Dinner in Dubai - For Clarkie

[loadedparadox]

The idea of even asking him to dinner had come out of nowhere. Then, while in Dubai doing some militarization for a sheik, he had made the dinner plans. Part of Arthur realized that by making the selection of Ossiano at Atlantis he was making this a date. Yet he wouldn't let himself think about that as he sent the text.

Friday. Atlantis on Palm Jumeirah island. 8 pm seating.

Arthur waited for Eames in the lobby though. Dressed to the nine in a tuxedo by his favourite Savile Row tailor. He had gone overboard and he had no idea why except he could. And he wanted to.

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[freebaseforger]

Eames nodded his head in agreement before he looked over, caught the eye of the waiter to get two more drinks sent their way. He turned back to Arthur and breathed a silent sigh of relief. "No, I definitely agree," he said. "I agree, we go back to working together no matter what. I suspect we should keep this close to the vest too, yeah?"

[loadedparadox]

Part of Arthur did wonder if Eames was ashamed to be involved with him. Despite the dozen reasons why he could see the logic of it, that it would protect them both - especially if it ever became something - he had that momentary twinge that perhaps it was something more. Yet he nodded.

"Of course, that makes sense. Can't imagine Cobb's reaction." Which was the least of the ones he worried about."

[freebaseforger]

Eames was far from ashamed. In fact, he was proud to be at dinner with someone like Arthur who was intelligent, deadly with a weapon and his tongue and gorgeous. Still, there were reasons upon reasons why they couldn't just let it out that they were together, right? He didn't hear Arthur argue with that so he nodded.

"Right, course," he said with a nod as the waiter brought over their fresh drinks and took the empty glasses with him as he left again. If there was anyone that Eames wanted a relationship of soem kind to work out with, it would be Arthur.

[loadedparadox]

He waited for the waiter to come and go, picking up his glass and taking a drink. He settled back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other. He watched Eames with a dark gaze, definitely enjoying the beauty of the man across from him.

"To you now thinking of nothing but being inside my vest," he said with a laugh.

[freebaseforger]

Eames picked up his glass and took a drink from it before licking his lips. He allowed one side of his lips to curl up into a smirk as he looked over the man across from him. "I wouldn't so much as say only your vest, darling," he purred and allowed the insole of his shoe to slide along the other man's ankle slowly before he sat up straighter and moved his foot away.

It was amazing. The underwater ocean was just on the other side of the glass and yet, Eames found himself hardly taking his eyes off his date for the evening.

[loadedparadox]

It was Eames' tone that made Arthur chuckle and not the joke. "All of it is running around in your head, isn't it," he asked, knowing the forger had one hell of an imagination. "What I have to wonder though is if you think this was all a ploy to try and get you alone and naked."

It hadn't been Arthur's intent, yet he couldn't help but wonder if Eames had arrived expecting this, or at the very least thinking about it. Arthur hadn't allowed himself those thoughts until he'd seen the forger there in the lobby.

[freebaseforger]

Eames tilted his head at the question and studied him silently as he considered what to say. They had been honest this far into the night, he might as well continue doing so. All hint of the teasing forger was lowered and instead, came the logic that was just as natural as anything else. "No, I didn't think this was a ploy at all to get me alone and naked," he said, honestly. "A dinner between men who are perhaps friends and co-workers, yes but whether or not you had intended this when you invited me to Dubai, no."

Relationships and especially relationships with co-workers weren't exactly his strongest suit. Flirtation and teasing came naturally but it was something different to find someone that he truly meant it when he teased and when he flirted. Once Arthur started to reciprocate those teasing and flirtatious remarks, Eames continued. "Are you wanting this, Arthur?" he had to ask. "A week to figure out where we stand with each other and if it's good, we continue and if it's not, then we have at least one trustworthy co-worker that we can count on."

[loadedparadox]

He decided to go with honesty. If they were getting into bed together, whether literally or as friends and having some kind of relationship - whatever it was - then he needed to try honesty. At least to a degree.

"I didn't intend it to go here. I thought... I thought maybe with having those other sides, and knowing one another's other life now, then maybe it would be enough to form a friendship over. Then you got here and..."

And he hadn't been able to help himself. Not with the way Eames looked.

Shifting in his head, he leaned forward towards Eames. "Yeah, that's what I want. I didn't come here knowing that but now, laying it out like this, that's what I want."

[freebaseforger]

Eames nodded in understanding and agreement. His lips curled up. Oh but he knew what that must have meant. "You were taken by my presence," he couldn't help but tease the other man. "Approve of the suit then, darling?"

He placed his arms on the table as he leaned closer toward Arthur, keeping his eyes on him. "Then we're in agreement. A week then we figure out what to do from there," he said, lifting a hand to brush over Arthur's cheek - touching as he had wanted to since he met the man in the lobby.

He couldn't help but think that they had a lot of similarities. They both had two sides to them that not many people were privy to and that alone gave them the biggest connection, he would say.

[loadedparadox]

"The suit is nice," he agreed, rolling his eyes playfully at the rest of it. "But it wasn't the suit that caught my eye. Something about you since I started learning more about the real you," he admitted, knowing that Eames would know what he meant.

He blinked at that, leaning into the touch before he could stop himself. Damn but it was gentle and intimate and not at all common for him. "Just look towards this week," he nodded, knowing he couldn't let himself think past it or too much logic would get in the way.

[freebaseforger]

And Eames did know what Arthur meant. It was how he was feeling regarding the point man and his other side as well. "I think that's the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me," his lips curled up. He liked the fact that Arthur enjoyed the real him and not merely the facade that he put on.

He watched as Arthur tilted his head into his hand and smiled. "I look forward to it," he said, softer than normal before he settled in his seat and rest his hand back on the table in front of them.

[loadedparadox]

He grinned as their food arrived. "You need to spend time with a better quality of criminal then," he said with a smile. "You deserve to hear more romantic things."

And he honestly believed that. He wasn't laying down lines but being sincere.

[freebaseforger]

He was silent as their food was placed in front of him and couldn't help but send Arthur a smile. "Is that right," he asked. Eames knew that Arthur was telling the truth though - at least with him and where they were now.

"Enlighten me, darling, a better quality of criminal would include...you?" Oh, but he hoped so. He didn't need compliments or romantic things but sometimes...well, sometimes it was nice to hear regardless if you needed them or not.

[loadedparadox]

He was digging himself into a hole, but the truth was that Arthur couldn’t stop himself. It was much more amusing than it should have been to tease and play like this.

“I am the best quality of criminal you can find,” he said with a snort, lifting his chin and smiling. “And a better romantic than I’m sure those that claim I have no imagination could believe,” he said, definitely teasing then.

[freebaseforger]

Eames started on an oyster and choked back a laugh. Once he finished his bite, he wiped off his mouth and sent a grin across the table. "Touche, darling," he said. "I do have to say that so far, it has been a very romantic evening." They were here after all and all around them were couples and perhaps business men with their mistresses or business partners.

He was having far too much fun with the teasing and the playful banter that hadn't disappeared after learning about each other's secret identities.

[loadedparadox]

He should have felt bad about making him choke but the truth was, it was another level of enjoyment. Oh but how amused he was, watching the other man with a bright grin and a raised brow as he reached for an oyster.

“I’m trying, without a single plan for it. Though I may have to slip away at some point during dinner so that I might be able to arrange for much more romantic things back in the room. Wouldn’t do to let it die after we eat, no would it?”

[freebaseforger]

"No, indeed it wouldn't," he agreed with a wicked little wink. "And tomorrow I will arrange to pick up my things at my previous accommodation."

Oh, but he was looking forward to whatever they would come up with after dinner. "Is skinny dipping involved at all," he asked with a teasing tone.

[loadedparadox]

At that Arthur smiled, but it wasn't even impish. It was wicked and wild. He was definitely enjoying himself. "So you're already planning to sleep in the nude tonight," he asked at the comment about his items not being picked up until the next day. "Certainly not going to complain. Not as if I've gotten the best of looks at that ink."

Arthur shook his head. "I won't tell."

[freebaseforger]

"Now, whoever said that I would be sleeping in the nude tonight?" Oh but Eames did look positively wicked. An apt way of putting it is like the cat that ate the canary. "I do have something on underneath my slacks, darling and you do have two bedrooms." He sent Arthur a teasing wink before nudging one of Arthur's feet with his foot.

He chuckled. "Keep your secrets then," he smirked.

[loadedparadox]

"I believe I did," he said with a smirk. "Didn't you hear me say it?" Definitely pushing his luck but enjoying himself more than he had in years. "But take the second bedroom, and try and not sleep walk out of desire," he said.

Yet his smile only grew. "You'll learn them in due time."

[freebaseforger]

"Wicked man," Eames said with a smirk, looking over at Arthur with a heated gaze. "But, I do think you must have me confused with yourself, darling." He was very much enjoying himself more than he had in a long time. It was needless to say that he was very open to seeing where the night took them and whether or not that lead to one bed or two beds...or a wall.

He chuckled. "Is that right," he asked, musingly. "I look forward to it," he purred.

It was freeing to let his guard down a little in front of this man. They had both done it over the course of the evening so far and they were only at dinner. Had it been anyone else, he wouldn't be nearly this comfortable nor open. But it was Arthur and that made the whole situation different.

[loadedparadox]

"Myself? Are you saying I'll become so stricken with desire for you that I'll forgo modesty and manners to molest you in your room," he asked, drawling out the words while watching Eames intently. "Is that the accusation you're making?" One brow arched as he bit the inside of his lip to try and keep himself from grinning.

"As you should. Despite the beliefs held by some, I'm amazing versatile and more delightful than I suspect even you can imagine," he said, pushing those buttons one more time.

He leaned a bit closer, smiling conspiratorially. "How nervous does this make you," he asked. "Because I'm practically shaking."

[freebaseforger]

Eames tilted his head. "That was what I insinuated. Do keep up now," he said, not holding back his grin at all. "After all, you were the one that suggested that I would be naked by the end of the night, were you not?"

"Watch it - may have to throw your skinny arse in the ocean for all your lip," Eames sent him a smirk, taking a sip of his scotch. "With with your suit on."

He leaned a bit closer toward Arthur. "A bit -- quite a bit." But it wasn't a bad nervous. It was a good nervous. A very good nervous.

[loadedparadox]

"Oh, you're the one that will have to keep up," he said, definitely willing to twist Eames' words now. "And I do think you're capable of it," he said, smirk growing to a full on grin. "If you try hard enough. And don't think I don't see that threat for what it's for. Trying to get me naked first," he teased.

He nodded at that admission. "Good. Glad I'm not the only one."

One course was traded for the next and fresh drinks brought without them asking.

[freebaseforger]

"I'm glad you have so much faith in me, Arthur," Eames said, not keeping in his chuckle. He raised an eyebrow. "Shame and here I was being subtle," he teased. "I did say with the suit, yeah?" Course, that meant afterward, Arthur would want to undress -- or so Eames would hope.

Eames was equally glad that he wasn't the only one nervous. "Same," he agreed. He fell quiet as the dishes were exchanged for new dishes and their drinks were brought over. It was nice to not have to ask for that. He sent Arthur a smirk before he started taking a bite of his food.

"I have the strangest feeling that we'll both get what we want tonight."