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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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.

[starknaked]

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."

[starknaked]

He pulled Arthur in close, holding him to him for a long moment. His kisses were soft, tender, and he didn't want to let go. Yet, after a time, he did with a sigh.

"Yeah. We'll get ready for tonight and we'll do our best to get this all settled," he said with a nod.

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He nodded and breathed a soft breath before sliding his hands down over Tony's chest and taking a step back. "Want to take a shower with me," he asked, sending the man a little smirk before stepping around him and taking his suit out of the closet so he could lay it out as he showered.

[starknaked]

A brow arched at that, smiling in a slow, wicked way. "If I shower with you, then we're going to be a lot slower in getting ready," he said, even as he took Arthur's hand. "I think this is the best plan you've had in months," he said, interrupting him working on getting his suit.

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"If we shower -- we could just shower or we can maybe work out some of the sexual frustration that we've had since I left," he said, turning to fully look at him with a little smirk. He chuckled, letting the suit stay in place momentarily as he tightened his hand on Tony's. "So, just to make sure we're both clear -- you are interested in taking a shower with me?"

[starknaked]

"Do you have to ask that," he scoffed, giving Arthur a hard look. "I am always interested in having you naked and willing. You're talking to Tony Stark,' He reminded him, as if Arthur might have forgotten.

"Put the suit down," he ordered, soft and not demanding. "And let's get in the shower."

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"As well as in the shower," Arthur supplied with a helpful little smirk. His eyebrow rose as if in surprise. "Is that who you are? Here I thought I was visiting and sleeping with someone else completely different." He grinned, giving no illusion that he had been at all serious and left the suit hanging where it was before tugging on Tony's hand as he walked toward the bathroom. "Shower it is then."

[starknaked]

'Keep it up and you'll be taking a cold shower alone," he said, and he knew they both knew he didn't mean it. It wasn't what he would do.

But he let Arthur take his hand, leading the way to the shower. "You're amused with yourself, aren't you," he asked, his grin showing he was damn well amused by it all.

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"Liar," Arthur accused him with a grin. They both knew that he wouldn't do that. "You want this shower as much as I do -- or at least, what cames with it."

He hummed nonchalantly but sent him a grin. "Of course I am," he said and walked over to the shower to turn it on. Tony's house was, to be frank, pretty much unlike anyone else's house that he had ever been in. And that was in and out of dream spaces.

[starknaked]

“What I want is you. Wet or not. Eager and willing,” he said, his voice dropping, low and husky with desire that he normally made no effort to hide, and definitely wouldn’t keep from Arthur. He wanted him, however he got him. What scared Tony the most was that he wanted him, even if it didn’t come with sex.

“Keep it up. One word and the water is icy,” he teased, smirking.

“No, Sir. I would not do that to Mister Arthur,” Jarvis said, his voice cool and steady.

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Arthur sent him a wicked little look as he stepped in closer to Tony. "Always willing," he said, licking at his bottom lip. "Unless, of course, there's a job and I'm distracted," he smirked and even then, he still wanted Tony and wanted to be close to him.

He chuckled. "Thank you, Jarvis. At least he's on my side," he teased him, sliding his hand down over Tony's chest. "Come on, I've spent over twenty four hours on different planes and in different airports -- need a shower." Arthur leaned up and pressed a slow kiss to his lips.

[starknaked]

"Oh. So I'm secondary to the job," he asked, stunned and playing it up for all it was worth, all that he could. "I see how it is. I'm secondary to dreams," he bemoaned.

"I can reprogram him," he pointed out. "While you're being less plane gross," he added, though he chuckled as he kissed him back, slow and deep.

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"Well," he drawled out slowly. "Yes and no." Arthur smirked in amusement and watched his reactions. "Mm, not always."

Arthur chuckled. "Think we've discussed that there wil be no reprogramming of any kind happening. Especially while I'm not washing the smell and grossness of planes off of me," he said with a grin. He stepped in closer and deepened the kiss further. He moved his hands down to his boxers to slide them down and off his hips, stepping out of them once they hit the floor. "Shower," he said, stepping backward toward the large shower.

[starknaked]

"Yep, that clears things right out," he teased with a roll of his eyes.

"And everyone is starting to like you better. I'm not sure why," he said, not like he cared about Arthur so much more than he had so many in years. So much more than he had anyone but perhaps Pepper and his AIs.

Standing back, he watched Arthur until he stepped into the shower.

The water came on, warm and coursing down onto the tiles.

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"It's my charming disposition and my dry wit," Arthur said, giving him an amused smile. He knew Tony cared about him too - more than he did a lot of other people, if their conversation from just minutes ago had any indication of. He closed his eyes as he warm water started and sprayed down onto him. He lifted his hands to rub over his face and push back his hair. "Thank you, Jarvis," he said, turning to the water and just standing for a long moment. God, but that felt good.

"Going to join me, Mr. Stark," he asked, looking over at him with a little wink.

[starknaked]

"I thought it was your ass," he said, smirking and more than amused with himself for laying it on that.

"You are most welcome, Mr Arthur," Jarvis said, always one for manners. Tony smirked, liking that everyone in his life had found Arthur acceptable.

"I think I may," he said, moving to get in the shower with him, giving him space to enjoy it for the moment though.

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"While I agree my ass is pretty remarkable, I'm fairly certain it's not the deciding factor," Arthur chuckled. He stood underneath the hot shower and felt his shoulders lose a bit more of their left over tension. He turned away from the spray a few minutes later and faced Tony. "Would have been a little disappointed if you hadn't joined me," he teased him, looking him over slowly before sliding his fingers over his wet hair that has since lost all of it's gel.

He was thankful that the important people in Tony's life liked him well enough. While other peoples opinions of him normally didn't matter as much to him, he found himself wanting those involved in Tony's life to like him. It did make it easier at least -- especially when it came to those like Jarvis and Pepper.

[starknaked]

He gave Arthur his space, letting him enjoy the water and the time with the heat. Course, when he faced him, he moved in a bit closer. Not entirely there, close but not crowding him. “That’s because I’m amazing and you love it when I’m desperate for you. Which is all the time,” he pointed out.

Maybe it wasn’t true, but he believed it.

“So… Do I have to behave,” he asked, arching a brow, and giving Arthur that opening.

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Arthur smiled and urged him even closer. "No - you don't have to behave. Prefer you didn't," he said honestly, stepping closer to the other man.

"You know, you're not the only one desperate," he said, sliding a hand down Tony's arm. He was too - always found himself wanting to be around Tony when he was elsewhere.

[starknaked]

Tony seemed to consider that, head cocking to one side and looking Arthur over slowly. He seemed to definitely be thinking about what he should do.

Which was when he surged forward, shoving Arthur up against the wall. His body pressed to his, mouth crashing down on his lover's for a hard, demanding kiss.

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This was exactly what Arthur wanted. Sure, they didn't have nearly as much time as either of them probably wanted, what with the party that evening, but they had just enough time to indulge just a little. It had been two months after all.

Arthur groaned into the kiss and returned it equally demanding, cupping the back of Tony's head as he leaned up into it. His free hand, meanwhile, held onto Tony's bicep.