It wasn't often Arthur got mad, but Eames had wound him up too much this time. He'd gone too far. He just would not listen to reason. It had started as some stupid argument about how best to design a dream, something about work as usual, but Arthur had not been in the best mood that morning, and it had turned out into a full shouting match across the table.
So when he got home and Cobb called to say he had a job for him, Arthur accepted without a second thought. It was unusual for him, but he was glad of something to do to take his mind off things. "The man whose dream you'll be going into is called Benjamin Darcy, and the guy who's hiring us hasn't told us his name. So just research Darcy, see what you can find, because this is one of those contracts that can easily turn sour. I can tell. There's something we've not been told-" Arthur stopped listening after that until Cobb put the phone down, turning on his computer to do the first part of his job; research.
When Arthur came across everything he was looking for near morning, he was almost shaking. He couldn't do this. He could not go into the dream of this man. But it was too late to call Cobb and ask him to find someone else. There was no one else. He decided he'd walk, taking his phone out of his pocket halfway down the street and dialling the first number he could think of.
Nobody answered, which didn't really surprise Arthur, but he spoke to the answering machine anyway.
"I said I'd do this job and now I don't want to and I'll be there soon and I don't want to do it any more, I can't do it I..." he pressed the 'end call' button before his voice cracked.
Arthur stood outside the building Cobb was waiting inside with the client, composing himself into a professional attitude before climbing the staircase, wishing for one of his favourite paradox staircases more than ever.
He reached the top of course, and found Cobb in an ordinary room with the client, ordinary looking; suit, neat haircut. They both nodded in greeting to Arthur, who felt the pressing atmosphere of what he knew already, barely able to draw breath in the room. "Mr Charles, may I speak to you for just a moment before we begin?" Arthur ventured, using the agreed false name, seeing as Dom had had his own minor misgivings about the client, exceptionally polite, professional, giving nothing away. Cobb looked puzzled, but stepped outside the room anyway.
Even away from the eyes of the person the job would be done for Arthur stayed rigid, calm, stating monosyllabically. "I can't do the job Dom. Don't ask me why. Please, after all the years we've worked together, trust me."
Dom Cobb looked even more puzzled; Arthur could always do a job, even when it seemed impossible, and disappointed, which Arthur hated himself for, but nodded. He turned down the stairs, showing his anger at Arthur by leaving him to explain this to the client. Arthur stepped back into the room with difficulty, clearing his throat to get the attention of the client. "I'm afraid there's been a problem," he stated levelly, surprising himself. "Unfortunately neither I nor Mr Charles can accept your case due to prior engagements. We are of course, very happy to take the job at a later date, and I assure you we will make you our highest priority as soon as we can get hold of somebody who is free to complete the task." There, that sounded convincing and polite enough.
The man, who still hadn't given his name, replied in much the same tone as Arthur, clearly false manners. "I will, of course, respect your duties. This is a minor inconvenience and I will be in touch to arrange something." Arthur thanked him and turned to go, reaching the top of the stairs, hearing the shot ring out a moment before the pain bloomed in his thigh and he fell into nothingness before he hit what felt like every stair and more.
From his position on the floor, which he hadn't quite reached; he was almost upside down, sprawled on the last few steps, Arthur saw the client's face above him, twisted into something a lot more than a 'minor inconvenience'. "I know who you are, point man," his attacker said. "I never intended for you to see my secrets, the secrets of Benjamin Darcy, but I fully intend to find yours. How do you get inside people's minds? If I can find out...if I can do it myself..." Darcy trailed off, kneeling beside Arthur and pressing a hand to his forehead in a crude mockery of affection. "Oh I'm aware you won't give them to me. Not straight away anyway." And the world turned to darkness.