Welcome Back [Heart in a Knot] - for Starknaked

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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

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"Wait, you're asking," Arthur asked with a little smirk and his eyes widening a little in a teasing manner. Arthur tilted his head to the side for Tony's mouth. In reality, it said a lot more than the surface words suggested. It meant that Arthur didn't mind the thought of being kept by Tony or being his.

[starknaked]

"Guess not. Offers off the table. Now it's an ultimatum," he said, giving him that Tony Stark is mad kind of look.

And then he kind of froze.

"Oh God. I'm dating someone," he said as if that had really only just hit him right that minute.

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Arthur allowed himself a full blown grin before leaning in and pressing a slow kiss to his lips. "I've had worse ultimatums," he said against Tony's lips before biting down on his bottom lip and tugging on it.

He pulled back from his lips and hummed. "And you're supposed to be the billionaire genius out of the two of us," Arthur said in a tone that was too fond to be truly mocking.

[starknaked]

"OH. Haha. I'm still those things. You forget the other word. Playboy. I guess that's out the window," he said, with a smirk.

"Sir," JARVIS began. "That has been the rumour for weeks now."

He paused, blinking at that. "Wait, what?" He looked at Arthur. "Did you know this?"

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His lips curled up into a smirk before he raised an eyebrow at the question. "I might have heard something from an over zealous architect who is a big fan of yours. Wasn't sure how much of it was factual and how much was a complete fabrication though," he said with a little shrug. Not that he had completely listened to him but it was still something he had over heard and glanced at on one of her many magazines she read on her break.

[starknaked]

Tony paused at that. In the end, he didn't read his own hype, he just believed in it and it was so. Except he'd overlooked this.

"What have they been saying," he asked, of either of them.

"It's believed you are seeing someone, though the reports vary on whom, Sir."

Tony sighed. "Well, that is true, technically."

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"In some of the more trashy of magazines, you've been linked to the likes of Lindsey Lohan. Most however seem to be linking you and Pepper," Arthur added. He hadn't been particularly interested when Gabrielle gushed about Tony because as far as Arthur was concerned, he knew the truth and knew more about the billionaire playboy than anyone else hoped to.

But it was technically true that Tony was seeing someone and that someone was himself.

[starknaked]

"Lindsey... Ew," he said, nose wrinkling. "You're kidding right? I mean, ew. She's not even my type and..."

And he stopped as those words sunk in.

"Because I am only seen with her," he said softly as it all started to make sense. "Well, shit." He looked at Arthur, suddenly worried. "Are you bothered by that?"

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Arthur bit back a laugh and nodded his head. "I know," he said then watched as the rest of his words sunk in.

"No, I'm not bothered," he admitted with a shake of his head. "I know you better than many people and know what we have. I'm not bothered," he smiled.

[starknaked]

He nodded, leaning back against the wall, considering this and what it meant. "It means you will be scrutinized Arthur. If you're not okay with that, then we'll find another way or do something else.

He made a face. "All these years trying to make myself a household name and now they use it against me."

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"You could arrive with Pepper tonight and I'll be in the office after you've made your rounds," Arthur said, after giving it a moment of thought. "That's for tonight. For future meetings...we can work out an identity or another course of action." It depended on what they wanted to do regarding this between them.

[starknaked]

He considered that, sighing heavily. "I'll have to check with Pepper. I won't use her unless she's willing," he admitted. "I mean, it would paint us together, as a couple. She shouldn't have to answer to that unless she wants to," he pointed out, showing just how much he cared for her.

"You know we can keep it as it is. I'll find an answer without you being involved."

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Arthur nodded his head. This situation wasn't the best and they both knew it. His job made it even harder if they were completely honest. "What do you think is the best course of action," he asked, looking at Tony. Leaving it in Tony's hands felt like a cop out, he was a part of this relationship too and it wasn't solely on Tony.

[starknaked]

"No. Don't. I will do what I have to so I can protect you, Arthur." And he realized as he said it, he meant it. He would protect Arthur in his, at whatever cost.

"What's the worst that happens if I come out as bisexual, Arthur?" He asked it with more bravado than he felt. "I become the poster boy for alternative lifestyles. Who would question me? You though, you could be found by people that would kill you," he pointed out.

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He was, admittedly, left a little shocked and a tad bit speechless. No one else, other than perhaps Mal and to a lesser degree Cobb, looked out for him like Tony did -- wanted to protect Arthur like Tony did. "No, I imagine that they'll accept you - bisexual or not," Arthur admitted with a little smile. "Like you said, it's a much different subject when it comes to me and I rather like being alive, crazy enough."

"So, then -- how about we just keep doing this as we have been for now. Until we can come up with a good enough identity and cover story." He wasn't sure it would absolutely work but it was a shot and for now, they could think and expand upon it. Surprisingly enough, he didn't want Tony to think that he didn't want to try this and work this out between them. He wanted to and it was the first time in a long time that he could honestly say that about anyone - male or female.

[starknaked]

That was the thing. Tony would protect him. Even up to, and including, leaving him if he had to. That was the last possible plan but if that was what it took, he would do whatever he had to for Arthur.

Stepping in to him, needing to hold him close as he could in that moment as he slid his arms around him, nuzzling at his temple.

"I'll talk with Pepper about it. She might be more than willing to help us." The likelihood would be that she would be more than willing to be there for them. She had done so much for Tony, this was just a step more. "We'll work it out, Arthur. Promise."

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Arthur wrapped both arms around Tony in return and breathed a soft, barely audible sigh. He liked this.

"She does have a soft spot for you," Arthur said with a twist of his lips, not jealous in the least. He was confident in this relationship of sorts with Tony. In of the fact that if either of them no longer wanted to be in this relationship, they'd have no qualms of telling the other. It was how both of them worked. "I know we will," he said, not doubting it at all.

[starknaked]

"Yeah, she does. I'm pretty sure she's insane. I should get her a good therapist. Of course, if I did that, I would probably need a new personal assistant. I suspect one would go hand in hand with the other," he admitted, amused with himself as he so often was.

"So... I'm an old guy keeping a secret, younger lover. I'm sure the world expected this long before I did."

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"After working for you for as long as she has, I think she's come to terms with who she's working for. It should be listed in the benefits package though - therapy sessions," Arthur chuckled, his tone fond. Arthur had seen for himself how worried and how much Pepper cared about her boss, about Tony Stark the man and not just because he was her boss but because of the bond between them.

Arthur ducked his head with a chuckle. "They probably have," he lifted his gaze to look up at him with a smirk not that he exactly listened to rumors or paid much attention to celebrity gossip.

[starknaked]

"That doesn't mean I want her life ruined because she's dating me," he admitted, thinking about all the things she had endured and now to be romantically linked to him. It would seriously curtail her personal life. Or it would if, you know, she had a personal life at all. He supposed it was a good thing she didn't.

"Well, I am protecting you. That's what matters to me. I swear."

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Arthur shook his head. "No, I dont' want her life ruined either or her personal life to be hindered in any way because she's helping us," he admitted. He liked Pepper, enjoyed talking to her when he was around and they were waiting for Tony to wake up.

"We'll figure something out," he said, looking at him steadily. "We'll talk with her and give her the choice. If she doesn't feel comfortable doing so, then we'll come up with a plan B."

[starknaked]

"I'll figure it out," he said with a steady nod and a smile that was the typical Tony Stark smirk. "Said I'd take care of you, didn't I," he asked, arching a brow. "I meant that, Arthur. I always will."

He imagined that if they broke up, he would make it his responsibility to still look after Arthur. He was a good man who deserved everything life could give him.

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It didn't surprise him in the least when Tony took it upon himself to figure it out and give him that typical, confident smirk. He liked it that, as many answers as Arthur was responsible for on a job and then some - it was nice that sometimes, others were just as or more capable with figuring things out as well. "You did but I can also take care of myself, Mr. Stark," he said, pinching his side lightly but clearly not upset.

Still, he would be lying if he said that deep down, he didn't like that Tony wanted to take care of him.

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He snorted, rolling his eyes. "Arthur, I trust you in everything," he admitted, not the least bit concerned to make that admissions. At least not on the outside. He was terrified of what could happen, that could drive a wedge between them and what they had, but he was going to let it stop them. Not if he had a choice. "But you have to keep a cover. I don't. That makes you in this a tiny bit more vulnerable," he pointed out, worried about him.

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Arthur might have been offended had he not known Tony as well as he did and knew that Tony trusted him. He felt a smile curl on his lips and stepped in closer to the other man. He would be lying if he said he wasn't afraid either but he was less prone than most to admit to any such thing. Still, he wasn't going to let it stop them either, stop them from having this.

"Yeah, it does," he admitted, not liking that but knowing it was just the truth. Arthur leaned in and press a slow kiss to Tony's lips before pulling back. "You need to talk to Pepper about tonight then and I need to get changed. Figure out what we're going to do."