Written for Writer’s Month 2020 Day 26: Summer Vacation
(AO3 Link)
The camping trip was going well until Rhodey said, 'Shit, I forgot my sleeping bag.'
Bruce looked up, in the process of unrolling his own. Rhodey sat in the tent's entrance, muscular arms wrapped around his knees. 'You didn't leave it in the car?'
'No, I was going to get it then Tony and Pepper needed help with the bags. Damn it.'
It had been Bruce's idea to go camping. The four of them had driven to a stretch of woodland and spent the evening eating s’mores and sharing stories. Tony and Pepper had not-so-subtly retired to their tent an hour ago, leaving the two of them alone. Bruce had tried not to look too pleased by this. 'You can have mine. I'm used to sleeping without one.' He'd spent plenty of nights with nothing but a bag for a pillow.
Rhodey shrugs. 'I'm used to it too. It's fine.'
But Bruce couldn't bear the thought of Rhodey sleeping on the ground. 'I insist.'
He shrugged. 'So do I.'
'Don't be silly. My gamma blood keeps me warm anyway.'
'Doesn't protect you from a sore back, though. How about we arm wrestle for it?'
Bruce allowed himself a pointed glance at Rhodey's muscles. 'That's not a match I'd win.'
He smirked. 'Okay, rock-paper-scissors you for it.'
Bruce played rock. So did Rhodey.
Bruce played rock again. So did Rhodey.
'This is getting ridiculous,' Bruce muttered as they drew again. And again. Both of them refused to play anything other than rock, and after ten games they gave up.
'You stubborn bastard,' Rhodey laughed. 'I’ve always liked that about you. Fine. You know what? This is a stalemate.'
Bruce rolled his eyes. 'So neither of us use it?'
There was a glint in Rhodey's eye. 'No. We both use it.'
A moment passed between them. Rhodey's eyebrows raised in challenge, daring Bruce to call his bluff. If it even was a bluff.
'You're joking,' Bruce said cautiously.
'It's gonna get cold, and I'm not staying up all night arguing.' He crawled over to the sleeping bag and unrolled it. 'Come on. It'll be cosy.'
This was such a bad idea. But Bruce's resolve was weakened after hours spent by the campfire in Rhodey's company.
So when Rhodey climbed into the sleeping bag, Bruce took off his shoes and got in beside him. The bag was quite roomy, so it still zipped up all the way.
In hindsight, it would have made more sense for two platonic friends to sleep facing away from each other, back-to-back. But instead they ended up facing the same direction, with Bruce's back pressed against Rhodey's chest.
In the dark, Bruce felt himself blushing. 'Uh, is this okay?'
Rhodey cleared his throat. 'Yeah, this is fine.'
They lay awkwardly for a while, and the only sounds to be heard were their quiet breathing and the hooting of a distant owl.
Gradually, Bruce felt himself relaxing. It had been years since he'd fallen asleep next to someone, and the warm, reassuring presence at his back was remarkably calming.
Bruce had the Hulk, and he didn’t need protecting. But with Rhodey here, he felt… safe.
An arm wriggled free and draped loosely over his side, outside of the sleeping bag. 'This okay?' asked Rhodey, voice slurred with sleep. 'My arm's going numb in here.'
Bruce was almost asleep himself, so his only response was a happy sigh and to snuggle a little closer.
Rhodey chuckled. 'I'll take that as a yes.' His breath paused, as if he was about to say something. Instead, a hand gently patted Bruce's side. 'Night, Bruce.'
It would no doubt be awkward when they woke up tomorrow. But for now Bruce let himself drift off in Rhodey's arms, and dare to believe that this night together wouldn't be their last.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
In the extended scene of the humvees being blown up, Tony is just shouting for Rhodey, and Rhodey yelling for him to get down and I cannot deal with my emotions about this
I'm still not over this one Iron Man animated movie I saw where Howard was alive (and a good-ish dad in this universe? Sad I'm shocked by the fact he actually seemed to give a shit about Tony lmao.) and Tony basically took the company from under his nose and the only thing he did before giving it back to him was to promote Rhodey to his dream job in that universe (which was like head of engineering or something) and I realized that I was alive specifically to witness that moment. Iconic.
Me: You know I didn't even realize Rhodey would be making so many appearances on my blog but here he is. In my photos. In my most reblogged and liked posts.
Me: It's almost as if like.....people like Rhodey....and want to see more of him....
Me: *looks at Marvel*
Me: Its almost as if people. Want. Rhodey. I mean? Insane.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Can we talk about how ABSOLUTELY EXTRA the Iron Man animated series was like. TONY YOU ARE A FULL GROWN MAN AND A CELEBRITY AND YOU CAN’T TIE A TIE? AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO LOOK LIKE YOU’RE IN A FIGHT AND GETTING ATTACKED TONY PLEASE. I honestly believe Tony did this so Rhodey would come and help him and show how he’s the best EVER. Also 33,000,000,000+ bromance points for the Iron besties.
Kissing Tony is strange. He's been kissed by Tony before but this is different. This isn't Tony who is too hammered to stand up, who is being obnoxious on purpose, who is pushing whatever buttons he can drunkenly recall. This is college when someone mistook them for life partners and Tony swatted his ass and hammed it up because he knew it made Rhodes uncomfortable. But those times, it was Tony being a shit head and the contact had been brief and obnoxious, easily forgettable.
Kissing Tony is being an active participant and it's intense and sort of ephemeral. His facial hair is rough and he kisses like he fights. He kisses hurried but eager, demanding and needy. He breathes out the air that Rhodey huffs between them instead of actually pulling away to fill his lungs. His hands are fisted in Rhodey's shirt. They don't move. It's ironic - Tony mades sexual jokes all the fucking time and he's never been much for keeping his hands to himself but he is actually kissing Rhodey and he seems incapable of crossing that line.
They're like kids and first base is a big deal and Tony is so tense, Rhodey can feel it. He doesn't push. He doesn't try anything. Rhodey leads (and at first Tony seems to struggle with that and then he just...let's go of the control and it's so easy after that.) How did they get here? Tony is sober and it's so important that he is sober. Because he wants Tony to remember. Even if Tony thinks he won't. Rhodey had a couple drinks but he's less intoxicated than he let's Tony believe.
He can consent, and he does, and here they are, in the back of the limo and Tony is such a gentleman, Rhodey can't help but laugh into his mouth. Just once he wants to give Tony something special. This is it. Merry Christmas, Tony. They won't talk about this but Tony will remember and he hopes it will be a good memory.
