" and you keep waiting... to save what we had "

Chapter 4:

Best Friends Forever

That odd, floating euphoria. Yesterday, just floating, it seemed. They were content, like they haven't been entire life. Back in their teenage years, when they used to stay up most of the night, watching saddening videos online, and contemplating a life with a suicidal tendency, as if deliberately they were trying to bring themselves down.

Annabeth saw so many pictures of all of her absurd mistakes and dare she state it, she almost missed it. She earnestly wished she could do it again, go deep enough to fill the sink with blood, splash the floor bright fucking red, deep enough for stitches. There once was an ideal time in Annabeth's life when she wanted her entire arm sufficiently covered in stitches and cuts and gauze. She wanted to be so fucking thin that she was nothing but a walking skeleton.

That's when she instantly caught herself. Why was she thinking like this? Why was she deliberately trying to bring herself down again? She tried nearly everything in her power to be rid of these problems. Yet they were over here until an hour ago.

Problems, problems, problems.

It was the one thing in Annabeth's list that never fell short, always increasing, always judging, always disheartening. Euphoria remained a foreign concept, because the moment she felt it she recollected the things she would rather forget.

Working for Tony felt like a problem to Annabeth. It had, at present been about one month since she moved in to the Stark mansion and had started working.

Pepper was an absolute delight for Annabeth as she became the best girl friend Annabeth had always needed but Tony, on the other hand, gave her more unnecessary and needless to say, annoying work as the days passed.

Once he requested her for coffee and kept saying it wasn't hot enough for him to drink— resulting to a trip to Starkbucks at least seven times.

Another time, Tony forced the girl stay awake till three am to sort out his art collection— which he ceased up getting rid off the very next morning.

There was only one thing she appreciated about her job —that is, except of Pepper— and it was the online courses in Columbia University that she'd attended every evening. It was frustrating, and she wanted to kill herself or kill Tony most of the time (So, nothing new right?) but she knew that in the end —if she ever made it, till the end— it would be worth it.

And then there were times— times when Tony revealed the glimpse of a man she had once been so very much in love with. She sometimes felt like she was conclusively with what was hers because she was falling in love with him all over again.

Like last night, he left a pack of strawberries for her (and she knew it was hers because Tony never devoured anything from the kitchen and Pepper was allergic) after she had gone through a tremendously long meeting with a man who wanted to be hired as an engineer.

Therefore, life went on for the lovely Annabeth Pierce as she became to be known as Tony Stark's assistant at Stark Industries. The hospital debt was surprisingly over with her advance and some money she had been saving up for a long time now. For the first time, Annabeth felt like things in her messed up life could be in moral order— that may be the people she left behind could be friends again.

Happy didn't mind. Not that he was provided much choice in the matter.

At the start, the bodyguard had done his best to steer clear of Annabeth but she finally ambushed him when the man was talking to Pepper about the need for some badges in the company and well... Just to know he forgave her after all she had done was an entire trip around the world complete.

Rhodey realistically was, on the other hand, a typical drama queen.

1996

James Rhodes had represented a notable student at MIT for a year now.

He was sixteen, one of the youngest in his class but not quite because Anthony Stark merely had to be in his year.

Not that James was resentful or anything about it— Tony was a beloved friend even though he was a little lost and always in his own little world. A little lonely, perhaps.

As a result, when James cautiously entered his dorm room— which he was assigned to share with the Stark boy— he was not expecting to undoubtedly see some gorgeous girl sitting comfortably on Tony's adjustable bed, just casually reading 'A History of Microbiology'.

And as ashamed as he was to ultimately admit to Tony— he had screamed like a little girl whose pig tails were merely pulled.

The girl that was in the room with him? She was not any better.

"Won't tell if you don't!" James said as promptly as realization crept in.

"Deal," the girl promised, and James couldn't help but notice that she couldn't be more than fifteen.

"I am James Rhodes." He introduced and was confounded when her eyes grew as big as saucers.

"You are Rhodey? Tony's Rhodey?" Wincing a little at the name Tony would call him, James nodded.

"I am Annabeth, Annabeth Pierce, Tony's best friend," James smiled knowing the girl's name considering all that he at present knew about her.

James knew she was a party girl, continuously getting in trouble, but he was also aware of her heart of gold from all of Tony's stories.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Annabeth," James smiled politely.

"Likewise, Rhodey."

That's how the dynamic duo naturally became a trio.

present

In the present circumstances, for those who until now didn't know, Annabeth was a perfectionist, from top to toe.

When she was only but a child, she was no different. She had to be the best at every memorable game, every sport, every competition that she valiantly attempted. Her creations consistently had to be the best, no matter what.

As she grew maturer, this perfectionist trait followed her. She had to receive the most significant marks in any class she took. She willingly gave up nights out with her friends, even Tony, in order to diligently study. God forbid she didn't get perfect marks, missing even one question, she's get furious at herself. She always had to be the top of her class.

Yet this has been not the only area that perfectionism had been taken over. It followed on to every job she took and just like every perfectionist, even the slightest of things could change everything quite drastically.

Annabeth was tremendously tired that day and all she desired was to get home and get inside her comfortable little bed, order some sushi and—

She shook herself out of her conscious thoughts. She only just had to remind Tony about his organizational meeting and then Pepper promised to take over from her.

Holding on to her Stark Pad, Annabeth knocked on Tony's door.

"Come in," she heard and browsing through Tony's schedule, she didn't yield that much of attention to the person in the office. Or people.

"Good Morning, Mr. Stark," she cordially greeted as she carefully pulled out his current timings, "You have a meeting in ten— Rhodey?"

And right there, across from Tony was the one and James Rhodes.

"Annabeth?" he reasonably questioned, clearly surprised.

She nodded eagerly and smiled at him affectionately.

Back then, when times were much simpler, she and James had been the best of friends, occasionally pranking Tony and stuff.

He was supposed to be Peter's dear godfather.

Meanwhile, Rhodey turned to Tony and then back at Annabeth, still confused about how this ever happened.

"Close your mouth, Rhodey," Tony gently chided, "You look like a gaping fish."

He was conveniently ignored.

"I thought you were dead."

Annabeth didn't reply. How could she? How could she describe to him how she genuinely felt?

As much as Annabeth tenderly loved Rhodey, she knew that he wouldn't discern what it was like for her.

Annabeth had lost everything, and this was not something she could just talk about.

"And what about you, man? Colonel?" she gently teased but oh, was Rhodey having none of it.

"No, no, no— Anna!" he said ideally, getting up from his seat in an instant to glare at her, "You tell me what you are doing here right now!"

"Working," Both Tony and Annabeth adequately answered in unison.

"WORKING?!"

"I am Mr. Stark's assistant," she informed him through gritted teeth, "Here to fulfil his every need and demand that relates to the wellbeing of Stark industries."

That's when it dawned on Rhodey— Tony's master revenge plan was actually pretty genius.

"Wow, man," he remarked out loud, "That's actually smart."

"It absolutely is, isn't it Mr. Rhodes," she made a face at the pair, "What do you say about me poisoning you with a cup of coffee? While Mr. Stark gets prepared for his meeting, of course."

Rhodey gained the great sense of saying no.

Maybe things would never be the same again, but the faint smile James sported on his face was a proof that none of them were the same as they used to be.

Tony lost his parents, his kid, his longtime girlfriend and became a CEO.

Rhodey went through comforting his dearest friend and lived through war.

Annabeth lost her mother, her son, and everything that mattered to her, changing her.

Maybe things would be different, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing.

Pepper Potts was tired; tired of all the secrets Annabeth brought with her.

In the present climate, don't induce her wrong— she had loved Annabeth from the moment she met her but Pepper would be a fool to not apprehend that there was something more enormous at play here.

Annabeth embarked on her routine life like nothing was wrong, while around her, her very life crumbled to dust, visible for those who bothered to look. She went through the same routines ever day, yet even she can't tell she had long stopped properly doing them and was merely going through the motions. She had been reduced to nothing more than a robot, an automaton. Worse yet, it seemed to Pepper that Annabeth would never comprehend this, unless she stepped in.

There was in addition the fact that for some apparent reason, Tony absolutely wouldn't let Annabeth perform any real work.

After long thoughts, Pepper decided to achieve what she did best— manage the company and well... therapy never really hurt anyone.

Picking up the phone, she called Dr. Allen, the old Stark Industries therapist who retired so that he could come here and see one last patient.

(pretend that's Annabeth with Rhodey and Tony)

like by merchantofdeath and 17.3 K others

colonelrhodes I normally don't post but remember when things used to be simpler? #tbt

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EDITED: 27/ 01/ 2022