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Tony let himself into James’ apartment, "Jellybean, I'm home!" He'd sent an earlier text to let his Sugarplum know he was coming by later to check on him after taking care of a couple quick things up at the lab. In reality he had a couple of surprises he just knew would put a smile on his grumpy bump’s face.
“Hey petri dish, groan for me if you’re alive in there.”
“Fuck you, Tony,” a scratchy rasp sounded from Rhodey’s bedroom.
“Feeling feisty, are we? Maybe when you’re not highly contagious, honey buns, kay?” Tony blew a loud kiss toward the bedroom to which more grumbling just erupted.
He proceeded to the kitchen with his first surprise, a gallon container of chicken & dumplings, courtesy of Mama Rhodey Bear’s ultra-specific recipe and one excellent in-house chef video chatting the whole prep and cook time to make sure nothing was left out. Tony knew there was nothing like Rhodey’s mama’s recipe that could soothe him. Once she heard he was under the weather, knowing she couldn’t get back early from her trip out to Barbados to see her cousins, the least she could do was make sure her baby ate right.
The soul-soothing soup was still warm so Tony spooned a small bit into a bowl and placed it onto a tray with a spoon, napkins, a couple aspirin, an 8-oz bottle of water and a small tumbler of orange juice to carry into the bedroom. He added the extra flourish of a silk rose in a vase, ever blooming like his gross affection for the man currently moaning-but-not-in-the-fun-way lying sick in bed and hating it. He also had one last surprise wrapped up special and tucked under his arm to share only after Rhodey had a slightly fuller belly.
Tony backed into the room, shiny metal-covered ass starting Rhodey on a laughing-coughing fit. He sat the tray down on the desk across from the bed with the gift, hands on his hips, “And just what are you hurting yourself laughing over, Mister?”
Tony stood there in a new design, what looked to be essentially an iron leotard onesie. “It has all the readout capabilities of my battle suit and of course the link to Jarvis, but it has none of the weight and physical protection aspects since it’s mostly armorless. But hey, it’s the perfect way to seal me in from all your cooties without being heavy enough to break the bed. Again. I learned from last time sexy shenanigans and armor do not mix very well. Aren’t you proud of me, honey?”
Tony set up the bed-tray for a still lightly coughing James, fluffing up his pillows so he could sit up to eat. James tried to scent the air at what Tony was bringing him, but only managed to suck up snot without getting any clue as to what was in the bowl Tony was placing in front of him. Still, he smiled up at him through watery eyes at the flower, touching the soft, imitation petals, disgustingly charmed by Tony’s thoughtfulness, rolling his eyes to emphasize it. Next, James looked at the bowl, head tilting at the familiar foodstuffs. He looked back up at Tony, eyes wide, “You didn’t!” He turned back toward the door expecting to hear a marching shuffle announcing the arrival of his mama.
“Me? Cooking? Unless it involves degrees measured in Kelvin, I have nothing to do with it. Go on, taste it, tell me how Harvetta did.” Tony bounced excitedly by the bedside. Rhodey scooped up a fluffy dumpling and juice, slurping the spoon dry before plopping the dumpling into his mouth. A deep sigh rose from him at the explosion of flavor (muted as it was due to congestion) as he bit down, chewing so happily.
Rhodey finished his bite, opening eyes he didn’t know he closed experiencing the sheer deliciousness, watery for a whole other reason. “How?”
Tony shrugged shyly, “Jarvis, play recording MRB-006 on speaker please.”
”Hiii, my Jellybean. I hear you’re under the weather and being your usual bullheaded self not eating unless you’re forced to. Your Tony here set me up with one of his cooks and I watched her make my mama’s recipe from beginning to end so while I hope I’m not being replaced -- (Tony can be heard whispering softly on the recording, 'Never, no way, impossible.') -- I do hope it soothes you, baby. Make sure you’re getting plenty of fluids and let your man there take care of you. Mama’s orders. I love you, Jellybean. And I have one more gift to give you via Tony.”
Tony leans over, pressing the softest of kisses on Rhodey’s warm forehead. “Now you heard the Doc, finish your food and take your medicine like a good Jellybean.” Tony watched the joy radiate from Rhodey as his appetite returned for his comfort food.
When the half bowl of soup was finished, OJ drank and pills were taken, Tony took the tray back into the kitchen, washing everything before putting it and the soup away, grabbing another baby bottle of water to place on the bedside table. He retrieved the gift from the Rhodey’s desk, tucking it under his arm as he plopped softly on the bed next to him, handing it to Rhodey, “Here, I got you something else.”
Rhodey eyed it suspiciously, turning narrowed eyes up at Tony. Sick or not, he wouldn't put it past Tony to butter him up before dropping another mess into his lap. It was only the fear he could see behind Tony's nervous smile that urged him on to carefully remove the wrapping paper.
“HA! Oh my god, Tony!” Inside the wrapping paper and box laid a little golden him with cool black shades on, sitting atop a shiny brown base. The plaque circling the whole base read, “My #1 Everything” on the front and “I Am Nothing Without You” on the back.
It had a little black button on the front of the base, “Go on, press the button,” Tony encouraged from beside him, a soft vulnerable smirk on his face.
You are my Rhodey / My only Rhodey / You make me happy / Like all the time / You'll never know dear / How much I love you / And how glad I am you're in my life / Love you Rhodey Bear.
A smacking noise sounds at the end of the song before cutting off. “That’s real nice, Tony, thank you.” James stared over at Tony with a gooey smile on his face, “Does it have Bluetooth connect ability? Maybe when I throw a party, I’ll throw this on loop to clear out the stragglers.”
“You better not! My vocal capabilities, or lack thereof, are for your ears only, thank you. When you’re better, I’ll treat you to a special performance of my vocal range, eh?”
“Hey, I tell you I love you yet?”
“Not verbally today, no, but you always do so in action. I just feel it. Right here.” Tony made to point out to his heart, but dropped his finger at the last second to his metal-onesied crotch.
“You’re lucky I’m too tired to properly cackle and/or kick your ass out of my house, Tony.”
“My ass will still be highly kickable when you’re better, no worries.”
“Oh, if one thing on God’s green Earth is ever true, it’s that you will always need your ass kicked.”
“Love you, too, peaches, but later for your dirty talk. Riling me up when I can’t do a thing to you, have you no shame?”
Tony leaned over and helped Rhodey readjust again from his propped position, tucking the blankets up tight around his huffing form. He went to move the award, but Rhodey tightened his grip, “No, it can stay. Maybe I’ll dream of an acceptance speech.” Rhodey adjusted his #1 trophy so it rested head up in the crook of his arm, filled tummy and high spirits sending him into a restful sleep.
“Sleep tight, Jellybean. I’ll be right here when you need me.” Tony turned on the humidifier to help soothe the rattle of James’ chest, counting the minutes until it cleared, the softer breathing lulling him to sleep.
A while later, Jarvis alerted Tony with soft vibrations of his onesie-suit, whispering, “It appears the fever has broken, sir. A few more days of constant rest and nourishment and Rhodey should be back to 100% butt-kicking efficiency.”
“Thanks, Jar.” Tony whispered back, letting his eyes fall closed again, the last sight the smiling image of his love cradling his well earned award, a soft smile on his resting face.