forallyoucare | The Last Temptation

It ought to be said that Jesus Christ is his own worst enemy. Nothing can be closer to the truth when he tells the Twelve and the others close to him that he will not return to their camp that evening. "I have made a promise to help a man on the brink of his own destruction find a better way."

"And you're gonna do it just one night?" Judas, as always, is skeptical and bats at Simon to put his iPad away. Not everything has to be recorded.

"I should like to try. Don't move camp further into the city until I return tomorrow morning," Jesus says and with Peter left to mind the flock, heads off to Stark's home. He is singularly unimpressed by what he sees...or rather, he simply doesn't notice the luxury. His mind is more pure. With a single satchel over his shoulder with samples of shampoo and a change of underwear and socks, Jesus waits to be told he can go to Tony. Some people in the lobby recognize him from Youtube, from Matthew's blog. Others find him to be a little ratty and a little out of place here.

((Continued from here))

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"You could. You know you want to," he murmurs, looking at him through his eyelashes, face a little flushed, tone sincere. "I'd get you whatever you wanted, keep you safe. Things don't have to end badly. I promise, I'll figure something out. Anything, for you. I love you."

He does. And isn't life a bitch, to finally hand Tony someone he can fall in love with and then strike the man down? But Tony's never been one to let life dictate to him what will and won't be. He's always fought it. And he wins.

He can win again, for someone like this.

Oh Tony. Jesus strokes his cheek, his beard. He fingers his fingers along the clean edges, dripping water down through the hair. His eyes look sad. So sad. "You don't know me," he says quietly, not as an accusation. Jesus firmly believes in the ability to love at first sight. These things happen every day. "If you did, truly, you would never try to keep me here."

Jesus leans in to offer him another kiss.

"You don't need me. What you need is to learn from me and be your own man. A good man. You need to go on living and be beautiful and brilliant."

"I know you. And I know you deserve better than what you have coming. I can give you more than what you have now. We can do things, together - imagine how many more people you could reach with my company's resources. Things don't have to go bad. I won't let them."

Tony presses an affectionate kiss to his cheek. His voice is soft, loving, reassuring. He doesn't want this to go bad. He wants this to be forever, and he wants to do this all over again, make Jesus gasp and come and hold him and then lay there like this, together, holding each other, Tony unashamed of the arc reactor for the first time in so long, finally at peace.

Jesus hasn't exactly told Tony what he knows will happen to him. He hasn't told anyone. It worries him too much to actually say it out loud. To have his blood spilled-- It makes for fine imagery but in practice, he's as frightened as anyone would be. Fingers curl in Tony's wet hair when Jesus hugs him closer.

"Some things are out of your hands," he replies, taking his turn to duck his head against the other's shoulder. He's never been this close to anyone before. It's beautiful in it's simplicity. It will never last.

"Just stay with me. It's not complicated," Tony says in response, nuzzling him close, breathing in his scent. He murmurs soothingly, enticingly, "Just us. Imagine it, days together. All the good times we could have, the places we could visit, the things I could show you. We wouldn't just be happy, it'd be real joy. Peace. You know you want it. So just let me help. I love you."

"Anthony--" You're breaking his heart. Jesus moves away and stands, unashamed by his nakedness. He offers the man his hand in order to help him up. "Let us discuss happier things."

No amount of love can save Jesus. Or rather, it's love that will save them all. But Tony's passion is giving him second thoughts.

Must he die?

Would he not be better alive?

"Keeping you close is a happy thing. We're happy together. I want that to last. C'mon, let's go to my room. Might be a less wet place to cuddle."

He pulls him out of the bath, toweling him off rather gently, cleaning them up. He kisses him briefly, warmly, and takes his hand.

"I'm got some pajamas that might fit you. I think you need to relax and give this some more thought."

They've only just met and already Tony is changing him. Isn't that what's suppose to happen? Jesus has changed so many lives himself just by meeting other people-- Can't the reverse be true?

He takes Tony by the hand and be given clothing. He's never worn silk before and... It's strange. Luxurious. Judas would absolutely have his head if he knew ho Jesus would be spending his night!

He stays silent for a long time, even after being coaxed into Tony's arms. His head tucks under the other man's and he stares at his shoulder. It's...calming. Likely because God has had nothing to say about this at all.

Tony finds a lot of comfort in the luxurious nature of his bedroom. After Afghanistan he'd almost needed it; even now, when nightmares claim him, waking up to silk pajamas and soft sheets and the perfect calm of being able to just tell JARVIS to flick on the lights.

With the other man gathered in his arms, Tony feels utter contentment, just holding him, keeping him close. After a while has passed, Tony murmurs quietly in a much more open and vulnerable tone than he usually uses, "I'm glad you decided to come over here. I'm really happy when you're around."

Contentment is not what Jesus feels even as a warm, familiar weight rests against him. He closes his eyes, but they snap back open again. He can't help but feel that he's causing Tony harm. This isn't how he's meant to be. Love can change a person, and should change a person for the better, but Jesus isn't sure if he's setting him on the proper path.

He curls his fingers in the other man's night shirt. It's still early, the sun had just been setting when they went into the bath.

"Do you feel different when I'm with you, Anthony?"

"Of course I do. I love you. Having you around just makes everything better." Tony is blissful, pressing together like this, together and finally free of worries. They'll work out the staying thing, but now, in this moment, he's perfectly content to pull Jesus closer and hold him a little tighter.

The Last Temptation

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