A/N: Hi. Thank you for your comments. I've been pretty stressed lately but they always brighten my day. You rock!
Also, have some Rhodey, cause I love Rhodey.
"Hey Tones, I was wondering when you were planning on picking up –"
Rhodey breaks off and stops walking halfway through stepping into his best friend's sanctum and workshop. His feet is hovering over the floor, leg braces whirring softly at the oddly timed halt.
"What the fuck," he whispers softly when he can't see past the first few meters of the lab because of the mess it is in and finally sets his foot down. "What the hell, Tony?"
And, James Rhodes knows messy. He's known Tony for decades now and he's familiar with the special kind of Tony Stark messes, but this? This is something else. What he is looking at right now puts messiness on a whole new level. Hell, it probably redefines the meaning of the word.
"Over here, honey bear!"
His best friend's voice comes from the far end of the room, hidden behind various long pipes and piles of what looks like junk to a regular bystander and – is that glowing paint?
"Would you mind shutting the door and F.R.I.D.A.Y. put us into stealth mode again, please?"
Rhodey feels like an idiot but he can't help staring at the messy shock of dark hair that's peeking out from somewhere behind the – debris? That's really the only word he can think of for this. "Stealth mode? What the fuck is going on here, Tony? Are you trying to blow yourself up again?"
"Language, platypus."
He blinks. Then rubs his hand over his face in exhaustion because – what in the hell is he supposed to make of that? Has Tony been freaky-fridayed without telling anyone? (He probably shouldn't be considering the option quite as seriously as he currently is.)
"Can you please come out of your cave and enlighten me what's going on here?"
"Yeah, yeah," he hears him mutter and shuffle through his materials, "give me a second. What are you here for anyway? Did you see the Christmas tree we put up? Pretty cool, right?"
That – that just stops him dead in his tracks for good like the final straw of sanity he has managed to hold on to through years of dealing with the man.
It's not that putting up a Christmas tree is weird or unheard of. Just – that it kind of is.
In the all the years Rhodey has known Tony for, he has never been this excited about Christmas. Hell, he has never been excited about Christmas. Period.
When his parents were still alive, he used to hate all the public functions they would have to attend with Howard and not even his mum and Jarvis could really make up for how much Tony despised being put in the spotlights, especially during a time that was supposed to be quiet and peaceful. Christmas used to stress him out in his teenage years, would make him so anxious that he tried to hang out with Rhodey and his family whenever his father would allow.
Then came The Time After The Accident.
He's not sure Tony has much recollection of the Christmas in 1991 but Rhodey does and it's done enough of an impression on him to never let his best friend alone over Christmas again.
It didn't matter whether there was a SI thing going on, some party or board meeting or whatever the heck could come up – Rhodey was either there with Tony or Tony wasn't allowed to go at all.
For years he tried to hold on that much tighter around Christmas to not let him slip through his fingers again. He never wanted to see him that broken, that lost, that horribly gone ever again.
It got easier when Pepper came into the picture, especially when they started dating, but there's still a big part of Rhodey that goes on high alert as soon as the holidays roll around. The unease to let Tony go on his merry way never really left and albeit he knows that the man is in a much better place now than he was before, he can't help but worry.
It's instinctual, so deeply ingrained that it has become second nature to him.
That usually means checking up every other day and this year that has mostly been limited to calls. Apparently, though, someone else has been looking after his friend and he has a pretty good guess that someone is also the one behind the whole Christmas Tree Miracle.
"You put up a Christmas tree?" he asks him when Tony has dug himself out of his own mess, oil-stained towel tucked into the back pocket of his jeans, Black-Sabbath- shirt hitched up to his elbows and a huge dorky grin on his face.
For a brief moment Rhodey wonders who that person is and what he has done with his best friend. Never, in a million years, would he have thought the man would smile so close to the 16th like he is now. It makes an anxious part of his heart settle for the first time in literal decades.
"We did," the disaster on legs in front of him confirms, plopping down on the couch and motioning for Rhodey to join him which he does without hesitation, albeit more slowly. "Peter and I picked it up yesterday and, you know how much I hate patting myself on the back, but I think we did a pretty fantastic job. You should take a look before you head out again."
The other man lets out a laugh, leaning back into the soft pillows and he slowly relaxes into the conversation. "I can't even begin to imagine how much it must've hurt you to make that statement," he jokes, "But what on earth have you been doing back there?"
"Uh," Tony rubs his ear, smearing some of the dirt still on his hands into his temple and he looks downright sheepish. "Well, I've been working on Christmas presents. For Peter mostly," he adds as if there has been any doubt in Rhodey's mind about that at all.
"I have no clue what to get him, Rhodey," he whines when he's only met with a chuckle, "I've been working on a smart watch with panic button, integrated A.I. and all that jazz and I've been thinking about a car, obviously, or maybe upgrades for his suit? But he's getting those anyway! Or what about –"
"Tony, Tones," Rhodey breaks off his rambling, "Breathe, alright? Just. Breathe."
Of course he doesn't listen. When has Tony Stark ever been able to listen to anyone?
"The thing is – I'd be giving him this stuff anyway! He's just – What am I supposed to get him that is special? I'm awful at this."
"I honestly think you're overthinking this," he tells him quietly, hand coming out to rest on Tony's knee to make him look at him and to ground him before he hyperventilates. "You know Peter and you know he doesn't really want any of that –" He shushes him with a raise of his hand before he can argue, "Of course he'd be over the moon if you got him any of that stuff but think about something that would make him really happy, Tony. He likes your tech good enough but do you know what he really loves?"
God bless this mess of a human being who just gives a halfhearted clueless shrug.
"You, Tony. That kid adores you and if you want my advice, I'd say get him something personal, something only you will ever be able to give him. No matter how small it might be, it's going to be the biggest fucking gesture you can make. It's going to mean the world to him."
"Language."
Rhodey laughs at him but Tony's not even in the same room with him anymore. He's jumped up and has started bustling about the room, pulling out papers and blue prints and sending them flying to the floor again, all the while muttering to himself like a maniac.
"Will you be okay?"
"What? Yeah, yeah, I'm good. Thanks a lot. Oh and don't forget to look at that tree! Gotta get back to work! Love you, bye!"
He leaves him to his work after that, still reveling in the fact that his best friend seems fine. Genuinely, legitimately fine.
For the first time in years he doesn't have a lump in his throat when he's leaving him to his own devices because he's working on something fundamentally good, a Christmas present for his sort-of-son. He's not biding his time until the next panic attack hits or riding out his anxiety by coming up with new blueprints for some fancy new tech. It's a long way from where he's been. It's progress.
Making his way upstairs to the penthouse Rhodey briefly considers warning Pepper about the changes in her fiancé but ultimately thinks better of it, a little smile tugging on his lips when he tries to imagine the baffled look in her eyes when she realizes what a sap he has become over the week she's been making deals on the other side of the Earth.
Although, come to think of it, Pepper probably knows already. She's ridiculously intuitive in handling Tony and foreseeing his mood swings, it's downright scary sometimes. She's truly a –
"Woah."
Yet again his train of thoughts gets interrupted and he's left speechless at the sight of the huge ass Christmas tree that's shining with what looks like at least a thousand fairy lights, topped off with tinsel and a finishing touch of wooden hangers.
It's not just the tree, though, the whole living room has been turned into the epitome of Christmas. There are glowing stars and corny stockings, an expensive-looking wooden pyramid turning ever so slowly and a nutcracker next to a bowl of walnuts and mandarins and candles, so many candles in all sizes, colors and forms.
Most importantly, though, and almost a part of the scene is the teenager crouched down in front of it, looking completely at home right where he is, albeit a little jittery with a neatly wrapped parcel in his arms.
He's about to make his presence known when the boy turns around with a small wave of his hand.
Right, enhanced teenage superhero, he forgets that sometimes.
"What are you up to?" Rhodey asks him closing the distance until he's standing beside him and then, because it feels weird to just tower over the much smaller kid, goes to take a seat next to him – carefully situating himself, mindful of his legs.
When he hears the soft whirring of the prosthetics, Peter scrambles to help him adjust, almost dropping the present he has been holding onto in the process. Only when the older man is comfortable, does he answer.
He looks sheepish, mirroring Tony's expression from just minutes earlier to a tee.
"I, uh, I wanted to be the first one to put a present underneath the tree. And, uh, I," he meets his eyes conspirationally, "I think Mister Stark is already working on his gift and, uh, it's probably going to be something super fancy and if I get more time to think about it I'll probably just throw it away because I'll realize that it can never be good enough but right now I still feel pretty good about it, so basically I'm forcing myself not to back out by already putting it here where everyone can see it."
To Rhodey's delight he takes in a deep breath after finishing, seeing as he has completely forgotten to stock up on air while talking. Really, he gets why Tony loves this kid so much. They're basically the same person.
"That sounds like a good plan," he tells him, "And I'm sure Tony's going to love it." He loves you, kid. He really does. I hope it tells you that, too.
Peter smiles a little at that, fingers drumming on the package in an irregular pattern, "I think so, too. At least, I hope so. Anyway, what are you doing here, Mister Rhodes? Do you need anything?"
"I went to check up on Tony and when he mentioned a Christmas tree I just had to see it for myself," he tells him with a grin and points to the huge thing with his thumb, "Gotta say I've never seen anything quite like it."
"It's amazing," the teenager agrees, smile spreading until his whole face is alight with joy and his eyes sparkle with the Christmas lights they're reflecting.
"Also," Rhodey adds because suddenly he feels like he needs to say this at least once and who knows when he'll next meet the kid without his hovering mentor. "I wanted to thank you."
Peter frowns, genuine confusion evident in his eyes. "What for?"
"Just," the older man sighs and meets his gaze, trying to convey how much he means his next words with his eyes alone, "Just for being you and for being here. I have never seen Tony this happy on Christmas and you're a big part of the reason why. So, thank you for giving him something to celebrate this year."
As if just realizing what a major role he's playing in his mentor's life Peter's expression morphs from surprise to determination. Rhodey watches in awe how he shoulders the responsibility that comes with it without missing a beat and straightens his posture, truly looking like the superhero he is and a lot more mature than most adults he knows.
"Mister Stark deserves happiness, especially on Christmas," he declares seriously, "It's the least I can do, after," he waves his hand in the air, "after everything he did for me."
"Still, thank you," Rhodey repeats earnestly, gratefully and then, because this is getting too serious for such a joyous occasion asks, "So. What did you get him?"
Peter's eyes go wide in excitement. "But you have to swear not to tell anyone."