endgame

[watchesthewatchers]

And then one day at around noon, Tony gets a sudden call from a number Peter sometimes uses.

Only it's Arthur's voice that bites out;

"He needs a jet. He's in Hong Kong."

Comments

[greatdealofbravery]

"SHIELD's not involved. This was pure human legwork. They were extracting a man from China. I'd militarized his subconscious, he contracted me to work a refresher treatment this week, in preparation for something like this. The CIA and Guillam's boss here moved at the same time, and one of his men was going rogue at the time. It's been playing the last couple of days, and it's ugly. Smiley is out on his ear, so say the rumours."

[profiteering]

"Fuck."

He sighs, eyes closing briefly.

"I'll feel better, because Fury runs a ship of spies, if we keep you and Peter hidden with me for a while. While I figure out if the CIA's going to pay a visit."

[greatdealofbravery]

"It really was one of his own who hurt him this badly."

Arthur explains, looking over at Peter.

"I think they were friends. The man is dead, now."

[profiteering]

"Who killed him?"

As he strokes Peter's arm.

[watchesthewatchers]

"Fawn."

Peter supplies, drowsily. His mouth curls in disgust.

[profiteering]

Tony pushes Peter's hair back.

"How high are you, baby?"

[watchesthewatchers]

"Not high enough."

Gripes Peter, looking up at him, looking exhausted.

"I'm glad you're here. I'm so glad you're here."

[profiteering]

He rubs the back of his hand against Peter's cheek.

"Me, too. I'll take care of you, okay?"

[watchesthewatchers]

"It's my fault. They've got him and we're never getting him back- not that it means much, if Arthur worked on him."

Giving him a petulant little look, to which Arthur shrugs.

[profiteering]

"We're not worrying about that until we're on the ground and you're fixed up."

Tony, for his part, doesn't want to think about spy politics until he knows everyone is safe.

[greatdealofbravery]

Arthur gives Peter what can only be described as a sly wink.

"If they interrogate him, it'll have to be while he's awake. That man is a bomb to anyone who goes into his head."

[profiteering]

"Found that out first hand?"

Tony asks, but with a glad smile. That's a relief, at least.

[watchesthewatchers]

"It's not going to do him any good." Peter tells him, shaking his head. "CIA aren't shy about their pressure techniques."

[profiteering]

"I'll take out Langley before I let them take him."

He says very simply.

[watchesthewatchers]

"I'm not talking about Arthur, I'm talking about Nelson."

Slurs Peter, because the narrative is a little jumbled, now.

[profiteering]

"Shhh."

Says Tony, who has learned not to push for details of MI-6 business when his lover is high.

"Just tell us who your favorite hero is."

[watchesthewatchers]

"Iron Manatee has some regrets."

Answers Peter, dreamily.

Arthur's eyebrows skyrocket.

[profiteering]

Tony laughs, hard, and kisses his stomach.

For Arthur he's kind and explains: "he has a collection of Iron Man joke shirts for me."

[watchesthewatchers]

"I might lose them. Not sure it's a good idea to go back to the flat just yet, and you can expect them to turn it if I don't report in."

Peter tells him, stretching out to rest a cheek on his stomach.

[profiteering]

"We'll get you more."

Tony promises, massaging his fingers through Peter's hair.

"Arthur needs to see them."

[greatdealofbravery]

"I guess this does kind of dispel the anxiety about us meeting."

He says, thoughtfully.

[profiteering]

"I have a talent for that."

Tony teases, checking Peter's fingertips again to be sure he's still got bloodflow from his bad shoulder.

[greatdealofbravery]

He does, though even shifting his hand for Tony to see makes him draw in a short breath.

"I see why you love each other." Arthur admits, quietly.

[profiteering]

"He's not as hard to love as he thinks."

Tony says, warm and possessive.

"Are you, pet?"

[watchesthewatchers]

"I need you to tell me right now that if it's all gone to hell, if I can never set foot in London again, you'll help me, you'll let me stay if I need."

Peter begs him, very quietly.

"Would you? Give me amnesty, let me... be there, more than every few weekends?"