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]

Tony liked the ease with which they laughed, that Arthur wanted nothing from Tony but for him to work when it was time to work. It was so unique in his world, in all he had known, that he wanted to keep it for as long as he could.

"So, would you introduce me as your date," he asked, curious. And loving the mental image of Cobb's face if he did.

[specification]

"You would be my date," he said. Though, hadn't he told Mallorie that by 'we' he meant the kids and Mal and Cobb? Things can change. They'd talk to her tonight to see what she'd say but he could only imagine the look on Cobb's face. "I imagine Cobb may have an aneurysm," he mused. Truly, Arthur couldn't help it. He liked the man like a brother but it was fun to see all the facial expressions the man was capable of.

[starknaked]

"Well then." Opening up as a couple. Course it was to Mallorie, and she'd be sure that Cobb didn't say shit, but it was still as a couple. "I think we should look into it." Meaning ask her about it.

"So I know you and Mallorie are close. You and Cobb friends or just work together?"

[specification]

It had been far too easy to think about opening up as a couple or even as introducing Tony as his date but it was Mal and Cobb. They wouldn't be able to act like a couple in public but they would at least both know that they were doing this together. It was...scary as fuck, if he were honest.

"We'll ask her about it," he agreed with a smile.

"I was introduced to her first but over time, I've grown to be friends with Cobb," Arthur admitted. "He's a good man for and to her."

[starknaked]

Tony nodded. He'd gone from single and for all the world as heterosexual to planning a date night with friends of his. Well, friend. The other he only trusted because Mallorie did, and given how much he trusted her, he'd deal with Cobb and not worry about him outing him.

"You brought home other boys to their house," he asked, curious and honest in the way he asked it.

"He's good to her," he agreed. "Not sure I like him much though. Not just because he doesn't like me."

[specification]

Arthur looked at him after finishing his bite and shook his head. "No, I've never brought anyone over to them," he said, honestly. "Told you, It's been a long time since I've done anything like this."

He paused and tilted his head. "I only suggested it because of our mutual connection to Mallorie. I know we're supposed to keep this private."

It didn't mean that he wasn't nervous about it. It did make this a lot more serious but he felt that if they were going to call her and tell her, they might as well go all in.

[starknaked]

"Arthur..." He considered things and then stood up. Hell, they had the place to themselves, after all.

Moving around the table, he leaned down to kiss him softly. "I'm touched, okay? And I suck at emotions. But this is your friends, both of them, and you know how he feels about me. I'm touched you want to take me over with you as your date," he said.

Considering a second, he dragged his chair closer and sat back down. "That said, I'll even offer to tell her."

[specification]

He was completely out of his element in this but he knew, logically and realistically that he wasn't the only one and for that he was thankful. Arthur looked up at him and smiled when Tony kissed him. "I'm not exactly great at them either," he admitted.

Arthur watched as Tony brought his chair in closer and allowed his lips to curl up. "Will you?"

[starknaked]

“Great. My first possible long term relationship in a while and I end up with a virgin,” he teased, knowing it was a bad joke but unable to resist. “Guess I’ll learn to live with it,” he said in the tones of one long suffering.

He nodded though at that question. “I will. Over the phone. Not in shoe range.”

[specification]

"You say that as though you yourself are not a virgin," Arthur shot back, good natured. He chuckled and took a sip of his drink before setting it down and picking up his fork. "Yes, you will have to learn to live with it," he smirked and took a bite of his appetizer.

He nodded, thinking of how she would respond. "Tonight," he asked, after swallowing his bite and glancing at Tony. They had decided to call her tonight after all.

[starknaked]

"I'm Tony Stark. I think it's a crime to talk about me and that word in the same sentence," he teased, taking another bite. "I supposed I can learn. I'm told I'm actually kind of a genius."

Taking a drink, watching Arthur. "She's going to be fine with it," he said, assuring one of them. He just wasn't sure which one.

[specification]

"Being Tony Stark, genius playboy, doesn't exempt you from this," Arthur chuckled and took another bite. "I have faith that you will."

He nodded and looked up from his plate to look at him. "Yeah, she will," he agreed. And if she wasn't, then she'd have to learn to live with it because he was wanting to try this out between them.

[starknaked]

“Of course it does. Built into the term playboy, I believe,” he said as if this was a serious conversation around their meal. The appetizer was cleared as dinner was served table side with Beef Wellington and all the details.

“Cobb though, he’s going to have a fit,” Tony said, relishing the idea.

[specification]

The Beef Wellington looked amazing as did all the fixings and details to go with it. Arthur pulled his gaze away from the food and looked at Tony with a half grin. "And you love that," he surmised. If anything, he sounded downright amused. As he saw it though, what Cobb thought about his relationships didn't particularly matter to him. It was Tony and himself in this relationship, not Cobb and he liked Tony.

He really liked Tony.

[starknaked]

"It makes me happier than you can imagine. Though close to when you agreed to this date," he said, almost looking embarrassed to make that admission.

"I'll even try and behave," he said, emphasizing try. He didn't promise he would, after all.

[specification]

Arthur lifted his gaze and gave him a smile. "The date has been fun - a lot of fun so far," he admitted. It had been a very long time since he could say he had been on a date, let alone, an all day date like they'd had.

He chuckled and took a bite of his food. "And by behave, you mean...," Arthur asked with a quirk of his lips, arching an eyebrow in Tony's direction.

[starknaked]

"I've enjoyed the entire day," he agreed, raising his glass before taking a drink. "And I suspect, while you're in town, it won't be the last. Of course, that does encourage me to try and find where you are and follow you to wherever you are," he tease.

"Not taking you here," he said plainly, taking another drink.

[specification]

He liked hearing that. Liked knowing this wouldn't be the only time they did something like this despite them both knowing it'd have to be kept secret and hush-hush. "I don't know, you could be lucky and I could even tell you where I am once or twice," he teased. "We could even meet up somewhere else after I'm done with a job."

Arthur picked up his glass and took a drink from it. "So you won't be taking me here and I'm going to have to wait a little longer," he asked with a teasing quirk of his lips. They had been waiting all day and while that in itself wasn't really hard, he enjoyed Tony's company for what it really was, he had been looking forward to Tony taking him. If it didn't happen here, he was sure it would happen later, after the phone call, back at the house. Arthur wasn't worried.

[starknaked]

"Tell me? You mean like a call and possibly coordinates and a roof top I could land on and then not have a device to get out of the suit," he teased, knowing he would take a plane, but he liked the idea. "I think we should do that. Maybe a mountain trip?" He did like snow and roaring fires, he couldn't deny that.

"POssible. I do kind of like the idea of having you in a bed," he admitted. "Something new and surprising," he added with a smirk. "Depends. Before we call Mal or after?"

[specification]

Arthur made a soft considering 'hm' under his breath. "I was thinking more specifically coordinates. A puzzle to figure out," Arthur sent him a small teasing smirk. He liked the idea though, all teasing aside. "Mm, I like that idea. Alone in a mountain cabin with you - with a fire going and keeping each other warm."

"Then back at the house, in bed," Arthur said. He didn't mind that idea, not in the least. "We should probably call Mal before we hide ourselves away in a bed."

[starknaked]

"Oh a puzzle. You know I have a suit, and Jarvis, right?" And if that failed, he had Pepper to boot. He was grinning though, liking the sound of this and all it could mean. "A bottle of scotch, no phones. Just us," he said with a nod.

Tony got quiet, fingers touching his pocket. "We could now. Then head back to the house."

[specification]

He chuckled. "I know," he said and took a sip of his drink. He swallowed heavily, his eyebrows raising. "No phones," he repeated. "You realize how hard that one is going to be, don't you?" There was a twinkle in his eye though - it would be nice to not be reached for a weekend.

Arthur noticed Tony touching his pocket. "We could," he agreed. "Are you done eating?"

[starknaked]

“It’s going to be nearly impossible and honestly, it means I still have to have one phone but it’s a Pepper only phone,” he said. Tony gave him a sheepish look. “I’m no longer allowed to go places without there being some way for Pepper to be able to make contact.” But that would be it. He was offering to cut himself off from everyone else.

He looked at his plate, considering it before nodding. “Might need a bite later but I’m good if you are. Only if you are.”

[specification]

"It will be nearly impossible," he agreed and grinned. "Then a Pepper only phone - that's it." From what he had read and researched, he wasn't at all surprised that Tony had a Pepper only phone in case something like it happened again. Arthur too, surprisingly, was willing to cut himself off from everyone, including even Mallorie. Just a weekend away - not answering questions about people, places or jobs. Just a weekend with Tony in a cabin far away from civilization. "I'll turn off my phone and keep it in the car," he said, with a smile.

He nodded. "We can eat later then but I'm good now."

[starknaked]

"I'm sure you believe that but it won't stop me from trying, from doing what I need to." What he needed to so he could spend time with Arthur. He loved the idea of just that. "So only the Pepper phone," he said with a nod. "When there's a stop between your work and mine, we'll find a cabin and the mountains and maybe snow. you ski," he asked, arching a brow.

He considered that, pulling his phone out of his pocket and turning it over and over again in his hand. "Shall we?"