Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Challenges listed at the bottom.
Word Count - 824
Pairing: Tony&Rhodey friendship (although if you have your slash goggles on, this can 10/10 be read as pre-relationship).
Home
Lightning crackled across the sky, bright and threatening.
Tony cowered on the sofa, shaking slightly. He told himself he wasn't afraid, but even he wasn't good enough to lie to himself in a believable way.
He'd always been afraid of storms, and as a boom of thunder startled him, he gripped a gold laced pillow to his chest.
"Tony?"
Tony whimpered, looking over the back of the sofa to see Rhodey standing in the doorway, concern etched on his face.
"I got back as soon as I could," Rhodey promised, shedding his soaking wet coat onto the hanger before he walked into the living room. "You doing okay, sweetheart?"
Tony wanted nothing more than to be able to laugh the concern off, to be able to tell Rhodey that he was fine, but he couldn't. He dropped the cushion away and made grabby hands at his best friend.
Rhodey would make it better. He made everything better, always.
Sure enough, his friend didn't hesitate to sit down beside him and tug Tony into his lap, wrapping his arms around him until he was completely surrounded by the feeling of home and safety.
"Did you at least evolve your Eevee?" Tony asked, his face pressed into Rhodey's chest.
Rhodey nodded, his hand stroking soothingly down Tony's back. "I did, and I did a second one for you, since I know you want one even though you say Pokemon Go is stupid."
Tony's lips tilted up and he snuggled closer. "You're the best."
"Uh huh. Imagine your college experience if you'd got a different roommate," Rhodey replied, mock horror in his tone.
Tony pulled back to scowl. "No. You're mine, you're always going to be mine."
Chuckling, Rhodey nodded. "Yeah, Tones. I know that."
…
As the storm raged overhead, Tony settled. Being afraid when he was alone didn't mean he was afraid when Rhodey was there with him.
"Did you get ice-cream while you were out?"
Tony was supposed to get the ice-cream, he knew, but he'd forgotten, as he was wont to do with anything that wasn't his robots.
"I did, you little pest. I bet you're going to make me get up and get it as well, aren't you?"
Tony nodded. "Yes. Yes I am."
Rhodey fondly shoved Tony from his lap. "I'll get us some drinks and other snacks too, kay? Movies are the only way to survive a thunderstorm, and the forecast said this was going to be in for a while."
"You're full of good news," Tony grumbled, but he let Rhodey go, listening to him clatter around the kitchen. Thankfully, he didn't take long, and when he came back, he had a pile of things on a tray, which he put on the coffee table.
"Water? Why did you get water?" Tony complained. "Coffee, Rhodey!"
"If you think I'm dealing with you bouncing around on a coffee hype while we're stuck inside for a thunderstorm, you can think again."
Tony pouted, but Rhodey paid him no mind. This was why Tony loved him. Rhodey never put up with any of his shit, it was great.
Rhodey picked up the carton of ice-cream and the two spoons, and pulled Tony back onto his lap.
"You got chunky monkey!"
Rhodey just raised his eyebrow and dug into the ice-cream.
…
"C'mon, Tones, bedtime."
Tony stirred, not willing to be awake when he was so comfortable. He heard Rhodey chuckle at him. "C'mon. You can sleep with me, but I'm not carrying you to bed. You ain't no disney princess."
"I am," Tony grumbled. "I'm the disney-est of pretty princesses, and I don't wanna move."
"Well, I haven't got a kink for pissing my pants, so you're going to have to."
Tony opened his eyes, and grinned up at Rhodey, before he dug his elbow into his stomach gently. "You sure you don't have a kink, Honeybear?"
"If you make me wee, you're cleaning it up," Rhodey said, pushing Tony off his lap gently but firmly. "Go on, go and get in bed, I'll be there in a few."
Tony nodded and followed Rhodey up the stairs, stumbling over nothing as he forced his limbs to work long enough to get him to Rhodey's bedroom. Tony slept in here at least as much as he slept in his own bed, possibly more, so he slumped onto his side of the bed and snuggled under the covers.
Rhodey climbed in a few minutes later and automatically held his arms out for Tony to roll into.
Thunderstorm forgotten, Tony settled in comfortably.
He'd never expected this kind of relationship when he'd arrived at M.I.T, but he couldn't imagine his life without Rhodey now, and he knew that no matter where life took them, he'd always have this.
For now though, he would enjoy being so close to his best friend.
For now, he would relish in the safety of his found home.
Written for:
Bingo: A5: Stormy
The Fabulous World of Comics: 28. Water (word)
Showtime: 2. Afraid
Elizabeth's Empire: 6. Sharing a bed
Lizzy's loft: W3. Forgotten
Scamander's Case: 12. Gold
Film Festival: 9. Word: Evolve
Mini Golf Mania: Hole 5: Lightning
Murder Mystery: How: Blade of an ice skate: (food) ice cream
Game Of Life: Roommates
Geek Pride: Marvel: Fandom: Marvel
Say It With Flowers: Amaryllis: Sharing a bed