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Tony wasn’t much, just the same old lone tiger he always was, abandoned by his family before he could even stand, his dad, Howard, had never been much, the only memories he really had of him were him putting him in a cave and leaving, his mother on the other hand had followed him, but unbeknownst to his father she returned every night for a year, bringing food to him and teaching him, of course since something always happened to him, she was dragged away by those who call themselves humans right before him, his father dead, him running away until he found a safe cave to find refuge in, he made friends with the birds, Steve a toucan and his husband Bucky, also a toucan, had always talked to him, they always told great stories that they insisted were true, even though he knew logically toucans could never fight off 10 polar bears in Hawaii while bombs were raining in around them, then there were Clint and Natasha, Clint was a hawk, one with really good aim, and Natasha was a crow, those 2 were always chatting and practiced attacking, for what, he never knew, but they both were really good for talking to, Clint being the better of the 2 when he was saddened and needed emotional help, and Natasha was better at the more logical and serious conversations, but there was Sam and Wanda, Sam was amazing, he was practically the best out of the birds there, he always knew what jokes would make him happy, knew how to help, and was surprisingly nice for a falcon, and Wanda, she was strange, a scarlet ibis, she never really talked, and when she did it was very motivational, he could tell she was more there for presence alone, then there were 4 more Bruce a green parakeet was exceptionally smart, Stephen a peacock who informed everyone of what was happening around the world and only meeting up with all of them once a year, Vision a Wilsons warbler who was with Wanda, was another exceptionally smart bird but never talked to anyone but Wanda and him, and finally Rhodey, his personal favorite, rufous treepie, and wasn’t that smart but was almost always with him, talking his ear off, and supporting him, it was this little group of Tony, Rhodey, Bruce, Vision, Wanda, Clint, Natasha, Sam, Steve, and Bucky, they were all close and lived in the same cave together, though during winter they all migrated, why they all were living in a forest with a tiger in a unnatural habitat to most, would always quiz Tony, but what mattered most was the fact they all were friends, that is until one winter, while he was out hunting, longing for his friends, he stumbled upon another cave, this one had 2 wolves in it snarling at something, cornering it
“Hey, look who I found just as I was getting hungry” I heard one of them yell
“didn’t we say if we ever saw you again, we’d eat you alive, slowly and painfully” the other yelled, then he heard it, a… child? Maybe, but someone who could very obviously not defend themselves and sounded very young responded
“But you never stumbled upon me, I was trying to stay away, like you asked, you both came after me, just please leave me alone flash” I hear the pup squeal out, obvious terror sounding in his voice
“You hear that Roger, seems like little Peter here wants to get eaten” I hear the one who was named flash snarl at his friend roger
“Hey, didn’t you ever learn that hurting children is not the ideal way to live” I shout, at them and they both stop
“Hey, he’s our meal, if you want him, you’ll have to fight us for it” I hear Flash yell
“Dude, that’s a tiger, im going, I don’t feel like dying today” the smarter of the 2 obviously, roger responds before scampering off
“Someone will get eaten today, for sure, but I wouldn’t promise you it’s that pup behind you” I snarl, and creep closer
“d-don’t come any closer, I-im a v-very good fighter y-you know that” he responds, his voice shaking with fear before he runs off after Roger, obviously terrified
“Huh, pretty good fighter that one is” I mumble, turning my head back to the lone pup named Peter, “hey, why are you all alone, aren’t pups supposed to stay with their pack?” I ask
“p-please d-d-don’t eat m-me” he stammers, obviously trying to curl in on himself to look as small as possible
“Hey, its ok” I say walking closer “no one can hurt you now,” he says softly, parental instinct screaming at him to take care of this poor, lone pup, why wasn’t he eating him, he never spared any other wolves, why did he help, what was so special about this pup that drew him in
“w-why aren’t you eating me?” he asks, not as scared, a confused look on his face
“I-I don’t know, hey, stop avoiding the question, where’s your pack?” I ask again, stepping a bit closer
“t-they were killed o-off, by the humans” he responds “I was the only one who escaped” tears filling his eyes, my heart broke in 2 as I took a couple more steps until I was right in front of him
“hey, im sorry, I know how that feels, my mom was taken from me when I was only 1, my father murdered in front of me by the humans too, I understand” I respond, trying to trauma bond, while doing so I lay down and almost immediately the little pup buries himself into my fur, practically disappearing, and even though I can’t see him I can still hear his sniffles as he tried to calm himself down, I chuckle at how adorable he is, and minutes go past until he stops sniffling and then he rushes out
“Oh my gosh, im so sorry, this is so embarrassing, thank you mister, I’ll be going now” and he tries to leave, but I put my paw in the way, him just barely bigger than it can’t get passed
“Ah, ah, ah, little pup, you have no family, no home, and you could get eaten, your coming home with me, weather you like it or not” I respond, and he starts to pout
“I don’t need anything, I was perfectly fine, I’ll be perfectly fine too” he responds
“Oh really” I say, eyes widening for an overdramatic appearance “well, your eyes are red, you can barely walk, I can see your ribs, and you were getting threatened by 2 wolves who, had I not stepped in, would’ve eaten you” I respond before picking him up by the scruff of his neck, him whining in protest and trying to fight it as I trudge my way back, and he slowly realizes theres nothing he can do
“Why are you doing this” he asks, and even though he tries to hide it, he seems happy
“I don’t know, but I will protect you, I will keep you safe, my pup now” I mutter, words slurring a little as I try to talk with the pup in my mouth
“Thank you, dad,” he responds and I almost drop him, I freeze, he freezes, “I-I mean, umm”
“I would be honored if you called me dad” I respond that a smile tugging at my snout “now we better get back before I start to cry” and I trudge ahead
“Ok, dad” he responds and my heart warms. Once we got back, we got situated, him confused on why there was fur on the ground and I explained I slept on it, I got him his own bed too,
“Goodnight pup” I say, happy that he got a full meal after I hunted and killed 12 rabbits and 2 foxes, enough for the both of us, barely, and as the cub got situated on his own fur bed, I could sense something was wrong, but before I would ask something hit my chest, I look down and see the little pup curled against my side, barely visible by my fur, and my hear warms
He says, “Goodnight dad,” he snuggles a little closer, that night was the best night’s sleep I ever got, how did I get this amazing pup in one day, and in that same day became a dad, and I slowly drifted off to sleep.