I'm smiling next to you - A Marvel Fic

V

Colonel James Rhodes was a man who was reserved to himself. His friends knew that on some days, he preferred to be left alone. On other days, he was the one who needed the comfort, and thus he always searched out his friends. Even if it was just to talk, or to sit in silence together. As long as he had company, he was happy.

The billionaire Anthony Stark was totally different, if you will. He always preferred to be left alone, working in his lab and coming up with new ideas for the company. In his earlier days he might have slept with a couple of ladies, maybe a gentlemen here or there. But save for those, he was still always alone. And he didn't mind. The silence had something calming, that soothed him together with his AI's and robots.

That is, until Rhodey walked into his life. 

The guy had a soft spot in his heart for the billionaire, and even though Tony didn't want to admit it, he had one in his heart too for the Colonel. They were best friends, buddies for life. Tony might have Bruce with who he can geek out, but Rhodey was the one who was always ready for him. His rock in the tide, the anchor of his ship.

So it was Rhodey who was the first one who he went to after he found out about his kid. It was Rhodey who knew what to do when Tony gave him the folder. It was Rhodey who knew who to call when Tony broke down. And being the guy he is, he dutifully did just that. Because even though he sometimes preferred to be alone, Tony was one of the few he didn't mind being with.

Pepper arrived only a couple of minutes after Rhodey asked for her via FRIDAY. The AI had informed her that her husband was having an emotional breakdown, and even though she trusted Rhodey to calm down Tony himself, she still came when he asked to. 

When she walked into the lab, furiously typing in the password, the first thing that she saw was Rhodey standing awkwardly besides one of the desks. The second thing she saw was her husband, leaning against his friend like he was his last life-line. And her heart broke a little. Because as soon as the glass doors slided open, she heard the heart wrenching sobs that came from Tony. She softly muttered out to FRIDAY to keep everyone out, and quickly walked over to the genius and his friend. She knew Tony would freak out if anyone other than her and Rhodey saw him like this, and she was sure it would only make matters worse.

Rhodey looked up with a grateful smile on his face as soon as he heard the glass doors opening. He didn't mind staying up all night with Tony to make sure he was okay, but he couldn't keep standing all night with a short, heavy billionaire in his arms. He had tried coaxing Tony to the couch, but the man was too far into his misery to listen, so he gave up and decided to wait for Pepper. 

The woman quickly walked over to them, and shot a questioning glance towards Rhodey. Said man only gestured towards the folder that lay on the table, now forgotten. She turned her head towards it and read the front, and her heart sank. Why did Tony have this here? Surely he knew that something like this would happen whenever he read that thing?

She shook her head. There was time later to think about that. She first needed to calm her husband down. As she stepped closer towards the pair of men and laid a hand on Tony's shoulder, she noticed he calmed down immediately as he registered both his friend and his fiancee were there with him. He didn't completely calm down, but at least it was some progress. Pepper slowly pried Tony's shaking fists off of Rhodey's shirt, and took his hands in her own. 

He turned towards his wife, falling against her, and sobbed out "I'm so sorry Pep, I'm so sorry." His head had started to hurt from the crying, but he couldn't help himself. Every time he came close to calming down, another memory from his kid popped up in his head and the chaos started all over again. He felt her hands rubbing soothingly on his back and he sighed.

"It's okay Tony. I got you. It's okay." She murmured. Her hand rubbed circles on his back, and she felt him relax slightly against her. She smiled a little, and if it wasn't for his breakdown she would have thought it was the cutest thing ever. Her eyes found Rhodey's and mouthed to him 'Get some coffee'. It probably wasn't a good idea to give him the caffeine right now, seeing as he probably hadn't slept in a couple of days, but it was better than alcohol. She watched as Rhodey quietly walked towards the kitchen corner of the lab, then she slowly but surely guided Tony towards one of the couches. 

The genius followed her obediently, too tired to care how he looked like a small child following his mummy. It didn't matter anyways. He was with his friends and he knew they wouldn't do anything to pester him with this. Maybe a little taunt here and there from Rhodes, but nothing more. He appreciated that from them.

The pair reached the couch, and Pepper carefully sat down, tugging Tony with her. He plopped down besides her and curled up into her side. He stayed like that, his face buried into her blouse, until Rhodey shuffled towards them with three cups of coffee in his hands. He set one down and gave the other two to Tony and Pepper. The man gladly took it, breathing in the familiar smell of roasted beans. He once again felt gratitude course through him as he realized how well his friends knew him. As he sat up, he looked over to them past the rim of his cup and murmured "Thank you."

Rhodey smiled towards his friend. "No problem Stank." He said, a smirk tugging at his lips, which he desperately tried to supress. It failed however when Tony's bloodshot eyes narrowed at him. The smirk grew wide and he let a soft laugh at his friend. "What, it's your name, isn't it?" 

The moment had transferred from an angsty one to a calm one. It was wonderful, just him, his wife and his best friend. And his coffee, which was as a big as a part of his life as the two humans. He loved it.

It would be perfect if it wasn't for FRIDAY, who didn't mean any harm. She was just programmed to do what the team members asked her, and even if she was a little more developed than those small AI's, she was still a robot. So, when she called out her message from the Captain, she felt guilt for ruining such a sweet moment. She had taken pictures, mind you. It was the least she could do.

"Boss, Steve requires your and both James' and Miss' attendance upstairs. It seems like something is wrong with Mister Sam Wilson."

A/N; Oh boy, isn't angsty fluff just the best ?