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 watches Eames' hand with a sleepy smile.]

Sometimes I wish I didn't scar.

[falsify]

[Eames makes an amused noise at that.]

Sometimes I wish I did. It's like a record of where you're been, what you've done.

[He pauses to sip his drink and raises his eyebrows.]

Proof that you've lived.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur nods, thinking on that for a moment before he lifts his arm to show Eames a small scar on his elbow with a smirk.]

I got this one falling down the stairs when I was three.

[falsify]

And you lived to tell me about it.

[so there]

[specifiercity]

[He laughs and leans in for a soft kiss, totally enamoured with this man right now. He really can't help himself.]

[falsify]

[Eames grins and lifts a hand to cup Arthur's cheek all affectionately. Always more than happy to be kissed.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur hums and kisses him for a little while, finally pulling away to attend to the hot beverage in his hand. He puts a free hand on Eames' knee and smiles at him.]

I need to pay you back for earlier.

[falsify]

[He laughs and shakes his head, surprisingly genuine considering the topic.]

No you don't.

[specifiercity]

I want to.

[He looks and sounds almost bashful.]

I want to make you feel good.

[falsify]

[Eames opens his mouth with an expression that suggests he's about to say something... Not in protest exactly, but he can feel himself about to question the idea that Arthur should expend that effort on him right.]

[Thankfully he stops himself, tilting his head just a little with a smirk.]

Wanting to is something else entirely.

[specifiercity]

Of course I want to.

[He brings his hand up to Eames' face.]

Wanting to have sex with you is a state I'm in more often than not.

[falsify]

[Eames smiles and leans into Arthur's touch.]

Believe me, wanting you is a constant state of being. It was horrible, not being able to bring myself to...

[He trails off, expression upset and uncomfortable for the briefest of moments before he catches himself and pulls his face back into that smirk.]

But that doesn't matter now.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur frowns softly and brushes his thumb across Eames' cheek.]

Eames, if you need to talk...

[falsify]

[He shakes his head.]

That's all over now.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur drops his hand to Eames' chest with a soft sigh.]

Well, I'm here if you change your mind.

[falsify]

[Eames looks down at Arthur's hand on his chest, he can't even conceive of talking about any of this. He just wants to move on, and now he's back to himself maybe he can.]

[He looks back up at Arthur, smiling just a little.]

Let's go back to discussing how you want to have sex with me.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur hesitates but smiles back at him, thinking maybe it still is too soon to force the issue.]

Well, I do want to see you make that face you make.

[falsify]

Which one?

[specifiercity]

Good point.

[Arthur lets his hand drop to Eames' belly button, fingers just brushing over the musclels in his stomach.]

Maybe I should try and get through as many as I can.

[falsify]

[Eames feels something in him tighten at that one and he licks his lips.]

Well, we have plenty of time.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur gives him a soft laugh.]

Plenty is an understatement.

[His hand moves over Eames' hip to his thigh.]

Maybe you should lie down, let me do all the work.

[falsify]

Gladly.

[He leans over to put his cup down, and then slowly slides down until he's laying on his back and looking up at Arthur with a light smile.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur puts his cup down as well, giving Eames an appreciative once over and putting a hand on his thigh, a coy smirk on his face.]

If you have any preference for how this is gonna go you should tell me now.

[falsify]

[Eames looks up at him, suddenly feeling exposed and vulnerable all over again. He swallows and glances away for a moment, half-heartedly forcing a smirk when he looks back at Arthur, lest it be too obvious what he's feeling.]

Whatever you're thinking right now is good with me.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur catches the brief hesitation and leans down to kiss him softly, hand just innocently brushing Eames' thigh.]