Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the plot. Thanks for reading.

A Little Fantasy

With a triumphant war whoop Eames pumped a fist into the air while he watched the scene play out in front of him that signaled the fact that he had finally beaten the second last level of Final Fantasy 11, and was therefore well on his way to completing his goal of playing and completing every Final Fantasy game currently available. Not the best summer goal, especially since his usual summer aims involved activities best suited for the outdoors, but since he was laid up anyway and sitting on his arse was for the best…well it was the first time in his life his mum wasn't harassing him about spending more than an hour on his video games. Usually he'd hear non-stop nagging about how there were better things he could be doing until he did something else.

All in all his day was going fairly, which was a nice change in pace as far as Eames was concerned. It had been two days since Arthur had said he'd think about dating him, and though the lack of response thus far was a little annoying, they had a tutoring session planned for tomorrow which meant he'd see the other teenager then. Plus he'd talked with Matt after breakfast, having belatedly recalled after all the drama that he'd yet to do so, and while they hadn't chatted for very long they had talked and he had gotten the sense that Himiko was right to think that Matt had been feeling too guilty to see him or call, as opposed to just not wanting to talk to him because he was in chair now. He'd also got the vibe that maybe Matt liked Himiko, because there had definitely been a hint of jealousy in the other man's voice when he'd mentioned that he'd gone to the movies with her and the others. That had been interesting, and he figured he'd pass the word on to Ariadne, see if she thought they should try to play matchmakers or something. Could be fun, and he liked Himiko, her family's sushi was too boss for words. He owed her, if she was interested.

Turning his attention back to the screen Eames studied it, mentally debating whether to keep going or maybe hunt up some of his arm weights, work out a little. He wasn't sure what his chances were with Arthur, but just in case he wanted to at least look good with his shirt off. The lack of physical activity was doing the most damage below the belt, his legs not getting the workout they were used to getting and all the weaker for it. There wasn't a hell of a lot he could do there, and a lot of exercises were out of the question because of his back, but having really well defined arms was definitely possible at the very least. He'd looked up pictures online of Arthur's ex, and the guy had been pretty average in build overall, so at least there he could surpass the guy. Of course Arthur might not find muscles overly attractive, but the man had said he shared Ariadne's love of British actors. And the majority of Ari's favorites, he knew, were very nice without their clothes on in the build department.

He'd about decided to head upstairs to find the weights, game saved and his body braced to transfer his arse from the couch to his chair, when Eames heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs. They weren't Mimi's either, and she was the only one besides him who was home since mum was at-oh.

Arthur came into view, looking sexy as hell in a fitted back T-shirt and dark brown trousers that Eames recognized and knew for a fact hugged Arthur's rear quite lovingly.

"Hi."

"Eames. Mimi said you were having a Final Fantasy marathon, I'm sorry to interrupt."

Shaking his head Eames immediately reassured him that that wasn't the case, he'd actually just finished his level and had been about to head upstairs anyway. Belatedly it occurred to him to offer Arthur a seat on the couch beside him.

"Thank you. I just need a few minutes of your time; I'm due to pick Phillipa and James up at the library in half an hour."

"They part of the summer reading club?" He hadn't lived here when he was young, but he'd come with his friends to the library a few times as a boy, when he'd come to visit his grandparents. As he recalled Mrs. Stubbens, the head librarian, kept a strict timetable when it came to planned events in her building.

Arthur nodded. "They enjoy it, and it gives me a little free time to get errands and such done."

"And visiting me is one of your errands today? To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I said I would consider going out with you, and it occurred to me that there's an important area to consider, which wouldn't be best explored while your grandmother, mother, and my siblings were around to observe and add their own commentary. Hence my decision to drop by on the chance I could catch you alone for a few minutes."

"Uhm, okay."

The hint of a gleam that came into Arthur's eyes had Eames swallowing hard reflexively even before the other teen asked him if he'd ever kissed another man before.

"Yeah. Been a while, but I have." He'd also snogged-kissed a number of girls, his stupid younger self hoping to find one that turned him on as much as guys did, but he left that out. He was just grateful for the experience they'd given him, however un-thrilling it had been, because in his gut he knew why Arthur had come by.

"Good."

Eames prayed to God that he wasn't making faces that in any way conveyed his nerves or elation when Arthur lifted a hand and reaching out glided his fingers through his hair, cupping the back of his head to gently pull him closer while Arthur leaned in.

Turns out neither of them were that rusty.

Letting Arthur control the kiss at first, the man had serious skills and he wanted to enjoy them to the fullest, Eames forgot everything else but the lips pressed against his and the hand placed at the back of his head, holding him in place while Arthur sampled his lips with extreme thoroughness before sliding his tongue between them in an obvious hint to open up.

Happy to comply Eames opened his mouth and welcomed Arthur's tongue, groaning his appreciation for it as he brought his own into play, keeping things slow and easy because this was their first kiss, and he wasn't about to rush it and have it end anytime soon. Especially when it felt so right, so easy and better not to rush. Not to mention Arthur's kisses were a high he couldn't get enough of, Eames seeing himself getting very addicted to the other man's taste very soon, to the point where enough would never be enough.

When Arthur pulled his head away, Eames was willing to admit a rather pathetic whine escaped his lips.

Looking pleased, not to mention thoroughly kissed, Arthur gave Eames's hair a stroke to pacify him a little as he spoke. "I don't think chemistry will be a problem for us."

"It's…it's always a good idea to double, triple check your results. Especially when it comes to chemistry."

Arthur laughed, his dimples showing. "It's odd, being with someone whose face is so open, so easy to read. I'm not used to that when it comes to the men in my life. Everyone always seems to only want to show me what they want me to see. But you…I can read you. Most of the time." Another caress. "I like that about you."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

And then Arthur was kissing the hell out of him and Eames forgot about finding out what other men Arthur had been referring to, far too busy giving as good as he got as the kisses became quick and hot and designed to hit all their hormone buttons all at once so that, being teenage boys, all they could think about was how many different ways they'd like to get off in the other's company, preferably while naked.

The images were vivid enough, hazed their minds enough that neither could say later, not that they discussed it, how Arthur came to be straddling Eames lap while they continued to devour each other's mouths, Arthur's hands cupping Eames's head while Eames hands found their way under Arthur's shirt, fingers splaying over the warm and getting warmer skin there, gliding over the flesh and then digging in reflexively.

Their hips had begun to move, to rub in against each other's in a way that had them both panting and kissing that much deeper and harder, when the sound of a cell going off managed to snag their attention, particularly Arthur's since it was his phone and he knew that tune all too well.

)

Forcing himself to sit back up, and how the hell had he gotten on Eames's lap, exactly, Arthur was torn between amusement and extreme horniness as he pulled his cell out of his trouser pocket, apologizing for having to take the call before he was accepting it, putting it up to his ear as he mentally cursed, as always, his father's timing. "Hello, Father. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"In two weeks I'll be coming to the house, staying for a week. I thought you'd appreciate a heads up."

"I'll let Phillipa and James know that you're coming, though you could have just texted me."

"Why, did I interrupt you doing something important?"

"As a matter of fact I was making out with a sexy football player, and talking to you is eating up what time I have to do that before I have to go pick the kids up from the library."

Arthur was hard pressed to say which man's reaction he preferred more, his father's unintelligible mumblings he could hear through his phone's speaker, or the surprised pleasure that had come over Eames's face. The other teenager really did have the most beautiful eyes, Arthur marveled absently, shifting a little so that he could run the fingers of his free hand over Eames's face, tracing the dips and curves, those luscious, made for sin lips. Oh the plans he had for that mouth.

"Arthur! Answer me!"

"You weren't speaking a language I recognize. What did you say?"

"I said I won't let you keep James and Phil with you if you're going to be spending your time having sex with some brainless jock whose only hope of getting a higher education lies in his ability to throw a ball around."

"I think one's ability to kick the ball is more important than his ability to throw one." Arthur pointed out, allowing his amusement to coat his words. "Because while you Americans might think you own everything worth having, and can call it what you like, the fact remains that Europe's owned the sport of football centuries before you Yanks ever heard of it. Calling it soccer doesn't make it so. And we aren't having sex. Yet."

Oh yes, Arthur thought as he saw the way Eames had darkened as his meaning had hit home, the man had stunningly gorgeous eyes, particular when aroused. He liked what he was feeling against his own erection too.

When his father said his name threateningly Arthur restrained himself from rolling his eyes. "I won't have sex in front of the kids, Father. That would be a mood killer of epic proportions. And they always come first with me. I don't believe having a social life was on your list of deal breakers unless I neglect them as a result."

"And what are you doing now?"

"Preparing to end this call so that I can go pick them up from the library. Unless you want me to be late?"

That they'd discuss this in two weeks was his father's response to that before hanging up without a proper good bye, not that Arthur gave a damn about that. He'd grown up knowing that expecting his father to be like other fathers was a futile effort. He was better than some, but certainly never Father of the Year material. Though he did love James and Phillipa, he'd give the man that.

Tucking his phone back into his pocket Arthur turned his attention solely back to the man whose lap he was still sitting on. "Sorry to kiss and run, but that ate up what time I had left. The kids are expecting me."

"No problem, glad you dropped by."

Deliberately Arthur swiveled his hips just a little, tormenting them both at the contact. "I can tell."

"Damn." Eames's groaned. "You're sexy as hell too."

"Thank you."

With real reluctance Arthur slid off Eames's lap to stand in front of the teenager, thinking that he needed to get Eames hot and bothered more often. The way he looked now, sprawled on the couch with his hair all mushed from his fingers, lips swollen even bigger, and eyes that promised wicked things to come…oh yes, he was definitely leaning towards giving the other man a shot, date wise.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

Eames nodded and then bit his bottom lip, which Arthur found strangely attractive. "Uhm, I just wanted to say, I couldn't help but overhear some-I like Phil and James. I don't mind hanging out with them a lot, if we start dating. I know you look after them when your dad's not around."

"Thanks. Phillipa gave you her seal of approval, James hasn't gotten used to you yet." Bracing his hands on either side of Eames's head Arthur leaned forward for one last, quick taste of Eames's lips and then he pulled back. "Bye."

"Bye."

)

After he was sure Arthur was gone, no sound of footsteps reaching his ears, Eames hopped to his feet and did a little dance in front of the couch, not caring at the twinges he felt as he celebrated not only the hottest kisses he'd ever got, but the fact that he was pretty damn sure now that at the very least, Arthur was going to give him a shot. If for no other reason than it would piss off his dad, Eames mused, since he'd gotten the distinct impression Arthur and his old man didn't get along remotely. He was thinking he wasn't going to like Arthur's dad much either, if they met up.

Of course the twinges soon became outright pain, and he had to collapse back onto the couch, but he did so with a stupid grin on his face.

Hearing footsteps again Eames turned to watch his grandmother come down the stairs, her smile widening when she no doubt accurately interpreted his own grinning to mean that things had gone very well with Arthur.

"Well?"

"I think the odds are in my favor for the moment."

Beaming, his grandmother came over to give him a careful hug and kiss, pleased as punch by this turn of events as she took a seat beside him. Then she asked him if the boy was a good kisser, just for the pleasure of seeing Eames blush and squirm like a little boy who'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"No, he's not a good kisser." Eames let the statement hang for a moment. "He's a bloody excellent kisser."

Laughing in delight Mimi gave his knee an appreciative pat. "Good to hear."

"Mimi…you said you didn't know his dad that well, but knowing you you've been asking around more now that you've met Arthur and the kids, especially since I'm interested in dating his son and that would guarantee your interest in his family. What have you heard?" He wanted to know more about the older man, sensing that he'd get a much better sense of Arthur if he knew something about the father. Well that and he was just super curious by nature, more so that actually, in all honesty.

Settling into gossip mode Mimi blew out a thoughtful breath, mulling over where to start. "From what I hear he was quite the golden boy in his youth. Only child, and a complete surprise to his older than most parents, who spoiled him rotten. A natural charmer apparently, who was very good at talking his way in and out of trouble, not a bully, but not above using those 'beneath' him either. Student body president, decent at sports, and very good with the ladies, or so I hear. Lit out of town as soon as he graduated, originally just to backpack around Europe for the summer, but he met up with Arthur's mother and that was that, it seems. He got a degree in architecture over there, and traveled all over the world with his wife and children designing what often went on to become fairly famous buildings in that world."

She'd also heard that Arthur's father had hardly visited his parents or extended family, and that he'd only brought Arthur here once that anyone seems to remember, to see his grandparents. The other two more, though only a couple times a year. Word was Arthur's mother had looked like an Old Hollywood actress, very femme fatale and French. Judging from the descriptions she'd got, Arthur took after her side for looks.

"He does have a very European vibe to him, called his dad an American on the phone and said it like anyone from Europe would. He even knows the proper name for football."

Amused by him Mimi just shook her head. "Which of course would be a make or break thing with you."

Actually he was pretty sure that he would have been willing to commit the utterly sacrilegious sin of calling his beloved football soccer if that would help his chances with Arthur, but Eames didn't say so in case he jinxed himself.

Continuing with her story Mimi told him that there wasn't much more to tell since the family hadn't made a habit of coming to visit Arthur's grandparents and even those closest to said grandparents didn't know much beyond the basics. The general consensus was that in the eyes of his parents Dominick Cobb had all but walked on water, and that they hadn't said much because he didn't keep in close enough contact with his parents for them to have much to talk about other than his work.

"In short, you and your mother are much better when it comes to respecting your elders."

"Like you wouldn't have come all the way to Europe to ream us out if we hadn't come to see you regularly."

"Damn right."