Chapter Text
Rhodey stared at the door. It had been an emotional year and the latest info dump might have gone over his head, in many ways. He still managed to hold it together while it happened but he had to ask himself, did all this have to happen to Tony? Didn’t the man go through enough? Wincing as the more painful events played before his eyes. Rhodey may have dropped the ball a few times in regards to being a best friend but apparently he dropped it so often he didn’t realize until he was told of all the nasty horrors point blank.
Sighing and rubbing at his neck feeling the short cut roughly against his hand, he stood oddly hesitant. In light of everything here he was, again. Mentally he knew Tony wouldn’t mind his company but there was only so many times he could come over before the man got suspicious. The military was a demanding job, Rhodey rarely had time to visit, but he took some personal leave (which was harder and easier then he thought it’d be) to see how his buddy was doing.
If Tony thought he was being coddled or fretted over he clammed up like an oyster. Rhodey knew Tony’d take his sudden visits as him being worried, which, while true, would not go over well. This whole Iron Man thing and another person stuck in his mate’s head was stressing and mind boggling.
Rhodey shuffled closer to the door ready to enter, thinking about how freaky it would be to have someone else in his head. To be faced with sure death only to triumph in the end. Tony was just going to have to deal with his check ins, smirking slightly, after all his superiors were quite adamant he stay on ‘Mr. Stark’s’ good side and having a US defense only suit he wasn’t really going anywhere soon. Time to see if Tony was really doing alright or putting on airs. Rhodey knocked on the door.
“Welcome back Colonel Rhodes,” the ever polite and watchful guardian of the house greeted. Grasping his hands behind his back, smiling at the new title, he started walking down the hallway. They promoted him as a way of saying ‘sorry we tampered with your suit and nearly got you and many others killed,’ but he liked to think he earned it.
“Hey JARVIS, where’s Tony?”
“In the training room.” Rhodey raised an eyebrow, his boy was turning into a gym rat. Not that he was complaining, being Iron Man in one way or another took a toll on the body even if prepared. Rhodey only had one fight under his belt in the suit before realizing he would need to up his game if he wanted to be of any use in the thing. He only wished the moron would let himself heal properly before hitting the punching bags or whatever crazy training regimen he decided was cool enough. Tony only got into boxing due to Happy and believe it or not Sherlock Holmes (of all fictional things).
As he breached the room, half expecting movie training montage music to be playing he was surprised to find the man with his face scrunched up in focus and slow fluid moves that sent a flicker of unease down Rhodey’s side, he might not be looking at Tony right now. Rhodey appreciated all the things Bruce did but it was still weird to see Tony but also, not see Tony. Even after doe eyes met his own in open glee bounding over exclaiming “Ah! Honey bear! Whats the haps?” He wasn’t sure if who he saw before was Bruce or Tony. He didn’t like not knowing for sure.
“What’s your punk ass doing now? You just got your color back.” Rhodes nagged without heat, if one nagged too hard or too seriously Tony would stuff his ears. Nothing was more annoying as pouring your worries to ‘nah nah nah can’t hear you!’
Tony scoffed before beaming, “Look! The fruits of my labor!” And bent smoothly his palms on the floor, knees straight.
“Amazing,” Rhodes said mildly surprised, if he, himself tried he would barely reach his toes before his calves started burning something fierce.
“Amazing he says,” Tony muttered under his breath, “I’ll show you amazing.” And did the honest to god splits. A smug smirk dancing across the brats face.
Against his will Rhodey’s eyebrows shot up. “Holy shit man, what kinda stretches have you been doing?” Rhodey was no slouch, he knew mixed martial arts and jujitsu but try as he might he wasn’t doing no splits.
“Weeell~” Tony sing songs slinging his legs together and doing a backwards tumble before bouncing to his feet, if it wasn’t for the fumble at the end Rhodey would've clapped as it was he only chuckled “Smooth, chicken legs.” His friend only gave him a playful glare before dusting himself off of imaginary dirt and cleared his throat.
“Right. As you saw, I’m pure awesome.” Rhodey folded his arms in amusement as his buddy puffed out his chest and gave a dramatic pose before going over to a water bottle on the edge of the mats. “All funnies aside I have the best Teacher in all the worlds.” Rhodey shook his head at the only half joking words.
When suddenly he was hit with inspiration. “Oh? How about a spar, then we’ll see if you’re any good.” And if Bruce could really teach or not. Tony cocked his head as if listening to something, Bruce probably, before giving Rhodes his full attention.
“Oh Pooh Bear,” he cooed as he cracked his knuckles eyes glinting with fire, lips alight with dark merriment, “Yer gonna wish you hadn't said that.”
Twenty minutes later and Rhodey did indeed wish he hadn't started it. They laid with their backs on the mats, sweat stinking up the room and the Colonel knew he was going to feel pain on the marrow.
“What,” he wheezed “The hell, was that?” Rhodey may have won but it was a surprisingly hard win, even if he held back to take into account the glowing weakness and the man still being in recovery. For someone like Tony who passingly worked out and barely sparred Rhodey was surprised how close it was. Teacher or no teacher.
When Tony didn’t answer, too busy sucking in air, Rhodey continued, “You didn’t cheat did ya?” This time a high laugh filled the room before he choked and the laugh tittered out into coughs and giggles. Rhodey didn’t see what was so damn funny, he almost got up to thump the man’s back in worry.
“Want to share with the class?” Rhodey grumbled as the giggles subsided and Tony sighed, amused
“Light of my life, heart of my soul, if I cheated I would've won before you could blink.” The colonel frowned not sure if he was insulted to be thought of as an easy mark or surprised by Tony’s belief in Bruce’s capabilities.
Instead Rhodey only remarked, “Damn, if that’s the case. You need to hook a brother up with that kinda training.” He admits fully now that Bruce is some sort of miracle worker, a few months of light training and Tony accelerated in skill by leaps and bounds. Rhodes was impressed by them both and was interested to see how the man would train someone whose body he did not reside in. And if that allowed Rhodey to see first hand the change and differences between the two all the better.
“That’s a great idea! I’ll ask him.” After sounding exceptionally giddy, Rhodey closed his eyes and let himself recover his stamina.
A few minutes later and Tony was moping. “If the guy was capable of laughing he would've.” Rhodey raised a single eyebrow at that, trying not to laugh himself at that face.
“I’m guessing that’s a no then,” he shrugged not too bothered or put out, he’d just have to find some other way of interacting with the two of them. Maybe Iron Man and what was he being called now, War Machine(?) could cross paths instead.
“Hmph. Just you wait. We'll be under Bruce’s tutelage come hell or high water.” Hearing the sheer determination in his voice made Rhodey feel sorry for the man. There was no running away from a determined Tony. Even when you had your own legs.
A few months later and Rhodey would put aside any worries about not being able to tell who was who even at a glance. Because it would became very apparent when the man named Bruce was in charge. He would also deeply regret ever giving Tony the idea in the first place. Oh so deeply.