An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies), The Avengers (Marvel) - All Media Types
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: James “Rhodey” Rhodes/Tony Stark, James “Rhodey” Rhodes & Tony Stark, Bruce Banner & Tony Stark
Characters: Tony Stark, James “Rhodey” Rhodes, Bruce Banner, Dummy (Iron Man movies)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - No Powers, Alternate Universe - College/University, Fluff, Humor, Fluff and Humor, Crack, Fluff and Crack, Crack Treated Seriously, Tony Stark Is A Fool, Awesome James “Rhodey” Rhodes, meet ugly, Dialogue Heavy, Sarcasm, they are just so full of sass, Bruce Banner & Tony Stark Friendship
Series: Part 1 of ironhusbands bingo 2021, Part 1 of Tony Stark Bingo V
Summary:
“we make contact before trying to steal the last seat on the subway/bus/train and I end up in your lap and fuck you, I’m going to stay here because I’ve had a really long day and this seat was mine”
or a tony/rhodey meet ugly featuring an explosion in the lab, some sarcasm, and Dum-E
to make up for the lack of posts this month, I decided to post this piece of art I made last year and forgot to post here (yeah it didn’t end very well for tony)
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man (Movies)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: James “Rhodey” Rhodes/Tony Stark
Characters: James “Rhodey” Rhodes, Tony Stark
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Getting Together, First Kiss, Tony Stark Does What He Wants, Tony Stark Has A Heart, Protective James “Rhodey” Rhodes, James “Rhodey” Rhodes Feels, Unresolved Romantic Tension, Happy Ending, Iron Man 1, Friends to Lovers
Series: Part 3 of IronHusbands Bingo 2021
Summary:
Rhodey kept things close to the chest for a reason. Tony is wild and nothing close to ready for something serious.
And then there are the things that make it matter less and less.
🥺🥺 ironhusbands + your card declines and the person behind you offers to pay ??
France, I can't believe you literally read my mind, this is exactly what I wanted to write.
~~~
Tony had a bad week. Well, a bad month, really, coming up to a bad year. Maybe even a bad life. But that would be too dramatic even for him.
On the first day of Christmas, he told his dad he didn't want to make weapons when he takes over the company. On the second day of Christmas, his dad told him he was out of the will. On the third day of Christmas, his parents left. On the fourth day of Christmas, the police knocked on his door.
On the seventh day of Christmas, his card got declined at the grocery store.
"Run it through again," Tony pleaded. Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry, he chanted in his mind, hoping it will keep the tears at bay. Good 'ol dad, Tony thought, not even giving him a week to mourn before he completely cuts him off. If you cry now, he wins.
"Sir, I already ran it through five times," the cashier said apologetically.
Tony looked down at what he was buying. It was nothing major; shaving cream, milk, pasta. He didn't want to risk it in cause, well, this happened, but he thought he would still have some money left. That he would have something left. Apparently not.
"I..." he should leave. Beg Obie for some money maybe and come back. Get a job. Maybe he could sell DUM-E or patent JARVIS. That would take time. He never thought he'd be seriously considering dumpster diving until now.
"I got it," someone behind him said.
Tony turned around. As far as heroes go, he pretty much looked the part. Around his age, very good looking, with a charming smile, a confident stand, and warm, soft eyes. Too bad Tony didn't need a knight in shining armor.
The humiliation stung and stubbornly, Tony turned to the cashier. "No, I got it. Run it through again."
The smile vanished. "You got nothing, man," the man rolled his eyes, "just let me pay."
Tony didn't look at him, "you're not going to pay."
"Am too."
"Am not!"
"Am too!"
"Sirs," the cashier interrupted, "you're holding up the line."
Tony glanced back at the people behind him, ranging from annoyed to symaphtic. They were whispering between themselves. Maybe talking about how this crazy guy looked a lot like Tony Stark.
Tony considered his options. Letting this guy pay might hurt his pride, but it will mean he will get out of here faster than someone can recognize him. Judging by the look in the guy's eye, he managed to stand right if front of someone as headstrong as him. He wouldn't give up without a fight. And plus, oh yeah, he would eat.
"Fine," Tony grumbled.
The guy grinned winningly and turned to pay for Tony's three items. Tony took them, quickly thanking the guy, and exiting the store as soon as possible.
Luckily for him, the other guy seemed to be competing for athlete of the year, being surprisingly speedy for a man shorter than even Tony.
"Hey, do you have anywhere to stay?"
Tony jumped at the sound of the guy creeping behind him and let out a frustrated sound when he recognized him, "what, is it national pity day? I don't need your help."
"Kinda seemed like you did," asshole pointed out.
"You don't know me."
"My question seems to be a good way to get around to it."
After a beat, Tony said, if only to make that guy get off his back, "yes, I do." He wasn't kicked out of the manor. Yet.
"Where?"
"Manhattan."
The guy's eyebrows raised, "you can't afford to pay for pasta, but you can to live in Manhattan?"
Tony glared at him, "as I said, you don't know me."
The man stopped him by putting a hand on his shoulder. Tony didn't want to make a scene by shaking him off. "Most people are nicer to their savior."
"You do this a lot?" Tony sneered, "bet you just wait for people's cards to decline so you can be the hero. What did you even buy, anyway?"
The man offered him some gum, "want some?"
Tony rolled his eyes, "of course that's what you bought."
He shrugged, "didn't have enough cash for more than gum. And your things."
Guilt wretched in Tony's gut. He didn't want this guy to pay, and now he skipped buying his groceries. Great going, Tony. Now his patheticness was affecting others. "You shouldn't have-"
"Let me drive you home," the guy cut him off, "swear if you see my car, you won't think I'm some hero who gave up his lunch or whatever you're thinking."
Even though this was the start of a very special episode, Tony asked, "would you leave me alone, then?"
The guy nodded.
"Fine."
~~~
The guy's name was Rhodey, and apparently he did what he did because his mother was some kind of nagging moral compass in his mind. Tony tried not to think of his mom - he knew if he did he would cry in front of this stranger.
Rhodey actually wasn't as talkative as Tony expected, but he did ask question after question, until Tony eventually gave up and told him, that yes, he did graduate high school, no, he already finished college, yes, he was some kind of genius, and his name was Tony. Rhodey, apparently, also got into MIT young, graduating last year, and he was working at NASA GISS now. Tony told him he was unemployed, but he was sure it wasn't for long. That would at least relax this guy.
When Rhodey pulled up at the manor, he gaped, "you're the Stark kid."
"The one and only," Tony said bitterly. He was only ever an only child, after all. He wondered if his siblings would help them out if he had them.
"Didn't inherit the fortune?"
Tony grit his teeth and didn't answer, "thanks for the ride, Rhodey."
"No problem," he said, recovering rather quickly from the shock, "check their sock drawers. Rich people have weird ass sock drawers."
Tony snorted, shutting the door of the car behind him.
Rhodey literally held Tony’s Arc Reactor heart in his hands and then they didn’t make it canon, what Tom foolery, go back to film school and learn about symbolism again, you cowards 😤
When he first puts on the suit, clueless bystanders call after him, “Iron Man!” On the night he fought with his best friend, he’s followed by guilt inducing calls for him.
When he puts on the second suit, innocent bystanders call after him, “Iron Man!” On the day he was gifted War Machine by Tony, he’s followed by frustrating calls for someone else.
When he puts on the wrong suit, enthusiastic bystanders call out, “Iron Patriot!” On the day he’s demoted to patriot, everyone decide to recognize him.
Sometimes Rhodey feels like he’s either an extension of the military or Tony. Their angel of death or of good. Their Iron.
He isn’t Iron.
He remembers being a teenager and saying, “if I was a superhero, I would be called War Machine.”
“Badass!” Tony says.
When Tony makes War Machine to correct the mistake made, when he’s given back the title he was so briefly allowed to be, to own, to have for himself, the title that was stolen for him, Tony sighs and calls out, “angel…”
Rhodey looks at Tony, at how affectionately he looks at him when he calls him angel - and it reminds him of flying. Floating off the ground, between the clouds, away from earth… sometimes he feels like himself. Like an angel. Tony is giving that back to him.
“Yeah, Tones,” Rhodey smiles. Everyone thinks War Machine is too aggressive, but the truth is he’s an angel. A manifestation on of his sweet childhood dream to fly. “Angel.”
Hoping to open up preorders for new pins, prints, charms, and standees in the next week or two! Aiming to dispatch orders late August. Will have leftover stock in the store afterwards! 😄 Here are some sneak peeks, minus a new Tony printttttt
UPDATE: As far as I know, I will be able to have preorders open for UK folks
Title: Loving You Never Felt Like Falling, chapter 5
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/32077243/chapters/79670581
Card Number: 008
Name of Participant: deehellcat
Square Number/Name: identity porn
Rating: teen for a few cuss words
Pairing: rhodeytony
Warning/Major Tags: Earth-57289, Rhodes Labs International, Alternate Universe – sort of role reversal, Awesome James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Tony Stark Needs a Hug, Identity Reveal, Getting Together FINALLY
Summary: After being rescued, Jim confronts Iron Man with his suspicions about his identity, and the truth about his feelings.
Omg the story you wrote for the tiny hands prompt was so incredible!!! Like it was literally amazing so now I had to go back to that prompt list to pick another prompt. So I picked 6. hugging and gently holding the other’s head. Once again I want to see who this reminds you of and what scene it makes you think of! I’m so excited to see what you come up with! -🌸
are you ready for the sappiest goddamn shit I've ever written? you better be because I am ajashajhdad okay?
this is at it's fucking core ironhusbands, you gotta know that
prompt: hugging and gently holding the other's head (from this list)
Read Light of My Life here on ao3
~~~
For all anyone knew, it wasn’t intentional. How could it have been? People hugged every single day, this was no different.
It started on a dull November day sometime in 1987. Tony had hoisted himself up on the counter of their apartment and proceeded to annoy him while he was trying to cook dinner.
“What am I going to do without you?” he groaned.
“You’ll live,” Rhodey responded. “Honestly, you have a better chance of staying alive without me than you do if you keep stealing ingredients.”
Tony, as per usual, chose to ignore him. “Actually, I’m asking the wrong questions here. What did I do before I had you to cook for me?”
“Professional chefs and Ana Jarvis,” he answered. “Anyways, you’ll be back to being a menace in my kitchen the second you get back from break.”
A piece of carrot hit him in the head. “Our kitchen, Platypus.”
“Sure. Where do we keep the cookie sheets then?”
There was no response, and when Rhodey redirected his attention to him, Tony seemed to be lost in thought.
“Tones?”
“Sorry, sorry, thinking. They’re… in the cabinet above the pantry?”
“Drawer under the oven,” Rhodey corrected. Then he set down the knife he was using and turned down the heat on the stove. “What’s on your mind?”
“I don’t wanna go home,” Tony muttered. In fact, had Rhodey not been intent on hearing him, he probably would have missed it.
He moved to stand in front of him and tilted his chin up. It wasn’t always obvious that Tony was only 17 being that he was about to finish up his first (of Rhodey believed many) degrees, but when it came down to emotions, his demeanor showed how much of a kid he still was.
“You won’t be gone that long,” Rhodey reminded him.
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll be home the day after Christmas.”
Given that they had an apartment, it wasn’t like they couldn’t come back earlier, hell, Rhodey was, but Tony was still under 18 and Howard needed him home to be a happy family until Christmas was over. It would have been until New Years, but Maria managed to convince him that Tony was allowed to have fun, so he didn’t have to stay into January.
“And the day you get back, I’ll make you your favorite.”
“Promise?”
“Promise. I’ll try to find blueberries too even though they’re not in season. You can help me make a pie if you want.”
“What did I do to deserve you?”
“I don’t know, boy genius, but you’re stuck with me now. You gonna be alright?”
“I think so.”
Rhodey stared him in the face for a moment before pulling him into a hug. Tony’s head rested just below his chin, so he cradled the back of his head in his hands and ran his fingers through the hair at the base of his neck. They stayed like that for a few moments until Rhodey had to pull away and finish making dinner.
“You should get a haircut before you come home. One of these days, you’re really gonna start looking like a college kid.”
Another carrot hit him in the head, and he grinned.
~~~
After the first time it happened, it didn’t really stop. From casually tugging Tony into a hug from wherever he was sitting to some of the worst moments of either of their lives, Rhodey always seemed to be able to find an excuse to run a hand through his hair when his head was level with his chest.
“Our height difference isn’t that drastic,” Tony said on one of the more laid back occasions.
“Who said it was drastic?”
“The fact that my head hasn’t even been close to level with your chest since you were 18, that’s who.”
“Mm, don’t care. Unless you want me to stop…?”
He rolled his eyes. “I don’t mind, I’m just saying you’re weird.”
Rhodey cuffed his head lightly. “You’re one to talk.”
“I’m just stating the facts, Honeybear.”
He rolled his eyes and pushed him away. “Whatever man. C’mon, I have to leave in a few hours, so let’s paint the town red.”
~~~
“How was the Fun-vee?”
Tony didn’t have the energy to respond with more than a giddy smile. Rhodey was there, he was gonna be okay.
When Rhodey pulled him into his chest, Tony had no qualms about collapsing into him immediately, letting the feeling of Rhodey’s hands remind him that not all touch was torture, that he made it out, that he made it home.
“Next time you ride with me, okay?”
He nodded as best as he could, but he was already starting to black out. All that mattered was that Rhodey was there, and Rhodey was safe.
~~~
It was Pepper’s fault that he was even here. She was convinced that Tony was going to propose tonight, finally after all these years. When she confided in him, he said he’d hide out, make sure he got pictures of the event so they would have those memories captured from someone that wasn’t artificial intelligence. JARVIS would understand.
He had his doubts. Tony hadn’t said anything to him about ring shopping, which while they didn’t share every detail of their lives with each other, he felt like Tony would have mentioned if he was going to propose.
So here he was, carefully hidden in an alcove of the Tower, close enough to see them and aided by JARVIS so he would know when Tony popped the question.
Except that never happened.
Tony had seemed fidgety before Pepper walked in the door. He had been pacing like he planned to wear a hole in the carpet.
By the time she walked in, he’d perched himself on the arm of the sofa and was sketching something out on his phone. When the elevator dinged, he shoved it away too quickly and dropped it. He went to pick it up, and even at this distance Rhodey could see the sheepish smile on his face.
Pepper always seemed to look like she was about to ruin the lives of no less than 50 businessmen, and today was no exception. Had it not been for the fact that she was holding her heels instead of wearing them, Rhodey would have feared for Tony’s life.
Seeing his struggle, Pepper headed over and steadied him before he fell off of his unconventional seat. They exchanged a few words that Rhodey couldn’t make out, and he watched as she tucked his head underneath her chin.
Tony pulled back almost immediately, but Rhodey couldn’t get the image out of his head. He didn’t quite know what he was feeling, but it made his stomach hurt.
He couldn’t stay and watch. JARVIS’ pictures would have to be enough.
Thankfully he knew the whole layout of Tony’s apartment and was able to get out onto the balcony undetected. From there he jumped onto the balcony of the apartment next to his. Thankfully he knew who lived there. He dialed a number in his phone.
“Pick up, pick up, pick- Hey Bruce, are you home? I need a favor.”
~~~
“Pepper and I broke up.”
He hadn’t planned on it. Tonight was really just supposed to be dinner, but something felt wrong, and he couldn’t place it, so he made his choice.
“What?” Rhodey glanced up from his work station. “Are you okay?”
Tony waved him off. “Yeah, I’m fine. Better question is, what are you doing down here so late?”
“That is not the better question.”
“Says you.”
“Yes says me. Tony, what happened? I thought things were good.”
“They were, they just weren’t right, you know?” It was the truth. He has no idea why they weren’t working the way he wanted them to. They just didn’t.
Rhodey nodded. “Wanna blow some shit up?”
As much as that would usually help, he wasn’t really feeling up to it. Instead, he sat down at his own desk and picked up whichever blueprint he’d left there last. “Not really.”
He didn’t say anything for a minute. Tony figured he’d gone back to working until a pair of shoes landed in his line of sight.
“Hey, look at me.” Rhodey tilted his chin up so he could look him in the eye. “Seriously man, what’s the matter?”
Tony sighed. “She’s… not what I need right now. She doesn’t deserve that.”
“What do you need?”
That was the question that had been nagging him for months. “I don’t know yet.”
“Well, when you figure it out, feel free to let me know.”
He dragged Rhodey closer and let his head drop against his chest. Rhodey seemed to pause at the sudden outburst of affection, but after a minute, Tony felt a hand reach up to support the back of his head.
Neither of them spoke, but Tony was lost in thought. Pepper had tried to do this exact same thing, but it hadn’t felt the same. This was something only Rhodey could do.
“You’re gonna be okay. Everything’s gonna work out,” Rhodey whispered. His hands reached around to cup Tony’s face, encouraging him to look up. It took a second to realize he was crying, and Rhodey swiped a thumb under his eye to wipe the tears away. “Maybe the lab isn’t the best place for you to be right now.”
A broken laugh erupted from his throat. “Maybe not.”
“C’mon, you remember the routine from college. Sketchy 24 hour diners and movie nights are the cure for any broken heart.”
“Have we tried the one over in Queens yet? Looks 50s themed, almost definitely run by the mob?”
“We have not, but I’m game. What’s the address? I’m driving.”
~~~
Now he knew how Rhodey felt. This was a goddamn nightmare.
“How dare you? How fucking dare you? You stupid bastard-”
“Tony-” Rhodey rasped.
“Don’t you ‘Tony’ me! You’re not the one who makes the sacrifice play.”
“It was unavoidable, Tones. You of all people should understand that.”
“You could have waited for backup,” Tony hissed. “I was minutes out.”
“Didn’t have minutes. Everything worked out. It’s fine.”
“James Rupert Rhodes, do not give me that tired excuse when you are lying in a hospital bed.”
The lights were too bright, and the monitors were starting to give him a headache, but he couldn’t tear himself away from Rhodey’s side.
“You look like shit.”
Tony snorted humorlessly. “Really? If you think you look any better, you would be sorely mistaken, my dear.”
He grunted in response, but seemed to let it go. “I thought they only let family back here.”
“Okay, first of all, you are my family and if you ever imply that we’re not, I’m calling your mother just to prove you wrong. Second, even if I weren’t, I’m Tony fucking Stark. What are they gonna do, stop me?”
Rhodey hummed lightly. “When was the last time you slept?”
He shrugged.
“Tones…”
“I couldn’t sleep with you like this,” Tony admitted. “Needed to make sure you woke up.”
“Well now I’m awake. Go home Tony.”
“If you think I’m leaving your side, you would be sorely mistaken, Sourpatch.”
There was silence, and Tony thought maybe Rhodey had passed back out.
“Fine, don’t leave my side. Lay down with me.”
Tony realized it would be pointless to argue, so he debated the best way to lie down without disturbing him too badly. Rhodey rolled his eyes and pulled Tony closer.
It had been a while since he slept, he realized as he felt his consciousness slipping away quickly with Rhodey’s chest falling up and down underneath his head, fingers playing in his hair, and a feeling of peace he hadn’t known in years settling in his chest.
~~~
The arc reactor had been there for years, but to Rhodey it never seemed to lose it’s charm.
“You’re staring at me,” Tony reprimanded lightly. “I get something on my shirt?”
“No.”
He set down his wrench and turned to face Rhodey. “Okay, I’ll bite. What are you thinking about?”
“Nightlights,” Rhodey answered seriously.
“Nightlights,” Tony repeated.
“Mhmm.”
“You having nightmares again?”
“Not so much. I was just wondering if you use the reactor as one.”
Tony blinked as if taken aback. “Pardon?”
“I’m just saying, you have a built-in nightlight. No one would hold it against you if you actually used it for that once in a while.”
“Honestly I hadn’t thought about it. I usually cover it up at night. Who knows if it would even be effective.”
“JARVIS, lights off.”
The lab plunged into darkness, but Rhodey already mapped out where he was going. Tony startled when he made his presence known.
“Shit Platypus, I have a heart condition.”
“You do.” Rhodey nodded. “Can I-” he picked at the hem of Tony’s shirt.
“If you wanted me to take off my clothes, you could have asked, sweetpea.”
“I am asking.”
He gaped for a moment. “Oh.”
“Is that a no?” Rhodey moved to back off, scared he’d overstepped.
“It is definitely not a no,” Tony said, encouraging Rhodey to tug the shirt up and over his head.
The arc reactor’s light spilled over the two of them, creating a halo of blue that illuminated the rough scars around it.
“You’re beautiful.” Rhodey rested his hand over the source of the light. “Shit, you’re beautiful.”
“Never thought my tech would get you going like this Rhodes. Does the War Machine suit have this effect on you?”
Rhodey crowded him against his workbench, pushing aside some spare parts so he could sit Tony above him. “You have this effect on me,” he said. “I mean, god, look at you. That thing keeps you alive, and it’s fucking gorgeous.” He traced the individual ridges and bumps surrounding it, admiring the patterns it created in his skin. “Fuck.”
It was shockingly cool to the touch. Without even thinking about it, he leaned in to rest his head against it. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting the residual light wash over his nerves.
A pair of hands scratched the base of his scalp. “Rhodey?”
“Hmm?”
“Rhodey.”
He drew back and looked into Tony’s face, and an expression of awe met him. “What?”
Tony’s hands moved to grip the sides of his face, dragging him up as he leaned down and pressed their lips together, hot and desperate. Rhodey grasped at the first thing he could reach, and found himself pulling Tony closer by his hips.
They were both panting when they pulled away. “Upstairs?” Rhodey asked.
“Uptairs,” Tony agreed.
~~~
Later, when they were lying in bed, basking in the afterglow literal and metaphorical, Tony let out a contented sigh. “This.”
Rhodey looked up at him like he was crazy. “What?”
“You asked me what I needed. Back when I couldn’t figure out what it was. This is what I needed. I needed you.”
“Sap.”
“Also, I think I finally understand why you always hug my head to your chest.”
“Do you now?”
“I feel like I can keep you safe like this.”
He laughed. “Whatever you say, Tones.”
“You know I’m right.”
Rhodey snorted, but reached up to kiss him anyway. “Shut up you dork.”
okay so yes i had to look up when spin the bottle was popular to make sure this made sense, but hear me out: a spell takes tony back to a game of spin the bottle from college and whichever person it lands on shows him how the sorcerer makes him die, except Tony remembers this party, and he remembers who was there
send me a made-up title and I'll write a short story for it
Read Spin the Bottle on ao3
~~~
The sounds of a college party enveloped him like a safety blanket someone set on fire.
“You know what you have to do.”
Tony took a deep breath. He remembered this. There was nothing special about this party really, but he remembered.
Right now he was sitting in a circle of people. Well, back in the 80s, it was a circle of people.
This was a circle of all his worst nightmares.
He could still hear it. All eyes on him, and he winked at both Sunset Bain and Tiberius Stone, who were now competing to be the person he would go home with at the end of the night.
They left with each other, to ‘dick it out’ so to speak.
Justin Hammer was egging him on.
Not Justin Hammer, the bastard of a wizard that had him caught in a spell.
“Focus Stark, I shouldn’t have to explain the rules.”
Play the game, he had to play the game, the same way he played it 30 years ago. He scanned the faces surrounding him.
Except, there were no faces. Where there should have been faces, there were various scenarios.
“You know how the game works, whichever it lands on is your destiny.”
He looked into what should have been the eyes of their person opposite him, and sucked in a sharp gasp. It showed his lab with him surrounded by his creations as he slumped over his desk, barely breathing. In another moment he would be gone, having succumbed to his own hubris, forgotten by the people he lived with who never thought to check on him.
Each person told a different story, all of which ended the same way.
Some he never would have seen coming: Bruce slipping something into his coffee, Nat snapping his neck from behind, Thor watching him slip further and further away into space as if he hadn’t pushed him out of the airlock.
Some were so brutal, his chest started going numb just thinking about them: Steve lifting him like it was nothing before choking the life out of him, Pepper bleeding him dry from billions of paper cuts, Peter intentionally triggering his suit’s override 70 stories up causing him to plummet to his death.
Betrayal that hadn’t–couldn’t–wouldn’t happen echoed in his bones. No matter who he landed on, he was going to die at the hands of someone he loved.
Someone was missing.
Tony closed his eyes and whisked himself back to that night. The smell of cheap booze permeated the air and the base of a song he couldn’t make out pounded in his head. He didn’t know the names of most of the people around him, but that didn’t stop them from throwing themselves at him, desperate to get into the pants of The Tony Stark.
He wanted to be sick.
It had been his idea to come out tonight, but he was the one who’d been sucked into a game where he had to kiss someone he didn’t care about. Maybe if Rhodey-
Someone was missing.
Rhodey was missing. Somewhere-
Tony tilted his head, intent on tracking him through any sort of familiar noise.
The sound of his laugh reached through his subconscious. He was leaned against the bar, making polite conversation with someone until Tony came and found him to go home or to say he was leaving with someone else.
“Spin the bottle, Stark.”
Eyes still closed, he reached forward and grabbed the neck of the bottle. It wasn’t empty like it should have been, but it had been convenient at the time. He twisted the cap off and stood as he took a pull.
Whiskey was an interesting choice, but small mercies. Beer is always so tasteless.
Rhodey couldn’t have been far, but he couldn’t look just yet. It wasn’t until he heard the wizard splutter and yell for him to come back that he opened his eyes, focused on Rhodey just a few yards away.
He pointed the bottle at him before he dropped it entirely, determinedly striding forward until he could reach out and touch him.
“I choose life.”
His hands wrapped around Rhodey’s face and tugged him down until their lips touched. He felt light and warmth and butterflies egging him on, but heard yelling that wanted him to stop. Regardless, he continued, years of good memories, of a life built on trust, of years of emotions that he didn’t know how to communicate, all being channeled into the kiss.
A heart monitor interrupted them.
He was lying in a hospital bed, he realized. Moving too quickly would summon the nurses, so he just barely turned his head to see who was sitting in the chair next to the bed.
“Oh my god, Tony.”
Rhodey’s eyes were rimmed with red like he’d been crying. Tony motioned for him to come closer, grabbing at the first article of clothing he could reach. He pulled him down until they could finish what he started.
Dream or reality, it still felt right.
Upon breaking away, he looked up into Rhodey’s wide eyes, and couldn’t help but grin.
Tony: I can't believe you'd do this to me. We're best friends. We share EVERYTHING. You remember vowing to me that 'what's mine is yours', right? Was that another lie?
Rhodey: TONY, I CAN NOT SHARE WITH YOU MY PASSWORD.
wait i lied this is the last one #57 "I got us matching shirts!" for rhodeytony pls
thanks for sending this one!! hope you like it :)
It's no secret that Tony has a thing for wearing Rhodey's clothes. Usually it's one of his t-shirts or hoodies, sometimes both at once. He steals his sweatpants to sleep in, and occasionally he'll steal a pair of jeans to wear to class when he forgets to do his own laundry. When he goes home for Thanksgiving break and has to attend a gala with his parents, he puts on Rhodey's watch and doesn't care that it doesn't quite match his suit.
It's something they don't talk about much, either, and almost never directly. Sometimes Rhodey will ask where the shirt he wants to wear is, and Tony will point to his own closet. Mostly, though, it's Rhodey slipping his hands beneath his own sweatshirt on Tony's body, and murmuring sweet, possessive words against his lips. He likes seeing Tony in his clothes as much as Tony likes being in them.
When they move off campus together, it becomes even easier to borrow anything he wants. One closet, one dresser, and similar enough physiques makes the lines between who owns what blurry. Everything is just sort of theirs together instead.
Tony is in the kitchen when Rhodey comes home, trying to follow the recipe that Mama Rhodes sent him to make for their anniversary. Two years together deserves something special, and Tony's determined to get it right. He isn't much of a cook, but he knows how to follow directions when he wants to.
Rhodey sets a black paper bag down on the counter and comes up behind him at the stove. His hands slot into Tony's hips, and he presses a kiss to the back of his neck, then behind his ear so that Tony will turn his head for the last one to land on his cheek.
“That smells good,” he says.
“I think it's almost done,” Tony replies, checking the handwritten recipe again. Her cursive is a little hard to decipher in places, and he squints at it to read the last steps again. Absentmindedly, he asks, “What's in the bag?”
“Anniversary present.”
Tony laughs, “Last minute, huh? Thought that was supposed to be my role here. You're slacking, honey bear.”
“It's been hiding in the trunk of my car for three weeks, actually,” Rhodey says smugly. “Couldn't risk you spoiling this one like you spoiled Valentine's Day.”
“That one wasn't my fault. Why would you hide something underneath the bathroom sink?”
“Because the only thing we keep there is cleaning supplies, and you don't clean.”
“No, but cleaning supplies have other more fun and explosive purposes,” Tony grins. He turns around in Rhodey's arms to wrap his own around him in return. “So can I have my present now?”
“It's supposed to be for later. After dinner and before anniversary sex.”
Tony hums in consideration, “Or, hear me out, presents first, then anniversary sex, then dinner, so by the time we're done eating it'll be time for round two. One orgasm for every year together. We'll start a new tradition.”
“I don't know if that's a very sustainable tradition,” Rhodey says, but his hands are already wandering. “What happens when we start hitting double digits?”
Tony smiles as a warm feeling spreads through him. He likes the way Rhodey says it like it's obvious they'll make it that long. An inevitably, rather than just a hopeful thought.
“Then I guess we'll just have to keep making new ones, won’t we?”
“Guess we will,” Rhodey says as softly as the kiss that follows. When he pulls back, he reaches for the bag and puts it in Tony’s hands. “I suppose you can have it now. You’ll be insufferable about it if I make you wait.”
Rhodey turns off the stove for him so their dinner doesn’t burn while Tony pulls out the white tissue paper and lets it drop to the floor. Underneath it all is a t-shirt with the Back to the Future logo, and Tony grins.
“You said that doesn’t count as our first date. Is that the real present? You're finally admitting that I’m right?” he teases.
Rhodey shakes his head in amusement. “I’ll admit that you think you’re right, and I’m not going to be able to change your mind no matter what.”
Tony takes it out of the bag, and his eyebrows knit together in confusion when he realizes there’s two of the same shirt. Rhodey explains it before he can ask, looking a little embarrassed by it. “I might have gotten us matching ones. You can’t steal mine to wear if I don’t have one, right?”
“That’s perfect,” Tony laughs, and he tosses his arms around him to pull him back in. “We’ll rotate them. One’s always gotta smell like you.”
“Good plan,” Rhodey agrees, because even if he doesn’t quite get why Tony loves being in his clothes so much, he’ll indulge him as much as possible. He dips his head down, kissing Tony beneath his jaw, and he whispers, “I think there was mention of another good plan, though. I remember being promised something after you got your present.”
“Don’t you want to unwrap your present first?” Tony asks innocently, as if they both don’t know what his present is going to be. He can feel the lace on his skin every time he moves.
Rhodey pops open the top button on Tony’s shirt. “That’s exactly what I’m doing, baby.”
