Arthur/Eames and Candy Cane from the winter prompts? 😊
sorry for the delay, internship interviews are kicking my ass agsjfksh
For the most part, Arthur loved working point. He loved details and research and answering questions most people wouldn't even think to ask, and that made him well-suited to the position. He didn't mind the hours spent in front of a computer or pouring over notes- in fact he quite enjoyed them. Stakeouts, though, were one of the few aspects of his job that he found far less enjoyable and even downright unpleasant at times. He knew they were a necessary evil but that didn't mean he liked them, and this particular stakeout was no different. It was necessary, but it was also late and cold, and Arthur was thoroughly over the whole experience.
And it didn't help that he had to put up with company.
He sighed as Eames shifted in the passenger's seat for what felt like the thousandth time that hour. "Remind me again why you're here?"
"Because I'm forging the mark's mistress and it'll be helpful for me to see when and how she arrives." Eames shifted again, frowning. "I don't know how you do these, darling. I feel like I'm going to go bloody insane if I'm stuck in this car much longer."
"Yes, well I don't usually have to deal with anyone else."
Eames huffed. "I'm an absolute delight, love, and you know it."
Arthur rolled his eyes, turning his attention back to the house across the street from where they were parked. As tedious as it was, he was here for work- there was no use in getting distracted. A moment later, though, his stomach growled loudly in the otherwise quiet car.
Arthur could picture Eames' amused expression without even looking. "Shut up."
Eames chuckled and Arthur heard him digging through a plastic bag. "Lucky for you, I brought snacks."
Arthur turned, sighing when he saw what Eames was holding out towards him. "A candy cane? Seriously?"
Eames grinned at him. "Come on, darling, it's December! Get into the holiday spirit!"
Arthur leveled an unamused look at him. "I'm Jewish."
"Doesn't change the fact that peppermint is one of your favourite flavours." Eames raised an eyebrow. "Do you want it or not?"
Arthur hesitated before reluctantly accepting the candy cane. As much as he hated Eames being right, peppermint was one of his favourite flavours. He hadn't realized Eames had known that. "Did you bring any normal snacks, or just candy?"
"No, I also brought some granola bars, but I figured candy canes were more fun. A little something to brighten an otherwise boring evening."
Arthur rolled his eyes again, unwrapping the peppermint stick. December had never really held much meaning for him as a "holiday" season, but he couldn't deny the comforting nostalgia of a candy cane. He'd adored them growing up, and the sticky sweetness tasted undeniably like childhood. He couldn't help but smile as an old memory floated to the front of his mind. "You know, my mom actually banned me from eating these one year when I was little."
"Mm. Apparently I would wait until they were nice and sharp, and then I kept trying to poke people with them." He chuckled; it had been a long time since he'd thought about that. "I lost my candy cane privileges for the rest of the year because of that."
A moment of silence passed before the car was suddenly filled with Eames' loud laughter. Arthur looked over, frowning and suddenly self-conscious. "What?"
"No, nothing, it's just..." Eames grinned at him. "You intentionally turning candy canes into a weapon as a small child is maybe the most on brand thing I could ever think of for you." He tried to hold back another wave of laughter, but wasn't particularly successful. "You're something else, darling, you know that? Never change."
Arthur couldn't stop his own smile from breaking through a little, his self-consciousness fading slightly. He supposed it was a bit funny. "Fuck off."
He settled back in his seat, still smiling as Eames' laughter filled the car again. Maybe a bit of company on a stakeout wasn't that bad after all.
