Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Challenges listed at the bottom.
Word Count: 362
Warning: Vague talk of someone dying
Not Yet
Tony bent down to stroke the cat that rubbed up against his leg. He was sitting in the park, enjoying the afternoon sun, when his new little friend had decided to join him.
He lost himself in the rhythm of petting the cat, soothing himself as much as he was the animal, and if he could purr, he'd be rivalling the noise the cat made.
"Steve told me you'd stomped out here."
Tony startled, turning his head to see Nat perching on the back of the bench he was sitting on.
"I didn't stomp," Tony replied, rolling his eyes. "I just got tired of listening to him whine at me, so I came out for some fresh air."
"Uh huh. And this has nothing to do with the fact that you don't like lying to his face?"
"Who's lying?" Tony asked, trying to keep his face as blank as possible. "I'm not lying."
She snorted, and then rounded the bench, tugging him to his feet. "Come get a drink with me. It's too hot out here, and there's a pop up cider tent over the other side of the lake."
Tony allowed her to pull him up, and didn't grumble too much when she linked her arm through his and propelled them forwards.
…
"You should tell the team," Natasha said, as the two of them sat down with a cold glass of cider each. "Lying to them about this isn't protecting them."
Tony rolled his eyes. "Of course it's protecting them. There's no point in them worrying about me when there might not be a reason for it."
"You dying is a good reason to worry! Tony—"
"No. It's… not a big deal. Not yet. We don't know that I'm dying yet. Please, Nat, just… no."
She looked at him for a long moment and then nodded. "Okay. For now."
…
"Sorry about earlier."
Tony nodded, settling down on the sofa beside Steve.
"I just—"
"Steve. Please, just… I'll tell you, when I don't have any other choice, but just… stop making me lie to you."
Steve looked at him for a long moment and then, eventually, he nodded. "Okay, Tony."
Written for:
Book Club: Ann Gourman: Cat / Cider / Lying to protect someone
Treasure Hunting: Cat