Disclaimer: I am not Christopher Nolan, and therefore, do not own Inception are any of the character therein. I also do not own That 70's Show. I'm merely borrowing characters and quotes and playing with them
Pairing: Arthur/Eames; yes...there will be boys kissing. If that's not your cup of tea, kinly press the back button and be on your way.
Notes: This idea came about far too early in the morning. Enjoy the crack-y goodness.
Part 1: Harmless Snooping
That insufferable roommate of his had taken over the office, yet again. Eames didn't know exactly what it was that Arthur was doing by himself in there. He could…imagine certain things were happening, but he was quite sure that Arthur had more class than that. All Eames knew for sure was Arthur would mutter something about research and then lock himself into his office and not emerge for quite some time. He was becoming curious about the whole thing. For all of his teasing, Eames rather liked Arthur, and the man's current behavior was disconcerting.
After this had been going on for a couple of weeks Eames decided to take charge. He would join in the other man's dream; figure out what inappropriate thing Arthur was doing, and have a good laugh when they woke up and Arthur found out Eames knew…whatever there was to know. He waited until Arthur locked himself into his office, gave him ten minutes to get settled (God knows the man wouldn't need more time than that. He was far too orderly.), and picked the lock. He knew he should feel bad about breaking into Arthur's office but he was, after all, a thief. He glanced around the room and saw Arthur hooked up to the PASIV, just as he had suspected. "Well duck, let's see what you're up to in this little dream land of yours," Eames muttered and hooked himself up to the PASIV.
Eames glanced around and found himself in a parking outside of a movie theatre of all places. He studied the people leaving the building and placed them around college-age and, judging by their clothing, they were in the 70's. This whole scene seemed very familiar to Eames, but he shook the feeling off, assuming that he had been wherever it was that Arthur had based his dream off of. Forger that he was, Eames took on the guise of a slightly younger man, with red hair and a large jacket. He loitered in the parking lot, waiting to see when Arthur would show himself.
He heard a familiar voice and casually turned to track it. He saw Arthur in a ridiculous brown leather jacket and his hair all…floofy and unjelled. He was slightly taken aback, and not just because Arthur's guise looked all too familiar. This couldn't be the Arthur that he knew. It simply couldn't be. Especially not with that impossibly goofy smile on his face. He turned his attention to Arthur's companion and nearly reeled back in shock. Arthur was accompanied by a projection…of Eames. Eames wearing ridiculous clothing from the 70's and looking just as happy as Arthur. They were engaged in an animated conversation and Eames recovered from his shock enough to hear Arthur say "That was a great movie, huh?"
The projection of Eames grinned and replied "Yeah. I mean, who would've thought that working at a car wash would be so much fun?" Arthur smiled widely at him and walked around to unlock the driver's side door on the car, which was a red Trans Am that looked distinctly familiar. "So, what do you wanna do now?" Arthur asked cheerfully.
"I dunno," Projection-Eames said as he slid into the passenger seat of the car and closed the door. He was silent for a second and then realization dawned on his face. He said something, but Eames couldn't hear what it was. But it all looked so goddamn familiar. Eames began to feel a little uneasy. He watched as the projection of him said something else and Arthur responded. His projection self was staring out through the windshield and just seemed…confused. Arthur was turned towards Projection-Eames, intent on what he was saying. He kept nodding and occasionally responding to what the other man was saying. That's when Eames got the shock of his life. As he watched the two men Arthur leaned across the seat, cupped his hand around the back of Projection-Eames neck and kissed him full on the lips. The projection was stock still for a moment, and then flailed and thrust himself away from Arthur. Eames faintly heard his projection exclaiming "Whoa! Whoa! You're gay!" He looked as though he was trying to dissolve through the car door, he was pressing against it so hard. Arthur looked completely nonplussed and just grinned across the car. He shook his head a little and said something. The projection was silent for a moment, staring at Arthur incredulously. He said something and Arthur paused for a second, then grinned again and said something else. There was silence in the car, Arthur looking at the projection who was looking everywhere but back at Arthur. He said something, asking to leave, Eames assumed since Arthur started the car. Even through his utter shock, Eames saw that there was something off in Arthur's eyes. He looked…disappointed, if Eames was correct. The car drove off and Eames just stood there, trying to figure out what he'd just seen. He was confused, to say the least. He glanced at his watch and saw that the dream was going to dissolve soon. "Bloody hell…" he muttered. "No way am I letting Arthur know I was in here…not after that." He grabbed the gun out of the waistband of his pants and swiftly shot himself.
Yanking the IV out of his arm, Eames put everything back exactly as he found it. He had gotten quite good at erasing his presence after years of being a thief. He didn't want Arthur to know he had been in the dream, and he didn't really want to think about what he had just seen. Or worse, think about what it meant. Slipping out of the office Eames re-locked the door and headed straight for the kitchen. He needed a stiff drink.
Twenty minutes later Eames was sprawled across the couch, nursing his glad of whiskey, and not paying attention to whatever movie he had randomly selected. In the last fifteen minutes he had reached a couple of conclusions. First, Arthur was using his dreams to play out something he obviously felt he couldn't in the real world. Second, the projection of Eames wasn't acting the way that Arthur wished it would. And third, Eames had feelings for Arthur. This last realization came as a bit of a surprise for Eames. He and Arthur got along well, and he enjoyed their living arrangement. It was nice, not having to be alone. And living with Arthur was always interesting. Eames had been known to take a male partner on occasion but he had never thought he had feelings for Arthur.
"You really have shit taste in movies. You know that, right?" Eames jumped, nearly spilling whiskey all over himself. He was so far gone in his own thoughts that he hadn't heard Arthur enter the room. The dark-haired man plopped down on the other end of the couch and held out his hand. "Remote."
"Darling, I will have you know-" Eames began, having regained his composure.
"Stuff it Eames. Give me the remote." Eames grudgingly handed it over and Arthur proceeded to flick through channels, eventually settling on some mindless reality show.
"And you say I have bad taste." Eames grumbled after a moment, rising from the couch.
"Where are you going?" the smaller man glanced up at Eames.
"I'm grabbing the paper. You don't expect me to watch this drivel, do you?" Eames replied.
"Oh." Arthur said simply, glancing away to hid the color rising in his cheeks.
"Why, what did you think I was doing?" Eames questioned.
"I…I thought you might be…leaving…and I…I could change it…" Arthur said awkwardly, not looking at the other man.
"Why…darling! You actually want my company? Be still my heart." Eames said dramatically, throwing his arms up in a sweeping gesture.
"Shut up Eames," he said, grinning.
"But…darling," Eames pleaded jokingly, "Why must you toy with my emotions so?"
Playing along Arthur sighed dramatically. "Because Mr. Eames, it is so difficult for me to profess my undying desire to watch television with you."
"And that is all I have ever wanted from you!" Eames professed and threw himself back onto the couch. He turned to face Arthur and said pleadingly, "All I ask is that you don't make me watch this garbage." With that Eames pounced on Arthur and grabbed for the remote. Arthur just laughed and let the other man have it. Eames flipped through the channels on the guide and came across a re-run of That 70's Show. "Bloody hell…this is a blast from the past. I used to watch this all the time," he muttered and turned on the show. He glanced at Arthur and quirked an eyebrow, asking for approval. Arthur simply shrugged and settled back into the couch to watch. Eames was treated to the sight of two young men sitting in a red car. The one in the driver's seat looked very similar to Arthur. The other young man was Eric and he was pressed up against the passenger side door saying "You're gay?"
The one in the driver's said laughed a little and shook his head. "Me? No, I'm not gay." He stared dumbly for a moment and felt Arthur stiffen beside him at the exact moment that realization dawned on Eames. Arthur had been replaying this scene in his dreams, replacing the characters in the show with himself and Eames. That was why it all seemed so familiar to Eames. He snapped back into himself as Arthur launched himself off the couch and walked off. "Arthur, where are you going?" Eames called out.
"Bed." Arthur said shortly and disappeared down the hallway. Eames heard a door shut a little too forcefully and flicked off the TV. Groaning he rested his head in his hands and fought the urge to take off after Arthur and comfort him. "Bloody hell. What am I going to do?"
A/N:Hey everyone! I was watching the episode of That 70's Show in season one titled Eric's Buddy, where Joseph Gordon-Levitt guest stars as Buddy Morgan and kisses Eric. It was 4am. My mind immediately started screaming this idea at me and wouldn't shut up until I started writing. There's more to this story, I just wanted to get this first part up and see if anyone thought it was worth continuing. I hope it's not too terrible. Review please! I'd love to hear what you think. Oh! The title is a quote from that episode.