Intrepid Exhibitions in New York City (Bruce and Rhodey)

[lt_col_rhodes]

Rhodey wasn't sure where all the dogs came from, even Tony had one now, but it was making his allergies kick up like hell. He'd forgotten he even had those. The likelihood of Tony not building an animatronic dog and getting a real one had before been nil to none. But now they were everywhere, cute little puppy faces and shedding fur. It wasn't bad yet, they were all puppies it seemed, and puppies weren't quite the allergy bombs that real dogs were, but he should probably pick up some benedryl before someone caught on. It wouldn't do to ruin anyone's fun. Not this kind of fun anyway. He did love dogs. Just not until he could restock. Nowhere in the tower was safe.

He headed into the living room, hoping to have a moment to relax before he went on his interepid hunt for allergy meds and caught sight of the advertisement on the New York Times. The Space Shuttle Pavilion was finally open.

"Yes!"

Comments

[doctor_banner]

Bruce glanced up from the sports section when he heard that exclamation. JARVIS had locked him out of his office, true to his word to monitor Bruce's hours and make sure he saw some daylight. Bruce could've given the password he and JARVIS had arranged to override his request, but he hadn't bothered. There was nothing pressing, and it was a beautiful day.

"Something catch your eye?" he asked, folding the page over and skimming through the baseball scores. It was that time of year again, when magic numbers were hashed out every day. Looked like the Reds and Nationals were guaranteed playoff spots so far, and the Braves looked pretty good.

[lt_col_rhodes]

"The Space Shuttle Pavilion is open." Rhodey said, a little embarrassed for his outburst. He looked around the room. It looked safe for now. He entered it all the way and sat down for a moment in a fur-free zone. "I've been waiting for that to open forever. You get to walk under the Enterprise. The Nasa one, not a recreation of the Star Trek one. Although that would be cool too, getting to walk in the bridge where Kirk and Spock and Uhura had gone before..." Rhodey was sometimes easily sidetracked.

[doctor_banner]

"Really?" Bruce grinned. "I heard about the exhibit, but I didn't know it was open either. It's at the Intrepid Museum, right?" He'd been there once, years before. It had been fascinating, touring the old aircraft carrier, and he was intrigued by the added attraction of the space shuttle.

"Enterprise, huh?" He folded up the paper and put it aside. "You know, I'd like to check that out. You want to go along?"

[lt_col_rhodes]

"So long as you don't mind stopping by the drug store on the way there or back," Rhodey said eagerly. It'd be nice to not go somewhere on his own. He did still need to hit a drugstore though.

[doctor_banner]

"Sure," Bruce shrugged. "There's that Duane Reed a couple of blocks from here. Will that do?" He stood up and checked that he had his wallet.

"You ever think about being an astronaut?" he asked as they headed for the elevator. "It's sort of sad that the shuttle fleet is retired, but I suppose it was time."

[lt_col_rhodes]

"Sounds perfect," Rhodey nodded and double checked if he had his wallet in his pocket. "We can drive. Tony'll let me borrow the Maserati since it needs repairs anyway."

"That was my initial plan. Neil Armstrong was originally an engineer and pilot," Rhodey explained. "That's who I wanted to be." And Captain America, but that was something better left unsaid.

[doctor_banner]

He whistled as they headed down to the garage. "The Maserati. Nice."

Bruce nodded as Rhodey explained his interest in the program. "I think a lot of people were inspired to follow in his footsteps," he agreed. "Armstrong was a pioneer." He glanced over. "So... did you apply? Or did you change your mind?"

[lt_col_rhodes]

"I met Tony Stark," Rhodey admitted. And things just got all mixed up with everything. "Got swept up in his whirlwind." He paused for a moment and got the keys. "I don't regret it though. I regret some things, but I don't regret giving up Space for Tony."

"It's kind of amazing to be in the center of his..." Rhodey struggled to find the words to describe Tony's entire....thing. The encompassing circle of Tony that Rhodey really only realized how much he loved it when he'd nearly lost it with Tony in Afghanistan.

[doctor_banner]

"I can see how that could happen," Bruce admitted. "Tony is a force to be reckoned with. But it's good that you don't regret it. Sounds like you found what you were meant to do."

"Whirlwind was a good word," he suggested as they climbed in the car. "He's like a hurricane sometimes, and I mean that in a good way. He's just... overwhelming."

[lt_col_rhodes]

"I knew him. I knew how he was, and for a regular military man, he'd eat them alive. Did. It was exasperating, and funny. Don't tell him I thought it was funny? Went through about four of them before he just had a Tony-style tantrum and demanded me or no one. " He chuckled a little. "That was with Stane-the-asshole doing damage control." Rhodey checked the gauges after turning the car on. Full tank even!

"He's something more than a whirlwind. But the weird thing is? Given a do-over I'd hop right back into the mess. With Tony, you're at the center of something absolutely amazing. You don't know where you're going to end up but..." Rhodey shook his head.

"How are you doing with that anyway? Adapting okay? I know he can be..."

[doctor_banner]

I have no issue with Tony," Bruce assured him. Then he laughed quietly. "At least, nothing that bothers me to that extent. We get along," he said. "Sometimes I'm surprised how much, but it just works."

He sat back in the leather seat as they drove out of the garage and Rhodey maneuvered them into the Midtown traffic. "I have to say, this beats the subway."

[lt_col_rhodes]

Rhodey wasn't surprised, Tony was ridiculously good at people, even if he used it in rather...unique ways. Poking people with cattle prods...he'd heard about that. "What are you two studying right now? I've heard you were off in third world countries for a while?"

Rhodey pat the steering wheel gently. He was driving like a normal person. Well, a normal person in New York. Point being, he liked Bruce and he wasn't driving like the fighter pilot he was. Not everyone could handle that kind of driving. "That's one of the reasons I love visiting Tony. His cars are dreamy. Want to drive home?"

[doctor_banner]

"We're studying this and that. Some modifications and upgrades for equipment, that sort of thing." Bruce glanced over at Rhodey. "Yeah, I've been in a lot of out-of-the-way places the past several years."

He looked back out the window at the traffic as they maneuvered through it. The car handled superbly, which didn't surprise him one bit, and they managed to slip around a stalled bus and get on their way remarkably fast. "Yeah, maybe. Thanks," he grinned.

[lt_col_rhodes]

"Good idea. How are you doing working with a team?" Rhodey was curious about that. He was trying to keep from yelling and cursing drivers, since that might disturb the doctor. Damned idiots. He finally pulled in front of the museum and started to look for a good parking garage. He spotted one, drifted across three lanes of traffic, u turned and got them in the parking garage with one long simple move. Okay that was a little showing off, he admitted it.

[doctor_banner]

It's gone well so far," Bruce said. He was impressed with Rhodey's driving, and it wasn't long before they were parked a block or two from the pier where the Intrepid was docked. "Nice job," he commented as they stepped out of the car and headed for the exit. When they reached the street he slid his hands into his pockets and headed for the entrance.

"Got to admit, I'm looking forward to this," he admitted as he paid for his ticket and stepped aside, informational sheet in hand.

[lt_col_rhodes]

"Thanks. Military keeps me around for more reasons than my stunning ability to vaguely follow Tony Stark," Rhodey said, self-deprecatingly. He took a deep breath. He could actually breathe now. That was wonderful. Definitely pickup some medicine on his way back.

"I am too. Didn't figure I'd have anyone who'd have the time to go with me. What part do you want to see first? Look at everything and build up to the Intrepid or go straight to the main attraction?" He made sure the car's alarm was up and running, and he had the keys before they left. Didn't want it stolen or anything like that. He wondered vaguely if Tony would ever invent a force field for the car.