Oxidants Happen

[bookshop.livejournal.com]

Fandom: INCEPTION
Title: Oxidants Happen - PG-13
Pairing: Eames/Yusuf
Length: 4,000
Author on LJ: stachelyjohnson
Author Website: N/A
Why this must be read: Summary: Yusuf and Eames accidentally each other. Saito purposely everything. This is my favorite version of Eames/Yusuf, a hilarious, whimsical, fun, and 100% believable look at the way Eames invades Yusuf's life in Mombasa, and the adventures and poignant moments and joy that he brings with him. It's sexy and sharp and atmospheric and full of delicious food, and has bonus Emperor of All Things!Saito striding around being powerful and commanding and hot. Also, Yusuf's cat! :D

Yusuf thinks it’s going to end like a movie, he’ll go back to his flat for lunch and see nothing of Eames left there, save for something small he’ll find six months down the road.

Eames himself is still there, though, shirtless and cooking something at the range.

“What are you doing here?” Yusuf asks, slightly gobsmacked.

“Am I supposed to be somewhere else?” Eames stirs whatever it is he’s cooking.

“I thought you’d leave.”

Eames stops stirring, but doesn’t take his hand off the spoon. “Well, do you want me to?”

“I’m. No. No, I don’t.” Yusuf shakes his head, putting his pack and a few books down on the table.

“You sound unconvinced.”

Yusuf’s headache is coming back. He stares at Eames’s tattoos so he doesn’t have to look him in the eye. It’s a terrible idea, because they’re painted around arms and a chest and a back that are quite distracting.

Yusuf briefly worries that he may have inhaled something toxic at the lab. “Stay. Please.” he says.

Eames stirs again, grinning down into the pot. Yusuf heads into the bathroom to splash his face with water, stare at the bags under his eyes in the mirror, and wonder what the hell is going on. When he opens the door again, Eames is there with a wooden spoon held at face level. “Taste.”

Yusuf is shocked into doing it. It tastes all right, like some kind of spicy stew. “What is it?” he asks.

“Spicy stew.” Eames answers simply, then slurps the rest off of the spoon. When the utensil’s away from his face, Yusuf swears at himself in every language he knows and grabs Eames by the shoulders. Eames stares at him for a second, then kisses him, peppery and a little awkward.

Eames reaches down with his free hand and Yusuf grabs his wrist. Eames pulls back, frowning. “I am not having sex with you in my bathroom while you’re holding a stirring spoon.” Yusuf says.

Eames waves the spoon. “You can have a lot of fun with kitchen utensils, pet.” he says with a pout.

Oxidants Happen