A/N: I know that Whitney Frost and the Maggia are not actually in the movie-verse, but I wanted to incorporate them into this fic, as Whitney is a love interest of Tony's. Pairings will be: Tony/Rhodey (main), Tony/Whitney and Pepper/Happy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Iron Man
Summary: follow up to "Drink and Drive" and "Car Wash". Rhodey should've realised that he and Tony would never last forever. No matter how many times Tony said "I love you", he was never going to change. Tony/Rhodey slash – don't like, don't read! Warnings inside.
Rating: M – slash, smut, swearing and lots and lots of angst... all the good stuff :)
Changing Gears
Chapter 1: Accelerate
"I'm going to ask Rhodey to move in." Tony stated.
He was sitting on a stool in the workshop, fixing up his Hot Rod and considering some upgrades for his Iron Man suit. Pepper was standing nearby, leaning against the workbench, holding a clipboard in one hand and a blackberry in the other, planning Tony's day and reminding him of any meetings he had to go to.
"... And you have to go to the charity gala tonight." Pepper continued with Tony's agenda, ignoring his previous statement. "Happy said he'll bring the car around at six to pick us up to make sure we get there with plenty of time, just in case there's really bad traffic in the city. I'm going to pick up your suit and my dress in about an hour or so..."
"Pepper, are you even listening to me?" Tony asked.
"What?" She lowered the clipboard and sighed. "I'm sorry, Tony. I'm just so stressed out at the moment. I need to sort out everything for this charity gala, I keep getting phone calls asking about you from loads of different newspapers and magazines – including Christine Everhart from Vanity Fair, there are loads of people phoning about the Iron Man suit, I have to get you ready for all of this and all you want to do is sit in your workshop building your car or Iron Man suit – and when you're not doing that Rhodey's here or your at his place doing God only knows what!"
"Pepper, I'm sure God isn't the only one who knows what we're doing." Tony said. "I'm pretty sure Rhodey's neighbours know too, considering they were banging on the door yelling for us to be quiet." He threw down his tools and wiped him grimy hands with an old rag. "So, did you hear my before you started going on about this charity thing?"
"No. Did you say something?" Pepper asked, shoving the blackberry into her pocket, scribbling something down on the clipboard.
"Yes. I said that I'm going to ask Rhodey to move in with me." Tony repeated.
"Oh."
"So what do you think?" Tony asked. "I want your advice, Pepper. You're my closest friend and I want to know if you think it's a good idea."
"Don't you think that you and Rhodey are taking things a bit too fast?" Pepper asked cautiously. "You two haven't even been together for a month yet."
"Tomorrow it'll be a month." Tony threw the rag down and began to inspect his handiwork.
"Yes, but..." Pepper hesitated. "People don't tend to move in with each other after one month of being together. They tend to wait a bit longer..."
"But we've known each other for years." Tony insisted. "Just because we're now screwing and an item it doesn't mean it's any different between us. Besides, he spends loads of time here and he usually ends up sleeping over."
"And you spend loads of time at his." Pepper argued. "Do you really think that you're both ready to move in together?"
"I think we are." Tony said.
"Well..." Pepper sighed. "I can't force you not to. Just... when you talk to him, make sure you both discuss it in depth. Make sure you listen to him Tony, not just yourself."
"Pepper, I always listen to Rhodey." Tony said, walking over to the workbench and grabbing his car keys. "I'm going to see Rhodey now. He's got a down day, so he should be at home. Have you seen my jacket?"
"Jacket." She stated, holding out Tony's leather jacket to him. "You left it down here when you came in last night. Make sure you're home in time for the gala." Pepper called after him as he walked over to the Audi R8.
"I will." Tony waved over his shoulder as he climbed into the car. "See you later."
"Bye bye." Pepper said. Tony wound down the car window.
"Oh, and tell Happy I'm bringing Rhodey to the gala." Tony said. "He's going to come in the car with me."
"Tony, please, please, please don't do anything to torture Happy." Pepper said, emphasising all of the pleases, trying to appeal to his better nature. "You know that he's not exactly comfortable with you and Rhodey so for God's sake don't start doing anything in the back of the car that makes him squirm. He's having enough problems coming to terms with it all."
"You have just given me an idea."
"I shouldn't have said anything, should I?" Pepper asked in despair.
"Nope." Tony shook his head and grinned. He started the car and put his foot down on the accelerator, speeding out of the tunnel.
xXx
Rhodey was lounging on his couch, wearing a tracksuit and drenched in sweat. He had just been out for a run, and was lazily considering going for a shower. Down days were always a good time to go for a run – there wasn't anything else to do except work through a pile of paperwork on his desk in the corner of the room.
Just as he was about to doze off, he was aware of a clicking sound – a key turning in the lock. Rhodey sat up and watched the door open, and Tony stride into the room.
Tony hang his car keys on the key rack, along with his key to Rhodey's apartment. He took off his jacket and hung it up on a coat hook, walking over to Rhodey and throwing himself down on the sofa beside him, making himself comfortable.
"Sometimes, I regret giving you your own key." Rhodey said.
"No you don't." Tony smiled and leant over, kissing Rhodey.
"You're right, I don't." Rhodey grinned. "Why do you always turn up just as I'm about to go and have a shower?"
"I have cameras in your apartment." Tony deadpanned.
"..." Rhodey's eyes narrowed and drifted up to the corners, scanning the room for where there might be a camera.
"I'm kidding. I don't have cameras, but I wish I did have a sixth sense that told me when you're getting into the shower." Tony said, patting Rhodey on the back. "Though now I have the idea, I'll bring some cameras with me next time."
"You are not putting cameras in my apartment." Rhodey stated. "So why are you here, if you didn't know that I was going to have a shower?"
"I wanted to talk to you." Tony said. "Oh, and I wanted to invite you to this charity gala I'm going to tonight. It'll be way more fun with you there too."
"Oh right. Well I'll go. I didn't have any other plans for tonight." Rhodey said. "What did you want to talk to me about?"
"I wanted to talk about us." Tony said, shifting on the couch to make himself more comfortable. He threw an arm over the back of the couch, around Rhodey's shoulders and smiled, his other hand resting on Rhodey's thigh. "Pepper doesn't think it's a good idea, but I want you to move in with me. Properly. Not just staying over for a couple of days or a week. I want you to come and live with me. You can still keep your apartment because it's closer to your work, but I think it's time we did move in together."
"Do I get a say in this?" Rhodey asked.
"Pepper told me that I had to listen to you." Tony shrugged. "So, what do you want to say?"
"Tony, we haven't even been together a month."
"That's what Pepper said. But it's a month tomorrow." Tony said. "So. Do you want to move in with me?"
"If I say no, you're just going to sulk until you find something else to be mad about." Rhodey laughed. "I'll move in with you, okay? I spend enough time at your house already, we might as well make it official."
"Good." Tony said. "How do you feel about making the whole relationship public?"
"I... don't really think that's a good idea for either of us." Rhodey said hesitantly. "If the press find out then they're never going to leave us alone. We both have reputations to uphold – I would have to leave my job and we would always be in the public eye. I don't want that, Tony. I want just us together. The public don't need to know."
"Then keep your distance from me tonight." Tony grinned.
I'll try." Rhodey grinned back at him. He stood up off the couch and walked towards the bathroom. He stopped in the doorway and turned to face Tony. "Whilst I'm in the shower are you going to sit there and watch TV, or are you going to join me?"
"What do you think?" Tony snorted, standing up and pulling his shirt over his head. He threw it onto the floor and kicked off his shoes, then walked past Rhodey, into the bathroom. "You better make this quick though – we have to get home and get ready for tonight." He called from the bathroom. Rhodey grinned and followed him, tugging off his tracksuit top.
"You're telling me to make this quick? Hypocrite." Rhodey kicked off his trainers and dropped his trousers and boxers, before stepping into the shower and turning the water on.
"I'll wait out here until you get the right temperature." Tony smiled, leaning against the bathroom wall. "Oh, screw it all. I want your body now." Tony finished stripping, throwing his clothes around the bathroom and slid the shower door open, stepping inside with Rhodey, feeling the warm water washing over him.
"Someone's a little impatient today." Rhodey murmured, leaning down and capturing Tony's lips in a kiss. Tony's arms snaked around Rhodey's neck and he deepened the kiss, opening his mouth and allowing Rhodey's tongue inside. Rhodey's arms went around Tony's waist, pulling him flush against his body.
"I missed you." Tony mumbled, pushing Rhodey against the wall of the shower. "Can we have sex now?"
"No. We don't have time if we have to get back to yours and get ready for this gala."
"Bastard." Tony grumbled, reaching down and stroking Rhodey's arousal. Rhodey threw his head back and groaned, leaning against the shower wall for support, trying to stop his knees giving way. Tony stopped and grinned. "Oh wait – we don't have time for this, do we? I'll stop then."
"Tony! Will you just fucking get on with it?" Rhodey growled. Tony chuckled and began to stroke Rhodey's arousal again. He loved it when Rhodey got frustrated. The growl in his voice made it deeper, and made him sound damn hot. Rhodey groaned, arching his hips and closing his eyes. Tony rested his forehead on Rhodey's shoulder, picking up the pace.
"God, I love it when you're mad." Tony whispered, kissing Rhodey's neck.
"Ah, fuck..." Rhodey moaned as he released, slumping against the wall, trying to stay standing upright instead of crumpling to the floor.
"Now that's over with, we can get cleaned up and go back to mine to get ready for this gala thing." Tony said, turning the water up and rinsing himself and Rhodey down. "Have you got your suit? I don't think it's at my house and Pepper went to go and pick ours up from the dry cleaners but she didn't say anything about yours. Actually – wear your uniform. It's a formal thing. You look hot in it."
"I'll wear my uniform. I prefer wearing it to a normal suit." Rhodey said. "I'll stick it in a suit bag and bring it up to yours with me."
"Are you taking your truck to my house, or are you coming in the R8 with me?" Tony asked, stepping out of the shower and grabbing a towel, wrapping it around his waist.
"I'm going in my truck." Rhodey said, turning off the shower and taking the towel Tony was handing to him. "I am never getting in a car with you after we went out in your R8, got drunk and had sex in it... and it's happened on my than one occasion. There's just something about being in that R8 that makes you horny as hell and you can't keep your hands to yourself."
"Race back to my house?" Tony asked, drying himself off.
"No. You're crazy when you're racing someone." Rhodey scowled. "Remember last week, when you nearly ran Happy off the road?"
"But I didn't." Tony said. He began to retrieve his clothes from the bathroom. "I'll see you at my house, okay?"
"See you there." Rhodey said. "I'll be along soon."
"Okay." Tony zipped up his jeans and pulled his t-shirt on. He walked over to Rhodey and pecked him on the lips. "I'll see you soon. I love you."
"Love you too!" Rhodey called after Tony as he walked out of the bathroom and out of the house.
Rhodey dried himself off and walked into his bedroom, throwing his tracksuit in a washing basket and pulling some jeans and a t-shirt on. He opened the closet and took out his dress uniform and pulled out a suit bag, carefully putting his uniform in the suit bag. He threw it over his shoulder and slipped his feet into some shoes, heading out of the apartment and down to his truck which was parked outside.
Tony was parked in front of Rhodey's truck, sitting in his R8, wearing sunglasses with a grin plastered on his face, revving the engine.
"What did I say about racing?" Rhodey asked.
"You said no." Tony replied. "But I always get what I want. Come on Rhodey, I promise we won't kill anyone... if they don't get in our way. And if we get pulled over I'll just pay the cops off. Please?"
"Fine." Rhodey threw his uniform into the back of his truck. "But you need to move your car out of the way first."
"That won't be a problem." Tony grinned and slammed his foot down on the accelerator, speeding off with his tyres squealing.
End of chapter 1!
I'd love to hear what you guys think.
In the next chapter they go to the gala, Tony yells at some kids on bikes and Whitney makes her first appearance. Stay tuned! :D
I Caught Myself.
