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

[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.]

[specifiercity]

[Luckily their shower stall has a seat, and after Arthur turns on the water to a pleasant medium heat and gets undressed to his underwear he goes back to see if Eames needs any help getting to the shower or undressing.]

[falsify]

[He wouldn't admit it if he did, but he makes it there alright. Getting undressed is another matter entirely, trying to get out of his top has Eames groaning in pain and ignoring Arthur while he scans the room to try and spot something sharp to just cut it off. He's probably gonna throw these clothes out anyway.]

[specifiercity]

Here, let me.

[He takes the hem of Eames' shirt before he gets the go ahead, trying to gently take it off of him.]

[falsify]

[The amount of effort it takes not to tell Arthur to leave him alone is staggering. Eames moves his arms to let Arthur help him, but he's obviously unhappy about it, letting out a heavy breath with his jaw clenched tightly, practically scowling.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur catches sight of that look when he discards the shirt, and he stands up a little straighter with his hands on his hips, an annoyed look on his face, and a sigh.]

What is it?

[falsify]

[As much as he doesn't like this, he also doesn't want to fight about it. He shakes his head and starts undoing his belt.]

Nothing.

[specifiercity]

It's something. I'm just trying to help.

[He sounds defensive but not overly so - more frustrated that he doesn't understand what's going on in Eames' head right now.]

[falsify]

I know, I just...

[He sighs and shakes his head, looking away to the side of Arthur.]

I've never been hurt for this long before, I've never needed help.

[It's a simplification, but he doesn't especially feel like explaining how it feels like a failure on his part and how he just wants to do things normally so he can go on like the last week never happened.]

[specifiercity]

[He feels a pang of sympathy and guilt, shaking his head and looking at the ground. His tone is significantly softer when he speaks again.]

I'm not offering help because I think you need it. I just want to help with the pain.

[falsify]

[He steps a little closer to Arthur, head bowed and voice hesitant as he debates saying what he's about to.]

You know you're the only person I've ever been able to trust.

[There's a small smile at the corner of his mouth when he looks up to meet Arthur's eyes. Trying to make it all a little less tense.]

It's why I'm trying not to fight you on this-- because I trust you.

[specifiercity]

[Being the only person Eames can trust feels like it should weigh him down unimaginably, but Arthur feels the same way. He meets Eames’ eyes and gives him a little nod.]

Still, if you want to do things by yourself - just tell me. I get it.

[falsify]

Yeah.

[Eames sighs softly and pushes his pants off his hips to get out of them without any of the aforementioned help.]

Right now I need you to wash my back.

[specifiercity]

Okay.

[He pushes his underwear down and steps back for Eames to step into the shower stall, getting a washcloth to take with him.]