hello, good morning, love -- for starknaked

[specification]

It was a month in on this job from hell, or so he was starting to mentally refer to it as, and there was a faint light at the end of the tunnel that he could faintly see. They were hardly to the point where Arthur would feel confident in saying they were ready but they were making progress.

As he had promised, Arthur sent a text at least once a week even if it was as simple as 'i'm alive', 'hey' and 'how was your day'. Something where Tony knew he was alive and well.

It was Friday and even Arthur, the workaholic that he was prone to be, wanted the evening off just as much as everyone else seemed to. Instead of hitting a local restaurant or bar with the others, Arthur decided to return to his hotel suite and order in room service.

With his order in front of him and a glass of wine, Arthur picked up his phone and thought about what time it would be in California. 7:15 in the evening in Paris was roughly 10 AM in California. If Tony didn't get back to him now, Arthur would be up for a while either way.

Alone and I want you. Oh, and good morning, love.

Comments

[specification]

Arthur had told Tony a lot of things during his training - the pros and cons and everything in between. This had been a main point he had told him - if you go down too deep, it was too unstable and you could lose yourself. It just wasn't safe.

"That is comforting," Arthur said with a smile.

[starknaked]

"Yes, you mention three levels and the fear of me taking over the world - and I might add it would be me doing it again - that worries you," he asked, not sounding as much angry or upset as he did worried. It wasn't something that Tony Stark revealed often, but he would here and now. Only for Arthur.

[specification]

Arthur was silent for what seemed like a long minute or five. He wasn't one to truly reveal how worried he was either but with that confession of Tony's, Arthur felt safe to admit the same back. "I am worried, Tony," he said, softly. "Not about world take over but about this job. But I'm trying to focus more on what I can do to stop it from being a giant mess."

[starknaked]

That was what he wanted to hear, and yet what worried him so deeply. Quiet a second before sighing. "There's nothing I can do, is there," he asked, knowing the answer. Not with this. Not for Arthur's sake.

[specification]

"No, there isn't -- except throw me a private party when I return," he said, smiling. He didn't even tack on the part about if he returned. "I'm still holding you to the part about your office and teasing me until you make me beg."

[starknaked]

That was what he had feared and yet had almost known before he asked. "I can make sure that's arranged. Maybe hold that party in my office," he said, though already he knew it would be more than that. Arthur deserved more than that if... WHEN he made it back.

That he even thought itmade Tony tense.

[specification]

Arthur's lips curled up even more and he breathed exhaled slowly. "I really do miss you," he said, honestly and openly.

[starknaked]

"Yeah, I know you do," he said with a smile. "How could you not." Despite the bright tones, he paused before adding. "I miss you too."

[specification]

"I should hope you did," Arthur responded with a smile. He was silent for a minute, just listening to Tony. "I should probably let you go so you can get some rest. Pepper will already hate me later this evening when you have to go to the event."

[starknaked]

"I love Pepper but screw her. I see her every day and I don't know when I'll see you again," he said in a rough voice, hating admitting that. "Not that I won't pass out eventually but..."

[specification]

The point man could understand that. He never got to really speak this long with Tony. When they did get to talk, they were always short conversations and one of them was always half asleep. "I know," he said with a small smile. "We'll stay on the phone till one of us falls asleep."

"What have you been working on in the lab?" he asked, switching the topic of conversation around. He enjoyed hearing what the latest and best was coming out of Stark Industries or more specifically, out of Tony's lab.

[starknaked]

Laying back, knowing it would be him but he'd use the same will power that had kept him alive all these years to keep it going as long as he might. No matter how short that time might be.

"You're that bored, are you? Or playing to my genius," he asked with a laugh. "Doing some work on batteries with a sort of modified arc reactor to keep medical equipment running no matter what might happen with electricity and generators."

[specification]

Arthur's lips quirked up. "Just playing to your genius," he quipped before chuckling and listening to him talk. "That would be exceptionally beneficial to hospitals. Wonder what the initial cost would be for hospitals," he mused.

He stretched his legs out before slowly sitting up and leaning against the bed frame.

[starknaked]

"And you really do know the way to my heart, don't you," he asked, yawning long and loud despite himself. "That is the downside so far. It's insanely ridiculous, and only rich people trying not to die early would be able to afford it, so I've got to find a way around it without giving them away. Pepper is against that."

[specification]

"Of course - I am a point man after all," he said but his tone was teasing. Arthur couldn't resist the urge to smile when he heard Tony's yawn. Of course, as with all things when it comes to yawns, Arthur yawned in response. "Thanks," he muttered half heartedly.

He hummed in agreement. "You'll figure something out," he said, confidently. He chuckled softly. "Yes, she would be against that." But that wasn't to say anything against the woman. He liked Pepper but no, she would be against just giving them away.

[starknaked]

"I thought being a point man told you how to get to my brain, not my heart," he teased, snuggling in against the pillows as he rolled over onto his side.

"I figured something out. It was giving them away. Not my fault no one else likes that answer."

[specification]

Arthur chuckled. "It just means I use those skills to know the best way to your heart," he teased and curled up on his side.

He hummed in response. "Well, you do need to make some kind of profit to keep a business afloat," he mused. "Just tell Pepper it was an act of charity that most hospitals could use the technology to better assist the ailing. Especially if people keep trying to take over the world and people are harmed in the process of such events."

[starknaked]

"Once more explaining how you're the best at what you do," he said, amused and content at the conversation. With Arthur, talking in low tones as they were, he could talk about it and admit it, enjoying the truth of all they were working out between them.

"I can try that. I'm working on finalizing things at Stark Towers to make it entirely one hundred percent substainable energy on the same technology. If it works, well, we'll see exactly how it goes."

[specification]

"Exactly," he agreed, amused. It was nice talking to Tony like this -- to have the time to talk to him like this.

Arthur smiled. "I think it's fantastic," he said, honestly. It was after knowing Tony for as long he had and how he had learned to be in regards to the environment that he truly saw that this could do wonders for the world. His lips curled up wondering if Saito would attempt to buy them out next if they succeeded. If that happened, he would have Arthur to deal with. "And would greatly benefit many institutions as well if you took it elsewhere."

[starknaked]

"Greatly benefit many and piss off our government," he said cheerfully, which made it clear what part of the appeal was to him. Ever since they had tried to take the suit from him, he had taken to enjoying doing what he could to piss them off. "Free and sustainable energy? Not their desire, you know?" There wasn't a profit in it. Not long term.

"Wonder what one of these could do to your little machine," he said,not being insulting at all in the term.

[specification]

Arthur didn't exactly have the best track record when it came to the government either so he could certainly agree and understand Tony's position. He chuckled. "Course not - they wouldn't be making a profit from it and thus, they would want to squash it like a bug. Which makes it all more appealing."

He hummed and thought about it. "It might be worth an experiment or two to see what it could do to the PASIV."

[starknaked]

"Yes, doesn't it? I do love things that make them want to smash me and then they find out they can't. Kind of my hobby these days," he said with a snort and a laugh.

"I told you I wouldn't until you gave me leave. Is that permission?"

[specification]

"I can't imagine it, you of all people," he said with a tone of mock shock. He couldn't keep the facade up for long and chuckled at the end. "Just glad that they aren't able to squash you - rather like you alive and healthy."

"On one condition -- you can't test it on mine. I need at least a perfectly working one and who knows if the one you experiment on blows up or not." He paused. "And I want to be there."

[starknaked]

"I know. I'm a paragon," he said with a slow, lazy chuckle as he snuggled down into the pillow. "I'm glad for it too. No worries, Arthur. You're stuck with me for a long while yet." Which he liked thinking about, if he was honest.

"Get me another then," he said as if that was easy. "Or let me look at yours and I'll build my own from it," he offered because that was such a great offer. "Though I'm offended you think I blow up things that easily. How many times have I done it? Once? Twice? A half dozen?"

[specification]

Arthur grinned. He too liked that thought. "Holding you to that," he said. But he was realistic - not everything worked out in the end. Didn't mean he wouldn't try to make it work out for a long time to come though. Still, it was good that they were both on the same page these days.

"Let me get right on that," he said dryly. "You wait and you might get to experiment on Cobb's PASIV." He couldn't help but chuckle at that and pulled the sheets and blanket over his body. "Hm, I'd say a half dozen from what I've experienced and from what I've heard in papers and Pepper. Mostly from Pepper."