It isn't like Rhodey doesn't know. He knows how Tony feels or how Tony thinks he feels and it's not repulsive or strange or uncomfortable. Mostly because he figures it isn't real. Rhodey is just Rhodey and Tony is Tony and it will pass. Maybe in another life he could of been that for Tony but what he is now is so much more important. Tony is so good at pretending. Rhodey thinks he is losing him sometimes, like Tony has managed to fool even him. Shit, he's the one whose been there, more than Pepper, more than the Avengers. God, what a name. What a fancy way of saying payback. Just another word for revenge, an eye for an eye. Fury knows a little bit about that. Rhodey doesn't demand clearance, doesn't want to get his hands covered with SHIELD's blood. Lord only knows he's got enough as is. But Tony is out, and Rhodey is glad. Less glad when they ask him to join up. Be part of the team until - until what? Until they fix Tony? No one fixes Tony. There is no 'after he sobers up and becomes less arrogant and insecure and self involved and seld destructive'. The only after is six feet under and Rhodey just focuses on reminding Tony to live. To stay. He believed once that Tony could be saved or fixed but that was a long time ago. Tony isn't meant to grow old and die in a home. He's too sharp and bright and ephemeral. Unless - no. That's a long shot. Maybe, just maybe but. There hasn't been anyone yet. It can't be him, not really. He plays other roles that can't coexist like that. Tony has been head over heels in love but he never loved really loved himself enough to stop the descent. The descent into Hell is easy. Maybe Rhodey is Charon, doomed to this, to keep him afloat until he drowns them both. He doesn't believe Tony can get better but he makes sure Tony believes he does. He wants to. He's holding out for the last play of the big game. Strike out or safe at home. He has all his bases covered. He will stay till the end, or until Tony doesn't need him. Fingers crossed the cavalry comes through before the ninth. The worst part isn't that Tony didn't call him. Yeah, Rhodey was furious, but...he gets it. He isn't sure he could have 'Goodbye' be the last thing they shared. He's been on this ride for so long. Sometimes he takes a bit, leaves, remembers that how Tony functions isn't real life, that none of it is healthy, that there is a world out there. But he comes back. Rhodey isn't going anywhere. He is always gonna be there, drunk or sober, Iron Man or Tony Stark, arc reactor or no arc reactor. If you could say one thing to one person before you died, what would it be? I know.