A/N: This is an AU, so the characters are little bit OOC, I'm afraid. This fic also deals with domestic abuse, so be warned. I'm sorry for turning Robert into such a bastard, but he somehow fitted perfectly for that role ^^ Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 1: Destruction lay around me from a fight I could not win
"This is going to be a catastrophe", Ariadne murmurs as she watches Arthur and their new colleague snapping at each other.
"Probably", Cobb agrees, "but what else should I've done? He's good and we needed another detective."
Ariadne just gives him a look, which says Cobb exactly what he should have done – making Arthur part of the decision, for example – but otherwise stays silent.
Cobb sighs. He better gets over to Arthur and Eames, otherwise blood will paint the walls, he has no doubt.
Over the next weeks, Eames becomes involved as a full team member. He gets to know Yusuf, their forensic specialist, and Saito, their respective lawyer. He takes part in current investigations and everybody has to admit that Eames is talented, gifted even. He helps a lot to progress faster, adds new information and has quite a fresh view towards the problems and questions of a case. Everyone has to acknowledge that Eames is definitely a plus for the team. Even Arthur treats him with an indifferent professionalism, which is the only sign for respect towards Eames that he will ever show him, because Eames is still some kind of bastard annoying the hell out of Arthur. Ariadne sometimes thinks that in some occasions he actually flirts with Arthur – in a very obscene and inappropriate way.
Eames is in fact the epitome of obscene and inappropriate. His choice in clothes is awful, he gives a shit about legal restrictions, and he sleeps with their witnesses. Not all of them, of course. But if there is a nice girl or guy during their investigation, you can bet your morning coffee that they get laid by Eames. All this causes some trouble for their agency, but most of all it pisses Arthur off. Sometimes Ariadne thinks that is the only reason, why Eames does what he is doing. To ruffle Arthur's feathers. Ariadne wonders, if Eames just has gotten seven years old and then only grown all big and muscular.
Ariadne is entirely convinced that this is true for over two years. That is, until Eames takes her out dancing to cheer her up after her stupid boyfriend Jason just has broken up with her.
They lean against the bar, Eames with a beer in his hands, Ariadne with some fruity cocktail that contains too much alcohol for her taste. They are both scanning the crowd, making snide remarks on overdressed girls and overconfident guys.
Suddenly Eames leans closer to her.
"Is this Arthur over there?"
Ariadne almost misses his words due to the loud music, but she looks in the direction in which Eames gently tilts her head. As soon as she catches sight of Arthur and his companion, she glowers.
"Why's he with this dick again?", she hisses.
"Who? The pale with brown hair?", Eames asks sounding far too curious, but Ariadne doesn't care enough in that moment to notice.
"Yeah. That's Robert. Robert Fischer." She almost spits the name out. "He's an arrogant bastard, values money over people. He's a cold-hearted asshole and Arthur deserves something better than this. I never understood, what he sees in him."
Eames takes a sip of beer. "Why, I thought Arthur is just as cold-hearted."
Ariadne glances at him as if he has asked a very stupid question. "Don't mix up his professionalism with arrogance, Eames. Arthur cares a lot about the people he loves."
"Not me, obviously."
Ariadne nips at her cocktail. "Well, you haven't been very loving either."
Eames doesn't say anything to this. After a while he asks: "How long have they been together?"
Ariadne shrugs. "Don't know. Four years or something. It's kinda on off."
"Four years? But why is he still with him, if that Robert is such an asshole as you say he is? Arthur is a pretty intelligent man, who …" He trails of as Ariadne gives him a sad smile.
"I don't know, but I think he can't let go."
After that they drink, talk about other things, laugh and even dance a little, but Eames' eyes never leave Arthur. Arthur, who looks lost and almost vulnerable as Robert chats cheerily with other people. He stays next to Robert, but Robert doesn't spare him a glance. Eames is suddenly furious, because there is Arthur – Robert's boyfriend – and all Robert does is flirting with some blonde girl.
Arthur and Eames may not be the best friends, but Eames has a deep respect for Arthur and his skills to dig up every little detail he can find about a mark, even if it never seems as though Eames respects Arthur all along. Eames also may be a dick at some point, but he always knows his limits. He wouldn't do anything to hurt anybody of his team, because for him, they are his second family. That idiot Robert doesn't even deserve to stand close to Arthur and not be lost in his amazing brown eyes.
So, it is quite logical for him to walk over to Arthur, slip an arm around his narrow waist and kiss a very confused looking Arthur on the lips. Eames will never forget the taste of rum still lingering on Arthur's lips, nor the little surprised gasp he makes. As he withdraws, he can feel Robert staring daggers into him, but he ignores him and whispers 'Hello, darling' into Arthur's ear.
Arthur is staring wide-eyed at him as Robert grabs one of Arthur's wrists to drag him flat against his chest.
"I think we should go now, Arthur", he hisses while still murdering Eames with his eyes. They are gone before Arthur could say one word.
Ariadne appears out of the blue beside Eames. "What was that?", she asks in a flat tone.
"Well, Robert finally noticing that he has a gorgeous boyfriend, I presume."
Ariadne gives him a queer look, before she sighs and asks, now sounding tired: "Can we leave, please? I've seen Jason somewhere …"
"Sure, love", Eames agrees immediately. He still wonders, if he just crossed a line. Because kissing Arthur …
Eames stops mid-thought as he hears Ariadne's stifled sobs. He puts a reassuring arm around her shoulders and walks her home. He soothes her, pats her hair, listens and makes some tea. He stays at her tiny apartment until she is under her covers, worn but calm again.
"You can stay on the couch, if you want", she mumbles before sleep takes her. Eames just smiles and closes the door behind him. He really stays, because it is raining outside and the thought of walking home in that weather isn't very appealing. So he zaps through the TV channels and drifts off half to sleep on Ariadne's very comfy couch as a knock at the door startles him awake again. He considers first not to answer it, but as the knock comes again, he gets to his feet. He doesn't want for Ariadne to wake up.
He opens the door expecting a neighbour or some kids – hell, even Jason – but definitely not a bleeding Arthur.
"Darling", he croaks out, throat suddenly dry.
Arthur looks as though he wants to turn around and run, but his body betrays him. His knees give in and he slumps against Eames.
Eames says nothing, just drags him into Ariadne's apartment. He parks Arthur on the couch to get the first aid kit from the bathroom.
"What are you doing here?", Arthur asks, sounding a little muffled through his swollen lips.
"Ariadne needed a shoulder to lean on", Eames answers easily while cleaning Arthur's face carefully with a damp cloth. Arthur doesn't flinch even when Eames can tell that it hurts.
"Still doesn't explain why you're here."
"Haha. Very funny, love. I'm not a heartless monster, you know."
Arthur doesn't say anything to this. He lets Eames take care of his swollen lips, the nasty cut at his right temple and his bruised cheekbone.
"Do you have any other injuries?", Eames asks, as he has finished fixing Arthur's face as good as he can. There will be purple bruises, no matter what.
"Maybe you're not heartless, but you're cruel", Arthur says and Eames is a little taken aback from his words that come out of nowhere. "You're calling me darling and love and whatever, but you're making fun of me, even in front of clients. You don't take me seriously, you override me, and you mock me and make me look absolutely ridiculous just for your own entertainment! And on top of that you have the cheek to kiss me in front of my boyfriend! If this is what you call 'humour' than I don't find it very funny!"
Arthur's voice gets angrier with every word he says and in his eyes glows a dangerous spark, which Eames has never seen before. He squirms under that glare.
"Arthur, you must believe me that I never intended –"
"Oh, of course you never intended it to hurt, but it does, Eames!", Arthur snaps. "Or does this look as if it doesn't fucking hurt?!"
Arthur points angrily at his face and there are tears in the corners of his eyes now.
And suddenly it clicks. Eames stares at him, because it just couldn't be. He has seen Arthur fighting, with his fists and with his gun. He is not an easy one to take down, because he is fast and shockingly precise. He may not be as strong as Eames, but his kicks are calculated and efficient; he is deadly calm when he shoots. He is tough and tireless and will always fight til the end, never one who gives up easily. And yet there is a bleeding Arthur sitting in front of him.
Arthur sees the horror that creeps into Eames' eyes and something inside him snaps.
"This is all your fucking fault! I hate you, you bastard!"
Arthur kicks him viciously in the chest, so Eames topples backwards. He is shocked and surprised, because he has never seen Arthur so emotional before. Usually Arthur is the personification of sharp, cool and collected.
Arthur runs for the door, but Eames is right behind him, catching Arthur's waist. Eames is thrumming with rage right now. Not at Arthur, but at the asshole, who has hurt Arthur like that, because it isn't just the physical wounds. Punches like that go much deeper.
"Let go of me!", Arthur demands and struggles against his grip. Eames is slightly worried that they may wake Ariadne up.
"No", Eames says firmly, but calm. He grabs Arthur by his shoulders and turns him around. The sight of tears on Arthur's stubborn face nearly lets him loose his grip.
"Arthur", he says instead, "I might be a bloody bastard sometimes and I'm very sorry for teasing you. I really am. But I would never ever raise my hand against you like that shitting asshole Robert, who claims to be your boyfriend. He should be fucking thankful that he has the honour to have you beside him. He should lay the world with all its wonders to your feet. He should worship you, because you're the most incredible man I've ever met and it's not easy to make me say that. He should be grateful that he is allowed to get lost in your eyes whenever he wants and he should make you smile every day at least once, because I doubt that anyone wouldn't find your dimples absolutely adorable. He should love you with all his being, and not beat the shit out of you!"
Eames breathes heavily. Arthur stares up at him, unblinking. Then he drops his gaze and the words he murmurs are almost to quiet for Eames to her.
"I'm not worth any of this."
Eames gently grabs Arthur's chin and pushes it up, so Eames can look him in the eyes, if Arthur wouldn't avoid his gaze.
"Arthur, look at me", Eames says softly.
Reluctantly Arthur obeys.
"You are worth all of this and more. I don't know you very well, but that's because I don't understand you and I admit that it frustrated me to no end that I wasn't able to look behind your mask of stoic professionalism. So I did the only thing that came to my mind: I irritated you. Not very clever, I know. But I do know that every man, who's as brilliant as you, should get all the love and respect he deserves."
Arthur doesn't say anything. Eames brushes carefully Arthur's tears away with his thumb. Arthur's eyes flatter close and maybe that's why he finds the courage to ask his next question.
"Do you respect me?"
"Yes." No hesitation. No underling smugness. Utter honesty.
Arthur drags in a shaking breath. "Promise me to never tell anybody about this."
Eames sighs. "Promise."
"And don't go after Robert."
"…"
"Eames!"
"But …"
"I can handle this on my own, ok?"
"Yeah … ok. Promise."
"Can you take me home?"
"Of course, darling."