AN:/ I made a few changes, just a few minor edits to this page, thanks to azure-lupis for pointing out the Cobbs vs. Cobb issue. Also, to my readers, just note, I will probably never refer to Cobb as Dom unless Mal calls him by that name. I guess, during the movie he just seemed to associate with 'Cobb' better than his first name.

Time Is Fleeting - Chapter One : An Ultimatum

"We don't get along?" Eames repeated slowly, working the words off his tongue with that rough accent of his, the corners of his lips twitching into a half-smile, "Why, now isn't that quite the shocker, Cobb. Tell me, have you only just realized that your up-tight friend and I don't play nice? Because, it really is so perceptive of you," He purred in that tone Cobb had come to take as his simple tone of voice. The Forger just had to seem like he was flirting with every little word that he said, and while it may have ruffled feathers of those far less familiar with the man, Cobb rolled his eyes.

"No, I realized awhile ago. You both have different methods, and usually it steers us well, but lately it's been disrupting our work," The man sighed, a hand scratching at his unshaven chin, eyes watching that look of feign innocence slip onto the brunette's face before the Forger realized that their mighty-leader wasn't buying it and he instead referred to a smirk, his shoulders rolling and a chuckle escaping him.

"Fine, you've caught me-I'm a terrible person, but come now Cobb, didn't you realize this when you dragged me from my life of girls, gambling and booze?" Eames chuckled, the male folding his arms over his chest and arching a brow just slightly in a questioning manner, as in: Do you really expect me to play nice?

"I can't control what you do outside of our jobs, but while we're working, you need to at least attempt to be civilized," Cobb murmured with a sigh. The politics of this group were beyond him. There was Eames, the Forger. Arthur, their Point Man. Chan, their Pharmacist. And he was an Architect, while Mal, his beloved, was always around to lend a hand. Despite that, the only one Eames clashed with was their strict and level-headed Point Man.

"Oh, now-It was only practice, and it'll help him, I'm sure."

Cobb rolled his eyes. Yes, they were meant to test eachother. But that usually didn't end with one man being almost stabbed by a bed-side lamp.

"Ah. Plain and boring as usual, Arthur-Thanks for sharing that creative side of you, I'm only speaking for myself, but wow-How wonderful-"

"As always, your useless criticism is barely taken into account," Arthur smiled in response, that kind of smile which was just a little too high at the corners due to the effort of keeping it there before he turned away, straightening his tie and pushing a hand back over his hair. Never a hair out of place, as usual. It was only too immaculate when the dream helped keep it that way. Eames however was a rolled-out-of-bed mess. His suit dishevelled, his shirt untucked and the suit jacket open, while his tie was simply hung around his neck. Unfortunately, the man had a way of carrying that image successfully.

"Alright-What's the plan?" Eames shot back at Cobb.

"We're going to be testing our specializations. In my case, I'm going to try and extract information from within Arthur's head. He will use what he knows about me to make his own subconscious pursue me. You, Eames, will be my back up, you will have to adopt a successful guise to hide yourself from Arthur's projections, and he himself," Cobb spoke in that deliberating tone of his, "My goal is the information. Arthur, yours is our capture. Eames, yours is to subdue the projections or set them onto a false target," He finished.

"Sounds like fun," Eames grinned broadly, turning on his heel and waving over his shoulder, "I'll see you soon, darling," He chuckled, disappearing into the crowd of projections, Arthur turning to look at the empty space where Cobb had previously been.

"Yes. Fun," He murmured, squinting through the crowds. Now where on Earth was that man? And more importantly, where is his subconscious keeping the information Cobb was after? Eames was no challenge. He'd tried many times to unsettle Arthur, but the Point Man was just as quick headed, and furthermore a level person. Or so he assumed.

29 Minutes

"And how are you, sweet-heart?" A female purred, fingers grasping into Arthur's shoulder gently, the man tensing. He'd finally found where the safe was, and he'd settled in the small bar, his eyes glued to the door, only removing themselves to stare at the green-eyed woman and roll his eyes, "You'll have to do better than that, Eames. Is it really your ego that makes you choose the pretty ones, or are you enjoying being a female all too much?" He questioned.

The female pursed her lips together and withdrew a note, "He said you'd say that," She said, exhaling and slipping it to him, "I was told to give you this," She said finally before disappearing back into the crowd.

Unfolding the note, Arthur glanced down, 'Smile for the camera, sweetie.' Staring up, brows knitted together, a flash caught him out of the corner of his eyes, and the Point Man got to his feet, forgetting the safe for the moment. Irritation rising in him. The man was toying with him. Pushing through the crowd which only seemed to get denser with his agitation, Arthur got to the corner finding no one, his eyes squinting back through the crowd before focussing on the room next, slipping in just in time to see Eames ankles disappear up the stairs.

Clenching his fists together, Arthur followed. What was he doing? They were meant to be practicing, not acting like fools. He always found some way to slack off, and this was the last time, especially in his own head at least. It was far too orderly to have Eames playing around in it, who knew what damage it could cause.

"Eames, I've caught you," Arthur said in disbelief, finding the man lounging in a comfortable sofa, his eyes alight with that amusement Arthur knew couldn't end up well for anyone. "Oh, don't over estimate yourself, darling. You've found me, there's a large difference between that and being captured, I assure you," Eames laughed, standing himself and approaching the male who against his will, took a half step back before stepping forwards with a darling look.

Reaching beside his head, Eames shut the door behind the man before grinning, "Maybe I've caught you? I did get you to follow me, and I bet right now Cobb is robbing that little safe of yours-Best keep your head on straight if you don't want him finding out anything you'd prefer private," He grinned.

Arthur would've sworn if he wasn't far too level-headed for it, of course, that, and he was finding it hard to speak with the Forger in his damn personal space, basically breathing in the same air. The thought wasn't pleasant.

"Now isn't this just cosy. Maybe we should move to the bed?" Eames suggested, out of the corner of his eyes, the curtain changed a few shades of colour and his grin only grew as he seized the male and urged him toward the nice comfortable looking four-poster, Arthur glaring daggers at the man as he was pushed onto the bed and once Eames wasn't paying enough attention, he grasped for the nearest item to him, and came up with the bed-side lamp, Eames laughing a bit and stepping out of harms way.

"Denial?" He suggested, "I've seen the way you look at me-"

"That's it," Arthur said, fuming, getting to his feet and collapsing the reality around him, his mind chewing it up and spitting it out, and when he woke up in the fold-out sun chair, it was to the sound of Eames amused laughter, and the silence of Cobb confusion.

"Don't look at me," Chan said defensively from his position, "It wasn't the pills, I swear," He shrugged, gathering up the machine and packing it away while Eames regained a hold on himself enough to just settle for his 'all knowing' smirk, his arms folded in that comfortable position.

"Is someone going to explain to me why we didn't finish?" Cobb asked, sitting up straight to look between the two, Arthur standing abruptly, "I'm not having him in my head-Ever," He said firmly, pointing a finger accusingly in Eames direction, before leaving the room, frustration.

"Well, what do you propose we do in order to get along just as fabolously as you'd like us too?" Eames chuckled, Cobb staring down the other man who seemed not to be taking the situation seriously.

"I'm going out to dinner tonight with Mal," Cobb said, rolling his shoulders as he danced around this point, he had no doubt that either man would be appreciative of his idea, but it had to be done. "I'm going to be gone for three hours," He continued, waiting for Eames to get the gist but he never did, sighing, he pushed a hand back through his hair, "I'm putting you under while I'm gone-"

"For three hours! That can hardly be any good-That's got to be..."

"Thirty-six hours in the dream," Arthur interrupted, entering the room, looking almost as thoroughly unimpressed as the other male.

"Oh, and Eames. This will be in your head," Cobb added, reaching for his jacket, "I hope you're ready."