Too Little Too Late

Tony Stark 03

"Tones" called out Rhodey.

Tony jumped a little. He wasn't used to having people around him anymore. While preparing the drinks, he had been a bit lost in his own thoughts. Rhodey was looking at him, waiting for something and really, he didn't know what it was. So, he smiled. A small tuck of his lips as if to say that despite everything that had happened, he was alright. And he was now. Of course, the rest of the story was yet to be told and Rhodey didn't know that.

"I just... I realised that I have been a shitty friend really. Even before that phone call. I mean I should have seen the signs. I should have looked better, further. I was one of your best friends, one who was meant to see behind the mask and..."

"You are forgiven." Cut Tony. "I have never held anything against you really, not the way you think I did anyway. Even if you had stayed, I don't think it would have changed a lot of things actually. I mean I pushed away Happy and the kids. I would have done the same with you. So really, don't apologise."

"You should yell. You should be mad though."

"For what? Telling the truth? It's true that I'm a lot to handle, that I don't know how to treat my friends the right way. Without me, you wouldn't have been in that mess with the Avengers."

"But I wanted to be part of it. I stole the suit from you! I..."

"I let you take it." Cut Tony again. "I was dying. I wanted to give to the people I love what I had that counted for something. I arranged so you could take the suit, an armour only you could pilot and I..."

"You made Pepper CEO and we both betrayed you, letting you down each time you needed us the most."

To that, Tony didn't know what to answer. To some extent, it was true. He knew that Rhodey would want the suit for the military back then, because his job was really important to him. Considering that he was dying, Tony had thought that it didn't matter in the long run. If Rhodey's career was that important that he would steal something from his best friend, might as well let him have it. Rhodey had already been against him when Tony had shut the weapon division down. Logical to a fault. Tony also knew that Pepper was using their personal relationship to keep him in check. Maybe he deserved that or maybe she never really loved him but liked the idea of him more. Someone who would work from nine till five and build a nice house with a white picket fence for their nice family. Someone who wasn't really him.

"You know." Said Tony. "Whatever happened, happened. And in the grand scheme of things, I decided not to hold that phone call against you. You were not in a good place and I had not been for longer than I care to remember. No disrespect but you were just a drop in a fucking ocean of betrayal, anger and hatred towards me. The whole fucking world hated me since forever I guess. I didn't kill myself. You weren't the one who pushed me over the edge. All is good. Now help me take all that to my guests please?"

Tony used that weird pleading tone he often used with his friends back in their MIT days. Rhodes knew not all was good but that would do for now. He took the tray with the pots of steaming water, coffee and milk while Tony was carrying loads of mugs, spoons, marshmallows, tea bags, cocoa powder and sugar. For someone living on the moon he sure was very well stocked. Especially with all those different kinds of tea. Tony didn't drink tea. Maybe that also had changed.

Tony was looking at the kids making their hot chocolates and arguing on the perfect ratio of milk, powder and marshmallows. Tony wondered briefly if they were still his kids. Either way, it was ok, he thought. He could still be in their lives one way or another. That was all he wanted.

Katherine "Kitty Kat" Keener had fallen asleep on the sofa, her head on her mother's lap. She was still wearing her Hello Kitty watch and that made him smile. He asked Jodie Keener if she wanted to put her daughter in one of the guest rooms. One not too far from the living room if it made her feel better. She agreed and he carried the little girl to a big bed.