Scylla

Chapter One

Author's Note: Wow, did I call it or what? Six reviews and it's just the prologue. I feel like Richard Bachman. Can't wait to read your reactions to this chapter.

Doesn't it hurt? Jealousy, baby. Doesn't it burn? Jealousy! Doesn't it consume your soul,

making you lose control? Jealousy!- "Jealousy", Jem and the Holograms

Rhodey winced, drawing his arms into himself as he watched an armored Tony throw his workbench against the wall and disintegrate into splinters upon impact. He wisely sat far away from the strike zone as his best friend destroyed his lab in a fit of explosive rage

The stone floor of the former Makluan temple was littered with knee-deep debris;remnants of furniture, homework assignments and various bits of discarded armor. This little temper tantrum had been going on for thirty minutes with no signs of abating. Yet. The black boy was trying to allow his friend to vent, to leech the poisonous jealousy out of his system and move past it. When Tony took a welding torch to the remnants of the Hulkbuster armor, it was time to intervene.

"It's not fair!" Tony screamed, the sparks setting the fury in his eyes alight. His face was flushed red with loathing and his hands shook until he clenched them in his efforts to suppress the urge to run out and strangle someone. The torch flickered out when Rhodey turned off the gas then unplugged the gas line and Tony smashed it to the ground in frustration.

Their school day had been understandably stressful. The "thing" Pepper had wanted to discuss with them was her unavailability for Iron Man duties now that she had a steady boyfriend. She was too wrapped up in her own happiness to notice Tony's disapproval and Rhodey's tension.

Tony had met with Whitney on the roof as agreed and he asked her to Homecoming. She readily accepted his lack of enthusiasm when he explained he wanted to be the first person ask anyone to the dance and Happy had yanked that away from him. She saw what she wanted to see, failing to recognize the darkness dwelling within the boy she cared for.

Aside from lunch with Whitney Tony had performed like an automaton for the rest of the day. He'd answered when asked but did not volunteer information, ignored Rona Irwin's barbs and shuffled woodenly from class to class in a stupor.

Only Rhodey had observed the barely suppressed rage simmering in Tony's storm blue gaze, the scorching heat seemed to burn along the taller boy's skin whenever their eyes met. The inventor waited until they were safely underground and his envy and resentment burst forth in volcanic fury, as the armory could attest.

"Tony...you need to calm down before your hear goes out. At this rate you're gonna have palpitations." the tall boy's bistre eyes glanced worriedly at a computer diagnostic displaying all of Tony's vital signs. The heart readings hovered dangerously near red. Big surprise. The last thing the younger Stark wanted was another trip to the hospital but his best friend thought with grim amusement being sedated might do the brown-haired teen some good. At least it would stop him from breaking things.

A repulsor fired and ignited what Rhodey was sure was a crayon drawing Tony had made when he was five. The armored hero continued angrily. "As if I care! Maybe then she'd see what she's doing to me!"

Rhodey felt his sympathy for the other boy's anguish diminish just a bit. "Oh, so you'd purposely risk your health to punish her for having the gall to have a boyfriend that wasn't you? Real mature, pal."

Tony threw a pencil sharpener at him and Rhodey ducked. Annoyance rose up. Heartbreak or not, he was not a target for Tony's misplaced anger.

Tony gritted his teeth. Great. Rhodey wanted to "talk things out." "You're a lot like your mom, you know? Not just your talent for making gumbo. Both of you try to run my life while acting all concerned about how I feel but not letting me having any say so if what I want to do differs one iota from what you think is best for me."

Now that was a bit unfair. Roberta had let her foster son go to China for two months. Without supervision or complaint. She hadn't exactly been a helicopter mom, always hovering and noting everything Tony did to use against him later.

"No. You did not just diss my mom. The woman who took you in and treats you with maturity and respect when you piss all over her hospitality."

Rhodey's voice had become deadly quiet. A smart man would have noticed the tranquil fury in his expression but this was Tony Stark, the boy who had even less preservation instinct than Leeroy Jenkins. Zhang would have taken one look into those eyes and known it was time to run. "You can always go live with Obadiah Stane."

"Yeah, great idea." Tony's laughter was derisive and cruel. "And have Whitney climbing all over me, asking for a commitment. Stane would love me for a son-in-law. That would mean he could keep Stark International indefinitely." He rubbed his face tiredly. "Right now, I'd really like to keep away from both of them, y'know? Whitney could have been a real asset to Team Iron Man if the Madame Masque tech hadn't had the whole 'go crazy' side effect. She's kinda extra baggage right now."

He had actually contemplated making Whitney a member of Team Iron Man but now was unsure. The blonde was already deeply intertwined in his life and he wondered if she could be trusted with his most explosive secret. All these thoughts were going round and round in his head with no hope of solution.

Tony stood up and began to walk around the room. His best friend had seen the young inventor do this before when he wanted to organize his thoughts. The brown-haired boy shook his head in astonishment.

"God...Happy. That guy's as close to functionally retarded as I've ever seen. This has to be pity dating or..."

That was enough. There were many things Rhodey could overlook in the time he and Tony Stark had been friends. For some reason insulting Whitney and calling Happy retarded was worse than insulting his mom. Yeah, he and his mom could be a little overprotective but that was in their nature and they occasionally needed to be called on it. Happy and Whitney were the truly innocent parties involved. They'd simply stumbled into the delicate balance of secrets and clandestine emotions that swirled around the trio.

Calmly Rhodey strode forward towards his best friend. Tony was too busy feeling sorry for himself or he would have seen the other boy's fist cock back and punch him right in the mouth. Even in the Iron Man armor, he stumbled back, shocked out of his stupor. He didn't even try to defend himself when Rhodey hit him two more times in rapid succession.

As the two friends stared at each other in astonishment, Rhodey realized this was something he'd wanted to do for a long time now. Punch the ever loving snot out of Tony Stark. It took a strong person to put up with Tony and he was only human. Sometimes he got tired of keeping Tony's secrets and covering up the lies. Not to mention a double dose of homework. He swallowed his ire and continued before he decided to hit his friend again.

"Oh, good. Are you ready to listen to me now?" Rhodey's voice was icily sarcastic and Tony stared him him in shock. The taller boy was uncharacteristically angry and the young genius took an involuntary step back at that merciless expression.

"Stop wallowing in self-pity, Tony. You knew Pepper felt something for you for a long time now. Heck, even Gene notice and he was even more egotistical and self-absorbed than you are. So, what? After she's all but given up on you after you ask another girl out, you've finally been able to figure out how you feel. Congratulations. I guess that means Whitney and Happy are supposed to just...step aside and make way for the One True Pairing of the Tomorrow Academy. I hate to burst your delusional little bubble but that's not happening. And it's unfair to ask three people to disrupt their lives because you didn't get your way. It's too late, Tony. Accept it. Move on. You don't have to keep dating Whitney but you can't go around thinking you have the right to be with Pepper just because you want to be." Rhodey's face lost its angry expression when he saw how desolate Tony's face had become. His voice became softer and kinder. "Time to grow up and think about how other people feel. If you really love Pepper you'll let her make her own decisions. Maybe this thing with her and Happy won't work out. Who knows? You could still have a chance, but not right now."

For a moment it seemed as if Tony was truly listening to his friend's advice. Their faces were now only inches apart and Rhodey's chest tightened as the person he thought of as a brother looked so completely without hope. He wanted to hug him tight and let him know it wouldn't hurt forever, that eventually he could see Pepper and Happy together and the sight wouldn't be so heartbreaking. Rhodey knew from experience.

Tony was teetering between what he felt he wanted and what Rhodey was telling him. He'd been stupid not to notice Pepper sooner and was ashamed he'd used his date with Whitney to make her jealous. Maybe he-

No. That was not going to happen. Pepper and Happy? Just the thought of it made him sick. Having to see them day after day, having to fake smile and pretend to listen as Pepper extolled Happy's good qualities (ha! What good qualities?) No. He couldn't bear the thought. And how dare Rhodey get in his face about it. Didn't he understand? A true friend would understand his feelings; a true friend would have his back.

"Get out."

The two words were spoken so softly Rhodey wasn't sure he heard them correctly. "What?"

"Get. Out." The face plates closed and Tony Stark disappeared entirely, leaving only Iron Man. He picked up the other boy and carelessly tossed him near the exit. The boy in gray rolled, not hurt but bruised and stunned at this casual display of violence. He struggled to his feet and stood still as he saw the armored figured approach.

"Keep your greeting card platitudes to yourself, Rhodes." The door opened and a metal hand gestured for him to leave. "Don't bother coming back here. I'm sure I can pilot War Machine remotely. Now, get out."

"Tony." Rhodey reached out to his friend beseechingly, trying to get him to understand. He wanted to comfort his friend but at the same time was unsure if he should approach the other boy.

"Get Out!" The repulsors flared to life and Rhodey heard the unmistakeable sound of the weapons systems coming online. He hurried out the door, staring sadly at his best friend until it whooshed shut behind him.

With his friend and conscience gone, Iron Man slumped to the floor, bereft. He knew what he'd done was wrong and felt helpless to stop himself. Nor could he stop himself from what he was about to do. Pepper was making a huge mistake. Getting involved with a slacker like Happy would ruin her life. She'd end up a pregnant single mother when Happy abandoned her for a pretty starlet or aspiring model. Clearly she needed to be protected from herself.

"Computer. Access Pepper's phone. Check all incoming and outgoing calls. Also, check all text messages."

"Accessing. Alert. Information is encrypted."

"Break the encryption."

"Confirmed. Encryption broken. Accessing information."

Outside, Rhodey's entire posture slumped. That did not go as well as he hoped. He was sure he was reaching Tony but the teen genius' arrogance and self-pity took over at the last minute. He slowly walked towards a nearby taxi stand, moving with the slow measured pace of an old man. Appropriate, because he felt like he'd aged fifty years in the past ten minutes. Despite the warm sunny day he shivered to himself. The black boy had witnessed this behavior before when Iron Man had battled the Crimson Dynamo the second time. He'd nearly turned the pilot into blood pulp and threatened to decimate Project Pegasus. That wasn't nearly as personal as inadvertently breaking Tony's heart and he feared for Pepper and Happy's safety. Especially Happy. He was reasonably sure his best friend would die before hurting the girl he loved.

…

Wouldn't he?

Alone and unseen by anyone but his computer (who wouldn't betray him even if it were self-aware) Tony cried. He'd only cried twice in the last two years; at his father's funeral and in the shower the day after they'd learned of Gene's treachery. Gene. He supposed he should think of the Asian teen as The Mandarin now. Gene Khan was just a construct, an illusion created to fool them all. And he fell for it because he wanted to believe someone who was helping him fulfill his father's dream had nothing but the purest motives in mind. Some genius.

He perused the huge backlog of texts and messages. He was tempted to delete anything she'd received from the basketball star but then she would know someone had hacked into her phone and it wouldn't take much for her to trace it back to him. She was spastic, not stupid, although her hyper personality caused people to constantly underestimate her, himself included.

The fond smile faded as he thought of his callous behavior towards his best friend. He'd thrown him! God, and insulted Roberta, one of the few adults in his life who genuinely cared about him. What a tool. But he knew Rhodey would forgive him. Rhodey always forgave him. The other boy understood the pressure he was under and if Tony gave him a day to cool off and then explained and apologized...

Tony rubbed his eyes and winced. He'd forgotten he was still wearing the armor. That had hurt. With a sigh he deactivated it, the plates folding in on themselves and condensing back down into a backpack. He was thinking like an abusive boyfriend and people at school already gave Tony and Rhodey funny looks and thought they were a couple. He decided to go back to checking Pepper's most recent messages.

One name had him bolting upright. It was as if thinking the boy's name had willed the message into existence and his mouth went dry as his eyes widened.

There was a text from Gene. And it was dated only two days ago. The bastard was harassing the one he cared for. Why hadn't she told him? Perhaps she thought it was a hoax or more likely she didn't want him to know and was dealing with it on her own.

That was ludicrous. There was no way she could stand up on her own to a villain and a superpowered one at that. Even he'd had trouble. No. He had to look out for her.

But he needed help. Sighing, he knew he'd have to beg forgiveness. No time like the present.

Rhodey slept fitfully, dodging his mother's concerned stare and making the excuse that Tony was tutoring Whitney in science and would be late. He was understandably bewildered when a soft hand gently shook his foot to wake him.

"Rhodey."

"Gah! Tony!" Sitting up in bed, the black teen covered himself with a sheet. Tony smirked at this show of modesty and flushing, Rhodey dropped it. Annoyed, he said, "Wow, what happened to not talking to me or needing me to pilot War Machine?"

His best friend grinned and gingerly touched his sore face. "Nice moves, bro. Did your dad teach you how to throw a punch like that?"

Rhodey shook his head. "Mom is fully trained in Israeli Defense Force martial arts. You should see the look on her opponents in court's faces when they find that little tidbit out."

Tony looked like hell, but that was nothing new when he spent hours in the temple upgrading the armor, monitoring the city or...this...thing. His clothes disheveled and his face haggard were nothing new. The look of fear and sheer hopelessness was different and Rhodey gave Tony a comforting hug despite himself.

The teen inventor returned it with startling ferocity. "I'm such an idiot. I don't how you can stand me."

"Practice, my friend. Lots of practice. Oh, and earplugs. You snore like a chainsaw."

Tony laughed but it faded quickly and his solemn, sorrowful expression returned. "Rhodey. I hacked in to Pepper's phone. Don't interrupt!" he warned when his friend's mouth opened. It closed again with a snap and he continued. "I know it was wrong and intrusive and...illegal. But it's good that I did." He paused for breath. "Gene has been texting Pepper. The latest message was only two days ago but there's a two month history in there. Way after Peru. I think he's harassing her to get help with the rest of the Makluan rings."

Eyebrows raised in surprise Rhodey asked, "and she hasn't told us...why?"

Tony shook his head in frustration. "I don't know...she probably didn't want to worry us and then felt guilty about keeping it a secret so she just felt she had to try even harder to keep it a secret." His storm eyes focused on Rhodey with an earnest intensity that bordered on zealotry. "We have to protect her from him. Gene knows where she lives. He could kidnap her any time he wants and extort us into helping him."

Rhodey frowned. This all sounded like something the traitorous teen would do but... "Where are the messages?"

Tony smacked himself in the head with his hand. "Oh no! I forgot to save them to my POD! I can look through her phone again..."

"Dumbass. Are you guessing all of this or did you actually read some of the texts?"

To the taller boy's surprise, his best friend blushed. "Um, some of them." Tony rubbed the back of his head as he always did when he was embarrassed. "They were kinda...intimate. If you know what I mean." Tony made a rude gesture and Rhodey's eyes widened.

This all sounded fishy and contrived but Rhodey knew better than to show Tony any skepticism mid-rant. It let to angst. And pouting. "Why would he risk coming back here knowing Iron Man is waiting for him?"

Tony gestured wildly. "How do I know? Maybe he thinks it's worth the risk. He can teleport. Gene could pop right into her house and take her while she was sleeping and we would never know!"

His voice was becoming dangerously loud and Rhodey shushed him. Tony continued quietly. "I need your help. She can't know we know. We need to keep her under surveillance as much as we can. I can install Makluan energy detectors in her home. Do you think Pepper would let me install a subcutaneous homing microchip? Nah." He continued at the look on his best friend's face. "Her dad may have already done so, being an FBI agent and all."

Through it all, Rhodey just stared at Tony. From the teen's face and body language Rhodey knew Tony wasn't lying. The boy genius believed every word he spoke. Rhodey's expression was tolerant and quizzical and he seemed to be waiting for something. The brown-haired teen sighed and knew what he needed to say.

"I'm sorry, okay? I never should have said all that stuff. You were trying to help and I was a complete and utter asshole." He raised his hands above his head with mock pomposity. " "Behold, I am King of the Assholes. All lesser assholes must bow before me."

As if waiting for the apology Rhodey's posture relaxed and he snickered mockingly. "The first step to asshole redemption is admitting you have a problem. What do you need me to do?"

Tony shrugged. "You're the planner, remember? I was going to leave it up to you." He rested his hand on his chin thoughtfully. "We can afford to be more casual about it at school. Gene's a coward and would probably wait until she was alone to abduct her. So that's where we need to focus."

As oddball as this all sounded, Rhodey found it hard to care. He had his best friend back and that was what mattered at the moment. Together they'd find an unobtrusive way to protect Pepper and maybe find out where Gene was hiding.

The next day was bright and sunny and the two best friends pretended everything was all right, fooling even the unusually observant Ms. Potts. Then again, she was too absorbed in her new boyfriend describing the revised basketball program to really know anyone else was there.

"Aw, man! Not again!" Pepper glared at the newly received text message and the small group stopped.

"Someone bothering you, um...honey?" Happy's question was innocent and despite his personal feelings Tony was grateful to the athlete for asking so he didn't have to.

Pepper seemed to regret her outburst and deleted the offending message but her guilt was obvious to all but her boyfriend. "Nothing! Just those annoying pop up ads! Wow...Hammer Multinational strikes again!"

She quickly changed the subject and Happy smiled down at his petite girlfriend, taking her hand. Tony did his best to ignore the public display of affection and locked eyes with Rhodey. The tall boy nodded almost imperceptively. They had confirmation. Now they had to choose their next course of action.