May 8th, 2010
Corvin didn't always understand humans and their odd ways. So strange and confusing.
Why do they ruin good salmon with seasoning? So much pepper and lemon, enough that she was half convinced it was the cause of the fish's death.
She gave the salmon a sniff where it sat, her nose scrunching up.
"NO! Not my food you heathen!"
She was picked up and hauled away from the plate and deposited onto the floor rather than the table she had been standing on.
"That's my food, Licorice, not yours." Tony huffed at her, clicking his tongue behind his teeth.
Foolish human, shouldn't have left it unguarded. She licked the paw that had been in his plate, tasting the overwhelming flavors of human spices. Such a waste of good fish.
Prancing off, Corvin took her little elevator up to her bridges. She made her way to her main hovel in Tony's room. The tree was still as gorgeous as ever, a bit rough in one or two areas that she used more than others.
Tony had repurposed one of the night stands in the room into a small dresser for her things. Inside were her clothes and hats mainly, with the extra collars in the smallest drawer up top. The drawers were so well made that she was able to pull them open with a little nudge, the rollers moving on the track like a well oiled door. She poked her head into the one she opened and fished out a small over-the-head scarf that was a soft cream color. She then trekked back downstairs and bugged Tony until he put it on her.
"Going out, huh? Hot date?" he joked as he fixed her scarf over her collar. She gave him a little merp and headed out the cat door at the front of the house.
Corvin headed into Malibu. She sat near her favorite fish stand, licking her chops at the smell of freshly caught tuna.
Feeeeeed meeeeee she thought, her tail flicking back and forth. Thankfully, some teenagers with an Iron Man obsession came by and happily bought her enough tuna to stuff herself on for a few instagram pictures.
She lazed about in the sun for a while after, letting her full stomach settle. More pictures were taken by Tony's fans and one even left her a little bell. She entertained herself by batting it down the sidewalk.
Corvin knocked the bell to the side, delighting in the soft chiming noise it made as it bounced along. The uneven surface of the bell made it roll in an arch, dipping off to the side and into a small alley next to an Italian restaurant. She chased after it, picking it up in her mouth and heading back to the main road.
Hands grabbed her and hauled her into large arms, the smell of leather and body odor stuffing her nose. It was definitely not a human she knew.
Twisting in the stupid human's grip, she dropped the bell and snapped her teeth at them in threat.
It was a man she never seen before, who was scowling at her like she was the bane of his existence. Her hackles raised as she smelled a sour scent on him.
Yowling loudly, she thrashed in his grip, her teeth clicking in the air as she tried to chomp at any piece of him. Her claws ranked down his arms and in his chest, causing the man to curse.
Unfortunately, it didn't cause him to let go, but to squeeze harder, pushing the air from her lungs in a wheeze. One of his hands released her and grabbed her by the scruff. Her skin pulled tight, locking her head in place and making her eyes scrunch up. Her yowles took an odd note as her mouth refused to move normally with the pulled skin.
"Fucking cat," thr man hissed, walking deeper into the alley.
What the fuck was up with this bastard? Did she piss in his shoes or something? Did he think she was a stray? She literally had a collar on, so either he was incredibly stupid or she was missing something.
The man shifted her in his grip, pulling out a phone and clicking a button.
"I've got the cat," he barked into the receiver. She couldn't hear what was said after.
An SUV pulled up to the end of the alley a short moment after and the man walked to it. The side door opened as he got there, a woman stepping out.
"Get the collar off," she said immediately.
"Can't, this fucking thing is feral." He hissed back, his grip tightening. The woman huffed out in frustration, reaching out to grab at her neck and remove her collar.
Corvin was still yowling, hoping the racket she was making would attract someone. It didn't work. She was put in the car, where a kennel waited.
Shiiiitttt.
A clunk was heard as the woman tossed the collar down the alley and Corvin was placed in the kennel and locked in. The human's hands moved out quickly as she tried to bite him again.
The doors closed and locked, the car pulling off and away from Malibu and taking her with it.
May 6th, 2010
Days before, elsewhere…
Ivan Vanko knew he would disappear. Quietly and quickly, without a trace. He was fine with this. To see Stark's empire fall around him would be enough, he would go out a happy, satisfied man.
Which was why he was surprised when he was lifted. Hauled out of that jail cell like a fish on a hook and whisked away to a large plane hanger.
The man, Hammer. Vanko pitied him. Such a small man with such a loud bark. It reminded Vanko of the documentary he had seen, of the howling monkeys. The monkeys with the smallest peinises had the loudest howls. Hammer was much like those monkeys.
But Hammer had resources. Money and tools that Vanko could use to destroy Tony Stark.
Vanko would accept the tiny man's barking for now.
"Very good, man." He laughed with Hammer, toasting their new partnership. The Russian leaned forward, turning serious as a thought hit him.
"I want the cat."
"Wait, what?" Hammer looked confused.
"I want the cat," Vanko repeated, accent thick and heavy.
"What- what cat?" Hammer waved his hands around in a 'what' gesture, causing the other man to repress an eye roll.
"The cat, Stark's cat."
"Oh!" hands curled into each other, confusion still prominent on Hammer's face, "You want Stark's cat? The one he had with him at the track?"
"Yeas, I want zat cat,"
"Well I-uh- I can't just give you his cat!" Hammer laughed, leaning back in his chair, "The man keeps it with him at all times, I doubt he'd be willing to sell it."
"Steal her." Vanko took a swig of his drink.
"Why though? Why not get you a new cat? I can find you the bes-"
"No. No other. Zat cat only."
"Why that cat?" Vanko stared Hammer down, wondering how such a foolish man could be where he was, as rich and well known, while geniuses like his father were left on the street like garbage.
Vanko leaned forward, "Zat cat, she like baby to Stark. Take cat, take baby away. Keep him distracted, off game, so when it is time to fall, he fold like cards in wind."
The idea of fucking over Stark seemed to sit well with Hammer, if the gleam in his eye was anything to go by.
" Alright, I'll get you the cat."
OMAKE: Stand By Me
Lights blinked on and off in different colors. Fast paced, energetic music thrummed loudly through the room. There were lots of giggles, the sound barely audible in the bass of the music.
Corvin was very done with her clowder of humans.
Drunk as shit, Pepper, Rhodey, Tony and Happy danced in the middle of the living room. The four bumped and collided into each other as they drunkenly tried to dance, hip checking each other and sending more than one tumbling into the couch or floor.
Corvin was unwillingly in the throng of things, held up high over the humans heads by her rump and front. Several hands held her there, dipping and diving her around like she was the one dancing. Thankfully her headscarf was on, blocking most of the loud noise.
Tony made a "Oo oo!" sound as he shook her back legs like she was shaking her butt to the music. Her tail flicked out and wacked him in the face, causing him to sputter through a mouthful of fur.
Happy laughed at the sight, his side pressed against Tony to hold himself up.
The music changed over the course of the night; Jarvis, being the absolute legend he was, was slowly winding the humans down for sleep.
Slow dances happened, each time the four changed partners and she was squished between different pairs each time. Watching Rhodey and Happy do a waltz was the highlight of the evening and Corvin hoped that Jarvis got the video footage.
They dropped off one by one, starting with Pepper, then Happy and Rhodey. Left was just her and Tony, who held her close to his chest. He swayed them back and forth to a smooth, soft song, his voice humming quietly against the top of her head.
Darlin' darlin' stand by me,
ooh stand by me
Oh stand
Stand stand by me,
stand by me stand by me
Tony sat on the ground, finally tuckered out by the impromptu party the four held. Corvin curled into his lap, her rump settling in the dip between his folded legs. She kept her head pressed against his collar, and his head dipped down to press against hers. Tony continued to humm, even as Jarvis lowered the music down to a low lull. His voice softened as he began to fall asleep.
"No I won't, be afraid. Not as long.. as you stand… stand by.. me."