This is an Avengers high school AU (with of course Ironhusbands and some other ships) and it will be a two or more part story

oOo

It was a normal day at high school, and James was busy discussing with Sam if rocket engineering or aerodynamics was better. 

James obviously thought rocket engineering was. Sam thought the latter. 

"So," James said, desperate for a change of subject, seeing as he had no more arguments to prove his point. "How's things going with you and Bucky?" 

Sam glowered at James. "You piece of sh*t," he muttered, playfully shoving James who just laughed in glee. The bell signalling the beginning of school ringed a melodious ring and the two friends scowled. "Great," Sam said, jogging off. "I've got literacy. Have fun in math!" 

"You too!" James called, and walked to his math classroom. He walked in, only to see that mosts of the seats were taken. When did everyone get here?

The teacher glared at James who took a seat next to a small, brown haired boy. "Nice you've finally joined us, Rhodes," Mr. Tanning said. "Sorry, sir." James dipped his head in apology, and saw the kid next to him snicker and roll his eyes. 

"Is something funny, Mr. Stark?" Mr. Tanning asked. James felt his eyes widen a fraction. Mr. Stark. Howard Stark's son is at my school! "Yeah," the kid said, jerking his thumb at James, causing all students in the room to stare at either one or the other. 

"Detention at lunch for you, Mr. Stark," Mr. Tanning said. "What's new?" the kid muttered. "And you, Rhodes," Mr. Tanning said. James gawped, but didn't protest. "Yes, sir." 

oOo

There was only two people in detention that day at lunch - James and the kid. 

"I'm Tony Stark," the kid introduces himself, holding out his hand, facing James, with a much more friendly demeanor than earlier in math. 

"I know," James said. "My names James, James Rhodes." He shook Tony's extended hand and saw him promptly roll his eyes. "Nah, I'm calling you Rhodey."

Inwardly groaning, James let a scowl creep onto his face. "No," he said. 

Tony snorted. "Yeah, I will. And you can't stop me, Rhodey." 

"Please don't call me that," James weakly begged, honestly caring the slightest bit.

"Rhodey," Tony said. 

"No," James snapped in return. 

"Platypus," came Tony's quick quip

"That's random," James noted, stifling a snort. 

"Sour patch," Tony said, eyes pinned to James'. 

"That's the best you could come up with?" James asked, eyebrows arched. 

Tony scoffed. "Honeybear," he said. "No!" James exclaimed. "That's like-that's like what an old married couple would call each other!" 

A smirk crept onto Tony's young face. "Exactly." 

"Will you two shut up?!" Mr. Tanning yelled. Tony stuck his tongue out. "I'll pass." 

"I'll call your father," Mr. Tanning threatened, but Tony only rolled his eyes, much to James' shock. "I'd like to see you try!" Tony snapped back, looking as if about to burst into laughter, which James thought would soon happen. 

"Alright, get out! Both of you!" Mr. Tanning roared, and the two 16 year olds scampered out, laughing. James was still in shock as he saw Tony wipe tears from his eyes. "How do you do that?" 

Tony raised his eyebrows. "Do what, honeybear?" he asked. 

James scowled at the nickname. "Talk to a teacher that way?" 

Giving him a look as if to say, are you serious, Tony shook his head. "Oh, Rhodeybear-"

"Wait, when did it come 'Rhodeybear'?" James interrupted. 

Shaking his head, Tony continued. "-it's simple." And with that, he turned his heel and stalked away. Rhodes stared, open mouthed at the lanky teen. 

"Hello, you love sick piece of sh*t," Sam's cheeky voice greeted. James turned. "Hello, a**hole," he replied. "You know," Sam begun. "I always you would fall for a guy. But for Howard Stark's kid - jeez, your hopes sure are high." 

"I don't like him," James said, gritting his teeth so hard he was sure they would turn to dust. "I was in shock about how rude he was to Mr. Tanning-"

"-and rightfully so!" Sam interrupted, much to James' chagrin. "He is a d*ck." 

James heard someone agree with Sam and jumped. "Chill, dude, it's just my Buckster!" 

Relaxing as he saw Bucky behind him, James gave him a small nod in greeting. "I have to tell you," Bucky said. "If Steve knew you were falling for Tony, he would flip out." 

"I'm not falling for him..." James begun but trailed off at the twos eye rolls. "What happened with them?" 

"Just an argument between Tony and Steve, Clint, Natasha, Thor, Bruce and kind of me," Bucky explained. "I'm surprised Tony still managed against them. Steve involved me, since we are best bros and all."

"Speaking of our friends," Sam pressed. "They're wondering where you are and I do not think they would react well if they realized you were in detention with Tony so keep that under wraps." 

James nodded, and the trio made their way to their friends. 

Clint stood up and waved wildly as they made their way to the table they had managed to snag from the younger students. "Where were you, James?" he yelled. 

James slipped onto the seat. "Detention," he said. Just as Bruce was about to ask, "Why?", James cut him off. "For nothing. I just arrived at class a couple minutes late." 

Everyone looked relieved. "I mean, you know James, he's a good kid, what do you think he did?" Natasha asked, smirking. "I dunno, was too polite to a teacher?" Clint muttered. "Duh," Sam agreed, and James felt his cheeks flush. 

A familiar yell and a familiar face silenced their banter. James swallowed as the brown eyes of Tony Stark pinned onto his. "Hey, honeybear!" he exclaimed. Sam shot Rhodey a look. "Honeybear?" he asked quietly, and James elbowed him in the ribs. Tony's smirk faded when he saw Steve, Natasha, Clint, Thor and Bruce staring at him. "This who you're hanging out with?" 

oOo

Ever since James met Tony, he had gotten into detention much more than he usually had. 

The absolutely worst one was when the two of them got in trouble by Mr. Tanning for talking in math and had to clean up after the mess the people in the engineering workshop made during lunch. 

"You're friends really hate me, don't they?" Tony asked, tossing a piece of scribbled out paper in the trash can. 

"They don't hate you," James answered quietly, trying not to cut himself with the sharp edges of metal scattered all over the workbenches and the floor. "They just don't like you. Can I even know what happened?" 

Shaking his head, eyes still glued to the floor, Tony crumpled a piece of paper and tossed it in the trash can. "Score!" he yelled. Thankfully there was no teacher in the room to tell them to 'shut up.'

The duo had grown remarkably close, from spending classes together, and often choosing each others as partners, they came from acquaintances to close friends. During their bonding as friends, the awkwardness in James' group had risen, as well as the tension. While they hadn't kicked him out, James had decided to leave, and sat with Tony, and the occasional female companion. 

"God, platypus, I'm tired," Tony mumbled, stretching and yawning. "Yeah, so am I, but we have to keep cleaning," James reasoned, wincing as he cut himself on a stray piece of glass. 

"Here." Tony reached out to bring something out of his pocket and displayed a tissue which James took gratefully, dabbing up the blood. 

It was only then when he realized how close Tony was to him. His eyes were half closed and his head was practically rested on James' shoulder, and on the wall behind the two. Most of the room had been cleaned, so James let a yawn escape his throat and he let his eyes droop shut. 

He was now fully aware of Tony's small, almost weightless body pressed against his, but James didn't care. "Night, Rhodeybear," Tony mumbled. "It's afternoon, idiot," James mumbled back and felt a small, lighthearted slap come from Tony. 

"James," a different voice said, and said teen's eyes opened. "What the hell is going on?"