Work Text:
It was another long, tireless day at the Herald for Arthur who was leaving just a little past 7 PM. He knew Curt would be going insane by this point, wondering where he was or worrying sick that something happened. The first couple of nights that they lived together and those long nights occurred, Curt called his office multiple times, fully convinced that something was wrong. Everyone within a 5 mile radius could hear Curt screaming and cursing over the phone about Lou having Arthur stay so late. While embarrassing in the moment, Arthur didn’t fully mind and was in fact almost romanced by the idea of someone giving enough of a damn about him to call, as sad as that was.
Arthur thought the bar could not get any lower than that, but it truly was where his standards were set at for years. In and out relationships, shallow feelings that vanished the second they saw Arthur for a person and not a kid they could project onto. But that also made Arthur wonder. He wondered if all he had to offer sometimes was a blank canvas, a project. Maybe he should be grateful to have anyone like Curt who could stand his fairly boring life.
Struggling to even put the key in his door, he finally was able to stumble through the door. He walked through and spotted Curt sitting on the couch, lazily strumming his guitar with a cigarette hanging from his lips. He looked up at Arthur, eyes brightening at the sight of him in a way that made his stomach stir.
“Christ, Arthur,” Curt said, moving to Arthur and kissing him, “you look like hell.” Arthur sported a good-natured grin.
“Thanks, you look great too, luv.”
Curt’s expression softened, eyebrows knitted. “Something wrong?” Arthur bit his lip, glancing to the side.
“S’fine.”
“Did someone fuck with you at work?” Curt asked, a snarl beginning to stretch across his face. Arthur shook his head, hand gently taking Curt’s.
“Nothing happened, I promise. Just a bit tired is all.”
“This stoic British shit gets real annoying sometimes, you know.” Arthur pressed his lips into a thin line and pushed back a chuckle.
“Curt, please it’s just been a long day.” Curt sighed, another peck on Arthur’s cheek.
“Fine, fine, I ordered food if you’re hungry.” Arthur nodded, letting Curt lead him to the table as he grabbed the takeout on the way. Arthur stared down at the food, not feeling much of an appetite. It was stupid that he felt this way, if Curt wanted to leave him he would, but that didn’t keep his mind from being clouded with doubt.
“Arthur come the fuck on. What’s up?”
“Curt,” said Arthur, “I’m not…I mean—I don’t bore you do I? I know it seems I’m always working or wanting to stay in anymore but…”
“That’s it? Shit I thought something happened to you.” Reaching across the table, Curt’s fingers brushed Arthur’s knuckles. “I don’t give a fuck about going out all night. I like being with you, trust me you’d know if I didn’t.”
“I know it’s stupid, but I just—I guess I’ve just been thinking too much.” How many times has someone dumped Arthur after too many late nights? Accusing him of being detached, uncaring. It’s become ingrained in him that he’s disposable, but he could never say that out loud.
“Arthur,” Curt said, holding Arthur’s hand tighter, “I get it, but I don’t fucking play games.” Arthur bit his lip, face heating up as Curt brought his knuckles to his lips, brushing them. “Besides, there’s plenty I like about you beyond what we get up to.” That was when a wolfish grin began to spread across Curt’s face. Arthur tilted his head, chuckling through the remnants of sadness.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah, for one thing, I like your big hands.”
Arthur snorted. “So you’re only dating me for my hands is that it?” Curt shook his head, standing up.
“I’m not fucking done. I love your hands,” Curt kissed Arthur’s knuckles again, “but I also love your green eyes, and your hair even when you can’t get it cut for shit.”
“Is this supposed to make me feel better?”
“Wait a damn second. I love your voice even when we’re fighting, and your smile is so fucking cute.” Pulling on Arthur, he unconsciously got him to stand up. “I also love that you got a bit of muscle.” Curt added, jumping Arthur, making him scream out as he tried to hold Curt up.
“Curt what the hell?! I’m gonna drop you!”
“No you won’t—and I love how much you worry about things.” Curt smashed their lips together, nearly making Arthur lose his balance. Stumbling back, Arthur put some of his weight on the counter behind him to regain some footing.
The kiss broke with a hard laugh.. “Yes, okay, Curt I get it. I love you too.”
“No way, I’m just getting started.”
“Then can we please sit down?”
Curt waggled his eyebrows, jumping off Arthur and dragging him to their bedroom. “Better idea,” said Curt, pushing Arthur on the bed. With a small grunt, Arthur’s back hit their bed with a light bounce. Before he knew it, Curt was on top of him, gently pulling him into a passionate kiss. Sighing, Arthur parted his lips, allowing Curt’s tongue to slide against his own. A yelp from Arthur broke the kiss when Curt decided to squeeze his half-hard erection through his jeans.
“I especially love all the sounds I can get you to make,” Curt added with another squeeze. At first somewhat taken back, this hadn’t been the first time they had sex after work of course, but it was the first time he had been given so much praise during it. Curt could get vocal yeah, but now he was listing all of these things and Arthur was beginning to feel more and more turned on than he should have been.
“Then get me to make them,” he retorted. Snorting, Curt let his hands roam under Arthur’s shirt, pushing it up over his head to expose his chest and stomach. A randomly placed trail of kisses were peppered over Arthur’s chest, stopping at one of his nipples. Carefully, he took it between his teeth, lightly sucking and biting. The second Arthur felt teeth, he gasped and tried to control the way his body jumped at the sharpness of Curt’s teeth.
“You have such a hot fucking body, babe, always have. Don’t let anyone tell you shit.” Curt continued his kisses, down his abdomen, eliciting stifled, ticklish laughs from Arthur. Aggressive tugs at Arthur’s jeans silently requested he lift his hips, which he did so with a tired eagerness.
“Bit different than when we first met. Not exactly as lanky anymore.” Curt shook his head, hands traveling up and down Arthur’s thighs.
“I like you like this too,” said Curt, slicked fingers wrapping around his cock. It truly didn’t surprise Arthur that his partner already had lube with him, ready to go. “I’d think you were hot if you were a rail or 300 pounds,” he added, squeezing and stroking his erection. His hand over his mouth, Arthur suppressed a groan, tilting his head to the side. He could feel Curt’s free hand grab at his arm, trying to pull his hand away from his mouth.
“Come on, Arthur,” he coaxed, “I wanna hear you.” Arthur obliged, hand instead moving to rest on Curt’s head.
“Then get on with it.” With a lop-sided smile, Curt ravenously took Arthur into his mouth, almost immediately able to fit his entire length. A shameless moan escaped Arthur’s lips, his jaw hanging open. Long, pleasure-filled noises dripped from Arthur as his fingers dug into Curt’s scalp, tugging on blond hair. He could feel his partner’s tongue swipe the slit of his cock, catching beads of precum before sucking hard. One eye peeking down at Curt, Arthur whined at the sight go the older man’s hollowed cheeks, and shut eyes. It was ridiculous, but even after the couple years they had been together, Arthur still couldn’t get over seeing him like that. With a pop, Curt took Arthur out of his mouth and licked his bottom lip.
“God, Arthur you look so fucking gorgeous like this,” Curt said, sitting up so he could let his eyes roam Arthur’s entire body. “Good so far?”
Curt lightly blew on his cock, making Arthur winced at the cool air. “It’s—it’s great, Curt, but please—“
“I know, I know I wouldn’t leave you hanging, Arthur.”
“No I know but, Curt,” Arthur interrupted, fighting the embarrassment inside. “Could you keep talking?”
“I knew you liked me saying all that,” he said, a softer smile on his face. “God of fucking course I’ll keep talking.” Rather than move back down, Curt elected to grab for the small bottle of lubricant he left near Arthur’s thigh, coating his fingers. Arthur found himself spreading his legs further, urging Curt to go on. He gladly did so, pushing a finger inside Arthur, probing at the tight walls.
“Curt, please more…”
“Your voice sounds so good like that, babe. Better than any song I’ve heard.” A second finger added, loosening Arthur to the point that Curt was able to easily thrust his fingers in and out. “You’re doing so good, you’re so good at this, Arthur.” Arthur hummed, hand journeying down to stroke his erection, the other hand pushing his hair out of his eyes. Arthur felt Curt thrust his fingers, pushing as deep as possible each time. Legs spreading wider, Arthur’s head fell to the side, his hips pushing down once Curt was finally targeting that one sensitive spot.
“Fucking hell…”
“That’s it, come on. You’re so fucking hot, come on.”
“Curt, oh fuck, oh fuck,” Arthur choked out, streaks of his own cum hitting his stomach. Fully hit by his own exhaustion, Arthur collapsed on the bed, and took in a few deep breaths as Curt slipped next to him. His partner brought their lips together for one last kiss, a hum shared between their lips.
“What about you?” Arthur asked but Curt waved him off.
“That was more than enough to get me off.”
Arthur felt a laugh bubble up in his chest. “Yeah?”
“Yeah, absolutely.” Curt’s arm snaked around Arthur’s shoulders, holding him close. Arthur reciprocated his own hand going to play with Curt’s hair tiredly. “I meant all that by the way. I wish you wouldn’t think I’m gonna drop you for some groupie.”
“I do know, Curt,” assured Arthur, “I guess I just…” He didn’t know how to finish that thought, his mind barely able to process his own words. He wanted to say something about his past lovers or his parents, something sadly profound about conditional love and how it all tied back to him. A moment filled with everything he’s ever pent up inside to protect himself, but he couldn’t even finish one sentence.
“It’s alright, I get it,” said Curt before Arthur could say more. He took comfort in that, it didn’t feel like Curt was brushing him off. As they were laying together, Arthur felt closer to Curt than anyone else he had ever known; they had a quiet understanding of each other and he was grateful for that.