When Arthur gets a fresh invitation to a training session with Bats and Flash, he's so relieved he almost swims to Gotham immediately after opening the message.

He has come to want Bruce in every meaning of the word. He desires the man, yes, hence his actions after getting drunk on the billionaire's booze. But he also values their friendship and if he can salvage at least that, he will gladly take it.

He tries to be patient and just wait for the training session two days from now but after fighting with himself all day and Mera scolding him for being distracted and more uncooperative than ever, he just decides to fuck it all and heads to the Batcave in the evening.

He's lucky enough to find Bruce there and not running around rooftops of Gotham. He's sitting by a huge table with plans of the Manor laid out before him, studying them with concentration. But he's not Batman for nothing, he senses Arthur's presence before the Atlantean reveals it himself.

"The training is day after tomorrow," he says without turning around to actually face Arthur.

"I know," Arthur replies as he approaches the other man. He leans on the table, obstructing Bruce's view of the blueprints. Bruce puts his pen down and looks up at the Atlantean.

Arthur studies the other man for a moment... He needs to know for certain that the distance between them must stay, he won't lose this chance to misunderstanding and alcohol.

"I kissed you," he says without beating around the bush. He wants the topic of this conversation to be clearly established. "And you kissed me back… Until you didn't."

Bruce keeps looking at him but it doesn't help Arthur – the man doesn't need the Bat's cowl for this face to be unreadable.

"So far you have stated facts," Bruce says after a long expectant silence from Arthur.

"I want to know why you stopped."

"You were drunk," Bat's voice is still matter-of-fact.

"So if I were to kiss you now... Sober and fully aware of my actions and too aware of my desires... Would you like me to? Or should I cross that out of the menu for good and offer you a friendly drink instead?"

Bruce holds his gaze but something changes in his expression. The mask falls and a challenge ignites in these brown eyes. An invitation.

Arthur grins.

He leans down but Bruce is already getting up and he meets him halfway. His lips are eager and Arthur's whole body starts burning with desire within seconds. He moans impatiently into Bruce's mouth and tugs at the billionaire's clothes to bring him closer. Bruce doesn't resist, just the opposite, he settles eagerly between Arthur's legs. One of Arthur's hands travels down to the other man's ass, the other halts at the neck, massaging Bruce's scalp as he deepens the kiss. Bruce responds keenly, sucking on Arthur's tongue and sliding his own hands into Arthur's hair, tugging at the strands when he wants him at a different angle.

"May I suggest we move this somewhere more comfortable," Arthur breathes against Bruce's lips and the other man nods in response. Arthur is sad to have the billionaire untangling from his embrace but they quickly relocate to the lift and start kissing again before the door fully closes behind them.

The moment they finally enter Bruce's bedroom, Arthur's jacket and shirt are being almost tore off of him. He laughs mirthfully at the other man's eagerness and starts taking Bruce's clothes off, too. When they make it to the bed, they're both completely naked and hard. Bruce lays down on his back, pulling Arthur with him but the Atlantean resists, just to stop for a moment and stare. Bruce's body is breathtaking, a result of continuous hard work. His skin is covered in scars that make Arthur simultaneously frustrated with how much pain the man was through and fighting an urge to catalogue all of them with his tongue.

"You're gorgeous," he says out loud and Bruce huffs at him before pulling him down again, harder. This time Arthur follows and their bodies finally touch skin on skin, their lips interlocked again, their chests flushed against each other, their cocks sliding in between. They grind against each other uncontrollably for a while before Bruce stills his hips and tugs on Arthur's hair to position his head in a way that allows them to make eye contact.

"I want you inside me," Bruce states but there's a question in his eyes, he's checking up whether Arthur is okay with this. Bruce is a lucky bastard because Arthur is more than okay with this.

"Your wish is my command."

Bruce smiles with amusement. "I thought you're the king."

"You're a billionaire, it's almost the same."

Bruce smacks him on the shoulder playfully before he points Arthur in the direction of the lube and condoms. Arthur generously puts the substance over his fingers while Bruce positions himself on the bed, a pillow under his lower back and his legs spread open.

First, Arthur leans in to leave a kiss on the inside of Bruce's thigh, then travels with his mouth higher. Biting and licking and kissing a path up the billionaire hip and across his stomach. When Bruce's breathing becomes more shallow and his hands come back to Arthur's hair, the Atlantean starts massaging Bruce's entrance. Bruce opens up for him beautifully, barely tensing up, thrusting his hips lightly against Arthur's fingers once he's stretched enough and by that communicating he's ready for another. Arthur's cock aches just from thinking he'll be inside the man soon.

"I'm ready," Bruce breathes out at one point and Arthur obediently takes his fingers out. "Come on," Bruce hurries him and Arthur's hands are shaking slightly from anticipation as he puts the condom on and adds more lube onto himself. He positions himself back between Bruce's legs but before he does anything further, he looks at the man before him. How disheveled his hair become, how dark his half-lidded eyes seem, how he's breathing through slightly opened mouth… He lurches for that mouth, kisses Bruce deeply and obscenely, until he has the billionaire tugging on his hair painfully to keep him in place and he takes control of the kiss and Arthur moans helplessly into his mouth as he surrenders.

"Now, get in me," Bruce rasps at him once he breaks the kiss and Arthur is more than happy to comply. He slides in slowly but surely, Bruce taking him without tensing, just as he did with Arthur's fingers earlier. He stays motionless for a moment once he's all in to allow both their bodies to adjust to the feeling but then Bruce whispers: "Move, Arthur," into his ear and manages to make the two words sound so dirty, he doesn't think twice to comply. He starts slowly, making his thrust full and thorough. Bruce hums contentedly every time Arthur fills him all the way, his fingers digging into the Atlantean's back.

Then, after what seems a simultaneously a fleeting moment and an eternity of pleasure, Bruce's limbs change their position around Arthur and the billionaire gets a hold of him. Before Arthur can assess what's happening in his sex-induced stupor, they're being turned over and now Bruce is the one on top, kneeling on the bed with his legs on both sides of Arthur's hips, and looking at the Atlantean in a way that could be described as predatory.

Bruce spreads his hands over the other man's chest and lowers himself onto Arthur in one smooth motion until he's all the way in, deeper than they could manage in their previous position. Arthur's hands squeeze Bruce's hips and he lets out a moan that seems to be ripped out of his chest. He's breathing heavily, his eyes focused on the figure in front of him, waiting for the other man to make the next move. Bruce is a work of art and it feels incredible to completely give himself up to him.

"Arthur, you feel so good…" Bruce groans, it's barely hearable but for a second Arthur feels like it's going to be the thing to tip him over the edge. Then, Bruce starts moving. He lifts his hips in a steady motion and only once he sets out a rhythm, Arthur joins him with his own thrusts. It seems to be then that Bruce loses his control and louder moans start escaping his mouth. It's the most sexual thing Arthur has ever witnessed.

"Touch me." It sounds more like a plea than a command but Arthur reacts as if to an order, his hand moving to Bruce's leaking cock and stroking him in the rhythm of their thrusts.

Arthur comes first and he puts all the effort he has left into continuing to stroke Bruce while his whole body is overwhelmed with pleasure. He's aware he's talking, a mingle of expletives, endearments, and Bruce's name... He interrupts this mantra with his own whine as he feels Bruce climaxing, his insides clasping tightly around his oversensitive cock.

Arthur lays limp with pleasure, distantly feeling how he slides out of Bruce and the man falling onto the sheets next to him. He doesn't remember when was the last time he felt this sated. He could always find someone to have sex with, to let off some steam, but rarely there were any emotions involved. Being with Bruce was different, intoxicating and addicting in a way that Arthur forgot is possible.

Bruce puts a hand on his chest and Arthur opens his eyes to find Bruce leaning over him with a satisfied expression playing on his face. Arthur puts a thumb on the other man's lower lip, it's red from their kisses and how Bruce was biting into it before he lost control enough to start making noises. Arthur strokes Bruce's lips in wonder before moving his hand to the back of the billionaire's neck to pull him down for another kiss. It's lazy and a bit sloppy and perfect.

ж

Bruce wakes up alone.

He scolds himself when he feels disappointment stinging somewhere in his chest. He got caught up with emotions last night and when Arthur bluntly said he wants him, with his eyes clear and so focused on him, he couldn't really find more excuses to say no… And now he's alone in his bed.

No one ever sticks around him, not the kids, not the lovers he gets to care about, it's always just Bruce and Alfred… Then he notices that Arthur's clothes are still on the floor.

He gets up, puts a bathrobe on, and ventures into the rest of the house to, hopefully, locate the Atlantean. Bruce knows he shouldn't be that surprised when notices the other man in the lake outside, but he still is a bit taken aback.

Arthur is lazily threading through the water, leaving a path in his wake on the otherwise smooth surface of the water. He's solely in his underwear and Bruce is content to just stand by the shore and watch the other man in the morning light. Soon, however, Arthur notices him, grins, and starts swimming towards Bruce. He joins the other man on the shore and for a long moment they just stare at each other with tension much less pleasant than that from last night.

"Bruce," Arthur finally says before taking a deep breath and Bruce has to subdue an urge to flee. This is it and if he doesn't hear it, he can pretend-

"I need to know whether that was just a one-night stand for you or if you see it as a start of something more," Arthur puts the matters on the table and it's one of the things Bruce really likes about him, how no-bullshit he is about most issues. "Because I think we could work if we give it a chance," Arthur confesses and Bruce can breathe normally again. "You're a mad man but I admire you…"

Arthur's gaze doesn't leave Bruce's face, his inhumanly blue eyes searching and hopeful. Bruce feels how a small affectionate smile spreads his lips before he can stop it.

"I want to give this a chance," he says and the smile that appears on Arthur's face makes him a bit breathless. God, the man is beautiful. And now he is Bruce's.

Bruce closes the distance between them and puts his hands on the Atlantean's shoulder to pull him into a kiss.

"I'm getting you wet," Arthur says against Bruce's lips with amusement. His bathrobe indeed started sponging the lake water from the other man's body when they got close.

"Well, I guess that comes with getting involved with the Aquaman," Bruce deadpans and Arthur snorts, then bites his lower lip teasingly before joining their mouths in another kiss.

They withdraw once they hear a voice coming from the house.

"There's breakfast in the kitchen, sirs," Alfred announces. "And some towels by the door once you decide to come inside." And with that, he retreats back to the house. Bruce doesn't miss the smug tone of Alfred's voice. Well, he was nagging Bruce about finding someone long enough. Seems like he's satisfied with a half-human man at this point… Bruce definitely is.

THE END