The greatest strength and motivation.
The two men sat in the living room and talked quietly together. They had been close friends for more than 25 years, and they would have put their lives in the other's hands at any time.
In fact, one had once had his life in the other's hands.
That was when their friendship had gone from being very strong to unbreakable.
Police Superintendent James Rhodes, known as "Rhodey", put down his coffee cup and looked at the man sitting on the other side of the table. Tony Stark.
Coincidence, or whatever it was, had it so that Rhodey had been the first to arrive at the scene that nigh about six years ago.
The police's emergency center had received a worrying call and he had been in almost immediate proximity.
At the scene, he had found his best friend unconscious and severely abused.
Only James Rhodes' immediate reaction had saved Tony's life. Unfortunately, nothing could have saved the baby Tony was carrying.
He had been six months pregnant.
Coincidentally, if that's what it was, it would have been that Rhodey's wife was at work that night. Maria Hill worked as a midwife at the hospital.
From the moment Tony arrived at the hospital in the ambulance until he woke up two days later, she didn't leave him once except for a visit to the toilet.
In the following days, the two of them took turns staying with him. So did two of his other friends, Natasha Romanoff and Scott Lang. She was one of his fellow teachers, while he worked in the police with Rhodey.
He had been badly injured, and spent three weeks in the hospital. The physical injuries healed. Slowly but surely, he also managed to process what had happened.
Without Brock there to hold him down, Tony was actually a strong man. Thanks to his own strength and the help of his friends, he slowly but surely managed to come back to life.
The worst thing was losing the baby. His little son.
He had had many and long conversations, especially with Maria. Her warm, caring way of being as well as her knowledge and security throughout the profession had helped Tony through the crisis.
He would always mourn little Peter Parker Stark. But as time passed, the worst grief became more like a cherished memory.
No one could take away his love for his little son. That love became Tony's greatest strength and motivation.
This was also true in Tony's working life. Thanks to this strength and motivation, the support of friends, as well as the good work he had done in his previous job as an inspector at another school, he got his current job.
It was also this story the two men talked about that evening. The incident about six years ago.
About the perpetrator who was identical to Tony's former boyfriend Brock Rumlow.
He had now served six years and been released due to exemplary behavior. Amazingly enough.
"I'm so sorry, Tony," Rhodey said. "We really tried to prevent this, but as you know, he has behaved impeccably throughout his time in prison," he sighed.
Tony nodded. "Yes, I understand. He can come across as really nice and charming. I know all about that”, he said and shuddered.
“It would be untrue if I said that I am unaffected by this, Rhodey. I can still feel the old feeling. But it will not be allowed to take over again.
Because Brock has done enough now, and I've moved on.
After all, things feels good. As good as they can be, I mean”, he said thoughtfully.