#ironhusbandsweek

[blancheludis]

@ironhusbandsweek @rhfenovemberbash Day 6: Laundry Day, “I’m in love - holy shit.”

Fandom: Marvel, Iron Man Characters: Tony Stark/James “Rhodey” Rhodes Tags: Dorks in Love, Fluff, Family, Established Relationship, Domestic Words: 3.165

Summary: It takes doing the laundry for Tony to realize he is completely, irrevocably in love with Rhodey. Who knew that the way to Tony Stark's heart is to teach him how to wash his clothes. 

---

Doing the laundry has lost its terror at some point over the past year. Now, Tony handles laundry day like a professional instead of the lost boy who grew up with a butler taking care of all that for him. That is naturally only possible because of Rhodey.

With a fond smile, Tony looks at the framed list hanging over their washing machine that Rhodey wrote him after Tony completely ruined the first load of clothes he ever washed. Tony does not need it anymore, but he likes to look at it, likes to think back to their beginnings.

It has a set of rules on it as well as a helpful drawing to remind him where the detergent goes. Never mix colours. Don’t cook wool. Your suit needs to be handwashed. And Tony’s personal favourite, although he never quite adhered to it, doing the laundry does not give you an excuse to steal my clothes.

It is just fact that Rhodey’s clothes are far more comfortable than his own, especially because Tony is drowning in them. That makes it much easier to huddle up and pretend that the world cannot touch him. The world, of course, is not as frightening anymore since Rhodey stepped into his life.

Humming, Tony opens the washing machine and beings sorting the laundry. If anyone told him even four years ago that he would do such a menial task without complaining, even with a smile of his face, he would have declared them insane. They do not even have a cleaning service, although that was an argument Rhodey only barely won. He is so adamant on not overdoing things. His condition for sharing an apartment was that they would equally split the costs.

One of Rhodey’s hoodies comes up, and it is an automatic reaction to raise it to his nose and inhale. It smells of the expensive aftershave Tony always keeps in stock. Underneath that, it is undeniable Rhodey’s.

Warmth spreads through Tony’s chest as he smiles down at the fabric. He is going to hurry up to get the machine working and then he will join Rhodey upstairs on the couch. They both have work to do, but that can wait. All Tony wants is to share Rhodey’s space, which truly is the only thing that feels like home.

Suddenly, he goes very still as a thought pierces his mind familiar but equal parts unbidden.

“I’m in love –” Tony says, testing the words in a hoarse voice. Then, even more heartfelt, “Holy shit.”

The realization is as monumental as it is unsurprising. Something shifts inside Tony, moving from relaxed and happy to a new panic, a new fear of doing something wrong.

This is big. It changes everything – well, not how Tony feels and not that he preferably wants to spend the rest of his life with Rhodey, not that he is the happiest when the first and last thing he sees every day is Rhodey.

It is true. He is in love.

Abandoning the half-filled washing machine, Tony rushes back upstairs, taking two stairs at once, and bursts into their living room slightly out of breath. Rhodey is sitting on the couch exactly where Tony left him. He looks up at the sudden noise, curious and smiling.

Tony takes him in and wonders how he could have been so blind. “Rhodey,” he says and exhales, trying to calm himself down. “I love you.”

That has Rhodey sitting up straighter. “I – love you too,” he says automatically. Then a small frown takes over his face. “Did something happen? Don’t tell me you ruined the clothes again. My favourite shirt was in there.”

Laughter rises in Tony’s throat that he fears could sound distinctly hysterical, so he swallows it down.

“The machine is not even on yet,” he reassures Rhodey. He cannot yet move but stays where he is, staring as if he has never seen Rhodey before. Not like this.

“Shirking your chores?” Rhodey asks, unsurprised, despite Tony having made a lot of noise about going downstairs to make sure Rhodey knows he is not, for once, forgetting all about his chores. “You know I’m not going to do everything.”

There is a hint of their familiar banter in Rhodey’s tone, and Tony throws himself at it, desperate to calm his thoughts.

“I always said we should hire a cleaning service,” he grumbles, unable to pull his lips into the appropriate pout.

As expected, Rhodey shakes his head. “Not going to happen.”

Since Tony does not want to argue, that is that. He still stands in the doorway to their living room, rooted to the ground, unsure what to do with his realization. Finally, he manages to take a little step forward, eyes still bearing into Rhodey.

“I’m in love with you,” Tony says, feeling winded from just allowing the words out.

Rhodey straightens further and it is almost painful to see. “That’s what we just said.”

Hesitating only for a moment, he pats the couch next to him in an obvious invitation for Tony to join him. It is ridiculously hard to get his feet moving. He should invade Rhodey’s space without even thinking about it, revelling in what should be the best feeling. Instead, he shuffles slowly closer, sinking onto the couch with a good few feet of distance between Rhodey and him.

Only once he has settled does Rhodey ask, “Is everything all right, Tones?”

“No,” Tony answers immediately, shaking his head for good measure if only because it allows him to take his eyes off Rhodey’s frown. “We said I love you.”

Rhodey opens his mouth and closes it again, looking at Tony with some frustration. “Yeah, well, that’s what it means.”

Tony is not even sure why he makes such a drama out of this. Obviously, he is the only one who has stumbled over this thought. He loves Rhodey, of course he does. He has loved Rhodey almost from the very beginning, ignoring their first epic arguments

Helplessly, he points out, “We said that before we started dating.”

He had shied away from it at first, unsure whether anyone had told him that before. Love, in Howard’s opinion, just makes people weak. His mother might have whispered it to him when he was younger, but she was not there often enough for Tony to remember. With Jarvis it had at least been implied, but there was never enough room for open declarations between them. But Rhodey had fallen into Tony’s life and turned it upside down, just like that.

Clearing his throat, Rhodey looks at him seriously. “What are you trying to say?”

He sounds like he is steeling himself for bad news, like Tony would come up here, tell him he is in love and then leave, or something equally as impossible.

Tony reaches out and offers his hand, not hiding his relief when Rhodey takes it without hesitation. “I just realized that I’m in love with you. Like for real.”

In his head, that makes sense. Love, in love. There is a distinction, surely. Tony loves his mother. He loves Jarvis. He just does not love them like he does Rhodey. Obviously, he does not love his family romantically, but that is not quite what he is going for here either. It is more this realization that Rhodey is everything to him.

“Tones?” Rhodey says quietly, ripping Tony out of his thoughts. “That’s what we were doing this whole time, yes? Being in love, starting a relationship. Moving in together.”

“Yes, but – I don’t know.” Put like that, Tony should have known this much sooner. “I was looking at your laundry instructions and then I thought about how you didn’t like me when we first met, but then we became friends anyway, and then I knew I loved you, and now I know I’m in love with you.”

Rhodey’s hold on his hand does not go lax but the quality of it shifts, like Rhodey is only holding on for Tony’s sake for now and not because he wants to.

“Only now?” Rhodey asks, almost toneless.

“I – no,” Tony protests quickly. The last thing he wants is to push Rhodey away with this. “I’ve obviously been feeling this for a while now, but I never realized what it means.”

This whole, encompassing thing that has taken control of his life, has made him smile and feel safe and wait fondly for the future to take them with it. All of Tony’s life has been coloured by some form of trepidation, but Rhodey has taken most of that away. As long as they are together, they can tackle everything, every obstacle fate has in store for them.

“So it’s a good thing?” Rhodey inquires, still as quiet but not as withdrawn anymore.

“Definitely,” Tony hurries to say and is rewarded by Rhodey squeezing his hand and appearing much more present again through it. Relief has a smile pushing on Tony’s face and he does not fight it. “It’s the best thing,” he says firmly. “It’s – how was I supposed to know that this is what it feels like?”

Too gentle for a conversation like this, after Tony almost messed everything up, Rhodey asks, “What does it feel like?”

Tony startles, unsure how to pack that into words. This lightness that makes everything possible, coexisting with the weight on his chest that keeps him easily on the ground. The tingling in his fingertips when he thinks about touching Rhodey. The smile that comes completely unbidden to his face. The pure joy he feels when the first thing he sees in the morning is Rhodey, and the last thing he hears at night is Rhodey’s breathing. The way he sometimes thinks their hearts must be beating in sync for all that he feels like Rhodey is a part of him.

“Like I really, really never want to spend a single day without you. Like I’m only complete when I’m with you.” Tony stops briefly, then shrugs, “Like I’m –in love.”

Rhodey’s shoulders sag but it does not appear to be a bad thing. “All right.”

“What?” Tony asks, suddenly afraid. “Is it different for you?”

He still might have ruined everything. Someone once called him emotionally stumped but he did not believe them because he always felt everything too much, unable to escape the maelstrom of feelings inside him. Perhaps he is feeling all the wrong things, though. Perhaps he is wrong in thinking this is good.

“No,” Rhodey says but sounds pensive. “It’s just, well, I’ve been feeling that for a while.”

That should be a happy statement, but it feels defected, somehow.

“And you had a name for it?” Tony asks, his voice small. He squashes down the urge to take his hand back, to hide away, panic already lurking at the edges of his mind. It is a miracle how he manages to mess up all the good things in his life.

“I’ve told you every day,” Rhodey says. Thankfully, his voice does not hold any accusation. “And you told me right back.”

“And I meant it,” Tony hurries to say. No matter today’s revelation, he has always loved Rhodey. “I just never realized how monumental that feeling is.”

For a minute, neither of them says anything. The silence gets tense enough that Tony is sure he will not be able to breathe if it goes on any longer. All the while, Rhodey is staring at something only he can see. His eyes are on Tony but they are vacant as he tries to make sense of what Tony told him.

Finally, he nods and tugs at Tony’s hand, but not like he wants Tony to let go.

“Come here, Tones,” Rhodey says, sounding gentle.

It is too much. Tony’s mind is racing as he is trying to gauge Rhodey’s mood. He is not angry, but beyond that Tony cannot tell. Disappointment and sadness and indifference can all hide very easily behind a calm face. Tony would never know.

Straightening, Tony points in the vague direction of the basement with his free hand. “I need to take care of the laundry,” he says, even though he is too terrified to move. Perhaps he just wants to give Rhodey a way out.

“I don’t care about our clothes,” Rhodey replies, still too calm. “I want to hold you.”

Tony wants to believe that, he truly does. He is prone to worry, though, and unable to take anything at face value, thanks to growing up with practices liars.

“Didn’t you want me to tell you?” Tony asks slowly, the words almost refusing to be said out loud.

“Of course, I did,” Rhodey reassures him easily. “It’s just still surprising to see how slow you can be for a genius. I just want to be close to you.”

They are all right. The realization slams into Tony with enough force to make him slump over. This time when Rhodey tugs at his hand, Tony follows willingly, desperate to have Rhodey’s arms around him so he does not have to keep himself upright on his own.

They are not just all right, they are in love. Tony did not mess up by realizing it this late. His heart is still beating wildly and he feels exhausted as if he has just come down from a three-day working binge, but Rhodey’s embrace feels better than ever before. He breathes in Rhodey’s scent, which is much more potent than on the hoodie down in the laundry room but just as welcoming. He is home.  

“We don’t have anything planned for tonight,” Tony mutters against Rhodey’s chest, feeling new courage inside him. “We could just go to bed.”

A chuckle has tremors running through Rhodey’s body. “It’s ten in the morning.”

Elation at having skirted disaster so closely, or at least that is how Tony feels, has him light-hearted, full of brazen giddiness.

“Don’t tell me you’re already too old for a sex marathon,” Tony says, lifting his head enough to stare at Rhodey. “If so, I have to reconsider that whole in love thing.”

Rhodey grins but says, “You won’t.”

They are both perfectly aware of that. Tony might make a sport out of keeping people at a distance, but once they are close, he clings to them with all his might.

“No?” he asks anyway. “Why not?”

“Because anybody else would have kicked your ass for ruining their clothes on a regular basis,” Rhodey replies dryly. And that is just the first reason that comes to mind. Tony could recite a dozen more without ever thinking too hard about it. “Without my laundry instructions you’d be utterly lost.”

It has certainly saved dozens of innocent pieces of clothing as well as Tony’s dignity. “I am perfectly able of washing my clothes by now,” Tony still argues. He is smart, after all. He can learn.

“And there are still a hundred regular things you can’t do,” Rhodey says with an impossible amount of fondness.

Tony disentangles himself from Rhodey without letting go completely. “Is that why you’re here?” he asks, looking Rhodey over critically. “Because you inherited your mum’s deep-seated wish to mother someone and I’m just the easiest victim?”

Rhodey grins as he shrugs. “I take that as a compliment because my mum is awesome.”

“That she is,” Tony agrees easily. The entire Rhodes family has a special place in his heart. “So are you, by the way.”

“Good that we established that.” Rhodey nods like he has not expected anything else. “Now come here.”

“Nope.” Still too elated, Tony jumps to his feet and tries, fruitlessly, to pull Rhodey up with him. “Bed.”

Tony knows how he must look, grinning and overeager and more than a little manic. Still, he is disappointed when Rhodey hesitates.

“We can’t go to bed,” Rhodey argues. He most likely even has a barrage of arguments for that. Arguments that will make sense if only Tony listens to them. So Tony does not.

“Oh, we can,” he counters, laughing. “And I will.”

He lets go of Rhodey’s hand and takes a few steps back. He reaches for the first button of his shirt, very aware of the way Rhodey’s eyes follow his movements.

“What about the laundry?” Rhodey asks in a clear attempt to ground himself. As if he does not know that he will lose that battle.

“You just said that’s not important,” Tony answers dismissively. Then, in an entirely too sweet tone, he adds, “And I can take care of that while you’re resting since you’re apparently not up to that marathon.”

Rhodey is older than him by a few years, although it could be a dozen considering how much more mature he can be if he wants to. They are balancing each other quite nicely.

“You little –” Rhodey mutters but does not get any farther because Tony hits him in the head with his shirt before quickly walking towards their bedroom.

“I can’t hear you, platypus,” he calls cheekily. “You should come closer.”

To give him credit, Rhodey is not yet moving, although his hands are buried in Tony’s shirt. “It’s ten,” he protests, despite knowing it is futile. “In the morning.”

Tony is in the hallway by now but sticks his head back into the living room while he kicks off his trousers. “Don’t be a spoilsport.”

That has Rhodey getting to his feet, although his attempt to look stern fails horribly. “Don’t leave your clothes all over the floor.”

Walking down the hallway towards their bedroom, Tony says, “You can pick them up while you follow me to bed.”

There is a beat of silence, in which Tony can imagine Rhodey sighing to himself, pretending he is still fighting.

“You are a terrible influence,” Rhodey says and already sounds closer, coming towards Tony.

“And you are an angel,” Tony calls back as he gets into their bed room, letting himself fall onto the mattress. “Who is about to have sex at ten on a Sunday.”

He turns onto his back, props himself up on his elbows and grins at the door. It takes Rhodey only a second to appear, clutching Tony’s clothes to his chest as if that is truly the only reason he got up from the couch.

“How can I make you stop talking?” Rhodey asks, but he is smiling too.

Stretching, Tony nods down at himself. “I can think of a way or two.”

“Funny,” Rhodey says and lets the clothes fall to the ground without so much as a glance. “So do I.”

Tony does get to do the laundry that day, although it is significantly later than planned, and he is much less put together, half-naked and dreaming of the man he loves, who is waiting for him to come back to bed.

Life is good, he decides. Who would have thought that the way to Tony Stark’s heart is through teaching him how to do the laundry?

#ironhusbandsweek #rhfe #RhodeyTonyNovemberBash #rhodeytony #ironhusbands #tony stark #rhodey #laundry day #dorks in love #love #family #established relationship #miscommunication #fluff #my writing #ao3

[ironhusbandsweek]

IronHusbands Week ~ Sept. 8th - Sept. 14th!

Welcome to Ironhusbands Week, Iron babes! 

This will run between September 8th and September 14th. Each day, three prompts will be given: one dialogue line and two word prompts. Feel free to participate on any day you like. You can choose from any three or combine all the prompts within your work. You don’t have to combine the prompts though! The level of inclusion is up to you, the creator. 

If you have an AO3 account, submit your work to the Ironhusbands Week 2019 AO3 Collection. 

The prompts are:

Sept. 8: Stranded / “You keep me going.” / Beginnings & Endings

Sept. 9: Magic / “Why are you so stubborn?” / Surprise Party

Sept. 10: Pineapples / “You know what you’re doing, right?” / Height Difference

Sept. 11: Alien warship / “I’m always going to protect you.” / Recovering Together

Sept. 12: Sabotage / “Are you jealous?” / Friends to Lovers 

Sept. 13: Laundry day / “I’m in love...holy shit.” / Proposal

Sept. 14: Steampunk / “You’re not invincible.” / Forbidden Love

Anything created for Ironhusbands Week will all be reblogged and a masterpost will be created with all creations within two weeks after the week has ended!

Make sure to tag both @ironhusbandsweek and @rhfenovemberbash on your posts and use a mix of these tags #ironhusbandweek, #IHW2019, #RhodeyTonyNovemberBash and #rhodeytony, #rhfe, or #tonyrhodey.  

We look forward to seeing all your wonderful creations! 

<3

#ironhusbandsweek #IHW2019 #RhodeyTonyNovemberBash #rhodeytony #tonyrhodey #rhfe #ironhusbands #fandom events

[forlorn-kumquat]

Chapters: 1/1Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man (Movies)Rating: General AudiencesWarnings: No Archive Warnings ApplyRelationships: James "Rhodey" Rhodes & Tony StarkCharacters: James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Tony StarkAdditional Tags: brief appearance by Rocket Racoon, Kidnapping, Hurt/Comfort, Lost in the Woods, Stranded, MIT EraSeries: Part 1 of Ironhusbands WeekSummary:

Escaping their kidnappers was easy. Now Rhodey and Tony have to find their way out of the woods.

#James Rhodes #Tony Stark #Iron Husbands #ironhusbandsweek #kumquat writes

[polizwrites]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Iron Man (Movies) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: James "Rhodey" Rhodes & Tony Stark Characters: James Rhodes, Tony Stark Additional Tags: Post-Avengers (2012), Battle Scene, Magical Creature Summary: Jim Rhodes joins the Avengers in fighting a magical creature and takes a pivotal role in saving the day.

Finally getting my first fill in for  the @ironhusbands bingo - Square N9 - Attacked by a Creature.  This is also a fill for  @ironhusbandsweek - Monday 9/9 - the “Magic”  prompt.  

Hoping to produce a few more short fics this week for the RhFe Challenge and get a few more bingo squares done as well!  

#Writing Stuff #Fanfic #MCU/Marvel #Tony & Rhodey BroTP #ironhusbandsweek #rhfe #magic and monsters #Shameless Self Promo

[areiton]

outside voices

Written for @ironhusbandsweek & @rhfenovemberbash. Prompt: you keep me going. 

Author note: I actually adore Rhodey’s family pseudo-adopting Tony but this kinda sunk it’s teeth in and wouldn’t let go. Also, I know Riri Williams isn’t Rhodey’s cousin but I read a headcanon and liked it so here we have her. 

~*~*~*~ 

That boy will only bring you trouble. 

Mama says it and Rhodey stares at her, young and full of optimism. 

He watches the skinny white boy standing awkward in a sea of black cousins and kinky hair. He wonders if it's too late, to walk away away from this family reunion.

••

His cousin sidles up to him when the sun starts setting. Tony is sitting on the grass, a circle of space around him in a crowded yard. Riri is in his lap, watching with big eyes as he tinkers. 

Gonna break that mower. Boys like him break things, Chantel says. 

He might, Rhodey thinks. But he'll fix it, if he does. 

Tony always fixes it. 

••

They don't understand really, and he doesn't know why it bothers him. Tones is a good kid and the whole family treats him with a kind of wary caution. 

Rich white boy like that don't belong here. That from his uncle, the one who spent a month in jail and missed his daughter's graduation. Jim doesn't put much stock in that uncle but Mama says every family has one. 

He thinks maybe Tony's family doesn't. He thinks maybe they don't have much at all, and that's why Tony looks so confused, so desperate to slot into place and still painfully out of sync with his giant family. 

••

You take care of yourself before you take care of him, Jimmy. 

His father's eyes are sharp, but kind, watching Tony and Riri. 

Jim doesn't reassure him. He can't. He thinks maybe that's why the whole family is so worried. 

••

Riri clings to Tony when it's time to leave, skinny arms wrapped around his neck and Jim pulls her off, shoves Tony in the car. 

Bring him back, Rhodey, she orders. 

He kisses her and promises her he will and realizes as he does--she uses the name Tony gave him, the one his family hates, the one that feels like him more than any other. 

He kisses her and slips in next to his skinny white boy with his burnt red nose and everything his family said falls away. 

Except Riri's demand and imperious smile. 

~~~~

He makes me happy, he tells his mama, and her eyes are thin and angry. He walks away from her, away from her concern and distrust, pulls Tony into his arms and Tony smiles, bright and shy, as he looks up, and takes Rhodey’s kiss like it’s his due. 

••

He held me together, at MIT, he tells Chantel when she glares across the yard. Tony glances up, a smirk on his lips and the lawnmower roars to life, louder and better than ever. Half the family is screaming. Rhodey scoops him up, and Tony’s arms around his neck feel like the best kind of tether, his smile brighter than any fireworks.

••

He’s my family, Rhodey says. He belongs here more than you do. His uncle takes a swing at him and his brother is muttering curses as he puts ice on Rhodey’s eye, but he doesn’t care, doesn’t care, because Tony belongs where Rhodey is, will always belong where Rhodey is. 

••

He listens to his Daddy. He doesn’t mean any harm, he doesn’t think. He just doesn’t understand. 

None of them do. He didn’t. But. We take care of each other, he says, and his father looks at him. We keep each other goin’. Isn’t that what people in love do?

••

Riri’s order is ringing in his ears, still, months later, and Tony is waiting, patient, beautiful, fire warm and tired by the car and he leans down, scoops her into his arms, this one cousin who loves Tony, who doesn’t question him and Rhodey and why they make sense. She squirms, squishing leftover pumpkin pie in between them and Tony laughs, low and amused and he doesn’t hear Rhodey whisper to her, I’m gonna marry him. 

#ironhusbands #tony stark #james rhodes #rhodeytony

[rhfenovemberbash]

@ironhusbandsweek has all the info for Ironhusbands Week—make sure to check them out and tag all your work with #ironhusbandsweek and #rhodeytonynovemberbash 💜

#rhodeytony #tony stark #james rhodes #war machine #iron man #rhfe #tonyrhodey #ironhusbands

[ivoryblush]

Day 2: Surprise Party 

It’s Tony’s Birthday!

Check it out and enjoy!

@ironhusbandsweek @rhfenovemberbash

#ironhusbands week 2019 #ironhusbands #fan fic #tony stark #tony stark fic #mcu #mcu fic #fanfic #rhodeytony #tonyrhodey #this was too short #but hey #i'm trying #i may take a break from the next two to work on a later one with more detail #let's see what happens

[lesty-xx]

Touch My Hand, It's Nice to Have a Friend

This is my fic for IronHusbands Week! 

Thank you @ironhusbandsweek​ and @rhfenovemberbash​ so much for organising this, I had loads of fun!

Read it here!!

Details under the cut =D

Touch My Hand, It's Nice to Have a Friend

Rhodey eyed the pineapple sceptically. "You know what you’re doing, right?”

Tony scoffed, tinkering with the giant ray gun that would put a Doofenshmirtz 'Inator' to shame. "Of course I know what I’m doing, this is me we’re talking about here.”

Tony did not, in fact, know what he was doing.

-- Words: 9637, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Marvel 616, Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel) - All Media Types Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: Gen, M/M Characters: Tony Stark, James “Rhodey” Rhodes, Stephen Strange, Carol Danvers, Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Emma Frost Relationships: James "Rhodey" Rhodes/Tony Stark, Carol Danvers & Tony Stark Additional Tags: Fluff, Mutual Pining, Shrinking, Overzealous Shrinking Pop-Culture References, Carol Danvers is the mvp, Emma Frost deserves better Prompt(s) used:  Sep 10 - Pineapples / “You know what you’re doing, right?” / Height Difference

#ironhusbandweek #IHW2019 #RhodeyTonyNovemberBash #rhodeytony #rhfe #tonyrhodey

[blancheludis]

@ironhusbandsweek @rhfenovemberbash Day 5: “Are you jealous?”

Fandom: MCU, Avengers, Iron Man Characters: Tony Stark/James “Rhodey” Rhodes, Clint Barton, Steve Rogers, Pepper Potts Tags: Secret Marriage, Fluff, Humor, Love Words: 2.592

Summary: "Are you jealous?" Tony asks as he downs the champagne Rhodey hands him automatically. "Why do I have the feeling you want me to say yes?" Because then they'd have a reason to leave the Avengers party and make the night much more enjoyable for themselves.

- Rhodey and Tony are secretly married - right up until Rhodey blurts out their secret in the middle of an Avengers party. Nobody wants to believe that someone managed to make Tony Stark settle down, but they are gkad to set the Avengers straight.

---

Tony is breathless. Every once in a while, the Avengers throw a party for friends and influential people to mingle with them. Well, Tony throws the party and makes sure it becomes a success because the only other person on the team who knows how to entertain people is Natasha. The rest are more or less only good at one-on-one talks or shuffling around in the corner failing at not looking overwhelmed.

These are, admittedly, grand affairs. Steve, at least, should be used to them. The USO threw parties where he was the glittering guest of honour, and propaganda does not work half as well when the mascot does not follow the tune.

Tony was even holding back. The Avengers parties are orderly and dignified. He has organized wilder things from his dorm room without the funds and influence he has available to him today.

It does not matter much. People are happy talking to their heroes even if they appear too shy to get dragged onto the dancing floor or get drunk just for the fun of it. Natasha surely uses the evening to gather intel on every important guest, and Tony has seen Bruce discussing business with several other scientists. Barton looks like he would prefer crawling around the air shafts, although he should be used to the attention as a former circus performer. Steve sits next to him, nursing his champagne as if he is in any danger of getting tipsy from it.

While he is leading the wife of one of his shareholders over the dance floor, Tony sees Rhodey sitting down at the Avengers table, looking satisfied enough that he must have found someone to tell his stories too.

When the song comes to an end, Tony bows with a dazzling smile and delivers the woman right back into her husband’s hands, exchanging the needed compliments before he excuses himself. He needs a break and a drink – and possibly an excuse to sneak out of here. Parties are nice, and his parties are the best, but there are places he would much rather be.

Not stopping on his way despite several people trying to get his attention, Tony makes a beeline for the Avengers table and lets himself fall into the seat next to Rhodey with a long-suffering sigh. Without comment, Rhodey hands his glass over, which Tony drains gratefully.

Already far more content, Tony sets the glass down and grins up at Rhodey. His mere presence has him more relaxed.

“Are you jealous, buttercup?” Tony asks, nodding at the dancing floor as if he has done a great feat out there.

Rhodey’s expression becomes playful as he leans closer. “I have the feeling you want me to say yes.”

In a way, that is exactly what Tony wants. Then, they could make up an excuse and he could show Rhodey just why he does not have to be jealous and why Tony thinks he is the luckiest man alive.

Tony is happy to continue the banter, but in his single-minded mission to get back to Rhodey, he forgot that Clint and Steve are still present too.

“Why would Rhodes be jealous of you?” Clint drawls, his frown contrasting with his smirk. Contrary to their dear Captain, he is well on his way to being drunk. “There’s plenty of good-looking women around. And some of them are even unmarried, unlike the ones Tony is apparently going for.”

Tony has been dancing with a never-ending line of women, but he has not yet seen one that would be desirable for him.

“Her?” he asks and shrugs dismissively. He has already forgotten what she looked like. “Never. She spent the whole dance telling me about some old lady’s society. I didn’t get a single word in.”

He has not actually tried to, mostly because his thoughts were elsewhere. Worse than simply nodding at the right places would be to offer a comment on a completely different ttopic than whatever she was droning on about. Tony has learnt that the hard way.

Clint guffaws in disbelief. “Because you’re so shy when it comes to talking up?”

Turning to look at Clint, Tony schools his impression into something very unimpressed. It does get tiresome to have his virtues doubted constantly, although he should take it as a compliment for his acting skills.

“Depends on who I’m talking to,” Tony says, almost a snub. “I definitely would’ve said something if she had wanted a second dance.”

It already feels like he has danced with everyone in the room except for the one he actually wants to. That is a thing he knows by heart, however.

Clint’s frown deepens. “Then why the jealousy thing?” he asks, almost like he thinks Rhodey needs someone to protect him. From Tony. That is hilarious in its own right.

Feeling his grin broaden, Tony throws a glance at Rhodey, silently asking for permission. Rhodey appears just as amused, just as ready to mess with the Avengers a bit.

“I was asking whether he was jealous of her,” Tony says slowly, carefully intoning each word to make sure his friends understand him correctly.

Thankfully, Clint takes the bait. Behind him, even Steve looks interested, taking his eyes off the party around them to watch the spectacle right here at their table.

“Of what?” Clint asks, and it would not have surprised anyone had he added full offense to it.

Tony opens his arms a bit, almost presenting himself up for inspection. “Getting her hands all over me,” he says like it should be obvious. “She definitely got a feel in.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Clint mutters, then turns towards Rhodey. “I don’t get how you can stand this guy.”

“We make do,” Rhodey says. He is still smiling, but there is a dangerous edge to it that neither Clint nor Steve seem to notice because they both nod like it is reasonable to do so. “For the record, I’m always jealous when someone’s touching my husband when I’m not.”

While Tony’s smile brightens immediately like it always does when Rhodey calls him his husband, their audience takes a little longer to realize what has been said.

“That’s not –” Clint starts before he breaks off abruptly, eyes bulging. “Wait, what?”

In turn, Steve leans forward, the mild amusement on his face replaced by puzzlement. “Husband?” he asks as if he has difficulties fitting his tongue around the word.

Never once taking his eyes completely off his friends, Tony turns towards Rhodey, just barely suppressing the urge to take his hand. “Way to spring the news, platypus,” he drawls, seemingly unaffected.

They do not need to know that his heart is beating wildly as he hopes this will go over well. A lot of people have disapproved of Tony in his life, but very few know of his relationship with Rhodey. Pepper, Happy, Rhodey’s family. Jarvis did. And now the Avengers. It is none of their business, but Tony values their opinion nonetheless.

“You didn’t tell them?” Rhodey asks mildly as if he did not know. This is mostly a ploy to give Clint and Steve some time to mull this over. And to subtly make it clear that Tony did not trust them with his secret.

Tony shrugs. “Don’t tell me I should have.”

That probably says all about how long Tony expects this whole hero thing to last. How secure he feels in his place among the Avengers. How much he allows himself to trust them off the battlefield.

Steve has the decency to look slightly ashamed, even though the confusion has not completely disappeared from his face.

“Can we go back to when Rhodes called you his husband?” Clint speaks up. He does not sound accusing but more like he has smelled blood and wants to make the most of it.

“What of it?” Tony asks, sounding a bit snappish. “It’s been some decades. The official timeline varies, since we’ve had several ceremonies.”

Rhodey takes initiative then and reaches out to take Tony’s hand. They are practiced in hiding this under tables, but for Clint and Steve it is a very obvious gesture.

“Tony is fond of vows,” Rhodey explains solemnly, eyes gleaming with amused fondness. “He’s cried every single time.”

That he has, and he is not ashamed of it. Family has always been what Tony longed for the most, and Rhodey gave him that despite all evidence that he would be better off without a trouble magnet like Tony in his life.

“As if you’ve been any better,” Tony shoots back, squeezing Rhodey’s hand where nobody can see. He has half a mind to relocate this age-old argument to somewhere they are not watched. Surely, they have been sociable enough for the evening.

Rhodey squeezes back, which Tony interprets as a call for patience. They cannot tell such news and then disappear to leave the Avengers to deal alone with the aftermath.

“I didn’t cry during the Vegas ceremony,” Rhodey argues, as if this one time could make up for all the others.

Turning to him, Tony raises his eyebrows, trying to keep in his laughter. “But only because you were too worried about someone barging in.”

“The police were chasing us,” Rhodey drawls as if Tony could ever forget that fact. “Of course, I was worried.”

That was a glorious day. The priest had been very disapproving, interpreting their undue hurry for youthful ignorance instead of the very real worry of getting arrested. Well, that and the fact that Tony paid a whole lot of money for him to ignore that they were two men.

“And nothing happened,” Tony shrugs, still feeling that same exhilarating relief whenever he thinks back to that night. “Apart from wedding number three.”

“Four,” Rhodey counters without missing a beat.

That startles Tony enough to wholly face Rhodey instead of watching Clint and Steve, still waiting for an unfavourably reaction. “What?”

With a small, devilish grin, Rhodey explains, “I totally count your emotional breakdown during finals when you were clinging to me and demanded I promise to never leave you.”

In Tony’s defence, that was a dark time. They were nearing the end of their college years, so Tony was naturally afraid that Rhodey would go off and forget all about him. The alcohol might have made him overreact a bit.

Tony thinks about arguing, but then he shrugs. “That’s probably fair,” he says, “but that was before the first wedding.”

Looking even more amused, Rhodey nods. “You made up for it with your vows.”

No one can say that alcohol steals Tony’s eloquence. What he remembers from that night is a very heartfelt speech and a never-ending litany of love confessions. He is a romantic at heart.

“I don’t know what’s happening,” Steve says, keeping Tony from continuing the argument, although he has a dozen examples of Rhodey being even cheesier than him.

As one, they turn around to look at Steve, who is looking back like they are something fascinating, a never before seen species.

“We are married, Capsicle,” Tony says shortly, wondering whether he has miscalculated and this will be a problem. “Even officially by now. Did it as soon as it was legal. Been together since MIT.” Smiling back at Rhodey, he adds, “Best decision of my life.”

“But you’re –” Clint gestures at Tony like his hand is going to make his point for him. Well, you.”

That is always the argument people bring up once they are over the fact that Tony Stark is apparently bisexual. Who would settle down with him? Who would suffer his insanities and moods? Was there not someone better available, even with the money and the company?

“I know,” Tony replies sharply, tightening his hold on Rhodey’s hand. “I realize I’m very lucky Rhodey took me. That’s why we’re renewing our vows every year.”

Steve still looks lost, glancing at Rhodey. “And you’re –”

“What, Captain?” Rhodey straightens, his face losing its smile. He means business now. “What is your problem? That we’re both men?”

Tony would love to watch Rhodey tear into Steve, but they are still in public, still have a party going on around them. They do not have time for a scene.

“No, platypus,” Tony argues sweetly, shifting slightly to block the direct line of sight between Rhodey and Steve. “I think he can’t get his head around someone wanting me.”

That is the easiest way of diverting Rhodey’s attention back to him. Anyone doubting Tony or talking ill of him might land directly on Rhodey’s shit list, but his fist priority will always be Tony’s well-being.

“That’s very short-sighted of him,” Rhodey says with a definitive warning in his voice even while he looks only at Tony. “You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

They are playing it up for their audience, the smiles and sickly sweet voices, but they also mean every word they say. Tony has given up on doubting Rhodey’s love at some point during their third year together. It is easier this way, and much more fulfilling.

“What about Pepper?” Steve asks, not yet done with making things worse for himself.

Sighing quietly, Tony turns around. “I asked her to marry me about a month after she started working for me,” he says and leaves it at that, knowing they will not hear anything beyond this for now.

“So you’re like –” Clint asks, pointing between the two of them and Pepper who is across the room, talking to some of the guests.

“We love her,” Tony says firmly. “Platonic soulmates and all that. Marrying her would’ve been a good alibi, but then buttercup and I could do the real thing instead of just promising our eternal love in the secrecy of our dorm room.”

Pepper had been very gracious about the whole thing. She does love them. They are all part of the same family. They are all much happier like this, however.

“Why does nobody know?” Steve questions, still a stranger to secrets.

This time, Clint looks at him with disbelief too. Naivety does not become the leader of the Avengers.

“Military, remember?” Rhodey replies with just a hint of an edge to his tone, almost as if this has not given them so much grief over the years. “It’s easier if nobody knows.”

There are more questions ready to fall from Steve’s lips, but Tony is done with the topic. There are advantages to getting the secret out there so that Rhodey and he do not have to hide in their own home anymore, but he could do without the interrogation.

“Anyway, good talk,” Tony exclaims, showing too many teeth with his smile. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to take my husband for a spin.”

And they do dance. Wild enough and then close enough to turn heads, although nobody seems to interpret the love on their faces for what it is. This is just another normal night under Tony Stark’s roof. They have done this for years, hiding themselves in plain sight.

Since the Avengers know now, they might at least not have to be all secretive at home anymore. Tony is tired of sneaking around, and since Rhodey just clued them in, he probably is too.

It is a good thing because they have made a bet ages ago of how quickly they can make Captain America go red with embarrassment by making out in front of him. Their weekend plans just got all the more interesting.

#ironhusbandsweek #rhfe #RhodeyTonyNovemberBash #ironhusbands #tony stark #rhodey #avengers #2012 avengers #secret marriage #love #fluff #humor #friendship #revelations #married since mit #my writing #ao3

[blancheludis]

@ironhusbandsweek @rhfenovemberbash Day 4: “I’ll always protect you.”

Fandom: Marvel, Iron Man Characters: Tony Stark/James “Rhodey” Rhodes, Howard Stark Tags: Grief, Howard’s A+ Parenting, Love, Emotional H/C, Funeral Words: 4.315

Summary: "Boy," Howard calls over the cemetary, "did you really bring your college fling home?" Rhodey builds himself up, never letting go of Tony's hand. “No, sir,” he says, putting a slight emphasis on sir that could mean anything from a gentle warning that they are in public to an outright threat. “He brought his best friend to the funeral of his other best friend.”

- Jarvis dies and leaves Tony devastated. Rhodey is there to remind him that he is not alone.

---

When Tony does not turn up to the party they promised to meet up at, Rhodey’s first reaction is annoyed fondness. The past weeks were crazy, stuffed to the brim with tests and experiments and some extracurricular projects that Tony was quiet about enough to tell Rhodey they were for Stark Industries.

Things are supposed to calm down now, and the party was a good starting point for that. Rhodey has not seen Tony drink anything alcoholic for over a week, which must be some kind of record.

Dodging dozens of other students, Rhodey makes his way through the house for one last search for Tony. It is not like he needs Tony there to have fun. They do things separately often enough. But if Tony is not here, he is in the lab, where he often forgets all about the time. If Rhodey just leaves him there, he will never hear the end of it.

He could call, although Tony never hears the phone ringing and would not pick up even if he did. He is like that when he is working. It is amusing, at least when Rhodey does not have to walk all over campus to get Tony because of it.

The truth is, he does not have as much fun without Tony. His friends call them sickeningly co-dependant, which he does not mind. He loves spending time with Tony, and they did not have too many chances for that over the past weeks, at least not if it did not involve their classwork. Rhodey wants Tony here, so he goes to find him.

He walks leisurely over to the labs. It does not matter, he thinks, if they do not go back to the party together afterwards. A quiet night together is just as enjoyable, if not more so.

The labs, when he gets there, are dark. No music is turned up loud enough to turn people deaf two floors up.

“Tony?” Rhodey calls nonetheless.

He walks further in and finds no sign of Tony anywhere. Nothing has even changed from the last time they were here together. That is when Rhodey knows something is wrong.

Without further ado, he hurries towards their dorm, wondering where Tony could have gone. It is possible that they missed each other somewhere on the way, that Tony arrived at the party after Rhodey has left. Somehow, Rhodey has a feeling that is not it.

Early into their acquaintance, before they were even friends, Rhodey learned to worry about Tony. No matter how well things seem to be going, there is always another layer, another issue.

Rhodey takes two steps at a time as he hurries up to their floor and then down the hall. The entire house appears deserted. Everybody is glad to have some time to breathe again.

Rushing into their room, Rhodey stops short in the doorway. He was right. Tony is here and something is wrong.

Tony sits on the ground in front of his bed, legs pulled up to his chest, staring at something only he can see. He does not look up when Rhodey comes in, does not even appear to notice. His face is slack, far from the ready mask he hides behind at any time. He looks ready to shatter at one wrong word.

“Tony,” Rhodey says, managing to sound much calmer than he feels. Everything that goes wrong with Tony automatically pushes him into a panic. It is a trained instinct because Tony does not do half-measures.

Slowly, Rhodey walks into the room and crouches down in front of Tony, far enough to not crowd him but close enough to reach out if Tony will allow it.

“What happened?” Rhodey asks and saves all the platitudes laying on his tongue for when he knows what is going on.

Tony winces but it happens slowly. Not like Rhodey’s sudden presence has startled him but like he is fighting to return to the presence. When he finally looks up, his eyes are red-rimmed, with an unhealthy sheen to them.  

He stares at Rhodey like he does not fully register his presence.

“Jarvis,” he then says, slowly, toneless. “He’s –” Tony’s eyes drop as he finishes with a mere whisper, “dead.”

Rhodey stiffens. Of all the problems that ran through his mind on his way over here, death was not one of them. He thought of something they could tackle, something he could make better.

“What?” he asks before he can stop himself. And then, even worse, “How?”  

He wants to reach out, to help keep Tony upright, but he stays carefully back, not sure how Tony would react to a sudden touch.

Staring at the ground in front of him, Tony says, “Cancer. It was in his lungs.” He tries a shrug but is too tense for it. “He told me over Christmas but he said it was under control. And now he’s – he –”

A sob tears itself from Tony’s throat and it might just be the most terrible sound Rhodey has ever heard. Worse, it causes Tony’s composure to crack completely. A well of tears is spilling from his eyes, and he does not reach up to wipe them away as if he does not even notice them.

Not saying anything, Rhodey sidles close and pulls Tony into his arms. The way Tony buries his face against Rhodey’s chest breaks his heart. When he feels the tremors running through Tony’s body, he holds on tighter.

“I’m sorry,” he says, because there is nothing else, nothing to take away the pain of losing someone one loves.

Rhodey knows that Jarvis means a lot to Tony, but he cannot possibly know how much. That would have required them to talk about life at the mansion, about Howard, about how skittish Tony is around people when he is not putting on the full Stark heir act. For all that Rhodey is sure he is Tony’s best and possibly only friend, there is so much that he does not know. He has never insisted on finding out either, because he figured Tony would talk when he is ready, but now he wishes he would know more, if just to make Tony’s burden a little easier to bear.

“I don’t know what to do,” Tony mutters into the by now damp fabric of Rhodey’s shirt, several minutes later.

Helplessly, Rhodey says, “I’m here. Whatever you do, I’m here.”

It is not enough. He knows that before Tony shoots upright again, not quite letting go of Rhodey but bringing some distance between them. He knows it before he sees the expression on Tony’s face close off. He knows that before Tony says a single word.

Loving Tony has always been riddled with trials and errors. Rhodey has always seen that as a good thing because it meant they were one step up from the approachable, eager—to-please mask Tony likes to wear for other people. It also meant hurting each other occasionally. Rhodey likes to believe that is worth it since it allows him to see the real Tony underneath. The soft smiles and tireless genius, but also the nightmares and the flinching away. And now the grief.

“You don’t understand,” Tony says and looks like his tone is supposed to be sharp. It is still full of tears, however, sounding choked. “Jarvis is everything. Without him I wouldn’t be here.” He does not specify whether he means here as in MIT or here as in alive. From how little Rhodey thinks of Howard, it might be both. “He stood up to Howard, he made me laugh, he told me it doesn’t matter if my designs don’t work on the first try or if they’re even useless. He was always there.”

It looks like Tony has more to say, but his voice gives out. His lips keep moving for a moment, giving way to more heartbreak.

“I’m always going to protect you, Tones,” Rhodey says. He does not know where the words are coming from, but he means them with every fibre of his being.

Tony looks at him, glassy-eyed and uncomprehending. “What?”

There is no going back now, even if Rhodey wanted to.

“I can’t replace Jarvis. I can’t make it stop hurting,” he says and hates it, hates that he cannot lessen Tony’s pain. “But I can take over his job of protecting you.”

They do not talk after that. Tony sinks back into Rhodey’s arms, allowing himself to be had. That, he supposes, is answer enough, and Rhodey is glad for it. He is not sure how to keep his promise for Tony is a wildcard, tripping over everyday things while remaining unmoved by the greater despairs of life. Sometimes it seems like Tony thinks everything is fixable except for himself.

It does not matter what is coming for them. Rhodey might have said the words only now, but he has been determined to keep Tony safe for much longer.  

 ---

The funeral is a small affair. Howard Stark came but managed to leave the media circus always following him behind. So it is just a few friends, and no family but Tony. Howard holds a speech, but Tony does not. He explained that his friendship with Jarvis is not something that should be dissected by the nameless onlookers, and he did not want his experiences to be compared to Howard’s. He could not have been entirely truthful either because any of the guests could have blabbed to the press about the not so harmonious life in the Stark mansion.

Rhodey and Tony are at the very front but opposite from Howard. That leaves them plenty of opportunity to glare at each other, but at least it makes conversation impossible. It is grating on Tony nonetheless. When Rhodey notices Tony’s hands tensed up into fists, he reaches out and takes one of them into his, coaxing the fingers loose. It might be his imagination, but Tony relaxes a bit after that.

That is, of course, only until Howard stalks towards them the moment the ceremony is over.

Rhodey loosens his hold on Tony’s hand a bit without letting go. It is a silent offer in case Tony thinks it will do more damage if they are openly holding hands in front of his father. He is glad, however, when Tony keeps clinging to him, giving no sign of wanting to withdraw.

“Boy,” Howard calls when he is still several feet away. The derision in his tone has Rhodey’s dislike rising immensely. “Did you really bring your college fling home?”

This is it, Rhodey thinks, the time to stand tall and deliver on his promise to protect Tony. He wishes his first adversary would have been some jerk on campus and not Howard Stark himself, but he is glad to step up nonetheless. Tony has had to deal with this for far too long.  

“No, sir,” Rhodey says, putting a slight emphasis on sir that could mean anything from a gentle warning that they are in public to an outright threat. “He brought his best friend to the funeral of his other best friend.”

Howard builds himself up. He is not tall, not compared to Rhodey. Next to him, Tony shrinks automatically, clearly wishing to hide.

“You should take care with how you speak to me,” Howard barks, with no amount of subtlety.

“Oh, I am,” Rhodey answers with a smile that does not show teeth but is sharp nonetheless. “Someone’s always listening, right?”

Red creeps up Howard’s neck as his face pinches with anger. Inwardly, Rhodey curses himself for causing a scene when all he wanted to do was give Tony a break.

That is, thankfully, when they are called to go outside to lower the coffin into the grave. They stare at each other a moment longer, both promising that this is not over.

If possible, Tony gets even tenser when they stand around Jarvis’ last resting place, even more ready to disappear somewhere his pain cannot touch him. Rhodey stands strong at his side and never lets go of his hand, not even when it is Tony’s turn to cover the coffin with soil. Tony’s grip is even painful at times, but Rhodey is just glad he can offer some comfort at all.

Afterwards, people linger, talking to each other, while Tony stands over the grave, looking down with so much sorrow on his face that it makes Rhodey’s chest constrict.

Howard’s booming voice cuts through the serenity of the cemetery as he makes conversation with the other funeral guests. That is enough to rouse Tony from his stupor.

He looks up balefully, appearing ready to throw himself into a fight.

“I don’t mean to be disrespectful,” Rhodey speaks up, deceptively light, “but it’s a good thing this is not an event for smiling. I’m not sure I could do that around him.”

It is meant as a distraction, and it works somewhat at least. Tony does not stop glaring at his father, but he appears more present again, as if he remembers where he is and that Rhodey is at his side.

“What is he even doing here?” Tony growls.

He does not seem to be looking for an answer, but Rhodey is glad enough to hear Tony’s voice to accept even this less than ideal topic.

“You told me they were friends,” he offers, aiming for nonchalance.

Tony aims a glance at him that appears to question Rhodey’s sanity. “Ages ago,” he replies, turning his attention back on Howard. “He certainly did not act like a friend over the past years. Or ever, since I was born.”

Tugging slightly at Tony’s hand, Rhodey shifts them so that Howard is not in Tony’s direct line of sight anymore. He is relieved when Tony follows without putting up a fight. This day is supposed to be about Jarvis, not about nursing grudges.

“If Jarvis stood up to Howard, he might have only been able to because they were friends,” Rhodey argues. He cannot imagine the older Stark would have kept someone in his employ who went up against him on a regular basis just to protect the son Howard does not seem to like very much either. “Your old man certainly looks like he would love to gut me right now and I didn’t even say what I really wanted to.”

The ghost of a smile lifts Tony’s lips for a mere second. “You interrupted his favourite sport of yelling at me.”

“It’s not right.” Rhodey should have let it go. He should have accepted Tony’s willingness to talk and pushed the conversation to safer topics. He cannot help the automatic distrust. They might have never talked much about Howard, but he has always hung like a shadow over Tony’s shoulder.

Right in front of him, Tony withdraws further into himself. “It’s what it is.”

Scrambling to return to a lighter tone, Rhodey says, “Never thought I’d hear you say that, Mr. it’s-only-impossible-because-I-haven’t-done-it-yet.”

It hurts to hear Tony like that, because for all of his issues and insecurities, he is mostly convinced that there is a way for everything. Just not where he, personally, is involved.

“That’s Jarvis’ doing too,” Tony answers quietly, eyes resting on the fresh grave. “He always told me that if something didn’t work, it just wasn’t yet time for it.”

Rhodey moves a little closer to Tony so that their shoulders touch. Ever since they left Boston, Tony has looked cold, washed out, like all the life is draining out of him.

“I wish I could have met him,” Rhodey says, and he really does.

As far as family goes, Jarvis was Tony’s more than his parents were, responsible for shaping him into the person he is now. The Stark act might be Howard’s doing, but the sweet, kind-hearted Tony underneath could only survive because Jarvis cared for him.

Looking up, Tony’s expression is so fragile, Rhodey almost expects him to burst into tears again. “He would have liked you.”

Rhodey nods, squeezing Tony’s hand. “I hope so. We both love you, after all.”

He is rewarded with another small smile that lightens up this drab day immensely. Rhodey knows it for the fleeting thing it is, so he savours it while it lasts.

“You make that sound like a defect,” Tony jokes, although there is no hiding the serious edge underneath, always doubting everything good that is happening to him.

That just makes Rhodey want to intercept Howard Stark before he leaves for a little chat, despite having promised to be civil.

“It’s a bit of work,” Rhodey admits lightly. Before Tony can get the wrong ideas, he adds, “But it’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.”

Tony sighs but seems to stand a little straighter again, not as ready to collapse. “You’re a sap.”

Very much aware of that, Rhodey shrugs. “Well, you make it easy.”

The peace sadly does not last forever. While Tony remains in front of the grave, trying to say goodbye to his oldest friend and almost-father, the rest of the funeral guests trickle out of the cemetery. Everyone but Howard Stark. After having made small talk with everyone, he lingers. He might want to have some minutes alone with his deceased friend too, but once he turns, his eyes fall immediately on Tony, narrowed and still somewhat angry.

“Your father is coming towards us,” Rhodey warns even before Howard has taken the first step to give Tony ample time to collect himself. They have both expected another confrontation, but they had hoped that Howard would show enough common courtesy to not do so over Jarvis’ grave.

Tony straightens abruptly, the dismay on his face quickly replaced by something resigned. “Let’s go then,” he says, turning his back on the new headstone as if he had not just looked like he would never be able to leave it behind.

This strength is something to be admired. People usually think that the Starks, with all their money and their genius, have the whole world bowing to them with nary a problem slowing them down. That is a lie. For all that Tony is practiced in keeping up his smirk and doing what he set out to do, there is nothing that he cannot turn into an obstacle, nothing that cannot raise a mountain of self-doubt. And yet, nobody who does not look beneath the surface would ever know.

To himself, Rhodey can admit that he thinks it is also immensely sad. All these scars hidden beneath that glamour and shiny confidence. All these steps Tony takes despite expecting the ground to crumble away beneath him.

“Are you ready?” Rhodey asks, because he has once sworn himself he would show Tony every kindness. “I can stall him if you need some more time.”

He does not yet know how to do that without making a scene, without making even more of an enemy of one of the most powerful men in the country. Yet, it does not matter. He would do anything to make life a little bit easier for Tony.

“You shouldn’t make him angry,” Tony cautions but looks grateful for Rhodey’s offer.

With a smile for how brazen he has become, Rhodey shrugs. “I’m not afraid of him.”

That is not the complete truth. Of course he is afraid of Howard Stark. Not of his money or his company or how he could ruin Rhodey’s career in the Air Force with just a few words into the right ears. He is afraid of how much more damage that man can deal his own son. With his negligence, his derision, this shaking anger at everything and everyone in the world.  

“Perhaps you should be,” Tony says, glancing in his father’s direction with a blank face.

He is about to turn away when Rhodey steps in front of him, causing him to look up.

“Tones, I don’t care,” Rhodey intones firmly, trying to convey how much he means these words. “I’m here for you and only for you. If you need more time to say goodbye to your friend, I’ll get you that time.”

Tony leans close, not quite like he wants to be hugged, but like he is drawn in by Rhodey’s warmth. “Thank you, Rhodey,” he says, and now his smile is brighter.

“Any time,” Rhodey promises, smiling back.

With a nod, Tony takes a step back and throws a last longing glance at the Jarvis’ name on the headstone.

“I think I’m done here. That’s not –” Tony shrugs with a sheepish expression. “Jarvis is not here. He was always so alive, he wouldn’t want me to think of him dead in that grave.”

They turn towards the exit, which will lead them right past Howard who is still coming towards them. Rhodey does not offer to take another way when he sees the determination in Tony’s shoulder. They cannot run from all their battles.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Howard questions when they do not slow down, intent on just passing him by.

Rhodey bites his tongue to not snap anything back. He will step in if he feels he is needed, but this is still Tony’s father, and Tony knows how to handle him, knows how to not make everything worse.

“Home,” Tony answers simply and steps a bit closer to Rhodey as if declaring his allegiance.

In response, Howard’s eyes narrow and Rhodey has to suppress a victorious grin.

“Your mother is waiting for you at the mansion,” Howard says, causing Tony to stiffen further.

He takes a deep breath, and Rhodey wonders how he manages to keep his expression so blank.

“If she wanted to see me,” Tony says with definite accusation in his tone, “she should have come here.”

Tony’s mother has featured more often in the few stories he has told of home, but even in those she was mostly absent, withdrawn, less a mother than just another inhabitant of a house too big to allow anyone growing up in it to not be lonely.

“Watch your tone, boy.” Eyes narrowed and red creeping up into his face, Howard Stark looks like he is suited for nothing but fury. It is hard to believe he sired someone so kind-hearted. “She’s not well.”

“Come to think of it, I’m not either,” Tony replies sharply in that tone he usually reserves for professors too stubborn to admit Tony’s way of solving a problem might be better than theirs. “And we’ve got classes in the morning.”

They do not, but Rhodey nods nonetheless. If home is what Tony needs, they will go there, and hide away from everything until Tony feels better.  

“You don’t care about your classes,” Howard snaps, making Rhodey wonder whether he knows his son at all.

Straightening, Tony says, “You’re wrong.”

With that, he starts walking again, clinging to Rhodey’s hand as if he is afraid he will not follow.

“Anthony,” Howard barks and Tony winces slightly but does not stop.

“Goodbye, Dad,” he throws over his shoulder.

Rhodey takes care to walk a bit behind Tony, guarding his back. It might be a ridiculous thought that Howard would attack them, but he nonetheless makes a show of it, making a statement.

They are silent until they reach their car and close the doors behind them. Sadly, Howard does not stand on the cemetery anymore, looking after them, seething, but has already gone over to his own car too, barking at his driver.

They wait until he is gone, leaving the engine off. Tony looks a little lost but not as fragile anymore.  

“Are you all right?” Rhodey asks, even though he knows it is a stupid question. He needs to say something, though, needs to pull Tony out of his thoughts before they have him spiralling down a road he cannot get out of alone anymore.

“No,” Tony replies with a sad smile. “But I think I will be.”

Rhodey will give his best to make it so, no matter what obstacles are thrown in their way. When they first met, he never would have thought that Tony would quickly become one of the most important people in his life. Looking at him now, he would not have it any other way. Life without Tony would not only be boring but much less bright

“You really want to go back to Boston today?” Rhodey asks.

It might be good for Tony to be somewhere else, somewhere new where nothing can remind him of Jarvis, so he can get some sleep tonight.

Tony’s features darken immediately. “Well, I’m not going to the mansion.”

Shaking his head immediately, Rhodey amends his question. “I thought we could find a motel for the night.”

At any other time, the way Tony’s face scrunches up would be amusing. He might not be as much of a snob as Rhodey had initially feared, but there are still things that show exactly how differently they grew up.

“A motel?”

Grinning, Rhodey nods with more enthusiasm than the situation warrants. “Yes, something small and dingy with a too narrow bed, so I can hold you all night and you won’t have an excuse to withdraw into yourself.”

It is a good plan. Tony is good at getting lost in his own head. At the same time, he is still so touch-starved, so hungry for any kind of positive attention, that Rhodey’s arms might just be the safest place for him tonight.

Tony must have come to the same realization because his face becomes incredibly soft.

“Thank you, Rhodey,” he says and leans over to rest against Rhodey.

“Always, Tones,” Rhodey promises and shifts to put his arm around Tony. “I mean it.”

It is not very comfortable, but they stay like this for a long while nonetheless. They are together and nothing else matters for the moment.

#ironhusbandsweek #rhfe #RhodeyTonyNovemberBash #rhodeytony #ironhusbands #tony stark #james rhodey rhodes #jarvis dies #minor character death #funeral #grief #tony needs a hug #love #friendship #emotional hurt/comfort #howard's a+ parenting #my writing #ao3

[blancheludis]

@ironhusbandsweek @rhfenovemberbash Day 7: Forbidden Love, Steam Punk

Fandom: Marvel, Iron Man Characters: Tony Stark/James “Rhodey” Rhodes, Pepper Potts Tags: Secret Relationship, Fake Marriage, Steam Punk, Love, Angst and Fluff Words: 3.312

Summary: "We should marry," Tony says one quiet evening. Even before Rhodey replies anything, his expression clearly says he is not going to agree. "I don't think this is such a good idea." Of course. It all comes down to what the rest of the world says. That they love each other is apparently not enough to be worth the hassle. 

---

The halls of the mansion are mostly empty when Tony makes his way through them. It is dark outside, so he guesses it is night or early morning. Time flies by when he is in his workshop, although his father insists he comes up for air once every day. The Lord’s heir is supposed to be seen.

Right now, Tony does not strike an imposing figure. He is in his work clothes, covered in soot, with a few fresh burns sticking out in an angry red from his hands and arms. Steam is a tricky thing to master, and some days it eludes him. Tony is not discouraged by failures, though, no matter how personal his father seems to take them.

He walks the halls with purposeful hurry, even if habit makes him look over his shoulders every now and then. They live in a world where eyes are everywhere, even in their own home. Tony knows how to act right, how to hide his thoughts. Sneaking around in the middle of the night negates all of that, however. It makes him automatically suspicious.

When he arrives at his destination, Tony hesitates to knock on the door. He has no idea how late it is. Someone was bustling in the kitchen when he passed by it, but that does not have to mean anything.

Finally, he shrugs. He is eccentric and keeps odd hours. People have to be used to that by now. Tony’s knuckles barely graze the wood before he saunters into the room.

The lights are still on to his relief, and Rhodey sits at his desk, bowed over some paperwork. He is not wearing his armour but is not in nightclothes either. It cannot be that late, then. He looks up when Tony enters, smiling as if he waited for him.

Long strides take Tony over to him, and before Rhodey can offer a greeting, Tony leans down to kiss Rhodey. He inhales and feels instantly at home when the mixture of horse and leather and steel hits his nose.

“Good evening, mylord,” Rhodey greets, and while there is humour in his voice, he emphasizes the honorific with some sharpness, surely a reprimand.

“Good evening, Colonel,” Tony shoots back, allowing a small grin on his face, although he is always a little displeased when their difference in standing is mentioned. Tony is not even the Lord yet and all it does is give him more trouble.

Mindful of the soot on his clothes, Tony takes a seat on the bed. The poor staff is hard-pressed to keep his own sheets clean. If they found the same mess in Rhodey’s bed, their game would be up within days.

It is always a real struggle not to pull Rhodey down on the bed and forget all about the outside world for a few hours but contrary to what people think of him, Tony knows all about restraint. He just chooses to keep that private. That makes it easier to fool people.

Rhodey opens his mouth, no doubt to ask about Tony’s day, to make plans for them to sneak away later this week, but Tony is tired of the ever same circles they are moving in.

“We should marry,” Tony says, already a hint of confrontation in his tone.

This is not the first time Tony has broached the subject, although he is usually less brazen about it. They have been through the dozens of reasons why it is a bad idea, why Tony cannot just say something as incriminating like this in his father’s house, where anyone could be listening in on them and get the wrong idea. Or the right idea. If Howard found out, neither of them would be allowed to live the rest of their lives on their own terms.

Rhodey sighs as he turns his chair around completely to better face Tony. Rejection has never needed so few words. “I’m not saying no,” he says as if it is not written all over his face, “but I don’t think it’s the best idea.”

Of course, it is not. Otherwise, they would have already done it instead of spending the last years in misery, so close to each other and yet not allowed to touch in the open.

“Because of my father,” Tony says, bitterness coating his tongue. There is nothing Howard Stark has ever made better, apart from destruction. Stark men tend to constantly create new ways to make others miserable.

“Yes,” Rhodey admits softly, sounding apologetic. “And because of who we are. You’re –”

Nodding impatiently, Tony says, “Going to be the next Lord.” That has never done him much good. Quieter but no less grumbling, he adds, “They should stop pushing their noses into our business.”

Tony being the Stark heir is not the only reason, of course. There is also that Rhodey, at the moment, is responsible for his safety, which apparently makes Tony vulnerable for coercion. Although the same could be argued the other way around. Who could say no to Howard Stark’s heir? Then there is the fact that Tony is rich, that Rhodey’s skin has the wrong colour, that they are both men. The reasons not to love each other are endless.

Rhodey tries to smile, but it falls horribly flat. “You know they’ll never stop gossiping.”

Since his entire life is spent amongst these people, Tony knows that far too well. He runs a hand through his hair, not meeting Rhodey’s eyes. “And you can’t afford any more bad talk.”

That is the worst thing. If Tony is found sleeping with Rhodey, it will be a scandal. Tony will get an earful from everybody, might either get shunned by polite society for a while or harassed for details. Things will blow over. Rhodey, on the other hand, might lose his livelihood, everything he has built for himself, just for loving the wrong person. Tony cannot do that to him.

“I’ve risen through the ranks too much already for someone without any actual standing,” Rhodey explains, although Tony knows all this, has searched for loopholes for years. “If we marry, too, they might just throw me out of the Army, claiming I only got here because of you.”

“Then that would be the ultimate proof that they’re stupid,” Tony snaps. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to them.”

Everybody remembers the tantrum he threw when his best friend left for Army training. If anyone had listened to Tony back then, they would have sent Rhodey right back home. Then, of course, they would not be in this situation because Rhodey would have never forgiven him, would have never fallen in love with him.  

“And none of that will matter if we cause another scandal,” Rhodey says. He is always surprisingly acceptant of the discriminating moods of people assuming they are his superiors. It hurts him, Tony knows it does, but he does not rail against fate. He just makes the best of it.

It has always sat wrong with Tony. That is what he later blames it on, that he pulls his shoulders up and sneers, “I’m just a scandalous affair for you then?”

A beat of silence follows in which Tony is already ashamed of himself, staring at his fingernails because he does not dare to look at Rhodey.

“Tones,” Rhodey chides quietly, tiredly, “don’t do that.”

“I’m sorry.” Tony is so afraid of losing Rhodey that he sometimes forgets himself. “This is just frustrating.”

“I know.”

Getting up, Rhodey comes over to the bed, sitting down close enough to Tony, that their thighs and shoulders touch. Tony immediately melts into Rhodey’s side. When Rhodey opens his arms, Tony wants to warn him about the soot on his clothes, but Rhodey shushes him and the thought of being held is too enticing for Tony to argue.

They are in a horrible situation, but tonight, Tony has come prepared. The excitement from earlier has mostly vanished, but it is still a plan.

“I guess I’ll have to marry Pepper then.”

Silence answers him, while Rhodey’s arms stiffen around him. A sigh caught in his throat, Tony draws back so he can look at Rhodey’s face, which is carefully blank.

“That’s –”

“Unfair to her, I know,” Tony says quickly before Rhodey can come up with suitable counter-arguments. “But my father’s constantly laying into me to secure the bloodline. My mother is sending explicit invitations to other nobles to bring their daughter to the next ball. It doesn’t matter how often I say no, they just keep hounding me.”

It is expected of him and he has always known it. Lately, it has started to feel like a cage because his feelings for Rhodey are definitely not going away. On the contrary, they are constantly growing.

“You don’t have a problem with telling people off about other matters,” Rhodey says, almost changing the topic.

“What? You mean my problematic drinking behaviour or the constant explosions down in my workshop?” Tony asks, lips pulled into a sneer. Quieter but no less insistent, he adds, “This is my life, Rhodey, and everybody is haunting me to give it meaning by taking some simpering noble as my wife.”

Tony knows that they cannot go public with their relationship. That would only make problems for everybody. But Pepper is their friend. She is safe and pragmatic. The way Tony looks at it, she is their only hope that they will not end up unhappy.

“It will die down again,” Rhodey says, but obviously does not believe it himself. The older Tony gets – the older his parents get – the more an heir is needed for the Stark line.

“Yes, once I marry,” Tony says stubbornly. He scoots a bit back on the bed so that Rhodey’s arms fall completely off him. “And if you won’t have me, Pepper will.”

Rhodey looks tired, his hands twitching by his side as if he wants to hide his face in them or shake some sense into Tony. He keeps them where they are and just looks at Tony instead.

“Have you talked to her about this?” Rhodey asks, not any closer to giving in but likely just trying another approach.

“Yes.”

Tony is aware that this will change all of their lives. It will not mean an end of the constant hiding. In fact, they will just pull Pepper into this. They can trust her, though. Of all the people in this place, she might be the only one.

“Why don’t I believe you?” Rhodey shakes his head, lips pulled into the hints of a smile, even while there is no amusement in his tone.

Tony drops his eyes, uncomfortable with the fact that Rhodey can see through him. “Well, she said something along the lines of always being there for me if I need anything to make this easier.”

That is not a carte blanche, but it is a beginning. They can negotiate something that works out for all of them.

“Tones,” Rhodey says, clearly not of the same opinion.

“What?” Tony snaps, tired of running into more problems no matter how many corners they turn. “This makes perfect sense. My parents get a suitable daughter-in-law. The people get a Lady who actually knows what she is doing and can handle politics much better than I ever could. Pepper gets enough money to make a name of herself without having to plead with Howard for it. And we get our alibi.”

It does make sense. It is the most promising plan either of them had since they realized that their time is running out.

“Pepper is not just an alibi,” Rhodey counters, his face and tone stern as if he does not know that Tony cares about Pepper as much as he does.

“But she’s pragmatic. She knows we love each other.” Apart from the late Jarvis, she is the only one who does. “When I told her about proposing to you, she actually had the same reaction as you.” Tony bites his lip, then adds much less firmly, “If she finds her great love, she can either bring them in, or we can get a divorce as soon as my father is dead.”

Rhodey reaches out for him, but Tony dodges the attempt. He gets to his feet and starts pacing. Sitting still when there is a problem in front of him that he cannot solve is pure torture. He only ever manages it when he is held by Rhodey and he does not want that right now. He does not want to be mollified. He wants solutions. Preferably one that leads to their happily ever after.  

“It’s not as easy as that,” Rhodey says as if in answer to Tony’s thoughts.

Nobody said it would be easy, Tony thinks. Out loud, he says, “Not if you keep making it difficult.”

It is not like him to be the optimistic one. He wants to be, though.

“Tony,” Rhodey says, as if invoking Tony’s name has ever worked to make him see sense.

“Don’t Tony me,” Tony says sharply and comes to a halt in front of Rhodey, several feet between them. “What’s your solution then? To cut our losses and safely go our separate ways?” It does not bring him any satisfaction to see Rhodey flinch. “I love you, Rhodey,” he intones, allowing all his desperation to rise to the surface for once. “I know that we can’t go public with it, although I’d be willing to weather that storm if that is what it takes. But we can at least make it a little easier for us.”

That hits home. Rhodey has always had a weakness for hearing Tony tell him he loves him. With visible effort, he stills shakes his head. “Marrying Pepper will not make anything easier.”

Sharp laughter rises up Tony’s throat and he does not hold it in. It rings between them, too loud, too bitter.

“Of course, it will,” Tony insists. “For one, I’m going to move out with her. We’ll take one of the smaller properties, do a prolonged honeymoon, build our own lives. You’ll be our security.” Tony cuts off Rhodey’s protest with a sharp gesture. “Of course, you’re a bit too high-ranked for that. But we are childhood friends. I’m not going to deny that too. We’ll take only staff that we can trust. We can be together.”

That is the one thing nobody can take from them. They are friends. It caused gossip for years, but by now it is mostly accepted that the two are going everywhere together. It was a hard-won victory, but it works in their favour now.

For a long moment, they just look at each other. Tony brimming with restlessness and hope, Rhodey doubting but just as eager to find a way for them.

“What if someone finds out?” Rhodey finally asks.

Tony pushes down the urge to shout in victory. He has not won anything, but if Rhodey has stopped his immediate protest, he might be on his way there.

“Why would they?” Tony answer, perhaps too eager. “Pepper’s not going to talk. It’s not like I’m going to tell her what to do with her life. Dozens of nobles have their head of security living with them. Happy lives here.”

Rhodey does not say anything, just looks on. And Tony, who does not do well with silences, fills it eagerly.

“I’ll build secret passages so no one will notice us sharing a room,” he offers, only half-joking. It would make life easier and keep him occupied for a while. “Also, even if someone found out, there are more scandalous things happening than a happily married couple taking someone else into their bed for a while. It would probably be more suspicious if we didn’t.”

There are hardly any nobles who are not sleeping around. Mostly the lords are cheating on their wives, of course, but there are some more adventurous couples. Tony does not mind becoming an oddity. He already is, considering his hobbies and blatant disinterest in politics. It would not cost him anything to become even less conventional.

“Where’s all that suddenly coming from?” Rhodey then asks. It is still not a refusal, although Tony guesses it is too soon to celebrate.

Sighing, Tony steps closer and cups Rhodey’s face with his hands. “I’m tired of hiding, Rhodey,” he says and presses a kiss down on Rhodey’s forehead, gentle like a promise. “Tired of doing Howard’s bidding and playing nice with a dozen noble daughters when I’m only interested in you. I’m tired of living a lie.”

Rhodey’s arms snake around Tony’s waist, pulling him in. Tony lets his hands wander down Rhodey’s back, holding tight. It is unfair that fate puts so many obstacles in their way. Everything is so much better when they are together. Life could be perfect if only they would be allowed to be who they are.

Almost too quiet to hear, Rhodey then says, “I’ll talk to Pepper.”

Startling, Tony looks down, afraid he has misheard. “You will?” Tony asks.

Even, so, he knows exactly how that conversation will go. Tony’s had an idea again, Rhodey will start and then they will immediately work on doing damage control. He usually loves them for it, but this is not a problem they can make go away. Not like this.

“I love you, you know that?” Rhodey says in lieu of answering, but Tony takes it willingly. These are the most beautiful words in the entire world after all.

“I do. I love you too,” Tony replies quietly. Because he can never let things rest, though, he adds, “This is why I’m pushing this.”

Lips quirking up into a smile, Rhodey nods. “We’ll figure a way out.”

That is what they have been promising for years. They have to do something now. Tony cannot marry a stranger, some simpering noble girl who does not understand him and will rat them out the first opportunity she gets.  

“Great,” Tony says, even though he does not believe it. He lets his head drop until it is propped against Rhodey’s. “I had better get going now so nobody gets suspicious.” Too innocent, he adds, “I know for a fact that Pepper’s not busy tomorrow morning if you want to get right on it.”

A chuckle sends tremors through Rhodey’s body, wandering right into Tony’s. “You’re impossible.”

Tony knows that. People never tire of telling him, although none of them says it with the same fondness as Rhodey. Usually, he does not mind. These days, however, he wishes things would just be a little more possible.

Still, he smiles down at Rhodey. “How about you tell me in great detail just how impossible I am tomorrow? Two in the afternoon? We can take my new steam carriage for a spin. It’s not running as smoothly as I want it to, so nobody will be surprised if it breaks down in the middle of nowhere and we’ll miss dinner because we’re stranded out there.”

This time, Rhodey outright laughs. “You’re not just impossible but a menace too.”

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Tony says, smiling. He tips up Rhodey’s face so they can kiss. It is a chaste thing, so they will not get carried away. With much regret, Tony pulls away. “Goodnight.”

How wonderful it would be to never have to separate again. For Tony to be able to lie down on Rhodey’s bed, not caring for leaving traces of soot behind, to spend the entire night together, to wake up together with the morning sun bathing them in gold.

“Goodnight, Tones,” Rhodey says, sounding just as unwilling to let go as Tony is. “See you tomorrow.”

Tony has dreams, and most of them involve Rhodey. Tomorrow, consequences be damned, they will get a step closer to them.

#ironhusbandsweek #rhfe #RhodeyTonyNovemberBash #ironhusbands #tony stark #rhodey #steam punk #secret relationship #love #fake marriage #argument #angst and fluff #ao3 #my writing #family

[ironhusbandsweek]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: James "Rhodey" Rhodes/Tony Stark Characters: James Rhodes, Tony Stark Additional Tags: Friends to Lovers, Falling In Love, Growing Old Together, Death from Old Age, Hurt/Comfort, Romantic Soulmates, Time Skips, Happy Ending, Tony Stark Has A Heart, James "Rhodey" Rhodes & Tony Stark at MIT, POV Alternating, This is just a brief MCU rewrite with a shit ton of rhodeytony in it, Sad and Happy, Bittersweet Summary:

Tony doesn’t really believe in God, so he’s not sure who to thank for putting James Rhodes in his life. They’ve been best friends for a year now, and Tony has never loved someone as much as he loves this guy. Rhodey doesn’t mind his constant rambling, or his messiness, or his nerdy tendencies that he carefully hides from the world; quite the opposite, in fact. The two of them fit together like the cogs in a perfect machine. All of their edges line up.

***

Or, the story of Tony and Rhodey, from their first meeting to their last.

(Day 1 of IronHusbands Week: Stranded / “You keep me going.” / Beginnings & Endings + IronHusbands Bingo Square C4: Hurt/Comfort)

#ironhusbandsweek #IHW2019 #rhodeytonynovemberbash #day 1

[ironhusbandsweek]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Avengers (Marvel Movies) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: James "Rhodey" Rhodes/Tony Stark Characters: James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Tony Stark Additional Tags: Marriage Proposal, Established Relationship, Short & Sweet, Fluff, Rhodey is the best, Tony is a bit of a disaster, But Rhodey loves him anyways, Laundry, Don't copy to another site Summary:

All Tony wants to be able to do is propose to Rhodey like he wants. He has everything planned out - it will be perfect if it kills him. And at this point it just might because he has managed to lose the ring. What kind of boyfriend does that make him? Good thing Rhodey has him covered.

For IronHusbands Week Day 6 - Laundry day/Proposal

#ironhusbandsweek #ihw2019 #rhodeytonynovemberbash #day 6

[ironhusbandsweek]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Iron Man (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe Rating: Not Rated Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: James "Rhodey" Rhodes/Tony Stark, James "Rhodey" Rhodes & Tony Stark, Harley Keener & Tony Stark, Harley Keener & James "Rhodey" Rhodes Characters: Tony Stark, James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Harley Keener Additional Tags: Tony Stark Needs a Hug, Harley Keener Needs a Hug, Protective James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Tony Stark Acting as Harley Keener's Parental Figure, James "Rhodey" Rhodes Acting as Harley Keener's Parental Figure, MIT Era, James "Rhodey" Rhodes & Tony Stark at MIT, IronHusbands Week 2019 Series: Part 2 of iron husbands week 2019 Summary: There was a long-standing rule in the Stark-Rhodes household, one that had originated in a tiny MIT dorm room and continued on in every single place Tony and Rhodey called their own:

No shoes.

#ironhusbandsweek #ihw2019 #rhodeytonynovemberbash #day 3

[ironhusbandsweek]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Avengers (Marvel Movies) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: James "Rhodey" Rhodes/Tony Stark Characters: James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Tony Stark Additional Tags: Established Relationship, Fluff and Humor, Italian Tony Stark, Dramatic Tony Stark, Pineapples, Strong Opinions of Pineapple On Pizza, mentions of Howard Stark's A+ parenting, Teasing, Rhodey can be a little shit too if he wants to be, Don't copy to another site, Short & Sweet Summary:

All Tony wants to do is make a pizza. That's all. It's a perfectly reasonable want - pizza is great and he is hungry. Too bad Rhodey insists on ruining it instead. Who puts pineapple on pizza?

For IronHusbands Week Day 3 - Pineapple/"You know what you are doing right?"/Height difference

#ironhusbandsweek #IHW2019 #rhodeytonynovemberbash #day 3

[ironhusbandsweek]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel) - All Media Types, Iron Man (Movies) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: James "Rhodey" Rhodes/Tony Stark Characters: Tony Stark, James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Pepper Potts, Happy Hogan, Ultron (Marvel) Additional Tags: Family, Humor, Fluff, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Love, Self-Doubt, Self-Care Cake, Post-Avengers: Age of Ultron (Movie), Tony Needs a Hug, Protective James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Protective Pepper Potts, Protective Happy, Tony Stark Has A Heart, Don't copy to another site Summary:

After Ultron, Tony expects to come home to an empty tower, another giant mess of his own making to fix. He is not alone, however. His family is waiting for him. They are not as fickle as the Avengers, who left at the first signs of trouble. They even brought cake.

#ironhusbandsweek #IHW2019 #rhodeytonynovemberbash #day 2