Day 3

Time- 9:00 pm

"What are we looking for again?" Tony grumbled under his helmet, talking to Fury who was currently on the other end of the call. He swept his gaze over the area for the hundredth time, checking for any hostile activity. They (Tony and Canine) had been dropped off in a thin forest an hour ago and had to trek to their destination. Now they were crouched behind the largest tree they could find close to the construction site and were watchful for any possible ambush. "A small metal box with blue LED-type lights. Inside is a valuable object crucial for the completion of a secret SHIELD project."

"What kind of project? I haven't heard of one." Tony heard Nick sigh and he waited somewhat patiently for him to answer. "You haven't heard about it because it's confidential, thus the term 'secret'," Nick growled, "Now stop asking questions and find it. We believe it's being kept at the top of the unfinished building."

Tony looked upwards at the mention of the building; a ten story mansion that had it's main frame made up but no permanent foundations. Most of it was made of wood, but supporting metal was visible higher up where the finishing wood had yet to be added. Deep shadows were cast by a full moon, making the unfinished building look ominous. "Yeah, alright."

"Be careful, Stark. Whether the thief is there and with friends or not we're unsure of. Now we have readings that-"

The call ended abruptly into static, making Tony jump the slightest bit.

"Tony? What's wrong?"

He ignored Canine and directed his attention to his communication system. "Jarvis, what's happened to Fury?"

"It appears that our communications are being jammed, sir. Calling anyone is impossible."

"Every frequency is covered?"

"Yes, sir. I just ran a diagnostic over every possible variable to our communications and have found no loophole. Until this mission is completed we will be unable to connect with anyone."

"Well that's great..."

"No kidding," Canine cut in, suddenly reminding Tony that she was still right behind him, "Now we have to call the shots without in-air information."

"Yesss..." Tony drawled, holding the 's' into his next words, "So that means you listen to me. You do exactly as I tell you."

"Mrrgh... fine. What do we do now?"

Tony turned his head to look at the teenager behind him, "I fly to the top and get the whatever-it-is. You stay here, out of my way."

"You can't-"

"Nu-uh, you agreed," Tony reminded with a wave of his arm, "And you don't have much choice considering I'm flying away right now." Before Canine could react, he jumped into the air and activated his suit, instantly shooting into the air and towards the top of the unfinished mansion.

"Tony!" Canine growled after him, transforming and jumping up in a vain attempt to grab him from the air, "Don't leave me here!" She stopped when Tony was well out of loud-whisper-distance, huffing in anger with ears flat against her head and tail lashing furiously. Her blue eyes watched as Tony neared the roof. He was about to land when movement caught Canine's sharp eyesight and her attention shifted. It was a person for sure, clad in black to blend into the dark, nighttime shadows, and in his or her hands was a weapon, glinting moonlight at Canine. For a second Canine watched, waiting for the person to make a move. Bright blue light speedily lit up the person, growing from the barrel of the gun, and Canine knew Tony was in danger.

"TONY! LOOK OUT!"

As soon as she said it, what could be called blue lighting shot forward and collided with Tony, lighting his suit with crackling electricity. She refrained from running into the open, observing to see if Tony would be fine. When the Avenger dropped form the air, suit sparking and smoking, Canine couldn't move, even if she wanted to, out of shock. Tony was downed? How? Her eyes followed a thin, dark cord glinting with electricity as it swept through the air, away from Tony, and back into the gun.

It was mere second between Canine's warning and Tony's fall before an electrified cord sprang down to Canine, missing her flank just by a hair's breadth. She jumped into the air, growling with alarm before darting out of the trees and towards the unfinished mansion, followed closely by electrified cords that threw dirt around her paws as the ends were shot deeply into the earth. Before she knew it, Canine was through the doors and inside the mansion, unharmed.

"Phew," Canine sighed as she paced the doorway, unsure of what to do next, "There's bound to be more people in here... so that means we've got to hurry and get the whatever-it-is..." She peered outside, grimacing when Tony's metal form was still lying on the ground, smoke trailing from the joints and sparks of leaking electricity glinting along the grass. "T-Tony... Tony!"

The Avenger didn't move.

"Darn it... I have to save him, again?" Grumpily, Canine rushed outside, just in time to see three dark-clothed figures approaching stealthily towards the unconscious Tony. "Hey! No! Don't you dare!" She launched herself forward, howling with ferocity while pulling back onto her hind legs, letting her front paws slice threateningly through the air, white claws gleaming in the moonlight. She grinned inwardly at how hesitant they suddenly became. The sight of a giant, talking wolf, rearing up to stand around nine feet in height would be a very unsettling thing indeed. "You coming at me?! Come on! Bring it!" She snarled, letting all her anger and frustration that had been bottled up for the past three days put out. "Don't wanna fight?!Then beat it!" She leapt forward, snarling darkly while nearly snapping her jaws around one of the enemy's shoulders, effectively chasing the group away.

That's when Tony finally decided to wake up.

"Hm? Wh-what? What happened?"

Canine felt her rage and annoyance drift away, but not before leaving a feeling of contempt for Tony. "Oh, finally wake up did we? I hope you had a nice nap while I was saving your skin, again."

Immediately Tony was on the offensive, his voice clearly dripping with his usual sarcasm and with new bitterness. "Don't go on expecting a 'thank you' cuz you're not getting one. I didn't ask you to save me. Heck you didn't even listen to me earlier when I said to stay hidden."

"That's because you had been knocked out by the enemy!" Canine muttered, shoving her muzzle down to Tony's face behind the suit.

"And what are we still doing out in the open, Canine? With the snipers still live in the trees? Decided to save me so the enemy can finish me from above while we argue"

Canine's fur bristled. "Are you blaming me for your stupidity of flying right out into the open in the first place? Well listen here," She grasped his leg and started dragging him to the house, mentally and grudgingly noting that Tony was right with the snipers, but not letting it show, "We're here to retrieve whatever-it-is for Fury and I'm sure as heck gonna get it for him; whether you decide to help or not is up to you," the pair were in the house now and Canine quickly spat out the armor and stood to growl over Tony, "I'm not gonna take your ignorance and rudeness any more. Next time your life's in danger, save it yourself." Without waiting for the Avenger to reply, Canine turned and started deeper into the house.

Sorry for not updating for so long. I've got other stories I'm trying to update, school (although it's almost over so that'll open up more time for writing), and I've been locked from virtually anything fun on my computer so writing time so far has been completed during school hours. Summer, I hope, brings updates every week, if not day.

So, Canine and Tony don't seem to be working very well together… I hope they'll be able to get the whatever-it-is for Fury.

Anyway, I'm going to try and get this done. In the meantime leave a review, give me prompts if you have any, check out my other stories (even though only two are completed), and keep being amazing. :)

-Light