7 stitches and a new bandage later, Toni and Clint were back in her car driving –about 20 above the speed limit- back to the house. They rode in friendly silence and listened to the radio quietly. The sun was just beginning to set, staining the sky in a multitude of breathtaking colour. Toni watched the blue fade from the sky quietly and propped her head against the window.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Clint said quietly gaze fixed on the road.
"I just don't think this is going to work. Nothing can be fixed as easy as stitching it up," she grinned at him, "pun intended of course."
Clint laughed in a short burst and looked over at her as he parked the Aventador in the garage carefully. "At least you two will be in the same room talking. That's more than you've done in a month," Clint helped her out of the car carefully, "we can all move on from there." He smiled at her comfortingly before disappearing off to the room he shared with Natasha.
Toni nodded slightly and walked toward the living room. Her muscles tensed in preparation, for what would probably turn out to be a long yelling match with Steve. She peeked her head in the doorway to the living room and looked at Steve. His back was facing her, his strong shoulders were slumped down, and his face was resting in his hand wearily. Toni bit her lip softly, even if she was mad at him, she had a hard time seeing the normally proud man look so defeated.
"Heya Steve," the words left Toni's mouth in a rush as she walked into the living room
Steve was up in a second, he stared at her for a moment before his shapely lips broke out into a huge smile. He walked towards her quickly, and Toni was sure that he was going to wrap his arms around her tightly, and everything would be okay between them.
"Toni I'm," he began quickly, but was then shoved away by a flying ball of business suit and red hair.
"Toniiiiiii!" Pepper screamed and hugged her tightly. Pepper's face was buried in Toni's shoulder, and Toni was doing her best not to inhale a mouthful of vibrant red hair. She looked at Steve quickly, but he was farther away now, and his face was back in its stoic mask.
"What's doin Pepper?"
"Oh Toni I thought you were going to die! They said there was blood in your Aventador! That car's your baby! I knew you would never let blood get in it unless it was serious!" Pepper went on and on about how worried she was while Toni half listened. She loved Pepper and all, but if only she had come in a minute later!
"I'm fine Pepper. Where's Rhodey?"
"Right here," Rhodey strode into the room in his dress blues. He smiled at Toni easily, but his eyes held worry for her. Toni knew he was afraid that one day she'd do something too stupid and they'd lose her forever.
Steve looked at Rhodey coolly, "Lieutenant Corneal"
Rhodey stopped and assessed him quietly, "Captain." He answered back politely. Pepper took that moment to collect herself and smile at Steve professionally, "Oh hi Steve."
Rhodey strode over to her quickly and hugged Toni. He held her tightly and looked down at her searchingly, "You sure you're alright? You seem to be ending up in the hospital more and more, and now a spilt wrist…"
Toni saw Steve tense a bit out of the corner of her eye and stare at Rhodey with what could have been mistaken for jealousy, "I'm fine Rhodey, don't get your flight suit in a twist."
Rhodey laughed a bit, "When are you going to learn to take care of yourself?"
"When you gonna learn to have fun?"
"Splitting open your wrist is fun?"
"Tactical accident. I got too close to an arrow."
The two bickered playfully for a few moments and were so busy in their play, that they didn't notice Steve take Pepper outside the room quickly.
Toni sat down on the couch and rested her head against the back of it, her wav y hair fell into her face but she was too exhausted to move it. She felt the couch dip beside her, and the familiar smell of axe rushed over her, as Rhodey sat down with her. They stayed silent for a moment, just enjoying each other's company in a way that comes from a close friendship. Toni looked at Rhodey softly and sighed internally. If she didn't feel whatever it was she felt for Steve, then she could very see herself with Rhodey, even letting him make an honest woman out of her.
"So what happened between you and Rogers?"
Toni closed her eyes and sighed softly, "Thought I was gonna join up with Loki. They all came in at the wrong time."
Rhodey looked at her seriously and pondered over her comment for a moment, "where you going to?"
"I thought about it. I honestly did," Toni could feel shame creep up inside her. It wasn't an emotion she felt often, and she liked to keep it that way, "but then I thought about Steve, and you guys and I couldn't see myself doing it. The offer was a nice presentation, and tempting as hell. When someone tells you they'll appreciate you endlessly," She looked at Rhodey weakly.
He clasped her hand in his own softly and nodded his acceptance quietly. That one simple motion told her that he understood, and that Rhodey was still, and would always be her friend. Toni's eyes started burning and she resisted the urge to cry. Rhodey –taking note of every movement she made- pulled her into his arms and held her softly.
Toni clung to him and cried, gasping and sobbing into his shoulder like he was her last lifeline. Tears she wouldn't let herself cry were shielded from the world by Rhodey's shoulder. He rocked her softly and murmured to her gently about everything and nothing, just trying to sooth her pain.
Toni clung to him until the sobbing died down, and she could get a grip on her emotions. She wiped her eyes slightly and took in a breath. Trying to fortify herself for however long she would need to hold things in again.
Rhodey watched quietly waiting for her to compose herself. When she smiled at him –a real smile not the cocky thing she usually plastered on- he continued his questioning, "So what the hell happened to your wrist?"
"You sure you want to know Rhodes? Cuz it's dumb."
"Since when have your injuries been anything but?"
"I resent that. Anyway," Toni settled back against the couch, "alright so Thor and Clint came up with the bright idea."
Rhodey settled back and crossed his arms comfortably, "Oh this I have to hear."
Toni grinned, "They noticed that Steve and I have been at odds, so they decide that the only way to get us to make-up is to get me hurt. So Clint comes in my room wakes me up at the butt crack of dawn, and slices into my wrist with his arrow. Then proceeds to drive me to the hospital, tell Steve I'm hurt and bleeding, then hang up on his ass." Toni continued on with the story dramatically, by the time she was done with her narration Rhodey's eye brows were making an escape into his hairline. He looked at her quietly for a moment.
"You actually let them do that to you?"
Toni shrugged, "not like I had much of a choice.
Rhodey shook his head, and stood up carefully, "you're all crazy. I have to get Pepper home; she said she has a date with Happy."
Toni smiled, "married people still date?"
Rhodey shook his head in exasperation and kissed her cheek softly, "you have any more problems call me okay Toni? I may not be muscle man, but I out rank Steve, I have a feeling he'll listen to a little….persuasion."
Toni shook her head, "not a chance. I got this."
Rhodey smiled and walked to the door. He paused before he left, and turned his head to looked at her, "you always say that Toni. But sometimes I wonder, do you really 'got this?'" Rhodey looked at her kindly and walked out leaving Toni to ponder about what he meant.
