long overdue

[watchesthewatchers]

It's Ricki's little ramshackle apartment, but there Peter is one morning, perched on the loveseat, reading a file, waiting for Bruce Wayne to arrive.

He has a gun, but tucked out of sight, not on his person. Just in case.

Comments

[profiteering]

"Ok but you know he's the one with the broken wrist right?"

He nudges Peter under the blankets, and then does get up to take the conversation to another room.

[rickitikitarr]

"That he articulately warned Bruce he was about to break if he didn't release the hold. He knew what he was doing."

Ricki objects, quietly.

"Bruce owes him one too. But the things Peter said were cruel, Tony. He's a master at manipulation and he knows he's in the wrong here. Otherwise he wouldn't have promised to give me up. Do you see that?"

[profiteering]

Tony is quiet as he thinks that over and finally sighs.

"I'll talk to him. When's your next report in date? Next week?"

[rickitikitarr]

"Day after tomorrow."

He admits, softly.

"I'm about two weeks away."

He moved mountains for him.

[profiteering]

And Tony knows it. Even by his most demanding estimate, Ricki wouldn't have come close to what he's actually accomplished.

"I reserve the right to celebrate with you."

[rickitikitarr]

"Anything you like, pet."

Smiling.

"It was for you."

[profiteering]

"Thank you."

If they had been in person he wouldn't have said a word, he would simply have laid his head on Ricki's shoulder. But there's distance, and so he can only sound as grateful as he feels.

"...I've missed you. Just in case you wondered."

[rickitikitarr]

"When it's done, we'll take some time. I'll ask Bruce about making good on a few of those early promises."

Smiling, quickly.

"If you like."

[profiteering]

"I've wanted that for months. Maybe we'll even get the hotheads to make up."

[rickitikitarr]

"Maybe."

Smiling.

"You're sure Peter's all right? He hates losing."

[profiteering]

"...What did he lose? Is this a spy game?"

He has Dummy start in on making the coffee. He's wearing the collar still, and doesn't realize the compulsion he has to make tea until after he's already set it up for Bruce.

[rickitikitarr]

"I don't think things went exactly how he'd hoped."

He says, delicately.

"I'll let you ask him about that, in case I'm misreading."

[profiteering]

"I will."

He flops on the sofa.

"I have some stories for you."

[rickitikitarr]

"Can I have them now? The snugglebug is still down for the night, he probably won't be up for a while."

Sitting on his own armchair, smiling, propping his feet up.

[profiteering]

"I got around to some water torture. I watched, but still, for me? Very big step."

He grins, watching the ceiling.

[rickitikitarr]

"That is big."

He admits, eyebrows lifting.

"Why did you want to?"

[profiteering]

"Bruce wanted me to. When I first told him why I don't like- you know. Water. Being drowned. He said he wanted to waterboard me."

Tony takes a deep breath.

"But I guess I get a little twitchy in the shower so he changed his mind. I guess I figure playing around in water with him will prove something."

And it has, so he sounds very satisfied.

[rickitikitarr]

"You two are a little demented, you know that?"

He's smiling, though.

"I can't say I entirely approve, but I'm pleased you're happy."

[profiteering]

Tony laughs.

"I blame you for my recent danger-kink, you took my gunplay cherry. What's new with you?"

[rickitikitarr]

"Just work. Bruce and I are almost entirely vanilla. Once we had a bit of a tumble in the suit, but that was it."

Shrugging.

"It's been- just lovely."

[profiteering]

"The vanilla, that's a surprise. You seem so--I don't know, both of you seem like you live on the edge. I guess that makes you need a safe place though, huh."

He chuckles.

"Tell me about that suit incident?"

[rickitikitarr]

"I was looking into a boat for you, he came across me on duty."

Grinning, tipping his head back.

[profiteering]

"...Jesus Christ, did he tie you up?"

Tony shouldn't sound so eager about this.

[rickitikitarr]

"Mmhm. Hands and feet. Dragged me into his boat like that and flung me over the dash. My head was ringing."

Soft, reminiscent.

"I couldn't get my hips to open up. It felt like death and absolution. He moved so hard I thought I'd never breathe again, I was doubled right over. He flipped me onto my back and brought me knees up, furled me and worked me until I came, and caught my own face with it."

[profiteering]

Tony breathes softly, just imagining that. He's surprised at himself for how happy he is for Ricki.

"He's so mean when he's in Bat-mode. And you still went back to vanilla after that?"