That's the last thing Steve hears before the line goes dead. Steve had been about to say something when he heard shouting and an explosion from the other end stopped him wide his mouth wide open and causing him to gasp. That had caused the others around him, Natasha, Clint, Sam, Wanda, Vision, T'challa and bucky whose in freeze again to look at him watching his face go paler and paler until he ended up vomiting and dropping the phone. Sam and Wanda were by his side in a dash making sure he's okay while Natasha and Vision chose to look at the phone the lines dead but some how the call was recorded and now saved into the phone. Stepping away Natasha took the phone to the other end of the room Clint stepping into line with her before she opened the recording and holding it between them closer to their ears. It was hard to listen too but when the call ends on the note of Tony having to possibly kill his most trusted and oldest friend possibly the only person he has left was not a good sign. And knowing Tony he wouldn't do it, he would find away to scam Ross into thinking he killed Rhodes and assume him dead can only last so long and Ross would not be happy when he finds out. And the strained area between Ross and Tony was not a good thing either and even more so if Tony doesn't kill Rhodes and gets him out of the country and Ross does find out. Even with all the bad blood no one wanted Tony to have to do this for them but only so much could be done unless you are Vision or T'challa the only two not wanted criminals but that isn't going to be 's gonna take time too and a plan.
Meanwhile Tony is on route to Rodney's place driving an issued jeep gun sitting on the seat next to him, Tony avoids looking at it to try to keep from turning around and or vomiting. But Tony wasn't about to kill Rodney and he had a back up plan but it was a one time deal and Tony was hoping Ross wasn't going to make this personal. Those documents Tony had were gonna be put to use sooner than he thought leaving him no way out of this and his escape route is closed off for good but that was how it was gonna from the beginning. It doesn't take long for Tony to reach Rodney's house and get out tucking the gun into the back of his waist band and grabs the documents from the back seat before getting out and heading in not bothering to knock and even ring the bell. Rodney is in the kitchen getting a drink of sweet tea using the new braces Tony made him when he hears the door open and close and training kicks in he spins gun pointed at the intruder only to come face to face Tony.
"God Tony, you scared me" Rodney laughs a little easing against the counter taking up his glass again
"I'm so sorry Rodney" Tony says his voice quiet and harsh causing Rodney to look up and straight down the barrel of a hand gun
"Tony!?" Rodney is trying to stay calm despite the distant sound of his glass shattering on the ground after loosing his grip on it.
"You have to leave" Tony says dropping the gun to the counter and laying the documents down next to them
"I-I...I don't understand" Rodney try to make sense but Tony isn't giving him the chance
"Now Rodney. Leave now and Don't come back" That's all Tony says before picking up the gun again and leaving.
Rodney try to chase him after snatching up the documents but Tony is already driving off and Rodney isn't wasting time either quickly heading back in soon returning with a couple bags and getting into his own vehicle. Tony keeps Ross busy while Rodney disappears into the wind but he still needed to return one bullet lighter and with no way to get rid of it, unless...
A stupid idea gets a stupid result and that's what Tony gets, pulling off into a deserted lot in the middle of know where Tony gets out taking with him a couple rags and a shovel. Stuffing one of the rags into his mouth Tony braces himself before firing a shot into his own leg, luckily the rag muffled his own screams and his leg muffled the sound of the shot being fired. Sweat immediately began to shine on his skin as he slumps to the ground letting the gun drop the ground bringing up dust. Breathing rigidly Tony pulls the rag out of his mouth and try to control his breathing as he checks to see if the bullet when through unfortunately he had no such luck, the bullet remained in his leg. Tony let out a whimper before schooling himself and clenching his teeth and digging his fingers into his own flesh looking for the bullet, finally managing to get a good hold of it Tony rips it out muffling a scream by biting his own lip hard enough to draw blood.
Needing another minute Tony just lets himself go limp and try to suppress his own cries and whatever was running through his mind before with shaky hands he grabs a rag and begins wrapping the gun wound. Once wrapped as best as he can Tony grabs the shovel and digs a small hole moving the blood stained ground into the hole along side the gun, the bullet and the extra rags used before covering it again. On shaky legs Tony get up and into the jeep slumping against the wheel before turning it back on and pressing down on the gas pulling back onto the road and heading back to the base Ross claims as his own. By know Rodney would be gone and untraceable, Tony covered all his tracks and Rodney's everything was working so far he hoped, another hope of his would be to not pass out on the way back and crash the jeep.