The three of them rested for a while, mainly because Ethan needed it. Leon didn't say much, and Tony wasn't too badly injured this time, unlike in the original story where he fell from the sky.
However, Tony is incredibly tough! Falling from such a height, wrapped in metal, he would be dead whether he landed on sand or water.
What else can you say?
It's fiction! Blame it on plot armor! Blame it on Marvel physics!
It's what you deserve!
...
On the way, Tony kept subtly asking about Leon's past. Even Ethan could tell that this talking cat had piqued Tony's curiosity.
It made sense. After all, Tony had just survived a life-or-death situation and escaped from a place where he'd been imprisoned for years.
Ethan knew that this cat saved him.
So, if it wanted to talk, let it talk. Ethan wouldn't have been surprised if the cat suddenly flew or turned into a person.
Tony's questions were endless and bizarre.
From asking if the talking cat could order its own food at a restaurant to wondering if humans could learn cat language. He even asked about the structure of a cat's vocal cords and if Leon had ever caught any talking mice.
Tony was relentless, and Leon was not one to shy away from banter.
Leon told Tony that he always dined alone and would often help the restaurant by catching mice in exchange for food.
As for learning cat language, Leon explained that humans could certainly do it. After all, who could tell the difference between a human's "meow" and a cat's "meow"? As long as you meow back and forth, it's all good! Everyone in the world does it!
And yes, there are talking mice. Leon told Tony about one named Mickey, who not only talked but also owned a dog! Then he added that if they called Mickey's name, the company that owns him might show up.
Tony, intrigued, wondered if this was Mickey's special power.
Leon shattered Tony's romantic notion.
"No, Mickey is the mascot of a big company. If we do that, they'd probably sue us for infringement. Mickey's company has never lost a case!"
Tony thought for a moment. He figured the cat had given enough information for him to dig deeper if needed. A company like that wouldn't be obscure!
...
The two kept talking, leaving Ethan to suffer in silence.
The old man was already exhausted, and now he had to endure the constant chatter between these two, all while trekking through a desert in nearly 100-degree heat. Anyone would've snapped.
If you marry a human girl, do you talk in English or Cat?
Seriously! Is that a real question?
One hour!
They'd been talking non-stop for a full hour! With increasingly ridiculous questions and even crazier answers!
Ethan even wondered if he'd be better off staying unconscious.
After answering Tony's latest question about whether cats watch cat videos, Leon suddenly stopped and began surveying the area.
Seeing this, Tony also stopped, and when the mysterious cat looked at him, Tony asked, "Are we being followed?"
For once, Tony asked a serious question, but Ethan felt no relief. The last thing he wanted was to be captured again.
"There is someone coming for you," Leon responded, noticing Ethan's face turning pale before continuing, "Congratulations, it's your friends who came to rescue you."
The last part was directed at Tony.
Thanks to his sharp senses, primarily through his four bee-like clones circling the area, Leon had spotted them.
Colonel Rhodes.
The same person who, in the original story, rescued Tony, and who would later operate the Iron Patriot armor.
With Rhodes' arrival, Tony's safety was pretty much guaranteed. Leon had no interest in dealing with officials and certainly didn't want to make a public appearance in his current form.
Imagine if he went back with Tony, it might play out like this:
"I am Iron Man!"
"And this... cat beside me is Meow Man!"
And yes, Tony would absolutely do that.
So Leon decided to leave.
...
"My friend?"
After his back-and-forth with Leon, Tony found it hard to believe he had a friend coming. He still couldn't recall knowing anyone named Robert Downey...
But he vaguely felt that he should know someone like that! It was bizarre.
"You'll know if it's your friend when you see them," Leon reassured Tony.
Then the cat lifted off the ground and began to float. "My task is complete, Tony Stark. It was nice meeting you. Goodbye!"
"Wait! You're just leaving? Don't you want that double reward?" Tony wasn't even surprised that the cat could fly. In fact, during Leon's slow ascent, Tony realized that he had grown quite fond of this strange cat!
Mostly because his imagination could run wild with the cat around, as Leon's thoughts were even more outlandish than his own!
A rare kindred spirit, even if they'd only known each other for about an hour. But given how many questions they'd exchanged, there was something of a bond!
That's why Tony blurted out what he did. Subconsciously, he didn't want Leon to leave.
Hearing Tony's plea, Leon laughed. "Don't worry. I'll come back for my reward someday. I hope you won't be disappointed!"
With that, Leon shot off into the sky and disappeared.
Tony could've sworn he heard something... like faint words in the wind: "I'm not a bee... we're hornets!"
But when he listened more closely, the sound was gone.
Just as Tony was gazing longingly at the sky, a familiar voice called out from below the sand dunes.
"Tony! Tony, is that you?! Thank God, it's really you!"
Rhodey!
It really was his friend, Rhodey!
Rhodey rushed over to support the two, who were nearly collapsing from exhaustion.
"I saw two people down in the desert from the plane. I just knew it had to be you!"
After introducing Ethan and Rhodey, who was genuinely grateful to the man who saved Tony's life, the rescue team helped the two weakened men onto the plane. Ethan, more seriously injured, quickly slipped back into unconsciousness and was taken for treatment.
Sitting beside Tony, Rhodey and Tony caught up on the past few days. Tony was completely drained, and Rhodey, noticing his friend's exhaustion, suggested he get some rest.
Tony agreed.
With a pat on the shoulder, Rhodey turned to leave but then paused. "When I was flying over, I thought I saw a small animal with you?"
Tony chuckled, "Yeah, a cat showed up out of nowhere. That cat really helped out. It's my savior! No, more like... my cat-savior! Hahaha!"
Rhodey could tell Tony was in good spirits and smiled, then left him to rest.
Exhausted, Tony covered himself with a blanket and fell asleep.
(End of chapter)