#⭑🛠⭑ I stole his first name it’s mine now { Tony Stark }

[sinestrosmind]

A Chance to Say Goodbye

Summary: Tony Stark, ever the futurist, had put a hidden protocol behind Flame's Pack Rally Protocol. When Pack Rally is activated, this hidden protocol, the Recovery Protocol, is activated. And as per protocol, Alpha aided in carrying it out.

Flame has followed Alpha's guidance, had led her through finding the pieces and putting together the heart of the Recovery Protocol. Now, she receives a final message from the late Tony Stark, has a chance to say goodbye, and finally meets Recovery.

Warnings: Endgame spoilers, Grieving

Characters: Tony Stark (Hologram), Flame Copps

Wordcount: 1,674

"Hey Flame," the recorded hologram greeted with his hands tucked into his pockets. "Welcome to the Recovery Protocol. If you're seeing this, best case scenario you broke in or stumbled upon this. I hope it is. God, I hope-…" He trailed off, a hand raising to cover his mouth as he looked away and to the ground as he normally does when he was in deep thought. His mood was quick to change, though, lowering his hand and his eyes falling back onto the general direction of Flame as he quickly picked back up his previous, normal, somewhat playful yet firm tone. "If it is, turn this recording off now, now's not the time and you don't need to worry about the future. Leave that to me."

There was a pause as the recording of Tony thought. "But," he began, the playfulness of his usual tone being replaced by a sadness. "Worst case scenario, you followed the instructions I left you- built the suit, installed the AI for it, watching a hologram recording of me explain this all to you. Which means I'm dead- or presumed dead. Or in a coma." He was rambling, which he usually did when he was stressed or had something on his mind. "-Just, something happened to me to engage A.L.P.H.A.'s Recovery Protocol, leading you here."

Tony sighs, raising a hand to scratch the back of his head as he took a couple steps across the front of the room he was in when he recorded the message. "You probably haven't flown in a while," he says, a sadness still to his tone. "Either too busy or too depressed- or too busy being depressed." Tony clearly was trying to cheer Flame up with a little joke, as his normal tone had somewhat come back, but it was quick to fade again with his next words.

"That's fine, really," he reassures with a nod, looking to the general direction of Flame again. "You'll get back in the air when you're ready," he continues. "And hopefully technically-not-me me will be by your side, just like how you and I used to fly." There's a pain in his voice, and clear in his eyes even in the holographic recording.

"He's, really just a glorified sentinel robot, if I'm being honest," Tony explains, beginning to ramble again. "Nobody can wear him, don't have to worry about anyone putting him on and flying off in him. Don't have to worry about anyone stealing him either, he can fight," he says with a shrug.

There was a pause for a few moments before Tony began speaking again. "Y'know, I just realized," Tony says with a sharp turn and a couple steps across back where he started when the recording began. "You're probably pacing around him- curious, maybe a little weary, definitely wide eyed, just like when we met." Tony was right, he was generally always right. Flame wasn't surprised at all that he was right.

"Or," Tony began again. "You've locked onto hologram me and haven't moved since this started, and I really don't blame you." Another attempt at a joke, the life back in his voice, and it did get Flame to crack a smile. "If you're pacing," Tony quickly continues. "You probably have noticed how he always turns to face you, how when you turn and switch directions his head follows, like he's studying, learning, calculating." As Tony speaks, he's gesturing to the Iron Man suit that is projecting the recorded message.

"There was really only so much I could do before I ran out of time to work on him," Tony explains. "I got the important stuff. The personality, I absolutely had to get the voice synthesizer working, you always said you enjoyed hearing me talk so I just had to get it right." As he was listing off and explaining, Tony had been wandering a bit, his back now to Flame- or where she would be if she was sitting still. "I think I did okay," he begins, quickly as he turns around to face the way he was originally again, hands out of his pockets and open, palms facing Flame as if he was explaining or introducing something. "But it doesn't really matter what I think. It only matters what you think." Tony says, hands ending up back in his pockets again.

"I made sure to add major memories of us," he starts, turning to look at the Iron Man suit beside him. "The dates, working on our best suits, and things you like, a lot- among other general major memories, like the… New York thing. All of it I uploaded into his databanks. Maybe then he could really connect with you and help you." Tony sounds worried and hurt again as he stares the suit down. "He's got all my schematics, all my plans, all that I've ever written down or recorded in my personal files or in any Stark Industries files. He can build anything you want him to, just like I could." Of course he would, he wouldn't leave Flame of all people flying in the dark. Alone.

"Make sure to watch those recordings of all my tests on my suits I did when I first started, I think you'll like them- especially if you're feeling down." There's a forced playfulness to Tony's voice now, Flame can hear it. He's hurting just as much as she is, he's just able to hide it.

"And, hey," Tony starts, kneeling down to be closer to eye level with Flame. He knew she'd be on the floor, he had to, the holographic recording of him is looking right at her, right in her eyes. "Flame," his tone was soft, kind, hurt. "It's okay," he reassures. "I know how you are; you probably fought yourself to exhaustion and then some and you were unable to say goodbye to me. Or they wouldn't let you into the hospital to see me one last time." Tony pauses for a moment, letting Flame breathe and trying to collect himself. He didn't have to fully hide with Flame.

"It's okay, Flame." he says, voice pained and hushed. "It's okay." He gives Flame a reassuring nod and time to breathe again. "Now's your chance to say goodbye."

Flame takes time to catch her breath, trying to control her breathing, trying to steady herself so she can speak. It seems Tony had planned for this as well, he moves to sitting instead of kneeling now, and it seems he's waiting.

It's a few good minutes before Flame is able to compose herself enough to move closer to the holographic recording, and she waits. She waits for his wandering eyes to settle, and once she and the recording of Tony lock eyes, Flame almost breaks again. She holds strong, though, and gives a deep sigh with a nod.

"Goodbye Tony," Flame nearly whispers, voice hoarse and weak. She bows her head and closes her eyes, leaning towards the hologram for comfort as if it were really Tony there as tears begin to fall again. Though, the somewhat familiar faint hum was quickly replaced with silence, and then just as quickly replaced with an all too familiar voice.

"Well hello to you too, Flame," the "glorified sentinel robot" greeted with a more playful version of Tony's normal tone of voice. In his exact voice- only as if he were within the suit. Flame stared up at the suit, tired eyes wide. The suit simply stared at her for a moment before speaking and moving again.

"Alright, c'mon, hey," the suit began as he knelt down and wiped away a stray tear from Flame's face. "No more tears. Time for sleep." He told her, standing and nudging her shoulder to move the way he wants her to. She complied, though reluctantly, having no strength or will left to put up a good fight. "Come on," he urged her again, staying by her side and resting a hand on her shoulder. "You know that I know that you know I know you haven't slept right since Tony died, time for bed." The suit left Flame's side after speaking and giving her a pat on the shoulder, walking ahead towards the pile of blankets in the corner of the workshop.

Flame slowed to a stop as the suit tossed the few topmost blankets out of the way, revealing Flame's little "den" underneath. He then promptly sat down in the dip in the blankets and looked to Flame, seemingly expecting something from her judging by his posture and the small "well?" gesture he had made with his hands.

The feline's gaze fell to the floor, one ear locked onto the suit as he spoke up once again. "If you don't get to sleep on your own within an hour of Tony's message being completed the first time, he's programmed me to give you a dose of melatonin." He told her bluntly, Flame knew by his tone and body language that if he had a face that could emote, he'd likely look bored but worried. "Come here."

Flame's gaze fell upon the suit again as she took heavy, slow steps foreward. "What do I call you?" She asked as she neared, voice a whisper now. She gave him a confused look as he shrugged and reached out for her.

"I'm called "Recovery" in all my files," the suit began, gently pulling Flame in close and covering her up with the uppermost blankets like she likes. "But Tony programmed me to respond to anything you want to call me."

Flame nodded as she settled and tucked herself closer to the suit, resting her head on his chest. A weakened purr rose in her own, finding comfort in the familiar weight from the blankets on her back, as well as the arm wrapped around her and the soft, gentle hum of the arc reactor powering the suit.

Within the hour, Flame had fallen asleep and Recovery seemed to have followed her lead in his own way.

[sinestrosmind]

Ironverse - The Avengers

Summary: The events of The Avengers, but how they happened in Flame's Ironverse.

Warnings: Canon typical violence, Character death, All warnings applicable to The Avengers

Characters: Avengers 1 roster, Flame Copps

Wordcount: 9,183

       Some weeks after Flame’s meeting with Director Fury, Flame and Tony had met again. She was happy to see him, and the two caught up pretty quick. One thing led to another and Flame ended up back at Tony’s house, and she was finally invited downstairs to the workshop. Seeing the forms of Iron Man shocked her- she was confused. Why was Iron Man seemingly lifeless? Is he okay? And Tony just laughed, and then promptly explained that he is Iron Man. Iron Man is a suit worn by Tony Stark. This still confused Flame, but at the same time she understood it.

       This was where the link between Tony Stark and Iron Man being the same person should’ve been made, but it wasn’t. There was, and will always be, a disconnect between the face of Tony Stark and the face of Iron Man.

       From there, Flame and Tony had grown close. Flame opened up a little about her past, answering Tony’s questions about the scars on her back and the white brandings on her hip. She greatly enjoyed his company, enjoyed speaking with him. Tony Stark became the first human in this universe that she trusted, especially with such personal information about her past. And when Tony decided to surprise Flame with an Iron Cat suit, a new set of literal wings, Flame then knew this human wouldn’t do anything to hurt her. And after the first time flying, she felt something different about him, but she didn’t know what it was yet.

       In the flight tests, the repulsors were hard to learn, but with Tony in his own suit by her side in the air, she enjoyed learning. She enjoyed flying, testing the suits as they evolved, even learning to work on them alongside Tony. After testing with Flame’s first suit, Airborne, Flame pointed out areas that need to be improved upon Tony’s request for feedback. Focus areas are flying just as well with wings alone as she flew with wings and repulsors, as well as quieting the sound a bit.

       Over time, as well, Flame found herself getting more confident, becoming more comfortable with her surroundings and the humans she now regularly interacted with. Especially with Tony guiding her through it. His charismatic and confident personality was pretty contagious.

       The two only made it to completing Airborne II, Flame’s second suit, and starting her third, NoSleep, before chaos struck.

       Flame had been out flying, testing Airborne II and relearning to fly when Agent Coulson had spoken with Tony and Pepper, only being alerted to something up when Jarvis told her to head to Stark Tower. There, Tony filled her in on what’s going on and his feelings about it, and Flame understood. …And then told him Director Fury had also invited her to the Avengers Initiative.

       It was only a little while later they were both on their way to Germany.

       "Agent Romanoff," Tony started, announcing their arrival to the aircraft hovering near by. "Y'miss me?" And then, in typical Tony Stark fashion, the man hijacked the aircraft's PA system to play Shoot to Thrill. Flame would only find this out years after the fact. Should would be upset about it, too. She had a right to know what song was playing while she and Tony beat up a literal god.

       Speaking of said literal god; Tony strikes first as he comes in for a landing, shooting two repulsor blasts at the same time at the new enemy. He stands and aims multiple missiles and one repulsor at the god, taunting him with a simple "Make your move, Reindeer Games."

       Flame follows close behind Tony, mechanical wings of her MK2 tucked close to her body as she dives, shoots a ball of plasma at the god as he stands to challenge Tony, and then promptly tackles him. This starts a fight between the three heroes and the god, though it's very short lived. When the god finally yields, slowly raising his hands and allowing his armor to disappear, the new ally finally greets Tony and Flame.

       On the aircraft, Flame sits silently, the faceplate of her helmet flipped up so she can get a little fresh air. Over the communicator, Flame hears Director Fury speak with Natasha.

       "He saying anything?" Director Fury asks.

       Natasha doesn't hesitate to reply with an honestly tired, in Flame's opinion, "Not a word."

       "Just get him here, we're low on time." Director Fury replies.

       A moment of silence passes after Director Fury had spoken, the new ally, Steve, breaking the silence as he speaks with Tony. "I don't like it," the man said. His voice is hushed, suspicion and unease clear in his tone.

       "What? Rock of Ages giving up so easily?" Tony asks, his voice just as hushed.

       "I don't remember it being that easy," Steve continues. "This guy packs a wallop."

       "Eh, still, you are pretty spry, for an older fellow." And Flame couldn't help but shake her head upon hearing Tony's words. She's come to find it kind of amusing how he finds a way to taunt, poke, and prod at everyone he meets. Flame had tuned Tony's conversation with Steve out, however, not paying attention. And not paying attention when Tony Stark is speaking is by far the worst thing to do.

       Flame had gotten whiplash when she tuned back into the conversation upon hearing the nickname "Cap-cicle" come out of Tony's mouth. She tried to keep from laughing, she honestly did, she swears. But she lost that fight. Flame doubled over, even though she was sitting, as she laughed.

       Tony crouched down next to Flame, an armored hand scratching at what fur he could reach with her faceplate up. "You alright, kittycat?" Tony asks. "Something funny?"

       "I'm sorry- I'm sorry-" Flame managed out, calming her laughter. "That just-" she takes a breath, a couple more soft laughs escaping her as she exhales. "That caught me so off guard."

       "What? Calling Rodgers here a cap-cicle?" and Flame wheezes again, ending up curled up roughly on her side on the floor of the aircraft. "See, that's why you have to pay attention to me when I'm talking!"

       "You two are making fun of me while I'm right here?" Steve asks Tony quietly, honestly offended.

       "Listen, she's been though a lot in her life. Had to be super serious for a long time, never got to freely experience emotions. Give her a break. Let her have a few laughs. Trust me, it's far better than her looking sad all the time." Tony whispers to Steve, and the man sighs.

       The ride from there was fairly calm once Flame had settled down from her little laughing fit. She had eventually closed her helmet and curled up the best she could in her suit. And, she remained like this for a while.

       She only was woken up by a loud crack of thunder, standing abruptly with a startled roar. As Tony walked past her, Flame overheard Loki speak.

       "It seems your cat isn't very fond of lightning either."

       Flame only offered a quiet "Terrified" in response to his statement, right before someone new came in to the aircraft. Flame was too shaken up to respond to the attack immediately, only startling again when Tony was knocked to the floor.

       Tony gave a heavy sigh as he stood up, muttering to himself "Now there's that guy."

       "Another Asgardian?!" Natasha called back, Steve talking after.

       "That guy's a friendly?" Steve asks as he stands and turns back to Tony.

       "Doesn't matter." Tony states firmly. "If he frees Loki or kills him, the tesseract's lost." He says before walking towards the open door.

       "Stark, we need a plan of attack!" Steve calls after Tony, Flame finally getting her bearings as the two talk.

       "I have a plan." Tony says as he pauses and looks back at Steve. "Attack." And with that, Tony leapt out of the aircraft. Flame gives a heavy sigh.

       "We're pressed for time," she reasons. "Not much time to sit and think." And then she, too, follows.

       "Hey, do you mind if I steal that trick of yours from earlier?" Tony asks as they race to catch up to the Asgardians.

       Confused, Flame asks "What trick?"

       And, instead of simply explaining, Tony instead just does. Alongside a simple "This one," and still leaving Flame absolutely confused, even as he body slams the newcomer at full speed.

       When Tony lands after sending the newcomer tumbling onto the ground, Flame lands beside him.

       "Do not touch me again." The stranger growled after he stood.

       "Then don't take my stuff." Tony replied simply as Flame took a more protective stance in front of him, her head low and her tail flicking.

       "You have no idea what you're dealing with." The other says after a moment's pause. And Tony decides to take a quick look around.

       "Uh," he starts. "Shakespear in the park?" Flame gives Tony a confused glance, her tail having stilled. His next words frustrated her to no end;

       "Doth mother know you wear-eth her drapes?"

       "Tony Stark I am going to strangle you." Flame muttered with a shake of her head while glaring at the man in question. Don't get her wrong- it was funny! It was a funny line! She liked it! But also there's a place and a time and this was neither.

       All Flame got in return to her mock threat was a hushed "Careful I might be into that." With a completely straight face, nonetheless.

       Thankfully their foe hadn't heard any of that, or maybe he disregards it, as he continues; "This is beyond you, metal man." The stranger starts. "Loki will face Asgardian justice."

       "He gives up the cube he's all yours." Tony says bluntly, back on topic. Flame's attention is also back on the new Asgardian. "Till then," Tony lowers the faceplate of his helmet, Flame following suit. "Stay out of the way."

       As Tony turned and walked away, he hissed out a quiet "Tourist." Which seemed to upset their foe. Flame was as quick to act as the other, moving to pull Tony’s feet out from under him to avoid him getting hit by the hammer the other just sent absolutely flying above them. She then reprimanded Tony, hissing a “Never turn your back on an enemy after insulting or taunting them!”

       Once their enemy had, shockingly, summoned his hammer back to him, Tony was the first to attack. He struck with a repulsor blast first, and then launched himself to land a solid kick to their foe’s chest. Flame was next to attack, using her wings and her own repulsors to launch herself into the air to gain momentum before diving down and striking their foe with a ball of plasma. She landed solidly on the ground right in front of Tony, wings slightly spread, head low, and stance wide.

       Still, the Asgardian, got up, angry, and summoned his hammer to him. A loud crack of thunder sounded before he raised his hammer to the sky, and Flame rocked back on her paws, crouched lower to the ground. Lightning immediately struck the hammer, and it lasted quite the moment, before the Asgardian lowered the hammer and thrust it towards Tony and Flame, sending a bolt of lightning out towards them.

       They had both been hit, Flame less than Tony, and the distortion in Jarvis’ voice worried her as he read her own power levels of her suit to her.

       "You supercharged too? Tony asked as he got his bearings after being stuck.

       "Yeah, yeah." Flame replied. "You alright?"

       "Yeah-" Tony's answer was quick before he changed the topic. "Hey, you wanna hit this guy with all we got?"

       Flame gave an amused huff as she stood. "Hit em hard, hit em fast." She told Tony. "Let’s make it count."

       "Alright, follow my lead." Tony told Flame, and she listened. They both struck the opposing Asgardian with the same move, a powerful strike with the extra power given to them by the lightning attack from both hand repulsors and the central arc reactor, sending their foe flying farther than he would’ve had Tony or Flame struck him alone.

       Somehow, miraculously, even though the Asgardian was blown through a giant tree, he still stood and lunged. Flame gave a quick “Your move, I’ll follow,” to Tony, which he took, and lunged for their enemy. Tony took the blonde flying, ramming him into multiple trees and into the side of a cliff, before doubling around and blowing through more trees before tumbling to the ground. Flame had followed the best she could at first, but after seeing the path doubling back, she decided to gain momentum and strike from the air again.

       As the Asgardian had drawn his fist back to throw a punch at Tony, Flame had dove in, just barely clearing Tony’s head and full body slamming the Asgardian into the ground. She then reared her head back with her foe pinned under her paws as she spread her wings, opening her mouth to force the jaws of the suit open as she charged a ball of plasma. Though she missed her target, a shield bouncing harshly off the side of her helmet, only preceded immediately by a sharp “Hey!” and causing her to hit a tree instead.

       Flame shakes her head and snarls, lips drawn back to bare teeth that won’t be seen behind a mask as she looks to none other than Steve, an ally. "That’s enough!“ he had barked, making Flame lash her tail in anger and annoyance at the human.

       He leapt down from the broken tree he was perched upon, staring the Asgardian down as Flame backed off and he stood. Behind her, she heard the quiet, quick whirs of mechanics on Tony’s suit moving. She didn’t care what it was at the moment, her attention and anger currently directed at Steve.

       “Now I don’t know what you plan on doing here,” Steve had started, his tone dangerous. It put Flame on edge, unsure around this new human. She'd only just met him, and she knows nothing about him.

       The Asgardian quickly had replied, angered; “I’ve come here to put an end to Loki’s schemes!”

       “Then prove it,” Steve challenged. “Put that hammer down.”

       Flame and Tony both had the same immediate reaction; panic. They talked over each other as they tried to warn Steve that, no, this was a bad idea. Very bad idea. Very very bad idea. This guy loves his-

       Tony and Flame both were cut off with their warnings when the Asgardian struck Tony with the hammer. This restarted the fight, and Flame moved quick. She first went to stabilize Tony, leaping to catch him and using the wings of her suit as they tumbled to the ground. Tony had quickly rolled off Flame’s wing, allowing her to quickly get up and rush into battle.

       Though, maybe she should’ve stayed laying down on the ground, as just as she leapt at the Asgardian, his hammer struck Steve’s shield and a massive shockwave sent everyone flying backwards. Except, for the most part, Tony, as he was on the ground already.

       The four slowly stand one by one, dazed, one asking; “Are we done here?“

       It was actually peaceful, surprisingly, aboard the helicarrier. As was the trip to the aircraft. Out of comfort, Flame preferred to stick by Tony’s side, learning as he spoke with the members aboard, and sometimes speaking to them herself.

       She joined Tony and Agent Coulson, the strange human she’d seen before in Tony’s house, to meet with Natasha, Steve, the Asgardian Thor, and a new human, Bruce Banner.

       Upon entry of the room, Flame had overheard the human she assumed to be Bruce talking about Iridium.

       "Iridium; what do they need the iridium for?" The man asked.

       "It's a stabilizing agent." Tony tells the room, before turning to Agent Coulson beside him and continuing on a previous conversation about a vacation.

       When Tony and Agent Coulson parted, Flame decided to take a seat next to the table everyone was sitting at, eyes locked on Tony as he spoke.

       "Means; portal won't collapse on itself like it did at SHIELD." Tony explained, and as he passed by Thor he decided to, again, mess with the man. "No hard feelings Pointbreak," he started. "You got a mean swing."

       "Also; means the portal can open as wide, and stay as open as long, as Loki wants." Tony continued on explaining as he stood in the center of some computer screens. He then started mumbling commands, the meanings of which were lost upon Flame. It earned him some weird looks. In Flame's opinion, to distract, Tony pointed out someone immediately, playing something called "Galaga."

       "Thought we wouldn't notice, but we did."

       "What's Galaga?" Flame leaned and whispered to Natasha, curious.

       "It's just a game, don't worry about it." Natasha explained and then dismissed.

       Meanwhile, Tony was still sidetracked at the screens, covering one eye in confusion. "How does Fury even see these?" Tony then asks, turning to another SHIELD agent while pointing at some screens that would be in Director Fury's blind spot.

       "He turns." The woman responds, deadpan, without missing a beat.

       "Sounds exhausting." Tony says before beginning to mess with the monitors, back on topic.

       "The rest of the raw materials Agent Barton can get his hands on pretty easily. The only major component he still needs is a power source of high-energy density." Tony continues to explain as he wanders around a little. "Something to kickstart the cube."

       "When did you become an expert in thermonuclear astrophysics?" The SHIELD agent asks.

       Tony's reply is simple and quick; "Last night." As if it were common place. But, he clarifies. "The packet, Selvig's notes, the extraction theory papers. Am I the only one who did the reading?"

       "Does Loki need any particular kind of power source?" Steve cuts Tony off to ask.

       Bruce steps in and speaks next; "He'd have to heat the cube to 120-million kelvin just to break through the Coulomb barrier."

       "Unless Selvig figured out how to stabilize the quantum tunneling effect." Tony adds in.

       "Well, if he could do that, he could achieve heavy ion fusion at any reactor on the planet." Bruce points out.

       "Finally, someone who speaks English." Tony said as he held a hand out to gesture to Bruce.

       "Is that what just happened?" Steve asks, and Flame shrugs as Tony greets Bruce.

       "Doctor Banner is only here to track the cube." Director Fury says as he enters the room. "I was hoping you might join him."

       Flame stands up, weary, upon hearing what Director Fury says, ears tilted back. "I'm gonna go for a walk." She tells the humans in the room, before turning and heading towards the exit of the area. She doesn't hear the small conversation about her leaving.

       Flame next encountered Bruce when she was called in to the lab he and Tony were in, Director Fury already being present as she enters with Natasha and Thor.

       "The world hasn't changed a bit." Flame hears Steve say as she enters. Flame immediately heads to Tony's side, feeling that is the safest place in the room.

       "Why do I need to be here?" Flame asked Tony, still on edge from earlier.

       "Did you know about this?" Bruce asks Natasha, gesturing with his glasses to the screen beside Tony.

       "You want to think about removing yourself from this environment, Doctor?" Natasha asks Bruce in return. Flame shifts closer to Tony, eyes locked on Bruce.

       "I do." Flame whispers to Tony. "I don't want to be in this room with him here."

       "I was in Calcutta, I was pretty well removed." Bruce tells Natasha.

       "Don't worry, I poked him with a stick earlier, you're safe." Tony reassures Flame, and the feline gets frustrated.

       Natasha approaches Bruce, tone dangerous as she speaks. "Loki is manipulating you."

       "And you've been doing what, exactly?" Flame watches the two humans closely, though her eyes are locked on Bruce.

       Flame shifts closer to Tony again, slowly putting him between her and Bruce. "I don't feel safe."

       "You didn't come here because I bat my eyelashes at you." Natasha pries.

       "Yes and I'm not leaving because suddenly you get a little twitchy." Bruce grabs the edge of a near by screen, pointing with his glasses as he shifts the topic. "I'd like to know why SHIELD is using the tesseract to build weapons of mass destruction."

       "Flame, trust me, you're fine." Tony reassures Flame again in a hushed voice. "Banner's clear across the room and I'm right here, he's not gonna hurt you."

       There's a tense moment of silence before Director Fury speaks, raising a hand to point at Thor. "Because of him."

       Confused, hesitant, Thor asks; "Me?"

       "Last year, Earth had a visitor from another planet who had a grudge match that leveled a small town. We learned that not only are we not alone, but we are hopelessly, hilariously, outgunned.” Director Fury explained.

       "My people want nothing but peace with your planet." Thor defends.

       "But you're not the only people out there, are you?" Director Fury asks. "And, you're not the only threat."

       Flame lowered her head, of which Tony noticed. He brought attention to it in his own way, with a “Hey kitty, what’s up with you now? Why the averted gaze? Somethin’ you’re not tellin’ us?” And, Flame took a deep inhale at that, before she raised her head and sighed.

       “Director Fury is right,” she started, earning a nod from the mentioned human and confused and concerned looks from the others around. “There are others out there, not just beyond this world, and not just beyond Thor’s world.”

       Director Fury nods and gestures to Flame with a hand. "See?" he asks. "The world's filling up with people who can't be matched, that can't be controlled."

       "Like you controlled the cube?" Steve taunts.

       Thor steps forward towards Director Fury as he speaks, tone dangerous. "Your work with the tesseract is what drew Loki to it, and his allies. It is a signal to all the realms that the Earth is ready for a higher form of war."

       "A higher form?" Steve questions curiously.

       "You forced our hand." Director Fury defends. "We had to come up with som-"

       "A nuclear deterrent." Tony interrupts, hands casually in his pockets. "Because that always calms everything right down."

       "Remind me again how you made your fortune, Stark?" Fury counters.

       "I'm sure if he still made weapons, Stark would be neck deep..." Steve sides with Director Fury as he approaches.

       "Waitwait hold on. How is this now about me?" Tony asks as he approaches Steve, his head tilted slightly.

       "I'm sorry, isn't everything?" Steve offered, taunting.

       "I thought humans were more evolved than this." Thor tells Director Fury, the man in question promptly walking forward to gain distance.

       "Excuse me," Director Fury starts. "Did we come to your planet and blow stuff up?"

       "You treat your champions with such mistrust." Thor counters. And here Flame enters the argument, agitated. Here, the argument picks up, everyone in the room talking over each other. Though, eventually the argument does gain some order.

       "You speak of control, yet you court chaos." Thor says, and Bruce voices his agreement.

       "That's his M.O. isn't it?" he asks in agreement to Thor. "I mean, what are we, a team?" The man then immediately answers for himself. "Nonono, we're a chemical mixture that makes chaos. We're a time bomb."

       Flame felt the shift in Director Fury's attitude as he then approached Bruce, a low growl rising in her chest in response to the shift and the very dangerous tone he spoke with. "You need to step away." He warned.

       "Why shouldn't the guy let off a little steam?" Tony asks with a hand out, before promptly putting that hand on Steve's shoulder. When Steve knocks Tony's hand off of him, Flame shifts targets.

       "You know damn well why, back off!" He snaps, and Flame gives a quiet growl as she slightly lifts her lips to bare her teeth while joining Tony's side.

       "Oh I'm startin' to want you to make me." Tony says with a small nod, his eyes locked on Steve.

       “Big man in a suit of armor,” Steve called him. “Take that off what are you?”

       Tony's reply was quick and smooth; "Billionaire, genius, playboy, philanthropist.” He told Steve. Beside Tony, Flame stood up on her hind legs and rolled a shoulder before she, too, spoke.

       "And a far more trustworthy human than you'll ever be." She told Steve, lashing her tail once in agitation.

       "Yeah?" Steve asks, taking a step forward towards Flame with a tilt of his head. "And what are you without your armor, huh?"

       Flame's ears tilt back as Steve approaches, her lips raising in a warning to back off, yet she steps forward as well. "Still able to kill a human like you if need-be."

       “I know guys with none of what he's got but worth ten of him. You’re the same.” Steve told Flame. “And I’ve seen the footage. The only thing you really fight for is yourself.” Flame’s tail lashes as she listens to Steve speak, accidentally hitting Tony’s legs but both remain unfazed. “Neither of you are the type to make the sacrifice play. To lay down on a wire and let the other guy crawl over you.”

       "I suggest you watch what you say, human." Flame threatens, while behind her Tony gives a small shrug.

       "I think I'd just cut the wire."

       Steve gives a tense smile and a glance to the other humans. "Always a way out." He says when his gaze returns to Tony. "And get control of your cat."

       Flame lunges at Steve with a snarl then, a clawed hand gripping his neck as she pins him to the wall near by. Tony raised his hands defensively when she made the move, offering a simple "Not my cat. I can't control her."

       Flame's lips are fully drawn back to bare her teeth as she stares Steve down. "You know nothing about me." She growls at the human. “We just met, and you dare to make such brazen accusations about who I am, how I fight.” Her voice is low, dangerous as she speaks. “I had risked my life countless times for the people of my old home. And they didn’t give a damn about me or the pain I was in. They only cared about my power and what I was.“ Flame backs off of Steve now, harshly pushing him away. “Now when I try to care for myself for once in my Nova-forsaken life, I’m seen as someone who wouldn’t sacrifice my life to ensure others live.”

       Flame turns and points to Director Fury. “You wanted information on my past. There you go.” She growls. But as Flame turns to leave the room, Steve doesn’t quit.

       “You know you two may not be threats but you better stop pretending to be heroes.” He taunts, and Flame stops in her tracks as Tony speaks.

       “A hero? Like you?” Tony asks, agitated. “You’re a laboratory experiment, Rodgers. Everything special about you came out of a bottle.” Flame remains silent as she raises a paw, just as she would in suit, and a ball of energy forms at her palm. Plasma, just the same as she charges in her mouth. She approaches, making Steve back away from Tony, getting distance as she takes a protective stance beside Tony, arm still outstretched and plasma still charged.

       “He’s nothing like me.” She whispers to Tony, not breaking eye contact with Steve. That, Tony made a mental note to himself, will be talked about later.

       "Put on the suits." Steve taunts. "Let's go a few rounds."

       Thor laughs at this, and while Flame found it amusing as well, that this human thought she needed a suit to stand a chance against him, she didn't let it show as Thor had.

       "You people are so petty," Thor spits. "And tiny."

       "Yeah, this is a team." Bruce scoffs.

       Tony raises a hand to wipe his forehead and Flame lets the ball of plasma she charged in her palm die down as Director Fury asks Natasha to escort Bruce somewhere- which Bruce had cut off the request with a sharp "Where? You rented my room."

       "The cell was just in case-" Fury started to explain, only to be cut off again.

       "In case you needed to kill me, but you can't, I know, I've tried." Silence falls upon the room as everyone stares at Banner and he gets his turn to vent.

       "I got low. I didn't see an end. So, I put a bullet in my mouth, and the other guy spit it out." The room listens in silence as Bruce continues to speak. "So I moved on. I focused on helping other people. I was good. Until you dragged me back into this freak show and put everyone here at risk." Bruce looks at Natasha as he continues to speak, not missing a beat as he continues. "You wanna know my secret, Agent Romanoff? You wanna know how I stay calm?"

       Flame hears a faint tck after Director Fury lowered his hand to his belt. And then Steve speaks; "Doctor Banner," he starts, voice calm. "Put down the scepter."

       If the computer hadn't started beeping when it did, Flame didn't know what would've happened. Though, Flame took a step to move behind Tony as Bruce passed through the room to exit, muttering a "Sorry kids, you don't get to see my party trick after all."

       "You located the tesseract?" Thor asks, attention turning to what the beeping could mean as his gaze follows Bruce.

       "Flame and I can get there fastest." Tony says, and Flame agrees with a nod.

       "The tesseract belongs on Asgard. No human is a match for it." Thor warns Tony.

       "You're not going alone!" Steve snaps as Tony turns to leave, grabbing his arm. Tony turns and smacks Steve's arm off of him, and Flame gives a growl and snaps her teeth at the man, taking a protective stance by Tony's side

       "You're gonna stop us?" Tony taunts.

       "Put on the suit, let's find out." Steve challenges, to which Flame steps forward to accept his challenge and issue her own, Tony following suit.

       "I don't need my suit to win a fight against you." She hisses.

       "And I'm not afraid to hit an old man." Tony threatens.

       "Put on the suit." Steve growls.

       As tensions rise between the three, an explosion rocks the helicarrier and fire bursts through the room. A hand grabs the scruff of Flame's neck and she gives an angered and startled yowl as she, Tony, and Steve hit the floor. When the three sat up, the shared a panicked look before Steve muttered a "Put on the suit."

       Flame and Tony hadn't hesitated in agreeing, rushing to get up, and bolting.

       Flame was quick to suit up, as was Tony, and immediately they’d gotten orders. They were to head outside and patch the damage engine. While Tony took care of the technical side of things, and Steve took care of information Tony needed to help him repair things, Flame was given orders to dislodge any debris she can.

       When Tony arrived, Flame had cleared a decent portion of the debris. Thankfully she was hooked up to the commlinks, so Tony didn’t have to repeat himself on the plan and what needs to be done. Though, he did order her to get out, her job was done, and her wings would be damaged if she got caught up in the engine. Her new job was to give areal support, guard the area.

       Flame remained close by, surveying the area, looking for anyone leaving or entering the helicarrier and watching the engines. One seemed off to her, and she immediately alerted Tony.

       "Another engine is stopping." Flame told him while doubling back and heading to return to Tony's side.

       Director Fury chimed in over the commlink then; "Stark, we're losing altitude." Flame was beside Tony in time to hear him to reply.

       "I told you to keep lookout." Tony's attention shifted to Flame upon her arrival as he pressed his hands against the blade of the engine. Flame mimicked his actions, moving to using only her suit's repulsors for flight as the wings retracted.

       "I was," she says as she placed her hands on the blade of the engine as well. "I didn't see anyone outside around the engine, the must've done something inside." Flame shifts her shoulders slightly before looking at Tony. "I don't need my wings for this anyway, I just need to follow your lead."

       Tony gives a nod and both begin to push the engine's blades along. "You know there's a chance we won't get out in time." Tony warned.

       Flame's reply was simple, dismissive. "Yep."

       "We could get hurt." He continued.

       Flame was again dismissive with her reply. "Part of life and part of fights."

       Tony shrugged then. "Alright, let's do it."

       The two began to push, and when they got up to speed Flame begun to become hesitant of her decision. "Cap, hit the lever." She heard Tony order, voice slightly strained.

       "I need a minute here!"

       "He's gonna kill us." Flame muttered to Tony. "He's gonna fuckin' kill us."

       "Lever." Tony ordered again. "Now!" Panic rising in his voice.

       The blade of the engine was very quickly moving too fast for the pair, the two sharing a panicked look when their backs hit the blade behind them.

       "Uh oh." Flame heard Tony's quiet mutter.

       "I'm gonna kill Rodgers." Flame had muttered herself.

       The two then were sucked down, ending up between the blades and the casing, being beaten up for a couple rather traumatizing moments before Steve pulled the lever he was supposed to. Tony had dropped out of the engine first, Flame following right after, though she didn’t use her repulsors like Tony had. She instead freefell as her wings unfolded from where they were hidden upon her suit, returning her her hybrid flight style of both repulsors and wings.

       While Tony went to Steve, flying through an opening, Flame opted to check the parameter of the area, eyes scanning for threats. She'd spotted an aircraft taking off shortly after beginning to glide, giving a low growl. She knew who was on that aircraft, and she very much wanted to give chase. But, Tony was down for now, and she knew she was outmatched. That was a god, after all.

       Flame decided to return to Tony's side, and just as she landed Director Fury came onto the commlinks.

       "Agent Coulson is down." He sounded somber, and Flame knew something terrible has happened just by that tone. She'd heard it before.

       "A medical team is on the way to your location." A male voice had replied quickly over the commlinks.

       "They're here." Fury pauses for a moment, before following up with; "They called it."

       A pack member down. Gone. One of many to come, Flame will soon learn. While she wasn't necessarily attached to Agent Coulson, hadn't known him as well as Director Fury, she still felt terrible for the loss. If she had just been there, if she had perhaps been sitting watch instead of outside the Helicarrier, maybe she could've taken the blow or prevented Coulson's death. 

       In the wake of the news, the team was separated. Natasha and Barton in another room, Steve and Tony meeting with Fury. Thor and Banner are MIA. Flame, she took to patrol around the Helicarrier. Something to keep her busy. That was, until she'd gotten a call to suit up. Then she was rushing to the workshop to meet Tony and the rest of the team, suiting up and heading out.

       Tony's repulsors were unstable, it worried Flame on their trip to Stark Tower, but she remained close to him to catch him if he fell. Her wings were stable thankfully, protected from their time in one of the engines of the Helicarrier. Thankfully he didn't fall, and the pair hovered over Dr. Selvig as the man worked on Loki's portal machine.

       "Sir, I've turned off the arc reactor, but the device is already self-sustaining." JARVIS informed as Tony and Flame came to a quick halt hovering over Dr. Selvig and the machine.

       "Shut it down, Dr. Selvig." Tony ordered, looking down upon the man. Repulsors still unsteady, he struggled to maintain a perfect hover, having to move and re-adjust as Dr. Selvig turned to look at the cube.

       "It's too late!" Selvig called up to Tony, before turning his attention to the cube. "She can't stop now. She wants to show us something!" He turns back to look up at Tony again, a broad smile on his face. "A new universe."

       Flame sighed and shook her head as Tony tired of the man's rambling, uttering a simple "Okay." before powering up his repulsors with a tck-hreeee and taking aim at the device. Flame was confident one strike would take the device out, but when Tony shot it and a barrier appeared and sent Tony's attack back at him double, knocking all three away, that's when Flame realized it wouldn't be so easy.

       "The barrier is pure energy," JARVIS informed calmly. "It's unbreachable." 

       "Yeah I got that." Tony's reply is quick and sharp. He gives Flame a glance as she returns to hovering beside him, using her repulsors instead of her wings. There was clear scorching on the back of the suit, right where the wings are usually hidden away. Oh wonderful, that blast had nicked one of her wings. "Plan B."

       "Sir, the MK7 and MK2 are not ready for deployment." The AI warns calmly, though there's an urgency in his voice. Tony, of course, dismisses the warning.

       "Then skip the spinning rims, we're on the clock!" He tells JARVIS, and then his attention is on Flame. "There's another landing pad. Go there, get the suit off, and come back up here."

       Flame follows her orders without hesitation, watching as Tony lands on the pad above Loki and begins to walk inside. She goes to the other side, giving Loki a quick glance before she disappears out of his line of sight. When she returns, Tony is nowhere to be seen and Loki was on the floor in front of a broken window. Oh, and the portal had been opened. While Tony takes off to deal with that, Flame takes a moment to have her own little chat with the Trickster God.

       "Do me a favor," Flame tells Loki as she approaches him, watching as he picked himself up off the floor. She was fidgeting with some silver bracelets around her wrist as she looked down at the god. And then up, as he stood taller than her.

       "Oh, are you going to threaten me the same as Stark had as well?" Loki asks with a tilt of his head and slight raise of his scepter.

       Flame didn't find his quip funny, not even a smirk or an amused huff. "No." Came her dry response. "I want to give you a little food for thought." She tells him, continuing her approach. Just a single clawed finger on the scepter pushed it low, kept the pointed tip away from her chest.  "Look me in the eyes, god, and tell me; do I look like I was happy when I was a leader?" Flame stares unblinking, exhausted, up into Loki's eyes as she spoke. "And if I were happy, tell me; why would I have moved to a completely different universe?" 

       Only one other person knew of Flame's origins from another universe, and that was Tony. Now Loki, God of Mischief, knew as well that Flame was not of this universe.

       It kept Loki quiet for a moment, thinking, eyes darting from place to place in the room. Soon, hesitantly, Loki shook his head, disagreeing. "No. No, you don't look happy. You surely would have stayed there if you were." He replies quietly, a confused look in his eyes. Two questions were on his mind. What did this have to do with anything, really, and- "But I do have to ask, before either I or my army, when they come, kill you; why did you leave?"

       “The simple, short answer is, I wasn’t happy.” Flame replies simply. “The long answer is; my pack didn’t care for me. They only cared for my power and what I was. I was appointed an alpha before I was ready, bent over backwards to ensure my pack was protected, well cared for, healthy, and happy. I didn’t care about myself.” Flame explained.

       “When you’re a leader, when you’re an alpha, when you’re a king- your pack, your people, they look up to you. They look to you for guidance. For security. For safety." Flame explained as she slowly walked around Loki, keeping eye contact with him and a close eye on that scepter of his. "They look to you to ensure they’re fed, that their homes won’t be destroyed by enemies, that the territory you live in is safe. It’s not a peaceful, glamorous life like you seem to think. It’s painful, it’s exhausting, it’s stressful. You have to hide your emotions to ensure your enemies, or even your own people, don’t think you’re weak. You can’t cry, you can’t have off-days, you can’t get sick.” Flame pauses then, and takes a deep breath.

       “That’s why I left my home universe. I needed a better life, in a place where those around me truly, completely care for me. Not because of what I am, or what my rank is, or the power I hold, but because of the bonds I’ve created with those around me.” With that, Flame made a motion, and another door near the bar had opened. “Now, I get the feeling we should get back to fighting. Keep what I’ve told you in mind, will you?” The feline is holding out hope that maybe, just maybe, what she said made Loki change his mind about things. But, she doubts it at the same time, given his track record so far.

       Flame hadn't stuck around after that, leaping out the broken window as an armored pod followed after. Just the same as Tony had, Flame's MK2 locked onto the silver bracelets around her wrists and quickly formed up around her, allowing her to take off and join Tony in battle. She had joined Tony in the middle of a fight with Loki’s army, greeting him with a “Hey, nice suit.” as she flung herself into battle.

       "Thanks," Tony offered, before promptly shifting to the more pressing topic. "Where've you been? Had a date or something?"

       Flame had given a soft laugh at that. "You can say that." She downs another chitauri soldier and then is forced to break away from Tony, some following her and others following him. "Had a nice little chat with Loki." She continues. "Tried to knock a little sense into him."

       "Oh, he threw you out the window too?" He joked.

       "No, I did that myself." She sounded amused when she replied. "Told him being a leader isn't all it's cracked up to be. Little food for thought for him."

       "Ah, well, let's hope you got through to him."

       From there, the battle to save New York was harsh. They were completely outnumbered and outgunned. Flame offered support wherever she could, whenever she could, and took down as many of Loki’s army as she could manage. Helping Tony deal with one of those big things until Banner joined the party. She'd even locked on to Loki himself, chasing after him through the streets. Though she gave up her chase quickly to help Tony.

       The seven stand in the middle of the streets of New York, staring up at the skies, ready for battle. For a moment, feeling like things were in their favor, like the battle had been won. The people cheered for them, but Flame was still uneasy.

       "There's always waves." She reminded the team, knowing this battleplan far too well. She's used it herself many a time in her universe of origin. And, true to her word, the second wave of chitari entered Earth.

       "Guys." Natasha alerted, worried but firm, staring up at the portal. 

       "Call it, Captain." Tony offered, and Flame took her spot at Tony's side as Steve started laying out a battleplan.

       Steve hadn't hesitated, speaking with a confidence Flame herself recognized and used many times in the past. "Alright, listen up. Until we can close that portal, our priority is containment." He told the team, eyes locked on the portal and coming enemies. "Barton, I want you on that roof." He told Clint. "Eyes on everything. Call out patterns and strays." His attention next was on Tony and Flame. 

       "Stark, Copps, you got the perimeter." The two in question moved their heads with a quiet whirr, cold glowing eyes locked on Steve. "Anything gets more than three blocks out, you turn it back or your turn it to ash." Flame had given an eager growl at that, tail flicking and paws shifting.

       "Can you give me a lift?" Clint asks, and Tony nods with a quick "Right. Better clench up, Legolas." before grabbing Clint and immediately taking off to the ordered perch. Flame follows, not sticking around for any more orders. She has hers, she knows how to keep a perimeter, and she's eager for battle.

       All things considered, Flame and Tony both did pretty good with their assigned roles. Tony was struggling more than Flame with the strays, and Clint called it out and had given Flame a heads up as well.

       "Well, they can't bank worth a damn." Barton says through the comms. "So find a tight corner."

       While Flame gave a simple, sharp, "Understood," Tony had given a touch unsure "I will roger that." Unknown to Flame, after that transmission, Tony had continued to struggle. Flame, unable to find a tight enough corner, made one. Where she turns, they will follow, and she used that to her advantage.

       "Nice call," Tony's voice soon came over the commlinks. "What else you got?"

       Clint was quick to respond. "Well, Thor's taking on a squadron down on Sixth." 

       "And he didn't invite me." Tony mused to himself, almost disappointed. And then he was on comms again, getting Flame's attention. "Hey Firecracker, party on Sixth, be there."

       Flame had arrived as told, getting on the ground and fighting together with the other three members of the team at the location. They worked without issue, sometimes combining attacks to strike with more strength. Tony bouncing his repulsors off Steve's shield, allowing him to redirect the beam to hit multiple enemies. Flame giving Steve a boost with her wings, or shielding Tony from a strike. But just as quickly had the pair landed, did they take off at Tony's lead.

       While he knocked chitauri soldiers off of a building as he rose, Flame shot them as they fell to ensure they didn't get up. 

       The fight was drawing on too long for Flame's comfort. Too many getting hurt, the team's energy wearing down. 

       "Huh, so this is what it's like to be on the receiving end of one of my battleplans." Flame didn't sound too amused when she'd spoken to Tony of the privet commlink through their suits.

       "You didn't give him this idea did you." Came Tony's quick reply with his standard joking tone to it.

       "Oh, no, absolutely not!" Flame defends quickly, though there is a touch of amusement in her tone now. "It's a common idea, not surprised it's showing up elsewhere in the multiverse."

       They had split after that, Tony going to aid Thor at one point, only alerted to him being cornered when JARVIS had told her Stark was grounded and surrounded. She'd come in quick, harsh, a vicious metallic roar as she landed and struck down the chitauri surrounding Tony. But even with a strong entrance and the two of them fighting off the chitauri, they couldn't quite get back in the air.

       "Stark! Do you hear me?" Director Fury's voice came over the commlinks, urgent and worried. "You have a missle headed straight for the city."

       Tony and Flame weren't fairing well, both separated from each other and laid out flat against the ground. "How long?!" Came Tony's reply just before he was hit on the head.

       "Three minutes, max." Fury informed. "The payload will wipe out Midtown."

       Flame was struggling to stand, hearing the conversation and quickly getting panicked and, in turn, aggressive. "Fuck- Tony!" She felt cornered. She didn't like feeling cornered. She was in battle, feeling cornered, and she was trying to conserve what little energy she had left. But this made her lash out. There was a click from her helmet, and the jaw opened to allow Flame to shoot plasma at her foes. Armor on one forepaw opened, allowing her usage of plasma from there as well. She lashed out, bit, fought to stand while Tony fought to fly.

       "JARVIS, put everything we got into the thrusters." He ordered, and JARVIS' response was quick and firm. A simple "I just did."

       Tony attempted to take off, but a chitauri soldier was clinging to him. Flame took care of that, digging claws into the chitauri's armor to get a good grip as she stood on its back and then promptly shot plasma into its face. And then Tony was gone.

       While Tony went to deal with the nuke, Flame tried her best to continue to take down the chitar with the other Avengers, though energy on all fronts were dwindling.  

       "I can close it!" Natasha's voice rang over the commlinks. "Can anybody copy? I can shut the portal down."

       "Do it!" Steve sounded panicked and exhausted, but Tony was quick to counter.

       "No, wait." He ordered. 

       Looking to the sky, Steve countered quickly. "Stark, these things are still coming." 

       "I got a nuke coming in. It's gonna blow in less than a minute." Tony explained, voice serious and words quick.

       She knew what his plan was. She hated it, it should be her going up. The creation made by humans to serve humans- she's right here and a human is going up through that portal to fuck knows where with a nuke. Flame had watched, the best she could while still locked in battle, as Tony flew the nuke up into the portal.

       JARVIS fell silent. Powered down.

       And then all the chitauri started dropping.

       The team waited a few moments, staring up at the portal, waiting for Tony to return, but Steve was the one to call it. A somber "Close it." And despite Flame's cry of protest, Natasha had closed the portal. Flame knew her suit wasn't fast enough, she couldn't push the tech any further without JARVIS' aid and he was currently offline. She couldn't beat the portal closing. But to her relief, a final figure had passed through the portal just as it had closed, falling limply through the air.

       Flame had caught Tony first, quickly having to shift directions when he'd blazed past her. As soon as her paws were on him, metal claws piercing the outer layer of his suit to ensure a grip that could not be broken, she'd spread her wings and kicked out her hind legs in front of her as she held Tony close to her, engaging the repulsors on her hind paws to aid in slowing down.

       Apparently, though, Hulk had other ideas in mind as he bodyslammed Flame and Tony both, breaking Flame's wings and damaging a building as he brought both down to ground level. Hulk had tossed the pair aside, standing with gruff huffs as Thor and Steve quickly rushed over. Thor was there first as Flame removed her claws and turned Tony over, Steve close behind. Thor had ripped the faceplate off of Tony's helmet, Flame flipping her own faceplate up to get a better look.

       Flame sat frozen, not knowing what to do. She doesn't work with humans, she doesn't know how to revive one. And apparently Steve and Thor didn't know how either, as they both sat to the side after Steve had tried to check for breathing.

       Hulk, however, had the absolutely brilliant idea to just. Roar. And it had startled Flame terribly.

       And Tony.

       "What the hell?" Tony asked, shocked and confused as Hulk gave voice to a triumphant roar. Flame simply sat down, resting an arm on her knee and bracing herself with her other hand as she stared down at Tony. "What just happened?" He asked, followed by silence from the four around him. "Please tell me nobody kissed me." That one- that got Flame to laugh.

       Steve didn't seem to find any humor in that, or maybe he was to exhausted to, because he simply focused on the mission. "We won." It was exhausted, soft, breathless. Yeah, they won. And Flame was (lovingly) upset with Tony.

       "You ever pull a stunt like that again and I swear to all you hold holy, Tony Stark, I will kill you myself." It was an empty threat, but her message had gotten across to him clearly, as he just nodded with a soft "Yeah." And then he was promptly back to his joking self.

       "Alright, yay! Hurray. Good job, guys." Weak and tired. "Let's just not come in tomorrow. Let's just take a day." he suggested, and Flame couldn't help but smile and shake her head as Tony rambled on. "Have you ever tried shawarma?" Now she was quietly laughing, an armored forepaw on Tony's shoulder as he continued. "There's a shawarma joint about two blocks from here. I don't know what it is, but I want to try it."

       Killjoy he is, Thor had to come in with the "We're not finished yet."

       Everybody looked at him in varying degrees of offended and disbelief, the silence deafening.

       "And then shawarma after."

       Flame wheezed.

       She helped Tony stand after that, helped him get his helmet off and helped him walk to Stark Tower. Following closely behind was Hulk, Steve, and Thor, and meeting them up top was Clint and Natasha. The seven closed in on Loki as he pulled himself up off the floor, Clint even drawing an arrow in a threat as they all stared the trickster god down.

       "If it's all the same to you," Loki started hesitantly. "I'll have that drink now."

       Then they'd gotten cleaned up and sent Thor and Loki off with the tesseract. And after everything was said and done, they'd all immediately gone out for shawarma before going on their separate ways. Flame remained by Tony's side, recovering from the battle while Tony and Pepper worked on the new Avengers Tower plans. Relaxation was far more than earned after saving the world as they had.

[sinestrosmind]

Ironverse - Iron Man 2

Summary: The events of Iron Man 2, but how they happened in Flame's Ironverse.

Warnings: Canon typical violence, All warnings applicable to Iron Man 2

Characters: Iron Man 2 roster, Flame Copps

Wordcount: 4,275

       Flame had found herself in a city, around humans that don't speak a language she could understand, and around extremely loud versions of the things they use to get around. What did she hear some of them call it from her travels? Cars? She hadn't cared much for them as they raced past, just so long as they didn't hit her. She was content waiting until it was over to explore more.

       But her peace watching the Grand Prix at Monaco was cut short by explosions and screaming. Flame responded in kind, running to the commotion to see what was going on. She'd seen human cubs around, and these humans that were driving were just innocents. If something happened, she wanted to help.

       Flame hadn't arrived too late to join the fight, but had arrived too late to see it start. Flame scaled the fencing between her and the threat, a strange human with... electric whips? He was striking the ground repeatedly with them as she reached the top of the fence, and he had struck an overturned car as she leapt down, spotting a human in a black and blue suit had rolled out of the way. Unlike him, though, she continued forward, leaping through the fire with an aggressive snarl.

       Flame stood in front of the whip-wielding human, her tail lashing, head low, ears back, and teeth bared. The whip-wielding human tilted his head curiously, narrowing his eyes, before beginning to walk towards Flame and the human behind her.

       This was not Flame's typical fighting style; rushing into battle. Usually she'd watch her foe for a bit, learn about them, nip at them and run, see what all they can do. She couldn't do that right now, though. There were innocents in danger. Instead, as the whip-wielding human approached slowly, Flame gave voice to a loud roar in an attempt to make the human back off. Instead, this just angered him.

       Flame leapt back as her foe lashed one of the whips at her, a deep groove being left in the asphalt. Uneasy, the feline looked at the mark on the ground and then at the human that made it. Considering it had cut through the car behind her and left those marks on asphalt, Flame felt lucky that she wasn't hit.

       Though, she still didn't stay standing in that place for long. As the whip-wielding human raised one of his weapons, intending to strike again, a black car whipped around a corner and Flame turned and outright bolted to avoid being hit. Unknown to her, the human in the black and blue suit had done the same, though scaled the fence to avoid being hit.

       The whip-wielding human, however, was not as lucky. He had been struck and pinned between the wall and the car. Flame saw an opportunity to attack, but she didn't take it as she watched the human in the black and blue suit talk- or yell- with two humans within the car.

       "Are you okay?!" Flame had heard one of the humans in the car yell, another with a higher pitched voice screaming in terror from the back seat.

       "Were you heading for me or him?!" The human in the black and blue suit started, standing beside the car and leaning into it.

       "I was trying to scare him!" The human in the front seat defended, just before the human in the black and blue suit stood up.

       "-Because I couldn't tell!" The human outside the car yelled.

       "Are you out of your mind?!" A human in the back seat screamed at the human in the black and blue suit. He quickly leaned into the car again, pointing at the human who was screaming at him.

       "Better security!" Flame heard the human outside the car say, but she couldn't make out what the human in the back seat had screamed. She did, however, make out the black and blue suited human's "I was attacked!" before she couldn't clearly make each of them out any longer. Though, she guessed she didn't have to, because as soon as she wasn't able to make out what each voice was saying, the human in the black and blue suit walked around to the other side of the car and opened the door.

       Perhaps the fight was over.

       Flame's thoughts of a quick fight with minimal injuries was crushed, or rather sliced into pieces as the whip-wielding human sliced the door the human in the black and blue suit had opened. While he had stumbled back and let the door drop, Flame lunged with a snarl.

       She leapt atop the hood of the car and went right for he foe's face, claws unsheathed as she intended to simply temporarily blind her foe. The car had shifted, causing her to lose her balance, and her foe had attempted to strike her. Behind her, the three humans were screaming at each other, making her uneasy.

       Flame's mind was back on the fight, and then on the searing pain on her arm within milliseconds. The human with the whips had simply touched her arm with one of the whips while it was charged, and it forced her back and to stumble on the moving car with a pained roar. Flame was able to stand and to get a safe distance away to avoid being hit, either by the car or her foe's whips, as he shortly begun slashing at the car.

       The burn on her arm was distracting enough that she couldn't fight, so she opted to lick the new wound until the primary pain eased and it had become a dull throbbing and stinging. She hadn't been able to relax for long though, as she heard tires screeching.

       Flame turned to look behind her just in time to see the car that had been sliced up by her enemy's whips was sliding towards her. Panicked, Flame scrambles back and the car comes to a stop just short of touching her. On the other side as Flame looked through the car, a metal human stood, glaring.

       New threat?

       Doesn't matter. Flame leapt through the car's back seat just the same, causing the human sitting in the back seat to scream in terror as she passed by. Flame had been left curious though, as she looked around. The human in the black and blue suit was gone.

       Flame decided she would look for him later, to make sure he's alright. Right now, she had a fight she had to finish, and a possible new threat standing before her. But, the metal human who she thought was a new threat seemed to pay her no mind, focusing instead on the human with the whips.

       Okay. Flame could work with this. An ally for now, and hopefully remaining an ally after the battle. She watches as he raised a hand, a whirring sound, high pitched, sounding. Before the metal human could do whatever it is he wanted to do, the human with the whips had struck him. The metal human stumbles back, and their shared foe strikes him again. Flame begins to pace as she watches the two, waiting for an opening. She finds one after the metal human had raised his other hand with that whirring sound again and launched some sort of a blast at their enemy.

       Did this metal human have the same powers as she did?

       This was something she'll have to investigate later, as when the metal human had fired twice, their foe deflecting his attacks both times, Flame found an opening to strike as well. She took that opening, charging at the whip-wielding human without hesitation with a vicious snarl. She went for his legs, jaws open and lips drawn back to bare her teeth as she went in for an attempt of a disabling bite.

       What she got instead was the opposite leg she was targeting to hit her squarely in the jaw, making her snap her mouth shut and the momentum of both her own speed and the force she was hit at sending her tumbling to the ground with a pained whining growl.

       The human with the whips shifted his focus back upon the metal human while Flame struggled to get her bearings, jaw in extreme pain and mouth now bleeding. She sat up slowly as she heard the fight continue on beside her, metal scraping the asphalt as the metal human had been thrown. And then the crunch of metal being crushed as the metal human was again thrown, this time onto the car.

       She stood as the metal human had been thrown onto the car he'd kicked, possibly accidentally, at her earlier. Flame begun to pace, studying her foe now and looking for an opening. The human with the whips wrapped the metal human up in them, one around his neck and one around his arm. Perhaps this was an opening?

       If it was or wasn't, Flame took it either way, rushing the two from behind the metal human. Her eyes were locked on him, misdirection, hoping to perhaps make her enemy think she was on his side now. Instead, as she neared the metal human, she leapt.

       With a snarl, Flame jumped onto and then off of the metal human's shoulders, gaining height on her foe as a high pitched whirring of her own sounded as she charged plasma within her mouth. She fired the charge as she came down, landing as her attack hit the whip-wielding human.

       As soon as Flame was on the ground and had moved out of the way, the metal human wrapped his arm around the whip that was around his neck and begun to stand. Flame, on the other hand, backed off as her foe lashed his free whip at her, just barely missing her. He then had lashed that same whip at the metal human, who Flame now watched as he intentionally wrapped himself up in the whip he'd had around his neck.

       Flame stays back now, the metal human having taken over and gotten into a really good position. Close combat, their foe's attacks can't be used, and the metal human is landing solid hits on the whip-wielding human. She watches as the metal human then tosses their foe onto the ground after he'd landed his punches, and then watches as he walks to their now downed foe.

       The metal human then approached their downed foe, and Flame watched him rip something from the thing the whip-wielding human was wearing on his chest. Curious, she watches him stare at the thing a moment before he crushes it within his hand.

       Flame is hesitant around the metal human, weary. She circles around him, head tilted curiously and tail flicking nervously. She slows when he stares at her, and she lowers her head and her ears. He hasn't made a move against her, and he doesn't seem to be aggressive towards her...

       Flame opts to yield to the metal human's stare and leave, her tail near tucked between her legs and a slight limp in her step as she trots away.

       The next place Flame found herself was far from where that battle took place. She had spent some time afterwards looking for the human she had lost track of, but she didn't have any luck. So, she opted to leave the area. Completely. So, now she walks with a limp along a road near the ocean after having hopped various ships and vehicles to get there. Where was there, exactly? Don't ask her.

       The next human she met was familiar. And speeding.

       As she was walking along the road, a white car that was surely going faster than the others had quickly slowed down and stopped beside her, causing Flame to stop in her tracks as well. Flame watches wearily, tail flicking. The human called to her, and she definitely recognized his voice.

       "Hey kitty," he had called to her before making a clicking noise with his tongue. Flame perked her ears at the sound, raising her head slightly. He has her attention.

       "You're the cat from Monaco aren't you?" the human asked. Though the human quickly answered himself with a- “‘Course you are. Not a single cat looks anything like you.” And he paused again, staring at the road ahead of him.

       Flame stood there, head slightly tilted to her right, curious and confused. This human was… Very strange. Especially when he’d hit her with “I know you can understand me I can tell by the way you’re lookin at me.“ And a quick pause before he continued with “And not to mention, you seemed to clearly pick out the threat over in Monaco.”

       She's been caught, and hesitantly she nodded. "I can understand you." she replied. This, she could see, surprised the human, and she heard him mutter to himself "Wow I did not expect to be right on that one." as he stares out in front of him.

       "Great." He starts, sharply looking back at Flame. "Get in. You look like you can use a ride." And the human was, again, right. Flame's paws were worn, sore, and the burn she received in the battle at Monaco still hurt her. So, she got in the car, the human telling her to "watch the strawberries" as she settled in the passenger seat.

       During the ride, she and the human had a nice talk. Turns out, he was the human in the black and blue suit she’d met and defended, and his name was Tony Stark. Flame learned a few things, like the metal human’s name was Iron Man, and Tony had made him, and he apparently is at Tony’s house. And that Tony seemed to like talking about himself.

       When Tony had gotten to his destination, he’d told Flame to stay in the car, and she did, curled up on the passenger seat until he returned. And when he did return, he had some sort of boards with him. Her only warning was his quick and firm “Move,” and as she startled and sat up, she’d gotten a quick “I need the seat, move,” as Tony raised one of the boards and put it in Flame’s spot just after she moved.

       As he loaded the second board, Flame leapt down to the ground and then promptly stood up on her hind legs, grabbing the third board and helping Tony load it. “Wow, didn’t expect that. Is there anything you can’t do?” Flame had heard Tony say, and the feline gave an amused flick of her tail.

       "Sit in the seat," she replied, smirking afterwards before loading the final board. It was a lighthearted joke, the human seemed stressed and Flame saw an opening. Thankfully, the joke didn't seem to be missed.

       "Funny." Tony started, a smile on his face as he rounded the car and got in. "Got a sense of humor, I like that."

       Flame had been told to get in the car again, and she did, though with a bit of a struggle to find a good spot to sit. She ultimately ended up laying behind the headrests of the seats, not the safest spot but honestly, Flame isn’t afraid of danger. It’s normal for her.

       When they arrived at Tony’s home, Tony introduced Flame to someone called Jarvis. She was confused at first, but Jarvis soon explained what he was. Flame was further curious; mainly about what all Jarvis could do, and what his life was like. But she was distracted by Tony.

       Tony told Flame that she was told to remain upstairs after he had a woman she didn't recognize tend to her wound. Flame was also told not to break anything, and don’t use the couch as a scratching post. Flame shrugged it all off, and instead opted to use the couch as a bed, curled up in one of the corners. There she remained the whole time Tony was down in his workshop. The rest she had was greatly welcomed, no matter how short it was.

       A loud bang was what disturbed Flame first. She jolted from where she rested, and another made her get up. She trotted over to the staircase Tony had disappeared down earlier and called down it, asking if everything was okay. Flame had gotten an "Everything's fine! Just remodeling!" in return. Okay.

       Flame returned to where she was earlier as Tony "remodeled" his home. It looked more like he was just being destructive, if you asked her, but then again, she doesn't understand humans quite yet. So, she sat and watched, helping occasionally when requested.

       While Tony was downstairs, a stranger had entered the home. Flame was on edge at first, acting defensive, growling and lashing her tail at the stranger. Jarvis' voice came over the speakers in the living room then, and he told her it was okay. This human was allowed to be here.

       Hours after the stranger left, Flame heard what sounded like a horrible battle in the workshop. Again, Flame headed to the stairs, and after the noise died down she called down to Tony, asking if everything was okay again. It was Jarvis that answered this time.

       "Everything is fine, Ms. Copps." the AI told Flame. "Mr. Stark has just created a new element." Oh.

       Flame didn't know that was a thing that could happen.

       Flame was resting again, or trying to, when Tony had woken her up again- a loud yell coming from the man in his workshop. Flame went to the stairs again, and watched as Tony came out from his workshop.

       "I'm fine don't worry," he had dismissed her before she even got to ask if he was alright. "I need you to go somewhere." Tony told Flame, crouching down to her level and holding something up. Flame's eyes, however, were locked on the glowing circle on Tony's chest.

       "I'll explain that later, focus up," he dismissed again, and Flame shifted her attention from the glow on the man's chest to the thing he was holding. "This little thing will let you hear Jarvis outside the house. He's going to give you directions on how to get to where I need you to be." Tony explained while putting the earpiece on Flame.

       "You're going to be going to the Hammer Industries Expo and crash the party." He continued, standing up. "I'll meet you there."

       Flame nodded, accepting her orders, and headed out.

       When she arrived where Tony told her to be, Flame decided to stick to the shadows and figure out what was going on. It was some sort of presentation from what she could tell, and the human on stage was presenting drones. And another metal human.

       The party was crashed by Tony's creation, Iron Man, landing on stage. Flame came out of hiding then, leaping up onto the stage as well and greeting Iron Man with a chuff.

       "We got trouble." Flame heard Iron Man say as he started to walk towards the other metal human. Flame remains close by, eyes scanning the area as the two metal humans talked.

       After the two had talked, Iron Man approaches the man that hosted the expo, asking the man "Where is he?"

       "What?" The man asked, confused. Flame slowly stalked forward, eyes locked on him.

       "Where's Vanko?"

       The man slightly tilted his head, narrowing his eyes. "Who?"

       "Tell me." Iron Man's tone was irritated, and Flame gave a low growl at the man he was questioning.

       "Wh- What are you??? Doing here, man??" The man dodged, his own tone clearly hesitant. Flame closed in, and when the man gave her a nervous glance she gave a snarl as she snapped her teeth at him. But her aggression was quick to dissipate as the other metal human spoke.

       "Whoa whoa whoa whoa-" Flame heard his worried voice. She and Iron Man both turned to see what was going on. Flame had been curious and worried at first, but now, as a weapon raises and locks onto either her or Iron Man, she couldn't tell, she frightens. A small jump and rocking back on her paws when the weapon drops to point at them.

       Iron Man also seemed to be startled, asking the other metal human; "Is that you?"

       "No, no I'm not doin' that, that's not me!" The other metal human explains in a worried rush. "I can't move!" he says, the other metal beings making a sudden and sharp turn towards Iron Man. "I'm locked up, I'm locked up!"

       The other metal beings all take aim at Iron Man, Flame giving a low, worried growl. She hears the other metal human yell; "Get out of here! Go!"

       "The whole system's been compromised!"

       "Flame, clear the area." Iron Man orders, then launches himself back and into the air, and at that movement Flame turns to the crowd. "Let's take it outside!" Iron Man taunts before taking off. Flame remains, tail lashing as she stands at the edge of the stage and looks out over the crowd.

       And then she roars. Loud, echoing, shaking the building. It stuns the crowd a moment, but then they start scrambling to leave as the metal beings behind her take aim and fire at Iron Man.

       Flame, too, begins to move as glass shatters. Once it's safe for the humans to move, she begins pushing them alone. Nipping at the heels of humans who aren't moving quick enough out of the area for her liking. She keeps them together, going the direction she wants them, so they're safe.

       Behind her, she heard the metal human yell "No, no!" as he begun to take off. She looked back in time to see him take flight, and other drones follow behind him.

       As much as Flame wanted to aid Iron Man with this battle, she had a crowd to control. As he fought his battle in the sky, Flame pushed humans to safety, only relenting when other humans had stepped in to aid the effort. And good timing, as the drones began to move.

       The drones began to move off stage and towards the crowd, Flame only knowing that when Jarvis alerted her to it. She turned then, to stand and face them. She begun doing the same as she did to the humans; nipping at the heels of the drones to get their attention, and then bolting off. She needs to keep them off the crowd and on her.

       She assumed they had long range attacks like the others, and as they reached outside she found they did. Flame could work with this, so long as she didn't get hit. She opted to get them angry, nipping at their heels again and swiping at their legs. Once targeted, and once one took aim, she used that against them. Flame leapt upon one's shoulders, waiting for the one that had taken aim at her to fire. Just before it did, she moved as it fired, forcing it to hit its ally. As she picks them off, something had caught her eye.

       A cub.

       Flame first stood frozen, wondering what that human cub would do. And then she noticed a drone closing in on the cub, the cub's only reaction was to raise their hand to the drone as Iron Man would. She bolted, leaping upon the drone with a snarl, claws of one forepaw scratching over its faceplate as she grabbed the weapon mounted on its shoulder with the other.

       Iron Man himself then landed behind the cub, taking aim at the drone. Flame looked up at him, her ears perking forward in understanding when they once were pinned to her head. She moves her forepaw out of the way from the drone's face and leaps off the drone's shoulders as Iron Man fires an attack, the energy destroying the drone.

       "Nice work, kid!" Flame hears Iron Man say as he steps around the human cub and as Flame herself approaches, just before he takes off. Flame then spends a short time locating the human cub's parents before getting back to the battle. Now that she knew she could destroy them with a shot like Iron Man's, she had more freedom in battle.

       "Ms. Copps, there is a pack of drones returning to your location." Flame heard Jarvis say through her earpiece.

       "Good, let them come." Flame growled, eyes on the sky.

       As the battle raged on, even as Flame grew tired, she continued to fight. Unease took over when the drones started to leave, though. They were going somewhere else. Where, she didn't know. She focused on the humans as the fight died down, ensuring that the injured are brought to those that can help, and the lost return to someone they know.

       She finally decided to rest when she believed the battle to be over and the humans taken care of. Other humans were taking care of it, so she decided to stay out of the way.

       ...Until the downed drones had begun beeping.

       "Ms. Copps, you should clear the area. The drones are set to detonate."

       Flame could get used to Jarvis giving her alerts, it's extremely helpful. Especially considering she's now running to avoid being blown up, and getting mostly clear just in time.

       The next day, when everything was settled, and after Tony had actually fought to get bandages put on Flame’s wounds, again, she was met by a man with one eye and wearing all black. Strange, and suspicious, Flame was weary. He introduced himself as Nick Fury, Director of Shield. He wanted to speak to her about the Avengers Initiative.

[sinestrosmind]

workin on a thing and here's some things from it!!

proud of these so far so I wanted to post them at uhhhhh *checks watch* 4:08 AM Central. Hm.

Hi I've been up all night lmao

[sinestrosmind]

A Chance to Say Goodbye (2023)

Summary: Tony Stark, ever the futurist, had put a hidden protocol behind Flame's Pack Rally Protocol. When Pack Rally is activated, this hidden protocol, the Recovery Protocol, is activated. And as per protocol, Alpha aided in carrying it out.

Flame has followed Alpha's guidance, had led her through finding the pieces and putting together the heart of the Recovery Protocol. Now, she receives a final message from the late Tony Stark, has a chance to say goodbye, and finally meets Recovery.

Warnings: Endgame spoilers, Grieving

Characters: Tony Stark (Hologram), Flame Copps

Wordcount: 2,138

In front of Flame stood a reflection of the past with its chest wide open. A spitting image of Tony's MK42, but with the colors and color placement of his MK3. Admittedly stunning metallic candy apple red paint with a bold metallic candy gold, highlights of silver in select places. Another stunning creation by Tony Stark.

The now late Tony Stark.

Who Flame had watched leave the world just 24 hours ago.

The image was still fresh in her mind, and it hurt. It hurt so so badly. But his little Recovery Protocol, a failsafe he'd added in the back of her Pack Rally Protocol, did just as intended. Alpha guided her, as per protocol, even in a heavily damaged and barely functioning suit, from the point of drop-off from Wakanda in California to the small walk to the old mansion. He walked her through finding the pieces, from her suits to the parts of the machine that stood before her now. It kept her occupied, focused, didn't let her mind wander away from her down a dark path.

She'd found her suits; sixteen brand new, shiny Iron Cat suits, hidden from her over the years. And she'd put together the… What appears to be a robot. Definitely not an actual Iron Man suit, she's seen the insides of it. There's no room for a human to ever fit within the machine. But there was just one last piece to put into place; the arc reactor.

A New Element reactor specifically, the latest mark. This robot's heart. She connects the plugin to the baseplate within the protected cylinder for it before pushing the glowing device into place with a small click. She then guides the plates of the robot's chest to close, the plates locking into place with various small clicks. Then, she steps back, nervous to see what will come of this.

The machine's eyes flick on, a pale cyan glowing softly, and it tilts its head down to look at Flame with a slow, soft mechanical whir. The android stares for a moment before tilting its head up just slightly, like it was looking at another person taller than Flame, and then a hologram is projected from somewhere near the arc reactor.

Flame gasps softly, ears tilting back and she takes a step away when she sees who the hologram is of. And then she covers her mouth as tears well up in her eyes when he speaks.

"Hey Flame," the recorded hologram greeted with his hands tucked into his pockets. "Welcome to the Recovery Protocol. If you're seeing this, best case scenario you broke in or stumbled upon this. I hope it is. God, I hope-…" He trailed off, a hand raising to cover his mouth as he looked away and to the ground as he normally does when he was in deep thought. His mood was quick to change, though, lowering his hand and his eyes falling back onto the general direction of Flame as he quickly picked back up his previous, normal, somewhat playful yet firm tone. "If it is, turn this recording off now, now's not the time and you don't need to worry about the future. Leave that to me."

There was a pause as the recording of Tony thought. "But," he began, the playfulness of his usual tone being replaced by a sadness. "Worst case scenario, you followed the instructions I left you- built the suit, installed the AI for it, watching a hologram recording of me explain this all to you. Which means I'm dead- or presumed dead. Or in a coma." He was rambling, which he usually did when he was stressed or had something on his mind. "-Just, something happened to me to engage A.L.P.H.A.'s Recovery Protocol, leading you here."

Tony sighs, raising a hand to scratch the back of his head as he took a couple steps across the front of the room he was in when he recorded the message. "You probably haven't flown in a while," he says, a sadness still to his tone. "Either too busy or too depressed- or too busy being depressed." Tony clearly was trying to cheer Flame up with a little joke, as his normal tone had somewhat come back, but it was quick to fade again with his next words.

"That's fine, really," he reassures with a nod, looking to the general direction of Flame again. "You'll get back in the air when you're ready," he continues. "And hopefully technically-not-me me will be by your side, just like how you and I used to fly." There's a pain in his voice, and clear in his eyes even in the holographic recording.

"He's, really just a glorified sentinel robot, if I'm being honest," Tony explains, beginning to ramble again. "Nobody can wear him, don't have to worry about anyone putting him on and flying off in him. Don't have to worry about anyone stealing him either, he can fight," he says with a shrug.

There was a pause for a few moments before Tony began speaking again."Y'know, I just realized," Tony says with a sharp turn and a couple steps across back where he started when the recording began. "You're probably pacing around him- curious, maybe a little weary, definitely wide eyed, just like when we met." Tony was right, he was generally always right. Flame wasn't surprised at all that he was right.

"Or," Tony began again. "You've locked onto hologram me and haven't moved since this started, and I really don't blame you." Another attempt at a joke, the life back in his voice, and it did get Flame to crack a smile. "If you're pacing," Tony quickly continues. "You probably have noticed how he always turns to face you, how when you turn and switch directions his head follows, like he's studying, learning, calculating. Because he is, to a degree." As Tony speaks, he's gesturing to the Iron Man suit that is projecting the recorded message.

"There was really only so much I could do before I ran out of time to work on him," Tony explains. "I got the important stuff. The personality, I absolutely had to get the voice synthesizer working, you always said you enjoyed hearing me talk so I just had to get it right." As he was listing off and explaining, Tony had been wandering a bit, his back now to Flame- or where she would be if she was sitting still. "I think I did okay," he begins, quickly as he turns around to face the way he was originally again, hands out of his pockets and open, palms facing Flame as if he was explaining or introducing something. "But it doesn't really matter what I think. It only matters what you think." Tony says, hands ending up back in his pockets again.

"I made sure to add major memories of us," he starts, turning to look at the Iron Man suit beside him. "The dates, working on our best suits, and things you like, a lot- among other general major memories, like the… New York thing. All of it I uploaded into his databanks. Maybe then he could really connect with you and help you." Tony sounds worried and hurt again as he stares the suit down. "He's got all my schematics, all my plans, all that I've ever written down or recorded in my personal files or in any Stark Industries files. He can build anything you want him to, just like I could." Of course he would, he wouldn't leave Flame of all people flying in the dark. Alone.

"Make sure to watch those recordings of all my tests on my suits I did when I first started, I think you'll like them- especially if you're feeling down." There's a forced playfulness to Tony's voice now, Flame can hear it. He's hurting just as much as she is, he's just able to hide it.

"And, hey," Tony starts, kneeling down to be closer to eye level with Flame. He knew she'd be on the floor, he had to, the holographic recording of him is looking right at her, right in her eyes. "Flame," his tone was soft, kind, hurt. "It's okay," he reassures. "I know how you are; you probably fought yourself to exhaustion and then some and you were unable to say goodbye to me. Or they wouldn't let you into the hospital to see me one last time." Tony pauses for a moment, letting Flame breathe and trying to collect himself. He didn't have to fully hide with Flame.

"It's okay, Flame." he says, voice pained and hushed. "It's okay." He gives Flame a reassuring nod and time to breathe again. "Now's your chance to say goodbye."

Flame takes time to catch her breath, trying to control her breathing, trying to steady herself so she can speak. It seems Tony had planned for this as well, he moves to sitting instead of kneeling now, and it seems he's waiting.

It's a few good minutes before Flame is able to compose herself enough to move closer to the holographic recording, and she waits. She waits for his wandering eyes to settle, and once she and the recording of Tony lock eyes, Flame almost breaks again. A flash of his wounded self that she had seen just yesterday appears in her mind's eye and she flinches. She closes her eyes, looks away, pained as more sobs are ripped from her. The feline shakes her head. She couldn't-

It's another few minutes before Flame composes herself again, and she moves towards the hologram seeking comfort. Head bowed, ears tilted back, fur on her face damp with tears. "Goodbye, Tony." Flame whispers, her voice hoarse and weak. That somewhat familiar faint hum was shortly replaced with silence after she'd spoken, and it was deafening.

"Well hello to you too, Flame." An all too familiar voice broke the silence. Gentle and caring with a hint of playfulness. Deeper than what she was used to, and with a slight robotic echo. Flame stared up at the robot, tired and irritated eyes wide. Similarly, the robot stared down upon her for a moment before moving and speaking again.

"Alright, c'mon. Hey," it had began as it knelt down and wiped away a stray tear from Flame's face. "No more tears." It- he. He told her, helping her to stand and supporting her. Flame complied, though reluctantly, but she had no strength or will to put up a good fight. "Time for sleep, come on." He urged her gently, staying by her side and resting a hand on her shoulder as he walked her over to the nest of pillows and blankets in the corner of the workshop.

Flame slowed to a stop as the robot stepped away and tossed a few of the topmost blankets out of the way, revealing a premade nest beneath. He then promptly sat down in the dip in the blankets and looked to Flame, seeming to expect something from her judging by his posture and the small "Well?" gesture he'd made with his hands.

The feline's gaze fell to the floor, one ear locked onto the robot as he spoke up once again. "If you don't get to sleep on your own within an hor of Tony's message being completed the first time, he's programmed me to give you a dose of melatonin." He told her bluntly, and Flame knew by his tone and body language that if his face could emote, he'd likely look bored but worried. "C'mere."

Flame's gaze slowly fell upon the suit again as she took heavy, slow steps forward. "What do I call you?" She asked as she neared, voice just barely above a whisper. The feline gave him a confused look as he just shrugged and reached out for her as she began to climb into the nest.

"I'm called "Recovery" in all my files," he began as he gently pulled Flame in close and covered her with the uppermost blanket like she likes. "But Tony programmed me to respond to anything you want to call me."

"Recovery…" Flame echoed quietly as she settled next to him and tucked herself closer to the robot, resting her head on his chest. The familiar hum of the arc reactor and the comforting weight from the blankets on her back, along with a gentle and protective arm wrapped around her, had brought a weakened purr to rise in her own chest. Recovery rewards Flame with a gentle "Good job" as she closes her eyes and finally allows herself to relax.

Within an hour of laying down, Flame had fallen asleep. Peaceful and thankfully dreamless this night. Recovery seemed to have followed her lead in his own way, eyes dim and metal body relaxed.