artfulforger | Ships Passing: The fallout of falling in to bed

Arthur had expected to Eames later on at his normal time, coming into the warehouse as his normal self. He had expected to see him smirking in silent, smug satisfaction when it ached for Arthur to sit down comfortably for long periods of time. Still, Arthur made it work and by the end of the day, when all he got was a text message, Arthur wasn't sure what to respond with. So he did what he usually did and said he would see him in the morning.

He wasn't sure what he expected after they gave into one of their basic needs but this wasn't exactly it. But perhaps it should have been. They did agree that things would go back to normal in the work place, right?

He looked over when Eames walked in and couldn't resist the frown that crossed his lips. To say the least, the forger looked like crap. Well, perhaps that was a little harsh. He was tempted to ask if he was okay but that wasn't part of their normal protocol, was it?

For now, he didn't say anything.

Never once since he woke up that morning did he find himself regretting what he and Eames had done -- but did Eames regret it?

For a long time he didn't look up, writing down a few things and then checking his phone and then glancing up at Arthur.

Pain shone in his eyes. He wanted to go to him, gather him close and beg forgiveness but he couldn't do that. Not yet. Not until he talked to Arthur about why he wasn't there the day before.

And praying Arthur forgave him in the end because he knew he deserved to have his ass kicked, and his ass kicked to the curb.

Sending a text, he got up and headed to the back of the warehouse.

meet me in the store room. pls!?

When Eames didn't meet his gaze, Arthur had turned back to his work to try and concentrate on the job and nothing more. It was hard, wanting to know what had made Eames miss a day of work after everything that had happened the two days prior and more specifically, the evening prior. It had only been a day since they had last seen each other. It wasn't as though they had spoken or saw each other every day before so why the hell was it bothering him so much that he didn't see Eames yesterday except those moments in the morning?

Arthur could feel Eames' gaze on him and it took him a second to return the gaze. He didn't want to at first, not sure what he would see there but in the end, he did. The pain caused something in his chest to tighten up. He watched as Eames left to the back of the warehouse and it was only when he turned back to his work that he noticed the blinking red light on his phone. He checked the message, read over it once then twice more and finally sat it down.

Arthur waited another minute before he left his desk and walked to the back of the warehouse to the store room. He wasn't honestly sure what to expect but the text message sounded on this side of desperate and that made Arthur uneasy. "What's going on, Eames?" he asked after he shut the door to the store room. As a defense mechanism, he was a little guarded, unsure of what to expect from this conversation.

He was waiting and the moment the door closed, he reached for Arthur, pulling him to him. He kissed him hard and deep, a possessive, almost scared edge to the kiss.

For a moment, even after he broke it, he almost didn't want to say a word.

"On my way in, I realized I was being watched," he whispered softly. "Followed."

He hadn't expected that. Hadn't expected it but it wasn't unwanted in the least. In fact, Arthur met the kiss with equal fever and pushed the urge to groan away.

Arthur stood there breathing silently and knit his eyebrows together. Fuck. "Was it anyone you recognized,' he asked, his voice a harsher whisper than he had meant. He did not like that one bit.

His arms stayed around Arthur, a slight hint of the tension around him seeming to loosen despite himself.

"Yeah. I did," he admitted softly. "It's nothing to worry about. I just needed to lead him out of the city," he murmured softly. "I didn't want them thinking there were others here I was with," he admitted.

He was silent for a minute. "So he's out of the city now? Are we going to have to worry about him finding you again?" And there was the point man, the one who was prepared to do anything to get this job done effectively and that did not include people who may end up costing them.

His hand nestled at the small of Arthur's back and he looked away. Maybe it would explain his look, how worn and pained he looked, as he whispered softly to Arthur.

"No. He won't be back. Nor will anyone find the body," he whispered. It had been so many years since he'd killed someone but he wouldn't risk inception, and he damn well wouldn't risk Arthur after what they had shared.

To his credit, Arthur only blinked and said no more. Instead, he wrapped both arms around Eames and hugged him tightly. With the facial expression on his face, Arthur could tell how that went. It was never easy to kill a person but when needs must. He just hugged the forger to him tightly and breathed him in silently. Fuck, but if he was honest - if the man was going to become a problem, Arthur would have done the same exact thing.

"You okay," he asked in a whisper.

He felt ashamed of himself for his previous thoughts. After what they shared...how could have have doubted that Eames would regret anything about it? He should have known, honestly.

Strong arms locked around Arthur, pulling the lean line of his body close. Despite that strong, lithe form, Eames knew there was so much strength there. The strength of his body, more so of his mind and emotions. He could kill, he’d done it enough. It wasn’t something though he liked having to do, especially when his mind kept telling him that maybe there had been other ways. Ways to solve the problem without hurting anyone. He couldn’t take that chance though.

His first response was to say of course he was fine but this was Arthur, and things with them had changed. He shook his head. “No. Not really.” He turned his head, kissing Arthur’s temple. “I’m sorry I didn’t call. I didn’t want them triangulating my phone and finding this place.”

Despite the fact that Eames had the body of a fighter, of someone who could use brute strength, Arthur also knew that it wouldn't have been Eames' first option if there was any other way. But from what he could gather, there hadn't been.

"Don't apologize," he said, turning his head to press a kiss to his cheek. "It's no more than what I would have done in the same situation," he whispered and pressed their brows together again. The important part was that Eames was here, alive and no worse for wear.

He bit on his bottom lip, hard. "Almost thought it was me," he whispered, his ears turning a little red in embarrassment. It was hard for him to admit that but things had changed with them. "I shouldn't have doubted it."

Looking the bruiser had kept him alive for so long and yet he didn't want to be that always. At least not with Arthur. Especially not with Arthur. Shifting, he pressed closer with a soft sigh.

"I couldn't risk leading the bastard back here. They... I owe them. May be past tense now. I think this would..."

And that was it. Forgotten was the bastards he had thought would try and kill them.

"Arthur. No. Please, don't think that. Never." He knew it had been bad timing. Horrid timing. "I should have found a phone and called," he whispered.

They probably shouldn't be doing this sort of thing in the work place. The only consolidation was the fact that they were in the store room and hardly anyone went in there despite the fact that they had a store room. Arthur moved in as close as he could and breathed in slowly. "Will you still owe them?" He couldn't help but want to know if the safety of Eames or the team were at risk.

He shook his head and looked at him. "It was stupid to even think, I know." He supposed, on some level, he was afraid. Course he knew it may not work out like in a children's fairytale that Pippa loved or that Mal was fond of, but that didn't mean that he wasn't a little afraid that the other night was all it was and would be. Arthur cared a lot more than he had realized. Fuck, that was not a feeling that he was really used to feeling.

"You did what you had to do," he said firmly. "I can't fault you for that." Again, he would have done the same thing. Wouldn't have told anyone or been around until he knew it was safe.

It wasn’t something that could happen often. Not without risking others finding out. Cobb was likely to overlook it but Ariadne was sharp, and that Saito he had no trust in. Yusuf though… he’d never let him live this down. Not only that, he’d be likely to tell everyone on the team. He kept a lot of secrets but that was one that Eames could not expect him to keep. Not from the rest of the team.

Yet knowing they shouldn’t be didn’t mean that he wanted to leave. He’d spent the entire night thinking about Arthur, about telling him what was happening, how he’d gotten himself tied up in this. Now though, now he could and hope that it would all turn out okay.

“No, they won’t come looking for me. The two that knew I owed them are both dead. I only killed one of them,” he noted, his voice low and soft, as if that changed so much in the grand scheme of things.

“And you had every right to worry,” he said, hating himself for making Arthur doubt things. Leaning back slightly, he cupped Arthur’s cheek.

“What happened wasn’t me just enjoying a night with a teammate. It was a long time coming, Arthur. We both know that.” And a long time wanted by him, and he hoped Arthur knew that.

Not having talked to Eames at all the night before made Arthur a little more greedy for his touch. So while they couldn't make this a habit, for right now, he was perfectly okay standing here with their arms wrapped around the other.

He nodded silently and studied Eames silently. He wished he knew what he could do for the forger, knowing he what he was going through. It was rough. "If you need me..." he offered his comfort in so many words. Even if it was something as innocent as meeting him for a drink.

Arthur tilted his head into Eames' hand and looked at him. Eames was right. It had been a long time coming. All of their verbal sparring, their heated looks and playful teasing -- it was all building up to what happened. "It wasn't for me either," he whispered. Besides, if it had been a one night thing, Arthur was fairly certain he wouldn't have let Eames spank him.

If you need me...

So many small word and such a loaded statement. Enough that it was nearly frightening. He wanted to say he was fine, to laugh it off and shrug away killing a man. Not because he thought death and murder were light hearted but because it was easier than dealing with those four little words.

Yet he couldn't bring himself to do it.

"If I sneak over later. Leave and not let anyone see me.... Can I stay at your place tonight," he asked, looking down and away to ask. "If you don't feel safe, that's fine. Or you're worried about me pushing things, I won't. I just... Yeah."

After his offer was met with silence for a long moment, Arthur thought about offering something else -- anything else so they could laugh it off and ignore it. That was, until Eames responded without meeting his eyes. It would be the first time Eames was at his place but...he wanted Eames to be there. "No -- I want you to," he whispered.

Arthur cupped Eames' jaw and lifted his head to look at him. "Come over," he whispered and leaned in to press their lips together.

He had expected to be turned down, to be told it wouldn't be okay. He would have offered a hotel, his own place though he was planning to move. Even staying here like this if they had to. Then Arthur agreed and he slumped, smiling weakly just as the other man's lips came to his.

He sighed. "Thank you," he whispered. "I know I have no right to ask, but thank you."

"No need to thank me," he whispered and tightened his arms around the forger. "I'll text you the address when we get back out there. Even order something to eat if you're hungry." Who knew when they would leave here but Arthur was hoping he'd get back by at least six or seven, if not at a relatively normal time.

In truth he wanted to do nothing but cling to Arthur but he knew eventually he'd have to take a deep breath and go back out and actually work.

"I don't want to interrupt whatever needs to be done tonight. I'm here to work."

Of course they would need to work. This was supposed to be kept secret anyhow and the only thing they could afford to do was keep bantering as per usual. "Then work it is," he said in agreement.

"Ready to head back out there?"

He shook his head, cupping Arthur's face in his hands. He took a long, deep kiss as if trying to get enough to last him through the day. Sighing as he broke the kiss, he nodded.

"Okay then."

He turned away, heading out first.

Once Eames broke the kiss and left, Arthur found himself standing there for a good few minutes trying to gather himself together again. He licked his lips and smoothed down his shirt before leaving the store room. On his way back to his desk, he grabbed a cup of coffee before taking his seat. He didn't ache nearly as much as he had the day before but still, there was a shift in how he sat from time to time as he continued to do as much research as he could about Fischer Jr., Sr. and Browning. They would all be meeting together once Ariadne got out from class about what they've found, been working on etc. and what the next leg of the job would entail.

By the time Arthur came out, Eames was back at his desk. A folder was open before him and he was studiously taking notes. Occasionally he would raise his head, glancing around though the first and last place his eyes lingered was on Arthur. He wasn’t sure why this time bothered him so much more than the past had, but Eames found himself unsettled.

When Ariadne came in though, he was lighthearted and joking, only his eyes showing the truth as he paused to send a text.

Really want you alone right now.

Every once in a while, Arthur could feel Eames' gaze on him and every once in a while, Arthur would look up to glance over in Eames' direction to see how he was fairing. He didn't allow himself to do so very much, lest anyone notice anything, but still, he did it. He couldn't help but wonder what was going on through the forger's head and what how he was doing.

Once Ariadne came in, Arthur could hear him laughing and joking but Arthur could tell it was merely a front for the younger woman. His eyes glanced over to the flashing red light on his phone and let it sit there for a moment or two before picking it up and reading over the text.

I do too.

He didn't glance over after he sent it though in case one of the others tried to connect any sort of dots.

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*pets Eames* The poor boy has more to lose this time than in the past. :D

pets Eames The poor boy has more to lose this time than in the past. :D