forallyoucare | The Last Temptation

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))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Ever heard the song 'Clean' by The Sneaker Pimps? I remember it was playing after I sold a full payload of weapons to the Albanians with the promise they'd be used outside where any reporters could see it.

It was playing, and one of the lines stuck out to me: 'it's gonna take a thousand waterfalls to get yourself clean'. I think that sounds about right. A thousand bursts of good things. Maybe more. It's a start."

He leans in and steals a kiss, before he can stop himself. "You have no idea how good it is to have somebody who listens."

There's no need to steal anything from Jesus. There's nothing to steal. He gives himself freely...and that's often the problem. He gives. People take. One day they will take too much and his best friend will try to save him from himself. Jesus knows all of these things but they cease to really matter as Tony's mouth touches his.

Could the man be a mind reader? Just when Jesus wanted this, here it is. Of course, he's still got to learn about how body language works first.

And how he's just invited Tony in for this.

"One thinks a teacher ought to just teach but that's not entirely true," he breathes, thumb moving across Tony's cheek as he gazes intently at him. "A good teacher must be taught by his or her students and to do that, one must listen. Let me help with your burdens, Anthony."

"I could get used to that. Help, I mean. Having someone I can depend on." And he is far, far too old and has done way too many things to be as turned on as he is by a man just touching his face like that, but they're still standing pressed together and it's warm, grounding. He doesn't want it to stop, so he kisses him again, hands casually moving to pin Jesus on either side of his shoulders to the window. It's a personal space invasion, sure, but he doesn't care.

He just like the gentleness of the kisses, the way there's none of that alpha-male power struggle bullshit here. It's got to be the most peaceful make out session he's ever initiated, so when he leans in, wedging a knee between the man's legs, pressing their thighs together better, it's a smooth, slow action.

If the world's beauty could be summed up in kissing, this particular act here and now, the joining of two similar men with far reaching and polarizing ideals, might become it's poster child. And happily so. Jesus' kisses are coupled with smiles, with happy sounds and surprised, pleased, and flattering noises deep in the back of his throat.

He doesn't take offense to the knee -- Tony is leaning towards him, he has to stabilize himself somehow -- and shifts accordingly to accommodate it. Perhaps this isn't exactly what a preacher should be doing, but it's innocent, isn't it?

Harmless. It's like holding hands. Like touching. It is touching. And until someone tells Jesus differently, he'll unabashedly give in to his all too human instincts for intimacy. Oh Tony. What have you done to him?

Tony makes a soft, pleased noise, shutting his eyes for a moment, letting the sensation linger, before slipping his tongue into Jesus' mouth. It's not harsh or invasive, just exploring, slowly, tasting him, trying to coax him into even more of a response.

He shifts his knee closer against the other man's crotch, trying to gain more friction, bring them closer. He's keenly aware he's doing something wrong, but it feels so incredibly good. Tony's kissed a lot of people and no one's ever been like this, gentle and soft and putty in his hands, open and innocent, no angle, no hidden agenda, not even a doubt in Tony's mind about it. This is almost painfully good.

Every kiss is expertly placed and his tongue knows all the tricks to coax Jesus into reacting, being a little bolder.

The tongue alone gets a gasp and maybe a timid reprisal of Tony's bold move. Jesus doesn't know where this is going but it still feels good and there's nothing at all to worry about, right? Someone ought to have sat him down with some porn. At least when Mary Magdalen joined their little tour from city to city on the way to New York!

This might all make sense to him then. This might register as unchaste then.

Jesus works on the instinct all human beings possess when he drags a hand through Tony's hair and pushes off of the cold glass and more against the other's, broader chest.

Bold might not be the word for Jesus' response but it's certainly not lackluster. He just isn't the sort to be anything more than gentle and careful. Clacking teeth will just have to be for another time with another person.

Tony sucks at Jesus' tongue, trying to coax a little more action out of him. He's fairly sure going off of these reactions that Jesus hasn't done any of this before, so a little - or a lot, let's be honest - of leading is going to have to happen. It won't be like Tony's first time, though, all rough and pain and speed. This, he's going to try to make into the opposite.

He makes an approving noise at both actions, even if he's unsure of what the reaction will be when Jesus feels the arc reactor. It's not exactly anyone's turn on. Even Tony doesn't like it. So he tries to focus on the other ways they're touching, instead.

Jesus still believes what he said about the reactor. It's machinery meant to keep Tony alive. It's a tool. An extension of himself, like braces or a metal hip joint. Of course, it's also far more complicated than but Jesus boils it down to substance just as he boils down Tony to substance.

He is a good man, trying to be a great man, living in the shadows of his past. If only Jesus could--

The idea strikes him as Tony is right in the middle of his coaxing and he draws back with wide, happy eyes.

"Do you have a bath?"

It takes a lot to make Tony Stark stop thinking of sex and even more to strike him speechless, but yep, this'll do it. Those words coming out of that mouth with that expression, he just can't even begin to process or figure out where this is going. He blinks at him in open confusion.

"...yeah. Why?"

What is even happening.

"Take me there."

Hands still locked, the way ought to be easily sought out and Jesus, ever eager, will begin to unbutton his shirt with his free hand. This is not an invitation or a suggestion, Tony Stark. This man with you is an innocent, his calling is different from your own and his approach to life, sweetness and goodness, will not be what you are expecting.

Even if the man's managed to keep himself quite fit while sleeping in tents and cheap hostels along his way.

Tony's bathroom is bigger than it really needs to be, but his claustrophobia after Afghanistan hadn't really faded entirely. If he was going to be near water the area couldn't be dark or small. It didn't end well for anyone.

Still, he's surprised at the fact Jesus is undressing. Tony isn't bothered by it, and his eyes do yet another once-over, because, well, he's him, but it just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Tony loosens his red tie, puts it aside, still not sure what exactly they're doing. His hands pause over his own shirt. The light of the reactor can be seen through the fabric. It stares back at him, a reminder of all the things he did, all the crimes, that led up to needing it.

In the bathroom, Jesus kneels to start the water, hands running over gilt fixtures. Judas would find this entire space to be terrifyingly extravagant. He'd be cataloging each and every inch of space and giving it a monetary value to purchase bread or to donate to a shelter for the poor. His dear Judas, as materialistic as Tony, though on opposite ends of the spectrum.

He might think on it later and tell it as a parable to his flock. They might enjoy the comparison but likely miss the message. So many do. Even the Twelve do at times. He tries so hard not to let it dishearten him.

"You mentioned waterfalls, from a song you admire? Let me begin. Let me cleanse you."

Tony's jaw actually drops. And as much as he'll deny it later, his hands cover up the reactor like a woman might cover her breasts. It's different, though, because while in Tony's opinion breasts are great, the arc reactor is most definitely not.

The familiarity of the golden fixtures, the marble tub, the cool colored red of the walls and brightness of the lights make him manage not to panic entirely. The key word is entirely. He bites his lip, looking away.

"It's not exactly a song I admire. Just one I listen to. One that sticks with me. And I'm pretty sure it was meant to be a metaphor. Not something to actually be attempted."

He keeps his hands over the reactor, as if it's somehow going to offend the other man. Like it's a testimony to how much he does not deserve it.

((OOC: But if he did...haha. He'd probably be amused.))

Jesus watches him from where he kneels on the step leading up to the basin. His smile is still gentle even as Tony's becomes more and more unsteady.

"A man once took me to a river and poured water over my head to wash me clean of sin." As if he'd ever sinned. Jesus' only sins have been of late and those, perhaps, are forgivable. A metaphor, just as your song states, but the physical presence of the actual water serves as a reminder, a physical reminder for what God can do."

He lifts his hand towards Tony, fingers curling towards himself. Beckoning.

"There is nothing about you to look so ashamed by, Anthony."

Tony slowly takes a deep breath, and comes closer. This shouldn't be so hard. Since when has he had an ounce of shame? He usually didn't have an issue with being naked in front of someone, let alone just letting one person see the reactor glow through an entire layer of clothing. He's being stupid and ridiculous. But he can't quite meet the other man's eyes, looking anywhere else instead.

"I wouldn't have this thing in my chest if I hadn't earned it. I was part of a system with zero accountability. I was, to quote multiple people, 'the most famous mass murderer in the world'. So I'd say this is something to look ashamed by."

Jesus finds it curious. He stands, slowly, pushing himself from the ledge around the bath tub. It occurs to him that this bashfulness might have something to do with him. And that's just ridiculous. "If you've ever felt shame around another, if you've ever felt shame for what I know keeps you alive, you need not have it with me, of all people."

Jesus doesn't judge, or tries very hard not to. He's gotten on a few of members of the Twelve from time to time for judging but he's forgiven them right away. Jesus, a man without blame, seeks only to forgive those others might blame instead.

At Tony's side, he lifts his hands to undo the button-down shirt.

"There is nothing under God's sky that could possibly be unforgiven. You must learn to love yourself, love you for your flaws. Not a man among us is without them." Even Jesus, in his perfection, is still human. "This glow is beauty. I will make you see it."

Tony's breath hitches when Jesus touches him. It takes a lot of restraint not to reach up and grab those hands before he can unbutton a single button, see the glow up close and in person. He looks at him, tries to focus on his face, see any trace of lying, any indicator he doesn't really feel that way about this.

He can deal with lies. Lies heal and truth hurts. Or at least, in this case truth is making him confused and a little breathless and he can't help it, he kisses Jesus before he can think of how inappropriate that is. It's not a sexy kiss. It's a thank you, without words. He pulls away quickly.

"I don't know if I can love me. I can love you, though. Easily."

Many people say that they love Jesus and the return is simple as well. He smiles at Tony, not an ounce of malice in his voice or in his eyes. "I already love you," he promises. Romantic love might be something needed to be taught, but there's no time for that.

He loves Tony in the sense that he loves humanity, that he loves everything that God has created. And that includes this disc of glowing metal over Tony's heart keeping him so effortlessly alive.

Once it is revealed, Jesus places his hand over it. Cool to the touch, not even a hum. It's really quite amazing.

"That's a poorly thought out decision," Tony points out, and then a hand's on his reactor and he freezes. He remembers Stane pulling it out. Remembers the way it went out once in a fight. Remembers the pain involved in carving a chunk out of his chest to put it in.

He can't speak. All his focus is on shoving the memories down as much as he can.

"To love is to trust," Jesus continues, fingers finding the edge of the reactor without a single thought to pull it out. He's not cruel and though he might be considered innocent of it should he try -- curiosity is a terrible thing -- he knows well enough that it gauges his heart.

And he would not endanger that.

"I would have you trust me, if you are able."

"...okay," Tony says very quietly, hesitantly. "I think I can do that. I'll try. So... what do we do from here?"

He tries to think of this with a critical eye, like it's a project, something that he can break down into components and objectives to meet. But he can't, really. Mostly he just feels like he's stepping out onto a ledge and waiting to see if he'll fall.

"Feel it. You won't need to ask then." The water in the bath is warm and has risen enough for Jesus to lean over and turn off the taps. He undresses down into his underwear -- neutral, revealing and perhaps a little bland in all honesty. Shoes must be taken off by sitting on the edge of the bath and it gives Tony time to really look at him if he wishes.

For a man with rough hands, the rest of his skin seems impossibly soft. There are no scars. He's never been injured. Never even sick.

"Would you like help undressing further?"

Oh, he looks. He looks hard. It's tempting to just put every move on him that he knows right now. But part of trust is not taking advantage of that trust... at the moment. Give him time, Tony'll break pretty quickly. He carefully takes off his clothes, down to his red silk boxers, and folds his clothes before putting them on the sink's granite countertop. If he lets Jesus undress him, it'll involve more chances for him to touch the reactor.

Damn it, he's way too old to be giving a crap about what some guy is going to think of his looks.

Long legs pull Jesus into the water and he stands there as his cousin had, welcoming those into the cleansing waters. They may shine just a little more than they ought to, but that could just be a reflection of the gold fixtures. Jesus once more holds his hand out to Tony.

No one has likely tried to have a religious experience in this tub before. It seems only fitting for Jesus to guide Tony to his first.

Tony steps into the water, gingerly, taking Jesus' hand. He doesn't know why this still feels so weird. Jesus clearly means this to be a positive thing, and he radiates good intentions. But it's not as easy to trust someone as it is to say it. He has to make a conscious effort to relax, to let whatever the heck is happening happen, and just breathe.

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Let me just say that this is amazingly beautiful. Because it is.

It is, but at the same time, I keep thinking 'I don't know how this thread even happened'.

You mentioned religion. Mr. Religion needed to come say hi. Stuff happened. XD

Tony Stark happened.

... Damn you Tony. <3

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Link to the song in question, in case you're interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDhzRUfdH_Y

Jesus is just a special little lamb (oh the puns) and hasn't listened to such things

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I have to go to bed now, I'm so sorry. I'll tag you the second I wake up.

Good night!

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