Okay wow...

I seriously did not mean for it to go so long since the last update. I'm a little ashamed of how much time got away from me, and I sincerely apologise for making you all wait so long. Please rest assured that this story HAS NOT been abandoned. 2015 has been a remarkably busy- if not difficult year- for me so far, and though I haven't stopped writing at all during this time (for those who are interested, check out my Vampire Avengers AU I've got posted up on AO3; it's a Darcy-centric, poly pairing story, which is totes my Jam nowadays), I am ashamed to admit that From the Head Down has fallen to the wayside in the face of other, fresher ideas.

With that said, I am on the band wagon again, I swear, and I am very excited to continue developing my story, and taking it to places that hopefully haven't been explored before! The next chapter of this will be up in the next few days :)

A big thank-you to everyone who has supported me over the last couple of years; your support, encouragement and reviews have been absolutely wonderful, and to you, I am extremely sorry that it's been so long since my last update.

Part Three: In Which

Chapter Five: There is Promise of a Better One

"Toneee!" Darcy cries the moment they walk out of the lift, "Tony, I brought your girlfriend back! I didn't even have to Taser anyone one! Aren't you proud? You should be proud."

There's the sound of a fleshy thunk and a pained curse. Hermione hides her snicker behind a hand.

"Lewis? I thought I told you to knock from now on!" Comes the distant reply. His lab was very large- it almost took up the entire flood- excluding a small kitchenette and bathroom.

"I thought that was just a joke." Darcy replies. Her tone of voice implies that she thought nothing of the sort, "We brought you a present." Her eyes slide over to Hermione- they share a wicked smile. Tobermory is a warm weight against her neck. She'd received a number of perplexed looks on the subway- so much so that she'd been tempted to cast a notice-me-not charm on herself- that was, until a little girl in a pink bauble hat had asked- quite adorably- if she could 'pet the kitty'. She'd been happy to allow the not-so-subtle photographs from her fellow commuters after that.

"Hi Tony." She says when he emerges from around a piece of machinery. His face breaks into a relieved smile and she revels in the sight of it for a moment.

"Queenie! Enjoy your night out on the town?" He moves towards her, the intention to touch clear on his face.

Right up to the point, that is, where he notices her companion. He draws up short- almost tripping with how quickly he halts. To her left, Darcy snorts at the look of confusion that rapidly morphs into abject horror on his face.

"Is that- is that a cat?" He sounds almost appalled at the thought of an animal in his lab.

"No." Hermione delivers, deadpan, "This is the homeless man that tried to rob Darcy and I on the way home. I turned him into a cat. Mostly to remind you that I can do it."

Tony's mouth opens and closes silently. Hermione only worries that she's broken him for a second.

"It's true." Darcy supplies. It's clear that subterfuge is not her forte

"I don't know what's worse." Tony splutters, "The fact that I almost believe you, or the fact that you brought a stray cat into my Tower."

Darcy bursts into laughter- a hysterical, throaty sound that devolves into gasping wheezes as she wipes away tears of mirth. Hermione only just manages to restrain herself from doing the same. Tony looks like he's about to throw something at the other woman.

Tobermory- disturbed by the sudden noise- takes the opportunity to shift on her shoulders, standing and stretching gracefully. Tony's eyes track his every movement suspiciously, "Mrrow." The cat offers in greeting. Tony blinks and scowls. Darcy laughs some more.

"Did you seriously just pick a stray up off the streets?"

Hermione smirks, "Well, technically there was no picking up involved at all. He climbed."

"So you what- just magically gained yourself a cat?" He stops; thinks about what he's just said, "Actually, scratch that. When it's put like that it doesn't sound nearly ridiculous enough."

She raises a brow imperiously, "Any self-respecting witch is in need of a good familiar."

Tony waves desperately in the direction of her new companion, "You brought a stray cat into the Tower! My Tower! God, it's probably got rabies- has it bitten you? Please tell me it hasn't bitten you. Oh fuck and I bet it's fucking covered in fleas!"

"Oh, most certainly." She replies coolly. Darcy bursts into another fit of laughter at the appalled look that returns to Tony's face.

"No- no. Absolutely not. Out- get it out! I'm not having some mangy, flea-ridden creature running amok in my Tower!"

Her lips twitch. Bless his poor, daft soul but she finds his freak out more endearing than anything. But she stands her ground, "I don't remember there being a no pets policy."

"I don't- I didn't- but no- no way is that thing staying here. Nope nope no. I'll get you a new cat. A better cat! One that won't give you rabies!"

"I'm keeping him."

Tony pouts.

As if sensing Tony's discomfort, the 'Thing' in question jumps down from Hermione's shoulder to investigate the genius, as all felines are wont to do in the presence of a cat hater (or heavens forbid; a dog person). He stands frozen as the cat draws closer, and looks pained when Tobermory rubs up against his pant leg in (spiteful) approval.

"Hermione."

"Tony."

"It's touching me!"

She doesn't try very hard to hide her grin at the sight of ginger hair left on his dark-wash jeans, "So he is, dear."

"I take it back. You can keep it- do whatever you want with it- just keep it out of my lab!"

Tobermory plants himself at Tony's feet. There's a curious look about his face, as though seriously contemplating the benefits of climbing up the billionaire/inventor. Tony makes a sound very much like what Hermione imagines a dying giraffe would make. Beside her, Darcy wheezes.

"No." Tony says very deliberately to the cat, "If you so much as think about whatever you're thinking of doing, I swear to God I'll throw you out a window, Cat. And I'd have to find a window that opens first- that would take a lot of effort."

Tobermory yawns.

She takes pity on the man, stooping down to retrieve her familiar, "Thank-you Tony."

He makes that funny noise again, and takes a step back, "Whatever. Just get it out of here."

She pats his cheek with her free hand and he flinches, "You're a terrible drama queen."

"And you're a terrible girlfriend. Now get out. I think I need to fumigate this place."

She laughs and leads Darcy out, blowing him a kiss as she does. Tony- the dag- pretends to wipe it off his cheek in disgust.

"Don't come back here 'til you've doused yourself in disinfectant!" He shouts after them, his voice rapidly devolving into deranged mutterings as his summons his robots to clean up the 'mess' her cat had left behind.

"You know," Darcy remarks once they're inside the lift. Hermione had invited her to stay the night in her apartment, "Sometimes I forget how weirdly uptight Tony is."

"Mmm." Hermione replies, scratching at Tobermory's chin. His purring vibrates along her arm soothingly, "Bless his soul, but I don't think animals are a love of his."

Darcy shakes he head and wipes at the corner of her eyes. Her fingers come away dark with ruined eye-liner and mascara, "Oh, fuck no."

Her lips twitch, "It's a shame though." She remarks as though conversing about the weather, "I was rather hoping for a deal more screaming."