smithy is closed, Tony’s allowed his personal time. Before, that would have been deepening his intimate relationship with the town tavern. Now, with Fisk’s men gone, Tony works on his armor, or, increasingly, makes himself known at Doctor Banner’s residence.
Tony can’t tolerate waiting by a bedside for too long, especially at an hour when ordinary folk were supposed to be in bed. He ends up sitting out on Banner’s back porch most evenings. His fingers itch for a bottle to nurse away his melancholy, He twists his fingers around each other, his mind unused to the idea of doing anything else with his evening time.
A mewl is a discordant note amongst all the crickets.
A small black cat with orange splotches marring its face approaches him, its tail high. Tony has no idea where it came from – under the house? He’s never been much of an animal person, but he doesn’t think it’s unhappy to see him.
“I don’t have any food for you. Take your begging elsewhere.”
The cat mewls again, and brushes behind Tony’s legs where they dangle off the edge of the porch. Tony doesn’t kick it, which is enough invitation for the cat to rest its paws on the edge of the porch and jump up beside Tony. It shoves its head right up against his clasped hands, and Tony has no choice but to scratch half-heartedly at its ears. The cat pushes its head into his palm, like Tony’s somehow doing this right, and starts a soft, rumbling purr.
“Well, I’d say you’re a sight for sore eyes, but you weren’t blessed with looks.”
Tony’s first instinct to shoo the cat subsides. After all, the creature is adding some character to the still, long nights.
---
“There’s predators out at night. Luck turned a little south, cats are an easy target for a coyote or wolf.” Banner raises an eyebrow at him. “I’m sure if you brought some meat, she’d follow you right home. Or not even that. She’s so taken with you she’d follow you home if you didn’t shoo her off.”
“That’s not what I’m saying. A barn would be a good option for it: one of the houses just out of town. Those places are crawling with mice, anyway, Creature could make herself useful for once.”
“Now, Stark. Timely’s a town that’ll take in anyone who’s willing.”
Both of them turn. Rogers is leaning against the door jamb.
“How many times do I have to tell you to give some warning if you needed to get up?” Banner says. “I could have gotten the chamber pot for you. I’m not tolerating you aggravating your wounds again.”
“I didn’t need to relieve myself,” Steve says, staring right at Tony. “I just wanted to get a breath of the fresh evening air, enjoy some company.”
“Well, if you wanted it so bad you’d risk your body, then help yourself. I have to get going. Early morning.” Tony pats down his shirt to put himself into sorts and strides off, feeling Rogers’s gaze on the back of his neck the entire way.
More often than not, his evenings at Bruce’s have been cut short.
---
Tony set out a stack of hay and spread an old blanket over it in the corner oo his workroom, but Friday’s chosen to curl up on top of a workbench instead, face resting on her paws. She naps blissfully through the noise of Tony working on his armor. As punishment, Tony runs a hand along her back as he heads out. She meows loudly, before settling back in, as Tony opens the door to the shadow he sees lurking out the back. Keep things up like that, and man’s liable to get shot one of these days.
They stand side by side, quiet in their contemplation, until a scratching at the door forces Tony to open it. Friday bounds outside, flicking her tail along Steve’s leg before taking her own seat on the porch.
Steve breaks the silence first. “I always assumed you liked being alone when you were doing your work. But do you actually want the company?”
Tony scowls at Steve. “I don’t need anyone, anything,” he aims at Friday, “to interrupt me during my work.”
“But, if they’re sensible enough to not bother me…I could tolerate the right company.”
On the still, starry night, the only thing as bright as the moon is the flash of Steve’s smile.
no subject
Steve survives 1872, Tony makes a new friend
AO3 link
It only starts because he’s been encroaching on her territory. During the daytime, Tony is hard at work rebuilding Timely into the settlement she was meant to be. At nighttime, after the smithy is closed, Tony’s allowed his personal time. Before, that would have been deepening his intimate relationship with the town tavern. Now, with Fisk’s men gone, Tony works on his armor, or, increasingly, makes himself known at Doctor Banner’s residence.
Tony can’t tolerate waiting by a bedside for too long, especially at an hour when ordinary folk were supposed to be in bed. He ends up sitting out on Banner’s back porch most evenings. His fingers itch for a bottle to nurse away his melancholy, He twists his fingers around each other, his mind unused to the idea of doing anything else with his evening time.
A mewl is a discordant note amongst all the crickets.
A small black cat with orange splotches marring its face approaches him, its tail high. Tony has no idea where it came from – under the house? He’s never been much of an animal person, but he doesn’t think it’s unhappy to see him.
“I don’t have any food for you. Take your begging elsewhere.”
The cat mewls again, and brushes behind Tony’s legs where they dangle off the edge of the porch. Tony doesn’t kick it, which is enough invitation for the cat to rest its paws on the edge of the porch and jump up beside Tony. It shoves its head right up against his clasped hands, and Tony has no choice but to scratch half-heartedly at its ears. The cat pushes its head into his palm, like Tony’s somehow doing this right, and starts a soft, rumbling purr.
“Well, I’d say you’re a sight for sore eyes, but you weren’t blessed with looks.”
Tony’s first instinct to shoo the cat subsides. After all, the creature is adding some character to the still, long nights.
---
“There’s predators out at night. Luck turned a little south, cats are an easy target for a coyote or wolf.”
Banner raises an eyebrow at him. “I’m sure if you brought some meat, she’d follow you right home. Or not even that. She’s so taken with you she’d follow you home if you didn’t shoo her off.”
“That’s not what I’m saying. A barn would be a good option for it: one of the houses just out of town. Those places are crawling with mice, anyway, Creature could make herself useful for once.”
“Now, Stark. Timely’s a town that’ll take in anyone who’s willing.”
Both of them turn. Rogers is leaning against the door jamb.
“How many times do I have to tell you to give some warning if you needed to get up?” Banner says. “I could have gotten the chamber pot for you. I’m not tolerating you aggravating your wounds again.”
“I didn’t need to relieve myself,” Steve says, staring right at Tony. “I just wanted to get a breath of the fresh evening air, enjoy some company.”
“Well, if you wanted it so bad you’d risk your body, then help yourself. I have to get going. Early morning.” Tony pats down his shirt to put himself into sorts and strides off, feeling Rogers’s gaze on the back of his neck the entire way.
More often than not, his evenings at Bruce’s have been cut short.
---
Tony set out a stack of hay and spread an old blanket over it in the corner oo his workroom, but Friday’s chosen to curl up on top of a workbench instead, face resting on her paws. She naps blissfully through the noise of Tony working on his armor. As punishment, Tony runs a hand along her back as he heads out. She meows loudly, before settling back in, as Tony opens the door to the shadow he sees lurking out the back. Keep things up like that, and man’s liable to get shot one of these days.
They stand side by side, quiet in their contemplation, until a scratching at the door forces Tony to open it. Friday bounds outside, flicking her tail along Steve’s leg before taking her own seat on the porch.
Steve breaks the silence first. “I always assumed you liked being alone when you were doing your work. But do you actually want the company?”
Tony scowls at Steve. “I don’t need anyone, anything,” he aims at Friday, “to interrupt me during my work.”
“But, if they’re sensible enough to not bother me…I could tolerate the right company.”
On the still, starry night, the only thing as bright as the moon is the flash of Steve’s smile.