Grow as we Go

Silver Lining

Later that day, James came back and the two talked as they worked on putting away all their stuff.

"Sorry about that, Tony. My friend Steve wanted to talk about a member of his family that was coming here. Said it was a Stark. Can't believe that this small school could host someone that important. Anyways, as I said before, I'm James Rhodes. Nice to meet you properly."

"I can't just call you James. No. Do you have a nickname or something?"

"My friends call me Rhodes when they're mad at me?"

"Hmm."

After a few awkward minutes of silence, Tony's triumphant cry startled James.

"Rhodey!"

"What?"

"That's what I'm calling you. Rhodey."

Over the next few weeks, Rhodey and 'Tones', as Rhodey had taken to calling Tony, grew very close. Something about Tony just made Rhodey want to care for him. On the first of December, Rhodey casually asked Tony what he was doing for Christmas.

"Oh, I'll probably stay here. S'not like I've got anywhere better to be."

Rhodey winced. "Not visiting family?"

Tony hesitated, rubbing his chest. He thought- remembering the spot on his arm that Howard had bruised and thought of the lines on his back that still twinged if he moved wrong before answering with a shake of his head. "No."

Weeks passed as the two boys get into the rhythm of school again. Rhodey usually hangs out with his friends after class and gets back to the dorm later than Tony. Rhodey offered to bring Tones along to some of the things they do but understood when Tony said it was too many new people at once.

The two had seemed to instantly share a bond, one that both boys told home about. Both boys had also written home about when Tony got into a fight with the gym teacher about uniforms with varying feelings all around.

Even though the two boys seemed great together, they had only known each other for 3 weeks, and there were still secrets kept from each of them.

Rhodey was just coming back to his shared dorm when he realized he didn't hear music or talking through the door of the dorm, unlike what was usually heard all through the hallway. Cautiously opening the door, he saw Tony staring at the wall, visibly upset.

The small room was in a state of disarray on Tony's side of the room, with a clear line separating Rhodey's side. It was as if Tony threw all his belongings and tech around the room but made sure Rhodey's space wasn't disrupted.

Tony himself was curled up on the mess, facing away from the door where Rhodey stood. A faint humming was coming from Tony, and Rhodey was about to announce himself and ask what happened when a faint voice drifted through the room.

"I don't wanna drive a fancy car today. I don't wanna ride in a red Corvette. I don't wanna jog my Saturday away, but I don't wanna go home yet."

Tony rubbed the middle of his chest as his voice grew stronger, yet still slightly trembled. Rhodey had noticed Tony rubbing his chest whenever he talked about his home life and wondered if it was important. He didn't even know Tony's last name after all.

Tony his chest as his voice grew stronger, yet still slightly trembled.

"Today is not the day to jump out of a plane. I don't wanna parasail or play roulette. I don't wanna risk it all or go insane. But I don't wanna go home yet."

The weakness in Tony's voice vanished and the tenor tones coming from this young boy startled Rhodey. The pain in his voice was clear but determined. It was as if Tony was challenging his hurt, daring it to affect him.