Work Text:
Tony couldn't sleep.
The beeping of the various sensors and machinery would be enough to keep him awake even if circumstances weren't so dire, but as it was, he doubted he would have been able to rest, anyway. Because in the hospital bed in front of him was his best friend.
His Rhodey.
Paralyzed.
And it was his fault.
Oh, he was sure there were other people who had messed up. Tony wasn't quite so arrogant as to believe it was completely his actions that caused Rhodey's injuries. Vision held his share of the blame. And though it was his weapon that brought Rhodey down in the end, Tony knew it was an accident.
He knew that Vision blamed himself more than Tony ever could.
No, it was the Accords. And Steve.
Damn him.
If only he had listened. If only he hadn't been so fucking stubborn.
Steve, and the rest of them.
The Avengers.
What a joke.
Tony realized his hands were clenching his tablet, and eased his grip, taking a breath. No good would come of destroying his link to Friday, in ruining more than he already had.
But god, he'd made so many mistakes during this whole debacle. Foolishly, idealistically, he thought that the rest of the team would see things the way he did, that they would want to protect the world on the world's terms. And Tony wasn't naive. He knew that governments didn't always represent their people to the best of their ability. But he also believed that it was better to change the system from within, rather than tear it down.
Something it seemed he and Steve differed on.
Tony ran a hand through his already messy hair, tugging at the strands. When he decided to fight for what he believed in, he never thought the consequences would be so personal.
He turned on his tablet once more, opening the medical paper he was reading. If he was going to design leg braces from scratch, well, he'd best know what he was doing.
In the morning, he could worry about the Accords and goddamn Wakanda.
In the morning, he could drink an obscene amount of coffee and personally destroy General Ross.
In the morning, he could be Tony Fucking Stark again.
For now, though, he sat by his brother's bedside, listening to Rhodey's quiet breathing, and did what he did best.
He created.