Work Text:
The apartment is cast in a warm, hazy glow. An open window allows for a light breeze to filter through, dissipating the trails of cigarette smoke flowing from Noel's mouth. He checks his watch. 6:44pm. The sun is almost gone, but the rays of light left over keep the sky bright enough. Poking his head out the window, he scans the streets, cigarette puffing away. It's not that he's impatient—he's actually quite an easy-going guy (most of the time)—but with their kind of collective experience? Their kinda luck? He can't help but worry. They were supposed to be here fourteen whole minutes ago.
The knock on the door broke the silence, startling him and causing him to hit his head against the window pane.
"Ow, shit!"
"Charlie? Are you alright?" comes Arthur's muffled voice from behind the door.
He takes quick strides over, brushing a hand through his hair to set it right and stubs the cigarette butt out in the ashtray by the door as he opens it. There Arthur stands in the shitty hallway lighting, eyes bright and slightly concerned.
"Arthur, John," he greets casually, "Come in."
He steps aside so they can enter the apartment. He shuts the door, double checks the lock, then turns to face them. There's a second's pause before he hears a muttered "Oh, thank God." and watches as Arthur's shoulders relax.
"What?" he asks, grinning a little awkwardly.
In the short moment of silence, he watches as Arthur's face flushes and coughs to hide his laugh when there's a hissed "John!"
"You alright there, doll?"
Arthur clears his throat. "Yes, quite. Um, hopefully we weren't too late, uh, Marie caught us in a conversation. Honestly, I swear she was waiting for us by the stairs, I don't-" John taps his thigh, stopping the ramble before it went much longer than any of them wanted it to. He chuckles in a self-deprecating tone. "Right, sorry."
Noel smiles and Arthur seems to relax again.
"You're alright, I'd wait however long ya needed me to. You guys want some tea?" he asks, walking past them to the kitchen, effectively hiding the creeping smile when he sees Arthur's face: mouth open slightly, cheeks pink, and honey-brown eyes watching his every move like a hawk.
He hums to himself as he grabs the kettle, setting it in the sink to let it fill with water while he grabs the box of tea bags. Almost mechanically, timed nearly precisely, he lights the stove, shuts off the water, and sets the kettle over the flame. It's not quite a daily routine, but he does it often enough to find the simple tasks soothing in their monotony. And he never gets tired of knowing that he's home, even with the sleepless nights spent afraid of dreaming. He heads back into the living room where Arthur is still standing.
"Lemme take your coat."
"Oh. Yes, thank you."
He easily slides the garment down the man's arms, and if he lets his fingers run down said arms, can you blame him? He's only human. He hears him admonish John as he hands the coat on the rack. He walks to the couch and sits down, gesturing for them to do the same as they all wait for the water to boil.
"So, what brings you guys here? Not that you need a reason to see me, I ain't complainin' either way." He adds a wink for good measure.
Arthur chuckles softly, turning his head slightly to the side as if to look away, but those eyes stay locked on him. He smirks at John and leans to put his arm on the back of the sofa, one ankle resting on the other knee, making a kind of 4 figure.
His gaze follows Arthur's.
"Uh, yes, well..." Arthur coughs, rubs his hands. "John wanted to say that...um, that he can't stop thinking about you... Fine, yes, I also share the sentiment."
"Hm. Then I want you to say it yourself."
"Pardon?"
Noel uncrosses his legs, sitting forward in a slow, deliberate motion. Hands together and legs spread just enough to lean his elbows on his knees comfortably. He's certain that the current pause is John describing how he looks in great detail. And so... there's the blush.
"I... can't quite seem to get you off my mind, either."
As he speaks, Noel takes his time to walk closer. John's eyes don't waver. Arthur startles slightly when he finishes and there's suddenly a hand under his chin, tilting his head to meet the new angle. Grinning, he says in a low tone, "I could think of a few ways you can get me off."
Their pupils blow wide, and he's not quite sure how it works, but he's confident in betting it's pretty 50/50.
"Charlie..."
"Say it again."
"I can't stop thinking about you."
Grinning, he sinks to his knees with his hands on the chair's armrests, caging them in. The next "John" comes out a little choked, Arthur quickly turning their gaze to the ceiling. Noel seizes the opportunity by the literal throat and he's pleased by the quiet yelp it elicits, plus the hand finding its way into the strands of hair at the base of his neck.
"I- John," Arthur all but gasps out. "Fuck, it- it feels good."
Noel is spurred on by the admission, tracing his neck with his teeth, letting his canines poke the soft skin.
"He's being a fucking tease, is what." His voice is filled with a fond sort of irritation.
John's hand is suddenly pulling his head away from their neck by the hair, his counterpart's grip lost in the movement. He's about to protest, but he gives the entity full control of the floor when Arthur's whine cuts itself short. His head raises, eyes open to meet his gaze.
"Noel."
"Yeah, sweetheart?"
"Bite hard."
Eagerly, the collar of Arthur's shirt is pulled aside more than it already was, allowing his teeth to really sink in. There's a hiss that devolves into a groan and he feels Arthur's leg twitch near his side.
"Christ, do you even have to ask?"
He soothes the teeth marks with his tongue, leaving a kiss there, moving on to his chest, his stomach, the insides of his thighs. He looks up to see them paying rapt attention to his ministrations. He grins.
"Anythin' you wanna do? Or should I take the reins here?"
"Kiss me?" is the immediate reply.
His smile softens, frankly endeared. He takes their hands as he stands up, inviting them to do the same. His hand finds its way to his chin once more, thumb stroking just under the bottom lip as he stares into John's eyes, his own just as soft as his smile for Arthur.
"John?"
"He go quiet?"
"I've been trying to get him to do that for months," Arthur laughs. "I'm teasing, John."
Noel holds John's hand as he kisses their eyelids, both of them, and is a very literal breath away from kissing Arthur when the kettle whistles loud and clear. About as subtle as a train. He curses under his breath on his way to the kitchen, deftly taking the kettle away from the heat, then removing the source itself. He sighs.
"Uh... you still want tea?" he asks, turning around only to be met with Arthur quickly closing the previous gap between them. Despite himself, a light giggle bubbles up from Noel's chest. John's hand is back in his, rubbing the knuckles, as he cradles Arthur's head, tilting it just right that he can press down to deepen the kiss. Arthur's hand grabs onto his waist like a lifeline, a small moan vibrating in the back of his throat. Carefully, Noel manoeuvres their connected forms to the counter, slotting a thigh between the other man's legs, whose mouth gapes at the pressure. Noel quickly slips his tongue inside before it can be closed again, his leg being squeezed by Arthur's. His shirt is being tugged on even though there isn't much space separating them to warrant it.
Barely a minute passes and Arthur's pulling away to tell John to shut up. Noel watches them, amused whenever his facial expressions change.
"Ask if- what? Why?"
"Ask what, angel?"
"...John wants to know if you have a large mirror?"
Cue the wolfish grin.
"Floor-length good enough for ya, John?"
"Uh, yes."
Arthur's noise of surprise morphs into a laugh as Noel steps away, tugging Arthur after him and pressing him close. He steals just one more peck before leading them to the bedroom. He shuts the door and turns around to a shirtless Arthur.
"You don't waste time, huh?" he teases.
Arthur lets the air seep from his lungs in a slightly bashful way.
"Sorry, I-"
"No apology needed, doll. I like knowin' my partner's so eager." He makes eye contact with John. "Partners?"
"That was a very emphatic yes."
He goes for the neck again, retracing the trails he already left across his shoulders while the other two work together considerably well-coordinated in unbuttoning his shirt. The three of them remove it completely, sentencing it to a cold night on the floor. He pulls them flush together again, directly into another kiss, hands behind Arthur's head and on his hip. Arthur's and John's, respectively, find purchase on his shoulder and run up his side with a feather-light touch. He tries not to laugh, but it's getting difficult.
Pressing his lips to the corner of Arthur's mouth, he mumbles, "John, that- ha- that tickles."
"He apologises."
Noel decides John needs a little nudge.
"It's okay to touch me, sweetheart."
And that does the trick. His hand is roaming firmer than before, covering more ground from his chest to his stomach to his hip and over again. It makes him smile, John being so comfortable with him.
"Oh- Christ," Arthur breathes out sharply, head falling back on instinct. Muttered right after is, "So demanding." He opens their eyes and looks down at his dick, currently in Noel's slow hand. He shudders. Whines when the hand is pulled away.
He tugs Arthur's pants down to his thighs, then, and pushes him onto the bed, sliding the clothing the rest of the way off and throwing them to join their shirts. He takes a moment to appreciate the flushed expanse of skin, scars and all. He traces one of them until it ends, straying to Arthur's thighs, keeping his touch light. He reaches down to hold his face, running his thumb over the multitude of pinprick scars littering the side from jaw to eyebrow, a small part permanently gone. It's not pretty by any means, but it's very distinctly him. A testament to his capabilities, surviving that place.
"Not exactly my best side."
"Eh. Still part a you."
Finally, he climbs on top, pressing a gentle kiss for the scar tissue, grinding against him when he switches back to his mouth. He straddles one of his thighs and lifting the other one to the curve of his waist. He takes John by the hand and Arthur by the hip and drags his still-clothed cock over Arthur's, keeping to a steady pace. He studies their face intently, committing it all to memory.
"Faster," Arthur pants.
Who would he be not to oblige?
He transfers his hand from the man's hip to the space beside his shoulder, leaning some of his weight into that part of the mattress. He's starting to lose his breath and he can faintly feel sweat building up as he thoroughly indulges their every want and need.
Arthur cracks a smile. "What is it, John? Do you- ah, fuck!" His teasing is cut off when Noel grabs both his hips as he leans back at just the right angle, slotting them together much closer. Arthur's eyes screw shut at the incessant rubbing of rough fabric against his bare skin, but even after a moment, there's no response to a comment.
"Aw," Noel coos, "John get shy all a sudden?"
"Rather defensive "No," John." Arthur's grin is sly.
John retaliates not exactly by shoving Noel off of them, but he does push them apart. He laughs as Arthur complains, though it stops short.
"R-repeat that?" He blinks, seemingly out of disbelief.
In a non-attempt to be discreet, he keeps his eyes on them as he snakes a hand up Arthur's thigh, pleased when his breath hitches, when he shivers the further up his hand goes.
"Do I need to turn my head?"
Noel, being a rather good detective, guides Arthur so that he's directly facing him.
Arthur blinks.
"Well, if we somehow weren't into you already, we certainly are now."
He laughs brightly and Arthur smiles when he's kissed again.
"Now. Why'd you needa be lookin' my way, doll?"
Arthur turns his head slightly, but Noel's hand corrects him, still holding him by the chin.
"Don't get shy on me, Arthur."
Their eyes are wide by virtue of Arthur, eyebrows raised.
"God, you two will be the death of me."
"Just a little one for now. But only after I get an answer."
Arthur nods, face red for at least two reasons. "Right, um... John wants... I... need you to fuck me. Please, Charlie."
He's still for a moment until a soft smile crosses his face, despite the vulgar statement just uttered.
"Anythin' for you, doll. Long as you keep callin' me Charlie," he whispers. He gets up to set the mirror so it faces the bed. "You alright bein' on your knees."
"Very."
"Then come here."
He leads him closer to the edge, stopping him just before. They kiss again, Noel moving around until he's behind him, exhaling softly at the back of his neck.
With slick fingers, he pushes in. Arthur tenses. Noel looks at the mirror to see John stroking him until he relaxes again. Soon, he's adding a second finger, grabbing Arthur's hip again with his unoccupied hand, squeezing in time with the rhythm he fingers him open in. Arthur makes a small noise when a third is added.
"You okay, Arthur?"
He nods, explaining, "Just- been a while, is all." In a low voice, he adds, "If you stop, I'll kill you."
"Noted," he laughs, adding a fourth.
Arthur's body reacts on instinct, pushing back onto Noel's hand, hips rolling. He watches the mirror image of John's hand speeding up, though still very controlled.
"What- mm, what do you mean you can see him staring?"
He ducks his head to suck another bruise into Arthur's neck.
"Ah, so- so that's what... what the mirror was for... Fuck you, I'm a good- hah- detective, just not when I'm being propositioned by the entity living in- oh, Christ- in my head and a ridiculously attractive man... Yes, you are, too, you kn-know what I- You describe Charlie in far more detail then you've ever described yourself, John. Ah, Jesus- How-? Oh, God, John."
Noel listened to them bicker quite contentedly, but he will admit perking up when John used his hand expertly to end their argument.
"Charlie, please-"
"I got ya, don-don' worry."
He removes his fingers completely, acting quickly to replace it. Their eyes roll back, mouth agape.
"That good, doll?" All he gets in response is a nod.
Arthur focuses back on the mirror, though their eyes are nearly closed. John seems to fix this issue if Arthur leaning onto his elbows is anything to go by.
"Satisfied, sweetheart?"
"Not- he- grab my hair."
He readily obeys the command, taking a fistful to keep him facing forward.
"Now?" Noel pants.
Arthur doesn't say anything, so he takes it as a yes. He can't see all that well, but it's safe to assume John's hand is still attached to Arthur, and probably why he's tensing like he's mere seconds from an orgasm. It's almost surprising when he does unravel seconds later, but he suspects Arthur moaned John's name for a related reason.
"Shit," Noel breathes, "You did- you did great, doll. I'm- I'm almost there."
"Wait."
He slows, but doesn't quite stop, if he even can.
"Jo- I- We want to be on our back when you- when you cum inside us."
When is echoing around the room and short-circuiting his damn brain. It must be the animal part of his human nature that has him nearly tackling them to their back. A breathy laugh escapes Arthur's lungs.
He slides back in with ease. His thrusts are sloppier and he can't quite catch his breath anymore, reduced to heavy breathing.
"Noel."
"Yeah... sweetheart?"
"Say my name."
He groans as he leans down chest-to-chest with them, whining in their ear. His body takes over, hips acting like they have a mind of their own.
"God, you feel so- so fucking good, John. Can't-can't stop thinkin' about you, either.
"Okay," Arthur says before wrapping his legs around Noel's waist, keeping their bodies as close as possible. The thought alone could make Noel cum. And it does.
"Fuck, John." His body spasms as he cums, buried deep within them.
Arthur's back arches, and over his own heavy breaths, he can just make out him saying, "I forgot how good that feels."
A pause.
"I'll tell you later."