Disclaimer: Thanks for reminding me that I don't own anything aside from my Avengers and Iron Man 2 DVD. So, yeah, those characters are still of Marvel and I'm just a fan that is borrowing them.
Author's Note: Sorry for all the grammar mistakes I might have done. This story is not beta'd and I'm not a native English.
AN2: Set in and post-Avengers. Writen from Rhodey's POV.
I was in Japan when I first caught sight of what was happening in New York. Soon after the Vanko incident I started to travel with different meetings all over the world. Probably it was because my superiors respected and feared me in the same time ever since. They considered I should be the one to wear the 'battles' that are worn in the meeting rooms. That was fine by me. I never complained about anything.
I was sitting in front of all the board meeting when I felt my phone vibration in my trousers pocket. I frowned, knowing well that I had told Tony that I was going to be in a meeting the whole morning and there wasn't anyone else who'd call me from home. Despite the mean glares I received from the others that were present in the meeting room, I pulled out my phone and looked at the caller.
Tony Stark. Of course, I wasn't surprised. He was the only one who could've called me. My family uses to call me only in the weekends and my superiors knew that I was in a meeting. Not that Tony didn't but we all know how Tony is, isn't it? With an apologetical glance in the direction of my superiors, I stood up from the chair and made my way toward a corner where I could have a bit of privacy.
"Yes, Tony, what is it?" I asked as soon I received the call. Usually, I would answer with my name even if I knew who the caller is but this time I wanted to end the things faster. I couldn't bear the mean glares the others were giving me.
"Rhodey, where are you?" I heard Tony ask back and I rolled my eyes. Of course, he forgot that I'm in Japan. Yeah, great. Now I have to explain him everything.
I opened my mouth to give him an answer but then I heard Tony's muffled curse that soon transformed into a groan of pain. It didn't took too long until I heard something that sounded as Tony's iron suit being thrown across the ground. I knew that sound too well. It was the same sound it did like when I threw him across the room in Malibu a year and a half ago.
"Tony, what's going on?" I couldn't recognize my own voice. I felt a deep frown creep over my usually smooth forehead. I recognized the feeling as worry. The same feeling I always had when Tony was gone in a mission.
"How soon can you make it in New York with the War Machine suit on you?" His sudden question made my lips purse together as a bad feeling took over me. I knew that voice tone. It was the same Tony used when he told me that he was dying of Palladium. I always hoped that I won't ever hear that voice tone again on my friend.
"It could take me a hour and a half to make it there in the War Machine suit. I'm in Japan at the moment in a meeting but if you need-" I was cut off by Tony's curse and then his ragged breath. Now I was more than worried.
"Alright, Sourpatch. Continue your meeting then. I'll see you when you get back home." Without any other warning, I heard the call being cut and I stared blankly at the wall in front of me. Something was not okay in New York and I had to find out what it was.
I gave one more glance at my phone before I turned up the volume and placed it back in my pocket. Without a warning, I grabbed the remote control of the large TV that was placed across the wall. I could feel the mean glares of the generals on me but I didn't cared. The only thing I cared about was Tony's worried voice and what might happen in New York.
I flipped through the canals that were there but found nothing interesting. There were a few Japanesse movies or series on most of the canals and that made me angry. I suddenly felt thankful that I didn't turn up in a green rage monster when I was angry. I kept flipping angrily through the canals until I found some news. Finally.
The images in front of my eyes made me shiver on the inside. Destroyed buildings, cars on fire could be seen on the large screen of the TV. I couldn't understand where that was happening and I felt my chest tighten. Don't let it be in New York, sweet Jesus.
"Where is that happening, General Yang?" I asked the Japanesse man that was beside me. He looked just as shocked as I was.
Yang was the only general from Japan that I could wear a conversation with without getting a mean glare from him. He was in his mid sixties I think, with way too large brown eyes and short black hair. He was a good man. A good example for the other army men. I trusted him a lot more than I was suppossed to.
"In Manhattan. They're saying that it is an alien invasion and that a team...Avengers I think is their name, are the only ones that can fight with them." I felt my legs give away as I heard the team name. The Avengers Initiative! Of course I knew about it, Tony told me everything.
Without any other sound, I slipped on my jacket and ignored the calls of the generals as I stormed out of the room. At the moment, I didn't cared about anything else but about my best friend's safety. Despite that he was an imature idiot, Tony was my best friend and I wasn't going to leave him alone now. No, there was no way I was doing that to him.
I rose my white shirt sleeves until I found the iron bracels Tony gave me not too long time ago. He gave me those bracels to can call the War Machine to me anytime I needed. He said that suit was mine. At first, I didn't agreed with the idea but now I was glad I did. I had to get in Manhattan as soon is possible.
I hit the button from the bracel in a quick movement then opened my arms and legs widely. It took me less than a two minutes to get completely suited up with the War Machine suit and I felt myself feel safer in the iron suit. It reminded me that Tony was in one as well and that it was hard enough to protect him. But to protect him from human forces not aliens. I shook my head to clear my thoughts and closed my hemlet in a quick movement.
"Welcome back, Mr. Rhodes." The British voice echoed throught my ears and a small smile formed on my lips despite my mood.
"Get me to Manhattan. Right now, Jarv." I said firmly and fixed my eyes on the screens in front of me. I could hear the AI think about it and then heard his voice trying to form a word but I held up my armored hand. "I don't want to hear that. I just want to get in New York right now. No other comments."
"Yes, sir." Jarvis responded and I felt my legs being lifted from the ground.
I still felt unsafe with flying around in an iron suit but I trusted Tony enough. He was a good engineer. No, let me change that. He was the best engineer and creator. Only then I realized my own thoughts. Did I just thought of him as if he was and he isn't anymore? I shook my head in denial once again. I couldn't give up that easily. He was my friend and I knew he'd do the same for me if I was in his place.
"No, Rhodes. He can make it through and you'll be there to help him." I said to myself but I couldn't believe my own words. With a deep breath, I asked Jarvis to put all the power in the propulsors and take me to the battle. Because yes, that was my battle as well. Whatever was Tony's battle was mine as well. This is what friends should do.
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