Welcome Back [Heart in a Knot] - for Starknaked

[specification]

It had been two months since Arthur had seen Tony. Two months of text messages, phone calls and stolen moments over web cam while Arthur worked a job in Moscow. It was supposed to have been done weeks ago - simple extraction but of course, it never goes the way it should go despite his every precaution. Sometimes, the mark just doesn't want to do what you mentally will them and expect them to do.

He was finally in Malibu again without a tail on his trail and at least a week before he was off to the next job. It was 5:30 in the morning (5:34 a.m. to be exact) and he knew that when he walked into Tony's house, Tony would be asleep. Instead of entertaining himself for the next several hours, he knew he would rather be at Tony's Malibu mansion and in the man's arms than anywhere else. And he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, Tony would prefer the same.

It was 5:50 when he pulled up to the house in the rental car and it took hardly any time to get inside with what he needed (PASIV, messenger bag and suitcase), using the key Tony had given him so many months ago on that first job. He left everything resting inside of the doorway (he wouldn't be needing them right away) and locked the door before heading up the steps to Tony's room - keeping silent as he did so as to not wake anyone else.

Arthur felt a smile tug on his lips when he stepped into the older man's bedroom and shut the door gently behind him. Not completely silent so as to completely startle Tony but still keeping it quiet.

Fuck, but he had missed him.

He toed of his shoes and socks, removed his suit jacket and rested it over a chair before undoing the buttons on his waist coat. The entire time, he kept his gaze on Tony's form underneath the blankets. Knowing him, he had probably only been asleep for only an hour or two at most. They were very much alike in that regard.

Before long, Arthur slid underneath the blanket next to Tony with only a pair of boxers on.

Comments

[specification]

He could tell that Tony had put quite a bit of thought into that and couldn't help his chuckle. "That is definitely one way of seeing it," Arthur mused with a grin. Though, when it came to Tony and the parties that he was known to have and attend, it was more or less true. Especially ones held at Stark Industries. "Regardless, we get there on time and the sooner you can have me in that office," Arthur teased him with a grin. He knew it would take a little while for Tony to make the rounds enough to please Pepper but that was why Arthur would bring something to entertain himself with until they could indulge in each other.

[starknaked]

"Oh now that's just cheating. Really? You're using sex logic to get me to do what I'm supposed to," he asked with a snort. "Now that it just cheating. Mostly because it's going to work," he admitted, a low rumble of a chuckle in his voice.

"What will you be doing while you wait for me?"

[specification]

Arthur laughed. "I don't call it cheating," he said with a smirk, watching his reactions. "How can it be cheating when we will be getting exactly what we want?"

"Mm, haven't decided yet. Maybe bring a book with me."

[starknaked]

"Manipulation, Arthur. You're manipulating me to get me to do what I should," he said, as if doing what he should do was such a horrible thing, or he didn't know he needed to do it.

"You're going to wait for me and read a book." He paused and then grinned. "Naked."

[specification]

"Manipulation is such a dirty word. I prefer...enticing you to do what is needing to be done," Arthur said with a teasing tone.

His eyebrows rose. "Naked, hm? I don't think I agreed to that one," he smirked.

[starknaked]

“Dirty or not, it’s honest,” he teased, not minding this. Not in the least. The laughter, the jokes, the fact they were this at ease with one another. It was so new, and so welcome.

“I think you did. Time saving,” he added, as if that was the right answer.

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Arthur chuckled. "Honest but still dirty." He didn't mind this either - the teasing each other and the joking. It was one of the things that he enjoyed most, if he were honest.

He hummed. "Mm, don't think I did," he grinned, sliding his hand over Tony's chest before slowly starting to sit up. "Just have to see when you walk in," he teased. Besides, who knew who else would be wanting to hide out during the party. It was possible that someone else would come barging into the office looking for an empty room.

[starknaked]

"I think that describes me," he said with a bright smile. "Don't you think so? Honest but still dirty? I think that says a lot about me." At least with Arthur he could admit to that. He might not with others, even if the others thought that was a truth about him. Screw what they thought. He wasn't worried about them.

He sighed as he sat up, moving away. "Oh I see how it is. Make me deal with them, wondering if you're naked and alone. Though I warn, don't sit in a leather chair naked," he teased.

[specification]

"I think it discribes you perfectly," Arthur admitted with a grin. It of course didn't escape Arthur's notice that was it anyone else, Tony probably wouldn't have said it or admitted to as much with just anyone else. He wasn't that kind of man.

He watched Tony sit up and move away. "No plans to sit in a leather chair naked," he smirked. "Hopefully no one else will want to hide out and walk in unexpectedly." He stood from the bed and stretched his arms out slowly. That extra sleep had been needed and much appreciated. The fact that he had gotten to sleep in Tony's arms made it even better and even more restful if he was honest.

[starknaked]

Heading for the closet, he stopped there and looked back at Arthur. Standing there, watching that beautiful man in his head bed. So elegant and sexy and damn but he wanted to keep him there as long as he could.

"So you do plan to be naked because you worry about people coming in unexpectedly. Good to know," he teased, grinning. "So I know you'll be ready. Good."

[specification]

Arthur took a long moment to look Tony over slowly before walking over. "No, no plans to be naked," he smirked. "But, this time I will be prepared with lube. Since, it has been a month since we've been together last."

He rested a hand on Tony's chest before looking up at him. "Still have my suit from the last time I was here?" He had one downstairs too in his suitcase that he never brought up but if he had one already hung up, he'd wear that first.

[starknaked]

"Are you enjoying my nudity," he asked with a grin. He knew the answer, but he did like making Arthur admit it. Especially because of the look he got so often.

He nodded, tugging open the closet door. "Yep. Right in here," he said with a nod. "Would you like it now or later? I vote for later."

[specification]

Arthur looked at him with a fake considering look and hummed. "I think the bigger question is, when haven't I enjoyed your nudity, you hedonist," he asked with a smirk.

He nodded, least it was still in there. It felt...almost domestic like - having kept some of his clothes here. It hadn't been completely intentional but afterward, he was glad that he had left it behind and a few other articles of clothing if he remembered right. Arthur chuckled. "Let's go ahead and bring it out but I'll change into it a little later after I eat something."

[starknaked]

Standing there, one hand on the door of the closet and looking utterly comfortable with himself and what they had between them. He was utterly comfortable with himself, especially with Arthur. The man had been in his head, seen more than literally anyone. He found that made him more at ease with Arthur rather than less. He hadn't been sure about that in the beginning.

He nodded, glancing back at the closet. "You know... There's a lot of space in here. I mean, not that you have to but if you wanted to, you could always leave a few things here. Make traveling easier."

[specification]

A slow smile grew on Arthur's lips when Tony offered to let him keep some of his stuff there. Apart from the places he owned and went back to, Arthur didn't keep his stuff just anywhere else. He watched Tony as he said it and knew it meant a lot if he was offering it.

In a moment of indulgence, Arthur wrapped his arms around him. "It would make traveling easier," he admitted and looked at him. "I'd like that," he said, softly.

Tony was the first in a long time that Arthur had allowed himself to grow close to - close enough where he felt this sense of okay with leaving some of his stuff here. Where he was more than okay with having a committed relationship with the older man.

[starknaked]

It was new for Tony. He was, after all, Tony Stark. Playboy Millionaire. He had a dozen women in and out of his place. Hell, he knew he was going to have to either start faking a few things, come up to admitting the truth, or find a way to talk with Arthur about where they stood. The tabloids were starting to notice that he wasn't playing around as much as he had before. They were talking someone finding a permanent place in his heart and home. They weren't wrong, that much he could admit, but he couldn't tell them either. Not yet. Maybe not ever with Arthur's job.

"Good. I'll make you a tiny spot. Maybe a shelf," he teased, pulling him that bit closer, kissing him softly. "Seriously though... I would really like it if you left things here. If only so you're more comfortable during your time here."

He realized then how much he wanted this, how comfortable he himself was with the idea.

"If you want, that is."

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"Oh? A shelf," Arthur teased him in return, moving in closer and returning his kiss with a chuckle. "I don't know, if it's just a shelf," he said slowly, giving him a faux considering look before dropping the act and tightening his arms around him.

It was only after Tony said it and after he gave it a moment of thought that he knew what he wanted. "I'd like that,' he said, sliding a hand up to rest on the side of Tony's neck. "I'd like to keep my things here." Things he wouldn't always need but would want if he were staying with Tony for a little bit.

[starknaked]

"Keep it up and you'll get nothing more than a drawer," he scoffed, snorting as he glared at Arthur. None of it lasted though as he leaned in, kissing him softly. Just a quick, tender kiss.

"Good. You're welcome here, Arthur. I want you to know that." He'd never done that. Not with anyone, yet with Arthur he was finding the idea of him there more and more as a good thing.

[specification]

"You'd at least have to give me a half dozen hangers for various suits," Arthur said, giving him a cheeky little smile in response to the glare. The smile turned into a grin when Tony leaned into kiss him. He sighed and leaned up to press a kiss a little more firmly against his lips.

He knew. If he wasn't, the suit probably wouldn't have been left here and would have been located in a guest bedroom somewhere on the first floor or elsewhere. He nodded his head. "I know," Arthur said, having at least figured as much. "Glad for that," he admitted and slid his hand over Tony's stubbled cheek.

[starknaked]

He leaned back, looking over the closet. Folding one arm over his chest, he braced the other elbow in his hand, cupping his chin as if giving it hard and serious thought.

“I guess I can do that,” he finally allowed, rolling his eyes a bit and making a face. “Maybe even a full rack,” he teased. “I would only have to get rid of a suit or two.’ Given the wardrobe he had, it wasn’t too much to make room. Not for Arthur.

Smiling, he turned a bit toward Arthur and leaned into his touch, sliding his arms back around him. “You scare the shit out of me,” he said brightly, as if he was talking about the weather.

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Arthur allowed himself a full blown smile as he moved in closer to him. "You may have to give up half of the closet," he teased in return.

"Why," he asked though had the feeling he knew why Tony did just as much as Arthur did with Tony. To have someone that important to him, in a career that Arthur did -- it was scary as fuck and not something Arthur normally did. But he couldn't find it in himself to have that regret, to have become as close as he had with Tony. He cared for him more than he had found himself caring about anyone else before.

If he didn't, Arthur wouldn't be here when he needed to lay low for a little bit and take a breather. He would have gone to one of his safe houses - Paris, Montreal, Prague.

[starknaked]

"I may have you your own closet built," he allowed, still not quite smirking entirely. Not with those words and that admission he'd made.

"You're here. That's scary. We're talking closet space and things kept here. We've gone on dates to the home of friends. We have a life together, Arthur. I've never shared that with anyone but Pepper, and that doesn't count entirely the same, does it? Then there's you and this and intimidating to me. I won't ever repeat that to anyone else."

[specification]

Arthur stayed quiet. No one had offered him a closet before. Hell, he never stayed around enough to justify a closet being a built or anything like it. He nodded as Tony talked, understanding the feeling perfectly. "I feel the same way," he admitted, looking at him openly and honestly.

[starknaked]

He pulled him close, kissing him slow and deep. It was more of the emotions than he could find words for. He wanted to say more but he wasn't sure how, so he turned it to kisses. Emotions he could do... through sexuality.

[specification]

He smiled and returned the slow and deep kiss, stepping in closer as he slid a hand into Tony's hair. He had no problem with this way of communication. He had learned over their time together that when Tony didn't have the words for something, that he allowed his actions to speak for him. Mostly, those actions were sexual in nature and for the life of him, Arthur couldn't find it in himself to be bothered by it.