Archive of Our Own ^beta

"James?"

The light in the study is on, spilling out into the hallway and dimly lighting the pictures along the wall. Terrence hears a pen furiously scratching it's way across a notepad and his son mumbling faintly to himself as he pokes his head in, squinting against James's outlined silhouette. He's hunched over the desk, Jeanette's school books pushed aside to make room for whatever project he was undertaking at this late hour.

"James?" He calls again, softly so as to not startle him.

James looks up owlishly, his knitted brows relaxing for all of a second. "Hey, Pops, did I wake you? Sorry."

"No you didn't, I just happened to be in the area," Terrence says lightly, glancing at the clock on the wall. "It's almost 3am, what's got you up this late? You going back to school again?"

James sets his pen down and stretches his arms out, a sigh escaping his lips. "I don't know, Pops. I'm just thinking... a lot."

"As one does after more than a year away, and finally getting to sleep surrounded by their family."

"Not exactly what I'd describe the air mattress as, Pops."

Terrence chuckles faintly, stepping into the room and making his way to peer over James's shoulder. "What were you doing?"

"Do you want some coffee, Pops? I know it's late but-"

"I got something better if you agree to come out with what's bothering you."

James quirks his eyebrow at him, but shrugs in defeat. "Okay, let's see it then."

"Out in the garage, you get some glasses."

Rhodey heats up the leftover barbeque in the fridge, and sneaks back into his old room to grab a jacket. Tony's sleeping with his back to the door, Dante splayed out in the space between the wall and his own body. Rhodey takes a second to reposition the boy onto his stomach, running a finger over his chubby cheek before he drops kisses to both his and Tony's foreheads.

His pops isn't in the garage when he gets there, but if the open side door is anything to go by, he must have made his way out into the yard.

Pops is sitting in a lawn chair, a bottle of some dark liquid on the table in front of him. "Whiskey?"

"Only my favourite."

Terrence crosses his arms as he watches James busy himself setting out a plate of meat and rolls between them, before he's turning to pour out two glasses.

Terrence grabs a piece of sausage, observing James as he sits quietly, sipping his whiskey occasionally, his eyebrows once again knitted together. The wind isn't as biting as it usually is tonight, and he slowly grows more awake as he eats. James is avoiding his eyes, pretending his focus is entirely on the glass between his hands, but Terrence knows better, he knows his son is being hounded by something.

"Now that you've filled your guts, it's time to spill 'em. What's got you up hunched over some paper at the devil's hour?"

James has a hesitant smile on his face as he rubs his thumb across the glass. Back and forth. Back and forth. "Where do I start?"

"It's that bad? Drink up and pour out another," Terrence suggests, leaning forward with bottle in hand.

James does as he's told, dragging air through his teeth as he straightens up. "Tony's great with Dante, right? That boy is completely in love with him."

"Yeah, he's wonderful," Terrence says, tapping his finger against the table. "Look, if it's about the boy, it's normal to feel out of it with him still, I felt th-"

"I know, Pops, just- I feel like I'm on the outside looking in. Still. And not just with Dante, wi-with all of you," James admits quietly. "You're all so in-tune with each other, a well oiled machine, and then here I am, an extra part messing things up."

Terrence scrunches his face up. "Boy, have you lost it?"

James must not be expecting the volume because he cringes back, shooting a look to the house. "Pops-"

"'Pops' what? 'Pops, I'm crazy', or 'Pops, I'm not thinking straight'?"

James returns his glance to the table, picking a roll up off the table. "It's been a week, Pops. Dante doesn't want to be bothered by me, and I'm just getting in the way everywhere else. Tony doesn't even need me here."

"You're saying some very strange things tonight, James."

"Am I? Just think about it, Pops, I can't even watch my own baby without having to call Tony over for help every other minute, and just yesterday I tried fixing that stupid leak and ended up-"

"Hey now, these things happen. Nobody's expecting you to be some baby guru a week into it," Terrence assures him, knocking his knee into his son's. "And that leak was always going to get worse. I warned your uncle about what would happen if he didn't keep up the maintenance."

"Pop, what kind of Alpha is useless in his own home?"

"All kinds, but right now I think you're just exaggerating. You feel like shit so now you're making up all these scenarios that are simply untrue and unnecessary. You know how heart broken Tony's been without you? Even with the baby?"

James is quiet, going back to swiping at the glass. Back and forth. Back and forth.

"You're full of shit, James Rhodes. That boy loves you, and I know it's been awhile for you, but even if you don't feel the same anymore, you made a commitm-"

James's head shoots up at his father's words, his eyes wide. "What are you talking about, Pops? Of course I love Tony. He's all I think about."

"Then why are you speaking like a man with one foot out the door? 'Oh he doesn't need me'" Pops mocks, waving his glass around. "You think I didn't feel the same way coming home to find your mama doing just fine without me? I wanted to be needed in my home, just like you, but your Omega doesn't have time to fall apart waiting for you to come home. Life goes on for them even when we're not here, James, and they do their best to cope and make things run as smooth as possible."

"Well, obviously life doesn't stop for anyone, and I don't want it to, just what do I do? I'm useless."

"Useless and yet still very loved. Your mama and sister's hearts would break right along with Tony's if they heard you speaking like this," Terrence reprimands. "Just being here is enough, James. He's missed you terribly, and raising a baby without his Alpha hasn't been easy on him, despite how smooth he makes it look. He needs you, needs you to be there for him and Dante both, useless as you may be now."

James lets out a watery laugh, still staring at his drink. "You make things sound so simple."

"Because they are, Dummy. You used to be so smart, boy, is the air force sucking your brains out?"

***

James is a little more than buzzed but not exactly tipsy when they stumble back into the house. Pops bids him a goodnight before disappearing into his parents bedroom, leaving James to find his own way back to the room.

"A shower, can't go back to bed stinkin'," he hums to himself trying not to trip over his own feet.

He pulls his overnight bag closer as he peeks into the room, pulling out his toiletry bag and shorts to change into before he sneaks into the bathroom down the hall.

He doesn't wait for the water to warm before he steps him, even if he knows he is gambling with his sleep doing so. Little by little he sobers up some, thinking of his father's words. It's not that he's trying to run from anything, he'd sooner die than willingly leave Tony's side (and whoa he knew he loved Tony, but even this silent declaration within himself catches him offguard), but something would have to be done.

He wasn't dumb, Tony obviously had some discomfort about the move and their living situations, if his reactions this week to even a hint of James wanting to talk about it said anything. With that in mind, James had tried to be more delicate, and maybe that too had fed into his fears that he wasn't needed, nor wanted here, because while his rational brain supplied that Tony was just scared about upending everyone's lives, his Alpha had been deeply wounded by his mate shying away from him and the thought of sharing a home on a more permanent basis again.

Tony's laying on his side facing the door when he gets back in the room, his cheek cushioned on the hand he wears his wedding band on.

"Hi," James whispers into the quiet of the night, tip toeing over to the bed after he puts his things down by the door.

It's dark in the room but Rhodey can still his soft grin. "Hey. Missed you."

"I missed you too."

"Where'd you go? I was cold."

"Is that the only reason you missed me?" James teases, sliding beside him and wrapping him in his arms. Dante is puffing behind Tony still sound asleep.

"There are other reasons, but the most important one right now is that I was cold," Tony complains, shuffling closer to wrap his arms and legs around James's. "You okay? You haven't been sleeping well since you got back."

"It's nothing, Baby, just got used to the military routines, you know?"

Tony hums, making James's mind tingly in a nice way. "Let me know if I can do anything for you, Sarge. It's kinda insulting that my Alpha spends hours out of our bed whenever I'm in it."

"Baby, it's nothing like that," Rhodey whispers, tightening his arms. "I'd spend every moment with you in my arms if I could."

"I'd hope so, even if you didn't like my stellar personality, I'd hope this hot body would keep your attention."

Rhodey laughs, jostling Tony as he does so. He leans down to kiss him, softly, innocently, just a press of lips against against lips honestly, but it satisfies something deep and primal within both of them. Tony pecks his lips once more, and then his chest when they pull apart for air, before cuddling closer, content to drift off in Rhodey's arms.