Chapter Text
Silence reigned as they walked through the door. Eames dropped his keys in the ceramic holder by the door as Arthur slipped his shoes off. Both men walked into the kitchen, following their normal routines without the friendly banter, the cheerful conversation. The atmosphere weighed heavily on them as Arthur reached into the fridge, took a halfhearted sniff of the milk and replaced it again. Eames watched him carefully, the way his eyes kept moving around the house, like everything was new. It only took a moment before his lover noticed, catching his gaze and holding it carefully, steadily.
"I, um. I think I'm going to go for a swim."
Eames nodded slowly. "Yeah. Yeah, darling, that sounds good. Where to?"
"Maybe Santa Monica? I've always loved it there." He turned towards the bedroom, finally shrugging off his jacket.
This finally gave Eames pause. "Wait, Santa Monica? In January?" He turned to stare at Arthur's departing figure. "Don't be mad, love. You'll catch..." His words caught In his throat and Eames watched as the other man finally stopped.
He couldn't help it. A noise choked out of his mouth and Arthur stared curiously at him through chocolate brown eyes. "Catch what?"
Another giggle. Arthur smiled a fraction, the ends of his lips upturning just slightly. "Catch what? Tell me?"
This time Eames couldn't smother it. He burst out into loud, frantic laughter. Leaning on the bench, he doubled over, whooping with mirth as his breath started catching. All Arthur could do was join in, not sure what was so hilarious but stepping slowly closer to his lover, head tilted with curiosity. He waited as the minutes ticked on, until their breaths were shallow gasps and tears started to form in the corners of their traitorous eyes.
Blue eyes levelled slowly to brown and Eames smiled once more, sombrely. "You'll catch pneumonia, love."
Arthur snorted. "Well, maybe it'll chase the cancer away for me."
"Yeah..." Eames whispered, barely audible. He blinked away, then back to Arthur's face where all traces of humour were gone. "You don't believe them, do you? You're going to keep trying right?"
"I... I'm not sure anymore, Eames. I just..." He trailed off, his tears finally overflowing, tracing lines down his soft face. "I don't know."
Eames nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat and raising his arms towards the slender man. "I love you, darling. Never doubt that."
Arthur smiled as he stepped into Eames' embrace. "I know that. And right here. Right now, and forever, no matter what happens. I love you too."
-Fin