Arthur and Eames, 12/24

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Eames and Arthur spend Christmas Eve making plans, of both the short and long term varieties. Also cuddling and holiday movies.

This year's Christmas plan was to stay at home and spend quiet time snuggling on the couch watching movies. Eames cooked them a nice dinner and shooed Arthur out of the kitchen to choose their first film while he cleaned up. When Eames sauntered back into the living room she'd shifted, clad now in a very short skirt with matching top, midriff bare beneath red velvet fabric. There was a Santa cap settled over her curls, tilted at a jaunty angle. Eames carried two mugs of cocoa over to the coffee table before climbing to straddle Arthur's lap. She pulled a sprig of mistletoe from her black leather belt and held it aloft over Arthur's head.

"Merry Christmas," Eames said with a mischievous smile. "You either have to snog me or drive this through my heart. Depends on what stories you're into this holiday season."

Arthur, who'd been stretched out on the couch as relaxed as he ever got, just arched an eyebrow and shifted over onto his back underneath her. "I wasn't aware this was an ultimatums kind of holiday," he said dryly, hands moving to settle on her hips anyway.

She grinned and leaned down. "I like to spice things up."

"And your definition of spicy," he said, absently running his hands down the sides of her thighs, "is making demands?"

Eames brushed her lips along the curve of his ear before murmuring, "But you like it when I make demands. If I didn't challenge you, how boring would life be?"

"I'm not sure boring is ever a word I'd use to describe you." But either as an acquiescence or just because he felt like it, Arthur did turn to catch her mouth into a proper kiss.

Eames smiled and then kissed him back sweetly, tossing the mistletoe aside in favor of slipping her fingers through Arthur's hair.

"Satisfied?" Arthur murmured, hands sliding around to the small of her back to pull her down against him.

"I approve of your choice," she confirmed, wriggling her hips until she was slotted in a pleasing position.

"I bet." He let his fingers trace over her back in random patterns before Arthur suddenly pulled back enough to look her in the eye. "I didn't get you anything," he said bluntly. "Should I have?"

"You gave me a very nice birthday present," Eames pointed out. "All I want for Christmas is you." She grinned and added, "In bed. All day tomorrow."

"Is that what we did for your birthday too?" Arthur gave her a dry look, but it wasn't exactly an argument.

"I'm easily bribed with orgasms."

Arthur snorted in amusement before his expression shifted to something almost considering. "Speaking of your birthday present. Do you have it here?"

"Mmhm," Eames hummed.

"Want to do something with that?"

Eames shifted her hips again, slow and deliberate. "Sounds very good to me."

A soft sound escaped Arthur before he could stop it, but he set his teeth to keep from letting himself get distracted. "Either of us," he said firmly. Which was not something he ever expected he'd be willing to say in reference to restraints, but Eames had a tendency to surprise him that way.

Eames reached to catch Arthur's hand, rubbing her thumb against the inside of his wrist. "Okay," she said softly. "That sounds... like a really good plan."

Arthur nodded slowly before one side of his mouth quirked up slightly. "Merry christmas."

She kissed him again. "Merry Christmas. This is exactly how I like to celebrate my holidays."

"With sex?" His expression widened into a proper smile. "I'll keep that in mind for President's Day."

"Props if I get to fellate you at your desk? That's how you Americans celebrate president's day, right?"

"Somehow I doubt it's in any of the rule books." But Arthur was still smiling slightly as he let his head fall back against the sofa. A moment later the expression had fallen a little in favor of something more thoughtful. "What would you say if I was thinking of leaving the school after the year ends?"

Eames brushed a kiss lightly against Arthur's jaw. "The school year, or the new year? Either way, I'd say it's time."

"School year. I may as well finish it out." And his tone hadn't change at all, but somehow it was still clear that there was a decided lack of enthusiasm behind it.

"You're diligent, I give you that. Do you have a plan? Are you going to be assisting Lydia or something else?"

Arthur let out a hard breath. "I don't know," he said, sounding like it was a bit difficult to get the words out. "But the school is...not for me, anymore."

Eames stroked his hair. Hearing Arthur admit he was without a plan was a bit like watching a turtle flipped on to its shell. Eames dotted kisses against his cheeks. "Want to play Robin Hood with me?" she suggested with a small smile. "Or save the world? You're rather capable of anything."

"I doubt you'd appreciate me shredding all of your plans," Arthur said dryly, reaching up to slide his fingers into her hair. "If you have any, that is."

Eames tightened her thighs around Arthur's hips. "I love it when people underestimate me."

He tugged her head back gently to give her an amused look. "Would you actually let me set things up for you?"

Eames hummed softly. "I wouldn't mind your help. There are lot of things that come easier to you."

"Really?" Arthur gave her a considering look. "If I gave you instructions, would you actually follow them?"

"If they're sound," Eames said. "It would have to be a partnership. You need to trust me as well. My instincts aren't as terrible as you may think."

"I didn't say anything about your instincts. That's different." Arthur sighed a little, scratching gently at her scalp. "I don't do well on the fly. You do."

"I can show you what I'm working on," Eames said softly. "You can tell me what you think."

Arthur studied her for a quiet moment or so an then nodded. "As fun as that will be," he said, quirking one side of his mouth into a wry smile, "I'll still probably have to find something to do for myself."

"I expect nothing less. I merely provide distraction while you hatch your grand plan."

"Merely," Arthur echoed with an arched eyebrow. "Please. You're not merely anything. You'd never let yourself be."

Eames leaned down and kissed Arthur appreciatively. "Don't want to scare you away," she murmured softly. "By consuming you too completely."

​He just gave her a long look. "I think we're a little past that point, don't you?"​

Eames smiled and traced her thumb against his cheek. "Mine, hm?"

"Not obvious by now?"

"I do think I think I etched it somewhere." She ducked to kiss his throat, hand sliding up under his shirt to press against warm skin.

"I would not be surprised," Arthur murmured, his voice going a bit lower. "I think you're stuck with me now, regardless."

"That's all I want," Eames said softly.

​Arthur nudged her back far enough to give her a completely genuine smile. "All?"​

"Well, that and the amazing sex you've promised for tomorrow."

"I think I can manage that," he said with a straight face.

"Holiday movies now. Or I'll start the festivities early and we'll never wear clothes again," Eames insisted.

Arthur's expression looked faintly pained for just a moment. "Holiday movies?"

"Oh, you didn't cue up Winter Wonderland?" Eames asked innocently.

"I don't even know what that is."

Eames snuggled back against him. "What's in the queue first? Winter not required."

"Whatever you want," Arthur said as he stroked his hand down her back, and even managed not to sound entirely resigned about it.