“I need a huge favor,” Tony says.
Rhodey turns around oh his chair to glare at him, “this will not end well, will it?”
“No, I promise this favor is fine,” Tony assures him, then pauses, “well, no, it’s weird, but it’s more mild. Completely harmless. I mean relatively speaking... Yeah.”
Rhodey squints in him, “alright spill.”
“I told Pepper we were dating.”
Rhodey was not expecting that, “why on earth would you do that?”
“Well, me and May were talking and apparently she’s dating Pepper now, which I did not know because Peter is a traitor. I probably had a look on my face so she asked me if I was ok so I panicked and said I was dating someone. Then Pepper called me and asked me who I was dating and I said you. Because... well, I don’t really have a reason, but anyway she asked for us to double date and I agreed. So...”
Rhodey, already used to Tony’s ramblings, sighs and completes his sentence, “so you want me to pretend to be your boyfriend for an afternoon?”
“Yeah,” Tony says, with a guilty look on his face, “and then I was thinking maybe I could break up with you. So I don’t seem completely unloveable. Or maybe that makes it seem like I’m scared of commitment? Alright then maybe it could be mutual. Like with me and Pep.”
Rhodey gave a noncommittal “uh-huh” sound, knowing how many nights Tony spent crying over how he would never get to touch Pepper’s soft hair again.
He though of what Tony was asking him to do. His heart told him it was a really stupid idea; he was in love with Tony since MIT, and it would probably break his heart to see what it was like to be with Tony for a day, only to look up and see him pining and jealous over Pepper. His mind told a different story; he was pretty good at hiding his crush on Tony, and they were pretty affectionate to begin with. It wouldn’t be that different. His friend really needed his help. How hard could it be?
“Alright, fine,” Rhodey agreed and Tony beamed at him.
“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, honeybear! I swear I’ll make it up to you by being the best boyfriend you ever had. Or. The only one, I guess. I just- thank you,” and Tony kissed his cheek.
After Tony left, Rhodey unconsciously pressed two fingers onto the spot on his cheek were Tony pressed his lips to. Then he groaned.
Oh, this was going to be torture.
~~~
Pepper and May seemed like a really good couple. They smiled at each other from time to time, laughed at inside jokes and touched each other’s shoulders or brushed hands nearly at all times. As they sat down to eat, May’s hand reflectively begun stroking Pepper’s arm. It stung a bit. He thought Pepper didn’t like PDA.
Rhodey and Tony tried to find their own rhythm as a couple, but it was a bit stiff. The only romantic touch they did that didn’t make Tony want to crawl out of his skin was Rhodey settling a hand on his lower back. Touching romantically just felt wrong. As if it wasn't how it was supposed to happen. Thankfully, they still had their own inside jokes and Tony’s nicknames, so they weren’t that far from believable. They knew each other well enough, and they took of each other well enough, to pass as a couple. Plus, Tony could brag about the fact they lived together to Pepper. Take that keys Pepper and May exchanged.
“You know, when you told me you and Jim got together I was a little surprised but I don’t really get why,” Pepper said out of the blue.
“What d’ya mean, Pep?” Tony asked.
“Well, I always thought there was something going on between you. The way Jim used to look at you and the way you used to crave Jim’s attention. It was probably part of the reason why you and I didn’t get together sooner. That and the fact that you were my boss.”
Rhodey and Tony suddenly didn’t look at each other. Rhodey retracted his hand from Tony’s back. They were both blushing. Tony didn’t expect to be exposed about his old crush on Rhodey when he signed up for this.
Thankfully, May noticed the tension and changed the subject. But Tony and Rhodey didn’t even bother acting like a couple again.
~~~
Later, they both settled in for a movie, and Tony decided to address the elephant in the room. “So, you used to have crush on me, huh?”
“Yeah,” Rhodey admitted, “but what Pepper was talking about, that was a long time ago.”
Tony couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed. “Yeah,” Tony repeated after Rhodey, “no lingering feelings on both sides, right?”
“Right,” Rhodey agreed.
But Rhodey wasn’t looking at him. Could it maybe be that...?
Tony let his head drop on Rhodey’s shoulder. At first, Rhodey tensed, his shoulders squaring, but then he relaxed, let it happen, leaned his forehead against Tony’s head. “This is really unfair, you know, with me having trouble moving away.”
Tony looked his right in the eye, titling Rhodey’s chin with his finger to get to stare into the eyes he fell in love with all the way back in MIT. “Are you complaining?”
Rhodey shut his eyes instinctively and leaned in, until their lips were touching, “no, not complaining at all.”
