"Rhodey, I didn't expect that freak to explode, either. If I'd known, I would've used an automated machine to shield you." Tony was the first to arrive at Rhodey's bedside to visit his friend, whose head was still ringing.
Rhodey lay in the best military hospital in New York.
Seeing his friend wrapped tightly in white bandages filled Tony with guilt.
If he had upgraded Rhodey's equipment a little more, perhaps Rhodey wouldn't have been hurt.
"This has nothing to do with you. When a police officer gets injured catching a criminal, how can he blame another officer?"
Seeing Tony's guilty expression, Rhodey comforted him instead.
His injuries weren't too serious. Only his limbs had suffered significant damage; most of the injuries elsewhere were merely scrapes.
As a soldier, he could handle injuries of this severity.
"Besides, I'm a soldier and a Superhuman. Every mission means putting my life on the line. Every time I head out, I'm already prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice."
"No matter what, at least I'm still alive. That's more than those..."
Rhodey shook his head. Although the evacuation order had been issued well in advance, not everyone could evacuate quickly.
Not everyone believed in those evacuation orders, either.
As a result, quite a few people had still been injured or killed.
Tony stood beside Rhodey's bed, carefully checking his condition.
Finally, Tony managed a strained, reassuring smile. "It's all right, Rhodey. Your injuries aren't that serious. You're going to get better."
Rhodey struggled to raise his arm and grasped Tony's hand.
With difficulty, he said, "Tony, maybe we were wrong. The Superhuman Registration Act isn't quite right. Nobody wants to deal with Supercriminals anymore."
Rhodey had received almost no help from other Superhumans during today's fight.
Part of that was because the incident had