Den des Chasseurs

Rhodey

Tony sighed and ran a hand over his face, yawning in exhaustion. He flopped down onto the couch of his dorm he shared with Rhodey, who he had met eight months before when he started MIT.

He began peeling the weapons from his body, followed by his coat and combat boots. Finally, he got to his shirt. Tony hissed as he peeled the blood soaked black shirt from his bullet wound. The dammned jackass had gotten in a lucky shot while Tony was busy taking care of the guards still on their feet. Tony had turned right after and put a bullet through his brain.

This kind of thing had happened often, but Tony, Evan, and Riley often refused to go to the medical ward, and prefered to treat themselves. Many a times Jace had to resort to physically dragging them to the med bay.

He had left his mask on in his haste to get to the wound, and didn't notice the other figure creeping into the room until a gun clicked as it was cocked. Tony slowly put his hands up.

"Don't move." Rhodey growled, gun unwavering in his hands.

"Rhodey-"

"How do you know my name?" He snarled, moving around the couch to see the bleeding-man-on-the-couch's face. Only to gasp when he saw the mask.

"You'r-re Tagoi Panther!" Rhodey stuttered, before holding the shaking gun as steady as he could.

"Yes, but, don't shoot while I do this, please. That's more for your sake than mine..." Rhodey was hard pressed not to shoot when Panther's hands went up to his face, but nearly gasped when the mask was pulled away.

"Tony?!" The gun fell to his side in shock. Tony was having a hard time not laughing at the bewildered look on his friend's face.

"Yeah, mind waiting until I patch this up before I explain?" Tony asked, wincing as he poked the wound again.

"Oh my god! You've been shot! You're Tagoi Panther! I... Think I need to sit down..." Rhodey gasped out, flopping down on the couch with a groan, putting his head between his knees. Tony chuckled, and pulled a bottle of whiskey open with his teeth. He took a large gulp, and handed the bottle to Rhodey, who hesitated before taking a few sips as well.

Tony then grabbed the needle and thread, and continued to sew up his wound. He sighed when he finished putting the final bandage on, stealing the whiskey from a partially drunk Rhodey.

"Well, ask away." Tony sighed, leaning back, putting the bottle down.

"I don't even know where to start." Rhodey stated flatly. Tony laughed once, and grew serious.

"Rhodey... I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I didn't want to put you in danger. I have quite a few people after my head. They're just too afraid to come after me personally. If they managed to get their hands on someone I care about... Well..." Tony shook his head, and looked at Rhodey.

"I'm... Not really mad Tony." Rhodey managed, swallowing. Tony nearly sobbed in relief. "I am a little sad you didn't tell me, but I understand why you didn't." Tony smiled thankfully at him, and knew he was ok with Rhodey.

"Mind telling me how this happened though?" He laughed. Tony laughed too, and began his tale.

"It was September of my seventh birthday. I remember the house staff had been acting odd for a couple days, but didn't think much of it. They put me to bed, but I could hear my parents fighting, so I couldn't sleep. When they finally fell asleep, I couldn't. Then, I heard someone step on the creaky floorboard outside of my room..." Rhodey listened in fascination of the story Tony told.

When Tony finished his recounting of events a couple hours later, Rhodey's head was spinning with the information given to him. After a few minutes of silence, he spoke up.