Risking everything he never knew he had - For eamesofdreams

[loadedparadox]

It was like a dream collapsing around you after the dreamer woke up. It was all falling apart before Arthur had ever really had a chance to know what he had. He hadn't wanted to leave Ariadne, holding that petite form to his with a hope that it would just all go away. Except it wouldn't and she was right. She deserved to know everything, to make an informed decision. Deep down he knew it was all hers to make. It always had been.

He cheated in tracking down Eames. An hour earlier and he'd have looked in every bar and hole in the wall dive near the warehouse. Instead he used the GPS in Eames' phone, figuring the other man hadn't known Arthur had turned it on one day after realizing just how close Eames and Ariadne were. He had to look out for her, now, then, always.

In the time between leaving her place and arriving at the bar, he had pulled himself together. Pushing open the door, standing there lit by pulsating neon and dim behind the bar lights, Arthur wasn't thinking of the image he presented. Stony face with his jaw tight and dark eyes narrowed, his suit impeccable and probably costing more than the cars some of the people drove. He didn't care about anything but tracking down Eames and doing what he'd promised. Finding out just where things stood.

And if he got angry enough over the replaying image in his head - the one of Eames smiling as he shot himself - then he had no qualms about settling this with a hard right other than words.

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[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

Arthur snorted. "If I was looking for that type, I could have had it a million times over by now." He knew well enough he was both attractive and well dressed, after all. "Just making sure. I'd hate to have to..." He stopped, realizing the joke he'd been about to make wasn't right. "Back when... After..."

He took a deep breath, considering his words. "I'm only going to say this once and I will deny it if asked. I was an idiot to bolt when I did. It was easier than dealing with her and you and so I took the coward's way out because it was easier than thinking about you being next. I apologize."

[plagiary]

Eames watches him for a long moment, quiet and considerate and just trying to work Arthur out, trying to read him.

"It's -" He pauses, choosing his next move carefully, "Whatever happened before, it's not now. We're both pants at dealing with the past, mm? So let's just - "

He sighs, before brightening, smiling slightly. "Hello Arthur, it's very nice to meet you. Do you know you're absolutely gorgeous and I'd quite like to get to know you. Sound like a fair deal?"

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

It was entirely too adorable when Eames makes that new introduction. Offering his hand, he couldn't help but smile. "A pleasure, certainly, Mr Eames. You're entirely too kind and much too handsome for your own good, and I would be delighted to get to know you."

[plagiary]

His answering smile is wide, impossibly bright for a moment, crooked in the Eames way as he shakes Arthur's hand, palm warm, holding on for a moment longer than neccessary. "Well then, seems like we're very much on the same page."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

That smile was enough to melt even Arthur's stony exterior. He smiled, not resisting playing the romantic and bringing Arthur's hand up and kissing his knuckles. "Now, to hope we can work this all out."

[plagiary]

"And we shall, Arthur." He watches him for another long moment before moving, "Come on, let's make this all right."