Under their skin

Billy Bunter

Tony watched from the hallway with quiet amusement as Taggie tore into Rupert after his rather prudish attempt to grope her at the dinner table.

By now, Cameron had cleaned herself up and, along with Monica, headed home. Tony had told Monica he was staying behind to discuss business with Freddie, but in truth, watching Rupert being loudly rejected-and thoroughly insulted-by a beautiful woman was far more entertaining.

Especially after Rupert's unnecessary, childish remark about what Tony had looked like as a teenager.

As Rupert ran a hand through his hair and let out a long, frustrated sigh, Tony stepped away from the hallway and slowly applauded, his sarcasm unmistakable.

"Bravo, Rupert. Truly impressive. You've practically traumatized Declan's daughter. If I were you, I'd start praying she doesn't tell her daddy, you dirty old lecher."

Rupert turned sharply, an irritated look crossing his face.

"You never miss a show, do you, Tony?" A crooked smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Or should I go back to calling you Billy Bunter?"

Tony calmly adjusted the cuffs of his shirt, as though the remark hadn't reached him at all.

"If you think that bothers me in the slightest, then you know me even less than I thought, Rupert."

His gaze remained cool, almost detached. And yet, for the briefest moment, something flickered in his eyes-a shadow from long ago, one that had never quite disappeared.

"Oh, Tony..." Rupert closed the distance between them, casually draping an arm over Tony's shoulder.

"You know full well I probably know you better than anyone here." His smirk widened. "Perhaps even better than your wife."

Tony stared at him for a long, unreadable moment. His expression gave nothing away.

Then, without a hint of urgency, he slipped beneath Rupert's arm and walked outside, stopping just beyond the front door.

"That..." he began, without looking back at him.

"That was a lifetime ago. It meant nothing. I was young, naïve... and you..." He drew in a slow breath, as though steadying himself. "You were every bit as insufferable, selfish, and obsessed with your own amusement as you are now."

His body tensed almost imperceptibly before he exhaled quietly through his nose and finally turned to face Rupert again.

"And we agreed that it was far better for both of us if no one ever found out about it." His voice was firm now, almost demanding. "I trust you haven't changed your mind."

Rupert leaned casually against the doorframe, one shoulder resting against the wood.

"Yeah, yeah... I remember." A faint grin crept onto his face. "But be honest, Tony. Have you really never thought about it again? Not once since it happened?" He tilted his head ever so slightly. "Even subconsciously?"

"No."

The answer came instantly-cool, sharp, far too quick and far too certain for Rupert to believe it.

Slowly, he stepped closer until barely an arm's length separated them. He raised his hand and, with the back of his fingers, traced a slow path from Tony's shoulder down to his wrist.

Tony held his gaze. His breath caught for the briefest moment at the touch.

"I'd wager I still remember exactly what you like..." Rupert murmured, his eyes fixed on Tony's. "Do you believe me?"

A faint shiver ran across Tony's skin as Rupert's hand drifted back up his arm before coming to rest lightly against the side of his neck.

Then reality crashed back into place.

Voices echoed through the hallway inside the house.

In one swift movement, Tony slapped Rupert's hand away.

"Enough with these games, Rupert. Back then, I was nothing more than a source of amusement for you." His voice cut through the silence. "And that hasn't changed. To you, everyone is replaceable."

The words came out with far more anger than he'd intended. He'd wanted to sound indifferent-annoyed, at most.

Not hurt.

Tony cleared his throat and took a deliberate step sideways, putting some distance between them again.

"Be that as it may..." His voice was steady once more. "That was a long time ago. We're both adults now, and it was nothing more than a stupid, meaningless experiment."

With that, he moved past Rupert, heading back towards the front entrance. There was still business to discuss, and he had no intention of entertaining this conversation any longer.

"Oh, no you don't."

Rupert seized Tony's arm with a firm grip and pulled him along.

"Hey-! What the... Stop! Let go!"

Ignoring every protest, Rupert dragged him across the grounds until they reached the garden behind the house. Only then did he finally release him.

"Have you completely lost your mind?" Tony snapped, rubbing the spot on his arm where Rupert's fingers had dug into him. "What the hell was that supposed to be?"

"We're going to talk. Now." Rupert said quietly, his eyes locked on Tony's.