Arthur hated him. To put it lightly. The very concept of Eames annoyed him to no end, and now Cobb wanted him to work with him; seriously? He had argued with him, pointing out that it would be a waste of funds to go to Mombasa, but Cobb had pointed out that he needed to go there to recruit Yusaf and besides, Saito was funding the trip anyway. Arthur threw his arms up in exasperation, why wouldn't Cobb listen? Having Eames around would be a mess, he was pompous, self absorbed and, above all, annoying. The last time they had worked together it had nearly ruined to target and the point man had almost wound up in a coma, all thanks to Eames. Arthur sighed and straightened some pencils and paper on his desk, not that they were out of line, but just because he wanted to do something with his hands.

Eames and Arthur had met several years ago; Cobb had bought them together for a simple extraction job. At least, it should have been, Eames had played around too much in the subject's mind and the projections had converged on them and they had woken up before they could extract any useful information from the subject's subconscious. Arthur sighed, this job was complicated enough, and he didn't need Eames as a distraction.

Arthur looked up as the door slid opened. Cobb stepped in carrying three cups of coffee; he was followed by a solid man wearing a tweed suite 'Arthur darling!' he called across the warehouse, Arthur sighed, why hadn't Cobb listened? Why would he even consider Eames as a forger? Because he was the best, said a voice in the back of his head, just like you. Arthur sighed again and stared at his computer, his job was to research and he wasn't going to let Eames get in his way. Not now, not ever; he glanced up and saw Eames leaning over him and reading his computer screen 'Do you mind?' he snapped at Eames as Cobb put the coffee on his desk

Eames smirked 'Not at all darling'

Arthur sighed and continued with his work, tapping at the keyboard and taking notes. Eames smirked and left him too it, approaching Cobb and enquiring about the job.

It was getting late and Arthur was very tired. He began to shuffle his papers and organise what he needed to take back to his apartment when Eames shouted 'Arthur! Sweetie! Would you be so kind as to give me a lift home darling?'

Cobb raised an eyebrow and looked at Arthur for his response, daring him to say no

'Sure' came Arthur's soft reply, he regretted it immediately, a confined space with Eames, joy. But Cobb had dared him and he had never backed down from such a thing before.

'Thank you darling!' he called back

'We're leaving now!' shouted Arthur

'Ready when you are' replied Eames

Cobb ran his hands through his hair 'Could you two please stand next to each other when you want to talk? Instead of distracting the rest of us?'

Arthur grimaced and collected his things, slid them neatly into his bag and straightened his already perfectly straight jacket. 'Come along, Mr. Eames' he called as he walked past Eames' desk

'Coming darling' whispered Eames

Arthur shivered, although he wasn't entirely sure why. The pair walked towards the massive warehouse door ''Night' said Ariadne as they walked past, Arthur could have been mistaken, but he swore he saw her smirking, same for Yusaf and Cobb. Arthur frowned in confusion, and then dismissed it as his imagination.

It started to rain. Just as they stepped outside, it started to pour. Eames was wearing a white shirt and it almost immediately turned translucent, Arthur tried not to look at the rippling muscles that lay underneath, but he glanced over on too many times and Eames took notice and a small smirk began to take shape on his handsome face. They climbed into Arthur's car and Arthur started the engine and glanced across at Eames' perfect torso 'You like, darling?' smirked Eames

Arthur raised his eyebrows and pulled into the oncoming traffic 'Where am I taking you too?'

'No in a playful mood today sweetie?'

'Where to, Mr. Eames?'

'Not liking this much at all are we darling?'

'Mr. Eames' there was a hint of warning in his voice, but Eames either missed it or ignored it

'Darling, honestly...' he began

'Listen Eames,' Arthur pulled into an alleyway 'I don't like you, I tried so hard to stop Cobb from bringing you into this job and now that you're here I'm not happy about it. Ok? Are we clear?'

'Crystal darling' said Eames, a smirk forming on his smug face. Arthur stared him straight in the eyes and, before he could react, Eames' hand was behind his head, pulling him into a kiss. At first Arthur didn't know what to do...this was Eames, a man who he had hated most of his life and yet had always felt drawn to, and now...he could feel Eames lips softly crushing his and he decided to kiss back, perhaps it would get Eames off his back.

The pair stayed at Arthur's place that night. Eames stayed on the couch, Arthur made point of that; he wasn't going to have Eames getting into his pants that fast. Arthur slowly drifted off to sleep, only to be awoken by a knock at the door, he slipped out of bed and made his way, slowly, to the door of his apartment. Only to discover Eames already at the door and talking to Cobb, Arthur stood just within view range, then realised his mistake. He and Eames were both shirtless and Cobb was left to his imagination, a place Arthur had been, and not necessarily enjoyed. Cobb smirked when he saw both the men and then said 'There's been a hiccup, we need you back at the warehouse'

'Let us get dressed first Cobb' said Arthur, then realised how wrong it sounded, he shook his head and Cobb laughed. Arthur hurried back to his bedroom and quickly, but neatly pulled on one of his many suits and returned to the main entrance, only to find Eames and Cobb chatting and laughing, with Eames still only half dressed. 'I thought you said there was a hiccup?' asked Arthur pointedly, it was taking every ounce of his considerable self control to stop himself from staring at Eames' body.

'I did' answered Cobb 'Eames, perhaps you should get dressed, it seems Arthur's struggling'

Arthur frowned quizzically at him 'You forget how well I know you, Arthur' Cobb explained, Eames smirked as he pulled on a shirt 'Yes, he seemed to struggle a lot when we were in the car, didn't you darling?' by now Arthur was flame red, he was so close to storming out the door, but then decided no good would come of it and remained standing there until Eames was fully dressed.

The trio was silent on the way to the warehouse. Ariadne had driven Cobb to Arthur's and Cobb had insisted that Arthur and Eames sit in the back, much to Eames' delight. Arthur was beginning to become increasingly irritated (was it irritated?) with the way Eames was acting towards him, lightly touching his hand, brushing against his leg and leaning into him around the corners were going unnoticed by Ariadne and Cobb, but were practically being screamed in Arthur's face. Everytime he went to insult Eames about it he would receive this charming smile as if to say 'Yes Darling, I know, but what are you going to do about sweetie?' he could almost hear Eames' smug, British voice in his head. Arthur ran his hand through his well gelled hair and sighed 'What was the hiccup?' he asked Cobb, hoping it was something serious and that he didn't get embarrassed and out of bed for no reason. 'Saito wants an update on the progress and you have all the research, we have the job in two days and he wanted it now'

'So not so much a hiccup as an impatient business man?'

'Also' This time it was Ariadne who spoke 'I have a problem with the hotel maze and Cobb can't look at it, Ysuf is a chemist and doesn't know what I'm on about and Saito is all formal and ignorant'

'Right, so what's the problem?' asked Eames

'I can't find a paradox large enough for the exterior of the building'

'Why do you need one for the outside?' enquired Eames as he ran his hand up Arthur's leg, pretending to tie his shoelace

'To finish the maze'

Arthur frowned at Eames, and then at the problem 'Fischer shouldn't be leaving the hotel'

'But what if he does?'

'The dream will be created from his own subconscious' answered Cobb

'Would you still take a look at it?' There was an anxious tone in her voice, Arthur had classed her as a perfectionist, not dissimilar to himself, the only difference being that he wasn't an extravert; she required people's approval whereas he preferred to do his own thing. Arthur smirked 'Sure' he replied, his mind starting to wander as he looked out at the overcast, slightly drizzly night. His train of thought was broken, however, when he felt Eames' hand creeping up his leg. His head snapped around and he scowled at Eames, who gave him a broad grin in return, they finally pulled up to the warehouse and Arthur practically jumped out of the car. He hurried inside, closely followed by Cobb, Ariadne and the Eames, who still had the smirk on his face. 'Ah' came a voice from the pile of test tubes 'You're here' Saito emerged from Ysuf's desk 'Ysuf was telling me about the sedative, now gentlemen, what are the plans?'

'Well,' began Cobb and with that the rest of them zoned out until their name was called and they presented to Saito their aspect and/or layer of the inception.

Arthur had tried to slip away from Eames, but the man was impossible to avoid. He took a seat at the back of the warehouse, only to discover Eames had snuck up on him and was seated right next to him. He had tried to move, but Cobb had already started his speech and everyone else was silent, any noise would have been extremely obvious. Eames leaned back lazily in his chair, his eyes half closed, Arthur barely noticed his hand resting on his leg, besides, there wasn't much he could do about it.

It became a game after that. Eames and Arthur would always sit next to each other and Eames would see how far he could get his hand up Arthur's leg before he would excuse himself and go to the bathroom, leaving Eames struggling to contain his laughter. The pair became very good friends, they would always work together, always cross reference every piece of work and more often than not, stay at each other's apartments. This didn't go unnoticed by the rest of the team, and as they sat round, discussing the job, they somehow ended up talking Arthur and Eames 'What do you think, Cobb?'

Cobb stared into his coffee and shrugged 'None of my business'

Ariadne piped up 'I think it's cute'

'What's cute?' asked Ysuf 'They're just friends'

Cobb smirked, he was amused at how oblivious the chemist was to the flourishing relationship

'What?' snapped Ysuf, noticing Cobb's smirk

'Nothing...' trailed Cobb

'Oh come on, it's obvious,' said Ariadne 'They're together'

Ysuf snorted into his tea 'I don't know if you've noticed, but Eames is pretty much as masculine as you can get'

'Doesn't mean he isn't gay'

'Masculine usually includes heterosexual' he pointed out

Cobb looked at them both 'It's none of our business'

Ariadne sighed, letting the silence lapse between the group. After a few minutes Ariadne said 'So, what do you think Cobb?'

'I'm happy for them, if they are together'

'What do you mean?'

'I've known both of them long enough to know that they aren't together'

'Really?' there was a slight interest in her voice

'Yes, really, they're both as straight as anything'

'Eames yes,' said Ysuf 'Arthur, hmmm, maybe'

'Maybe?' Ariadne was enjoying this way too much, thought Cobb

'Yes, maybe, have you seen the way he dresses? Have you ever seen him out of a suit?'

'No, but lots of men wear suits'

'Have you ever seen anything of his out of place?'

'No'

'Nothing messy?'

'No'

'My point'

'Yes, but I'm sure plenty of men are neat and wear suits' argued Ariadne

'But not all of them spend most of their time with another man'

'True,' Ariadne thought about this 'Thank you for proving my point' she stared pointedly at Cobb

'I still maintain they're straight'

'Nope'

'Yep'