#ironhusbandsbingoround4

[every-marveler-ever]

Chicken Whiny Soup

Fluffbruary Day 23 | @fluffbruary | Snack

IronHusbands Bingo Round 4 | 🗯️ @ironhusbandsbingo | Chicken Noodle Soup

Sam Wilson Bingo Round 3 | 🪶 @samwilsonbingo | Domestic Fluff

masterlist :: (ao3 link)

RATING: General WARNING: Sickness, Stealing food, Kisses

Sam makes chicken noodle soup for everyone when they are sick, the thing is, you have to actually be sick to get the soup. | Sam Wilson/James 'Rhodey' Rhodes/Tony Stark

fluffbruary 2023 | ihb 🗯️ round 4 | swb 🪶 round 3

On a sick day it is known by everyone in the Avengers tower that Sam Wilson makes chicken noodle soup for the person who is unquestionably sick, Sam brings it down to the fact that when he was younger it is what his mum used to do and it always made him feel better. The one downside is that Sam’s chicken noodle soup is legendary, it tastes perfect with a brilliant mix of beef and chicken stock with roasted spotted potatoes on the side and toast to dip. 

People have tried before to fake being sick to get the soup (chough* Clint *cough*) and for some of these people as spies, they don’t do a very good job. Despite no superpowers or  spidey sense, Sam knows when people really are sick it’s a hidden superpower that he uses sparingly. 

“Are we really sure he is sick Sam?” Rhodey asks sitting on the kitchen counter swinging his legs back and forth as he watches Sam cook, not an unusual situation. Except for this time Sam is making chicken noddle soup for their partner Tony and Rhodey is suspicious, “he use to act like this all the time during college to get out of classes and exams, are we sure Pepper hasn’t asked for paperwork and  he has just faked a cough?”

It is highly suspicious, in all the years that Rhodey has known Tony the man didn’t get sick, not when they were in college, not when Harley brought home a stomach bug from school that affected everyone else in the tower, the only time Rhodey had even seen Tony throw up was after drinking (which he doesn’t do anymore). 

Sam puts down the spoon being used to mix the soup together and turns to Rhodey his hands found themselves on Rhodey’s thighs, “are you questioning my superpower?” He lifts a single eyebrow in expression, teasing Rhodey.

Rhodey just rolls his eyes in retaliation, “you dote on him too much and when he is sick he gets whiny, and now he begs for your special chicken noddle so, up and you just make it for him.” Rhodey points out mouth placed in a frown, “you spoil him too much.”

Laughing Sam goes back to cooking the soup and taking the potatoes out of the oven, hitting Rhodey’s hand when he notices the man trying to steal some of the soup. Sam shakes his hands off on the apron around his waist and begins preparing the meal for Tony, “he is out of the lab right now and is actually sleeping for the first time in a while so if it takes giving him chicken noddle soup to take some time  for himself, I am okay with that sick or not.” 

As Rhodey shakes his head and rolls his eyes they can hear the whiny person in question throughout this conversation, “SAMMMMMy, palatapuuuuuuuusss, I need cuddles!” Tony whines from down the hall, so loud that Rhodey is fairly sure anyone down in the common room four floors down could hear.

Smiling Sam takes the soup off the stoves and pours a serving of it into a bowl with soldier bread to go with it, “guess we should give this to him? But first-” Sam raises an eyebrow pointing to his cheek a smile on his face.

Rhodey does as told kissing Sam’s cheek and then jumping off the kitchen counter, “guess our lover needs us?”

Cards:

[every-marveler-ever]

No Plan To Sneak Out In A Snow Storm

Fluffbruary Day 4 | @fluffbruary | Snow

Marvel Rare Pair Valentine's Mini Bingo | @marvelrarepairbingo2022 | Sneaking In/Out

IronHusbands Bingo Round 4 | @ironhusbandsbingo | Sharing Body Heat

masterlist :: (ao3 link)

RATING: General. WARNING(S): Howard Star's A+ Parenting, Homophobic Howard Stark.

A/N: I actually loved this, and joining the marvel rare pair server was incredibly inspiring. Somehow it's day 4 and I've written nothing else but what I've previously posted. I am okay with that.

Rhodey convinces his boyfriends to join him in replying to Tony’s mother's note to join them for Thanksgiving. At least the bed is big enough for the four of them until they can get a hotel that is.  | James 'Rhodey' Rhodes/Tony Stark/Steve Rogers/James 'Bucky' Barnes

fluffbruary 2023 | mrprb 💘 valentines mini bingo | ihb 🗯️ round 4

“You want to do what?” Rhodey thought Tony was crazier but is becoming apparent that his boyfriend's boyfriend is trying to kill himself. Steve Rogers is skinny as a pin and is always shivering in classes yet, “it is snowing outside and you want to sneak out! There is a snowstorm going on the roads are closed, Steve!” All Rhodey is trying to do is get the subtle point across that no, he does not want to freeze to death in the middle of November.

Tony and Bucky the two other boyfriends in their interesting quadruple situation have going on are both lying on Tony’s ridiculously large bed, under the covers clearly trying to get sleep. “Can you keep it down? Howard will hear you and then we might actually end up in the blizzard.” Rhodey knows Tony is right because unfortunately he’s seen Tony’s father do it before to them both, it was especially hard when Tony came out. This time they were actually let into the house which seemed like an achievement to both, especially seeing as Rhodey dragged along Steve and Bucky with them. 

Bucky sits up, resting his head back on the plush headboard, that Mairia had replaced Tony’s old wire one when they changed it to be another countless guest bedroom. He sighs running his hand through Tony’s hair “can you remind me again why we didn’t just go to your mum’s place James?” That’s also something that is taking a bit of use to, James and James, for once Rhodey is thankful for Tony’s excessive use of nicknames. 

“Maria wanted to see Tony,” “that didn’t mean we had to come,” Tony reminds them all for what seems the millionth time and they only got to the Stark mansion at 10 am that morning. Rhodey pulls Steve away from the window and drags him to the bed getting underneath the covers with the others two, the four of them only just fitting. 

The bed lays Steve, Bucky, Tony and Rhodey from left to right and despite how cold and the snowstorm outside it’s extremely warm between them all. Tony rolls over to face Rhodey in the bed kissing his head, “thank you for the thought,” despite it the cold and the journey and the very fact that there was still a part of them all that thought they wouldn’t make it in the door it’s fine. It’s slightly encouraging to think that when Howarsd saw the 4 of them he wasn’t immediately sent away packing again like they expected him to be. 

Maria’s letter to the dorm room didn’t mean much to Tony, but to Rhodey it felt like that maybe she was accepting them. 2 Christmases ago when they were both freshmen Tony didn’t think it was such a big deal because he had been bringing guys home for years but apparently Howard had thought it was a phase and MIT might teach him something. It didn’t work and they were turned away at the door.

Rhodey thought this might have been an apology. It just turned out to be a really bad idea. 

“I can try and book a hotel?” is really the only solution that Rhodey has for solving the situation he has put them all in.”

Steve just rolls on snuggling into the mattress more, “isn’t this already basically a hotel?” He asks sincerely because it is incredibly cozy and Jarvis promised to bring them all coffee and breakfast treats in the morning. They laugh because it’s true and because there is nowhere else they’d rather be.

Cards:

[every-marveler-ever]

Laughter, Relationships and Partners

Fluffbruary Day 12 | @fluffbruary | Tenderness

Bucky Barnes Flash Bingo | 📚 @buckybarnesbingo | Underdog

IronHusbands Bingo Round 4 | 🗯️ @ironhusbandsbingo | Words Unsaid

masterlist :: (ao3 link)

RATING: General WARNING(S): Relationship drama, Open relationship, Marriage open relationship, Bad communication

It wasn’t Bucky’s intention to get between a relationship, especially not one as strong as Rhodey and Tony’s, but in his defence, he didn’t know they were dating. (A bad description). | Tony Stark/James 'Rhodey' Rhodes/James 'Bucky' Barnes

fluffbruary 2023 | bbb 📚 flash | ihb 🗯️ round 4

Bucky was extremely lucky he understands that he has complete access to Tony’s lab with his one fingerprint unlocking the glass sliding doors that Tony keeps locked. The lab is Tony’s sanctuary and to have any access means that Tony trusts him which Bucky didn’t think when he followed Steve into the Avengers tower.

.

“Who is this?” Tony says not in the nicest tone of voice, Steve had been getting on Tony’s nerves. He had given him a home, a new uniform, and food, yet none of it seemed to be enough for Steve, for somebody who came from nothing Tony thought Steve would appreciate the luxury he provided. Instead, Steve seems to take advantage of his kindness by dragging in a lost puppy behind him, “and what does he think he is doing here?”

Steve smiles not sensing the strained sense of tone in Tony’s voice, he has a smile on his face, “this is Bucky, he came out of the ice. I thought he could stay here, maybe train with us and,” Steve's face drops as he looks back to his friend, and moves over an inch, this is the first time Tony sees why this guy is such an underdog, “maybe you could help with his arm?”

Tony knows who Bucky is, he was Steve’s bestfriend, his right-hand man, and his Rhodey (without all the relationship stuff), Tony read history books about this man and went to museum collections detailing his fall from the train and how devastated Steve supposedly was. Never in any of the books, collections or articles did they mention a silver arm, a rusted, badly built silver arm that must be killing him from the weight alone. Tony hates to admit it but that arm is reason enough for Tony to house the man. 

“Yeah I’ll give it a look at, um” Tony blinks a few times before taking a deep breath, this has changed his day of pace, “the spare room on your floor is clean right? If not I can call the cleaner but I’m not quite sure when she will get here…” Steve smiles brightly and quickly reassures Tony, “yes one of the rooms is clean he can definitely stay there, thank you, Tony.”

Steve quickly pulls Bucky away from Tony and leads him to the elevator to move up to Steve’s. 

Tony hates to admit how quickly he pulled up blueprints and began sketching a new arm, Steve’s new friend is cute and Tony can’t get him out of his head, because it is clearly because of the arm, just the arm. 

.

When he does sit in the workshop with Tony sometimes it is because he is getting his arm looked at and Tony has exciting new blueprints to show him, but other times it because he just wants to sit and watch Tony. 

These are the times that Bucky notices the wedding band.

There are all ways words unsaid in the situation because how do you bring it up to the man that you thought might be flirting with you. 

.

Bucky sits in the lab one day because he felt like he needed the quietness that the lab brings, he feels bad because Tony isn’t here and he is in Tony’s space but he needed it. Steve had been nice since moving into the Avengers tower, but he always feels like he was intruding when he sees Sam and Steve cooking in the kitchen, or lounging on top of each other during movie nights. 

The lab offers quietness that the spare room or the floor he is taking residence in can’t. “You’ve come to escape have you?” Tony jokes announcing himself to the room, laughing along with his own comment. Bucky nods along as he watches Tony sit and pull up blueprints and doesn’t seem fussed by the fact that Bucky just let himself in, asking JARVIS to play some music as they both just appreciate each other's presence. 

Bucky doesn’t get out a stark pad or read like he normally does when they are both in the lab, he just watches Tony which is when he notices the ring. “Are you married?” The question comes out of nowhere as he watches Tony stop fiddling, “sorry,” Bucky winces when he realises his upfronts, “it’s just you were playing with what looks like a wedding ring and it’s definitely on your ring finger so I just assumed, sorry.” 

Something Tony and Bucky both have in common is their rambling and when Peter is also in the lab with them both it becomes quite a lot for anybody else that may join them, but as both nerds the rambling is normal.  

Tony doesn’t stop what he’s doing, “yeah in 0’11, right after the bill was passed, we had been engaged for years but it wasn’t until then that we actually tied the knot.”

Two things in this conversation shock Bucky, 1. He’s right and Tony is actually married which feels weird because he thought they were flirting and 2. Tony is gay (or bisexual, or whatever term he chooses) which he assumed but Tony also just seemed charming to anybody he meets. 

But Tony is married with a ring and everything, and Bucky is nothing.

.

Rhodey is extremely nice to Bucky and doesn’t wear a wedding band which seems like the perfect situation in Bucky’s predicament. Rhodey is Tony’s best friend but when Tony sees Bucky sitting on Rhodey’s lap he doesn’t complain or fight it, most of the time he smiles with warmth over at them.

It makes his heart tender thinking about being with Rhodey but them he remembers the moments in the lab and his heart seems caught between. 

.

“Movie night!” Peter screams as he enters the lounge on Clint and Natasha’s floor, this month's movie night location. Movie night traditionally transferred from floor to floor each month, except for Tony, Tony never seemed interested in hosting a movie night and so he was never included in the mix. 

Rhodey was happy to include Bucky in movie night when he joined the tower despite the weariness of Steve and Tony, Rhodey saw the excitement Bucky had in his eyes when he discovered new things, completely different to the confusion that used to show on Steve’s face when being introduced to the new world. He quickly introduced Bucky to all new types of work, “are we continuing James Bond tonight?” 

Bucky smiles brightly which is enough for Natasha to roll her eyes and turn on James Bond, as Peter talks about random James Bond facts he found out since last month. 

The movie plays with minimal talking as everybody finds themselves intensively watching You Only Live Twice, and Bucky’s head slowly falls onto Rhodey’s shoulder for the first time and suddenly Rhodey is no longer interested in the movie, as the smile on his face may suggest. 

. 

Bucky never thought of himself as an underdog he was a soldier who thought in war, but now he feels like he is the most underdog of them all.

When Natasha tells him that Rhodey and Tony are married Bucky’s tender heart breaks because it just can’t be true, he is dating Rhodey, they made it official just last week, and they were dating. Now Bucky just feels like he’s a mistress. 

“How could you do this to me!” Never before had he questioned that they slept on the same floor, never had he questioned that Rhodey always sleeps in his room when they sleep together, never even being invited to Tony’s floor.

Bucky for the first time steps onto Tony’s floor yelling a storm. There is a part of him that is glad the elevator didn’t lock him out of getting there, that eventually, he would have found out on his own because the elevator door opens and he can see wedding photos on the grand piano with them both in matching white suits. 

He is met with confused looks from Rhodey and Tony who are sitting on the couch next to each other, arms around each other, sharing a StarkPad. Bucky breathes a hard breath, fuming, “you’re married, to each other,” you can tell he’s really angry from the wild hand signals he is using, “and neither of you, my boyfriend nor my friend thought you would tell me!”

Rhodey pushes his eyebrows down and together even more confused than when Bucky walked in, if Bucky wasn’t made he would call it super cute, “you didn’t know?” And Tony begins to laugh so loud that he is nearly falling off the couch, hitting Rhodeys knee forcefully, “he doesn’t realise we’re open and both dating him,” Tony explains in a fit of laughter.

 Bucky tilts his head like a lost dog, “open relationship? But you’re married?” He’s no longer screaming and is instead the one confused in the whole situation. 

“Open relationships can relate to marriage, and in our case it does, it just so happens to be that we both really like you,” Rhodey explains with a wincing smile. He moves over to the lounge while simultaneously pushing Tony back onto the lounge as the older man recovers, “sit down” he pats the spot he just made, “and we can discuss this all. No words unsaid this time, we promise”

Listening to the suggestion Bucky sits down between them and leans his head on Rhodeys shoulder looking at Tony, “this would explain the coffee dates, and kissing my forehead in the lab,” he says and Tony spills out into more laughter.

Bucky can work with this.  Laughter, relationships and partners. 

Cards:

[every-marveler-ever]

Out Of My Limit - Live

Fluffbruary Day 16 | @fluffbruary | Glasses

IronHusbands Bingo Round 4 | 🗯️ @ironhusbandsbingo | Free

masterlist :: (ao3 link)

RATING: General WARNING: N/A

A/N: I’ve been trying this new drabble idea by writing a plot bunny from whatever song shuffles from my liked songs on Spotify, so far it has definitely worked. I'm also actually using a Free Square for once which I am so excited for!

James stares at the customer in front of him, “uh sorry sir but we don’t have any of that,” because who walks into a service station and asks for a poppyseed muffin. | Tony Stark/James 'Rhodey' Rhodes

fluffbruary 2023 | ihb 🗯️ round 4

“Hey can I just get a poppyseed muffin and a caramel lattee?”

James stares at the customer infront of him, “uh sorry sir but we don’t have any of that,” this is the first time the customer looks up from the phone that he is hastily messaging on. It is Tony Stark, the man James is serving is Tony Stark of Stark industries. The guy who saved him without even knowing it. “I can get you a chocolate muffin and fairly bad cup of coffee instead?” How does he, a service station employee, tell Tony Stark no.

The Tony Stark in question raises the sunglasses off his eyes to rest ontop of his head, his attention fully of James now rather than the phone, “could I get a cup of you?” Tony looks the guy up and down, inquiring with subtle flirtation.

“I am pretty sure I’m out of your limit,” Rhodey says while taking a blueberry muffin out of the display shelves. Plugging the price and code into the machine he slides the muffin towards Tony, “on the house,” he mentions off handidly, trying to ease the tension between them.

Tony smiles gracefully sliding a personal business card in tandem with taking his muffin, “I am pretty sure you are,” he taps the card twice “please use it anyway, maybe hit below your level.” He leaves without another word.

He sees the reflection of James' excitement as he puts his glasses back on and his smile doesn’t fade. 

Cards:

[every-marveler-ever]

Idea’s Keep From Sleeping

Fluffbruary Day 14 | @fluffbruary | Idea

Bucky Barnes Flash Bingo | 📚 @buckybarnesbingo | Ultimatum

IronHusbands Bingo Round 4 | 🗯️ @ironhusbandsbingo | Insomnia

masterlist :: (ao3 link)

RATING: General WARNING: Insomnia mentions and descriptors, carrying to bed, war mentions (not graphic detail).

A/N: 2 back to back Rhodey/Bucky/Tony fics? I definitely feel like I see a trend (and new ot3) coming along. But my title’s lately have been so bad, I’m sorry lol. 

Bucky goes to collect Tony from the lab so they can all go to bed together for once, but then Bucky gets distracted and so then it’s up to Rhodey to figure it all out. | Tony Stark/James 'Bucky'Barnes/James 'Rhodey' Rhodes

fluffbruary 2023 | bbb 📚 flash | ihb 🗯️ round 4

“Am I going to have to pick you up and drag you to bed?”  Tony’s eyebrows frown as he sees Bucky in the lab doorway, “Peter’s coming over tomorrow and I know that you want  spend the whole day with him and despite how lovely he is Peter takes a lot of energy, so bed.” Bucky tells the truth and he’s not acting especially politely because this is day 3 of Tony not coming to bed with him and Rhodey.

Tony would retaliate that he had been sleeping and JARVIS was logging it as sleep in his habit tracker, but it was sleep in the lab and in short periods of time, which Rhodey may count but Bucky did not. Bucky spent a whole war not slepping properly he was not going to let Tony not sleep because of the lab. 

Frowning Tony watched as JARVIS turned off his holographic blueprints, “did Rhodey send you down?” If Rhodey had sent Bucky down that is when he knew it was bad, he was actually in trouble. Tony used his puppy dog eyes to his best advantage when he says, “becuase I was working on the new blueprints of your arm, and I just had to get ti done, but if you wanted to help…” Tony trailed up and it didn’t take much for Bucky to be gesturing for the holograms to resume their positions and sit in the wheely chair next to Tony.

Quickly Bucky became just as excited about the project as Tony was previously before ebing interrupted, he was confiscating Tony’s coffee by drinking it himself, but in Tony’s eyes you lose some you win some and his partner influencing his insomnia seemed to be a win.

“Have you thought about the feature I was telling you? The shockwave one that I could maybe turn off and on?” Bucky’s tone raised as he became excited and Tony snikered. 

They spent the next hour sitting like that, shoulder to shoulder in their individual chairs, Tony’s backless stoll and Bucky’s wheely chair. It seemed to be they were making decent process on the schematics when they were interrupted by a cough from the door way, both men’s eyes went wide.

They were in trouble if Rhodey unpleased expression was anything to go by. There was a loud gulp from beside Tony.

“I seem to remember giving Bucky 20 minutes to make sure you were in bed, which seems strange because it’s over an hour later and you are both still in the lab. I know for a fact that it does not take 20 minuted to turn off holograms and have Bucky carry you to bed. Thought I should investigate what was really happening.” Tony gulp was just as loud as Bucky’s previous one.

Looking to eachother they both are quick to fend for an apology, random words spilling out of their individual mouths.

Rhodey’s eye squint and he lifts his hand into a stop motion, “my ultimatum for you both is you follow me to bed as I walk out and then I get a massage when we get back to bed, because I am exhausted and because of the stress you two have caused me,” Rhodey side eyes them both, “I have knots all over my body.” 

Coming closer to his partners so he is stadnign across from the works bench with one flick of a hand, and then leaves without another word.

Bucky and Tony scramble as they are quick to follow, “that is not an ultimatum,” Tony whispers to Bucky, Bucky nods, “I’m fairly sure he knows that.”

Sleep, sleep sounds good now. 

Cards:

[every-marveler-ever]

IronHusbands Bingo Round 4

I love some iron husbands, they are one of my favourite ships to read but writing them was a whole experience in itself. They are so adorable I love pairing them with other people (lots of Bucky/ Ironhusbands went through my head this bingo). You also get adorable parenting styles and best friendships, I just love them.

THANK YOU to @ironhusbandsbingo for hosting, can't wait for the next one.

IHB ROUND 4 CARD:

Name: Marveler Number: #4004 Bingo! Squares: 13/25

masterlist | bingo masterposts

B1) Insomnia: Idea’s Keep From Sleeping | Bucky goes to collect Tony from the lab so they can all go to bed together for once, but then Bucky gets distracted and so then it’s up to Rhodey to figure it all out. [G]

B2) Movie Night: Sleepy Movie Nights | Movie night gets sprung upon Rhodey and then he remembers he’s supposed to be a parent as well. Tony is interrupted by all this and Pepper is glaring at him. [G]

B4) Car Repair: Bundle of Quiet | Tony’s workshop is rarely ever quiet and when it is, he’s always ready for a screaming body of mess to come in. [G]

B5) Chicken Noodle Soup: Chicken Whiny Soup | Sam makes chicken noodle soup for everyone when they are sick, the thing is, you have to actually be sick to get the soup. [G]

I1) Lila Rhodes: Background Character | Lila Rhodes did not expect to be in this lecture hall, she doesn’t even go to this school, so she really shouldn’t be a witness to one of the largest news stories in MIT history. The largest may be an exaggeration she’s making seeing as the news story includes her brother. [G]

I4) Out of spoons: Knife, Fork, Then Spoons | Tony feels bad that's all. Rhodey feels like setting him a challenge (with the sympathy of course) [G]

N3) FREE: Out Of My Limit - Live | James stares at the customer in front of him, “uh sorry sir but we don’t have any of that,” because who walks into a service station and asks for a poppyseed muffin. [G]

N4) Hello Again: Fatal | Struggling to make your mind up on tough situations, that’s normal, this? This is not normal, especially not for Tony Stark. [M]

N5) Apology: Under Pressure | “You failed!” Peter fails and Tony is not sued to failing and so he doesn’t realise what he’s doing. [G]

G2) Words Unsaid: Laughter, Relationships and Partners | It wasn’t Bucky’s intention to get between a relationship, especially not one as strong as Rhodey and Tony’s, but in his defence, he didn’t know they were dating. (A bad description). [G]

O1) Sharing Body Heat: No Plan To Sneak Out In A Snow Storm | Rhodey convinces his boyfriends to join him in replying to Tony’s mother’s note to join them for Thanksgiving. At least the bed is big enough for the four of them until they can get a hotel that is. [G]

O2) Royalty AU: The Clouds Have Always Been Gray | A glimpse into the life of prince Anthony Stark and how escaping was a much better idea. [G]

O3) Smoothies: Smooth(ie) Moves | Tony likes knowing everything, and Rhodey doesn’t like not knowing. [G]

[every-marveler-ever]

The Clouds Have Always Been Gray

IronHusbands Bingo Round 4 | 🗯️ @ironhusbandsbingo | Royalty AU

Steve Rogers Bingo 2022 | 🌭 @steverogersbingo | "Something's strange in the air today. The sun is gone and the clouds turned gray. Just what's comin' is hard to say, I don't know"

masterlist :: (ao3 link)

RATING: General WARNING(S): Howard Stark's A+ bad parenting, Implied depression

A/N: I’m not sure what this is but it’s better at the end than it is at the beginning so maybe just try and hold on I guess. I think royalty au’s just may not be my thing, but have this anyway I like the way it’s styled. This could also be expanded way more than it currently is so maybe expect that in the future. Also did not realise that his quote was from Rogers the musical and I maybe should have looked that up earlier lol.

A glimpse into the life of prince Anthony Stark and how escaping was a much better idea. | tony stark/james 'rhodey' rhodes

ihb 🗯️ r4 | srb 🌭 2022

Royalty had never been Tony’s plan, he was a mechanic and that was all he ever wanted to be. He left the life of royalty left the excitement, the money, the jewels and the large ceremonies because his mum disappeared. 

On his 9th birthday, the royal headline reads: ‘Maria Stark Whisked Away To Tropical Beaches For Her And King Howard Stark’s Honeymoon, Only to Be Stranded Alone Upon Stark’s Return.’ Howard scoffed when he read it complaining that the title was too long, not catchy enough, not even a thought to where his wife was, why he returned alone. 

Tony cried that night into his stuffed toys.

The next day the toys were taken away from his room, too soft for a Stark, “Starks are made of iron,” Howard reminded him as the workers removed them all.

At age 11 he met Rhodey, the son of one of the maids, Rhodey was the only person around that was his age as they did lessons and tutoring together. Tony quickly nicknamed him Rhodey after not much time. Swinging his legs laying upside down on the couch younger Tony looks to Rhodey, “why did your parents name you James, that’s so boring, I like Rhodey better,” the young genius muses and Rhodey just goes along with it because Tony is the king's son, he’s the crown prince.

Steve, Tony’s bodyguard at the time, used to tell the two boys stories about him and his ‘friend’ James. That was always the one-time Rhodey would speak up, “see James is a cool name,” he would mutter along and Steve and Tony would both look and shake their heads.

“Do you ever notice that sometimes the sky is just grey,” Tony at age 14 mutters lying on the castle grounds staring straight up into the sky which he describes as grey. He’s not supposed to be in the gardens, he’s suspected to be in lessons but Rhodey knew from the moment that Tony rejected coffee that morning that the prince needed a different kind of day. 

Tony leaves a large enough space for a response but Rhodey chooses to instead just grab the prince's hand in solidarity with whatever he says next, "Something's strange in the air today. The sun is gone and the clouds turned grey.” Rhodey chuckles at the line, he knows Tony means it in a way of acknowledgement but to Rhodey it almost sounds like poetry. 

Everybody seems to progress in their life except Tony, Rhodey became Tony’s personal guard from being a maids son, excelled in all his classes, and went on to be a castle soldier, he would have been able to lead but Tony wouldn’t let him, Tony needed him instead. Steve went on to marry James, who he fondly calls Bucky instead (which Tony believes is a win against the name James). Tony seemed to always just be a prince, eventually one day he might become king but that seemed unreasonable according to his father.

“I think I want to leave,” he tells Rhodey in confidence, “just what's comin' is hard to say, I don't know.”

Bags are packed quickly and an escape plan is hatched.

When Tony is 15 the headlines read, ‘only son of King Howard Stark, Prince Anthony, has been taken overnight, we have yet to have notice of where he may be.’ Howard slams the newspaper on the table and screams but Tony can’t hear it, he’s days away. 

Away where the sky is finally blue.

BINGO CARDS: