vampire trash? me?

[falsify]

[It's been on his mind a lot over the last few weeks, the idea of becoming a vampire. Partially because he's looking older than Arthur these days, and if he lets that go on too long it's going to get pretty weird, but moreover he just feels ready]

[Anxious as fuck, but ready.]

[The idea of it is terrifying — he'd gone to Mal for an explanation of the finer details rather than worry Arthur with his questions, seeing as she's actually done it before and Arthur hasn't — the idea that he could just... Die. It's not one that sits easy with Eames. He rather likes being alive, in fact half the point of becoming a vampire is to keep being alive, for a stretch on the word, forever.]

[So he's been dealing with that a lot, pretending otherwise whenever Arthur notices him being distant or pensive so he can work out his feelings on this without any outside influence. He knows Arthur wouldn't be mad if he changed his mind, it's a huge change to undertake, but it's not that he might not want this so much as wondering if the risks are really worth it.]

[They are.]

[But now they need to talk about it, so Eames is psyching himself up to do exactly that. Offered to stay in and make dinner while Arthur's off doing his errands to give himself some time alone to think about it. Maybe making some significant progress on a bottle of wine to calm his nerves, maybe it'll slow him down enough Arthur won't realise how keyed up he is the second he gets home.]

Comments

[falsify]

[Eames glances down at himself as he gets up, but he decides he doesn't need to bother getting cleaned up and nods instead.]

Suppose I better make myself presentable while you do that.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur's only gone for ten minutes or so, just washing his face and wiping up any grossness that needs to be wiped up. When he comes back he goes straight to the dresser to get some clean clothes. He's actually a little excited, weirdly enough.]

[falsify]

[It only takes a couple of minutes for Eames to get dressed, so by the time Arthur's out he's bored and basically gets all in his space to generally be a nuisance. It's not like Arthur can really get dressed with Eames feeling him up and nosing at his neck, but also what if Eames did that anyway.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur laughs and pulls away a little bit, trying to pull on a shirt.]

Come on.

[falsify]

[Eames grins and plants a kiss on the back of Arthur's neck before he moves to lean on the dresser so Arthur can put his clothes on.]

Well if you must insist on walking around naked, these things are going to happen.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur shakes his head as he pulls on some underwear and some pants and then comes over to give Eames a kiss while he's doing up his belt.]

I can get naked again when we get home.

[falsify]

Promises, promises.

[He's still grinning though, and he puts his hands on the front of Arthur's shirt.]

Where are you taking me anyway?

[specifiercity]

Just a bar, owned by one of the local vampires.

[He brings his hand up to Eames' cheek, brushing his thumb along his jaw.]

It's pretty quiet at this hour and no one'll bother us very much.

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[Eames nods and smooths down the front of Arthur's shirt with his hands, the only outward display of anxiety he shows before he turns to grab his keys and jacket.]

Let's get going then.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur grabs his jacket too and leads the way to the door, perhaps happier than he should be to take his bloodthirsty boyfriend out on the town. He knows as soon as they walk out the door there's a chance they'll bump into a living being even just in the hallway, so Arthur puts his hand on Eames' lower back right before they walk out.]

I'm right here.

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I know.

[He says it softly, the seriousness of the situation suddenly setting in now he's about to leave. Eames sucks in a heavy breath, trying to steel himself against the fact that in a minute he's going to be hearing and smelling and generally sensing a lot of things that are going to really push his self-control.]

[He nods at Arthur, knowing he'll be sticking close and trusting him to make sure Eames doesn't do anything stupid.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur smiles and knocks Eames' knuckles softly with his own, indicating he's happy to hold hands if Eames wants, but he leaves it up to him. He doesn't want to treat him like a child but at the same time he remembers how this feels, how the whole world can overwhelm you.]

[falsify]

[Eames hesitates a little before he takes Arthur's hand, lacing their fingers together with another deep breath. It's a little strange not feeling his heart pounding in his chest or even in his throat with how he's feeling right now, but Eames elects not to dwell on it. Squeezing Arthur's hand a little to tether himself to the here and now.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur tries to stay more alert of the smells and sounds that indicate "food" nearby - elevated heartbeats can be heard a long way off if you listen, and while blood generally makes its way to the forefront there's just a certain smell that comes off a living person that Arthur tends to find... enticing, if he notices it.]

[They pass by someone waiting for a cab in the lobby and Arthur's grip on Eames' hand tightens, betraying how worried he is about this, but he keeps his pace steady and offers them a pleasant smile as he leads Eames to the door.]

[falsify]

[Eames feels like he hears her heart beating from a million miles away, eyes dark and fixed on her the second she's in eyeshot. The smell is overpowering, even from a distance, and his mind floods with images of tearing into her the same way he used to think about food that wasn't people when he was hungry.]

[God, but he's so fucking hungry. It's a fight to stop himself going after her, but Arthur's grip on his hand helps. It pulls him back a little when he feels Arthur's hand tighten around his and Eames shakes his head, realising once they've passed hee that his fangs have come out without his permission.]

Fuck.

[That's it. That's how he feels right now.]

[specifiercity]

Yeah.

[There’s a sympathetic edge to his voice as he carries on, guiding Eames down the sidewalk, down the route he usually takes home if he’s feeling particularly hungry and doesn’t want to deal with fighting the temptation of busier streets. It’s a slightly longer walk to where they’re going, but significantly quieter.]

You okay?

[falsify]

[Eames walks a little closer to Arthur, trying to soak up as much of his presence as he can without being an obstruction as they walk.]

I'm not sure I could've stopped myself if you weren't here.

[specifiercity]

You’ll get used to it.

[He tries to sound as reassuring as he can without being patronizing as he gives Eames’ hand a squeeze.]

It turns into background noise eventually.

[falsify]

Just have to get that far without tearing anyone apart.

[God but he wants to.]

[specifiercity]

I’ll try and get us as much fresh blood as I can but it’s been a while since I needed a line on it.

[He rubs Eames’ knuckles with his thumb.]

I’ll be with you, we can work up to letting you drink from someone without me ready to hold you back.

[falsify]

[Eames ducks his head with a soft sigh. It was easier to tune this all out from the apartment, part of him is worried the wind will change and he'll suddenly be assaulted by the smell of everyone within a ten metre radius.]

[Then again, Arthur is probably strong enough to just haul him back home if he has to, which is an odd sort of relief to consider.]

Thank you.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur takes a turn and leads them into a park, the kind of poorly lit patch of green that Arthur might avoid cutting through as a human if it were past midnight like it is. He takes a deep breath of the cool air and exhales with a serene smile.]

I don't think I've told you yet how happy I am that we're on the other side of this. I didn't think the relief of knowing you have all of eternity now would feel so... amazing.

[He knows everything feels so immediate to Eames right now between the hunger and the new sensation of being alive without being alive but he can't help but consider how much of the future they have now. How much time they can spend just existing together.]

[falsify]

[Eames stops mid-step, suddenly overcome with affection for this old man and how soppy and sentimental he gets, and he tugs on Arthur's hand.]

Come here.

[He wants a kiss and he wants it now.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur turns, grinning, and slips a hand around Eames' waist to rest on the curve of his spine, leaning in to kiss him so goddamn tenderly you'd think one of them had just proposed or something. He's just so overcome with love for this ridiculous man and it feels good to express it.]

[falsify]

[He wasn't expecting this kind of kiss, and it almost makes Eames laugh. A much more significant part of him just melts into it with a soft exhale, resting his hands and locking his fingers together at the small of Arthur's back. He almost wishes they were at home so they could spend a while just doing this, and when he pulls away he's reticent to move more than the space he needs to be able to speak, soft and quiet.]

I love you.