#rhfe

~~~

“Are you sure you want to bring me to your cousin’s wedding?” 

Rhodey huffed, tired of hearing this question for the third time today. He was starting to wonder if Tony wanted him to go. “For the last time, yes,” Rhodey promised him, “you’ll do great, I promise. My family loves you.” 

“Yeah, but isn’t this supposed to be a family thing?” Tony questioned, for, again, the third time, “they might put up with me, but I'm still not family.” 

Rhodey’s heartbeat sped up at the words. See, the thing is, Tony might not be a Rhodes officially, but Rhodey hoped that he would be soon. Rhodey wasn't going to do it tonight, but he’d gotten very used to carrying the ring with him everywhere he went. 

He was going to do it when he officially transferred to Edwards, when he could tell Tony they could move in together and start planning their future together. He would do it when he could tell Tony that the long distance nightmare, with the few spots of sun that were his leaves, is ending. But tonight, even if Tony wasn’t family yet, he just wanted to enjoy his cousin’s wedding with his boyfriend and family. 

“Trust me,” Rhodey said, instead of voicing his thoughts, “it’s not a family thing. I barely know half the people they invited.” 

“Okay but-” 

Rhodey pulled on his hand, dragging him towards the building, “just come on, already.” 

His cousin’s reception was filled with people. He could spot some of his relatives sitting at the tables or dancing with people he didn’t recognize and he couldn’t wait to catch up with them all. He missed his family so much while he was away. 

He could feel Tony tensing from the overwhelming amount of guests, but before he could say something about it to Rhodey, someone Rhodey didn’t recognize approached him. 

“Hey, Tony!” the person surprisingly addressed his boyfriend rather than him. Tony’s face lit up and he accepted the hug from this mystery person. “Last we talked you told me you weren’t coming!” 

“Rhodey talked me into it at the last minute,” Tony explained, “that’s why we’re so fashionably late.” 

The mystery man laughed and turned to Rhodey, saying, “oh, you’re Rhodey! I heard so much about you.” He offered his hand for Rhodey to shake, “I’m Noel.” 

“Hi,” Rhodey shook his head, smiling, “I wish I could say the same.” 

Tony gave him a glare, “I told you about Noel. Remember, Kim’s best friend?” 

“Oh, right,” Rhodey nodded, pretending to remember. “You’re the best man,” he guessed.  

Noel nodded, “yeah, and you are Alexis’ cousin.” 

“That’s me.” 

“Nice meeting you,” Noel smiled politely before turning back to Tony, “hey, you know you’re always invited to poker night, right? How come you’ve missed so many the past few weeks?” 

“Sorry, Noel, company stuff, you know how it is.” 

“Not in the slightest,” Noel responded and Tony laughed, “you should come when you can, though, it’s about time someone brought in the big money. Getting kind of boring.” 

“I’ll try,” Tony promised, “but I'm not bringing the ‘big money’.” 

“You’re no fun, Stark,” Noel teased, before looking to his side, hearing someone calling his name, “hey, I gotta go, but don’t be stranger!” 

“I won’t!” Tony called out after him, and then turned back to Rhodey, this time seeming more relaxed. Rhodey gave him a puzzled look, “what?”

“You’ve never once told me about Noel.” 

“I did too!” Tony insisted, “he’s part of Kim’s gang.” 

“And since when are you a part of Kim’s gang?” 

“I’m not,” Tony said, vague, “I’m more like... an add on. Let’s go eat, those pigs in a blanket look good.” 

Tony dragged him away towards the buffet, leaving Rhodey confused but willing to let it go. 

~~~

It kept happening during the wedding. Rhodey would be catching up with his aunt, and when Tony came back with their drinks, his aunt would start talking to Tony about the latest episode of The X-Files. Rhodey would be talking with one of his high school friends and he’d turn around to Tony being locked in a debate about cars with his great-uncle. From all of Alexis’ bridesmaids to Rhodey’s old kindergarten friends to the five year old daughter of Rhodey’s cousin - all of them knew Tony somehow and all of them loved him. And Tony seemed to share that sentiment with each of them. Tony dodged all his questioning looks and words of amazement but when they were sitting together, listening to Alexis’ thanking the guests for coming, Rhodey decided to get an answer once and for all. 

“So,” Rhodey whispered, “since when did you get so close with all of the guests in this wedding?” 

Tony looked down in his lap, embarrassed, “you noticed, huh?” 

“Hard not to,” Rhodey responded with, “so, what’s the story?” 

Tony looked at Alexis, avoiding his gaze, “well, uh, when you were away, I kind of ...missed you. I mean, I only got two weeks a year of you, so, can you blame me? Plus, there were all those stories on the news and not knowing what was going on with you was driving me crazy. And your mom and dad and sister got that, y’know? So I started hanging out with them sometimes, just to help distract them or to fix their dishwasher, and well... eventually I kept getting invites to cookouts and church and Thanksgiving, and I went because I’d never say no to your mom. And though those Christmases and backyard sales, I got to know your family, and I became friendly with most of them because... because they’re great people. And through your family I met... most of these people. So, yeah. That’s how. God, talking about it out loud made me realize how weird that is.” 

Rhodey’s heart warmed at hearing how Tony missed him just as much as Rhodey missed Tony - logically, Rhodey knew, but Tony rarely expressed that emotion through words and he treasured it every time he did - and at how Tony used his family to fill that void. He has stared at the ring many times, but never did he feel such a strong urge to propose. 

But before he could say any of that, Alexis finished her speech, “and lastly, thank you to Tony, who got us this venue at the last minute! Everyone, give Tony a round of applause!” 

Tony hid his face as Alexis pointed to him and everyone in the crowd gave a tiny cheer. 

~~~

Rhodey was gathering their things so they could leave the wedding, but he couldn't find Tony anywhere. He wasn’t on the dance floor or talking with a stranger at one of the tables or in the bathrooms, or even outside. Rhodey checked everywhere, but he didn’t know where Tony was. 

As he walked through the hall to try and find if Tony also knew the cooks, or something to that effect, he heard voices coming from behind a wall. It was his mom and Tony. 

“...I’ve always really respected what you did for Jeanette and James, and I know Rhodey would want me to ask you this. I just hope you say yes. And that he says yes, of course. I know we’re young and that I’m not exactly what you pictured-” 

“Oh my god, Tony, of course you have my blessing to marry Jim. I couldn’t be happier to have you as a son in law.” 

There was a sound of his mom crashing Tony in a hug as he ‘oof’ed. Rhodey’s heart thumped in his throat. Even though a small part of him was mad that Tony was stealing his proposal thunder, he couldn’t help but be excited about the fact they both had a ring and the fact that Tony was definitely going to say yes. He couldn’t wait to get married to the love of his life. Not to mention he found it sweet, if not old fashioned, that Tony asked his mom for her blessing. 

“When are you going to do it?” His mom asked. 

“As soon as possible, if I’m honest,” Tony said. 

“Well, don’t let me keep you,” his mom said, “go on, propose to him.” 

Tony was pushed through the door, chuckling. Rhodey quickly hid behind a wall so Tony didn’t know that he was listening in the entire time. He was still hoping to beat Tony to the proposal and he couldn’t do that without the element of surprise. 

“There you are,” Rhodey said, appearing when Tony was in range of his sight, “we have to go - where did you drift off too?” 

Tony looked surprised to see him, mumbling lamely, “um... I just... I wanted to see the... the backroom.” 

“The backroom?” Rhodey asked, amused.

“It had great paintings,” Tony clarified.

Rhodey tried to swallow his smirk, instead saying, “we have great paintings at home too. Let’s go.” He took Tony by the hand and walked him to the exit, politely waving goodbye to Alexis and Kim. 

When they were just about to get in to the car, Rhodey grabbed Tony by the waist and pecked him. Just a short, sweet kiss, but Rhodey hoped it showed how much he adored Tony.

Tony smiled into the kiss, “what was that for?” 

Rhodey shrugged, “just the wedding vibe. And me being very, very in love with you.” 

Sometimes the baddies clip you at a rough angle. Sometimes your boyfriend has to come and give you kisses while you’re feeling depressed cause you gotta stay still and rest for your concussion.

-