Protecting Her Stray

Try not to wash important items that don't play well with water or soap with your clothes...
~Dreamer~

Main Points:
Iron Man/Miraculous (Ladybug & Chat Noir) crossover (one of the AUs that's going to show up in Self-Made Hero)
Summary: SHIELD makes a sketchy appearance.
Word Count: 485
Rating: Gen

         Pepper has been paying a lot of attention to her kitty since he’d slunk in through her window.  She’s still not entirely certain whether they’re dating, mostly because neither of them have said the words even if they’re both acting like they are.  He’s still every inch the casual dork, but now she’s starting to notice the casualness is somewhat forced.  With her, it’s because he actually does get slightly nervous and tongue-tied around her.  In this case…
         She frowns and glances over to where that Men in Black looking guy had taken her kitty, a quiet conversation in the café.  His leg is bouncing in the way that says he’s itching to transform and go bounding across the rooftops and through the alleyways.  If he was transformed, his tail would be whipping around, agitated.
         She won’t go there and interrupt.  She doesn’t have a good excuse, and they’re civilians now.  Well, technically, she could act the airhead girlfriend, but if she did that, she’d probably have to keep that up, and she has a feeling that guy wouldn’t buy it anyway.  That being said, the second they get off work and get someplace quiet she’s going to get those answers from him.  She’s Lady Luck, and if her stray is getting in trouble, she’s going to do what she can to help him. 
         Eventually, the man leaves.  They were both polite.  From the outside, everything seemed normal.  If she hadn’t known Tony that well, she wouldn’t have caught anything at all.
         He doesn’t move for close to a minute.  When he finally stands, he’s a little wobbly, so he probably hadn’t trusted himself not to fall over on standing.
         He sees her and shrinks back a little, but waves and tiredly walks over and kisses her lightly on the cheek.  “Hi Pepp.”  He’s scared of her interrogation, probably, and no matter how gregarious and social he acts, Tony’s actually shy.  Or maybe he has social anxiety, considering she’s pretty sure she’s seen what might be fear in his eyes sometimes.  Though…maybe he was worried about whoever that was finding him?
         “Are you all right?” She’s not going to pry too much here.
         “Ehhh.  I have to go back on duty in about three minutes.  That’s not enough time for much of anything.”  He really doesn’t look enthusiastic about it, which is something she can understand—she’s not much in the mood either.
         She reaches over and tugs a few of his hairs back into place, and he leans in to her hand, humming what sounds like AC/DC.  He’s probably trying to not purr in the middle of their workplace, but still, the fact that she can make him feel safe even after something like that is worthwhile.
         And she’ll get her answers after their shifts are over, and make sure that anyone hurting her kitty stops and he knows that he’s safe and loved.