maybe we show some mercy

[falsify]

[Usually, facing your fears means discovering they're not as bad as they seemed in your head. That your mind catastrophises and exaggerates and the reality is nowhere near what it seemed. Eames certainly wishes that were the case here, but it turns out the reality is far worse than anything that crossed his mind. He'd long since come to terms with the idea that getting caught meant death, but the captain of this discreet little crew made a point of talking about "re-education" with such conviction that it seems like a very real possibility. A real possibility that terrifies Eames in ways he didn't even know he could feel.]

[It's hard not to be mad at himself, and in fact he is. He's fucking furious. Years of being meticulous about hiding from the Empire rendered obsolete because some asshole wanted to make some quick money and Eames hadn't spotted the signs even though that's exactly the kind of thing he's supposed to be good at. And now here he is, bound in a cell on a ship, no idea how long he's been here or where they are — no idea about much of anything outside this room, actually — pumped full of power inhibitors to make doubly sure he can't escape.]

[Fucking hell but it hurts. Hands cuffed behind his back, made to stay on his knees for... A long time. Simultaneously can't feel his legs and yet the muscles burn and ache. All of him a mess of cuts and bruises, a mix of injuries from fighting back and some from cruelty passed off as discipline. He thinks his nose might be broken and one of his eyes is swollen into a semi-permanant squint. The longer he kneels here, the more Eames thinks the inhibitor injections were less about preventing escape and more about making sure he couldn't heal away the beatings; making sure he'd suffer through every moment of the trip "home."]

Comments

[falsify]

[He keeps flinching away from Arthur, groaning weakly in protest.]

I'm fine, I just need to sleep.

[specifiercity]

You look awful.

[This is delivered as if it's meant to be some sort of justification for him to continue.]

[falsify]

They injected me with power inhibitors. I can't shift.

[It sucks.]

[specifiercity]

That's not what I'm talking about.

[He does relent with the towel, and for some reason that's what makes his whole body slow down and he looks away from Eames face to manage the sudden lump in his throat. This is happy, or it should be - he pictured this reunion as overwhelmingly positive but there's still so much to deal with. Eames has been through so much and Arthur's put himself thorugh hell to get him back and it fucking sucks and there are so many emotions happening at once right now that Arthur didn't want to deal with.]

[falsify]

I can't heal if I can't shapeshift.

[He watches Arthur, frowning. He just wants to be fine, to kiss Arthur and thank him and go back to how it was before this.]

[Instead he flinches and curses under his breath when he moves the wrong way and sends a sharp pain up his side.]

[specifiercity]

Right and you'll get infected or something, I--

[There's a wobble in his voice an dhe has to cut himself off before he says anymore and betrays too much of how he's feeling. Sitting still here has really brought it all to a screeching halt and he looks down at his hands where he's worrying the wet cloth.]

[falsify]

[He looks at Arthur for a long moment, wondering what's best to do. He can't express how much he hates this, hates being taken care of like this, hates feeling weak this way. But carefully he reaches for Arthur's hand to bring the cloth back to his face, jaw clenched in an attempt not to complain or make any pained noises.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur looks back up, focusing on getting the dried blood off Eames' face for the time being. He does that until he's satisfied with the job he's done and then he sighs, brushing his fingers against Eames' jaw lightly.]

I just wish I knew how to actually help you.

[falsify]

[Eames frowns at that, as if Arthur hasn't done something amazing for him already.]

Arthur, you saved me.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur's mouth twitches into a frown but he can't deny that. He just sighs and looks down at his lap again.]

Is there anything you need me to do?

[falsify]

Just... Stay with me for a bit.

[He looks away, frowning. It's his turn for his voice to waver, even hushed as it is like he's afraid to be heard.]

I need to sleep, but I... I thought I'd never see you again.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur takes a deep breath and nods, putting the cloth aside and then crawling onto the bunk next to Eames, careful not to get too close or jostle him at all, just laying down on his side next to him with a hand gently placed on his chest. The fact that he hasn't slept much is finally hitting him and he's having trouble keeping his eyes open now that he's horizontal.]

[falsify]

[Eames falls asleep pretty fast, Arthur's body next to him and the complete fatigue doing a hell of a lot for him. It's less like rest and almost a coma, out for the better part of a day and almost impossible to wake up.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur gets up once to take them into orbit around a nearby uninhabited planet, deciding to wait there until they can decide what their next move is. He puts on all the stealth systems the ship has and then gets back into bed with Eames, cuddling up a little closer than before but still very careful not to move him around at all.]

[falsify]

[When Eames finally wakes up, it's in a panic. He doesn't remember where he is at first, and sits up with full intent to get up and go... Somewhere. Anywhere. The pain it causes catches up pretty fast though, stabs of agony in his side and Eames shouts in pain and clutches his side, doubled over and sweating.]

[It's grounding in a way though, enough to slow him down long enough to remember where he is. That he's safe.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur wakes up with a sharp breath at the noise, way too groggy to do anything other than groan softly and rub his face. He’s thankful Eames doesn’t go anywhere, because it would be way too hard to chase him in his current state, so he wouldn’t be able to put his hand on his arm and softly speak in a tone rough from sleep.]

Eames.

[falsify]

I'm fine.

[He puts a hand over Arthur's.]

Go back to sleep.

[specifiercity]

[He hums to confirm that was the plan all along.]

Are you gonna lay back down?

[falsify]

No.

[He sighs and shakes his head. Probably he should but...]

I'm in dire need of a shower, I think.

[specifiercity]

Eames.

[He says it like it’s supposed to convey just how much he thinks Eames should lay back down, but he’s also not fully convinced that a shower wouldn’t be good for him.]

[falsify]

I'm covered in blood and grime and I've been in these clothes for days.

[He's getting up slowly, regardless of what Arthur says or does. More than anything it's some attempt to prove to himself that he's not having any problems whatsoever with all this.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur rolls onto his back and rubs his face with both hands, groaning softly. It occurs to him it’s been a while since he showered too.]

You need someone to wash your back?

[falsify]

Yeah, sure.

[That's a normal thing they do it's fine everything is fine.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur drags himself up off the bed, starting to take off his clothes and realizing with an unhappy grunt just how ripe he smells. His brain's still not totally switched on yet so he's mostly focusing on navigating to the shower and not on anything else like how he desperately wants to hold Eames and tell him how important he is or any of that. Nope, just don't hit any of the ship architecture on the way toward running water.]

[falsify]

[Walking and disrobing at the same time are not things Eames can do right now. In fact walking is barely something he can do, using the walls to hold himself up as he slowly makes his way to the shower and tries not to be embarrassed by the difficulty he's having.]