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's tone and expression are gentle, relaxing a little bit but keeping his arm firm around Eames.]

It's nothing.

[falsify]

It's not.

[He sighs.]

I'd be going crazy right now without you here. [...] Crazier.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur thinks on that for a moment, still rubbing Eames’ shoulder.]

There’s nowhere I’d rather be right now.

[falsify]

[He thinks that's stupid, but he won't say it. Eames just cosies in with a soft sigh and wraps an arm around him.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur noses in with a sigh. It’s true, given the circumstances, that he’d feel guilty being anywhere else.]

D’you know how long the inhibitor’s supposed to last? If it’s going to be a few more days we should probably give you some actual medical attention.

[falsify]

It was supposed to be until we got to Tarnax IV, so... Another day maybe?

[Given he has no idea where they werr when Arthur broke him out or how long he'd been on the ship already, it's his best guess.]

[specifiercity]

[Another sigh as he looks up at the ceiling, mulling over this information.]

You should take some painkillers at least.

[falsify]

If you bring some to me I will.

[Eames tilts his head up to look at Arthur with a tired smile.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur smiles softly back at him.]

I guess that would mean you'd have to move.

[falsify]

Oh.

[Hm.]

Never mind then.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur's chest rumbles with a soft laugh.]

Next time we get up, I'll go dig them up.

[falsify]

Okay.

[For now though, Eames just wants to cuddle.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur cuddles as much as Eames wants, only ever getting up to stretch his legs and to grab the painkillers. He pretty much resigns himself to just waiting it all out until Eames is able to shift back to his regular self again, and at that point they can talk about next steps. They have to touch down at an outpost somewhere to get supplies eventually, but in all likelihood Eames' captors are still out there looking for him and they need to be extra careful.]

[So he just does all the laying around that Eames does, making a real effort to enjoy the time they have to just exist with each other and not be productive at all.]

[falsify]

[It's nice. Almost enough to make Eames forget how there's a constant panic in the pit of his stomach and his whole body hurts and he's still green. He pretends not to flinch sometimes when he catches sight of his hand on Arthur's chest or face, ignores every moment he wants to kiss Arthur and can't bring himself to do it like this.]

[Amazing to think it's only been a couple of days.]

[When the inhibitors wear off, he's asleep. Eames' body works on autopilot, taking care of the worst of his injuries on its own. So maybe it's the surprise of being able to comfortably breathe through his nose again that wakes Eames up. He notices the lack of pain immediately, kinda hard not to, and rushes off to get to a mirror. As if he could possibly have forgotten what it feels like to be himself, but the visual confirmation is like the rush after a successful job. Like he's indestructible and he can do anything.]

[So naturally the first thing he does is look for Arthur, calling his name as he rishes around to find him without even bothering to get dressed or anything.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur’s sitting at the table, messing with an old radio trying to get it to work as he’s prone to do when he gets bored. The shouting catches him off guard and he sits up a little straighter, really hoping there’s not an emergency.]

Eames?

[falsify]

[Ah, perfect. There he is. Eames doesn't bother saying anything, he just immediately walks over and works his way into Arthur's lap and drapes his arms over Arthur's shoulders.]

Heu there.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur leans back like he doesn’t know what’s going on. It’s all happening a little fast considering he thought Eames was having a nap until a minute ago.]

I see the inhibitors wore off.

[falsify]

Mmhm.

[He smiles and leans forward to nose at Arthur's face.]

And I can thank you properly for rescuing me now I'm not in pain anymore.

[specifiercity]

Eames come on. Are you sure that’s— did you just heal two minutes ago?

[falsify]

Yeah?

[He makes a face, either not understanding the issue or pointedly ignoring it. He wants Arthur right now like he's never wanted anything in his life Wants to kiss him and feel him and just be with him, and he can't fathom why he'd do anything else now he can do that again.]

[specifiercity]

[He finally puts his hands on Eames’ hips and shakes his head.]

You are a ridiculous man sometimes.

[falsify]

I'm not sure how wanting to ride your cock makes me ridiculous exactly.

[He smirks faintly and goes back to nosing at Arthur's face to try and draw him into a kiss.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur hums and leans in for that kiss, taking his time to indulge in it since this is the first one he’s had in ages. It takes a while for him to be able to pull away and murmur something about getting to bed.]

[falsify]

[Eames does very much the same. He cups Arthur's face and closes his eyes with a soft sigh, focused entirely on the feeling of Arthur's lips against his. It's something so simple he missed so much, he still remembers mourning it in that holding cell, being so sure he'd lost this forever.]

[When Arthur speaks, Eames nods emphatically and slips off his lap with a little regret, but it'll be better in bed than here anyway.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur gets up and follows Eames, watching him just in case there’s any sign that this is happening too fast.]