#vampireproblems

[falsify]

[This is one of those moments in life where knowing something isn't the same as being at all prepared to face it. Eames has known all about the types of people Arthur works with for some time now; killers with an incredible strength and hunger just below the surface-- some much older than Arthur and stronger for it.]

[He doesn't know if that was the case this time, or what even caused the fight, but he knows that Arthur's in a bad dtate and getting hom home was a struggle. He eventually manages to get Arthur to the bed, laying him down as if he really knows what to do here.]

Arthur-- Arthur, look at me.

Comments

[specifiercity]

Right.

[He looks down at his food.]

I should go do the rounds too. I haven't checked in for a while.

[falsify]

[Eames makes a gently disappointed noise and watches Arthur for a moment before he speaks, trying to make sure he doesn't sound at all desperate and needy.]

You could always get back in the habit tomorrow instead.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur glances up at him from his food, battling with himself about whether to just say it baldly. He decides to go for it, because all of this will be better.]

I can stay in if you want me to. You're always welcome to come with me too.

[falsify]

[Yeah, okay, no way is he going out on the rounds with Arthur when he still has stitches in his neck. It'd be fucking awful for both of them, and the last thing Eames needs is to be dragged home for trying to fight one of Arthur's clients. Or a repeat of what started this fucking mess to begin with.]

[He sighs.] I might get through things faster if a number-loving immortal fancied giving me a hand.

[Also if that same immortal felt like making out a lot afterwards.]

You can always go while I'm asleep.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur smiles a little bashfully at being called a "number-loving immortal" and shakes his head once Eames is done.]

It can wait. I haven't been reading the news but I'm pretty sure I would have heard about it if someone had been causing trouble, and cleaning up after them is all I really do anyway.

[falsify]

Mm, a night in of hot number crunching it is then.

[wink]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur makes an amused noise as he takes another bite of his dinner.]

You know what gets me going.

[falsify]

[Eames huffs a small laugh and nudges Arthur's foot with his, just a little gesture of affection while they eat.]

Well. I know you.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur smiles bashfully again, going back to his dinner. It's the same flirty ridiculousness all through dinner, and Arthur offers to clean up when they're done, making short work of everything so they can get to that number crunching.]

[falsify]

[Eames presses a kiss to Arthur's cheek while he handles the cleaning before heading off to get his ledger and anything supplementary they might need, thankful for the help. It's not like Eames couldn't do it on his own, but he'd need several coffees, a bottle of aspirin, and at least two calculators (one to replace the first after he inevitably gets frustrated and breaks it,) whereas Arthur seems to love this stuff.]

[He sets the stuff out on the table and goes to grab them a couple of beers, mostly so there's something to keep him occupied when Arthur inevitably takes over doing everything, and makes himself comfortable on the couch while he waits.]

[specifiercity]

[Once Arthur's done he comes out to the couch to join Eames, setting himself down beside Eames well within reach in case Eames is down to cuddle (Arthur is very down) and picking up his beer and the ledger. He does like this stuff - it's clear and straightforward to him - things are supposed to even out a specific way and he likes finding out of they do or don't. It's not like his job, which sometimes requires some hard questions. These problems all have yes or no answers.]

[falsify]

[Eames is extremely down to cuddle, but he's All Business right now because he wants to get this done. He leans over, pointing out a few transactions and deposits and whatnot from the last fortnight ]

These ones have been bugging me. I can't tell if they're mistakes, paranoia, or if someone's been trying to steal from me while I was off work.

[There's a part of him that kind of hopes it's the last one. He has a lot of pent up frustration he hasn't been able to vent.]

[specifiercity]

Hm.

[Arthur certainly can't tell at first glance, but it does look suspicious to him, if only because Eames is pointing it out.]

You do work with criminals, so it's entirely possible.

[He squints as he skims through it again, trying to see if there's any real reason for these to jump out specifically. He's read over Eames' books before, so he knows the patterns.]

[falsify]

There's supposed to be honour among thieves, Arthur.

[He says it like it really means anything, but Eames knows in the long run it's a meaningless idiom. He does try to pick the more trustworthy criminals to work with him though, but even he gets it wrong sometimes.]

[Still, he's got a good team going. It's be a shame to get rid of any of them.]

[specifiercity]

[Arthur gives Eames a look as if he doesn't believe in a very similar system with himself and the vampires. That, of course, is a matter of survival, but career criminals have almost as much on the line.]

It does look a little off.

[He takes a sip of his beer.]

You don't have anyone new, do you? Whenever your numbers are off it's usually that Thompson guy being bad at math.

[falsify]

[He shakes his head at the question and frowns.]

Can you tell from the numbers? [He leans over a little to take a look at it again, but at a glance it's all nonsense to him.] As I said, I could just be paranoid. You know I don't like leaving them to run things longer than a day or two,

[Letting them handle nights is bad enough, but Eames has long since accepted that particular sacrifice.]

[specifiercity]

Yeah, I know.

[Arthur says that as if he wouldn't want to either, and he runs his fingers down the pages of the ledger as he skims through everything again.]

Do you have any more details about those transactions?

[falsify]

There should be receipts and notes in the back.

[You know. When they remember to keep them. Apparently good business practice goes out the window when half of it is under the table.]

I could call in if there's anything you need that isn't there, but if it is someone fucking me over...

[He gestures. Wouldn't want them to know he's on to them.]

[specifiercity]

Mm, no need to set off alarm bells.

[Arthur flips to the back to get the receipts and notes, leaning forward to lay it all out on the coffee table. He stares at them all and then points to one line in particular.]

That's a payout, right? From a boxing match. Who was the bookie for that while you were gone?

[falsify]

Kev, I think.

[He's still leaning over, and idly brushes his nose over Arthur's shoulder while he thinks about it.]

He's usually pretty solid, but if Thompson was the one keeping tabs that day I'm probably going to have to sit down with the receipts and redo it all.

[specifiercity]

Yeah, I don't know. You'll have to look at all the bets, I guess, but it looks like you paid out more than usual. Maybe someone has a line on fights getting rigged and elected not to share it with you. Other than that...

[Arthur leans back and looks at Eames with a soft smile.]

Everything looks okay to me.

[falsify]

[He nods and lets out a soft sigh, leaning up to kiss Arthur's cheek before he takes the ledger and puts it aside.]

Thanks.

[specifiercity]

You should still look through all of it, but for now you should just come here.

[Arthur grabs lightly for his shirt so he can pull him in for some cuddles. It's time.]

[falsify]

[Eames laughs softly and shifts closer to Arthur so he can curl up and rest against his chest with a soft sigh.]

An excellent plan as always.

[specifiercity]

[Arthur grins and presses a kiss to the top of Eames' head, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.]

Sometimes I have good ideas.