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 rubs his eyes with one hand and sighs yet again, wondering for a moment if there's anything he could say to get Eames not to be so bull-headed about this, but he decides that there isn't. He sits up, feet slipping off the bed.]

I'm gonna go check everything's okay.

[falsify]

Okay.

[Eames stays where he is, contemplating trying to get a bit more sleep without Arthur here.]

[specifiercity]

[ARthur throws himself down in the captain's chair with a huff, thoroughly unhappy with the fact that Eames will neither help himself nor let Arthur help him. He knows there's no quick cure for this kind of trauma but there has to be something that can start the healing process, even if Arthur doesn't know exactly what that is yet. For no he's just going to wait Eames out, putting all his attention toward the ship and its progress toward their next destination.]

[falsify]

[Eames eventually does go back to sleep. It's not good, it's fitful and uncomfortable and his face is constantly twisted in distress, but at least he's not bothering anyone.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur just waits, eventually finishing his calculations for their resupply needs and sending a transmission ahead of them to make sure it's ready to load up when they arrive. He's pretty determined not to bother Eames until he absolutely needs to.]

[falsify]

[Eventually Eames emerges, significantly more rested and entirely unwilling to talk about it. He puts a hand on the back of Arthur's chair when he comes up abd leans on it like everything's fine.]

How are we doing?

[specifiercity]

Good so far.

[As in there has been no sign of the Empire.]

[falsify]

Good.

[He knows the only ones who might chase them down were left in that ship, but it's still a relief every time.]

How long until we make the station?

[specifiercity]

Forty minutes, give or take.

[He glances at another monitor.]

I sent an order ahead so they'll have it ready.

[falsify]

[Eames nods and puts a hand on Arthur's shoulder.]

Anything you need me to do?

[specifiercity]

[Arthur thinks on that for a moment and then shakes his head.]

I don't think so.

[falsify]

[Eames nods and squeezes Arthur's shoulder and leans down over the back of the chair to kiss his temple.]

[specifiercity]

[Regardless of how Arthur's feeling right now, that reminds him how much he's been craving a little intimacy ever since Eames started sleeping alone. They don't just lay down together much anymore. So he puts his hand over Eames' hand and turns his head up towards him.]

Hey, c'mere.

[falsify]

[Eames grins and comes around to plant himself in Arthur's lap, swinging his legs over the arm of the chair and lifting a hand to cup Arthur's face.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur puts a hand on Eames’ back and hums, a touch of desperation in his tone. He just wants to touch and kiss him.]

[falsify]

[Eames leans in to nose at Arthur's face with a soft hum, enjoying the closeness for a moment before he tilts his head to go in for a soft kiss.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur kisses him back, slow but needy. His hand moves over Eames' lower back in lazy circles.]

[falsify]

[Eames hums softly, insistently, putting a hand on Arthur's chest and wrapping the other around his shoulders. He mumbles something about needing Arthur-- not necessarily in a sexual way, in fact he makes no attempt to push things in that direction, he just desperately needs to be close to him right now.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur wraps his other arm around Eames', pushing it up Eames' back to hold him close. Before he can really stop himself, he speaks as he noses at Eames' jaw.]

I miss you.

[falsify]

I'm here.

[He tilts his head to make a little little space for Arthur, voice soft and low.]

I'm right here.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur tucks his head into Eames' neck and wraps his arms around him a little tighter. He's needed him so much - he knows he didn't experience anything close to what Eames did but their time apart was a special kind of hell and he just wants everything to be the way it was.]

[falsify]

[Eames shifts a little in Arthur's lap to get as comfortable as he can in this position, looping his arms around Arthur's neck. He brings a hand up to play in his hair and tilts his head to rest his cheek on Arthur's head with gentle sigh, more than happy to stay like this until they make their approach for the fuel delivery.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur silently enjoys this for a few minutes, tightening his arms around Eames if he moves at all, but eventually he lets out a laugh. His tone is still thick with desperation and sadness when he speaks.]

We must look so stupid.

[falsify]

[Eames lets out a little laugh, but he keeps on combing his fingers through Arthur's hair.]

I don't care.

[specifiercity]

My legs are gonna fall asleep.

[Said with a kind of childish impetuous tone of someone who knows he should do something but really doesn't want to.]