Chapter 5
Life was good. Good enough that most days he was able to forget about Steve. Tony loved his new routine. He cherished those new people around him. They were considerate and didn’t demand more than he was willing to give. The kids were eager to learn new things, and the genius realised he enjoyed it more than anything he had done before in his life.
The press was curious about Tony Stark’s whereabouts. They had no control over his personal life even if they believed otherwise. Why were they so invested in him? Stark Industries was doing more than good. Tony had a lot of plans for the future of his company.
To be able to tinker to his heart content, Tony had rented an old garage not too far from the cafe. He was able to invent new technology or make upgrades, and occasionally, he even repaired cars for locals. Tony had always loved to get his hands dirty inside a car engine, and money wasn’t really an issue. Most of his customers would often compensate him with food or promised future favours. Tony had never been that well fed and cared for. Ever.
Rhodey came back home from his tour in some place the military were always keeping quiet. Like he always did, the colonel called Tony right after speaking to his mother. Of course, he wanted to see his brother in every way but blood. Tony would love nothing more but to spend time with his best friend, but that also meant they would need to have a conversation the genius would rather avoid. Unfortunately, there was no lying to Rhodey, not that Tony would ever want to.
“Where are you now? New York or Malibu?” asked the Colonel to a very evasive Tony.
“Neither.”
The genius gave his friend a very condensed account of what had taken place. Wherever he was, Rhodey would come to him, and then would ask for the details anyway. Tony pretended to have simply broken up with Steve and that he needed some space to heal, some time away from it all to get over it. He wasn’t exactly lying. The story was not entirely true either. Knowing how protective Rhodey could be, Tony decided not to tell him the whole truth for now. The colonel would probably take a detour through New York just to punch Steve in his perfect teeth if he knew. Though Tony secretly loved the idea, he was not going to lie to himself about that, he recognised it would not be the right thing to do.
After that phone call, Tony’s spirits went down. Everything he had been able to ignore or push aside was coming back to haunt him with a vengeance. He was reminded of all those pleasant moments, of Steve’s smile, his broad shoulders, as well as his hands and his careful handling of his brush when he was painting. How could feel as though he had lost something that was never really his to begin with?
Tony had always been good at concealing how broken he truly felt on the inside. His life had been far more difficult than people imagined. When people were doing the polite thing and asked how he was doing, no one really wanted to know the truth. Even his friends, who each had their own lives and problems, were often happy with a simple ‘I’m fine’ as an answer. Tony could do it one more time, rise up once again after falling. If nothing else, the children deserved at the very least the best Tony he could be.
Instead of his usual coffee, Logan put down a cup of hot cocoa with chantilly cream in front of him. Tony was seated in his usual spot. He must have been lost in his thoughts while looking at the bustling street for a little bit too long for comfort. The coffee shop owner rarely sat down with his customers, he was making an exception today. Perhaps Tony wasn’t so good at hiding his emotions anymore.
“A penny for your thoughts?” asked Logan.
The man was looking at Tony, almost worried. The genius was frustrated with himself. The first thing that came to his mind was Steve and how the artist had never given him such a look. Even when Tony hadn’t been at his best. It was as if every detail was a reminder that their relationship had been built on a lie.
“I’m thinking this is not coffee and that’s a crime.” Tony deflected, knowing full well that it wasn’t the question.
“Don’t say you don’t like it until you’ve tried it.”
Logan didn’t press Tony for an answer, but he didn’t leave either. He simply waited for Tony to tether start talking or to take a sip. Maybe both. Tony was not particularly good at talking about himself or explaining how he actually felt. So the genius reached for the hot mug. Despite its temperature, the cream atop it helped to cool it down. God, it was fantastic. Logan had to be the master of hot drinks or something. The warmth that spread throughout Tony’s chest wasn’t just because of his drink. He could not help but smile.
“My best friend is coming to town.” Tony finally said after a lot of hesitation.
“Shouldn’t that make you happy?” Logan answered immediately.
“I am.” Tony said with a sigh, “It’s just that I don’t particularly look forward to having the conversation about why I moved there out of the blue.”
“Friends can be so annoying sometimes, always looking out for you like that.” Logan chuckled.
“It’s not that,” Tony said. “It’s just to forget about some things that keep coming back up and now I will have to explain them in detail.”
“I’ve been there before.” Logan nodded in understanding. “But I’ve also learned just how important friends can be.”
"I know," Tony said quietly.
Logan’s gentle smile brightened Tony’s mood as they continued to chat about trivial matters. Tony definitely felt a lot better. It also made him flustered. Kindness wasn’t something he was really used to receiving. Life in those parts of the country was very different to what he was used to. Going back to his old routing would definitely be difficult now.
Back then, Tony had no other plan other than going as far away from Steve and his friends as he could. He had just been going with the flow of his emotions. Miss Florence, the coffee shop, the garage, Logan and the children, everything a pleasant if unexpected surprise. Now, Tony was beginning to realise that he didn’t necessarily want to leave, and he already knew that this reluctance would be a problem that he didn’t want to think about right now but would need to address eventually. As long as his company was thriving even when he wasn’t actively involved, Tony had no intention of returning to New York or even Malibu.
Tony instructed Rhodey to meet him at the coffee shop, which was his safe haven but also easy enough to find for someone who didn’t know the town. His best friend would most probably be on his side, it wouldn’t change the fact that the conversation would not be easy. Because Rhodey couldn’t give him an exact time of arrival, Tony had decided to spend his day in the cafe. After finishing his hot cocoa, Logan had served him his regular coffee and also brought a blueberry muffin to go with. Tony was tempted to ask for more of the sugary chocolate heaven. Perhaps if he had it too often, it would not have the same comforting effect.
“Platypus!” Tony waved to the man who just entered the cafe.
Now that his friend was there in front of him, the genius was genuinely happy to see him. Being in the military, the Colonel was frequently deployed somewhere Tony was not authorised to know about. It was easier not to dwell on the danger, the real possibility that Colonel Rhodes might not return. Tony deliberately never considered the thought because he was afraid that thinking about his best friend’s death would somehow make it a reality. Each time, Rhodes coming back was a relief but it never lasted for very long.
The conversation, at first, stayed in familiar ground such as Rhodey’s trip, the divine coffee, or the weather. Heavy subjects could not be thrown around like that so quickly, especially after being apart for so long. The coffee shop was getting ready for the busy lunch hour. Tony briefly wondered why he always referred to this place as a cafe and not a dinner. Sometimes his mind would wander to truly strange places. Rhodey really enjoyed every part of his meal. The man clearly had good taste.
“I know you love cheeseburgers, Tones, but you didn’t come all this way only for that.”
The calm was over. The storm was there. Rhodey had questions for which he was determined to get answers. Perhaps it was better to rip off the band-aid in one swift motion so it would simply be less painful in the end.
“I did not exactly set into anything. I wasn’t really thinking.”
“What happened?”
Tony began to explain the events, and once he began speaking, he found himself unable to stop until everything had been said and done. It was something he had needed to get out of his chest for a long time without realising it. Keeping everything inside was not healthy, Tony knew that. As he spoke, he could see the shift in Rhodey’s expression, whether it was rage, sadness, or even guilt. This wasn’t the Colonel’s burden to bear. Rhodey was like a big brother to Tony, but that didn’t mean he should protect him from the world. The genius might have weird ways to cope, but he would make it through the other side. He was always getting back up.
“I’m going to kill them.” said Rhodey, almost growling.
“I would rather not. Prison would not suit you.” Tony tried to joke.
“I have my ways. No one would ever know or find the bodies.”
Rhodey’s protective reaction brought a smile to Tony’s face. It felt good to have someone who was totally on his side, without any reservations or uncertainties. Rhodey didn’t even mention the matter of Stark Industries. He was confident that Tony already had a solution there. All the Colonel wanted to learn was about Tony’s life at the moment, in that new town, and Tony was more than happy to oblige.
Miss Florence was delighted to welcome one of Tony’s friends, and as usual, went out of her way to be accommodating. Rhodey couldn’t help but smile at the flowery wallpaper in his room, but the old lady was really endearing and incredibly helpful. Tony’s room would be across the hall from his. If they wanted to tour the town before returning to the cafe to meet the kids, they only had time to put the suitcase in the room. Tony had shared every detail about those children with Rhodey, the Colonel felt as if he already knew them.
Rhodey noticed how happy Tony appeared to be in this place. He couldn't help but wonder if everything had worked out for the best in the end. The genius would never have discovered that location and built himself such a comfortable life if Rogers and his cronies had not betrayed him. Tony didn’t need to go back to New York, unless his company needed him. Rhodey wished he could see his brother from another mother this happy all the time.
They were all talking about building a rocket for a school science project. It felt like MIT all over again, and they were going to make sure it would go high in the sky. Both the adults were just as enthusiastic as the kids, if maybe a little more cautious. Suddenly, Tony's phone rang, and he reflexively retrieved it from his pocket without much thought. His gaze shifted away from the quick schematics on the phone screen. Blood suddenly drained from his face.
Steve was calling him.