Story Info
Title: 10 Parables of Rapport
Author: Del Rion
Fandom: Iron Man & The Avengers (MCU)
Genre: Drama, fluff, romance
Rating: T / FRT
Characters: Bruce Banner (Hulk), Clint Barton (Hawkeye), DUM-E (Tony's bot), Nick Fury, Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, James "Rhodey" Rhodes (War Machine), Steve Rogers (Captain America), Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow), Tony Stark (Iron Man), Thor. (Mentioned characters: James "Bucky" Barnes, Phil Coulson, Jane Foster, J.A.R.V.I.S., Howard Stark, U (Tony's bot).)
Pairings: Pepper/Tony, implied/off-screen Jane/Thor
Summary: Four tokens of friendship, three romantic gestures, two confessions of love – and one kiss Tony meant with all his heart.
Complete.
Written for: My card on Love Bingo's Round 3 (10 squares, see chapters and 'About' section for further information)
Warnings: Language, mourning of canonical deaths. Spoilers for Iron Man 3.
Disclaimer: Iron Man, Avengers and Marvel Cinematic Universe, including characters and everything else, belong to Marvel, Marvel Studios, Jon Favreau, Shane Black, Joss Whedon, Louis Leterrier, Kenneth Branagh, Joe Johnston, Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and Universal Pictures. In short: I own nothing; this is pure fiction created to entertain likeminded fans for no profit whatsoever.
Beta: Mythra
Feedback: Comments are a form of love.
About 10 Parables of Rapport: Each chapter responds to a different square on my card – and also illustrates Tony's attempts to connect with the people around him.
Mostly, this story is filled with unapologetic fluff, but I know my lovely beta, among others, will be appreciative of this.
Chapters and statuses: Below you see the writing process of the story's chapters. If there is no text after the chapter's title, then it is finished and checked. Possible updates shall be marked after the title.
1: Rhodey & Tony
2: Clint & Tony
3: Pepper & Tony
4: Steve & Tony
5: Thor & Tony
6: Happy& Tony
7: Bruce & Tony
8: Fury & Tony
9: Natasha & Tony
10: DUM-E & Tony
. . .
Written for my card on Love Bingo's Round 3. Square: "Birthdays & Anniversaries".
1: Rhodey & Tony
It was Rhodey's day off – Tony had made sure of that. No plans, no distractions; no 'two men in metal suits', although that would have been fun, too. Just, not today.
Today was for Tony and Rhodey, without duties or obligations.
It was early when Tony drove to Rhodey's place. Even though the other man got up every day like military clockwork, Tony knew there was no way Rhodey was already up. Sure, he could have called ahead to make sure, like a normal person, but it wouldn't be that much of a surprise if he did.
So, there was some anticipation in the air when Tony knocked on the door – Rhodey had keys to all of Tony's places, but not the other way around, for some reason. Inside, Tony heard movement, then the deliberately heavy footsteps of a person who would rather not be disturbed. Then, without warning, the door was yanked open; Rhodey didn't even bother with the peephole.
Tony grinned.
Rhodey scowled. "The fuck, Tony? Do you know what time it is?"
People might think Tony wasn't an early riser, but that theory didn't include not getting into bed in the first place. So, Tony may have made early visits to people ever since… ever since he met Rhodey, actually, because before him, Tony didn't have anyone to visit.
"Rise and shine!" Tony greeted his oldest friend and moved to push himself inside.
Rhodey resolutely stood his ground, refusing him entrance. "It's not even five in the morning."
"It will be if you just keep standing there," Tony argued. "Let me in, put on some clothes. I have plans."
"I'm going back to bed," Rhodey decided and yawned, starting to close the door.
Tony wedged his foot between it and the frame before Rhodey could block him. "Come on, Rhodes," Tony started again. "This is a special day! You can't deny me this!"
"Deny you what?" Rhodey grumbled back, opening the door again, regarding him darkly.
"Your presence." Tony dropped the act, just a little. "Do you know what day it is?"
Rhodey frowned. "It's not either of our birthdays."
"No."
"It's not a holiday of any kind."
"Nope."
"Okay, so, I have no idea, the sun's not even up, and you are being a cryptic little shit," Rhodey finally snapped.
"This is the day we met. Or, well, to be precise, this is the anniversary of that morning when you dragged me from that bar into your dorm-room and I sort of never left." Tony looked hopefully at the other man. "I want to celebrate that."
"At five in the morning?"
"It's not five yet, but sure, if you insist."
Rhodey let out a long suffering sigh, then pulled the door open and turned, stretching and yawning as he retreated deeper into his home. Tony followed him, closing the door and dropping his jacket on a chair but continued to carry a cheap, simple plastic bag in his hand. Rhodey had disappeared into his bedroom and for a moment Tony wondered whether he had gone back to bed, but Rhodey soon emerged once more, pulling on a t-shirt clad in sweat pants instead of his underwear.
"Okay," the older man finally said, heading to the kitchen. "So, you want to celebrate the anniversary of our friendship?"
"Yup," Tony smiled and followed him, placed the plastic bag on the table and instantly started to look around for coffee. Rhodey beat him to it and threw some grounds into the coffee maker, switched it on, then sat down at the kitchen table while still looking half-asleep. His eyes briefly gazed at the plastic bag, then back at Tony.
"You've never wanted to celebrate the anniversary of our meeting before," Rhodey said next.
"I have!"
"When?"
Tony thought about it for a few seconds. "Okay, so, maybe not often, but… We've both been busy," he offered. Rhodey raised one dark eyebrow at him and Tony guessed it was a poor excuse. Instead, he reached for the plastic bag. "I brought food."
That always got Rhodey's attention. All the time they had known each other, Rhodey had been either growing, a health nut, or working out hard for military school and becoming the best pilot he could be – and to look good in the armor, of course. Plus, it took some real muscle to move War Machine around, so it was good he was fit. Thus, Tony had known Rhodey's morning grumpiness could be bribed with food.
First, he pulled out a box with two large bagels in it. Second came two cans of beer, and then a paper bag full of nice jam doughnuts with a cheery pink glazing. Rhodey immediately dug into one of the bagels, then grabbed a can of beer, giving it a serious look.
Tony shrugged. "Do you know how many stores are open at this hour?" he defended the poor food selection.
Rhodey shrugged and opened the can, taking a sip from it. "Better shit than we used to drink at MIT," he noted.
Tony grinned. "You were at the wrong parties."
"We were at the same parties," Rhodey argued.
"Nuh-uh. I had way better things to drink," Tony vehemently defended his opinion and pulled over his own bagel and beer. The coffee maker on the counter finished brewing and Rhodey took a giant bite of the bread, munching on it as he retrieved two cups from a cupboard and filled them, then brought them back to the table.
Rhodey's eyes next located the paper bag of doughnuts and opened it, frowning at the contents. "Seriously, Tony?"
"They looked delicious," Tony shrugged. "The others were… unappealing."
Rhodey pulled out one of the treats, showing Tony the heart-shaped doughnut with glazing on top. Okay, so the glazing also had a heart drawn into it with what looked like thick, delicious chocolate. "These look like Valentine's Day desserts."
"I can eat them if you don't want any," Tony taunted and went to grab the treat from Rhodey, who quickly pulled it back out of Tony's reach.
"I'm just sayin'," Rhodey muttered and placed the doughnut next to his mostly-eaten bagel.
"I could have brought candles, too," Tony mused. "The small ones you put on cakes."
"Those are for birthdays," Rhodey argued and sipped his coffee instead.
"Or for celebrations – which this is."
"With bagels, beer and heart-shaped doughnuts?"
"I trusted you would have more beer lying around," Tony confessed. "Or I can go by the store once they actually open. Or have something delivered."
"As long as they don't have candles – or hearts," Rhodey said, although it didn't sound like a 'yes' to any of Tony's suggestions.
"You're just cranky because you have no romance in your life," Tony teased, polishing off his bagel and trying the coffee, which was hot and very strong.
"You don't know that."
"Oh, please," Tony cocked an eyebrow. "How about I romanticize your life a little…?"
"We're not getting hookers, Tony."
"I wasn't saying we should, or would. Are you suggesting that lil' old me isn't enough?"
Rhodey gave him a look like he needed more coffee – or more something – but finished his cup anyway, then reached for the rest of his beer. "You don't have to try so hard, Tony," he finally said.
"You're wrecking the mood," Tony accused him, but tried to settle down a little. He proceeded to empty his beer can, the drink less than pleasant in its warm state, but it would do. This was something they used to do. This was normal.
Rhodey just gave him a small smile. "Yeah? Maybe you should have gotten those candles after all…"
Tony tossed the now empty beer can at him, and Rhodey dared to laugh – then bit into the doughnut he had selected and looked completely happy with it, regardless of its appearance.
And, just like always, Tony felt like this was so much better than most of his dates had ever gone; just him and Rhodey, being who they were: the best of friends.
to be continued…