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]

He considered that, walking along as he looked at this and that but his attention was mostly focused on Arthur. His profile, the way he moved. It was a nice view. Nicer than the art.

"Indian wouldn't be too bad, though I know an American mixed place I could easily have for the night."

[specification]

Ever aware of his surroundings, Arthur noticed it when Tony would look at him and watch him. It didn't feel at all strange or weird. Not that he had expected it to but there was always that 1% chance.

"Let's go with the American mixed place," Arthur said, glancing at him with a smile.

[starknaked]

"Oh good. Make it easy on me," he said, though he liked the idea. "Then drinks back at the house after... if we aren't drunk by then," he said. "Tell me, do you get drunk? Adversions to it?"

That would do more than stun him a bit. To be spending time with someone that didn't drink. Blasphemy.

[specification]

"Drinks at the house afterward if we're not trashed," Arthur agreed with a chuckle. "I don't normally get drunk, no - but I have no aversions to it. We do have to work tomorrow though - hungover and all." The time that they would get to work, would all depend on said hangover.

They had enjoyed the museum, the pier and the beach and had also stopped by the private spot that Tony mentioned. If asked, he had had the most fun today than he could remember having in a long time. Arthur found he could talk about art, about literature, about science (though, certainly not to the degree that Tony could) and life in general with Tony and it wasn't just the (mind blowing) amazing sex that they shared.

Arthur was seated at dinner now in the restaurant that Tony had actually bought out just for the two of them that evening. It was a new experience for him to be sure with no one else around other than the two of them and the chef and waiter. No one else had ever done something like this for him (nor, frankly, had the means to). It never mattered of course but that Tony had taken the time out and the resources to do something like this for him, for them so they could enjoy a night out and not be caught together in a less than platonic way said something about how Tony viewed Arthur and likewise.

"Have to say, I've had the most fun today than I have in a long time," Arthur admitted with a smile. It really wasn't because he didn't enjoy his job but more of the fact that he worked a lot and never go the chance to really spend time in a place to get to know it like he did New York and how Tony did Malibu.

[starknaked]

It was all a whirlwind in Tony's head. He'd not had a day like this since college. A day where he could just go and be and do things and laugh, and share conversation and not worry about saving the world, or a party, or what he did. Except he had to watch himself every step of the way to not touch and hold Arthur but that was a small price to pay for the rest of it.

That he did it all sober didn't escape him, though it was more than a bit surprising.

Seated at a table near a large stone fireplace, the fire small and obviously for ambiance and not warmth, Tony raised his glass in salute to Arthur. "I admit, I feel the same. I didn't know I could have fun sober," he teased, ironic as he took a drink. Sipping though, not heavily drinking as he often did. "I can try and plan this every day, if you want."

[specification]

Arthur's lips curled up and returned his salut with his own glass. "It's amazing, isn't it," he teased in return good-natured. It hadn't escaped his notice that Tony enjoyed his drink. It pleased him that Tony had equally enjoyed himself throughout the day with or without alcohol.

"Which part? Buying out a restaurant for dinner or playing tour guide?" There was a teasing look in his eyes as he asked it, before he took a sip of his drink.

[starknaked]

"Things for us to do," he offered, shrugging one shoulder. "The meals we could have catered. Slightly less suspicious." Though that made him think, sighing softly. "Or, we don't risk being that much in public because it risks us being seen, and you being photographed," he pointed out, settling back in his seat.

"A nice thought for a moment though." He paused, considering Arthur with a bit of a smile. "I can't tell you how long it has been since I've dated someone."

[specification]

Arthur was glad Tony thought about the fact that the last thing Arthur needed was to be photographed at all. "I think we could go out in public together every once in a while," he admitted, settling into his seat and giving him a small smile. "We would have to be careful. And having meals catered sounds good - less suspicious."

He chuckled and ducked his head a little. "It's been a long time for me as well. Usually it's just a night or two here or there."

[starknaked]

"We'll work out things, consider ideas that aren't too dangerous for either of us." The last thing he needed was the board hounding him to be more presentable and him going off into a tirade about rights... and secrets.

"I told you about Pepper's job involving this. Shows you how little it happens."

[specification]

"We will," Arthur agreed. He was sure, between the two of them, they could find things that wouldn't be too dangerous for either of them.

He chuckled. "I remember," he nodded. "It looks like we're both in some new territory here." It had been far too long since he'd had done anything like this. Normally, he was too busy to date and never around enough to date someone. This time - it wasn't just he who was busy. Tony led a fairly active life himself.

[starknaked]

Of course, Tony had no idea about lines and limits. What he knew was the desire to get the knowledge he wanted, to be told the things he wanted to know. So it was, sitting back and taking a drink, he considered his next question careful.

“So, when was the last time that you indulged in this. With another guy. I’m curious.” Of course it was a curiosity about where this could go, how much he was asking from Arthur for this to even exist.

[specification]

"Do you mean dating another man or having sex with another man," he asked with an arched eyebrow. It had been at least a few years since he had dated anyone with some kind of regularity and not nearly as long since he had fucked another man. "It's been three years - give or take - since I dated someone last." He took a sip from his drink and sat it down, licking along his bottom lip for any stray droplets. "Not nearly as long since I've had sex with another man." One side of his lips curled up.

[starknaked]

"I will accept either answer for a thousand, Alex," he said, trying to make it sound like a lighthearted joked. He listened, taking a drink. Right until his gaze stuck on the movement of Arthur's tongue.

"I'm sorry, are you speaking? I missed everything you just said because, yeah, tongue."

He smiled though, having heard it all. "Not as long as me. Good to know."

[specification]

Arthur couldn't help it, he laughed. "Now I know the perfect way to distract you," he mused, jokingly. If he were honest, he had probably already known that since Friday evening.

"No, not as long as you. How long as it been for you? Not just male but either gender?"

[starknaked]

“You walked into a room and I stole you away from a party and stripped you down and you’re just now catching on how to distract me,” he asked, arching a brow in good natured humour.

Tony went quiet at that, considering. “For sex, two days before you. Female. Relationship though?” He paused, putting some time into that question. “We’re talking a few years. Anything with a guy, nearly five… Maybe six,” he admitted, thinking about it. “His name was Ethan. Which is more than I can say about most of the women in my life.” Names had never been his strong suit, after all.

[specification]

Arthur licked at his bottom lip again, remembering that evening. "It was a good party," Arthur mused, not ashamed that Tony had taken him just feet away from a party. As they both had agreed on, they didn't do this with just anyone else. For Arthur, he never did anything like that.

He nodded, a small smile curling on his lips. "It's fairly new for both of us then," he concluded. "We play it by ear, do what we can to see each other when the time allows." Perhaps go somewhere that the two of them could be alone and not worry about anyone else.

[starknaked]

Tony wondered if that little lick was intentional or just a habit of Arthur's he was going to have to get used to. Used to or using because he can, and because Arthur wanted him to.

He liked knowing that Arthur didn't do this with just anyone. If he wasn't that up to this, wasn't doing it every other week, he didn't want to think that Arthur was and would move on. It would pay him back though, wouldn't it? If Arthur used him like he had so many women?

"It bother you I like the idea of not just fucking you senseless and walking on," he asked, putting it just about as bluntly as he could.

[specification]

Part of it had been intentional and another part of it had been pure reflex as he had thought about Friday night. Arthur liked how Tony's eyes were drawn to it though. It had been so long since he'd had a man like this -- well no, any man or woman who paid that much attention to something as simple as his lips.

Arthur arched a brow. "I doubt we'd be here if it bothered me," he mused. "After all, you did fuck me senseless on Friday."

[starknaked]

"And it's been a whole ... not even a week," he said, laughing playfully. "I don't know..."

Tony sighed because dammit but this was emotions and words and he sucked at them.

"Whatever is going on here, I want to keep it going. Okay? Yeah, it sucks because we have to keep it quiet because I'm not ready to face that and the press. Besides, you can't be in the press' eye. So it would be quiet and us, and things like this but I'm curious to see."

See what he wasn't even sure.

[specification]

"It's only been two days," Arthur corrected with a chuckle.

He watched the man across from him for a long moment as he took a sip from his drink. Arthur wasn't particularly skilled in things like this either so he could relate. It was both scary and reassuring that Tony wanted to try this as much as Arthur wanted to. It didn't really bother him that they had to keep it quiet. Well -- it did and it didn't at the same time. Arthur wasn't the type to broadcast out loud who he was with and/or sleeping with. He kept his personal life that, personal. But it did suck that they couldn't just go out without worrying if the press will see them or not.

Arthur nodded. "I want that as well," he said and set his drink down onto the table. "We can do things like this, meet up at different places and take vacations together." He wanted to see where this went - where it could go.

[starknaked]

"Two days," he repeated, rolling his eyes and shrugging. "That's a whole less than a week," he pointed out, knowing it was just being pedantic.

"Good. I wasn't sure how you would feel dealing with the secrets and hiding from the paparazzi and all. It gets tiresome after a while. I can and will warn you of that. If things get to where you just aren't enjoying it, no harm, no foul. Got it," he asked, arching a brow. It
seemed only fair to warn him and make it all clear. He wasn't going to hold things against Arthur because even for Tony sometimes it was difficult being Tony Stark.

[specification]

Arthur grinned and watched him.

He shook his head and turned his glass around on the table. "No, I have no problem with secrets," he admitted. "They're a part of my job and as such, I'm just fine with them and being inconspicuous about things." Arthur appreciated it though that Tony wanted to warn him and be clear about it.

Arthur watched as their waitress for the evening brought over the appetizers that they had ordered. It did look very good.

[starknaked]

“Good. So then. I say we flip a coin,” he said, as if the reason was logical that he would say that. In fact he shifted, digging into his pocket for one as the appetizer was brought up. He held the coin poised.

“Heads, you tell Mallorie. Tails, I’ll do it,” he said, tossing it into the air.

[specification]

His eyebrows rose, not sure what he had meant by that until Tony had said those words. "You know, by secret, they don't normally involve telling anyone else," he teased. Course, Mallorie wasn't just anyone else and they both knew that. She was, after all, the reason they were here.

"If we wanted to be daring, we could just tell her together," he said, taking a sip of his drink but watching the coin flip.

[starknaked]

“Don’t tell Mallorie,” he asked, not showing the coin as he caught it. “Is that your choice? So when she finds out, which she will, I tell her you thought secret meant we didn’t tell her?” He leaned part way across the table, stage whispering to Arthur. “You don’t fear her,” he asked, wide eyed and stunned.

Though he grinned then, slipping the coin in his pocket. “Together it is. And secret means we accept Mallorie and Pepper will know.” He couldn’t keep a damn thing from Pepper, and he knew it.