#murtaugh x riggs

[alphawolfice1989]

The new Murtaugh and Riggs

https://www.instagram.com/p/CuDNOmyomre/

Andre Braugher as Roger Murtaugh Andy Sandberg as Martin Riggs 

[jeannes-world]

No one will make me believe they didn't got drunk and make out one day.

I wish there was a big and current fanbase for these movies... 😩

Lethal Weapon my beloved 💕

[letteredaurora]

Riggs: How do you want to do this?

Murtaugh: dEliCatE.

Riggs: *proceeds to speed into the building in a police vehicle*

[80s4life]

The Thought Of Losing You

Word Count: 2,507

Status: Not Requested!

Fandom: Lethal Weapon 1987 {1}

A/N: This follows sort of around the ending of the first Lethal Weapon film where both Riggs, Murtaugh, and Rianne were being tortured in separate ways. I know it sounds brutal, but trust me, it isn't that bad. AND! Happy ending! (Spent all night on this!)

Relationship: Martin Riggs x Reader

Summary: When a team is formed, Roger Murtaugh and Martin Riggs are solidified together once Y/N is added to the mix, squeezing in perfectly. Although very fiery and stubborn at heart, childish games and teasing became common place for sergeant Y/N and Martin, unable to let the other out-trash their own trash talk. But, when there is a complication during the final breakthrough of the whereabouts of the heroin-trafficking cartel, Y/N is separated from the duo. Only coming together when a kidnapping sends her in a desperate spiral trying to save the people she loves, especially Riggs.

Warnings: violent themes, kidnap, manipulation, torture, violence, language, attempted!self-surrender/suicide, 18+ audience suggested, read at own risk

Masterlist Lethal Weapon Masterlist

Prompts: #67, #68, #100 (from this list @palettes-and-prompts) & #6, #8, #17 (from this list @waiting-for-motivation)

{I do not own any of the prompts, credits to original owners above, nor do I own the gif below -> @leofromthedark}

Strolling around to the back of the supposed drug dealer's extravagant condo, Murtaugh, Riggs, and I engage in light conversation, silently noting and observing our surroundings. Stopping just near the edge of the rather expensive-looking below ground pool, Murtaugh and Riggs catch sight of two brunette women inside. Rolling my eyes, I expect Riggs to do something flirtatious, a painstakingly common reaction to almost every woman he lays eyes on. Every woman... except me. Yet, I pay no mind, Riggs' crazy nature probably too much for me to handle anyway.

Murtaugh flashes his gun, indicating to the women that he is armed. In a flash of a second, just merely after he had shown his weapon, the women duck and run from within the glass-paned wall, just in time for a man to blast a shot from behind. More specifically, the source being a shed occupying the space on the opposite side of the pool we resided on, destroying bits of its siding from the sheer distance and voracity of his attempt of subduing at least one of us.

But, we came prepared, although we were slightly taken aback, Murtaugh's swift abilities with a gun coming in handy as he lands on the drug dealer's right knee, lower thigh area. Splitting off, Murtaugh and I take either end of the pool's side, desperately trying to corral the person of interest. All the while as Riggs takes the women from in the house outside and to the nearest tree, in case of them being suspects as well, handcuffing their wrists together around the tree.

Once the task is done, Riggs hurries over to our aid, following our one, sole purpose: keeping the suspect alive for questioning.

Coming around the perimeter of the pool, Murtaugh reminds Riggs of this rule, replaying it to refresh his sometimes questionable mind. This, however, does not work in our favor as the man pulls yet another gun, this time a pistol, as Riggs had went to pull the man up.

"He's got a gun!" I scream, yet it's all in vain, as Riggs tries to act just as fast as his reflexes would've allowed, lifting the man's aimed arm as the trigger was pulled.

Yelping in surprise, I clench my teeth as the copper red liquid instantly encompasses the injured area, jerking as far away from the incident as possible.

"Y/N!" Murtaugh yells, instantly coming to my side as I go crashing to the concrete floor, catching my head and my left side as I now slowly lean into the ground below me, clutching the stinging injury to the right of my abdomen.

As Murtaugh had come to my side, Riggs took care of the suspect, unfortunately not being able to accomplish our sole purpose of being here, but overall getting rid of the threat.

"Cocksucker," he all but grunts, as he makes sure to shoot the man once more, pissed at the fact that I had gotten shot, although that fact being unbeknownst to me. "I'll call the ambulance," he all put spits out some time later, not making any attempt to check on my well being nor even making eye contact, stalking back through the side gate we had entered through.

//Some time later//

Now nestled safely and securely, I lay within the gloomy walls of the hospital, hooked up with some anesthetics and monitors, all for separate purposes. The stitches surely going to leave an awesome scar, only adding to my aggravation and exhaustion as the day finally settles and the slightest of movements constantly sending sharp pains within my whole body.

The doctors, coming in every so often, had reassured me of a discharge after the course of at least 2-4 days, only needing to ensure the proper sanitary measures are used and stitches being durable and strong without issues or tears.

Staring off at one of the four blank and colorless walls, in a daze, my ears perk up at the sound of a knock on my door, followed by Roger and Martin entering the room.

Handing me a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates, I smile at Roger as he pulls a chair beside my bed, asking, "How ya' feeling, Shortie? How're they treatin' ya' here?"

Giggling at the nickname, I respond with an, "I'm doing just as good as I can I guess. It's not so bad here either. The nurses are nice, although they're all pitiful glances and meek gestures, coming in and out as quickly as possible. I guess bullet wounds aren't their preferred cases?" I joke lightly, trying to lighten the tension in the room.

Roger catches on instantly, having caught wind on Martin's rather uncharacteristically quiet sulking in the far corner of the room. Turning to look at him briefly, he all but shrugs at me as he comes up with no response or solution to his partner's unknown issue.

Checking the time, I make up an excuse, assuming Riggs just didn't want to be here maybe? "Damn, look at the time...It's almost 9 pm guys, don't wanna be late for Trish's cooking do ya'?"

"Shit, really? Come on Riggs, you know the ass whoopin' I'm gonna get? Let's go, minus well feed you too, huh?" Murtaugh says, getting his coat and squeezing my shoulder, giving me a sympathetic look that I swipe away quickly. Riggs just gets up, side-eyeing me once quickly, but above all, ignores my presence and leaves the room. With one final look from Rog, he shuts the door, leaving me to my boredom for the remainder of my stay.

//Some time later//

Having been discharged, Roger had caught me up on the recent news, and how they had left to finish the job a day before I had gotten out of the hospital, that being yesterday evening, and it now being a full 24 hours of no communication from them.

This had struck me as odd, given that they were very advanced in their fields. Finding the whereabouts was the last big hump of every mission, the rest supposedly coming easy. This had all changed as soon as I had stepped foot onto my front porch, a not left hanging slightly within the pocket of my mailbox.

The words shocking me to the core;

"Come to xxxxxxxxxx if you want to save your partners. 8 o'clock. Sharp."

Rushing to my car, I waste no time, pulling out of the driveway and to the given destination, the time being almost too close to the deadline as I preferred it to be.

Once outside of the destination, an old, run-down warehouse stands gloomily in front of me as I slip my gun into the waistband of my jeans. Another, tucked against my ankle within my boots.

I move quietly, staying alert as I enter the warehouse quietly, instantly hit with the cries of what could only belong to Riggs, my heart wrenching. A new feeling that I instantly push aside. Following the pained screams, inching closer to the source, I catch wind of yet another's set of booming cries as well, recognizing it as Murtaugh.

With this new set of knowledge, my heart does another painful flip, as the sheer terror now courses through my veins as if it was my blood. They were the toughest men I had ever known. At least that is how I had always felt, how I feel right now, but with their pained screams, it makes me feel utterly hopeless.

Drawing my gun, I aim it before me, right beside the wall I hide on, lining it up around the corner, my full intention at being able to at least shoot down one of the three men guarding one of my teammates; their identity unknown to me at the moment with the unfortunate dimness.

Taking the shot, I hit one man, the two now swinging to guard the area, looking my direction. The man held captured, Riggs, tied to the ceiling, consistently doused in water, making the homemade shock therapy increasingly unbearable with multiple relentless blows.

"Come out now, Little Rabbit, or I pull the trigger," a booming voice commands, me now peeking out from the corner to see none other than Mr. Joshua, the man we've been after, pressing a firm gun to Riggs' limp form.

Coming out from my hiding space, Joshua motions for his goons to grab me, now taking Riggs off the hook, and into another room. The room we are led to happens to be the room Murtaugh is in, his daughter beside him, both incarcerated and handcuffed. Moving Riggs to the chair beside the pair, he is tied down just as I am, the four of us now completely helpless.

Mr. Joshua, confident and prideful of his work, moves Riggs to the center of the room, starting his interrogation, answering with beatings and threats here and there. The cause: the information given by Hunsaker on his heroin-trafficking cartel.

Just as Joshua leaves yet another powerful blow, Riggs' strength starts to run low, just watching him making me squirm in my chair, wanting nothing but to take him in my arms and drag him as far away from here as possible.

"If you have to kill one of us, kill me. Take me instead, please? Just stop! Stop all of this now," I say breathlessly, doing anything in my will to get their hands off of Riggs.

"What would I want with someone as pathetic as you?" Mr. Joshua answers bitterly.

"Information. That's all you want right? You just want details about the business, you went through all this trouble, and for what? Just to kill us in the end? I know your type. You can't get off without getting what you want, and this would've all gone to waste without it," I respond, determined now.

"So, what do you want? To strike a deal?" I nod. "So, if I let them go, you'll give me what I want?" I nod again.

"Y/N no," Riggs says, now worried about what you're going up against.

"Shut it," Joshua states strictly.

"Y/N, listen to Riggs! You can't do this!" Murtaugh adds, now borderline terrified as everyone in this room is filled with the most important people in his life, all threatened with the only thing that could take them all away: death.

"SHUT IT!" Joshua all but screams now. "Fine. I'll take you up on your little deal. However, you fuck with me, I'm killing them."

"I don't agree with you unless you cut them loose right now, and I am assured that they are out of this building," I say confidently, yet shaking with fear.

He nods his agreement, showing a security camera view from one of his computers, watching as Rianne, Roger, and Martin are all led back outside, handcuffs removed, and all moved into my car, them pulling away from the warehouse.

Pulling the computer's view away from me now, he turns to me sharply, my gaze turning upward as my arms are still strapped behind my back, behind the chair. "Now," he starts, the voice strict like a parent beginning to question a toddler, "The information. What did Hunsaker tell you?"

Taking a breath in through my nose, I exhale through my mouth as I ponder my response, "Just as much as he's told you."

With this, Mr. Joshua lets out a scream, landing a punch to the jaw, my body leaning in on the stitches. Taking notice to my sharp intake of breath from the movement, Joshua uses that to his advantage, grabbing a knife, lifting my shirt, and pressing the cool metal along the line of handiwork. The only thing keeping my skin together at the moment.

"Let's try this again, what information did you receive from Hunsaker?"

"I told you. I. Don't. Know."

"Bullshit!" He digs into the skin, smirking at the cry of agony and shaking engulf my body.

"I-I don't know anymore than you do! Please! He was killed before we got anything from him!"

"Bullshit," he answers playfully now, dragging the blade of the knife wherever he pleases now, enjoying my pleads.

As he opens up my stitched bullet wound, he goes to start at another spot, the attempt being short-lived as a bullet wound of his own goes through his skull, the source standing in the doorway alongside Murtaugh with Rianne tucked under her father's arm.

Crying now, I sigh in relief as Riggs rushes to me, cutting me loose and lifting my limp body. Carrying me to the car, we make our way to the hospital once more.

During the wait and multiple switching of rooms, Riggs stays, waiting for me, only getting up once I emerge from the exit, patched up and clean. He smirks at me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders, leading me to Rog's car, taking us to the only place we find comfort; his house.

//Some time later//

Getting settled in at the Murtaugh residence, Riggs and I share Rianne's room, which was so generously offered as one of the youngest decide to have a sleepover with her.

Looking over at Riggs, he looks at me, covered in open cuts and bruises, dirt and grime, and, taking a first aid kit from Rianne's desk, I make it my priority to get them fixed up.

"What are you doing?" Riggs asks, tiredly amused.

"Taking care of you, it's the least I can do," I reply determined once again.

"Awww! Someone's got a little crush on me huh?"

"Hey! When I finish patching you up, I swear to God I'm gonna kick your ass for making me worry about you," I say jokingly. Riggs replying by grabbing me by the waist and pulling me closer.

Locking eyes on one another now, I couldn't help but joke once more, adding a sly, "Is this the moment that we kiss?"

Giggling, he looks down, placing his head on my chest, murmuring, "I think I'm in love with you and I don't know what to do. I mean, I've been married before, and I- I lost her and I don't wanna lose you too- I couldn't live if you go too, I-"

Grabbing his chin, I tilt his head upwards to meet my gaze, "Look at me, Riggs. Look at me. I love you."

Eyes watering, he leans in for a kiss, my hands finding way to his hair, while his pull my hips into his lap, wrapping lightly around them. After leaning back for air, we giggle once more, leaning our foreheads against one another.

"I never want to ever feel the fear of the thought of losing you again, okay? So don't be a dumbass, Dumbass."

"Yeah, yeah," Riggs answers once more, leaning in for another kiss.

[stacee-not-jaxx]

Watched Lethal Weapon 1 and 2 again this week and I'll give my left arm for Sam and Bucky to develop a Riggs/Murtaugh type of partnership/relationship in The Falcon And The Winter Soldier. The loyalty, the softness, the ride or die, inside jokes, grounding each other... Riggs and Murtaugh did it in 2 movies. Tfatws 6 episodes is more than enough time for that. The director already said it'll be a 2 hander like Lethal Weapon but still, Let me go and pray. And watch Lethal Weapon 3.

[captainofthecity]

*drops every other vidding project*

forgive me but ....... 

r o g e r  m u r t a u g h loves m a r t i n  r i g g s

[baileysbabbles]

I just watched season 2 episodes 5 and 6 of Lethal Weapon. They were good. Riggs is worrying me. I think it could be cute if him and Molly had a thing. My thoughts:

I’m not happy Riggs is drinking again but it could be worse.

How the heck does he lose his trailer?

There is something Riggs isn’t saying about his father and I don’t think it’s good.

Riggs is not okay.

Leo’s smart.

Oh Riggs why did you do that?

Leo’s ridiculous.

Why does it have to be so cute when Cahill’s so nice to Riggs?

Trish is such a wonderful woman.

I hope Riggs stays there or better yet gets a real home.

Riggs better not let his friend get him in trouble.

I hope Riggs doesn’t do anything stupid.

Scorsese’s a dork.

Poor Bailey. Bowman’s already awkward as it is.

Dang. Riggs does kind of owe him.

I hope he does visit Molly.

Roger is such a loser.

[playbucky]

Beach Fire

Requested by @sutoritaimu – F – Fire at the beach with Riggs? X Characters – Riggs x Reader Word Count – 888

As you got out your car, you walked around to the back, opening the door and bringing out a case of beer. Closing the doors and locking it you balanced the beer on your hip as you walked down the beach, kicking your shoes off. You picked them up and carried them in your spare hands as you spotted the group. As you walked along Murtaugh spotted you, pulling away from Trisha to raise his hands. ‘Y/N!’ He said, you noticed the beer in his hands, knowing he was slightly tipsy. You chuckled and placed the beer onto the sand. ‘I come bearing beer.’ You said and they all gave a small cheer. You turned around and noticed the only spare seat was next to Riggs on a colourful towel, that looked like it was Riana’s. You grabbed two beers before heading over and sat next to him, your shoulders brushing with his slightly.

‘You okay?’ Riggs asked as he looked down at you. ‘Just getting cold.’ You said, as you looked at RJ and Murtaugh talking heatedly about something. he looked at you before he wrapped an arm around your shoulders bringing you closer to him. You mumbled thanks as you tucked your arm behind his back, and under the shirt, to keep your arm warm. You looked up when Riana appeared in front of you holding another beer. ‘Thanks.’ You said as you reached up and took it from her. ‘You’re welcome.’ She replied, looking between you and Riggs. ‘I’m gonna take them back now, other wise they’ll all be cranky in the morning.’ She said, you and Riggs chuckled and agreed. ‘Here let me help.’ You said as you placed the beer bottle down in the sand. ‘No, it’s fine.’ She tried to stop you, but you shook your head. ‘No, it’s no problem. We’ll both help.’ Riggs said, as he stood up offering you a hand, you took it and he pulled you up. You placed your arms in the sleeves of his flannel and made you way over to Murtaugh, as Trish and RJ were already making their way to the car. ‘Come on old man.’ You said, as you offered your arm to Murtaugh who took it and got up. You wrapped your arm around his shoulder and Riggs done the same on the other side. ‘Riggs?’ Murtaugh asked. ‘Yeah, Rog?’ Riggs answered. ‘Have you asked her out yet?’ He asked, you glanced at Riggs with a raised eyebrow and he shook his head. ‘Who’s he to ask out Roger?’ You questioned. ‘Y/N, he’s been in love with her for a while now.’ He mumbled but you heard him perfectly fine, you looked at Riggs who was refusing to look at you. Once you were at the car, you let go of Roger allowing Riggs to put him in the car and you walked around the Riana and she rolled down the window. ‘Be careful driving home.’ You warned her, she nodded and as you were about to walk away her hand reached out and took a hold of your wrist. ‘What dad said, it’s true.’ She whispered, you glanced at Riggs to see him struggle with Roger. ‘And I know you like him as well.’ She stated as you looked back at her. She let go of your hand and smiled slightly at you which you returned before you said bye to RJ and Trish and walking back down to the beach.

‘Been in love with me for a while?’ You asked as you heard him come up behind you. ‘So you heard him?’ Riggs said, you nodded your head. ‘It was hard not to.’ You said as you turned to face him. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ You questioned him, he looked down to his feet, kicking some sand about. ‘I was scared.’ He told you honestly. ‘The almighty Riggs was scared of telling me you loved me?’ You teased him. ‘Well, what would he say if I was to recuperate the feelings?’ You said, and he looked at you, a small smirk appearing. ‘Well, first he would tell you how cute you look in his shirt and second he’d do this.’ He said before reaching forward and grabbing the flannel pulling you closer to him. He placed a hand on you hip bringing you closer and the other on your jaw as he lowered his lips and connected them with yours. Both your hands went to his neck, pulling him closer until you both reluctantly pulled apart for some air. ‘We’ll have to thank Roger in the morning.’ You said out of breath, he chuckled. ‘Yeah, or we can’ t.’ He suggested. ‘Why?’ You asked. ‘Everyone may have a bet on us? And he might have just one.’ He told you. You pulled back more. ‘They have a bet on us?’ You asked, and he nodded. ‘Who’s lost?’ You questioned. ‘Bailey, she thought I’d do it last month at the charity ball.’ He told you, you smiled. ‘What did Roger bet?’ You asked him next. ‘That I would do it tonight.’ He informed you. ‘How? The fire was planned last minute- or did they all plan this?’ You asked him, he bit his lip before rubbing the back of his neck. ‘They might have planned this.’ He said truthfully.

[michaeltrevino]

Lethal Weapon S02E01 ►  Did you say you love me? – Yeah.

[lynne-monstr]

#seriously #how am i not supposed to ship this ot3

[fyeahlethalweapon]

Trish: Martin. Come here. Riggs: How are you, Trish? Trish: Welcome back.

» Lethal Weapon 2.01

[quimera46]

Home isn't a shell you climb into. It’s the people who are there for you, that leave the door open even when you are at your worst.

[soovermyself]

Lethal Weapon though. That’s how you do a good cop show! 🙌👌🏼

[avengerscompound]

The Tower - Loss and Grief

The Tower: Loss and Grief - one shot

Series Masterlist

Pairing:  Avengers x OFC, Bruce Banner x Bucky Barnes x Clint Barton x Wanda Maximoff x Steve Rogers x Natasha Romanoff x Tony Stark x Thor x Sam Wilson x OFC (Elly Cooper)

Word Count: 2776

Warnings:  Death, Funerals

Synopsis:   The group lose Rhodey and have to come to terms with the fact they will outlive all their friends.

Author’s Note: Requested by Jaredwalker94 on AO3.  You can send in your requests too.

Loss And Grief

Takes place between Family and Happily Ever After

Losing people is never easy and you never get used to it, even if the ones you are closest to don’t really age.  Over the years we’d lost lots of people as well as our pets.  The loss could hit differently depending on who it was.

The pets were who we lost first.  First Spotty, who made it to 12, and then Tyr a couple of years after that.  We had loved them so much and most of the kids didn’t know a world where they didn’t have those dogs with them.  We all grieved them immensely, but you expect to outlive your dogs, and we could see it coming with each of them and we were able to prepare ourselves.

When my mother died, we had been expecting it.  She had been unwell, and a daughter expects to outlive her mother.  I grieved, but even considering the fact we’d worked hard at repairing our relationship, I found what I was grieving most was the years I didn’t get to have a mother that looked out for me, and the fact my children had lost a grandmother who had loved them in a way she had never fully managed to love me.

When one of Steve’s protegees named Jet was killed in battle, he felt it so strongly that he slipped into a depression that lasted months and none of us could seem to get through to him.  His grief wasn’t just about losing someone he’d grown to love like a daughter, but the fact he blamed himself for her death.  It took so long for him to work through those feelings and we all felt so helpless trying to help him through it.  It was a tragic death that came out of nowhere, the kind that everyone experiences at some point in time.

The death of Nick Fury had been hard on all of us.  He managed to live a long life considering, but even still, it wasn’t old age that got him, but rather a battle in space with most of the team.  He’d had such a huge send-off, and it felt more like a celebration of all the things he’d achieved in his life than the sadness of his loss.

It wasn’t until I’d been part of the group that Clint had nick-named the sex-vengers for a little over thirty years, that we had a friend who we should have aged with, died of old age.  Rhodey was the first of our close friends that we lost.  It was surreal to watch a friend who was the same age as my husband grow old, get sick, and then pass on while we all stayed the same age.  It affected Tony the most.  He had these ideas of the two of them growing old together, working side-by-side, settling down at the same time.  Getting old and crotchety and bitching about the youth.

In a way it happened, Rhodey and Carol Danvers had an on-again-off-again relationship that started a few years after the birth of Riley and Pietro, and the year that Billy was born, Carol gave birth to a little girl they named Niesha.  For years Tony and Rhodey continued to fight side-by-side.  Our kids grew up together.  Rhodey was as an important and constant part of Tony’s life as he had been from the day they met at MIT.  It was just that Rhodey reached the Murtaugh age where he kept complaining about being too old for things, while Tony was still running around like Riggs.  Then he retired and Tony was still juggling Avenging, running Stark Industries, and raising kids.

When Rhodey got sick, I think it was when it really hit Tony.  He was going to outlive his best friend by not just a few years, but millennia.

Rhodey passed away in his sleep while Tony was home with us, and Carol was staying with Niesha.  The nurse said sometimes people waited until they were alone.  That bit of knowledge hadn’t helped Tony at all.  He jumped straight into the anger stage of grief and took it out on himself.  He was so fucking mad at himself for not being there with him at the end, and it seemed to drive him into this frantic organization phase.  Rhodey had made it to be the secretary of defense in his career. and the funeral was going to be a huge event.

Riley and Pietro had come down from Asgard for the funeral, and the whole family had gone to DC where it was being held.  That meant that we had booked out every suite in the Waldorf Astoria just to fit us in.  It also meant that we had to split up between the rooms.  I was in the presidential suite sharing a bed with Tony and Bruce, while Marya took the second bedroom.  When I woke up the morning of the funeral, it was just me and Bruce in the bed.

I got up to go looking for him, following the thread that connected me to him.  He wasn’t in the suite anymore and I had to follow it down to the fitness center.  I found him running on one of the treadmills, staring out the window with a scowl on his face.  I came up beside him and leaned against the machine.  “Couldn’t sleep?”

He didn’t say anything, but he turned up the machine.  “Come on, old man,” I said.  “We need to go and get ready.”

“I can’t do it,” he said.  “Go without me.  I can’t stand up and talk about how much he meant to me when I still look like this.  It’s not fair.  It’s not fair that I have to keep going on and on and on and he gets taken like this.  Why should it be different for him as it is for me?  I’d sound like a fucking hypocrite.”

“Tony,” I said, frowning.  “Life isn’t fair.  Nothing about it is.  These things you’re feeling now - they were what I was worried about when I agreed to bond with you all in the first place.  The idea of losing Clarke is devastating for me.  It’s not fair you had to watch Rhodey grow old when you haven’t been.  But you loved him and he loved you and if you don’t come today and say goodbye, you’ll regret it.  Think about how you feel now about not being there when he went.”

 “It’s going to keep happening,” he said.  It’s Rhodey today.  Then what?  Coulson?  Hill?  Peter?”

“All of them,” you agreed. “And it sucks.  It’s always going to suck.  But we’ll have each other.  Won’t we?  We’ll be there for each other when it happens.  And when it’s me that’s the one that’s completely devastated, you’ll be there for me.  We all loved Rhodey.  Let us be there for you.  And you be there for us.  And Neisha.  She needs her Uncle Tony today.”

I was crying by the time I was done speaking.  He turned off the treadmill and stopped running it, letting it roll him to the end as it slowed and then stopped.  “I should have just taken off.”

“You know I have Synergy with me.  I would have found you,” I said.

“Yeah,” he said.  “I suppose you would have.”

“Come on.  We have to shower and get dressed before we meet everyone for breakfast.  And they have lobster waffles.”

He got off and put his arm around my waist.  I wrapped my arm around his shoulders and we went back up to our suite.

After breakfast with the family, we took several cars to the hall where the service was taking place.  We took our seats at the front with Carol and Neisha, and when everyone was seated a stripped-down version of Kiss’ War Machine started to play.  I couldn’t help but smile at the very personal and quite silly touch that had been added to the funeral.  Everyone stood as six air force officers carried Rhodey’s coffin down the aisle between the seating, held on their shoulders and with the US Flag draped over it.  When the coffin was placed on the stand amongst the flowers and a photo of him in his prime, dressed in his blue dress uniform, everyone took their seats and Thor moved up to the plinth.

“Let us take a few deep breaths to prepare ourselves.  Breathe deeply and remember the love you have and the joy you share,” he said and lowered his head.  He took three deep breaths and the crowd followed with him, centering ourselves.  He raised his head again and looked out at the crowd.  “And so we begin.  Friends, family, admirers, and loved ones, we are here today to remember a remarkable man.  James Rhodes grew up poor in Philadelphia and was subject to many hardships, yet he was focused and driven and he fought hard to get where he wanted to be in life.  He made it to MIT on a scholarship, and then joined the Air Force.  He rose in the ranks quickly due to his skills and intelligence, and when Tony Stark created a suit of armor and became the hero Iron Man, Rhodey followed on with a suit of his own that he called War Machine.  He won the heart of the remarkable woman, Major Carol Danvers, and they had a daughter together.  He was well loved, and well respected, and was one of those rare people who left a mark on all who knew him.  I now invite his family and friends to speak.”

Neisha got up first.  The twenty-five-year-old was such an even blend of both her parents.  She had inherited her mother’s powers and both of their determination and intelligence.  Today she wore a black two-piece suit with a tapered vintage jacket that reached her knees.  Her black curls were held back from her face with a black scarf that wrapped around her neck and draped over her shoulder.

“My dad was the best dad.  He wasn’t perfect by any means - what man is?  But he loved me, and he did his best, and that’s all that anyone can ask.  He was protective - sometimes to the point that you might call him a helicopter parent, which was funny considering I was born with invulnerability and the ability to fly.  It was pretty funny as a kid, being told to be careful when climbing a tree when falling out of it wouldn’t particularly hurt.

“Still, as protective as he could be, he never held me back from reaching my potential.  I was told to be careful, not no.  Sometimes he’d hover over me or explain why something was a bad idea.  Sometimes he’d make me stop and talk through a plan and he’d discuss the risks of that plan.  I never felt like there was a thing in the universe that I couldn’t do if I put the work in.  And when you’re parents are James Rhodes and Carol Danvers, those sights can be set really high.”

She stopped and wiped the tears from her cheeks, and I did the same, taking a moment to get out some kleenex from my handbag and wipe my face.  She took a deep breath before she continued.  “He made sure I got to just be a kid, and that I knew there would always be people there to protect me - usually it was him.  I love my dad, and the only thing I would change would be that he decided to have me sooner because I hate that I only got to have him in my life for 25 years.  I’m going to miss him every day for the rest of my life, but I was blessed to have him for the time I did.  I love you, dad.”

She went to sit back down, but Carol got up and hugged her, holding her close and nuzzling into her hair.  When they broke apart, Carol went up to the podium.  “What can I say about James Rhodes?” she said.  “He is the most remarkable man I’ve ever met, and I’m surrounded by remarkable people.  He is the only person I could have ever imagined settling down with because he was the only person who never expected me to.  It’s no secret that our relationship was on again/off again.  When we broke up it was never because we weren’t getting along, it was always because we were giving each other the space to achieve something separate from the relationship.  They never felt like actual breakups, more that we were taking time to be together apart.

“You all know about his achievements.  His Ph.D. from MIT.  His impressive military career.  War Machine.  But only the blessed few got to experience the man on a personal level.  He was the kind of man who believed in tough love.  He didn’t let people get away with shit and if they were wrong, he made sure they knew it.  He was as loyal as a person could be and expected the same kind of loyalty back.  He was supportive and stubborn and so fucking smart.  Not just book smart either.  He was street smart, emotionally smart, and smart in all the ways a person can be.  I loved him so fucking much, and I will continue to love him until the end of time.  We had a life together.  A family.  He gave me a daughter when I never expected to be a mother.  The world is not as bright without him in it.”

She came to sit down and I gave Tony’s arm a rub.  He wiped his eyes and got up.  I had never seen him so nervous about giving a speech before.  He tapped his fingers on the podium as he centered himself.  “Rhodey was my best friend.  No - he was more than that.  He was the brother I never had.  I have a lot of people in my life I’m close with, but the thing I had with Rhodey was special and can’t be compared to the other relationships in my life.

“I was fifteen when I met Rhodey, and let me tell you, he was not exactly happy about the rich, entitled, white kid, coming in and latching on to him.  But I am incredibly charming and it wasn’t long until whatever trouble I was getting up to, he wasn’t far behind shaking his head.  I loved him so fucking much, I think if he had been in any way attracted to men, I’d have settled down a lot sooner and ended up having a much different life.  That’s not what happened, but even still, he was always there.  He was the one who found me when I was kidnapped.  He was there when I first took a stab at love.  He was there when I ruined it and it blew up in my face.  He was there when I let my heart open again - even when he thought my relationship was weird and he didn’t understand it.  He was there when my babies were born.  He was always there and now he’s not - and it’s not fair.  It’s not fair that he doesn’t get to see how things turn out for his daughter.  It’s not fair he’ll never get to walk her down the aisle.  It’s not fair that I get to go on and on with the people I love and he doesn’t.  I don’t know who I’ll call when I have exciting news about my family.  I don’t know who I’ll take out drinking and make toasts with when my kids start getting married and having kids of their own.  I don’t know who I’ll take out and test my new tech with.  None of this is fair.  Rhodey, I love you, buddy.  I wish you could be here and see how many people turned out for you, but then I guess that’s not how funerals work.”

By the time Tony was done with his Eulogy tears were streaming down his face.  I was weeping openly too, as was Wanda, and Sam.  When Tony sat back down beside me, Bruce and I, wrapped our arms around him and let him sob between us as we held him.

I didn’t know if these kinds of things would get any easier.  I hoped not.  Love was the thing that defined us as a group more than anything else.  Grief was hard, but I wanted to keep being able to love people this strongly even knowing that it would end like this every time.

~ END ~

[xtltokio]

Roger saying “I love you” for Riggs is the best television confession. EVER

[captainofthecity]

I know I’m easily entertained, but I love these two and can’t wait for new episodes!