Cosmic is Forever
Summary:Set after may have fooled Galactus and left before the Devourer could do anything,but was that the end?If so, then why is there a gold man the Universe is celebrating and the Cabal hunting?
The next morning, there was not a happy Avenger in the Tower.
They had all gathered to say bye to Tony and greet the new temporary leader of the Avengers, who Stark and Fury were right to be one Colonel James Rhodes. The military man arrived just as the farewells were taking place and on seeing him, Tony suddenly hid his genuine smile and replaced it with the one he reserved for the press. Rhodes saw it but didn't say anything. They were on way too shaky grounds to ever be friends again. It was all his fault but he wasn't about to beg the younger man for forgiveness.
Still, he had to be polite so he offered a hand for him to shake in greeting. "Mr Stark."
Tony didn't take the offered hand and even the fake smile fell off of his face, leaving the feared businessman that had taken the business world by a storm. " If you value your life, you won't try taking away my tech as JARVIS is more than authorized and ready to stop you however he sees fit in that moment. On another note, if you don't want me to come knocking on your, or the Senate's door, with nuclear weapons in my pocket, treat my team like they deserve. Go through my projects and they'll never be able to find your body. Get one of them killed and not even God will recognize you after I'm done with you. Is this perfectly clear?"
Rhodes couldn't hold back a shiver of fear as he came face to face with a persona Tony had discarded after Afghanistan. It only surfaced every now and then, when someone he considered precious was endangered. Once upon a time, he was in that tight circle but he has made his choice and he'll have to live with his decision. "Crystal, Mr Stark." He grit out and Tony glared at his once upon a time best friend before waving to the Avengers and heading for the garage, where a limo was waiting to take him to the airport.
James looked around the Avengers Tower a little better, recognizing certain features that were attributed to solely Tony Stark, but he also saw a few details he and Pepper had once placed so Tony could have a part of them with him all the time. The Tower had still been in construction yet they had thought that they would forever be welcome in the genius's life. They never thought that they would make such asses of themselves that Tony would severe all ties. How wrong and naive they have been, just a couple of years back. How arrogant they were to be so sure that Tony will always allow their crap to continue. How stupid they were to think Tony Stark didn't have back up plans for such scenarios.
The clearing of a throat had him snapping out of his memories of the good old days when they had been walking on eggshells around Tony and the younger man would just tease them about it. Times that are long gone now. Another not so subtle (or tactful) clearing of a throat made him look away from the penthouse apartment of the Avengers Tower and had him facing the actual Avengers. It was Clint, of course, who has been trying to get his attention and Rhodes counted heads, noticing that they were one giant green head short.
"Where is the Hulk?" And he could practically feel them deducting points from his already pitiful score, in their eyes that is. He knows they're bound to not like if, if not outright hate him for being Tony's possible replacement and that's going to be hard enough to deal with without wondering where a green, rage monster was rampaging off to.
"Yeah, you see... He's pissed enough as it is, as it is the Doc's week and he had been planning to spend most of it with Tony. Now that you're supposed to be the leader and Tony's supposed to step back so we can "bond"," and wasn't sarcasm just dripping like venom from his words as he made air quotes with his fingers. "Better as a team, Bruce doesn't get his week of relaxing, wonderful, mind-boggling science until this time in three months. He ain't a happy camper right now, so please do go bother him."
And wasn't it a scary thought that they would send him to the Hulk so that the guy would rip him to shreds just because it will bring Tony back? Rhody frowned as he realized he wasn't acting like the commander he was supposed to be and he straightened his back a little, scowling at the blond man. ''Well, that's too bad. This is how things will be from now on so you all better get used to it. I won't stand for insubordination.''
Clint sneered at him. ''Well, I see you'll die by tomorrow either by our hand or because we won't save your butt from our enemies. If you know what's good for you, don't come anywhere near my room. I like practicing and an arrow might ... slip through my fingers.'' The others followed the stalking off Hawkeye and Fury sighed. He had known this was going to be difficult, but he had never thought it would be this bad.
''Just ... give them time and try not to die.'' He told the younger man before he left, ignoring Rhodes's spluttering. After all, he had to return to the Drycarrier and make his own bets in the already organized betting pool. He was giving him three days while most were betting that he will either leave screaming within the hour or last the week but end up in a mental hospital. Knowing the Avengers, both was more than likely to happen.
Rhody watched as his last hope to learn how to deal with the Avengers just left without giving him any tips on how to deal with them. If he had longer hair, he would be running s frustrated hand through it. Or tearing it out. Maybe it was better that his hair was the way it was. As things were, it might have even started falling out if these guy continued to make things difficult for him. Well, he guessed he'd have to get used to it.
Besides, he had dealt with Tony Stark for ages, from teen years to his debuted as Iron Man. He was sure these guys couldn't be worse than a bipolar, moody, brilliant teenage Tony Stark.
00000
He was right. Tony was much worse, even if there were currently seven Avengers driving him up the wall.
He had went searching for Bruce and had found himself in Tony's lab, where the other genius was staring sullenly at the schematics of a project the billionaire was probably supposed to help him with. It would seem Bruce Banner, otherwise known as the Hulk, didn't think science was as fun if his, what was it Tony called them? Ah, yes. It obviously wasn't as fun without his 'science bro'. He made sure not to sneak up on him but Bruce didn't acknowledge him even after clearing his throat. And when he tapped the man on the shoulder, green glowing eyes stared back at him from beyond the glasses. That was all the warning he would get and so Rhody had hightailed it out of there, not caring if that made him look as a weak leader.
He would like to see anyone try and be brave in front of the Hulk and tell him to stop sulking. At least, without being a demigod, super soldier, super spy or a man in a tin can that can withstand said green rage monster.
It would later occur to him that Tony still did this on a daily basis, with and without his armor.
He had sought out Natasha next, knowing that the Russian was most likely not to care about a shift in command. Well, he was dead wrong. The Black Widow had grown to trust Iron Man, and Natasha Romanov was on the same path with Anthony Edward Stark, even though hesitant. She had grown accustomed to his type of command, how everyone could be a commander and a soldier and she didn't like this change where there was to be only one commander. It reminded her of both project Red Room and of how things worked at SHIELD. To her, the Avengers were far from either of those and she hated thinking that what she had called home and family will become a base and a troop. Needless to say, Rhody understood why they were all afraid of her when she was casually talking to him while firing perfect shots without looking at her targets. Forget the Hulk, how had Tony dealt with her!?
He tried finding Peter, as he thought the kid was least likely to kill him, only Peter had locked himself in his room like all moody teenagers had a right to and he didn't want to talk with Rhody. When he tried searching for Ant-Man, Scott Lang was nowhere to be found. James gathered up courage and asked JARVIS where he was and then had to wait five uncomfortable minutes until the AI answered. (Tony had warned the Avengers that JARVIS will be focusing on helping him crack the mysterious side business Tyberious was somehow involved with and that he will mostly just be checking in on them and that his responses will be delayed. It would seem he and Tony had gotten to work already, or the AI was just as pissed at him as the Avengers were. Both are equally possible.) When the AI finally responded, Rhody cautiously went towards Tony's lab. As the last time, he saw only a moody Bruce, so he asked JARVIS again, not moving away from the lab doors. He got the same answer.
"Mr Lang is indeed in Sir's lab." JARVIS didn't answer him a third time so Rhody peeked in. He was surprised to see Bruce talking with the table but then it occurred to him that Scott must have shrunk himself to avoid Rhodes. The replacement leader of the Avengers sighed and wondered how Tony did this every day. Then again, they probably weren't like this with him. They were just being difficult because they could.
When he went searching for Thor, his bilgsnipe nearly scared the life out of him. The blond thunderer was nowhere to be found so Rhody went searching for Cap. He remembered Clint's not so subtle threat and he wasn't suicidal enough to test the irritated archer. He would rather live, thanks.
He found the good Captain where he had thought him to be, in other words, in the gym. He was training with one of the reinforced punching bags Tony always made for him but he ended up breaking anyway while Sam was running on the treadmill and talking with the blond. Rogers would say something back every now and then but was mostly grunting, more focused on his training than on making conversation. He remembered what Fury had told him about the Avengers before they had come to live at the Tower. Steve had sunk himself into training so that he wouldn't have to think about the past he was no longer a part of. He was downright depressed and had definite signs of PTSD, which all seemed to vanish sometime after he met Tony Stark for the first time. It was one of the reasons kept close to the genius, Fury had explained. He kept Cap's thoughts, fears and demons away. Rhody hadn't quite believed it at first, but he could see that it was probably true now.
Despite that, he knew that the team will have to get used to him. In this week he was given as a trail run, he had to earn their respect and trust. It was for his country, he kept telling himself, so he wouldn't lose his nerve and chicken out. Because, really, he had no doubt every single person in this tower could kill him with their pinky and not break a sweat. How did Tony live like this?
As soon as they saw him, they paused in their training, causing Sam to fly into the wall behind him since he had forgotten he was on the treadmill. James cast him a glance and wondered how this kid had gotten into contact with Tony, who had become even less trusting after what happened between them. An awkward silence descended upon the room and Rhody resisted the urge to fidget before clearing his throat.
''Um, hi. Sorry if I was disturbing your training, I just thought it would be ... best, if I got to know you all.'' Steve actually looked as if he wanted to turn him down and resume demolishing the few bags that remained for his training today before shaking his head and forcing a smile to come on. Rhody was surprised it was that strained, as he had heard that the blond was a friendly sort, but he guessed he was worrying about their time away from Tony and if the genius will be forced to stay away forever. ''That is, only if you want!'' He found himself blurting out, not really wanting to be in such a tense room any longer than needed. Seriously, this was a lot more stressful than he had thought it to be, and they have yet to fight anyone.
''You're right. We need to learn how to work together, and that's best accomplished if we get to know each other. I'll call the others and we will have a lunch gathering a little later. In the meanwhile, would you like to join us for training?''
Rhody relaxed slightly and would have answered affirmative had the Tower's alarms not gone on right at that moment. ''Captain Rogers, the Masters of Evil are robbing a bank again.''
''Thanks, JARVIS. Please alert the others and we'll be out in a few.'' Steve told the AI,who didn't answer but obviously did as he was told as soon after, everyone met in the living room, suited up and ready to go. It felt weird but cool to be in the War Machine armor again, even though the Avengers would look in his direction, frown and stop whatever was about to come out of their mouths and turn away from him again. However, he wasn't going to let that bother him. This was his chance to prove himself to both his superiors and to the Avengers as a competent leader and a loyal soldier of his country. He will earn their trust.
''Avengers, let's head out.'' They all stared at him for a moment, as if he had just grown a second head or the armor had turned neon pink and he couldn't help but snap. ''What!?''
Cap cleared his throat before the others could say anything. ''Avengers Assemble.''