Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations all characters get in.

It Happened One Night

Dinner proved to be an interesting affair. As Eames had feared he'd instantly become the center of attention as soon as they arrived at Delia's, all eyes on him even before he'd settled into the chair that was currently his constant companion. That Ariadne was obviously happy to see him and had all but suffocated him with affection was okay, they were best mates after all, but as soon as she and Arthur had headed inside the restaurant to get everyone food while he stayed outside with the kids…everyone else had taken that as their cue that they could come over and fuss over him too. It wasn't like he didn't appreciate the fact that they'd worried about him and were glad to see him out and about, he did, but he didn't like being reminded of the accident or his injuries either. And every time the person talking to him changed it seemed that someone had to mention the others who'd been injured, and from there segue into how sad they still were about Alex and had he spoken to his friend's family lately, and did he know how they were doing?

It was after the fourth person had asked that that his knight in braided pigtails had stood up on her seat and loudly ordered people to leave him alone. Phillipa had pointed out that it was very obvious their questions were hurting him and why did they want to make him hurt even more? Hadn't their parents ever taught them that that wasn't nice?

Sheer embarrassment and unease had had most everyone backing off then, the force of the little girl's glare surprisingly effective. And though he knew he should be assuring them that Phillipa was exaggerating or apologize for her, Eames had found himself softly thanking her before raising his own voice to say that he'd appreciate it if everyone didn't make a fuss over him. He was doing okay, thanks.

Awkward silence had still been heavy when Arthur and Ariadne came back to join them with the trays laden with food, Ariadne naturally asking right away what the heck had happened while they'd been inside getting the grub.

"They were making Eames sad so I made them stop." Phillipa had announced proudly as she stuck her straw into her cup. "He was making the faces Papa always makes when someone asks him about Maman."

No one missed the look of understanding that crossed Arthur's face as he'd handed Eames his change, the teenager's next words an inquiry as to whether he needed to apologize to anyone for Phillipa's behavior or word choices. Once Eames had told him that no, that wasn't the case, Arthur had nodded and then turned his attention to distributing the rest of the food like nothing had happened.

At that point Eames and Ariadne had shared a look, but neither had asked the question that lay on the tips of their tongue out of ingrained politeness and the recognition that it was neither the time nor the place to ask.

How Arthur's mother had died had been a hot topic of conversation when the three Cobb siblings had first come to live in their little town, no one wanting to ask the younger children for obvious reasons. The question had been posed to Arthur of course, as tactfully as the busybodies could manage, but thus far all anyone had been able to get out of him was that she'd died from a long-term illness. What that illness had been was unknown, as was the strangeness of it being termed long-term when friends of Arthur's paternal grandmother, who'd passed away a couple months before her daughter in law, had never mentioned Mal Cobb being sick.

Thankfully Arthur's prediction about Phillipa had proven to be true, with Eames finding himself bombarded by questions by the little girl who wanted to know all about him between bites of her burger and fries. She knew all about Ariadne already apparently, and even if she hadn't Ariadne had already been busy chatting with James. It had been a shock at first, to hear that the boy was capable of speaking full sentences, but it had also become pretty obvious pretty quickly that the six year old had a huge crush on the girl and thought she was the greatest thing since the invention of dogs and crayons.

So in the end Arthur had been the fifth wheel so to speak, though the teenager had seemed quite happy to fill that role as he occasionally entered one of the two conversations before leaving it again to simply observe. It was Arthur who eventually had to remind them that they were on a schedule too, which had the kids reluctantly going quiet so that they and their conversation partners could finish eating.

Once they were done eating they cleared off their table, Eames amused to hear Arthur mutter over the lack of recycling receptacles, before everyone was herded over to the other teenager's vehicle. Ariadne was put in charge of getting James all buckled in while Phillipa handled her own seat belt, Arthur opening the front passenger door for Eames but making no move to force his help on him, which Eames appreciated more than words could say as he gritted his teeth and made the move from his chair to his seat. After that Arthur stashed the folded up wheelchair in his trunk and then off they went with Ariadne thankfully insisting that they not listen to the classical music Arthur had subjected them to on the way to the diner.

Not that the soundtrack from the most recent film version of 'The Phantom of the Opera' was that big an improvement in Eames's books.

)

It was just getting dark enough when they arrived at the drive in, a fair amount of cars already in place. Most of the real action would be in two hours when the teenagers came here to use the cover of darkness to put the moves on their dates, often paying very little attention to whatever double feature they'd paid to see. Technically speaking what they were seeing was a kid's movie, a tradition at this particular drive in so that it appealed to all audiences, so the lack of people wasn't that much of a surprise and a major relief to Eames who didn't want to run into his peers anyway.

In fact the only person Eames had to talk to about his condition and the accident was the guy who ran the place, and Mr. Toppin was more self-aware than most. All he said was that it was good to see Eames out and about, took their money for the tickets, and then pointed them in the direction of the group they were joining so Arthur wouldn't have to drive around looking for them.

"Oh, yeah, Eames, if Himiko's a little uneasy around you at first it's nothing personal. She gets teased by a lot of the jocks because of her heavy accent and she's self-conscious about it. She did tell me that you were the one who told Nash to lay off her though, so I think it will be okay."

"I like Himiko's accent." Phillipa piped up. "Though Eames's is a lot prettier."

Laughing, Eames thanked her and then assured Ariadne that he'd be his most charming self.

"The lure of an English accent." Arthur commented with a small smile, shaking his head in amusement. "How easy you girls fall for it."

"Accent jealousy, Arthur?" Eames quipped, determined to act normal around Arthur, especially since Ariadne was with them and would definitely pick up on it if he treated the other man differently. That she hadn't figured out he fancied her French tutor was a miracle at this point.

Parking the car Arthur turned to look at Eames, a hint of those dimples showing before he spoke in a perfect British accent that had Eames's and Ariadne's jaws dropping. "For your information, Mr. Eames, I lived in England for nearly two years, and am just as capable of employing that accent as you if I want to. I simply don't need to, to get my way."

And just when he thought Arthur couldn't get that much hotter with his clothes still on…

Unknowingly Ariadne saved Eames from saying something telling by speaking up herself. "I didn't know you could do that! I mean you said you could speak a lot of languages, and you're always harassing me on how important it is to get the accent right…but still…wow! You almost sound as sexy as Eames does."

"Thank you, Ariadne."

On that note Arthur got out of the car and headed to the trunk to retrieve Eames's chair, giving the item's owner a chance to get his head on straight as Eames unbuckled his seat belt and opened his door in preparation for leaving his current seat. His body was holding up relatively well at the moment, and as an afterthought he pulled out his cell and sent a quick text to his mum telling her so.

"Who are you texting?"

Talking as he finished the message Eames informed Phillipa, who was standing in front of his open door, that he was texting his mum to let her know he was okay. She worried, he explained as he sent the text off, looking up to give the girl a smile.

"I like your maman so far too."

"She'll be happy to hear that as she likes you already too."

Obviously pleased by his words Phillipa smiled widely at Eames before bouncing off to greet and join her friends on the blanket that had already been set up for them, Ariadne and James following after her once Arthur had assured her that he and Eames didn't need her help.

When his chair was in reach Eames carefully got into it and then asked Arthur whereabouts he'd lived in England, the short conversation about London and the mutual places they knew of and had visited lasting long enough for Eames to settle in his chair and then follow Arthur back to the truck to retrieve the two lawn chairs still there. And while he mentally cursed the fact that he couldn't offer to help carry anything Eames resigned himself to talking about this bakery they both knew of and hadn't they made the best blueberry muffins ever.

"They were fairly spectacular." Arthur agreed as he leaned the chairs against the bumper and then pulled out two thin, children's coats. "Do you mind carrying these on your lap? Save me a trip?"

"No problem." Taking them Eames grinned, blurting out what he was thinking. "I can't tell you how much I bloody appreciate the fact that you aren't babying me."

"You aren't a baby." Was Arthur's simple response, the rest of the possible conversation cut off as Himiko came over to ask if there was anything they needed help with, her hello to Eames's shy but welcoming.

"Hi. Sorry to crash your movie night."

In response Himiko's eyebrows furrowed thoughtfully before clearing. "Ah, you mean joining us, yes? That's not a problem. I'm glad you were well enough to come."

"Thanks."

Pleasantries exchange the three teenagers made their way to the spot behind the blankets where Himiko had already set up her chair, Arthur setting a chair beside his friend's before telling Eames that if he liked he could sit beside him. He'd brought the extra chair for Ariadne just in case, but she usually preferred to lie on the blanket with the kids.

He would have liked it more if it was just the two of them, but beggars couldn't be choosers and Eames rolled his chair into place beside Arthur's chair with the thought that at least they'd be side by side. Not to mention the fact that the greeting he'd just seen between his tutor and Himiko had not suggested a romantic relationship, which made him hopefully that there wasn't one.

Further thoughts on that were cut off by Arthur leaning in to retrieve the jackets from his lap, the decidedly salacious thoughts that came to mind blanking Eames to everything else even as Arthur walked over to hand the correct coat to each of his siblings with the edict that they were to put them on if it got chilly.

And then Arthur was taking his seat, bringing with him the delicious scents Eames had quickly come to associate with the other man, messing with his head all over again.

)

"My father wishes to know when you'll be coming to the restaurant again." Himiko told Arthur with a bright smile as she played with her hair, a tell Arthur knew meant she was still feeling a little shy about Eames's presence but didn't really mind the addition to their group. "He has been experimenting in the kitchen again and now that we've all tried the finished product he wishes to see how they appeal to a knowledgeable, non-Asian palate."

Mentally reviewing his mental calendar Arthur stated that they could come for lunch in a couple of days. Did any of the experiments involve sushi?

When she said that a couple of them were Eames piped up before Arthur could comment on that by asking if Arthur liked sushi.

Understanding the other teenager's surprise, they were currently living in a state that subsisted on meat and potatoes as much as possible, Arthur smiled a little. "I don't like what Americans call sushi, no. But Himiko's father makes authentic Japanese sushi and that I do enjoy, quite a bit."

The look that came over Eames's face was adorably comical. "Wait…are you saying her dad makes the real thing? Not that crap they sometimes sell at mall stalls and in convenience stores?" When they both nodded Eames's face only got that much cuter as he demanded to know why this was the first time he'd heard about this?! When he'd been thirteen his father had been stationed in Japan and he and his mum had gotten hooked on sushi and had never found anywhere this side of the ocean that could make anything remotely similar.

"My father believes that a Japanese restaurant should sell Japanese food, not Asian-American hybrids that taste like neither." They did less business than a lot of the restaurants that did sell that kind of food, but her father was a purist.

Pause. "My mum and I are so coming to your restaurant tomorrow. What time do you open and where is it? Do you guys do delivery?"

Since Himiko seemed a little dumbfounded by Eames's enthusiasm Arthur offered to email the info and directions to him later, unable not to smile when Eames announced that that would be brilliant and thanked him again before turning his attention to Himiko, the two beginning an in-depth discussion about what her family's restaurant all offered on a daily basis.

They'd forgotten all about him, Arthur thought with a continued smile, not insulted in the least. He preferred to be an observer whenever possible anyway, knowing that you learned a lot more by listening than you did talking. And besides that Eames was obviously more comfortable talking to Himiko than him, the crush the man had on him no doubt the major factor there. He certainly hadn't missed that quick smolder Eames had no doubt accidentally given him when he'd retrieved the jackets from the other teenager's lap.

That look had certainly tempted him to replace the jackets on Eames's lap, Arthur admitted to himself ruefully, the months he'd spent with only his own hand for relief coming back to bite him on the ass hard. He hadn't been on one date since moving to this town and teenage hormones were a powerful thing. His control was better than most, naturally, but it was going to be more difficult than he'd originally thought to tutor Eames if the other man continued to let his interest and availability slip.

Actually…Eames might be even worse off than him, Arthur realized, automatically sympathetic. He'd been in this town long enough to know that the very few gay individuals in their high school were either deep in the closet, quiet about it to the point where they often faded into the school's background, and a thoroughly out lesbian pair that wouldn't appeal to Eames for obvious reasons. Had Eames ever had sexual contact with another man? None of Eames's fellow jock friends were gay as far as he'd been able to tell and Eames didn't really branch out from there friend wise. Of course there was always the curious, who wondered what it was like to bat for the same team so to speak, but Eames generally did a good job at hiding his true nature so the curious ones wouldn't necessarily know to look in that direction.

Personally Arthur didn't give a damn who knew that he was gay, that no one in this small town knew of his sexual preference was partially due to the fact that they'd assumed from the start he was straight, and the fact that they'd mistaken Himiko for his girlfriend early on even though they were only friends had sealed the idea in their heads so to speak. He hadn't gone out of his way to correct that misconception because he didn't care, she didn't care, and because he knew enough about dealing with small minded, bigoted people to know that there were those in the town who'd express their opinion of his sexuality to his siblings, who didn't deserve to be picked on because of him. They knew he was gay, had hung out with him and his ex-boyfriend plenty before they'd moved to this town, but many of their peers wouldn't see that as normal the way Phillipa and James did. He would not stand for them being bullied on top of everything else they'd had to go through in their short lives.

Still…maybe he should tell Eames that he was gay as well, help him if need be to accept who he was and not the role he seemed determined to play.

It was something to think about, anyway.