I love writing this a lot, I just wish that more people would read or comment but I guess I can't have everything. Thank you for who are reading and voting, it means a lot to me (:

Tbh, i wanted to write this scene involving Steve not Rhodey but the ending of this chapter is significant between Tony and Rhodey's friendship and of Tony himself. I'll be writing Steve in the next chapter, I promise. This chapter is just something I've even wanting to write.

Oh.my.god I can't get Howard's personality correct

4000+ words (Holy shit this is the most I've ever wrote for a chapter)

"Honey Bear!"Is the greeting that James Rhodes is met with the Second that he steps into Stark Mansion - and okay, sometimes he thought that Tony was over exaggerating on the size but now as he stands in the grand front hall, it's fucking massive - with his suitcase trailed behind him on the marble floor and a backpack slung over his shoulder.

For the years that Tony and Rhodey have been friends it wasn't usual for Tony to be the one inviting Rhodey over to his home in Rhode Island, because yeah they stayed in the London apartment when they visited London over the summer and one of the Winter cabins in Canada last winter, but it was always just them too, in a house that defiantly didn't feel like a home. Rhodey hadn't questioned it, he knew of how bad of a relationship Tony had with his parents - or at least knew some of it.

Shamelessly, Tony had made himself right at home the first time he had visited the Rhodes household, bundled up with blankets and ushered in front of the fire the Second he came in front the snow blizzard outside. He was a people pleaser and a damn charmer, and Rhodey would've been jealous of affection his mother was giving to Tony but really, it made him happy that Tony was getting the motherly affection and attention he knew he deserved.

"Tones."Rhodey grins whenever he spots Tony dashing down the grand steps, skipping two at a time and dressed in a tank top and dirty jeans, obvious that he was working on something in his room before the old man arrived. His hair is a mess of curls, forming a nest on top of his head and something that's only familiar when the younger man is just out of the shower or woken up.

The grin on Rhodey's face flatters whenever he comes face to face to the damage that has been thrust upon Tony's body, from the healing scars on his face, arms and chest and the odd blue glow of the arc reactor that is now nestled in his chest. He was told by Tony of what the damages were, even send the blueprints for the arc rector, but seeing it now doesn't help the overwhelming sensation he now feels.

"I've missed you so much."Tony is quick to collide into Rhodey's chest, arms wrapping around the older man in a desperate hug that he's been longing for for weeks.

"I've missed you too, Tones."He lets out a relaxed sigh, the tension he didn't know was heavy on his shoulders melting away whenever he has Tony in his arms. His head had been swimming in worry over the holidays whenever Tony had failed to ring and message him constantly like he usually does, and even more so after he had woken up and told him of the situation.

"You have no fucking idea how happy I am to see you. Did you know that I found fur in my pudding while in hospital? Fucking fur, Rhodey."Tony looks up at the man, his face fallen is shock and disgust of what he had to endure. Of course it didn't happen every day, because not every day did he eat, and sometimes Steve came up with cheeseburgers which was excellent but still.

"I get it wasn't even fur,"

"It was!"

"You're delusional. What are you smoking now."Rhodey rolls his eyes before giving the shorter male a playful glare that means more than meets the eye.

"I'm clean! I promise!"Tony raises his hands up in surrender, taking a step away from Rhodey who continues to give him that disapproving look that he has seemed to develop over the time he's known Tony Stark."Well, I've been doped up on Morphine for like 3 weeks but I'm clean of weed, and cocaine-"

"Tony!"

"Oh my god, I'm teasing."Tony rolls his eyes, gesturing with his hands around the empty space that surrounds them. Anything coming into the house for the dinner would be entering through the backdoor into the rooms strictly only used for Dinners and guests, it also helps draw attention away from the damage of the house that is still noticeable."It's not as if anyone listening cares what I get up to anyway."

"That's besides the point,"Rhodey gives him that look, one that causes Brendon to half pause in his actions.

His habits never venture far and never where they addicting, something that Tony is proud of himself because it's not easy. They never were the hard stuff, because as much as Tony is a thriving to be alcoholic - it's in his blood, it's his density for sure - and has a thing for the odd blow of weed now and again or sometimes Ecstasy whenever Ty sneaks him it, he wasn't stupid nor immature enough to do anything harder or idiotic as cocaine or heroine.

Don't get him wrong, he's had his close encounters and each and every time he's been well over his head with some type of illegal substance in his system and encouraging words whispered in his ear as they're crowded in a frat house bathroom. He's just lucky to have his guardian angel around to drag him out of those types of situations.

"Are you hungry? I bet you're hungry. I'll tell one of the chefs to cook you up something. Something small, snackish, cheese grills? Yeah okay."Tony dodges, babbling away as he grabs at Rhodey's arm."Come on, you're bunking with me."

"Of course I am."Rhodes rolls his eyes fondly, allowing himself to be dragged towards the stairs with his backpack and suitcase in tow."Doesn't your house have like 20 bedrooms?"

"Damaged from the explosion."Tony flashes his best friend a smirk over his shoulder before he's bolting up the stairs, phone appearing in his hand as he messages out the request for grilled cheeses and coffee to be sent up to his bedroom, knowing that one of the servants working tonight will bring it up.

Rhodey follows because he knows very well that there are plenty of bedrooms that were not damaged during the explosion but he says bothering more of the matter. It was evident that Tony had a thing about sleeping with someone else in the room, it claimed to make him feel safer, protected and less vulnerable, it explained why he always looked more exhausted coming back from break than going away.

"Sorry for the mess, hasn't been gutted since summer."Tony apologises because despite his attempts to clean up whenever Rhodey told him of him arriving, it still, wasn't enough to clean up the sheets of paper and forgotten mugs that once contained coffee.

"I share a dorm with you, I know how you are. As long as I've got a place to sleep, I don't care."He laughs, throwing his backpack onto the bed and having a look around the bedroom. It's a big bedroom, not overly big that there wasn't enough room but big for only one occupant and sometimes none for most of the time."So what's the plan for tonight?"

"Hmm?"Tony spins from where his mind is distracted by staring at his phone screen. He's has yet to get a reply from Steve and it was worrying away at the back of his head."Oh! Dinner starts at 8, the guests will most likely arrive by 7. They're all snobby bastards and old tarts so unfortunately you can't get laid tonight."

"You're a dick."

"I know."Tony smirks, throwing himself down into one of his chairs. The tank top hangs low at his chest, exposing he healing scars and the top of the arc reactor clearly to Rhodey."My mom has brought in a make up artist to fix my face-"

"That's more of a miracle than just make up, Tones."

"Fuck you."He pouts before he continues."You have that option too if you'd like, don't look at me like that, I know. Anyway, Jarvis is picking up your suit on his way back here, it's black, crisp and new. It'll suit you very well, I'm sure of it."

"How's your folks taking this?"

"Shit."Tony slumps in his chair, hands fiddling with the phone as he keeps peering for a message back from Steve."My mom is blaming me for her psychotic melt down and for the downfall of the company, and Howard is only finding interest in me due to the arc reactor. He'd probably rip it outta my chest if he got close enough."

"Ouch."Rhodey makes a pained sound in sympathy. It took no genius to know that Tony didn't get on well with his parents, especially his father that Tony barely spoke word about, and if he did, it was always in babbled sentences in the middle of the night after Tony was shook awake from a nightmare.

"Yeah."He sighs, spinning in the chair for a second before he pauses, glancing up at Rhodey. The older of the two is already looking his way a Tony, a soft encouraging smile on his lips."I'm really glad that you're here, Honey Bear."

"I'll always be here for you, Tones."

Time seems to fly in, with the two of them changing in the bedroom and bathroom before Tony is being dragged away for make up and returning only when the make up artist that his Mother hired has done her best to cover up the healing scars that are inflicting his face. Sulkily, Tony obliges to having his hair styled, taming the unruly nest of curls that he's been blessed with but yet his mother hates that he has.

The nerves never settle and only seem to get worse as the dinner approaches and he hears news of who will be attending from the bustling staff who pass him and Rhodey in the hallway. He knows that he shouldn't care of who will be here, but in a way that he does, these are the people that will be handling the company alongside Tony whenever Howard bites the dust and as much as Tony is an alcoholic to be, he doesn't want to be known as an asshole alcoholic like Howard.

"If my mom doesn't know who you are, don't be offended. She can barely remember that I'm her son half of the time."Tony warns, elbows hooked with Rhodey's as they walk down the staircase together, dressed in their matching crisp suits and styled to perfection by a hired stylist. He can hear the clink of champagne flutes and the chatter from the main rooms, causing his palms to sweat.

"Tony-"

"Jarvis will know of you, I'll introduce you to him. I've told him all about you."Tony smiles to himself in a fond way, remembering the way he had excitedly rang Jarvis and his Aunt Peggy about the news or actually gaining is first friend. He has sounded so much like a child, and to think, he was only 15 so that was being a child.

"All good things I hope."Rhodey smirks, causing Tony to flash him a signature Tony Stark grin.

"Of course."

With a slow pace, the pair make it towards the grand hall that's only used for dinner parties and important business meetings that Tony is usually barred from. The atmosphere changes whenever they reach the opened doors, peering into the room almost shyly as if they're on the look out for a missing friend.

Tony has that tight, fake smile on his face that Rhodey has came accustomed too, feeling the younger man tense by his side whenever he is now the centre of attention, the chattering dying down to an uncomfortable murmur.

"Anthony!"Maria Stark says almost loudly but not a shout, setting her champagne flute onto a passing tray as she gracefully makes her way towards the pair that remain standing at the door. For her sage, Maria Stark sure is beautiful in her silky red evening gown and jewels and Rhodey can see where Tony gets his good looks from.

Tony tenses whenever she sees his mom come towards him, already able to see the effects of whatever Howard has given her to 'calm her nerves' take over. She's a social butterfly, Tony knows that he gets it from her.

"You brush up handsome."Maria is pressing a gentle kiss upon Tony's cheek, her eyes lingering on the blue of the arc rector that can be seen under his shirt. It turns his stomach at the lingering stare, just wanting to curl in on himself or dash up the stairs if it wasn't for Rhodey."And who is this?"

"I'm James Rhodes, ma'am."Rhodey gives her his most polite smile, offering his hand to shake just the way that his Momma had taught him to treat ladies with respect."I'm Tony's roommate at MIT."

"How nice."Maria gives Rhodey a smile, pulling her hand away whenever the handshake ends. Her eyes catch sight of their hooked elbows, giving Tony a look with a raised eyebrow that makes him squirm because he was not going to have his Mother bring that up. Not in front of Rhodey.

"Maria."Howard approaches, touching Maria's arm gently as a sign to get her attention. Tony sucks in a breath, cursing the fact that he hasn't been able to avoid interaction with Howard but maybe he can just duck away, back away and pretend to never have been standing here."Anthony."

"Howard."Tony finds himself automatically replying, looking at Howard with the same monotone expression that suggests he wants to be anywhere but here.

"Howard, this is James, A friend of Anthony's from school."Maria introduces almost proudly, smiling at her husband and then to Rhodey who offers his own polite smile in return, keeping his elbow locked with Tony's as he offers his hand for Howard to shake.

"Pleased to meet you, Sir."

"You're a friend of Anthony?"

"I am, Sir. He's a pleasure to be friends with, I can't imagine being friends with anyone else but him."Rhodey replies with honesty in his voice because he can't imagine his life without Tony now that he managed to wiggle himself into his life. It was endearing, and he loves Tony with all of his heart In a way he didn't think he'd be able to.

"Hmm."Howard hums, his eyes casting towards to Tony. There's a look in the younger Starks eyes that dares Howard to speak ill mannerly towards Rhodey, ready to lash out at the man. Howard looks like he's about to open his mouth to say something more before he decides to close it, giving his son one last look before turning his attention to this wife."Dear, there's somebody that I want to introduce you to. Come with me."

"It was lovely to meet a friend of Tony's."Maria gives Rhodey a sincere smile before she is being ushered away by Howard, he man giving his son a look that means all too much as he walks away, leaving the two where they stand.

"Are you okay?"Rhodey is quick to asking whenever Tony's parents are out of earshot of their conversation. Tony shakes off his dreading fear of the evening, looking at Rhodey with a tight fitting smile on his face.

"I'm fine, lets just get this over and done with. Yeah?"

The evening up to Dinner goes as smoothly as possible, with Tony mingle with guests and Rhodey dragged by their hooked elbows to be introduced and talk to individuals and groups that honestly don't care for their education or well being but are only here because they were given the invitation by Howard Stark to attend. Something that's seen more or less as a blessing.

Tony is never more glad to have Rhodey along side of him during their mingling, mostly because the attention was often moved off of the Arc Reactor whenever brought up, thanks to Rhodey being able to stir the conversation a different direction. And of course, not all of their interactions were overly bad or boring which also helped the entire situation.

Dinner was awkward, more for the fact that Tony had been stuck up by the head of the table along side his Mother and a member of Howards company while Rhodey had been stuck further down in between two duchesses to be. Thankfully, Maria had been distracted enough by her boss of wine and friendly conversation to notice of the phone in her Sons hands under the table as he texted Rhodey.

Shamelessly enough, Tony had still been waiting anxiously for a reply from Steve since he had send that message. In the pit of his stomach he hopes that he hasn't drawn Steve away from him simply because of his far too forward way with everything, because he knows he says things without thinking, and he knows he talks too much and maybe says things that he shouldn't. He's not good with people, unless he's drunk or high that is.

"Rhodey?"Tony calls in search for the man in question. The Second dinner had been called to an end, Tony was up like a flash to get some fresh air, to get away from the thick tension that was slowly starting to stir between himself and Howard with every ticking minute and every slurred word.

The air is crisp against his skin whenever he stands outside, the December wind blowing through his hair as he closes the front door and stands out into the gravel. He can still hear the chatter of guests from outside, the contrast of the light shining from the house against the darkness of outside.

With shaking hands, Tony is reaching into the pocket of his suit, pulling out his packet of cigarettes and cherished lighter. He pulls a cigarette out of the packet, stuffing it back into his pocket as the cigarette dangles between his lips. Leaning against the side of the brick, Tony is flicking the lighter, bringing it up to the cigarette.

"Pretty boys shouldn't smoke."He hears a gruff voice tut, causing Tony to turn his attention towards the voice. A familiar figure stands a couple of feet away from him, in a suit that costs probably the same amount as one of Howard's prized cars.

"Well I ain't pretty."Tony mutters, brining the lighter down and taking the cigarette out from between his lips. He'd been tempted, an inching feeling under his skin since he had left the hospital because he might not smoke all of the time but he did when he was anxious and right now, he was very anxious.

"That's where you're very wrong,"

"Tell me where I'm wrong."Tony sighs with a roll of his brown eyes, rolling his head to the side in a way of boredom to cast a glance at Obadiah Stane as the man approaches. He knows well of Obadiah Stane, he's had his encounters and none of them have been pleasant.

Even at a young age Obadiah had managed to make Tony chill to the bone with every side eye glance or smirk that had tugged on his lips, or the way he didn't hesitate to get into Tony's personal space whenever the two of them had been alone. They were memories that Tony often blocked our, but in a twisted type of way often invited.

"I've never seen a boy so capable of looking captivating even in bad publicity photos."He trails off, taking a puff of the cigar that's between his own lips."You know the ones. The coming out a club at 3am with a 30 year old guy grinding on your ass. You're lucky I keep those sort of things away from your Father."

"God help the day he finds out that his son is a slut. Oh what shall I do."Tony dramatically places a hand over his chest, holding back the cringe as his hand brushes the arc reactor before he continues."Maybe he'll cut off my credit card or worse, have to talk to me about it."

"A mouth like that won't get yourself a partner."

"A mouth like mine gets dick, Mr.Stane."Tony deadpans, looking away from the man as he scuffs the toe of his shoe into the gravel."You would know all about that, wouldn't you?"Tony raises a perfectly plucked eyebrow at the man who stands before him, blowing cigar smoke into his face in a way that Tony would usually punch a guy in the gut for."Howard wouldn't like his business partner touching up his only heir."

"Who says anything about touching?"

"The hand hovering over my crotch."Tony points out, his eyes casting down to where one of Obadiah's hands are hovering over Tony's clothed crotch, suddenly feeling very cornered and concealed now that the man has gotten him trapped between the brick wall and himself.

"I won't tell if you don't,"Obi almost whispers, his voice gruff in that way that makes Tony's stomach curl and turn, wanting to throw up the food he had forced himself to eat only because his Mother kept giving him concerned glances. He swallows thickly whenever Obi leans in further, a stench of expensive cigar on his clothing."And we both know that you never tell."

"Tony?"Rhodey's voice calls loudly, causing Obi to flinch away and for Tony to say against the wall in relief that he had been stopped before anything further could happen. There's a curl of fear inside of Tony's stomach at the thought of being caught because god knows he doesn't need anymore attention.

"Rhodey."Tony gives a tight smile of relief, his hands reaching out for Rhodey whenever the older man is in distance, grabbing at his hands. There's a look of concern washed over Rhodey's face, a look in his eyes that tells Tony they'll talk more later.

"I've been looking everywhere for you. You'd dashed so quickly from the dinning room that I didn't know where you went."Rhodey explains, giving Tony's hands a squeeze, looking between Tony and Obi."And who are you?"

"One of Howard's business partners, trying to chat me up about ideas for the company."Tony covers smoothly."He was just leaving."

"A tough nut to crack."Obi shakes his head with a dark chuckle, one that causes Tony to shiver and move closer to Rhodey in an automatic reaction for protection. He leaves rather quickly, casting a glance at Tony as he leaves, the pair remaining outside in the cold December night.

"What happened? Are you okay?"Rhodey panics, a hand resting on Tony's cheek not minding of the make up that he wears. Shakily, Tony sighs, his heart pumping in his chest as the nerves of what has happened before Rhodey arrived still running in his head, mixing with other events similar to the one before that continue to scar Tony's mind, a deep dark secret that even Rhodey doesn't know of.

"I'm fin-"

"Don't give me that 'I'm fine' bullshit, Tones. Did that man do anything to you? Because I swear, if that son of a bitch laid a hand on you, I'll rip it fucking off."Rhodey promises, a look in his eyes that shows that he means business by what he says. Shakily, Tony gives his best friend a smile, sagging into his chest for a much wanted hug because he always feels protected when he's with Rhodey,

"Just take me to bed, Rhodey."

I'll have so much protective Rhodey in later chapters, because I love Rhodey.

Steve chapter next!

Please tell me your opinions!

On the entire dinner?

On between Tony and Obi?

Your opinion on Rhodey as a character and his and Tony's friendship?

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Peace✌🏼