Chapter Text
Tony Stark, world renowned genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, grinned as he leaned out the window of the Humvee he had just claimed for himself and three other airmen.
"I'm sorry, this is the Fun-Vee." He said pulling his sunglasses down his nose, pushing as much haughtiness as possible into his tone. "The Hum-Drum-Vee is back there."
Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes almost rolled his eyes at his on again, off again best friend.
Almost.
Instead he just smiled with an expected air of exasperation/bemusement.
James looked through the window past Tony, seeing the three airmen not-at-all, discreetly watching them with interest. Airman Basic Ryan, Airman First Class Pratt and Senior Airman Ramirez.
The three of them were the military equivalent rankings of a kid, preteen and teenager.
No doubt they had heard the rumors floating around about himself and Tony before they were assigned to the security detail. No matter how professional James was over the years, they'd always crop back up when he had to actually liaison between the military and Stark Industries.
At this point, he'd just accepted it all, sometimes even indulging Tony's more eccentric quirks, mostly for his own amusement and his superiors annoyance. People seemed to forget there was a reason he and Tony became friends in the first place.
He could admit that deep down he was a trouble maker at heart.
James nodded his reluctant acceptance of the Humvee seating assignments. He knew Tony would put up a fight if he insisted on riding with him and the faster they left, the sooner they would be back on base and he could be assured of Tony's safety.
Why he insisted on having the demonstration in an active war zone, James still couldn't understand his reasoning. Sometimes Tony said things but really meant something entirely different underneath it all. James used to pride himself on hearing Tony's secret language but time, distance and responsibilities on both their parts left him scrambling to catch up while Tony expected him to still understand.
"We really should be doing the test here, Tones." James tried again as Tony watched the silver ball bounce around the giant spinning wheel. "Not in the middle of a hot zone." Tony glanced over at him.
"But then how can we know the effectiveness of my system if it's not done out in the field?" James scoffed at the skewed logic.
This wasn't a game.
" Tony, it's not just a field, it's a war! The safety issues..." T ony just patted him on the shoulder before turning away.
"Come on, Rhodey. You telling me that the military's best can't take care of one guy?" He asked, leaving it at that.
Did Tony really have that much faith in him? Looking at James' track record since they met years ago at MIT, maybe he did.
Still…
"This is my best friend you guys got here." James said, addressing the three airmen. "Take care of him. Okay?"
The three airmen nodded quickly. Their nervous 'Yes sirs', echoing all around. It wasn't typically normal for an officer of James' rank to be interacting with them. They immediately understood the trust and responsibility placed on their shoulders.
Tony just rolled his eyes, his mouth opening, probably about to say something to undermine his authority and put the airmen back at ease.
James cut him off, reaching up and cupping the back of Tony's neck, causing him to freeze, his eyes widening. Pulling off his own sunglasses, James looked into his friend's brown eyes, his expression open, allowing Tony to see the care and concern within.
Not something he tended to do (especially in public) but he had to let Tony know that this was serious.
He was serious.
"I'll see you back at base, Tones." He said, slightly moving his thumb in a gentle caress through the neatly edged hairs of Tony’s neck. The movement too small and unnoticeable to the airmen but the darkening of Tony's cheeks were.
His mouth snapping shut, Tony pulled away, out of James’ hold, clearly flustered. "Yeah, yeah, sure." He mumbled, pushing his sunglasses back up. "I'll see you later, Rhodey."
With a pleased smirk, James straightened up, putting his own sunglasses back on. He signaled to the two Humvees in front of Tony's before jogging back to the fifth and last one in the convoy.
"Making sure your bff is alright?" One of his superior officers, a one star general, joked as he climbed in. The two enlisted airmen in the front, a Master Sergeant and a Senior Master Sergeant, failed to stifle their laughs.
James just smiled, used to the light teasing. In truth, he was thankful for the lighthearted atmosphere. It helped to calm his nerves over having Tony in such a dangerous area, even if it was at his expense.
"Ha, ha ha, very funny." James said in a mocking tone, deciding to play along. "Besides, what else would I be doing with him?"
The others laughed before shifting the conversation to what they were all going to do for the rest of the day once they returned to base.
Thinking of his own plans, James figured he'd give Tony a tour and let some of the younger airmen meet him. It wasn't hard to miss the awe practically vibrating from the airmen Tony was with.
It'd do him some good to see some of the genuine gratefulness his military support instilled in those who benefited the most from his unmatched weapons. He always told Tony that he could do so much good in the world if he'd just apply himself a bit more but his words always seemed to go in one ear and out the other.
Tony somehow believed that making weapons was the best and all he could do. It was expected, of course, since he inherited it all but there were other avenues that James wished he consider.
So deep in his own thoughts, James reaction to the sudden explosions rocking the outside of the vehicle, was embarrassingly delayed.
The air was immediately filled with orders being yelled, machine gun bullets flying and more and more explosions.
James quickly jumped out of the vehicle, grabbing his weapon and ducking low, his survival training kicking in. He paused a moment, seeing the burning wreckage of the Humvee that had been in front of the one he'd been in.
It wasn't anything he hadn't seen before, but he was still caught off guard. Convoy attacks weren't as common as they used to be since the Global War on Terror started, it was the timing and the brutality of the weapons.
It took a lot to completely destroy a Humvee. James would know. After Tony, he was the Stark weapons expert and he had a feeling he knew exactly what they were being attacked with.
He had to get to Tony now!
*
Tony nearly choked on his own breath as he tumbled out of the Humvee. He'd just watch the airman, Ryan, no Jimmy, just a kid, who ordered him to stay put, get sprayed with bullets as soon as he stepped out.
He never had a chance.
Just like Ramirez and Pratt.
All gone in an instant.
Heart pounding in his chest, eyes stinging from the dust and smoke, explosions and bullets surrounding him, Tony dropped down and picked up one of the discarded weapons (not discarded, the other airman's body was right there) and aimed over the hood of the vehicle. He had to help. He wasn't as useless as most people thought.
Pulling the trigger, Tony was shocked to see nothing happen.
What the actual fuck!
It was jammed?
How?
There was no way this was one of his weapons. If he got out of this alive, he'd have to find out why these airmen weren't using what his company provided.
His weapons never failed!
Throwing the useless gun down, Tony realized he had no way of defending himself. He needed to find somewhere safe.
Rhodey!
Tony looked around, trying to see through the surrounding dust and smoke, keeping low to the ground as the familiar sounds of tracers zipped by him.
He had to find Rhodey!
Rhodey meant safety.
No matter how much Tony let him down, Rhodey was always there for him. Protecting and keeping him safe.
He had to find him!
"RHODEY!!" Tony yelled, slowly making his way to the other Humvees, pointedly ignoring the fact that the two Humvees that had been in front and behind his were completely destroyed.
Which one had Rhodey got in?
Tony hadn't seen.
Please let him still be alive.
"RHODEY!!
"TONY!!!"
Hope surged within, almost leaving Tony breathless.
Tony's head snapped to the left, seeing a figure running towards him.
"RHODEY!" He yelled, ducking as another explosion went off, blocking his path. He had to get away from the vehicles.
They were nothing but huge homing targets.
Turning away, Tony ran out towards the open desert, trying to find shelter. Anything that could protect him.
He leapt behind some boulders, cursing as he landed hard on his left elbow, blinding pain shooting up his arm.
This was a fucking nightmare!
Tony ran a trembling hand through his dust covered hair, trying not to think of how just behind him people were fighting for their lives.
People were dying.
God, why didn't he listen to Rhodey? Have the demo in Nevada like was first suggested or even just let Rhodey ride with him. What was he thinking?
His name, reputation and money meant nothing out here.
He was just another man.
Completely expendable.
Just like those airmen.
A sudden grip on his shoulder had Tony yelping and pulling away in fright.
"Tony! Tony? You okay?" James asked, crouching down beside his rightfully terrified friend.
Tony stared up at him, eyes wide with fear and relief. He practically threw himself at James, clutching at his body armor, seeking any comfort he could get in the surrounding chaos. James automatically wrapped his free arm protectively around him, pulling him close.
"What do we do, Rhodey? What do we do? Those kids, they're all-I couldn't-" A choked sob cut Tony off.
"It's alright, Tony. It's okay." James assured. "We'll get out of thi-
A loud thud sounded near them.
"...Fuck."
Tony looked over his shoulder to see what James was staring at. His eyes widened, seeing a missile with Stark Industries half buried in the sand only around ten feet way. Not that it mattered.
The fear returned ten-fold. Tony recognized that particular missile. One he'd designed himself. He knew the damage it could cause. The range of the blast.
"R-Rhodey…" He whispered.
In an instant, Tony felt his body moving without any input from his mind. It took way too long for Tony to realize that James had literally thrown him behind him, just as the missile exploded, shielding Tony with his body.
Tony's vision whited out as a rush of heat and what he assumed was James' body flying into him. His back slammed hard into the ground, the impact nearly knocking him out.
Ears ringing, Tony blinked open his eyes for several seconds. Trying to understand what had just happened. He could barely see the blazing sun overhead through all the dust.
He tried to look around but his body wasn't cooperating.
"Find Rhodey!" His brain yelled at him.
Tony tried again, turning his head to the side, a rush of dizziness hit him, his vision quickly fading at the edges.
Before the impending darkness claimed him, he could've sworn he heard someone whisper his name.
"T-Tones…"