Curiosity Killed the Cat...

The sound of the helicopters grew louder, their rotors slicing through the air as they descended toward the desert floor. The car jolted slightly as Tony restarted it, the sand kicking up in swirling clouds around them. Stephen sat perched in Tony's lap, his tail flicking irritably at the vibrations of the old car, while Yinsen remained quiet but watchful in the passenger seat.

As the helicopters landed, their doors opened, and soldiers spilled out onto the desert sand, their rifles slung but ready. Tony narrowed his eyes, scanning the group with the sharp focus of a man who didn't trust easily. But then his face changed, his cocky grin fading into something softer, almost relieved.

A familiar figure stepped out from one of the helicopters, his uniform crisp and his expression tense. Colonel James "Rhodey" Rhodes strode forward, his eyes locking onto Tony with a mix of disbelief and relief.

"Tony?" Rhodey called, his voice loud enough to carry over the fading roar of the helicopters. He broke into a jog, his pace quickening as he closed the distance between them. His face lit up as though he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. "You son of a bitch, I thought I'd never see you again!"

Tony smirked, rolling to a stop just as Rhodey reached him. His cocky grin faltered for a split second, replaced by something softer—gratitude, relief—but he covered it quickly, slipping back into his usual bravado. "Well, you know me, Rhodey. Hard to kill."

Rhodey stopped just in front of him, his arms outstretched as though about to pull Tony into a bear hug. But before he could, his eyes dropped to the small black cat nestled in Tony's arms. He froze mid-step, his expression twisting into confusion as Stephen let out a low, irritated meow and glared up at him.

"What the—" Rhodey's arms dropped to his sides as he blinked at the cat, his brow furrowing. "Uh… Tony? Care to explain?"

Tony looked down at Stephen, then back up at Rhodey, his face a picture of practiced nonchalance. "Oh, this?" he said, lifting Stephen slightly for emphasis. "This is Stephen."

Rhodey's eyebrows shot up so high they nearly disappeared into his hairline. "Stephen?"

"Yeah," Tony said, his tone completely serious. "He's my emotional support cat. Don't ask questions. We've been through a lot together."

Stephen's ears flattened against his head as he let out another irritated meow. "I don't think this is funny," he muttered under his breath.

Rhodey's mouth opened, then closed, then opened again, as though his brain was short-circuiting. Finally, he pointed at Stephen with a slightly shaky finger. "Is the cat… talking?"

"No," Tony said quickly, his grip on Stephen tightening just enough to send a clear don't you dare signal. "Don't be ridiculous."

Stephen sighed, his tail flicking sharply. "Just keep it that way," he said softly, his voice pitched low enough that only Tony and Yinsen could hear.

Rhodey rubbed his temples, muttering something under his breath about heatstroke and hallucinations. "Great. I've been in the desert too long. I'm officially losing it."

Yinsen stepped forward, his warm, diplomatic smile cutting through the tension. "Colonel Rhodes, I presume? I'm Dr. Ho Yinsen. Tony and I were… fellow prisoners."

Rhodey turned his attention to Yinsen, his posture softening slightly. "Dr. Yinsen. It's good to see you both alive." His gaze flicked back to Tony, his concern evident. "Are you okay? Seriously, man. Are you hurt?"

Tony waved him off with a dismissive hand. "I'm fine, Rhodey. Better than fine, actually. I built a freaking suit in a cave with scraps. But that's a story for another time."

Rhodey's frown deepened as he gave Tony a once-over, his sharp eyes scanning him for any obvious injuries. "You're not making any sense."

"Yeah, well," Tony said, his smirk returning, "I've been through a hell of a lot. Cut me some slack."

Rhodey shook his head, though there was a faint hint of amusement in his eyes. "And the cat? What's his deal?"

Tony glanced down at Stephen, who fixed him with a pointed look that practically screamed don't you dare.

"He's… complicated," Tony said finally, his tone casual. "Let's just say he's part of the package. Don't worry about it."

Rhodey opened his mouth, clearly ready to argue, but seemed to think better of it. He exhaled sharply and threw up his hands. "Fine," he said, his tone tinged with exasperation. "You can explain this nonsense later. Right now, let's get you out of here."

As the soldiers moved to secure the car and assist Yinsen, Stephen let out a soft sigh, his sharp eyes glinting as he glanced between Tony and Rhodey. "A word of advice," he said, his voice low enough that only Tony and Yinsen could hear. "Don't reveal anything about me to the soldiers."

Tony arched an eyebrow, his expression faintly amused. "What about Rhodey? He's cool."

Stephen's ears flattened, his gaze flicking toward the colonel. He knew who Rhodey was—or at least who he would become. "Only him," Stephen said firmly. "Also, cool or not, I don't trust anyone else with this. The less everyone knows, the safer we'll all be."

Yinsen nodded, his expression serious. "Stephen is right. The fewer people who know about his… abilities, the better."

Tony frowned, but after a moment, he shrugged. "Fine. But if he starts asking questions, I'm throwing you under the bus."

Stephen shot him a flat look. "Charming."

As the soldiers began prepping for their departure, Rhodey placed a hand on Tony's shoulder, his expression softening. "You really had me worried, you know."

Tony glanced at him, his usual cocky grin faltering for just a moment. "Yeah. Sorry about that."

Rhodey gave him a small, genuine smile. "Just glad you're alive."

The two shared a brief moment of silence, the weight of everything they'd been through hanging unspoken between them. Finally, Rhodey glanced down at Stephen again, his brow furrowing.

"But seriously," he said, his voice lightening slightly, "we're going to have a long conversation about this cat."

Stephen let out an exasperated sigh, curling slightly in Tony's arms. "You're going to regret keeping me around," he muttered.

Tony smirked, the spark of mischief back in his eyes. "Yeah, but I'm already regretting a lot of things. What's one more?"

Rhodey shook his head, a faint but genuine smile tugging at his lips as he turned to lead them toward the helicopters. "Come on. Let's get you out of here before something else explodes."

"Sure, platypus. One question, though. What's the date?"

Rhodey's relaxed countenance shifted into something somber as he answered softly, "It's May 3rd, Tony. Still 2009, though."" 

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May 3rd - 2009

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As they approached the helicopters, Stephen let his gaze drift toward the horizon one last time. The desert stretched endlessly behind them, the place where their journey had begun now fading into memory. For the first time in a long while, Stephen felt the faint stirrings of something he hadn't felt in centuries: belonging.

It wasn't in the world he came from, or even in this new universe. It was here, in the strange and chaotic company of these two men who, against all odds, had accepted him for what he was.

And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.