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

[zen_en_vert]

"Me?"

Butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. (But his eyes have such a glint.)

"Oh, daddy, never."

[profiteering]

He grabs a wooden spoon and swats Bruce with it.

"Now you're lying?"

[zen_en_vert]

He reaches out and pulls him in closer.

"All right, we're doing that. Soon. But for now, we need to settle down."

[profiteering]

"You're doing that 'making sense' thing again, and I don't like it."

He smirks, all but sticking his tongue out at him.

"Peter wants us both by the way. I told him we could spoil him with a three-way."

[zen_en_vert]

"That's flattering."

He says, smiling widely.

"After that, though, I thought I'd give you both a day or two alone."

[profiteering]

"He'd like that. I think we need to reconnect."

He agrees readily, but as soon as he does there's evident surprise and he steps a little bit closer to Bruce.

"...Huh. When is the last time I didn't see you for more than a day?"

[zen_en_vert]

"The weekend you spent with Pepper after our watershed week."

Remembering perfectly.

[profiteering]

He nods slowly, pulling Bruce unconsciously closer.

"I loved being with her. She needed it. But...it was really hard. Too. For me. I felt like I'd been dropped out of a plane."

[zen_en_vert]

"I'll be a phonecall away, if you need me."

Kissing his jaw, tenderly.

"No planes this time."

[profiteering]

"Okay."

He whispers, eyes closing peacefully.

"You know I'm not usually clingy, right?"

[zen_en_vert]

"You know I will give you whatever you need, no matter what."

Soft and firm.

[profiteering]

Tony relaxes in that way he has that only Bruce gets to see.

"I want to wear my collar. I think I'll be calmer if I've got that. God knows Peter and Wayne need a little calm right now from me."

[zen_en_vert]

"Agreed."

Says Bruce.

"And when you're showering, if Peter's not with you, you'll do it on your knees. Understood?"

[profiteering]

He looks at him, submitting gratefully. He'd go down on his knees right now if he didn't have his own pet to look after.

"Yes, sir. Can I use your soap?"

[zen_en_vert]

"I'd like that, clever thing."

Kissing his forehead.

"Are you wound up still, or about ready for bed?"

[profiteering]

"Put my collar on. Then I'll sleep."

He decides, pulling Bruce away to his bedroom. He picks up the collar and hands it to Bruce to put around his neck.

[zen_en_vert]

"You have permission to unlock this in case of emergencies."

Kissing his temple.

"Whatever that means to you. Press, personal, anything like that. Other than in an urgent situation, you're to keep it on until I give you permission."

They've never given restrictions like this before.

"You may ask permission at any time. But you're to wait to get it."

[profiteering]

"Yes, sir."

He murmurs, aware that just talking might be waking Peter up, but he finds he doesn't mind Peter seeing him collared. The second the lock is fixed, he rests his head against Bruce's stomach and just stays there a moment. Then he pats the space behind Peter, indicating Bruce should lie there.

[zen_en_vert]

"Wait."

Taking him by the chin, for just a second.

"I'm proud of you."

[profiteering]

"Me?"

He looks up at him, quiet and relaxed now, but still very clearly worried.

[zen_en_vert]

"Yes, you."

Smiling at him.

"I think you're doing the right thing."

[profiteering]

He grins and runs a hand over his hip.

"Well, I'm taking your advice."

[zen_en_vert]

"Incidental to that."

Letting him go, to lie down next to Peter, who starts awake at the shift in the bed.

[profiteering]

"Shhh, hey, there."

Tony wraps an arm around Peter to soothe him.

[watchesthewatchers]

Peter groans, and eases into him with a yawn, trusting and sure.

Bruce smiles, and presses himself up against Peter's back, tucking him neatly between them.