#rhodeytony headcanon

[yanderefreud]

Tony Stark🥰

Sexuality: pansexual

Gender: transmasc

Otp: stevetony (obviously), rhodeytony as well

Brotp: Thor tony, Tony and carol

Notp: anything w sunset bain (🤢) or ty stone

Random headcanon: he has autism and his special interest is robotics

Opinion: most relatable marvel character. He is incredibly close to my heart and means everything to me <33333

[caitiemessedupthetimeheist]

Introduction

I’m Caitie :)

Pronouns: she/her

Age: 19

Sexuality: pan

Fav characters: I like a majority of the characters but my absolute favs are Tony stark, Yelena Belova, Gamora, Sam Wilson, Peter Parker, Steve Rogers, and Rhodey.

Fav ships: Im down for pretty much any Tony ship honestly but the absolute favs are stony, buckytony, rhodeytony, stuckony, winterironwidow, winterironwidowshield(?) and pepperony. Non-Tony ships are Winterwidow, sambucky, starmora, scotthope, peppernat, t’challanat, samnat.

Current Brainrot: t’stuckony, rare pairs, poly ships

DNI: basic criteria (racist, sexist, homophobic etc.), terfs, tony antis, people who ignore that yelena is aroace, romanogers shippers, starker shippers, sylki shippers, Scarlett Johansson stans, Chris Pratt stans.

There may be some stuff I’m forgetting but I’ll add it if I think of it. Pls feel free to send an ask/message me anytime! I love talking about headcanons :)

[ironhusband]

Thinking about the fact that Tony shows his love to Rhodey by physical touch and a good time, because he knows the military doesn’t grant him the intimacy of touch, or the fun of them hanging out, and meanwhile Rhodey shows his love to Tony by words of affirmation, because he knows Tony doesn’t hear it a lot.  

[stankrhodes]

RhodeyTony Headcanon

I would love to see Tony singing Can’t Help Falling in Love to Rhodey on their anniversary. Imagine how soft and serene the moment is. Rhodey doesn’t have eyes for anyone else but Tony. There're tears in his eyes and okay he has this big, goofy smile on his face, but he’s in love, and he and Tony have been in love for years so it’s okay. 

[shewhohangsoutincemeteries]

lowkey mcu headcanon: after seeing hamilton, every time rhodey says he's done something tony replies with "hey, congrats to you lieutenant colonel" in that very specific lilt and for WEEKS it annoys rhodey until he finally realizes the reference and at that point he just sighs and gives tony the most exhausted look.

[shipskicksandgiggles]

heard u needed a distraction, can u tell me about your mit tony&rhodey headcanons? please? ▼・ᴥ・▼

YES I CAN babe you don’t know how long I’ve been wanting to go off about these little nerds are you ready???

so first of all, Tony is not the trouble maker people think he is. we’re talking about a kid who was taught manners at an extreme level, and was always told to be quiet so he has like,,,, no friends for a while. he barely even leaves his dorm room unless it’s to go to class or get food, and he doesn’t have a roommate his first year

rhodey however is a little shit from the start. he’s not much older than Tony, but he was raised in Philly. you know. where the motto is quiet literally “Fuck Around and Find Out”

this little shit argues with people constantly. he’s like 16 years old and his classmates don’t think he’s capable of anything

obviously he’s smarter than all of them, but that’s a given

they have one class together their first year. it’s quantum physics. Tony noticed a mistake in some upperclassman’s work and corrected him without thinking

the guy gets pissed, and started freaking out, calling him names, threatening to beat the shit out of him, etc. and Tony has a panic attack

Rhodey notices and punches the guy in the nose before hauling ass back to his dorm room with Tony in tow because this kid is going to get himself killed, and goddamn it he wasn’t going to let that happen

they don’t talk much at first

well, Tony doesn’t talk much at first. Rhodey never shuts up, so he talks to him about everything from growing up a genius kid in Pennsylvania to how his mama talked him through sneaking food out of the dining center

Tony loves it

he warms up to him pretty fast, and soon he never shuts up either. he talks about the Jarvis’, his aunt Peggy, the projects he’s working on, the book he read last week. having someone who listens to you is one hell of a thing

Rhodey teaches Tony how to stick up for himself in class

Tony makes sure Rhodey doesn’t give anyone else a concussion

they get into shenanigans more after they move in together. they store spray paint above the hall closet and the components to make smoke bombs in a false cabinet in the bathroom

campus security hates them

they manage to find love hidden in languages and codes only they can understand. they bounce off each other in ways that would make you think they’d known each other forever

Rhodey proposes in front of the classroom where he punched that one guy in the face. Tony yells at him because he was going to do that in front of the wall they’d vandalized the night they’d kissed for the first time

in the future, they encourage their kids to go to MIT, just because of course they’re going to be geniuses, but also because they kind of wanted them to recreate their parents chaos 30 years later 

[presidentrhodes]

tony stark's 10-step guide to charming your college crush

step 1: take a graduate level rocket science class that he is in even though it is irrelevant to your physics degree and the problem sets eat into your free time

step 2: arrive late for the first lecture of said class so that you can strategically slide into the empty seat next to him at the back of the hall.

step 3: when called upon to answer questions, intentionally fumble and pretend you know nothing about astrodynamics (note: your academic credibility may take a hit but, remember, you're playing the long game).

step 4: inquire and find out where he lives and try to bribe the campus housing office for a mid-semester transfer to the same accommodation. if step 4 fails, move onto step 6.

step 5: once you're moved into the same accommodation, hang out in the common areas during your free time to maximise your chances of casually running into him when he's cooking or doing laundry.

step 6: figure out his friends circle and become chummy with the person seemingly closest to him. this person is both your window of opportunity to get to know your crush better and also your potential competition down the line.

step 7: strategically position yourself next to him during group assignments to maximise your chances of being put to work on the same team.

step 8: discover his interests and build something cool around it that's bound to impress him. for example, if you discover he is into robotics, build a basic artificially intelligent claw in your dorm and call it dum-e. then casually invite him over one day to examine it. if he's isn't impressed, move to step 10.

step 9: if he's impressed, offer to let him work with you on creating a new iteration. the more input he's allowed to have, the higher your chances of spending memorable time together in the privacy of your apartment. (warning: before enacting steps 8 and 9, be sure to have adequate living arrangements with minimal disruption)

step 10: if steps 1 to 9 do not yield satisfactory result, send him an encrypted handwritten letter asking to meet in the Quad at midnight. once he shows up, give him a bouquet of his favourite flowers and a box of treats from that one chocolatier he loves. read his body language and when the time is right (you'll know when), confess your feelings and pray skywards for the best.

james rhodes' two-step guide to asking your local genius buddy out

step 1: ignore tony's 10-step guide. it's ridiculous.

step 2: ask them out after class and take them to your favourite café for an impromptu date and take it from there.

[heydocpotts]

bored as hell!! pls entertain me

[ad1thi]

Okay so now that Miley Cyrus’ new album has come out, for mit incorporated may I suggest Angel Like You? I can totally see that song from Tony’s pov. It’s a little angsty but it’s good!

NO but its so perfect and i literally?? know a fic?? that fits the vibe of this song?? for rhodeytony?? COME BACK TO THIS I WILL FIND IT AND LINK IT IN A REBLOG BUT YES this song has very "mit!Tony pushing Rhodey away because of his issues and regretting hurting Rhodey, but also is very aware that Rhodey is too good for him so he doesn't try to apologise" vibes

[machi-kun]

by any name

Iron Husbands / RhodeyTony | T | Fluff | Developing Relationship | 5+1 Things | Nicknames

Read it on AO3

Tony calls him ‘mine’, sometimes.

And he also calls him platypus, honeybear, sugarplum, all those stupid nicknames; but James’ favorite will always be ‘mine’.

One.

The very first nickname is horrible.

No, not horrible; It’s perfectly normal, a lot of people say the same thing to their friends – but the way it happens is horrible, and it’s one of those nights James will never forget, one he wishes he could erase or stop it from happening, because it is sad, it’s bitter, and it should have never happened in the first place.

They’re young then, and James still hasn’t learned yet.

But this is how he starts to.

Tony is in the lab, as he’s been for the last three days, living only on milkshakes and protein bars he hides all over the room – and since no-one can ever find his secret stash, not even the Electronics guys that spend almost as much time down here as he does, there’s nothing they can do about his terrible eating habits but watch and sigh as he refuses to ingest anything else. Believe me, James has tried. Also, it’s Monday, and James is pretty sure that Tony is supposed to be in class – but instead he’s here, sitting on the floor and messing around with an old engine, parts scattered all around him in a neat semi-circle, and a toolbox open to his left.

The parts look neatly organized, arranged by size and function, with logic and precision – which is a shocking contrast to how awful Tony himself looks.

He has not showered. James will bet all the money in his wallet on that – not that he has much on him after the weekend party, but… You know, it’s the principle of the thing –, because there’s no way Tony would look like this big of a mess unless he hasn’t been down here for a ridiculously long amount of time. He has a huge stripe of grease on his left cheek, from the top of his chin to his cheekbone, and it looks old, kind of dry and sticky, and it’s gotta smell bad. He doesn’t seem to mind it. His hair is sticking out in all directions, his eyes are wide and slightly red, irritated for sure, and his skin has a less than healthy hue to it, something yellowy and worrying.

James is immediately concerned.

“Hey.” James calls when Tony doesn’t turn around to look at him at the sound of the door opening. “You okay?”

Tony makes a tiny sound, a weird grumble, and James realizes he is chewing on something, and he merely speaks around it instead of swallowing it or spitting it out. “Hey, Rhodes.”

Right now, they aren’t at that point in their friendship where James would feel comfortable enough to haul Tony over his shoulder and drag him back to the room to sleep and eat properly, although James would do it, if Tony was enough of a little shit to push him to it – but they are at a point where James gets crazy concerned about this boy, that is only a few years younger but looks far more than that, skinny and short, with pouty lips and doe eyes that make him look so damned naïve when he’s supposedly the brightest person in MIT right now.

Which he is. Probably. James hasn’t gone around comparing notes, to be honest.

But he would not be surprised if that were the case. Not at all.

This is more than enough proof. There he is, looking like death warmed over, and James is visibly getting anxious and worried over him – and he is faking nonchalance. Like it’s something he’s used to. Like it’s no big deal.

Normal people don’t do that. But again, Tony Stark is not ‘normal people’.

“You know how long you’ve been down here, right?” James asks, casually, but his eyes sharp on Tony’s figure.

“Uh.” Tony says, eloquently. “Not really.”

“Three days.” James tells him. “Which means you haven’t slept, eaten, or done anything but work in three days.”

“That’s not true. I’ve slept. I’ve eaten.” Tony counters, but he doesn’t have the necessary energy to make it sound as indignant as he wanted to.

“Where? When?”

“Down here. In my bed, once or twice.”

“Bullshit.” James says, with complete certainty. “I’ve been here the entire weekend, I didn’t see you at all until now.”

After all, they share a room. If anyone would’ve seen Tony, it would’ve been him.

“You were out.” Tony unhelpfully replies.

“When?” James insists, not believing Tony’s story for one second.

“Saturday night, I think?” Tony frowns.

Oh. James had been gone. Every Saturday he calls his mom and talks to her for a bit, like clockwork, because both him and his mom are creatures of habit and it’s their time, the time James has reserved for her now that going to choir with her every Sunday isn’t possible anymore, and James never misses it or skips it, unless it’s a life or death situation.

Which has never happened yet, but he’s a methodic guy, that’s all he’s saying.

And Tony knows that. James likes his routine, and Tony most definitely had been paying attention. That does not mean he’d been in the room while James was out – it just means he knows when James might’ve been out, and James has no way of proving Tony really wasn’t there, and Tony is taking advantage of that knowledge.

The clever little bastard.

“I was gone for twenty minutes.” James points out, also knowing Tony has no way of rebuking that unless he’d actually been in the room while James was gone.

“I nap fast.” Tony shrugs, not convincing at all.

James waits for him to elaborate, to at least flesh out his ridiculous excuse a little further, but he doesn’t. So, when he keeps silent and James gets way too uncomfortable to let it continue, he asks:

“Why are you down here?”

“Working.” Tony repeats mechanically.

The total lack of cooperation in his voice is chilly and honestly a little frightening.

“I’m serious, Tony.” James insists, starting to feel really concerned about Tony’s closed off posture, by the way he very deliberately keeps himself turned around, with his eyes glued to the engine before him. “Did something happen? At the party?”

“No, it was a great party.” Tony replies, emotionless.

So, not the party, then. But still, not entirely far off, James thinks. Tony has been down here ever since the weekend, and he can’t help but think the two incidents might be related.

“I didn’t even see you there, there were so many people.” James comments off-handedly, wondering if a more casual tone will make Tony feel more compelled to fill the silence.

Tony hums in a non-committed manner.

“Got the chance to meet a lot of people around the campus, right?” James asks, but it’s not really a question.

“Sure did.”

Nothing.

“Met anyone interesting?”

Tony shrugs, and it’s not natural at all, and something is very, very wrong.

Something went down. Something bad.

James doesn’t like it.

You see, James is not exactly familiar with Tony Stark, but he can think of some reasons why a boy like him could have gotten into some trouble at that party. James hasn’t heard anything bad, not really, but the nagging feeling at the back of his head, the odd, dreadful sensation that something must’ve happened when he wasn’t looking, it doesn’t leave him and he doesn’t like it. It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t know Tony Stark all that well yet. James isn’t one to just overlook bad things when they happen. He’s a very protective guy. And sue him, alright? – Tony Stark is not that much younger, but he is younger, and he feels a little lonely, a little awkward, like he still hasn’t grown enough to completely fill the shoes everyone is expecting his to fill, and James wouldn’t wish this kind of pressure on anyone.

Tony Stark has been down here, alone, for the past three days, and no one has come for him.

Only James.

And now, James will make it his mission to help Tony Stark, if that’s what it takes.

“Alright, let’s go.” James says, and it is lighthearted, but his voice makes very clear it’s not optional. “You’re going to bed.”

“What? No, I’m not.” Tony complains, furrowing his brows.

“C’mon.” James complains. “You really wanna be down here when there’s a perfectly comfortable bed upstairs and I’ve bought those Italian things you like? The sweet ones?”

That makes him stop, and James almost wants to sigh in frustration, because really?

All this talk, all this trying to get him to respond, and it’s food that makes him give a crap about James has to say?

James has been trying to get him to eat properly for… he doesn’t even know how long. When did that incident with the coffee mug happened? The first week? The second? He can’t even remember – But no, Tony Stark doesn’t give a shit about healthy food, but you mention some sweets and snacks and suddenly, he’s eager to move?

“What flavor?” Tony asks, and he has never sounded more like the teenager he is than right now.

“Blueberry.” James says, because he pays attention. He noticed the blueberry ones are Tony’s favorites, and he bought them when he went to the store, because he’s a good roommate, and they were on sale, and it couldn’t hurt, right?

Tony hesitates for a long, awkward second, but then he sighs and says:

“Fine.”, He drops the wrench. “I’m going, I’m going.”

But he doesn’t get up.

“That doesn’t look like going to me.” James prods, because he can be a little shit too, if he wants to.

“I’ll be right upstairs, dad.”

And that joke – it sounds a little too bitter, a little too sharp, and James doesn’t know yet, but he will, soon enough, learn why it sounds like that. He’ll learn a lot more about Tony Stark, about what happened at the party, about what happened in his life before that, after this day.

But for now, he takes the misguided bitterness, and ignores it.

Just for now.

For now, he nods and turns around, trying to show Tony that he’ll trust him on this, will trust him to keep his word and follow him upstairs, because James has reached out, and now Tony has to meet him halfway, or else, this will all be for nothing.

Tony is, in fact, upstairs less than half an hour later, and James totally wasn’t counting the time and checking the clock over and over again, only pretending to read the magazine in his hands and not at all sneaking glances at the door from his very awkward, very uncomfortable position in the bed.

He has showered and changed, although James has no idea how he has gotten fresh clothes, and he looks a little better. His hair is still wet and his hoodie is rumpled, and he is thin, and James, immediately, decides that Italian sweets are not gonna cut it.

“You know what?” James asks. “How do you feel about going to that place two blocks down? The Italian one?”

Tony raises an eyebrow, and it’s amazing how much sass he can muster to convey with only this tiny reaction. “I thought you had given up trying to fatten me up?”

“Not everything is about you, Tony.” James mocks back, completely pretending this isn’t about Tony right now. “I feel like eating some carbonara.”

Tony makes a face.

“Really? The most boring kind of pasta ever, that’s what you want?”

“You keep insulting my pasta choices and I’m not taking you with me.”

“Fine.” Tony says, like it’s a hardship, like he is not fighting off a smile. “But we’re also getting coffee later.”

And the sneaky little shit will probably try to make him pay for both - not becaus ehe can't afford it, because he can, and he probably will pay James back anyway, but just because he wants to be a difficult, annoying brat.

It’s alright.

It’s a step closer to Tony Stark.

James feels like he can make a concession this time.

Two.

When they do get close enough to justify nicknames, James immediately regrets it.

Not in a I wish I had never allowed this kind of way, but in a oh God, this is my life now, isn’t it? kind of way.

There’s a difference. The difference is that as much as Tony Stark is insufferable sometimes, James really likes the guy. Truly.

He really is as smart as everyone says, maybe more. Definitely more. And he’s fun, and he’s surprisingly kind and genuinely tender, and even he is a bit of a dick, James likes it.

But the nicknames, though. The nicknames are… something, to say the least.

The first very stupid nickname comes out of nowhere, in an otherwise perfectly normal afternoon, while James is sitting by the desk with for textbooks open and a pile of sticky notes and a terrifying mountain of reports and research papers and other school stuff that James is starting to feel like he wants to set on fire because he can’t stand to look at it anymore.

That’s when it happens.

It happens when Tony walks in, with a spring to his step and a sly smile on his lips, and he talks closer with the same subtlety as a freaking tank, and all but drapes himself across the back of James’ chair, like a cat stretching on top of a surface he knows he shouldn’t have been on.

“Rhodey.” Tony drawls, all fake innocence. “My kind, good friend. My best buddy of all time. My sweet, dear lemonpie—"

“Don’t you ever call me that,” James interrupts, rolling his eyes, but he’s so exhausted from studying he doesn’t even sound biting, he just sounds tired. “Ever.”

“What, ‘best buddy’?”

James gives him his most unamused look he can muster – which, after months of exposure to Tony’s particular brand of fake coyness and manipulative puppy dog eyes, he’d say is quite effective.

“What did you do?” James asks.

“I didn’t do anything.” Tony replies, and he doesn’t sound like he’s lying, but it also doesn’t sound like he’s saying the whole truth either.

“Ok, then what do you want?”

Tony shrugs lightly, but his eyes are sharp. “It’s nothing dangerous.”

“You’re not really helping yourself, here.” James sighs, and leans back as Tony straightens up and walks around him, leaning against the desk with his hip, at ease and confident. “Alright. Tell me.”

Tony makes a curious hum, looking at James for a considerate second, before asking:

“How do you feel about going to Chicago for the weekend?”

James frowns, confused. “We have an exam on Monday.”, he says, but it’s not really a complaint, just a soft reminder, because this really seems to have come out of nowhere.

“And we’ll be back by then.” Tony affirms.

“How would we even get to Chicago, Tony?”, he asks, which is not the right question, because the right question would be to ask why, not how, but James is becoming so used to going with the flow of whatever craziness Tony throws his way that he’s not even thinking about what he’s saying before he does.

Tony grins maliciously as he says:

“I can get us the Thunderbird.”

And damn if the kid doesn’t know exactly how to rustle James’ feathers because oh God, James loves the Thunderbird.

“Your dad won’t notice it’s gone?” James asks, concerned, but the tiny spark of interest inside him is awake now, and he can’t trample it down easily.

Normally, James wouldn’t encourage any sort of thing that might get his friends in trouble, especially when that friend’s father is Howard Stark – but Howard Stark honestly can go screw himself, and James tries not to get in trouble, but he’s not immune to adrenaline every once in a while.

“He’s out until next Friday, congress in Vienna.” Tony smiles mischievously. “So, you’re in?”

He really, really wants to be.

James tries not to think much about what it says about him that he’s actually eager to say yes, to just get away from school for one damned weekend, to not worry about his exams and grades, to just have some quiet, fun time with his friend, and to drive the Thunderbird he dreams about, and just… Let go, for a while. James loves the MIT and his classes, but good God, he could use a break. Tony too, obviously.

But he doesn’t say yes. Not yet.

Well, not exactly.

“Hm.” He hums, intrigued. “And what exactly are we going to do in Chicago?”

Tony smiles, broad and jubilant, eyes gleaming, and James knows that it doesn’t matter that he didn’t say it, Tony heard his ‘yes’, loud and clear.

Three.

James gets used to it pretty quickly. It’s not like he can get Tony to stop.

Honestly? He doesn’t mind as much as he though he would.

Tony is just being his overly-familiar, a little exasperating, full of mirth and energy and slightly annoying self. James is fine with it. He likes that Tony is so comfortable with him, actually, though he’d never say it out loud because he doesn’t want to hear it for the rest of his life, but yeah. He doesn’t complain anymore.

So, naturally, Tony gets cocky with it.

The variety would be impressive, if they weren’t all goddamn ridiculous.

After the first food-related one – lemonpie, which is just… awful –, he goes absolutely wild. Sugarplum, peach cakes, sweet pudding in one dreadful occasion, and the list only goes on from there.

How does he come up with all that stuff? James has no idea.

The point is: Tony doesn’t have many boundaries. Not with him, at least. And to be fair, is not like James hasn’t seen this coming, hasn’t encouraged it, in some ways. He likes having a less than conventional friendship with this less than conventional guy. It’s only fitting. James isn’t one to dwell on boundaries or limits on his personal relationships when he already spends so much time worrying about those things in his professional environment, and he doesn’t care if Tony is a little outrageous or a little too much from time to time. James finds it very hard not to be amused when Tony is flirty or manic or purposefully inappropriate, because it’s so good to have someone around that doesn’t give a damn about being proper and polite, even if does make him insane sometimes, to contrast with the dull, strict conversation he most of the time has during his service back at the base.

James does like sass and spite. The air force couldn’t ever get that out of him, not even if they tried.

But sometimes, not always, but sometimes, it happens something like this:

“You know…” Tony murmurs, his voice a little slurred, in that tone that James by know has learned Tony uses when he’s trying to be persuasive, mostly in a sexual and inappropriate way. He has to stand very close to be heard over the voices of everyone in the gigantic ballroom, but he didn’t really need to throw his arm around James’ shoulders and pull him closer, but he did it anyway. “You could come with us.”

“What?” James asks, still lowering his glass from his lips, a little distracted.

“You see… The lady over there thinks you’d be good company.” Tony says in an unnecessarily dramatic manner, gesturing to the beautiful blond woman close by, in her flowy dark dress and smoldering eyes, and the way her lips are stretched into a sly smile hide nothing of her intentions. “And lucky for you, I can put on a good word for you, and maybe we can all have some fun, hm?”

And it might be too much alcohol talking through him – he’s not drunk, not at all, but something must’ve made him reply the way he did, because he says:

“I’m also a little busy, if you haven’t noticed?” James reminds him, and he discreetly point out to the gorgeous redhead he’d been talking to for the past hour, whose lingering touches on his forearm are also blatant invitation for a very pleasant night, but – but it’s not an outright no.

Tony looks at the woman, and he does have that appreciative glint in his eyes as his gaze sweeps along her frame, and she looks back and winks at him, not ashamed and perfectly aware of the implications that go unspoken between them.

“Well.” Tony says, slowly, as his eyes snap back to James’ with intensity and purpose. “The more the merrier.”

And that’s what James means when he says a little too much, because he knows Tony is flirty and likes sleeping around, and he openly jokes about it, but it doesn’t always feel like entirely a joke.

It does, but not fully.

It feels like you can back out, no hard feelings, but I’m hoping you’ll say yes.

And even though James doesn’t mind it, really doesn’t, he still hesitates over that line.

“I think I might pass the offer this time, Tones.” James replies, and if he sounds a little sorry, its because he genuinely is, and he has no idea how to deal with it.

Tony sighs, deep and dramatic, and rolls his eyes. “You break my heart, platypus.”

Platypus. Animals now. Really?

“What the hell does that even mean?” James asks, exasperated, but Tony is already sliding away with a grin and a feline smirk, and James won’t bother going after him because the blond woman is already there, waiting to plaster herself to Tony’s side until they can find a more secluded spot to make good on whatever dirty promises they have made to one another for tonight.

And compared to being called lemonpie, James might be a little too tired, and maybe a little too drunk, and maybe the amusement and warm familiarity of Tony’s eyes is so bright and good, that he actually lets that one slide.

Four.

I mean, it’s fine when it’s just the two of them. It’s not like James expected anything different from Tony freaking Stark.

He’s like that. Give him an inch, he’ll want the whole mile – he loves being self-indulgent.

It’s a little weird, though, when Tony introduces him as his honeybear to his new PA, a small but fierce woman named Virginia Potts.

Because, really, honeybear?

James is standing there is his full air force uniform and with impeccable posture, a habit that will take him some time to ease of out after so much time doing it, and honeybear is what he goes with?

“C’mon, man.” James half-heartedly complains, knowing it’s futile to argue now that the words have already left Tony’s mouth, and Virginia Potts is right there, and it would do him any good to start bickering with her boss right in front of her on her first day.

It’s not actually her first day, but it’s the first time James has met her, because he’s been out of the country for the past five months, but he wants to make a good impression, alright? Not his fault Tony has lost all sense of politeness to know he should act like the teenager he still is inside in front of his freaking PA.

Oh, James is going to talk his ear off when they’re alone.

But, surprisingly, Virginia Potts doesn’t even bat an eye.

“It’s ok, I’m used to it by now.” She says, as she extenders her hand to shake his. “Mr. Stark’s brand of humor is harmless, I don’t pay much attention to it.”

“Hey.” Tony says, aiming for an offended tone, but he only comes across as amused. He goes completely ignored.

“Call me Pepper.” Virginia – Pepper – Potts says, and James’ lips quirk into a small smile without his permission.

“Is that his doing too?” he asks, in good humor.

“Unfortunately, no. You can thank my father for that one.” Pepper says, smiling kindly. “But I guess I’m stuck with it now.”

“Good thing it suits you.” Tony says, the words rushed, almost as if they’re stumbling out of his mouth, and when both Pepper and James turn to look at him, he’s slipping his sunglasses back on, averting his gaze, and James knows he’s trying to hide his embarrassment, attempting to disguise his slip as an intentional taunt or provocation.

Oh.

He’s…

Okay, then.

Miss Virginia “Pepper” Potts. Apparently, she can make Tony Stark get tongue-twisted.

That’s no small feat, and James, of all people, would know.

Her smile is soft and open, and its truthful, which is the best thing it can be, and James feels his chest lighten up with some sort of happiness he can’t exactly describe. He wonders if this will ever work out, between them. If Pepper is interested, or will become interested in the future. Maybe. It’s hard to resist Tony Stark, especially when he’s being himself. Pepper herself doesn’t seem to go out of her way to be unprofessional and flirt with Tony, but maybe that’s exactly what will make it work.

If they do want to make it work. Tony looks like he does. He surely looks very smitten already.

James likes that look on him. He distantly wonders if he should jealousy, but he decides he can’t bother with it. Why would he? It’s… He honestly doesn’t feel jealous about Tony’s relationships. He never truly has. It might be the way their relationship developed, this weird, sort of too intimate but still platonic bond they have, that flows between them with happiness and exasperation and flirty remarks and spite and bickering. Maybe it’s already too close to something other than friends for James to mourn whatever he might lose if Tony ends up with someone else. Because he won’t lose it, not really. He’ll always have Tony. He’ll go along whatever happens between them, because that’s what has always happened and that’s how he likes it, and as long as Tony’s happy in the end, it doesn’t really matter where this road will lead.

So, he’s happy. He’s happy Tony has Pepper Potts now. And Tony is so freaking smitten James truly hopes it is reciprocated, because Tony loves deep and loves hard, and James wants to see that love bloom, if it’s meant to be. He’ll be glad for it.

And some people mind find it weird if they knew, but he won’t mind it.

After all, Tony is still calling him honeybear. James is still Tony’s in a way no one else can be.

Five.  

No one really questions it. Why would they?

Tony is eccentric, they say. It comes with being a genius, you see. They have all kinds of little quirks, the smartest people.

So no one really assumes anything.

Some people do assume about Tony. James is not sure if they know, but they certainly assume. And they’re not wrong, strictly speaking, because James knows about Tony and his preferences on partners, but still – it’s not exactly polite to assume things about people. No one dares to mention it, not when James is besides Tony, not even when Tony is blatantly flirting with the men just as he is flirting with the women in whatever event or room they might be in.

The thing is – they all assume is a Tony thing, and James just tolerates it. The nicknames. The touching. The in-your-face, obvious flirting.

It might have been like that, at the start. Just an amusing quirk.

But it’s not like that now.

“Was he always like that?” Bruce Banner asks him when they first meet, over a couple of beers and the excited chatter of guests and friends laughing and having a good time.

“Yeah.” James sighs, but it’s all in good humor. “But you get used to it.”

“I kind of got that, when I spent some time with him at the Tower.” Bruce laughs, softly. “He’s very…”

“Crazy?” James suggests.

“Eccentric.” Bruce says, and there it is, the rich and genius adjective, the word everyone uses to describe Tony and they have no idea how accurate it is.

James laughs along, shaking his head slightly. “I tried to get him to stop, but it doesn’t work. So sometimes I just tune it out. By now everyone is used to him, even the guys back at the base.”

“He calls you nicknames in front of your superiors?” Bruce raises his eyebrows, but he looks just as amused as he looks surprised.

“He calls me nicknames on national television.” James says. “But it can’t be any worse than went he introduced himself as my sugar daddy to one of my girlfriends.”

Bruce nearly chokes on his sip of beer, and he’s still half coughing, half laughing, when he asks:

“And what happened?”

“Well, it didn’t work out after that.” James huffs, simplifying. “But like I said, too late to get him to stop.”

“And you don’t mind?” Bruce asks.

At the time? Oh, James had minded. Very much.

But now? Honestly?

He shrugs. “It’s Tony.”

And that’s all he can say about that.

And one more.

After years and years, James doesn’t think about it anymore.

It’s just a thing that happens. It’s part of them, James and Tony. It’s part of their lives and their routine, like messing with tech for Tony and filing reports for James, like flying and fighting in iron armors together.

He likes it. He wouldn’t trade it for anything.

“Hey, Rhodey.” Tony says.

James is a little distracted. How could he not?

Tony’s hair is getting a little gray on his temples, and also on his goatee.

It’s distracting.

“Rhodey.” Tony insists.

“What?”

“I’m hungry.”

James blinks. “And what exactly do you think I can do about that?”

“You can come with me to the new Italian place downtown and we can have some of that disgusting pasta you like.”

“In no world carbonara is disgusting.”

“Disgustingly normal.” Tony jabs back, mocking.

“Just because I don’t put three tons of cheese on top of my plate—”

“You don’t talk about my cheese like that—”

“— it doesn’t mean it’s bad. I like it.”

Tony sighs, like it’s painful not to argue back, and gets up and walks up to James with a lazy stride, his tank top rumpled and sweatpants old and soft, and he looks just like he did in MIT, except he doesn’t.

He looks the same – doe eyes, pouty lips, disgusting and grimy –, but he doesn’t – older, stronger, softer, beautiful.

“You are wrong.” Tony insists, but it’s so clearly a joke that James doesn’t even bother with replying, merely rolling his eyes. “But since you’re my Rhodey and I love you, I’ll let it slide.”

And he stops, right in front of James, and looks at him.

And it’s that look, the look that says it’s a joke, but not really, and James’ heart, completely forgetting he is an adult man in his fifties, skips a beat, and he feels like a teenager again, meeting Tony Stark for the first time, and being so caught up in his rhythm he has no chance of escaping.

“Oh, really?” James says, smiling.

“Yeah, really.” Tony replies, like the snarky child he is.

“That’s very gracious of you, Tony.” He says, voice dripping with sarcasm.

“What can I say, I’m a generous person. So, you in?”

Please, say yes.

“Yeah.” James says, in a soft exhale. “I’m in.”

Tony smiles, his eyes wrinkling and his entire face lighting up in joy, and James’ heart goes wild.

“But I’m driving.” James jabs, and Tony’s smile falls and he makes a face, falsely outraged, and James loves this, loves the familiarity, loves him.

His Rhodey, Tony said.

Well, he can’t really argue with Tony on that one, can he?

It’s only the truth.

[daily-ironhusbands]

Botfamily

Okay, so most of us have probably heard of Superfamily but what about BOTFAMILY? I’m all for Tony taking (super)human children under his wing but we all know he has children already, right? You cannot tell me that Rhodey wouldn’t immediately adopt Tony’s AI brood. 

 You can’t tell me that when Dum-E wants his sticky wheel fixed RIGHT NOW IMMEDIATELY but Tony’s busy, he doesn’t just roll up to Rhodey and drive squeaking circles around him until Rhodey talks Dad #1 into fixing it. 

 You can’t tell me that JARVIS doesn’t secretly record every instance of Tony even vaguely hinting he would really like to have/get/own X and send them all to Rhodey as a monthly update because finding gifts for a billionaire nerd can be difficult.

 (You can’t tell me Rhodey doesn’t tell FRIDAY all about her older brother JARVIS, helping her understand why Tony sounds so sad sometimes when he talks to her. 

 (You cannot tell me Rhodey doesn’t eventually take Vision clothes shopping just to avoid a “golden skinny jeans and biker jacket” incident in case Vision ever asks his other father for fashion advice while Tony’s distracted.)) 

 Seriously, Rhodey just has all the “supportive co-parent” vibes imaginable. I mean:

[blackhydreigon]

each episode of the james and tony miniseries has tony give james a different obnoxious best friend nickname. its only in the series finale that he finally calls him rhodey.

YOU. I LIKE YOU.

It’ll start with Jimbo, ya know the generic one and then really stupid ones like Jimothy, Jim, then it’ll be the better known ones like Honeybear, Platypus, Sourpatch, we’ll learn the origins behind those, then...last episode...something super emotional happens maybe something with Howard (cuz dammit if they’re gonna have a mini series about they’re M.I.T era they’re gonna talk about how Howard was a bitch and abusive) and he finally gives James the perfect nickname that sticks with them and solidifies a long and lasting friendship...Rhodey

[ironhusband]

Tony’s absolute shit at cooking but after Rhodey came back for his first leave, he’d had his five minutes of glory. He thought it would be nice if Rhodey had a warm meal waiting for him when he got home so he cooked dinner for him. He knows Rhodey would probably hate it because he has impossibly high standards after mama’s cookings, but he knew Rhodey would appreciate the gesture so he did it anyway. So Rhodey comes home and eats the food like a man starving and both of them are genuinely surprised because. Rhodey liked it? Tony starts cooking for him more, and Rhodey is convinced Tony has taken cooking lessons, but no, his food is just suddenly good. About three months later, Rhodey finally goes home to Philly and he texts Tony “what have you been feeding me?” Turns out, Tony isn’t that good, but military food is that bad. 

[tonystarktogo]

This is actually an old post I wrote back when I first started this blog and apparently never posted? So yeah, enjoy :)

Headcanon that Rhodey is the first person to genuinely compliment Tony (there was Jarvis of course, but those words of encouragement were always tainted by Howard’s imminent disapproval and Maria’s distanced acknowledgement). 

The first time it happens they’re studying in the library together. Rhodey’s been watching Tony’s back for a few months now - because tbh the kid needs all the help it can get - and they’ve now reached the somewhere-between-being-friendly-and-being-friends territory. And well, Rhodey honestly likes Tony who’s funny and sarcastic and never lets anyone intimidate into keeping his mouth shut, which is why he’s decided to put more effort into this budding friendship (after it becomes clear that Tony won’t reach out but won’t push him away either, and damn does Rhodey want to hit his past self once he realises that it’s because Tony’s shy) and spend more time together. So. Studying.

Turns out they work surprisingly well together. Tony, known for his age, his genius and his complete inability to shut up, is actually very focused once he’s presented with a problem to figure out. Rhodey on the other hand is spurned on by the air of intense concentration surrounding Tony when he gets like that. It draws him in but doesn’t overwhelm him which is actually sort a perfect combination. At the same time Rhodey is stubborn enough to pull Tony out of his zone occasionally to get him to eat or drink or get his ass outta the library because we’ve been here for eight hours straight and you haven’t blinked in ten minutes, now move it! Suffice to say Tony becomes Rhodey’s new study buddy. Permanently. 

But on that very first day at what later becomes widely known as ‘their’ table, Rhodey witnesses for the first time just how intelligent Tony really is. Sure, rationally he’s known that Tony’s a genius. You can’t spend five minutes with the guy without realising that he’s smart. But this, watching Tony breeze through calculations Rhodey knows for sure the prof won’t even talk about until February is something else.

“You’re brilliant,” Rhodey says, wonder and amazement and respect all mashed into a confusing ball of emotions.

Tony’s head snaps up at the sudden sound, allowing Rhodey the pleasure of seeing firsthand how Tony’s eyes widen as his mind processes the actual words, confusion flashing across his face before he hastily ducks his head. And that’s, that’s unusual all right because Tony doesn’t averts his eyes, doesn’t back down, not ever, and now Rhodey is definitely almost worried. Except-

Except Tony is blushing. 

Rhodey blinks, mind frozen in disbelief because Tony doesn’t blush. Ever. But it’s undeniable, the flushed cheeks clearly visible even with his head bowed so low the tip of his nose is touching book. Rhodey opens his mouth, perhaps to tease, perhaps to change the topic, he honestly has no clue, when Tony peers up from under his lashes, all bright eyes and dark cheeks and a small, pleased smile that Rhodey has never seen before, and Tony’s never been out of place at MIT, always carried himself larger than life, but in this moment he looks so fucking young- and Rhodey doesn’t do any of those things.

“You’re brilliant,” he repeats instead, firmly. Holds Tony’s eyes patiently, until he’s sure his stubborn friend knows how serious he is, knows that he honestly, truly believes that. And then, when Tony’s hands start to twitch nervously and he swallows, clearly uncomfortable, Rhodey doesn’t comment on that either. 

It’s “Now help me figure out what’s wrong with this equation because Professor Lanz is gonna kill me for real if I get it wrong again,” instead of “You’re a wonderful, talented person who’s here on their own merit and not just because of who your parents are, never let anyone tell you different,” and “You still aren’t done with that? What have you been doing in the past hour?” instead of “Thank you.”

It’s Rhodey and Tony, and maybe it’s their beginning or maybe it’s the core of what they are together but it doesn’t matter. They’ll figure it all out on their own time, eventually.

And if Rhodey makes it a point to genuinely compliment Tony at least twice a day, just to see that beautiful, pleased smile light up Tony’s eyes again, well that’s nobody’s business but his own.

Soooooo. This got out of hand fast.

[justlous-art]

MIT rhodeytony meeting

(I have been very busy irl unfortunately and wasn’t able to draw more rhodeytony this month but! good thing is that I don’t have to draw them only in november, so there are a few prompts I still plan to do when I have more free time 🌸)

still, I thought I would share some of my rhfe headcanons with you for this last day: 

facts: tony entered MIT in 1984 at the age of 14, rhodey and him spent spring break ‘87 together and rhodey went to usafa

so I figured out he joined MIT in 1985

rhodey, 16 soon-to-be 17 (because he is fucking smart too) was following his orientation group when some short kid coming from nowhere bumped into him

the first thing rhodey heard was an “ow!”, then it was “your shirt is so cool!” and suddenly there were big brown eyes watching him expectantly

they had a small talk about bands (”AC/DC is the greatest rock and roll band of all time !”) (“you gotta listen some James Brown songs man”) until he realized his group was moving and left that kid, waving a quick goodbye

didn’t think about him again until he was close to the baker house which had been throwing a welcome back party and bumped into that kid (apparently called tony) again. completely drunk. what the hell

true to be told rhodey had thought tony was a student’s little brother or a pre-frosh. his mama raised him better than that tho and there is no way he would let this kid, who had been nothing but friendly, with people who give him so much alcohol

that’s how tony woke up in a dorm that was absolutely not his and imprinted on rhodey like a baby duck because he was nice to me??? and helped me??? 

tony absolutely called them meeting a second time “fate”, and that’s how he would tell their story years later

and the thing is that they actually got along well once the first awkwardness went away

rhodey quickly realized the emotional walls tony had around him  

because when he came in the first time, everyone thought tony was just here thanks to his dad and was too young. they quickly realized he was indeed super smart tho and suddenly everyone wanted something from him but he never really made close friends. either they wanted to be the friend of tony stark or he scared them away with his genius and some didn't like to have an awkward young teen smarter than them. so he became this flirty, party, public persona instead so people would like him more

but then come rhodey who liked him as he was and didn’t care if he was a stark or not

so every time someone would even just badly look at rhodey he would fight. he would fight with his words, he would fight with his fists too if needed. because no one will hurt his friend if he had something to say. rhodey was so smart and so fierce, and he wouldn’t let anyone try to destroy it

though rhodey never liked when tony was getting wasted, pretending to enjoy these stupid parties to act cool with people who don’t really care about the real him, but rhodey never stopped him. sure he told him what he thought of it, and didn’t have a problem to say “I told you so” when he complained about a hangover but he was always by his side no matter

and if months and months later, when rhodey helped a tipsy tony to go in bed and tony kissed him because it was the only way he could think to thank rhodey for being who he is, for care about him, for loving him, for being here... well this was between them, and none of them said something about it the next day

[ifmywishescametrue]

since tony was fourteen when he went to mit my new rhodeytony headcanon is that rhodey taught him how to drive