Stark's Bodyguard

[madimpossibledreamer]

Main Points:
Iron Man AU
Summary: In this universe, Rhodey ends up with the Arc Reactor in his chest.
Word Count: 200
Rating: Gen
Note: Like with Iron Maiden, this AU Tony ends up in Xander's head in Self-Made Hero, but stands on its own.

           It is such a relief to see Tony’s eyes open.  Brain damage is a worry, which would kill him with his personality, but at least he’s alive.
           He blinks, lost and confused.  If he were a computer he’d still be rebooting.  Then he looks over to see her.
           Pepper smiles and opens her mouth to welcome him, but Tony’s face doesn’t look relieved.  His expression is more…panicked.  “Where’s Rhodey?”  It barely comes out intelligible, like he can’t even wait for the words to be released.
           “He’s in surgery; he’ll be—” she begins, but Tony interrupts.
           “Dead,” he says quietly, with certainty.  He’s on his feet already, pulling the IVs out of his arms, and striding out of the room before she can so much as lodge a protest.  “That thing in his chest; I made it to save his life.  Medical technology hasn’t caught up yet.  If they operate on him, they’ll kill him.”
           “Operating Room 2,” she says, with just as much urgency—Rhodey is a friend and a good man and also one of her only allies to deal with babysitting Tony.  It’s fairly easy to catch up with the man.  She’s been doing it for years.