#jess continues to have Galaxy Brain prompts

[lovelyirony]

ironhusbands prompt: rhodey and tony are at a carnival, rhodey is determined to win tony one of the giant stuffed animals they have as prizes

Here’s the thing about Rhodey: he’s not usually competitive. Usually. He knows he’s good, and he knows that he doesn’t exactly have to win everything to be considered a great guy or a “challenge” to the opposing team. His chess strategies can account for that exactly. (He loses every single round but a different time. Chess Club respects him.) 

But this is different. Totally different. 

He’s dating Tony Stark. Which is quite a big deal, even if he’s been acting like it isn’t for the last week in public. 

Not in public? Whole other story. He called his little sister and asked if yellow was an obnoxious color. 

He could practically feel Jeanette’s eyes judging from across the phone line. 

“You’re serious? You’re asking about yellow?” 

“Well you know, sometimes it’s too bright and shit, so--” 

“If this is about your stupid fucking yellow polo shirt, I thought I told you to burn that. Tony will hate you forever if you wear it.” 

“Oh. Okay. Thanks Jeanie. Love you.” 

“I mildly tolerate you.” 

“You’re lying.” 

“I know.” 

(In reality, Tony would not have hated Rhodey in yellow. He just would come to sigh every single time Rhodey put on a polo shirt. Jeannette, in her own opinion, saved their relationship from the get-go.) 

A carnival is a big deal for Tony. Tony is what Rhodey likes to affectionately call, “a freak.” 

He’d never had a hot dog until he came to the college dining center. He is very excited to try “normal” things. 

And Rhodey noticed that his eyes lit up when they watched an old movie and in the background there was a couple and the boyfriend won the biggest teddy bear there for his sweetheart. 

Rhodey wants to do that for him. 

The only problem? 

Rhodey isn’t exactly sure if he can win a game. Sure he’s practiced his aim and yeah, he’s been pretty solid at ring tosses at his school carnivals, but this is the big-time. It also costs money, and Rhodey has about twenty dollars in his wallet and he is absolutely not taking more than that for a stuffed animal. 

But Tony? Tony’s excited. It’s all he’s talking about for the last week, which is very cute. 

“Rhodey’s taking me to the carnival,” he says, grinning. “Isn’t that cool?” 

“For the eighth time, yes it is very cool,” Bruce deadpans. “Now please don’t talk to me about it I’m having flashbacks to my sophomore year of high school and the production of Grease. I think I deserve some kind of refund for that trauma.” 

“You guys performed that? How was it?” 

“I literally just told you.” 

“I bet it was fun,” Tony says, humming the rest of “Beauty School Dropout” as he finishes up the calculations to the assignment. “Can I tell you something, Bruce?” 

“Yes. Please tell me it’s about Mothman.” 

“No. It’s about Rhodey.” 

“Is he hiding a dark secret? Is he actually a government plant so that you don’t get too crazy and out of control?” 

“What? No. They wouldn’t send someone as amazing as him. I just really want a carnival prize.” 

“Oh. Okay.” 

Bruce knows this is a problem. Carnival games are rigged. Luckily, he knows someone who is currently working there because he either a.) is paying off a debt he owes someone, or b.) potentially undercover for a secret agency. 

-

He just calls him Clint. He’s not as badass as Bruce just made him sound. 

“Hey, I need a favor from you. I need you to work whichever stand Tony and Rhodey come up to.” 

“And why should I do this for you?” 

“I will buy you that really shitty pizza you like.” 

“Oh, you mean the most decadent pizza you’ll ever have?” 

“I mean it’d be decadent if you were in the Great Depression, but sure. Yeah.” 

“Okay. I still would’ve done it even if it wasn’t a favor.” 

“You absolute--” 

“By Bruce say hi to Thor for me!” 

- 

Rhodey doesn’t know about Clint. But the plan is in motion. 

They end up at a stall that involves a sharpshooting game. Clint’s not sure how to rig it against the other rigging, but he figures he’ll wing it. Tony is very excited about potentially winning a five foot tall stuffed animal of a dog. It looks quite cute. 

Rhodey is very nervous, but Tony smiles at him. 

“Hey, it’s okay. Just a game.” 

“Right,” Rhodey says, trying not to think about how he had a nightmare that Tony ditched him for the stupid frat guy who sits ahead of them in chemistry. “Just a game.” 

- 

Tony comes back with a giant stuffed dog that barely fits in their tiny dorm, but he peppers Rhodey with kisses. 

“Best date ever, honey. Thank you. I know you’ve been to a million, but it’s...it’s really nice that you did this for me. And you got Clint to rig it!” 

“...who’s Clint?” 

“We’ll ask Bruce later,” Tony says, pulling Rhodey close. “Don’t worry about it. For now, I would like to thank my strong boyfriend for winning me the best thing ever. I’ve named him Marmalade Blackberry the Fourth.” 

“Wait...Clint rigged it? How? Why?” Rhodey looks very confused, and Tony honestly doesn’t want to talk about it now. He had to carry the dog home on the bus back to campus and had to be cute all day. Quite exhausting.

“Go to bed, darling. We’ll talk about it in the morning,” he says, kissing Rhodey on the cheek. “Let’s get ready for bed. Remember to use your new facial cleanser!” 

Rhodey kisses him on the cheek back, grinning. 

“Love you.” 

“Love you too,” Tony says with finality, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. (Rhodey loves that.) 

Tony tries to bring Marmalade the Dog into their beds. Rhodey has to politely but firmly say no.