Return to Malibu - PSL for Arthur

[starknaked]

After certain delightful interludes in the office, as well as teasing the pointman rather mercilessly on the plane ride back to Malibu through teasing looks and comments that wouldn't mean much to anyone but him and Arthur, Tony found himself ready to do nothing but avoid work.

Which left him in a precarious position because he wasn't entirely trying to avoid Arthur.

Sleeping in, he had taken calls he couldn't avoid, made one to Mal that revealed nothing but was designed to ensure she wanted to know more. Having planted that idea in her head, he considered his options. In the end, he went down to the lab.

Surrounded by work, by Dummy and parts and things that could well explode, the chances were good that even if Arthur did seek him out, this would not be a place for the sort of work they were meant to do. It wasn't that he didn't want his mind militarized and protected to keep the suit safe. It was that he was certain that Arthur would do his job, do it quickly and efficiently, and he wasn't quite sure he was ready to let him leave his life. Not yet.

Comments

[specification]

"Who said I was worried," he asked, a broad grin spreading across his lips. Fuck, but he hadn't had this much fun in a long while. Arthur kept his gaze on Tony's, feeling the rush of the car speeding up slide through him practically making him giddy. His hand found its way onto Tony's thigh and gave it a squeeze.

[starknaked]

“You asked. That is me saying you’re worrying,” he teased, still not looking away. It wasn’t just that his peripheral vision that let him do this, but the knowledge there was no one on this stretch of road. Right until…

Just as he reached that turn, that change in the road, Arthur squeezed his thigh. The car swerved, aiming for the cliff on one side then the drop off on the other before settling back straight just as Tony jerked the wheel to make another hairpin turn.

“Well then,” he said, laughing though there was a nervous tinge to it. “Maybe you should worry.”

[specification]

Despite himself, Arthur found himself snorting in amusement. "I'm not worried," he said, simply. His breathing was elevated but it was a rush. Despite only knowing Tony for what accounted for three days, or two and a half days at most, Arthur wasn't worried. He rubbed Tony's thigh and made himself comfortable in the seat. His eyes were on Tony the entire time, the confidence that poured out of every pore of his body.

[starknaked]

He drove, for the recklessness of those first moments, like a man who knew what he wanted and where he was going. Soon enough New York would become his center of operations but, until that time, Malibu was his home and he loved it. He loved the sun, the ocean vistas bordered by a highway known for its views and hairpin curves. It was that Malibu he hoped to show Arthur, sparing him a glance as he turned away from the ocean route.

“You hungry? Thinking In and Out and then from there.” Tony and burgers. Some days he just couldn’t be torn away from them. Especially when no one was around to warn him from the grease and deliciousness.

[specification]

As much as Arthur loved New York, loved the places he's been to and got to see while working, there was something to be said about the beauty of California. He raised his eyebrows when Tony turned away from the ocean and looked at him. "In and out," he asked with a grin, never having considered that Tony would eat there.

"I could go for a burger," he nodded.

[starknaked]

He snorted at that question. "Tell me that is more about me eating there than not knowing what it is. I may worry about you going into my subconscious if you don't know the world's best burger," he pointed out, smirking as he swung off the freeway and along narrow city streets.

[specification]

"It's definitely more about you eating there," Arthur chuckled, looking at him. "Mal enjoys eating there and so whenever I visit this coast, we always visit at least once."

[starknaked]

"She may have been the one to introduce me," he admitted. "Watching that sexy, oh so French beauty indulging like that is a treat," he said, laughing as he turned and spun into the parking lot. He pulled into a space without so much as a screech of tires.

"Come on then, Sexy." Speaking of sexy creatures.

[specification]

Arthur laughed and got out of the car once they arrived, safely. "I'm starting to think you just call everyone sexy," Arthur sent him a teasing smirk. He walked around the car to meet Tony on his side as he slid his sunglasses off.

[starknaked]

"Nope. I'm the one used to being called sexy," he pointed out, moving up to the line. Despite the fact that he was Tony Stark, he made no move to get to the front of the line or even to draw attention to himself. In truth, at In and Out in Malibu, just like Krispy Kreme, he was likely not the only one with a famous face in the line.

"You. Mallorie. Pepper at one time."

[specification]

And to be fair, Tony Stark was a very handsome and yes, sexy man. He was a little surprised when Tony joined the back of the line and stood with him with a small smile, not sure what exactly say to that. Arthur wanted to touch, wanted to do something that he could do to show his appreciation for those words but they were in public.

Saying something like 'thank you' seemed trite but still, it would work -- least until later when they were alone again. "Thanks," he murmured with a smile, glancing at the older man.

[starknaked]

Tony grinned at that, leaning down so he could whisper to Arthur and Arthur alone, not worrying about being heard by anyone else. "You're most welcome," he murmured softly. "But you don't have to thank me for honesty."

They line moved steadily though not quickly. Yet, unlike in so many places, few complained. It was the price one paid for the burger, after all.

"So, I'm thinking the pier, and Zuma Beach and the Getty. Sound good?"

[specification]

Arthur smiled and just continued to stand in line, not minding the wait. They were worth it, after all. He grinned. "I think it sounds great," he admitted. "It's been a while since I've actually gotten to enjoy myself while -- working." Rather, sort of working since they hadn't exactly started on anything yet.

[starknaked]

"What's the point of it then," he asked, suddenly serious. "Why do you do it, if not to enjoy yourself?"

He meant it, curious what their goal was and why they did the things they did.

[specification]

"I enjoy my job," Arthur said, looking at him. "I enjoy doing what I do. I just don't normally go to places such as museums, beaches or piers when I'm working because I'm focused on what I'm doing." This wasn't his normal job though and they both knew that -- had known that since Friday.

[starknaked]

Tony considered that, making a bit of a face. "Couldn't imagine it. What's the point of being good at what you do, and hopefully successful because of it, if you're not going to take time to enjoy it," he asked, fixing Arthur with a look for a moment.

"You should be enjoying yourself because you do work hard."

[specification]

Arthur watched the line become smaller and smaller as they drew closer and closer to the front. He looked at Tony and twisted his lips up - he wasn't exactly in a position, most of the time, that allowed him to enjoy himself in a city they were working in. Usually it was a 'get in and out as quickly as possible' sort of situation. "Our jobs are a tad bit different," he settled on. He wasn't going to elaborate further, not in an In and Out of all places.

Jobs like this -- like militarization, he did tend to enjoy himself a little more than extraction jobs. They were a just a tad less dangerous than those who didn't know secrets were just stolen from their minds.

[starknaked]

He knew about differing jobs, even in his own life he knew about them. With Pepper and Rhodey as well. Knowing about differing lives and all it entailed didn't mean he was willing to give up on making the world more like his own.

"Do you enjoy it," he asked, even as they stepped up to the window. "Wait, order and then answer that," he said, smirking, ordering his double double.

[specification]

Arthur chuckled and ordered his cheese burger and a side of fries - well if he was going to indulge, he was going to indulge. "I wasn't lying when I said I enjoyed what I did," Arthur said, looking at him with a quirk of his lips. "I do enjoy it - the challenge of it, the traveling part of it and the money isn't bad either."

[starknaked]

"I enjoy what I do," he said while they waited. "God knows I love every minute of it. Did before I got blown up. Have since. There's even parts during it that I enjoyed. Mostly the living parts but I enjoyed."

He turned to look at him. "But you enjoy other things, and I've seen that. But you don't spend time with it, do you?"

[specification]

Arthur couldn't help himself, he chuckled softly. "I'd enjoy the living parts as well," he admitted, sending Tony an amused smile.

He raised his eyebrows and shrugged a shoulder. "I do enjoy other things but I tend to keep my work and personal life separate. Least -- for the most part," he granted. When you were a criminal, it didn't exactly due for others that you worked with to know too much if you could help it. Mal, Dom, Eames -- were the exceptions to that rule.

[starknaked]

"I suspect most do," he said with a soft chuckle. "Least those I surround myself with."

Their order came up, and he grabbed the bag. "In the car or at a table out here," he asked glancing at Arthur.

He paused though, considering what he was saying. "So do you allow yourself a personal life," he asked, glancing at him in all seriousness.

[specification]

"Go ahead and eat out here," Arthur said, before he looked around for a table. It wasn't too unbearably warm out so there was no reason why they couldn't sit out and share a burger. He made his way over to one of the tables and took a seat.

He wasn't sure why it exactly mattered if he allowed himself a personal life or not but either way Arthur shrugged a shoulder. "I allow myself a personal life," he was never exactly against having a personal life. Sometimes...he just found himself bored. Tony, however, was proving to be anything but boring.

[starknaked]

Tony slid down across from him. In public they wouldn't do more than talk, but he could take advantage of things and be able to look at him, at least. He unwrapped his burger, looking at Tony. Damn but that was a good view.

"Good, then we'll be mixing business with a personal life," he said brightly.

[specification]

Arthur picked up a fry that he had sat in the middle of the two of them and bit into it. He hummed at the taste and finished it off before unwrapping his burger and looking over at Tony. "Is that right," he asked, his tone teasing though.

He found himself not minding so much that he would be mixing business with pleasure and a personal life. He was sure it would have to all be very hush hush no matter what they ended up doing.