Author's Note: I have an obsession with hedgehogs. And Eames and Arthur. I plan to name mine Arthur when I finally get one XD Hence how I got this idea haha.

One day Eames walked into the warehouse carrying a cage. He delicately put it on one of the tables and bent over, twiddling his fingers at whatever was inside. Arthur frowned as he watched him smile and giggle. He made his way over to him curiously.

"What is that?" he asked, looking over Eames's shoulder into the cage. Some small rodent was inside. "And why did you bring it here?"

"I wanted to show it to you, Darling," Eames said, straightening up and turning to face him. He opened the cage and let the little thing crawl into his hand.

"Come on, Little Darling," he cooed. When it climbed into his hand, Eames took it out and displayed it to Arthur. It blinked up at him with beady eyes.

"A hedgehog?" Arthur asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes! Isn't it adorable?"

The hedgehog's nose stuck in the air, sniffing something.

"I guess," Arthur said, wondering what it was exactly that Eames wanted him to do.

"He's friendly! Here, take him for a ride."

Before Arthur could protest, Eames grabbed Arthur's hands and let the little creature fall into them. Arthur held it at arms length and stared at it. Okay. Now what?

The animal started squirming.

"Oh no, don't do that, Arthur!" Eames said, putting his hands under Arthur's quickly incase it fell through.

"Don't do what?" Arthur said, alarmed. Was he hurting it?

"Not you, I was talking to the hog."

Arthur blinked. Then blinked again. "Excuse me?"

Eames smirked up at him. "I named him Arthur. Don't worry, it won't be too confusing. His nickname is Artie. Or Little Darling."

Eames took Artie away from him, petted him, and then began to place him back in the cage. Arthur started at Eames, not amused.

"Why did you name your pet rodent after me?" he demanded.

"You make him sound so disgusting, Darling. He's cute as a button! Oh well, you'll cozy up to him eventually."

Eames turned to depart to the meeting room.

"Eames!" Arthur said sternly. Eames paused with one foot in the air.

"What?"

"Did you really name it after me?"

Eames swung around and approached Arthur again, a smile on his lips. "Because you and hedgehogs have so much in common!"

When Arthur stared at him blankly, he elaborated. "You're both cute and have spiky outsides."

"What does that mean?"

Eames reached for Arthur's tie to pull him closer, but Arthur slapped his hand.

"Ouch!" Eames whined, shaking his hand and then sucking on his finger. "So sharp!"

"Isn't that more like a porcupine?" Arthur asked.

"Well, I don't want a porcupine. Hedgehogs are cuter."

As Eames walked away, looking smug, Arthur realized what he had meant about spiky outsides. But had it really been necessary to name a hedgehog after him? He supposed it was better than a porcupine. He took one more look at the tiny thing, shook his head, and walked away.

.

A few weeks later, Eames found Arthur laying in a long sleeping chair. He was stroking Artie, who was fast asleep on his chest. For a few seconds Eames stood there and watched. "I should have known the little devil would have better luck than me."

Finally he strode in, pretending not to be amused by the sight before him. Arthur looked up at him, stone-faced. He was too proud to admit vocally that he liked the pet. But oh well, Eames found out anyway. Let him watch.

Eames passed by behind him and leaned over to kiss the top of his head. "You softie."

"Shut up, Mr. Eames."

Eames sat down on Arthur's legs, expecting Arthur to glare at him and try to kick him off- yeah right, like he was strong enough to do that. But nothing happened. Eames cautiously reached forward and started stroking Artie too. Their hands lightly brushed. Arthur stared hard at Artie's nose, trying not to smile.

Well well well, Eames thought to himself. It seems Artie rubbed off on him.