"Eames, get out right now." Arthur barked into the phone.
"Arthur?" Eames asked, confused.
"Take the mark and go! Just listen to me, okay?" Arthur begged.
"Where are you, what's going on?" Eames started to panic.
"There's a plane coming. I almost have everything memorized, I can't leave." Arthur replied calmly.
"Arthur, please get out. Please." Eames pleaded.
"Eames, it'll just be a kick for me, okay? I have to go." He said shortly.
"Arthur, no. At least let me stay on the phone with you."
"Fine, but I have work to do." Arthur gave in.
Eames had seen Arthur fight off hordes of projections, had seen him die a million different ways, but he had never seen Arthur scared. Regardless of what the man said, Eames couldn't let him die alone. He started to run back to the tower as soon as Cobb had the mark safe and was calming the man down.
He heard Arthur draw in a breath. "I'm done. I can see the plane."
Eames looked up moments before the plane hit.
"I love you." Arthur whispered.
There was a deafening explosion, and then silence.
"Arthur?" Eames asked quietly, but got no response. Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked up at the smoking building, even though he knew it wasn't real, and Arthur was alive.
"Oh god, Arthur." He lifted his gun to his temple and pulled the trigger.
Eames woke up on a chair next to Arthur, who looked terrified.
"Arthur." Eames breathed, pulling the point man against him. "Christ, Arthur. I love you."
"We have to go." Cobb cut in brusquely.
As they packed up, Eames caught Arthur clutching his die.
"Come home with me." He whispered.
"But we-"
"Screw the rules. I can't wait until it's "safe" to see you again. Please, Arthur." Eames begged. Arthur nodded, kissing Eames with a reassured sigh.
When they got back to the safe house, one of their many, Eames pulled Arthur against him on the bed.
"Arthur, I never want that. As soon as that plane hit, I didn't even bother finding out if the job was finished. I just shot myself awake. I – I can't live without you."
Arthur cut him off with a kiss, struggling to undo Eames' shirt buttons and press them together. Eames got up and pushed Arthur away. Arthur looked hurt for a moment before Eames dropped down on one knee, pulling out the box he'd been carrying everywhere with him.
"Arthur. Will you marry me?" He asked softly.
Arthur, tears in his eyes, threw himself at Eames with a smile.
"Of course I will, you idiot. I love you."