Chapter Text
Music was pounding in the workshop as Tony knelt next to one of his newest acquisitions. He removed a part that was in his way and looked up at the screen “Give me an exploded view,” he said, waiting for JARVIS to do what he asked.
“The compression in cylinder three appears to be low,” JARVIS voiced as the screen changed to an exploded view of the engine.
“Log that,” Tony nodded. He continued working until the music turned off and Pepper walked into the workshop, looking slightly harried “Please don’t turn off my music.”
Pepper sighed “I’m gonna try again right now.” She put down the phone, switching it into her other hand that was still holding some paperwork “You’re supposed to be halfway around the world right now.”
“How did she take it?” Tony cut her off, not even looking away from the car he was working on.
“Like a champ,” Pepper muttered, her voice practically dripping in disapproval.
Tony rolled his eyes “Why are you trying to hustle me out of here?”
In moments like these, Pepper would love nothing more than to strangle her boss “Your flight was scheduled to leave an hour and a half ago.”
“That’s funny. I thought with it being my plane and all, that it would just wait for me to get there,” Tony told her.
“Tony, I need to speak with you about a couple of things before I get you out the door,” Pepper said.
Tony frowned and turned around to sit on the tire of the car “I mean, doesn’t it kind of defeat the whole purpose of having your own plane?”
“Larry called,” Pepper told him, ignoring what he said entirely. She would have gone crazy a long time ago if she hadn’t learned to handle Tony “He’s got another buyer for the Jackson Pollock in the wings. Do you want it? Yes or no.”
“Is it a good representation of his spring period?”
Pepper blinked “Erm, no. The Springs was actually a neighbourhood in East Hampton where he lived and worked, not ‘spring’ like the season.”
“So?”
“I think it’s a fair example,” Pepper shrugged “I think it’s incredibly overpriced.”
Tony was quiet for a moment “I need it,” he said “Buy it. Store it.”
Pepper had to suppress a smile “Okay. The MIT commencement speech…”
“Is in June,” Tony finished for her, walking through the workshop “Please don’t harangue me about stuff that’s way, way…”
“They’re haranguing me,” Pepper gestured, hurrying after him “So I’m going to say yes.”
“Deflect it and absorb it,” Tony sighed, getting a little tired of all this. They had this conversation every year and every year Pepper always accepted without him having any say about it. While he liked talking to the next generation of brilliant minds, he wasn’t sure why she kept bringing it up every time “Don’t transmit it back to me.”
Pepper looked through the folder she was holding before showing it to him “I need you to sign this before you get on the plane.”
“What are you trying to get rid of me for?” Tony asked, raising his eyebrows “What? You got plans?”
Pepper held out the pen, more than a little annoyed at Tony’s antics “As a matter of fact, I do.”
“I don’t like it when you have plans,” Tony teased, liking their banter.
“I’m allowed to have plans on my birthday,” Pepper pointed out, still holding the file.
Tony blinked in surprise “It’s your birthday?”
“Yes.”
“I knew that,” Tony nodded before he frowned “Already?”
Pepper looked away from him, hurt blossoming up inside of her. Really, she shouldn’t be surprised about Tony not remembering but she had hoped that she meant enough to him “Yeah. Isn’t it strange? It’s the same day as last year.”
Tony’s eyebrows twitched. He wasn’t even sure what day it was. The only time he actively tracked days was when Damon was there for the holidays “Get yourself something nice from me.”
“I already did,” Pepper shrugged.
“And?”
“Oh, it was very nice,” Pepper reassured him.
Tony tilted his head “Yeah?”
“Very tasteful,” Pepper nodded “Thank you, Mr Stark.”
“You’re welcome, Miss Potts.” Tony quickly signed the file, drinking his espresso in one gulp before he sighed “Okay.”
Tony sped down the road, occasionally checking his back mirror to see whether Happy was still behind him. He was. With a small grin, Tony pulled into the parking lot of the Stark Industries airfield where his plane was waiting, and got out as Happy was pulling up beside him.
Rhodey was standing at the entrance of the plane, glaring down at him.
“You’re good,” Tony laughed “Oh, I thought I lost you back there.”
Happy smiled lightly and pulled a bag out of the trunk “You did, sir. I had to cut across Mulholland.”
“I got you,” Tony grinned “I got you.”
“What’s wrong with you?” Rhodey demanded, moving further towards the stairs.
Tony raised his eyebrow innocently “What?”
“Three hours,” Rhodey huffed “Tony, you promised me that you’d be on time.”
“I got caught doing a piece for Vanity Fair,” Tony pointed out, looking at Rhodey “You know how it is.”
Rhodey still looked unimpressed “For three hours? Three hours you got me standing here.”
Tony walked past him into the plane “Waiting on you now. Let’s go. Come on.”
“How is this my life?” Rhodey sighed, taking off his hat as he followed Tony and Happy onto the plane “Every time.”
Half an hour later, they were in the air and Rhodey was reading some files, while Tony was staring at him from across the table “What are you reading, platypus?”
Rhodey didn’t even look up “Nothing.”
Tony sighed “Come on, sour patch.” He didn’t mean to be late. Hell, he really tried to be on time but he had gotten caught up in one of his projects and lost track of time.
“I’m not sour,” Rhodey muttered. He wasn’t really mad that Tony had been late. A bit annoyed and disappointed maybe but not mad. They had been friends for too long for that to be the case. That didn’t mean he didn’t enjoy messing with Tony.
“Don’t be mad,” Tony pleaded.
Rhodey looked up at him “I told you, I’m not mad. I’m indifferent, okay?”
“I said I was sorry,” Tony pointed out.
Rhodey rubbed his face “You don’t need to apologize to me. I’m not mad. I’m a bit annoyed that you didn’t even let me know you’d be late but I’m not mad.”
“I’m really sorry, Rhodey,” Tony told him sincerely.
Rhodey shot him a small grin “I know. And I will hold it over your head forever if Damon ever turns out like you. I’m not your babysitter, Tones. I’m your friend. There is a reason JARVIS exists. Can you at least try and make an effort to listen to his reminders? You’re a father, you should try and be a good role model.”
“I’m trying,” Tony mumbled. For some reason that comment hurt more than he thought it would. He knew that he was neglecting Damon, that he was left alone for longer than he should but Tony was just so busy with all the projects for SI, his personal projects and all the meetings that Obadiah and Pepper forced him to go to. He barely had any time for himself, never mind Damon. He just hoped that Damon wouldn’t start resenting him the way he resented Howard. They weren’t the same. Tony tried to tone down the drinking and hadn’t had as many drunken incidents as the media claimed. He tried to be a good parent “I don’t want to be like him, Rhodey. I don’t want Damon to start hating me.”
Rhodey softened, waving away the flight attendant “You’re not Howard. And I know you’re trying and so does Damon.”
“Is it enough, though?” Tony asked “He’s getting to the age where he’ll only see that I’m not there. That… whenever he needs me, I’m busy.”
“Damon loves you, Tony,” Rhodey told him “He is so much like you and just spending time together in the Lab means more to him than you think. He knows how hectic your life is and doesn’t blame you.”
Tony crossed his arms “Not blaming me doesn’t mean that he is happy with the situation.”
“So try and make time for him,” Rhodey shrugged “I know you have a lot on your plate. But maybe include him in your personal projects, go surfing with him or ask to hear his newest song. It doesn’t have to be huge. Even the little stuff matters. Ask him how his day was or tell him about how annoying Pepper is or how dull the Board of Directors are.”
“I’ll try,” Tony nodded, determined to be a better parent for Damon by the time the kid was back from camp.