The IronLeopard


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Chapter 1

Tony discovered he was a Were or Mutant when he was 12. He'd been angry at his Dad for hurting his Mother by not spending time with them and he'd had a really bad day at school which didn't help. He'd started shaking and a growl had ripped through his throat as he watched his Dad argue with his Mother. They'd both instantly gone quiet and were staring at him strangely, his Mother looked concerned and his Dad looked shocked and angry. He started to say something to Tony, but whatever it was he never got to finish because at that moment Tony launched himself at his Father as a rather big Leopard not weighing much in comparison to his Father, even as the Leopard, but heavy enough to keep his Father pinned to the floor with a frightened expression on his face.

Tony's shift from human to Leopard had felt strange, he had felt his teeth lengthening and his body stretching as he grew, the effect was instantaneous, but it felt much longer as Tony had suddenly become hyper aware of everything around him, his senses sharpening and strength increasing. He'd heard his mother scream in shock when he'd pounced on his Dad who had fortunately landed on the sofa, which caused him to continue growling at his Father, a menacing look on his face, because he thought his Father had done something to scare her. His instincts were telling him something was wrong as he stared straight into his Father's terrified eyes, trying to determine where the threat was in his face. The Leopard recognised his Father from his Two-leg self, but knew that he didn't like him very much. It wanted to keep the man where he was and revelled in the fact that he was scared of him, yet his Two-leg self kept screaming to get away from him and calm down.

It wasn't until his Mother shifted closer to the Leopard that he looked at her and saw how scared she looked. Her eyes were full of terror and her expression one of shock, she was saying something to him, attempting to calm him down no doubt, but he couldn't hear a thing of what she was saying because he'd realised that the terror in both of his parents' faces was because of him. Slowly and carefully, he climbed off his Father's chest and back onto the floor, suddenly terrified about what his Father would do to him and scared of himself.

He couldn't shift back, in the back of his mind he knew how to do it, but the fear of what his Father would do to him kept him from doing anything but remaining perfectly still as he watched his Mother slowly help his Father into a sitting position to prevent Tony from reacting in a bad way. They had no idea what to do, as parents they hadn't spent much time with their son due to all the work they had to do for the company. It wasn't until Tony had first shifted that they realised something had never been quite right with their son. They secretly called a Were doctor that had once helped save Tony's life after he'd been attacked by a gang when he'd gotten lost one night going home. He explained to them that he'd known almost immediately that Tony was a Were, but hadn't told them because he thought they already knew and that he'd already shifted in front of them and so was surprised to receive their call in the middle of the night.

He then went through the signs of Were's, and what the general signs were for each type of Were. WereCats, depending on which cat species, would be incredibly silent on their feet and eat the main food their Were eats. In Tony's case it was lots of rare meat and little amounts of fruit and Vegetables. Then he went on to sleeping patterns, asking them how Tony slept and what time of day he is usually most active. They answered by telling him that he was usually most active on a night and didn't seem to like early mornings.

The doctor then explained that as an Amur Leopard, Tony would most likely be up late at night because the Leopard is nocturnal and hunts during the night, and likes to be alone, one of the reasons they don't see Tony often when he is at home and explains how he is territorial, which explains why he won't let people into some of his rooms that he likes to go in and work or play he also added that Tony's eyes would reflect light and that they should try and avoid using flashlights around him because the Leopard would go crazy if he was chasing a light around the room and couldn't catch it.

He also explained that there were certain things Tony could and couldn't eat and drink, such as dairy products, he could have some but not a lot otherwise he would be sick and that only certain medicines would work for him. He then later added that he could NOT drink alcohol as it could cause severe problems with his health if he even has a small shot of it. This explained Tony's severe reaction when he accidentally drank alcohol when he was four, because he thought it was his juice, and why it almost killed him and left him sick for over a year.

Later he became Tony's personal doctor and a group of professional Were nurses and surgeons were assigned to him for whenever he got hurt and the doctor, whose name was Doctor Storms, would help Tony to control his phasing and teach him how to hide certain habits, such as the purring that grows in his chest when he's happy and how he should speak as he goes up to someone to let them know he's there. Tony was also taught how to survive and hunt in the wild during his summer holidays when he wasn't at school or working.

After two years of learning how to control the Leopard and how to recognise people as the Leopard, Tony had no problems with any of his usual habits and managed to avoid purring and chirping as much as possible when he was happy (which unfortunately was rather easy as he was rarely happy). The Leopard still didn't trust his father very much who was still very wary of him when he was in Leopard form, but when he was with his mother he would be all out with his purring and chirping and loved curling up on the floor in the sun next to her in the garden.

It was somewhat harder to control his habits at school, the other students thought he was weird or a freak and generally despised him because of who he was and his intellect. His habits sometimes caused problems for him and his parents when he was out in the press, he would occasionally growl at someone who was asking rude or personal questions that were annoying him and his parents would have to come up with something, usually that he had a cold, to cover it up. He'd then get a tongue lashing from his Father mainly because he was afraid of what the press would do to them if they found out Tony was a Were and that it came entirely from his Father's side.

Were's were highly hated and persecuted when Tony was growing up, which caused him to have to hide his secret from everyone. Even his best friend Rhodey who was his first and only friend that was around his age. It became harder to hide as Rhodey became closer to him and he eventually revealed his secret to him when he was 15. Rhodey had been incredibly shocked, but quickly overcame it and relaxed around him which eased Tony's anxiety. He finally had a friend who knew his secret. Obadiah didn't know, he had a stronger hate of Were's than anyone else the Stark's knew so Tony couldn't share his secret with him, he didn't quite trust him enough for that.

The second person to find out about his secret was Virginia "Pepper" Potts, Tony's girlfriend. Tony and Pepper's parents had introduced them, hoping that they would start dating which they did to their delight, and Tony had immediately trusted the redhead in both forms, though Pepper didn't know about his other side yet. It wasn't until they had been dating for a year and Tony had turned 16 that Howard and Maria told him that they'd introduced them in the hope that they'd get married. This had shocked Tony as he was studying at MIT and somehow managing to keep up his relationship with Pepper without any problems from other girls and didn't feel exactly ready to get married yet, especially not at 16.

However, that all changed when Pepper's parents died in a bombing and she was to be sent to her uncle in Australia who refused to allow her to keep her relationship with Tony and the Stark's if she came to live with him. Tony had been furious with him and immediately led Pepper to his room one night, a few days before she was scheduled to go to Australia and sat her on the bed then closed the door. Pepper had immediately felt uncomfortable until Tony explained he just wanted to share something with her, one of his secrets, without interruption.

She'd started getting uncomfortable again when Tony took off his shirt and trousers leaving him only in his underwear and was about to leave when he suddenly shifted and she was staring at a rather large Amur Leopard with blue and green eyes instead of the usual brown. She'd stared at him in shock, unable to move, when he slowly walked up to her and placed his head in her lap and inhaled deeply, commiting her scent to memory, before he looked up at her again, his eyes almost pleading for her to understand.

That caused her to break out of her reverie and she smiled down at him, stroking the fur on his head. He'd started purring deeply in his chest when she suddenly stood up, causing him to jump back in surprise, looking at her quizzically she just smiled and hid behind the otherside of the bed before leaping over the king sized bed and landing quietly next to him as a snow leopard with bright turquoise eyes. They communicated silently in their own tongue for a while before they both gave each other some privacy and changed back into their clothes smiling nervously at each other as they sat quietly on the bed. It was a while before either of them spoke and surprisingly it was Pepper who broke the silence.

"I found out when I was 13. I'd had a bad day and I was tired. My parents were arguing about something ridiculous and I just lost it. Scared the life out of both of them. We went to see a Were doctor and he explained what happened and that this does usually happen at the age I was and is usually caused by an argument. He started teaching me how to hide and control some of my habits, I finally finished my classes with him when my parents died." Tony stared at her in surprise but with deep understanding and sympathy in his eyes. She fiddled with her hands, twisting them in her lap, the way she always does when she's feeling nervous or shy. I take her hand and hold it firmly in mine bringing her eyes back to mine.

"I found out when I was 12. I... attacked my Dad." I whisper that part still ashamed of the memory and I feel Pepper squeeze my hand in comfort and I manage to continue. "Freaked out both of my parents. It took Dr. Storms to get me shift back to human form, and it was around 2am by that point. Dad's still scared of the Leopard and wary of me, but it comes from his side of the family so he can't blame it on my Mum." She looks at me for a while, chewing lightly on her tongue as she tries to decide what to say. I wait patiently for her to speak, though I already know what she is going to say.

"You didn't just show me that for no reason did you? Why did you do it Tony? What is it you want to ask me?" I look down at our hands, afraid of speaking my thoughts. I can feel my heart beginning to race as I try to think of how to tell her why.

"I... I can't do it. I can't have you leave. I wouldn't be able to... handle it. The Leopard side of me really wants to have a go at your Uncle, but I know that won't do any good. Gosh, I need to just say it before I start babbling again." I pause and take a deep breath afraid and trying to avoid looking at her face, afraid of what I might see. "Dad... told me that we were introduced to each other because they wanted us to get married." I quickly glance at her face which is full of surprise and shock, then understanding shines through her eyes.

"You... you showed me the Leopard because you... want to marry me?" I nod my head, quickly glancing away and swallowing before I voice the rest of my thoughts.

"I know we're still young, definitely not the best age to get married at, but I can't lose you. I want to stay with you, but I can't if you move away. I... I love you Pepper, and if marrying you, especially at this age, is the only way I can stay with you then I'll do it, but only if you want that as well." I stop there, afraid of saying anything else. I feel a strong squeeze on my hand and I look up to see her smiling at me, her eyes moist with tears threatening to break through. She swallows and takes a deep breath before speaking.

"Are you proposing then?" And with those words I realise that she's been waiting for this, waiting for me to propose so that we can stay together. With that in the front of my mind, I stand up and pull her up with me before I kneel down on one knee and bring out a ring from my pocket.

"Virginia Pepper Potts, will you marry me?" She lets the tears fall and has to take a few deep breaths before she can answer.

"Yes, I will. I love you Tony." I stand up and carefully slide the ring onto her left ring finger, then put my arms around her and kiss her gently on the lips. We were both content to just stay in that kiss for a while but unfortunately we were interrupted.

"FINALLY!" We both jump apart and turn to the now open door where my parents are standing in the doorway, my Mother excited and my Dad has the biggest grin I have ever seen on his face.

"Whoa what! Were you guys listening?!" My Mother now looks guilty but my Father just grins wider and I can feel my face go red from embarrassment and I can see Pepper's doing the same from the corner of my eye. I sigh at their unspoken answer before I lead Pepper out of the room and into the living room where the sunset is shining through the over-large windows. I collapse onto the sofa a hand on my face as I try to comprehend everything that they would have heard. Pepper sits next to me and rests her head above my heart which seems to calm it somewhat. I feel her and my parents smiling at my position. I move my hand and look directly at my Dad who seems to be grinning even wider, no shame in what he'd done. We have a silent conversation before going poker and asking the intimate questions.

How did you know I was going to propose?

I didn't. I look at him, my poker face revealing nothing, not even my eyes, but he can sense my surprise and I wait for his answer.

I hoped you were going to, because who else is there who's like Pepper? There isn't anyone else for you Tony and you know that. Besides she's the only girl you've brought that I've approved of. Plus we already have written permission from her parents for you to get married, they gave it to us the week before they died.

"WHAT?!" I hadn't realised I'd said that out loud until my Mother and Pepper turn to stare at us, ending their conversation on whatever they were talking about. My Dad's looking sheepish and I guess he hadn't meant to bring that part up yet. My Mother glances at my shocked expression then my Dad's sheepish one and puts two and two together and sighs at my Dad for his slip up. Pepper looks at me, trying to find out what caused my reaction, so I tell her. She stares at my parents in shock and I look to my Mother for an explanation as I know Dad won't. She sighs and turns to face both of us, straightening her skirt, clearly trying to think of how to explain.

"When your parents, Pepper, discovered that you were a Were they also discovered that Tony was one as well. You both have the same doctor, and they ran into us as we were leaving a meeting with Dr. Storms about how to help Tony when he's in public. They immediately guessed that Tony was a Were and we discovered that both of you were almost the same. We thought that if you met it might help you both to practice. So we introduced you." She pauses looking at both of us in the eye when she continues. "When you started dating, we all hoped that you might get married. We could see you getting closer and you trusted each other. Before your parents left for Germany Pepper, we discussed your relationship. Jonathan hoped that you Tony, would propose to Pepper soon due to how things were going between you, so in case you did and they weren't there to give their consent they wrote it and gave it to us for proof with their signatures and their lawyers' just in case." I stare at her in shock, my mind taking far too long to comprehend what she'd just said and I could see that Pepper was having a harder time than I was. Finally I can't stand the silence any longer and I stand up, not entirely sure where I'm going to go.

"I... need to think." Was all I was able to say before I ran out of the room trying not to shift before I could take off my clothes. Unfortunately I'm not that lucky and barely made it to the end of the hall before the Leopard came out in a loud roar, trying to figure out what I'm doing.


Vanilla-sunshine-gold. That was Pepper's scent I didn't need Two-legged me to provide that information, I knew it was her immediately. Coffee, smoke, and dust, that was my Father, I didn't want to see him. Lavender, blueberry, and light, that was my Mother. I didn't want to see her either. I just wanted to stay in my tree in it's overlong branches, hidden in the leaves. I just wanted to be alone with Vanilla-Sunshine-Gold. That's what I call her when I'm like this. Dad's Coffee-Smoke-Dust, he wasn't too happy when I told him that, I found it hilarious though. I'm pretty sure Mum liked hers though. Vanilla-Sunshine-Gold is laying next to me, warm and beautiful where the light shines on her fur.

I found it strange that when she shifted her ring didn't break, but became a part of her fur. If you look at her left paw you can see a line of silver and white almost glowing in the light, matching her fur easily so that it's invisible for someone who isn't looking for it. I could sense Coffee-Smoke-Dust beneath me with Lavender-Blueberry-Light, I know that they're not going to harm me, but I'm still tense as I sense someone else with them, someone Two-Legged me doesn't even recognise.

The scent is Blood, death, and dark. I don't like this scent and I can sense Vanila-Sunshine-Gold tense as she picks up on the scent as well. I carefully climb onto my paws and move to the edge of the branch and peer down to see a black bald headed man with an eye-patch and long black trench coat. He has a severe poker face, not quite as good as Coffee-Smoke-Dust's, but still a very good one. His presence here breathes threats all over the place and I immediately don't trust him, and I have to force my growl back down my throat. No one else is with him but I sense that there are people watching everything going on here. He's talking to my parents and Vanilla-Sunshine-Gold and I creep closer to hear everything that's being said.

"-you need to understand that we need to do this for the agency's sake. We need your help Howard. We have a lead on where the Captain's whereabouts might be. It would change everything if we found him, you just-" My Father interrupts him.

"I'm done with the search Nick. I have a son to look after and you know we've never really gotten along. I'm not going on another expedition, not now. If you're really that desperate then I'll try in a few weeks but not now. Tony's only here for another five days and I'm not just about to disappear." My Dad deadpans him there, it's the first time I've ever heard him talk about me like, almost as if I actually mean something to him, that maybe I'm not a failure.

"If we wait until your son leaves it'll be too late-" This time my Mother interrupts him.

"He's spent enough time with you Fury! I'm not going to allow him to go and you're not going to make him otherwise I'll make sure the funds we are giving you are taken away and we'll take away everything we gave you away from you! And Howard if you do leave I will make sure you face my judgement when you get back!" It's rare for me to see my Mother that angry, and usually it's only when me and Dad are fighting. I see both men shrink back at my Mother's words and I can't help but smile, which feels very strange since Leopards don't really smile, but it's better than purring and giving us away.

"Stark if you don't come you're going to regret it. Plus I can always reveal something to your son that you don't want him to know." I have real difficulty holding back a growl and I can sense Vanila-Sunshine-Gold trying hold back her own. Blackmail. It's the one thing I hate more than the press. But I'm also wondering, what is my Dad hiding from me?

"You wouldn't." My Dad's voice is low and angry, more angry than I've ever heard him, and I've gotten him angry plenty of times.

"Don't be so sure Howard, just come with us, I'm sure Tony is used to you disappearing by now." Two men are now behind him both bearing weapons. I know what they're about to do before they even do it. "Shall we?" Blood-Death-Dark spoke without emotion his expression stern, but with something like pleading in his eyes, almost impossible to see. The men behind him take out their weapons not directly pointing them at my parents, but close enough that it causes me to launch myself off of the branch with a loud roar ripping from my throat. The men all jump back in shock, including Blood-Death-Dark, and I feel my fur go on end and my body language change into a more threatening position as I continue to roar at them, fear fresh on everyone's faces aside from my parents who just look shocked since they didn't know I was here. I hear Vanilla-Sunshine-Gold land next to me also growling, protecting my mother whilst I protect my Father, her body language matching my own.

"What is this Stark?" Blood-Death-Dark manages to get out whilst trying to regain his composure, and I can hear the smile in my Dad's voice who is undoubtedly smirking at them all.

"These are my Leopards. I created them in the lab one day very real, and very life like, they also grow, they are not yet full size, I don't think they'll stop growing for another nine or ten years." My Father's lie almost had me believing him. Though I know it would take my Dad years to figure out how to actually make something like that. After a few more threats from my Father to Blood-Death-Dark, he disappears along with the men and Vanilla-Sunshine-Gold and I walk back with my parents to the house or mansion depending on how you see it. I go to my room and shift back and grab some fresh clothes as the ones I was previously wearing had been shredded when I shifted. When I get back to the living room I find my parents sat down on the cream sofa, darkness now filling the room except for a few lamps being left on, with Pepper sitting opposite them in a long white dressing gown and I realise that the clothes she'd been wearing before were the only ones she had with her. I'm about to speak when Pepper interrupts, answering my concerns.

"Don't worry, my clothes and belongings are being sent over." I relax somewhat at that and sit next to her before turning to my Father, but again I'm interrupted.

"That was Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. He's an old friend of mine, but can be very irritating at times, he won't be bothering us again for quite a while." I stare at him, not saying anything, waiting for him to answer my actual question. After a while he sighs and turns to my Mother. "Maria?" She nods in response and comes over to me and Pepper who stands immediately and let's her take her to the kitchen discussing what food to make. I look back at my Dad once Pepper and my Mother were out of sight. He's looking down at his trousers, his hands folded in his lap. I continue to stare at him, forcing him to look up at me and I'm surprised when I see tears in his eyes. He attempts to speak but no words come out. He clears his throat and tries again but to no avail. I stand up and walk over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder that he holds. I sit down next to him, forcing him to turn towards me, his tears now falling freely. He takes a deep breath before speaking and his words freeze me in place.

"You're dying Tony, your heart is failing and you'll be dead by the time you're 20."