Dream share and new friends - For Arthur, Ex and Meridian

[artfulforger]

It was still something so new to Eames. Friends were not something he was used to having. Not in his criminal life or in dream share, except for that one group who had been his family as much as friends. But now Mal was gone, Dom was living his own life and healing Eames hoped, and Arthur.

Now here they were inviting others into their home, their personal space, for a second time, and he finds himself excited for it.

It's why wine has been chilled or aerated, ice made and set up for drinks, and there was even food for later.

All the things needed for mental first aid for those going through this the first time, as far as they knew, and who might be so well militarized they have no idea.

The medical needs had been seen to as well. In case.

And just on time as one of the security monitors signaled movement and showed a dark car coming up the drive.

"They're here," he called to Arthur. He knew business would be first but he was looking forward to whatever may come after as well.

Comments

[bamf_pointman]

As a previous criminal and then an invisible Raven, having friendships in and out of their line of business was almost a foreign concept.

To have met the Black Ravens by happenstance in Paris and having a bond with them was... not what he'd expected. But here they were. About to go into one of their minds when every instinct in his body was telling him he was militarized to the gill.

But they'll never know until they try, right?

He looks over at Eames, dressed as casually as Arthur does at home when they're still expecting company, wearing tailored trousers and a button down shirt. "Great," he says with a smile, looking at him.

"It's been a while since we've gone into another's mind that wasn't for work work." Which was, honestly, for the best. Neither of them wanted to have happen to them what happened to Mal and Dom when they were younger.

[artfulforger]

"You say great. I haven't worried about a job like this in a very long time," he points out, giving a shake of his head.

Despite that though, he can't help but to smile. They both knew that there hadn't been a job that endangered another like this since Dom and Mal. And then they'd had others, including Yusuf to handle things on the awake side of things. They wouldn't have that.

But they'd developed ways to handle it, just the two of them. Except that no other job since then involved brains that were militarized, and even when they had dealt with that it was by dreamers like themselves. Not like what this likely was going to be.

"And never into a mind that's been through this program. Especially one like Meridian's."

He watched the two black ravens get out of their car as a pair, moving in unison. They weren't two men but one unit.

"Do you think others watch us and think: Fucking hell, how are they that terrifying and hot at the same time?"

[bamf_pointman]

If Arthur didn't know Eames as well as he did by this point in their relationship, he'd be a little surprised by his admission to being worried. But he had a point.

These were two men who not only were militarized literally, but also mentally militarized.

His mouth curls up a bit. "I meant it more in terms of 'great they're here' and less about being shot and killed in their dreams. At least we're going down one level."

"Agreed. We should probably start with Ex's," he muses, "but we can see what their thoughts are." Arthur walks over to his partner and watches as the pair moves as a unit. As one.

"Probably. Except those who have worked with us in dreamshare. Then I imagine their thoughts are: how are they that hot but also a little insufferable."

Arthur lets his hand drift over the small of Eames' back before walking toward the front door and opening it just as they step on the front steps. "Morning," he says and steps back to let the two in.

"Morning, Arthur," Ex says with a smile, holding onto the pastries he'd purchased the day before.

[artfulforger]

The problem was it was just enough of an edge to make it more exciting. Even if he was worried. He needs to go in here and do this. For his sake, and for theirs. To find out who is in charge in there and what they can do about it.

"It's been a while. I miss it," he admits, caught between how bad this could go and how good it all feels. Going in there once more. Together. And on their own and away from the military and who they all work for now.

"Not sure we can pick one or the other," he admits, which is part of why he's concerned, but in that way that he can't let it go either.

"He brought pastries. See? He's my favorite," Eames allowed with a grin, giving them both a nod.

Meridian didn't smile, but his look is relaxed. More than Eames might have thought it would be. Is he better at hiding what he's worried about, or did he trust in his protections that much? Even against them?

"It's an honor that you're inviting us into your home," Meridian says, and the thing was, he means it. "We would have understood if you didn't want to."

[bamf_pointman]

"I do too," Arthur admits. Even if missing things like that was what the program had done its very best to drill out of them.

It was going to be... interesting, going into the men's subconscious.

Interesting and, no doubt, dangerous as all hell.

But, they'd thrived on that danger. Both past and present.

"Well, either we pick or they do," he says. "Can't go into them at the same time," he shoots him a teasing look, knowing what he'd meant though.

Ex can't help the little snort. "Pastries and alcohol."

Arthur takes a minute to study the two men, the relaxed look over an undercurrent of danger.

"You already know where we keep our weapons, figured having you back for this wasn't too much of a stretch," Arthur muses, having had the two over before. He felt... comfortable with the two in their home. Which was, admittedly, the reason why he was okay having them back over.

"Still, we would have understood all the same," Ex agrees with his partner as the door locks behind them and they make their way into the kitchen.

[artfulforger]

Arthur's not wrong, but he knows the choice he would make if given it. Ex. He was just as trained as Meredian, just as deadly, but something told Eames that Ex would be the safer of the two.

For the value of just how safe they might be.

Yet there is a thrill there with going into this and not knowing what would happen. They survived Dom's insanity... and now they were diving into their own version that was nothing they had ever gone through before.

Eames likes how they talked about it all and he can't help but grin as he slid his hands into his pockets. "You're the first ones we've ever had here. But then you're trusting us in your heads. Though, if we don't make it out... I guess the weapons are yours."

[bamf_pointman]

"We would have called dibs on them either way," Ex says with a smooth little smile, setting the pastries down onto the counter. "Who else would value them the same as you do?"

"At least we know they would go to a good home," Arthur says dryly. But despite his tone, he was actually okay with that.

Ex snorts in amusement. "We would take care of them as if they were our own."

[artfulforger]

Despite himself Eames couldn't help but laugh, nodding. "You're the ones that should have it," he agrees. "Because you get it."

They would understand it all. They would understand a lot of things in the house, and that was something else Eames found was a good thing. They had someone now to make sure they vanished if they entirely went missing. That was a good thing.

Meridian gives them a look. "It ever comes to it from this, we have you protected."

Eames goes solemn a bit, nodding. "That's good to know, and have."

They lived as ghosts, now they were sure they would die as them as well.

[bamf_pointman]

Arthur looks first at Ex then at Meridian before nodding.

"Should you need us, we're there," Arthur says, seriously.

Ex gives them both a nod before nodding. "Agreed."

"Coffee? Pastries," Arthur asks, motioning to the box that they just sat down. "Or do you want to go ahead and get started?"

They didn't have to abide by social norms between them but for some reason, he wanted them to know that it wasn't just about going into their minds. It was about this friendship that would have been and is absolutely forbidden by their bosses.