“ If that’s gonna be your attitude about everything from now on, honey-bear, I’m gonna go and get overnight shipping for a coffin for you. ” Giving up was never Tony’s style and he knew for a fact that it wasn’t Rhodey’s either. And yes, he could imagine just how helpless he was feeling, how useless; Tony had went through a similar ordeal back in Afghanistan. But there was a man in those caves that didn’t let him give in and lay his head down, and Tony was HELL BENT on now being that man for Rhodey. Because he knows that at the end of the day this was exactly what his friend needed —— a reminder that not everything is lost and that he can still keep on fighting.
Tony remains standing, his gaze bleeding with a concoction of bemusement and understanding; he wants to help James but at the same time he’s not going to take any shit from him. “ FRIDAY is finishing up with the updated version. Lighter design, smarter, faster reaction to the stimulus from your nervous system. If you learn to properly move in this, the new version is gonna feel like nothing’s there. ” A bottle of water hangs loosely from Tony’s fingertips, held out for Rhodey to take. He offers a reassuring smile, his face looking better now, the bruises from their recent fight with the ex team-mates fading. “ You’ll get through this, bud, I know you will. ”
“ make sure the handles are brass. “ the words aren’t said with their usual smirk though. there’s a bite to them. rhodey knows that tony is trying as hard as he can. but sometimes, when he’s lying in bed at night, not able to sleep, he feels like the world has literally come crashing down on him. his superiors are already talking about medal of honor, medical discharge. things he doesn’t want to think about because it would mean a major shift in life, losing his friends & family. the military was his life. what else did he have to show for the last twenty years other than commondations ?? nothing.
“ you know, you’ve never been the cheerleader before. “ rhodey comments, taking the water bottle from his outstretched hand after a moment of hesitation & a self deprecating thought that he could have gotten it himself. “ you got a little skirt & pom poms too ?? “ this time he does manage a small grin. if not for him, then for tony. who really was trying his hardest.
