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

[starknaked]

Taking a bite, he gestured around them as he chewed and swallowed. "Look at the city you're in. Who you're with. You think that you'll do nothing but work and run off? I don't think that is what's going to happen," he said, moving to snag a fry.

"I have other ideas."

[specification]

"I think it has more to do with who I"m with than the city itself," Arthur admitted before taking a bite of his burger. So far in his career, he'd been to many places and as much as Arthur always wanted to stick around and do the tourist thing, having someone who you didn't want to recognize your face took the fun out of that.

He grinned. "And what are your ideas," he asked after he swallowed his bite and snagged another fry.

[starknaked]

“Is that meant to be a compliment he asked, arching a brow. Tony Stark was a smug man to begin with but damn that made him light up. Grinning as he reached for his cola just as a girl raced up.

Giggling, she kissed him suddenly on the cheek while her friend snapped a picture. The flash blinded him and, despite his usual reaction of joy and being utterly charmed by such thing, for once he almost scowled before schooling his features.

“That is the downside for this,” he said, gesturing at the table. “Sorry about that.”

He fell silent a moment before clearing his throat. “Right so… Dinner and dancing should happen. I also think I should show you the upper balcony,” he said with a smirk. “Great view of the ocean and likely as nice as a desk.”

[specification]

With all of his experience with Tony Stark and everything that he's read and researched, he knew it could only have gone straight to his smug little head. All Arthur did in response was grin and take another bite of his sandwich. He blinked at the flash and quirked an eyebrow, watching the girl run off with her friend.

Ah yes, he had saw photos like this before in his research.

"No need to apologize, it's a part of who you are," Arthur said, taking a sip of his soda. He, of course, should have thought about that before hand and perhaps suggested the car instead.

He couldn't help but chuckle when Tony started talking about his plans again. "You're saying it as though you think I can dance," he said, sending him a teasing look. His eyebrow rose. "I would like to see the upper balcony though."

Arthur was silent for a moment as he took another couple of bites from his burger. "I'm starting to think that desks are going to be a thing." But he sounded anything but uninterested.

[starknaked]

"No, it's part of the life I lead. Who I am is a lot different," he admitted. "I worked hard to become the sort of man women flock to," he said, knowing he was admitting to a huge mask he wore, and not one painted hot rod red.

"You don't dance," he asked, arching a brow. He hadn't expected that. "I would be willing to teach you," he offered. "And the balcony can be another time," he said with a small smile.

"As for the desk... it is one of my first memories of you, but maybe not meant to be the best," he teased.

[specification]

"I'm beginning to realize that," Arthur admitted with a quirk of his lips. He was a little surprised, admittedly, that most of the media portrayal of Tony Stark was quite different to the man beneath the self imposed masks and not only the one made of metal. Though, really, he shouldn't have been all that surprised. Hadn't Mal told him, in a very Mal-like way, that she knew a different side of Tony? Something a little more than just the playboy and womanizer?

Arthur ducked his head a fraction and shook it as he snagged another fry. "No, it was never a skill I thought I needed to really know." He paused and allowed his lips to curl up into a smile, a brow arching. "You'd teach me?" He would just have to take the man up on that.

"I want to see the balcony," he said with a smile. For the first time and pretty much ever, Arthur wasn't thinking about the next job, wasn't thinking about who would see and recognize his face -- he was just enjoying a day out with Tony Stark. It was almost as though everyone else around them had disappeared and it was only the two of them.

Arthur chuckled and sent the older man a smirk. "I don't know," he mused. "I have to admit, I rather liked the desk. A lot."

[starknaked]

It wasn't a side that Tony actually wanted the world to know. If the world knew, then so many would seek to take advantage of him. If all they saw was the drunk womanizer, no one looks to play on the man without being unaware that his intelligence is as much street as it is book. That was what so many never saw.

That emotional, playful side that Arthur was seeing was only seen by a few. A very select few. One hand of few, if he was honest about it.

"What? You think I can't dance? I just normally only dance with Pepper. Too many get overly emotional with dancing. You though, I'll take the chance," he admitted.

"We will make time for that then. Between the work," he said, his grin making it obvious he was playing with Arthur. He couldn't help himself. Not ever, especially not now.

He leaned forward a bit. "There's three in the Malibu house," he pointed out.

[specification]

Like Tony, the side of Arthur that Tony was seeing, wasn't exactly seen by most people if he could help it. At least, not the people that he worked with. It wasn't unusual to be told he had a stick up his ass while on a job but that was because when he was on the job, he was in work mode. Not play mode. It was turning out that he and Tony had a lot more in common than their mere attraction to each other.

Of course Mal had to have known. Later he'd send a text to her but for now, none of that mattered. He just wanted to enjoy the day. Arthur chuckled. "No, I believe that you can," he said. "I'm glad that you're willing to take the chance on me," he said, oddly serious about it. Even now, he wasn't sure when he would ever need to know how to dance but it couldn't hurt, right? Besides, Tony would be teaching him.

He chuckled and shook his head before taking a bite of his burger. "So you think," he smirked. "After work, perhaps. We'll talk."

Arthur's eyebrows rose and unknowingly, became a little darker. Oh, they may just have to use those.

[starknaked]

"Arthur."

Tony set down what remained of his burger. It was a good chance that it was a testament to what he thought of Arthur that he was putting aside his In and Out for the sake of the man sitting across from him.

"Yeah, I'm taking a chance. I think you are too. Neither of us do this often. I know I don't, and I'm betting you don't. That says something about us both." He knew it said a lot to him in his mind.

"Get up at noon, work a few hours, then desks. See? I can plan," he said, catching that look in Arthur's eyes. "If I have the right reasons to."

[specification]

It was absolutely nuts that he had only known this man for all of two...three days and yet they were talking about taking chances with each other and Arthur wasn't backing out. Or, wanting to back far, far away.

He sat down his burger and nodded. "We are...we are taking a big chance here," he admitted. They had started this head first and that was how Arthur was going to follow through.

Arthur found himself chuckling and giving him a smirk. "You think you're brilliant, don't you," he asked with a teasing smirk. Though, he liked this plan -- except that Arthur would be getting up far earlier than noon.

[starknaked]

"Yep, a lot of chances. I think I'm worth it," he said, lifting his chin and looking damned arrogant. He couldn't help himself. Not in the least. It was part of who he was. "Well, then there's you as well," he admitted. "I'm pretty sure you're worth it."

He leaned forward a bit toward him. "I don't hear you objecting," he pointed out. "And yes, I'm certified brilliant,' he teased.

[specification]

Arthur grinned, taking note of the arrogant tilt of his chin and the spark in the man's eyes. He hummed and took a sip of his drink, as though considering it. "I think it's safe to say that we both find each other worth it if we're here, discussing this," he said, after setting the cup down and giving him a smirk.

"No, I'm not. Now just to see if there's a follow through," he said, quirking a brow and allowing his lips to curl up into a smile.

[starknaked]

Oh but that was a delightful smile. He would have to encourage it more. "So we're both just stepping around things to make sure we're not setting ourselves up, for the exact same reasons. Glad to know I'm not the only paranoid one."

"Follow through on being a genius or using you ruthlessly," he asked, all wide eyed to hear the answer.

[specification]

Arthur snagged another fry and ate it with a nod. "We are," he said in agreement. "And no," he said, his lips tugging up in a rueful smile. "You're not the only one paranoid."

He bit out a laugh. "The latter. The former, well there's proof of that already."

[starknaked]

"And yet we're sitting here in the public, watching others and knowing that anyone coming along could recognize either of us. Some weird kind of paranoia there," he said, laughing as he took another bite.

"So you want me to prove I'm a genius? Shall we go build roller coasters," he asked with a grin.

[specification]

"In hindsight, perhaps taking lunch somewhere else would have been a better plan," Arthur chuckled and started in on his burger again.

He arched an eyebrow and wiped his hands off. "Here I had thought the latter included, how did you put it, 'using me ruthlessly'," Arthur smirked. "No, I've seen proof of your genius, already."

[starknaked]

Tony was silent a moment before grinning widely. "Maybe I like showing you off," he said, winking at Arthur before crumbling his empty wrapper and tossing it into the nearest bin.

"I'm glad. I figure that unless you want me to nearly die again, I really can't outdo..." He tapped the center of is chest where the glow was hidden.

[specification]

Arthur chuckled and finished off his burger before throwing the wrapper away. "I'm sure that you do," he said, sending the man his own wink in return.

He shook his head with a grin. "No, wouldn't want you to do that...again. Are you ready," he asked, standing from his seat and finishing off his soda.

[starknaked]

Wiping his hands on his slacks, Tony rose and gave Arthur a jerk of his head. "Come on then. Let's get this tour on the road. Literally," he said, amused with himself for the joke.

"Good. I'm kind of against that," he admitted. "Still hurts late at night and all," he said, making it a joke, though it really wasn't much of one to him.

[specification]

After dumping the rest of the trash, Arthur walked toward the car with a shake of his head and a grin. "Where are we starting," he asked, looking at the other man and slipping his sunglasses back on. "The Getty, the beach or the pier? Or this private spot you talked about," he could help asking with a teasing smirk.

He settled in his seat before looking at him. Despite Tony making it sound like a joke for all intents and purposes, Arthur knew that it still had to hurt a little bit. "Was it hard to get used to?"

[starknaked]

"I was thinking the Getty. I know most don't realize it, but I do have an appreciation for art. Just don't tell Pepper," he said with a grin. "I like confusing her with what I do and don't like so she never has a clue what to invest in for my tastes, rather than just for investment," he admitted, amused with himself as he slid into the car.

"This one, not as much," he said, rubbing it. "The one I made in the cave... every night I had to fight not to rip it out just as I was falling asleep. Good thing I didn't sleep much, huh?"

[specification]

"I had been hoping you would choose the Getty. It's been a while since I've been," Arthur admitted, shooting Tony a smirk. He chuckled and relaxed in his seat. "And you two have never...?" It perhaps wasn't exactly his place to question the relationship between Tony and Pepper but honestly, the man had asked, on multiple occasions, the nature of his relationship with Mal. It was only fair.

He nodded and glanced down at where he was rubbing it through his shirt. "Yeah, it's a good thing you've found something that doesn't hurt nearly as much as well."

[starknaked]

“You could have made a choice. I may be acting as tour guide but I’m finding myself indulging you, as I’m certain you may have noticed.” He backed up, pulling out into traffic. For a moment he looked almost confused. “We two… Pepper and I? Oh.” He laughed. “Not for lack of me trying but she needs someone stable in her life to balance working for, well, me,” he said brightly, definitely amused. “Maybe with time it might have happened but just never did.”


“I figure it keeps me alive, I’ll deal with what I must to get through it,” he said. “I like that living part, you know,” he teased, weaving carefully through traffic.

[specification]

"I know I could," Arthur said. "You just look like you've enjoyed playing tour guide and thought I would give you that." Besides, he was enjoying himself and it didn't exactly matter to him where they went to first. He was just enjoying the company and the sights.

He was silent as he watched Tony as he spoke and nodded. "That makes sense," he said, that making him a little relieved though he wasn't about to say so. It was far too soon to say something like that. Besides, he liked Pepper, he had talked to her a good deal on the plane ride out to Malibu when Tony wasn't teasing him and trying to make him flustered.

"I don't know, I think I like the living part as well," Arthur grinned.

[starknaked]

"You know," he said, pausing at a light to pull down his eyeglasses as he looked at Arthur. "I am enjoying myself," he admitted. "More than I thought I might. Not with the company but just for sight seeing," he admitted. "But then I definitely think it's because of the company."

He grinned. "No need to be worried about my bed having anyone else in it. You're the first person in a lot of years to make it to the second round," he pointed out.

Then he hit the gas, racing along towards the Getty.