Fall Out

Chapter Three: Guy Talk

Disclaimer: I own nothing…

Author Notes: Sorry, but this is a Tony and Rhodey chapter, Pepper will return though. And, well Jarvis is also making another appearance.

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James Rhodes, known to his friends as Rhodey stood half way down the stairs leading into the belly of his best friend's house. The tall black man paused because of the voices above him and the direction of the conversation. Was he going to have to play referee after all? A sigh left his lips, why did he always have to play peacemaker? It was a dirty job, but someone had to do it. However just as he was about to re-ascend the stairs Tony had out of now where dismissed his assistant for the night and was headed in his direction. Rhodey froze.

"Eavesdropping are we?" Tony 's tone was accusing, but sarcastic all the same.

" Not on purpose, however since you mentioned it—"

" I'd rather not talk about this. Go grab a couple of your disgusting beers from the fridge and meet me downstairs." Tony ran a hand through his thick dark locks and descended down into his work shop, into the one place that was his, that no one controlled but him, the only part of his life that was his alone.

Here Tony felt good, safe. The world was not an issue, he could tinker and build and take apart to his heart's content. His eyes glanced over to the old car he was constantly working on, the car he had began restoring with his father originally. He never finished it, he never would. He's come close a few times, but then he'd make a mistake and have to start almost all over again.

This was how Rhodey found his friend when he came downstairs, a soft look on his face, head tilted to one side and a oil rag forgotten still clutched in his hands, eyes on that car. Rhodey knew this look well, when Howard Stark had died along with his dear wife, Tony had retreated here first and stood just as he was now. Staring at the car. And in that moment, he almost felt sorry for the man… almost. But he had felt sorry for him back then, and he always would.

Not being able to take the silence anymore, James moved up behind his friend and tapped his shoulder with a cold one, " Here ya go buddy." He tried to sound cheery, but over did it.

"Don't put on the front for my case Rhodey. Plus you suck at playing stuff up." Tony turned, took the beer, opened it and down a few manly swallows before making a face, "I still don't get how you drink this… stuff." With that he handed the half drunk bottle back to his friend and went for his scotch, " Aah. Much better."

It was now or never, "She has a point you know…"

"James. What did I say?"

"Tony you just can't push this off to the side and hope it fixes itself. It don't work that way." Rhodey finishes off the half bottle and opened the second, wishing he had grabbed a third as he watched Tony begin to tinker with the suit.

"You sound like my Father." His tone was flat, annoyed, "Please stop sounding like my Father."

"Sorry my man, but someone has to tell you the shit you don't want to hear." Jim sat the bottle down on one of the many work tables in the room, sending the other empty one into the trash, " And believe me, I don't want to do it. Especially when I know you know what I'm telling you."

Tony Stark felt his anger rise, and in answer to it, he threw a wrench he had been using across the room, "First her, now you huh?" He took his scotch and down it in a single gulp, slamming the glass down, "I need a friend right now. I need someone to see my side of it all. Yeah, yeah so I don't always think things through, or thoroughly or whatever else." He balled his fists, his eyes meeting his friend's," What the hell do you people want from me? Do you want me to go back up on that damned podium and say oh, sorry folks I was joking; is that what you want?"

James Rhodes hated Tony's temper, it had been known to be dangerous, "No. I don't, so cool your temper."

"Then what the hell do you want?"



"Just for you to think, to use that genius brain of yours for more than mathematics. To remember it's not just you alone in this now." Rhodey sighed, glad that this moment wasn't going to escalate into something bigger than it had to be.

Tony sat down on the wheel of the car and toyed a moment with the oil rag again, and when that didn't seem to make him feel better he moved to taping his fingers on the arc reactor, " I'll try. No promises." And then he grinned, " After all you can't teach an old dog new tricks."

And Rhodey had to laugh, because of just how true it was.

The game had been over hours ago, even though they knew the outcome of it, they had still watched it. Had to love ESPN Classic. Seven empty beer bottles sat next to just as many empty glasses that once held some of the world's finest scotch. Rhodey felt rather drunk, his long time buddy however was back at the suit, fixing the damage Stane had caused it.

"What am I going to do about her?" Tony said out of the blue, no slur, nothing to indicate any sort of a drunken state.

"Pepper?"

"Yeah. Her."

James shrugged, his mind rather fuzzy at the moment, "I dunno? Let her have some space for a while? Flowers?" The military boy turned and stretched his long muscular body across the old couch.

"Hm." Tony set aside a screwdriver and folded his arms, one hand snaking up to once again tap fingertips on the arc reactor in the middle of his chest, "Flowers. Never thought about that. Jarvis, you up?"

"For you sir, always."

"Always nice to know." Tony grinned and stretched a moment, the alcohol and the current hour beginning to catch up with him, "Order some flowers for Miss Potts, make sure my name is on the card."

"What sort of flora should be delivered, sir?"

"Tulips. White… I think they're supposed to say forgiveness or something."

"Very well sir. The order has been place. They should arrive tomorrow at 1400 hours."

"Thanks." Tony stifled a yawn and turned to see Rhodey snoring on the sofa and chuckled lightly, " Jarvis, hit the lights."

"Good night sir."

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A little short I know, but more will be coming, I've got ideas figured out for up to seven more chapters at least. And BIG HUGE thanks to all of you reading this, faving it and watching it. And commenting too. You all rock.