Eames studies him quietly, the surprise and then something else, turning inwardly again - he had made Arthur watching a hobby long time before Duplicity and long time before he fell for the man like a rock sinking through waves. He knows in theory what those expressions are, what that stance means, and he should know how to dissolve the discomfort Arthur feels.

But there's a whole pirate ship size chasm between them and isn't that just awfully frustrating?

"I'm not willing to take blame for it," he says quietly. "I would never do that to you. I would--" He stumbles over his words, which is a rarity for Eames. "You know that, right? Arthur, I'm struggling because I want to strangle myself for what I did, or what someone did using my body. That I could let that happen..."

He doesn't think about it when he reaches for Arthur, sliding a hand over his, curling his fingers over Arthur's palm.