ouughh honestly now that you mention it... every time i put archer in AUs or Situations he is always a starving but very well trained dog. It's always about him dreaming and wanting but keeping it to himself, thinking no one knows, but Giovanni always knows. And Giovanni will see how far he can push his little dog. How much can he starve the dog and dangle meat in front of him and watch Archer salivate and squirm... and yet not make a move until Giovanni says he can
Yeah! Like, Archer knows when and where to stop and hold off. He can appreciate various situations he's put in, but that's for himself, and doesn't even consider any reciprocation. Hungers, of course, but won't expect nor demand. Even seeing is enough.
Giovanni is curious how far he can push him, but at the same time is careful to not push him too far. There is a balance in this regard between them, I think, and they both suspect the other is doing what they are doing but nothing is said out loud. They just know each other well enough.
I can't help but imagine this kind of thing when the boss just goes along with his life and underling is just always, always there. Like... I now read a book with elements of boxing and mobster and I can imagine Giovanni training (he has that mobster bod from somewhere ww), shirtless and sweating and Archer politely swoops in and reports. Maybe passes a towel. Appreciates the sight. Or Gio straight out of shower. Or out of bed, maybe not on his own here. This kind of presence that's always lingering and it's easy for Giovanni to ignore those hungry eyes while Archer know not to bite more than he is fed. It's kind of specific but I deeply appreciate Archer being reliable to the point of almost invisibility... Though of course, he's far from being invisible, you get me?