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]

"And me?"

Because he'd been as complicit, after all.

[watchesthewatchers]

He shrugs, still watching ceiling tiles.

"I love you. You know that. I don't want to change you or police you. And I know he didn't tell you the whole truth to start with. So I can live with it."

Even if he's blinking hard, almost a year later.

"It's an irrational thing to mind."

[profiteering]

"I like him. I care what happens to him. But he's not you. You're my boyfriend for a reason--you're one of only two I've ever had. You're one of three people I've ever seriously dated. You're in my exclusive little club because I get more than a good time from you. You understand?"

He sits up, to peer down at Peter, block his vision. He's as relaxed as ever, but genuine, too.

"There are things about you that I could never find in anyone else."

[watchesthewatchers]

"I think I wasn't sure of that, then."

He explains, quietly.

"We didn't start out easy, remember?"

[profiteering]

"Well actually, for me?"

He shrugs, oops.

"Our relationship has been pretty smooth sailing. You should see how mine usually go."

[watchesthewatchers]

"You're my second boyfriend too."

He reminds him, eyes shutting.

[profiteering]

"Things were different then."

He starts icing Peter's cheek again.

[watchesthewatchers]

"Tell me how they are now? Compared to then."

Curious.

[profiteering]

"Oh I meant when you were dating someone else."

He teases. Half-teases.

"You don't have to hide as much from me. I won't ask questions a normal boyfriend would. Plus that superhero aspect gives me some advantages."

[watchesthewatchers]

"When was I dating someone else?"

Asks Peter, stunned.

[profiteering]

"Your first boyfriend. Things were different then. No one knew you were queer."

He frowns at him.

"Sorry."

[watchesthewatchers]

"Oh. I thought you meant when we were together."

Clarifying, with a shake of his head.

"I didn't come to you taken, that's all."

[profiteering]

He hums and shakes his head.

"I know you didn't, pet. Look, the point is I like this. A lot actually. You know?"

[watchesthewatchers]

"I do know."

Smiling, faintly.

"But it's also nice to hear."

[profiteering]

"If I had known it would bother you this much, I wouldn't have done it. I'm really not great at not spontaneously fucking other people but you are a priority. Okay?"

[watchesthewatchers]

"His part in it was much worse than yours. You just didn't think. He knew."

Peter explains, quietly.

[profiteering]

"So let's have that discussion we should have had then."

Tony Stark, making an effort to learn boundaries. Call the parade.

[watchesthewatchers]

"Don't sleep with people from that world."

Looking up at him, softly.

"If it's an acquaintance of mine, ask me first."

[profiteering]

"I promise."

He smiles, a little bit guilty.

"When I heard your voice on the phone after I told you about Ricki, I finally realized you liked me. You were worried."

[watchesthewatchers]

"He's dangerous. Not to you- but he could have been."

Defending, plaintively.

[profiteering]

"I know that now. I mean I kinda knew it when I told him I wanted him to fuck me with a gun and he had one of my high end models...but uh, I'm not used to being careful. Not for other people."

He shrinks back a little.

"I'm working on it."

[watchesthewatchers]

"Bruce Wayne took my gun."

He complains, quietly.

"Make me a new one?"

[profiteering]

"Give me the specs on paper and I'll get on it."

He loves making him things.

"How do you feel? Can you make it to my bed?"

[watchesthewatchers]

"Mmhm."

He agrees, straightening up a little.

"Bruce is eavesdropping outside the door."

[profiteering]

"He is-? How do you know?"

Spy talents fascinate him. Tony is too lost in his own head most of the time to notice the things that Peter does.