Ch27. Rhodey's visit

Tony sat in his workshop, working on a model of nanobots that could transform into clothes with defensive properties of his latest suits.

As good as magic was, Tony realized its momentary weakness at his current level. One well-aimed bullet and he would be dead. He needed something to protect him from such a dreadful fate.

He was studying the beginning of warding and he had a few ideas, for example, a ward anchored to a ring that could form an invisible force shield around him. From what he read so far and knew about magic, which wasn't much, to be honest, such a thing would be totally possible.

But it would take him some months of study for him to feel safe creating something like that so he decided to go with the good old technology and recreate the nanobots he used for his suit in the 'past'. Making them shift into clothes would not be hard and while that will make them thinner than his Iron Man armor, it should still be enough to stop bullets.

While he was working, Natasha was leisurely lounging on a table nearby, supporting her chin with her forearm, while lazily watching him, the tablet with Tony's schedule carelessly discarded next to her. Some assistant she was...

Tony would have protested her observing his work but... it wouldn't help at all. He already tried.

For some reason, she made a new hobby out of watching him inventing. Something about his focus being remarkable... but of course, Tony had a hard time believing such an obvious lie.

Nevertheless, Natasha proved to be just as effective a nanny as Pepper but infinitely better.

While Pepper would nag him to go eat before dragging him out of his workshop, Natasha actually allowed him to eat in his workshop.

While Pepper Pepper showed her disapproval loudly and heatedly, Natasha was quiet with this disappointed pitiful look that for some reason worked and Tony still couldn't wrap his head around how the heck was she affecting him with it.

That shit was definitely some super spy technique taught at the Russian kid spy academy. He won't accept any other explanation because it was just too unnerving to be American.

While Pepper did a marvelous job at being his assistant, Natasha showed why she was the best spy in SHIELD when she acclimatized to her new work environment in a matter of days and... well, Tony would never tell this to Pepper's face because he could imagine the wrath and destruction it would have caused but... Natasha was actually doing a much better job.

He still didn't like her... and he was definitely not pouting as he thought that.

Pepper was still a better CEO!

'Why the heck am I even comparing them in my mind?' Tony wondered, 'I must be going crazy, living with this witch.' He glanced to the side and Natasha smiled as his eyes landed on her. 'Ugh. Isn't the whole point of being a spy keeping out of sight?' He mentally grumbled.

Tony was aware that he was simply petulant. Living with Natasha was actually quite nice.

Like when he found her in the kitchen, flour in her hair and helpless expression on her face, and decided to help her. Tony was many things but passable cook he was not.

Let's just say they had a flour war when they didn't agree if they needed to add salt or sugar next and used a few eggs like snowballs to make the other surrender. The kitchen was a mess and they had eggs all over them and were covered in flour as they ended lying next to each other on the kitchen floor, trying to catch their breath and laughing at each other's appearance.

The... thing... they cooked together would make even a pig sick.

In the end, they had to order pizza and spent the next two hours showering and cleaning themselves, fortunately, Tony's house had multiple bathrooms, before they had a nice casual dinner together where they watched politics, not because they cared but to trash-talk most of the politicians on the television.

As much as Tony enjoyed these moments, he had no idea what to think. In the past, she was always so... uptight and stiff. Always serious and they would sooner exchange derisive scoffs and snide remarks than a simple smile.

He... wasn't used to this Natasha and it was throwing his balance off.

Because of that, he decided to at least try to keep his distance.

"Na-" Tony was about to tell her to stand up because he needed JARVIS to take her measurements for the clothes he was creating for her but he stopped mid-sentence when he noticed a gaping Rhodey staring at him through the glass door leading into his workshop, then at Natasha, then back at him... before he widely grinned.

'Oh, boy. Here we go.' Tony silently groaned. 'He just had to visit today, didn't he?'

...

Rhodey had a hard month at work behind himself.

Tony Stark ceasing the development of weapons had a profound effect on the US army and more importantly, on him as Tony's friend working for the army.

Rhodey couldn't even count the requests, orders, and outright pleading for him to go and talk to Tony and change his mind.

Poor bastards acted as if they didn't know Tony Stark.

Once he got something into his head, he wouldn't turn back. Like the time when Rhodey dared Tony to sleep with every model from... Rhodey actually didn't remember the name of the magazine since he just selected one randomly... but Tony the stubborn bastard did it and then smugly proclaimed his victory to him who already forgot he challenged him.

It was a bit awkward for Rhodey while Tony just savored his moment of triumph.

And now, almost two months after Tony's proclamation, Rhodey finally couldn't avoid the last order to go and try to persuade Tony. So, here he was, going down the steps towards Tony's sacred place, his workshop.

Imagine his utter bewilderment when he saw an unknown redhead lying on a table like a cat, her lower legs dangling from the edge of the table, a part of her flat well-toned stomach visible because a few lower buttons on her shirt were unfastened, and her head turned a slightly upward in Tony's direction at an angle that fully showed her neck.

Rhodey recognized her as Tony's supposed new assistant from the pictures Pepper sent him but he didn't expect to see her in Tony's workshop. Not for the next few following months at least.

Heck, Tony wouldn't let even him there for long periods of time!

The only other person who had full access was Pepper and even then it took her months to finally talk Tony into allowing it so she could do her job.

That's why Rhodey couldn't help but gape at the sight in front of him.

'Talk about hoes before bros. Not cool!' He jokingly thought.

Tony finally noticed him and Rhodey made sure to show Tony he knew what was going on. A teasing grin appeared on his face as he silently showed him a thumbs-up sign. The redhead was a catch, that much Rhodey had to admit.

He almost felt sorry interrupting their moment but his job was on the line.

Rhodey waited until the door to the workshop got unlocked by JARVIS before stepping in, "Hello, Tony, I see you are deep at work with your new assistant." He jested and turned towards the woman who didn't even bother to stand up as she leisurely waved at him.

"Natalie Rushman. Nice to meet you, Colonel Rhodes." The woman lazily introduced herself, causing Rhodey to throw her an amused smile. She was definitely another strong character like Pepper, just on the exact opposite spectrum from what he was seeing.

Needless to say, Rhodey was a bit worried because the synergy between her and Tony might be a little too good from what he was seeing and that could cause trouble.

"Ah, yes. Nice to meet you, Miss Rushman." Rhodey respectfully answered. "So, Tony!" He turned towards his long-time friend and pulled out a recording device, "Just for the record."

Rhodey started it and asked, "Tony, could you restart the development of weapons? Please?"

"Eh, no." Tony pointedly answered with finality but was a bit confused about what was going on.

Before anything else was said, Rhodey turned the device off, "There, my job is done." He stated with satisfaction lacing his tone.

"Did you really come here just to record that?" Tony asked, smirking in amusement.

"Yes. The higher-ups are whining since your announcement. It's a literal hell, buddy." Rhodey tiredly sighed. He really didn't like his job right about now.

"Never heard of phones?" Tony idly asked, stopping Rhodey short in his tracks as his mouth opened but no sound came out.

"Er... fuck." He cursed after a while when he realized he didn't need to drive a few hundred kilometers. He should have just called Tony. "Do you see now? This is how stressed I am!" Rhodey huffed and crossed his arms on his chest.

"Well... maybe you should take a vacation, Colonel." Natalia suddenly interjected, pulling her upper body up and supporting it with her elbows, "Or change your profession." She glanced at Tony who was giving her 'the look'. They seemed to talk just with their eyes and...

Rhodey suddenly felt out of his depth. 'When the heck did they get so close? How... I just... What is going on?' His thoughts flailed around in disbelief.

After a while, Tony clicked his tongue, and the woman, Natalia, seemed satisfied with herself for some reason.

"Yes, yes. As the annoying redhead so readily offered for me..." Tony narrowed his eyes at her but she just playfully stuck out her tongue which made him scoff and Rhodey became that much more confused for it, "The Sta-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. I never said I am quitting my job! No." Rhodey interrupted. As much as he liked Tony, he knew that working for him was not a good idea. Being his friend required full-time effort. Rhodey didn't want to imagine what working under him would be like...

The room descended into silence for a moment and Rhodey decided that since he was the cause of it, he should break it so he blurted out the first thing that came to his mind, "So, how long are you having sex together?"

Naturally, he instantly regretted asking that but... this was Tony! Rhodey expected him to boast and gloat the second he walked in, to be honest.

Instead, both Natalie and Tony looked at each other, seemingly startled before they both at the same time shouted, "We are not!"

Rhodey lifted an eyebrow at them, "Are you sure?"

They looked at each other again, this time in exasperation, making it hard for Rhodey to keep himself from smiling.

"Well, it won't be long in that case." He quipped and quickly retreated lest he gets something thrown at him in retaliation.

He couldn't wait to gossi-, ahem, talk with Pepper!