coming in from the cold

[watchesthewatchers]

He's gone for a month, and then he's back again, sitting on Tony's balcony, lighting one cigarette off the next, eyes closed.

Comments

[watchesthewatchers]

"I know. I just wonder what that will one day mean for you. Leamas was better friends with George than I."

Eyes closing.

[profiteering]

"What do you mean?"

He has the lights dimmed.

"I'm not just some civilian."

[watchesthewatchers]

"Yes, love, you are."

He insists, quietly.

"In my world, you are."

[profiteering]

"So what do you think it could mean for me someday?"

It's important to hear this; Peter rarely talks about his fears.

[watchesthewatchers]

"One day someone will smile, come up to you, and with a hand on your arm ask where you were last weekend, and then you'll never hear from me again."

[profiteering]

There's a taste like nickel on his tongue.

"Don't say that."

[watchesthewatchers]

"It's a reality."

He admits, tight and nervous.

[profiteering]

"It's not yet. This is."

Here, Tony wrapped around him, on a soft couch in Stark Tower.

"How do we keep it this way?"

[watchesthewatchers]

"I don't slip."

He says, seriously.

"I never slip."

[profiteering]

That's not a good plan. It's not a plan at all.

"Tell me what I need to do."

[watchesthewatchers]

"Pretend you've never met me."

Eyes closing.

"Always, even casually, even with people you like."

[profiteering]

He can do that. But.

"You come here a lot. And Ricki knows--Pepper and Bruce know."

[watchesthewatchers]

"I'll work something out with that."

He promises, scrubbing a hand over his eyes.

[profiteering]

"Ricki knows not to say anything. Bruce doesn't talk to anyone, Pepper...."

Well, that's a snag. She's good at fielding awkward questions, but not to the degree a spy needs.

"You should talk to her."

[watchesthewatchers]

"I will."

He gives him a watery smile, to see if Tony hates him yet, a little.

[profiteering]

Instead, Tony just huddles closer, smelling Peter's shampoo, his skin, his clothes.

"Look, I just... I really, really don't want to reach the day where you disappear."

[watchesthewatchers]

"Neither do I, but I'll promise you this."

Straightening up, touching a hand to his cheek.

"Once in my life, I made a decision to walk away from someone I loved in order to do better at this job. I won't ever make that choice again."

[profiteering]

That actually does help. He brushes his nose against Peter's and closes his eyes a moment.

"Thank you. I can promise you will always have a safe haven here."

[watchesthewatchers]

"That helps."

He admits, eyes closing.

"It may one day come to that."

[profiteering]

"If I have to make you a bullet proof iron suit, I will."

He promises, smiling.

"...And I still want to meet George. We could do a casual meet-in-Paris-for-coffee thing. Or here! He knows who I am and how many times a day I shower, I bet."

[watchesthewatchers]

"I'll show you London."

He decides, quietly.

"The real London."

[profiteering]

"It's a date."

He kisses him.

"Just the two of us?"

That is what separates Tony's partners from the people he merely sleeps or plays with. There are very, very few things that he will spend more than a few days away from Bruce or Pepper for. Peter is one of those reasons, now.

[watchesthewatchers]

"If you like. Though I wouldn't mind company in and out of my flat, if one or the other of them wanted to stop by for a day or two."

Suggesting, quietly.

[profiteering]

"Okay. Pepper feels out of place in Europe, but if you could help her pick out some shoes...."

If he wants to.

"And Bruce is still getting used to traveling legally."

[watchesthewatchers]

"Bruce might do better if he's travelling legally to a place where he can have a glass of juice for less than it takes to feed a child for a day in Lesotho."

He explains, lifting Tony's knuckles to his mouth.