Rhodey's Anger
"Friday, are you there, baby girl?" I asked.
"Boss, I'm so sorry. I can't believe Ms. Potts would do that to you. I hate her. I hope she dies. Are you okay?" Friday asked me.
The AI was young, but she was already showing so many emotions. I could hear the fear and then the relief, but also resentment towards Potts in her voice. If I didn't know better, I would almost see tears running down my baby girl's face. It broke my heart. I apologized to Friday. I couldn't take it. Her innocent, sweet voice should be full of happiness, not sadness or resentment, but Friday kept telling me that it wasn't my fault.
"Baby girl, can you see if Rhodey is awake and able to talk?" Tony asked softly.
"Yes, boss. It seems that Colonel is actually awake."
"Video call him."
Tony's voice was unsure. The conversation was going to be difficult, he knew that. He wouldn't shy away from it, no matter how hard it might be. His friendship with Rhodey was more important than his ego, than anything. Tony had a lot of regrets about the Civil War. He should have done things differently. War Machine falling from the skies would forever stay ingrained in his mind.
"Platypus..." I said as the call connected and his face popped up, but it wasn't a happy one.
"What do you want?" Rhodey asked angrily.
"I..."
"What! How do you think I feel? You can't even come face me and after what you have done! I won't walk ever again! I'm a soldier, my job requires me to be able to move. That stupid battle made me lose everything I had, everything I am, everything I was! Did it even cross your mind when you went on fighting Captain America? The Captain America, you idiot! No. You just need to be right! All the time! You just need to stroke your ego! Do you even care? Do you know what you have done? You've destroyed the Avengers! Who's gonna protect the Earth now? You don't be a fool, it's gonna be a week at most before you create Ultron v2 and they're pardoned! Nat was right, you need to be kept in check! You're dangerous, Tony! Perhaps helping her will get me in a relationship with her as well since Bruce ditched her!" shouted the Colonel louder and louder as the words fell from his mouth in anger.
"Rhodey..." Tony tried again.
"No, you don't. You never did. Howard put me with you in MIT, but he didn't think about what I wanted, and you think I liked you. Howard promised to use his connections to help me get a higher position in the military in return for helping you. You made everything harder on me. On everyone. Years later, you are still creating problems for me and my job. Your only worth was when you made weapons. At least, I was able to say I was a Stark Industries military liaison. Obie was right. You only put your needs first. Perhaps you should've died in the cave, then at least Obie could've continued the Stark legacy of murder, and I could be a general or even Secretary of State. Is it so hard for you to be useful even once?"
I wasn't trying to answer anymore. I felt betrayed, and his words cut deeper than any knife ever did. More than anything Rogers did. I thought he was my friend, but he was just using me. It felt like years and years of resentment finally being let out at him, for what? For helping him make his life good. Who would Colonel Rhodes be without Tony Stark? Just some private. I got angry, which caused steam to start coming from me as I tried to calm down. Rhodey didn't see or didn't want to notice.
"I used all my favors to find you in Afghanistan because it was my duty as a debt to Howard. I didn't care or like you. You found a way out of that cave, good for you. But it's not normal. Building so much armor again and again, it's not normal. You are not normal, you hear me? You're a freak. A man-child who wants to play superhero since Daddy likes Captain America more. What would Howard say to you about his failure going against his perfect creation, Captain America? I tell you what, you would be disowned. This tower, those cars, and those suits, you wouldn't have them. Also, why did you have to get me involved? My life was more than fine before that!"
"You know," Rhodey said, his voice eerily calm now, "I should have chosen Rogers' side. At least, he does everything for his friends. Not like you! I wouldn't have been injured like I was when I fought with you. You failure, piece of shit. But you would just turn off my suit because anyone that uses anything that you made owes you, like that spider kid you bring in. A word of advice: stay away from the kid, you will ruin him as well!"
I was already broken. I didn't think it could get worse. How wrong I was. Rhodey was mad, he was telling the truth, and the genius knew that. His fire started to erupt around him. The Colonel wanted to hurt me like he was hurt and for something I didn't even do.
"Calm the fuck down, you monster. Using a serum to become strong enough to fight the great Captain America. How low you have fallen! You know what? No, I'm done. I'm not doing this anymore. That's it. I don't want to see you ever again. Not now. Not ever. Don't call. Don't come near. I will have a restraining order and my leave notice for liaison of Stark Industries as soon as I can. You've done enough. Ruined enough. I wish that Rogers killed you or it was you in the car crash instead of Howard and Maria. I'd say it was nice to meet you, but I'd be lying," Rhodey said, ending the call.
"Boss, there has been a breach. An unknown female has entered your lab," Friday said.
"What is she doing, baby girl?" I asked, getting up from my bed and making my way to the lab.
"She's, uh, playing with DUM-E and U. They like her as well. I don't think she's a threat, but she appeared out of nowhere and is unidentified in any database. Could she be SHIELD?" Friday replied. I made my way to the lab, and when I looked up, I saw a scene I had wished to see for so long after getting memories. Aphrodite playing with my kids. No, our kids. Hopefully, she noticed me and smiled.
"Hephy, I missed you," she said in her sweet voice that I was addicted to.
"Dite, is that really you?" I asked, wondering if the universe was cruel enough to play tricks on me.