sometimes moving isn't terrible

[falsify]

[Making room for most of Arthur's stuff is easier than Eames anticipated. He actually has a lot of space in his home that's not being used for much except storing one or two things, and it's easy enough to use the space more economically. He even floats the idea of converting the shed into an office for him, but it's a big undertaking, they can talk about it some other time.]

[By the time evening comes around, he thinks they've pretty much done it. There's probably some rearranging to be done, but it seems like an 'as and when' kind of thing. In the meantime, Eames comes to find Arthur with a bundle of his towels in his hands — obviously distracted on his way to pack them in the bathroom — and smiles tiredly when he sees him.]

How's it going?

Comments

[specifiercity]

Okay.

[He lets the silence settle for a moment, still rubbing his hand back and forth on Eames' arm.]

So how long has it been since you lived with someone?

[falsify]

[The question catches him a little off, and Eames laughs.]

God, I don't know. Fifty years?

[specifiercity]

Hm.

[hm indeed.]

That's not as long as I thought it would be.

[falsify]

If it helps, it was less because I wanted to and more because she got evicted.

[kinda hard to say 'no I do not want to live with you' under those circumstances]

[specifiercity]

Was she a girlfriend?

[It sounds like such a juvenile word but Arthur doesn't know what else to use.]

[falsify]

Mm.

[He sighs.]

It wasn't a great relationship. She's the one who gave me that scar on my thigh.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur gives him an empathetic hum as he rests his free hand on Eames' knee to comfort him.]

I'll try not to leave any scars.

[falsify]

I appreciate it.

[and he appreciates the lack of questions as to why she stabbed him in the first place]

What about you?

[specifiercity]

[Arthur sighs as he thinks about it.]

I guess Mal and Dom are really the only people I've lived alone with. Before them it was the army, and before that I was a teenager living with my parents.

[Jesus he's in his 30's and this is the first time he's living with a proper significant other.]

[falsify]

[Eames doesn't think much of it, he just hums and nods in understanding, taking a moment to nose at Arthur's hair again before he speaks.]

What was it like with them?

[Mal and Dom, obviously.]

[specifiercity]

It was never boring, but... I don't know, sometimes you want boring.

[He sighs as he remembers.]

We didn't stay anywhere very long and I usually had access to a room of my own anyway.

[falsify]

[There's a lot of questions he could ask, but he decides to spare Arthur the invasive enquiries. Instead he goes a little quiet for a moment or two.]

Are you saying I'm boring?

[specifiercity]

No.

[The answer's quick but not hasty.]

But at least I know where I stand with you. Most of the time.

[falsify]

[He was joking, but that gives him a little pause.]

Only most of the time?

[specifiercity]

Well we can't read each other's minds.

[This is just part of being human right. Or part of being... human-ish, in Eames' case. Sometimes you're just unsure of what someone else is thinking and sometimes that makes you unsure of yourself.]

[falsify]

Ah. I was worried for a moment that you thought I had some sort of secret agenda or something.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur makes an amused sound.]

I hope not.

[He sighs again.]

I didn't mean it like that, I just meant that when you're in that situation, when you're like an addition to an already happy couple, you feel like you're just waiting for them to get tired of you.

[falsify]

[Eames ducks his head a little to kiss Arthur's temple; the angles awkward but it feels important to put his lips on Arthur's skin.]

I'm glad you don't feel that way with me.

[specifiercity]

[This is getting dangerously close to real feelings territory, but Arthur indulges Eames and tilts his head to make it less awkward.]

I wouldn't have agreed to move in if I did.

[falsify]

[Eames smiles, pressing his lips a little more intently to Arthur's face.]

And now you're here to quadruple the coffee budget.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur grins.]

Hey, at least you don't have to buy extra tea for my apartment anymore.

[falsify]

I suppose it evens out then.

[He hums thoughtfully.]

It's a price I'm willing to pay to get you naked more often anyway.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur laughs dryly.]

I'll get naked as much as you want.

[falsify]

[he snorts] If that were true, you'd never wear clothes again.

[specifiercity]

You don't think it'd lose some of the magic if I never wore clothes at all?