James Rhodes does not think Tony is an angel. If angels were like Tony then heaven would be in serious trouble in regards to their purity quota. Tony doesn't go to church or have wings or preach cleanliness of mind and soul. He's just some cocky superhero with too much brains and too little self restraint. Because a real angel would never ever swoop down on James on his way to ream his new cadets for their latest blunder and carry him so high into the air he can't see the insignia on his new car.
"TONY! Put me the hell down!"
"What? I can't hear you over the sound of me saving your life, speak up."
"Saving my life?"
Then James looks down and watches the car explode into a million different pieces. There's a faint click and James turns his head as much as he dares to see the insignia of his brand new BMW bounce off the Iron Man suit. Tony detects it as well and reroutes their course, lowering their altitude by increments until they're at the mansion. He removes his mask, running a hand through his hair,
"You should really start doing background checks on your dealerships there Rhodes."
"Yeah well I never saw any reason to."
"Oh yeah no, why would anyone want to hurt you. You're only the sidekick slash best friend of the most powerful and loved man in the city, maybe the country, okay let's be honest the world. Nobody would ever ever want to come after you. I'm being silly." He punches the other man's shoulder, greeting the colonel's silent glare with a wink, "I've gotta run, try not get blown up."
And before James can respond the mask is back on and Iron Man is shooting past the clouds.
Yeah, besides the flying through the air and saving people thing, there is nothing angelic about Tony Stark.