CW: Non-graphic rape, alcoholism, implied child abuse, past child sexual abuse, referenced domestic violence, mild drug use and dissociation

Toni was sitting in the lobby of the engineering building. She wasn't allowed in the labs this early as someone had maybe caught things on fire, that no one could prove was her. Even if it had been her it was only a tiny explosion maybe.

"Hey Stark?" someone whispered into her ear.

She jumped and looked up, "Oh my god Tiberius Stone."

"Good to see you."

"What are you doing at MIT?"

"I transferred here. May or may not have gotten in trouble with my last college."

Toni rolled her eyes, "So you went from causing trouble and a gazillion-dollar prep school to causing trouble at gazillion-dollar colleges?

"Well, we can't change what we are good at."

Toni's smile faltered, but she kept staring at him. He was really cute even more than in high school. His clothes screamed I cost more than I'm actually worth and his hair was a shiny dark quiff and his smile made her heart skip a beat, feeling like her pre-teen self crushing on him.

"So, you old enough to party now?" Tiberius asked, but it sounded more like a statement.

"You believe everything the tabloids say?"

"Well, if you are, you should come with me, we can drop your stuff off and you can change. It should be fun, the most expensive liquor and the best weed money can buy."

Toni bit her lip. She never really went to a party, drinking alone was her usual thing, and this sounded loud but It was also Tiberius Stone the boy everyone wanted to be friends with, asking her to go. "Fuck it why not." She said.

Toni went home and put on a dress, yes she had actually bought some in case she needed to be respectable on short notice even if she preferred sweatpants. She left a note for Rhodey letting him know she was out with an old friend, not to wait up. She climbed in his fancy car and drove through the iced-over streets.

They arrived at a large house.

"It's the Hammer boy's place," Tiberius explained.

They went inside and greeted everyone with a laugh. Toni felt her nervousness climb but then she saw the bar. Thank fuck she thought, alcohol her constant companion in hard times.

Tiberius placed his hand on her waist and pulled her behind the bar.

"What's your poison?" He asked.

"Strong" Toni replied.

He grinned at her and the good kind of butterflies moved in her stomach. The rest of the night was a bit of a blur. But it was fun, the combination of alcohol and smoking made everything smoothed over. Tiberius and his friends did quite a few extremely stupid things including one of them breaking their arm biking down the grand staircase.

Tiberius helped her to her apartment. She fumbled for her keys and jumped when the door opened to Rhodey's displeased face.

"I know I'm past curfew" Toni giggled, "But don't worry sour puss. Tiberius helped me"

"So you're her bodyguard?" Tiberius asked

"I'm her best friend," Rhodey said, pulling himself to full height.

"Well, I've known her longer than you have. She had a good time, you should come with next time." Tiberius said, smiling sliding his hand into his Pockets and he got back into his Camaro.

Rhodey rolled his eyes. Toni was eating a pop tart on the couch.

"Let's get into bed, kid."

"Don't bike indoors." Toni slurred.

"Got it," Rhodey said with a sigh

~~~~~

Rhodey and Toni were sitting in their apartment when someone banged on the door.

Rhodey opened the door much to Toni's approval as her hands had started shaking with the first knock.

Tiberius was in the doorway looking cool if you asked Toni, slimy if you asked Rhodey.

"Ms stark, I must ask you to attend a party with me Tonight. A charity event for somewhere in Africa."

"Why?"

"It's some shit thing that my dad wants. I'm supposed to bring a date and you pass as respectable."

"I do?" Toni cocked her head to the side grinning.

"Well being friends with you is smart. Maybe then your dad won't lead a hostile takeover."

"So you're taking me to please our dads?"

"Also it will be like old times. Except we'll be the ones already out of it."

"Why should I go?"

Tiberius held out flowers, Toni raised her eyebrow. He sighed and flashed a six-pack.

"Oh, Mr Stone I shall accompany you. But I think I need a dress."

Tiberius called behind him. Two men came in carrying dresses,

"I think I guessed your size."

Toni shook her head, "Rhodey I'm gonna need your help to try these on."

She chose a blue dress with a drop waist and long sleeves covered in fine white lace. It was very seasonally appropriate.

When she got out she passed her dress to one of the waiting men.

He grabbed her waist and Toni stiffened as he spun her around.

"What was that?"

"Testing your sober balance?"

He passed her beer, "you can drink without spilling yes?"

"Course I can, you can't spill liquor on your uniform." Toni rolled her eyes.

"Kay I'll pick you up at nine? Do your hair up nice?"

"I will."

Rhodey raised his eyebrow at the interaction.

~~~~~

It was the day before Christmas break and Toni was packing. She had been invited to the Rhode's but Jarvis had informed her that they were doing some kind of thing in DC so instead she was staying in some stuffy hotel with politicians. However, packing was going very very slow as her hangover and disconnection left her with blurry vision. She had gone to Ty's, god she had another nickname, which made her heart flutter, Christmas party it had been insane every drink and drug that could be made into Christmas theme had been.

Toni went into the living room and took some aspirin and met Rhodey's disapproving glare.

"What?" She said

He just stared at her. Toni rolled her eyes pouting

"I don't like Tiberius." Rhodey blurted

"Why?"

"Because you have been going out every weekend."

"I'm having fun."

"Really?"

"Course I am"

" Don't insult my intelligence. You think I don't notice you still are anxious all the time, still have panic attacks? Do you think I don't realise you're drinking more? You think I can't see how hurt you still are? This isn't making things any better."

"Even so that's my decision, what's it got to do with Ty?"

"Are you that naive?"Rhodey sighed

"What are you talking about?" Toni snapped.

"He wants to fuck you and protect his dad's company! He doesn't give a damn about you, your a means to an end one he can use as a sex toy."

"I know that he wants stuff from but even so he still likes me! Why should I give a fuck if he wants my money or body at least he wants me for something."

"Toni! You're being so fucking blind think..."

"Just Please I know I might be going too far but I just want him to like me? You aren't always going to be here."

Rhodey sighed, they would fight about this again another day.

"Okay baby girl, Okay." Rhodey hugged her, "I know you are not doing well so I won't push it."

~~~~~

Mid January Toni was sitting in her room watching Ty emphatically describe something. He was pretty funny when he got like this. However, she was caught off guard when Ty smashed his face into hers. The shocking kiss melted into what Toni assumed would be called making out. Toni felt fuzzy after that, Ty smiled and acted like it was all normal.

That night she was staring at the messages on her phone. Ty was making plans about having sex. She didn't really know why she was agreeing with the idea of sex was sickening. but she knew if she said no he wouldn't like her anymore. So she was as descriptive and salacious as possible, it was what she was good for anyway.

Toni could swear she was saying no. But no matter what she did he kept pushing her. Pulling her clothes back off. She would swear she was saying no. But he wasn't hearing her. Eventually, she just quit fighting. She laid back tears ran down the side of her face. She concentrated on the ceiling ignoring the pain, the hot breath and stickiness.

Wandering home she was shaking the whole time.

"You're home early," Rhodey said.

"Well, I wanted to get some work done for class."

"Good. " Rhodey said, "popcorn?"

"Absolutely," Toni said smiling.

The next two months. Toni felt herself switching from one mode to another. Her mind was either at top speed trying to work. Or her thoughts were extremely confused and hazy to the point she couldn't remember what she was doing, couldn't think straight, couldn't see. Every time Ty showed up to the door with his shark smile and a sleek suit. Part of her screamed just run, run!

But Toni couldn't. She'd remember that Maria was glad she was seeing Tiberius, they made such a smart and cute couple. She'd think of Obie telling her that sex was what she was good at anyway. She'd remember how alone she was. It didn't really matter, because people didn't listen when she said no anyway. This was just what sex was like, it was what you had to do. So Toni smiled and he kissed her neck. And she dug her fingers into her arms.

Toni came in at what she was sure was an ungodly hour of the night but she couldn't find it in her to give a fuck. She was mad. Fucking paparazzi taking photos of her drinking way to many drinks, she may or may not have flipped them off. Who cares it didn't matter, it was annoying she got judged way more than the dudes giving her the fucking drinks with something else in them.

"Rhodey!" She yelled, "I'm home!"

Toni jumped when some dude came out of the bathroom.

"Am I in the wrong apartment?"

"No Toni, That's mike. You would know that if you weren't off your face anytime you met him!" Rhodey snapped.

"Oh. He your boyfriend?" Toni asked. Silence sat in the room. "Whoops haven't had the conversation yet huh?." Toni mumbled.

She worked her way past Mike and onto the couch.

"God fuck. Introduce me again when I might remember it."

She heard an indigent kind of noise but was half asleep.

~~~~~

Toni woke up when she smelt coffee she moved like a zombie to the smell.

"Toni." Rhodey's said

"What?" Toni said, looking up at him. He looked really mad.

"You can't keep at it like this!"

"Why not?"

"Because you're being more of a jackass. You're forgetting things, you are too smart to not remember someone you've met more than once. You're also way too smart to be failing a class."

"You're not my father," Toni growled.

"No. But you clearly need someone to get you back on track."

"Fuck you. I can do whatever I like, whenever I feel like doing it. I'm Toni fucking Stark I can do anything and no one ever stops me!"

"Toni you can't keep fucking doing this. It's driving me up the goddamn wall, it's too much."

Toni felt like she'd been stabbed. He was bailing. Images and sounds of her father saying Maria was too much, that Toni should fix it, he didn't have the time, it was her fault anyhow. God Toni was like her mom, too much too crazy too stupid. He should just leave now if he was going to leave anyway.

"Fine then. Screw you...you bastard. Leave if you have to, why should I care? I don't give a damn anymore, it was always going to come to this anyway."

Rhodey growled under his breath. Toni sat at the table watching him pack a bag, her eyes glazed over like she was in a simulation nothing felt real.

"I'm going to Mike's." He stated.

Toni crawled on the couch and stared at the tv screen to numb to even turn it on.

~~~~~

Rhodey's stomach churned as we walked towards his maybe boyfriend's house. He wanted to punch something, or do anything!

"What's up?" Mike said

Rhodey looked him over. He had brown skin and he had a military haircut that mirrored Rhodey's. His hazel eyes shone with concern, so sweet and calm.

"Toni and I are fighting," Rhodey said his voice cracking

Mike hugged Rhodey tightly, tears moistened the fabric of Mike's t-shirt.

"Fuck the girl man. She doesn't see it. I'm not even really mad at her. But she is either so drunk she runs into walls or so anxious she vibrates. God, she looks like death, like the day I carried her home. She is back to flinching whenever I touch her. Does she not see what she is doing? She's gonna kill her liver and she's just a kid! And she isn't even all that good at being a jerk, she thinks she yells at me but it's like being yelled at by a puppy dog who just got kicked."

"Calm down," Mike said.

"How?" Rhodey mumbled

"Look you're hoping if you give her space, she'll come around yes?"

"Yes."

"Well, you have a plan."

"She could also just give herself alcohol poisoning," Rhodey muttered.

"Well give her a few days. You don't know what's going through her head."

"Vodka and Tiberius Stone," Rhodey said.

Mike just rolled his eyes and Smiled.

Rhodey could almost smile back. But Rhodey knew somewhere inside of him that he would soon be carrying the pieces of his shattered best friend home again.