Title: Of Nighttime Forges
Author: ThePointGirl
Summary: Eames teaches Mal how to forge. Only things don't got excatly how he thought they would.
Disclaimer: Don't own Inception or any part of the franchise.
Notes: For FreekyDisaster18 :)
CHAPTER 1
'Dominic Cobb! HELLO? Oh for fucks-'
The door opened and instead of looking at a blond man who had a kink for arches and Shakespearean hallways, Eames was looking directly at what he would describe later to Arthur, as the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
Standing in the doorway, wearing a pair of dark blue jeans that hugged her hips, and a pale green shirt that made her look as if she belonged in the Caribbean, was a woman with dark curls that just touched her shoulders.
Eames realised that he hadn't said anything, and that he was just standing there like a stunned caddie.
'Hello, I don't know you and I don't know why' he offered her a smile.
'Mallory, you are?' she asked, looking at him and reading him.
So this was Mal. The woman that had reduced Dominic Cobb into a ramble of words at her incredible ability; and Eames to throwing things in his general direction. Of course, this was months ago. Eames had been on vacation, and when he received a message saying his services were wanted from Dom, he booked a flight and headed to Los Angeles.
'Eames, I'm a –'and he stopped, thinking 'friend of Dom' and she broke into a smile.
'Come in then' and he was ushered in, she brushed her hand over his arm as he walked past. The house hadn't changed one bit.
'So you're the forger?' she asked and he turned to look at her. She was sitting on the right end of the sofa, she looked curious about his reply.
He was about to open his mouth and say something, when the door which opened to the garden, slid open and Dom walked in, flashing a grin in his direction.
'So Dom has talked about me' he asked rocking on his heels.
'Now his ego has inflated by tenfold' Dom commented. Eames watched as Dom sat down next to Mallory.
'I heard from a reliablesource' to which point Dom began to chuckle 'that you're one of the best forgers'
Eames smirked at Dom, and then returned his gaze to Mallory.
'Mal wants to learn how to forge' Dom said, not then taking his eyes off the woman. Mallory or Mal touched her fingers over his lips, smiling a little.
'And I want you to teach me' she said simply, her voice mellifluous and terribly enchanting. She spoke of forgery, as if it were like teaching two plus two to a child.
'Is there any part of this, where I can ask why? Is a specific job?' he asked fiddling with the edge of the table.
'There is, but it's not complicated enough for a forger. Otherwise we would have hired you' she said and Eames nodded, more to himself than the two other people.
'I see. Do I get paid?' he asked, smirking.
'No' Dom said and they looked at each other. Each was challenging the other to change his view.
'Well – I have heard through a reliablesource, that you are quite the extractor and architect yourself'
'This wouldn't be the same source as mine would it?' she asked and Eames feigned innocence with a shrug that was over dramatised.
'So, when do we start?' Eames asked, looking between the two. A little voice in the back of his mind did tell him to back out now while everything was cordial and simple, but being Daniel Eames that could never happen.
Eames sat, nursing cup of tea, and feeling ill. Ill – not in the I-have-a-cold-and-can't-pronounce-my-consonantsill, but the slightly ill feelings you get when you believe you are being played. It toys in your stomach, not knowing what exactly what was happening. Now Eames was the type of person who could figure these out things quickly. For instance, he knew after being under with Nash for minutes that he couldn't trust the man. He saved Cobb's arse from a seemingly a moral architect named Nathan. Don't trust anyone whose name begins with 'n' it is surely a bad sign.
Regardless, Eames had been showing Mallory the ropes of forgery, and she was getting the hang of it. Thought she kept turning the tables on him, asking him questions. She was - Eames had to admit - a woman he would happily sit down and tell his life story too.
That was the issue. She had got under his skin. It was a great skill to have in dream share, and Eames was in awe of her manipulation and confidence.
Cobb came under with them to see how well everything was going. She had learnt how to forge Eames first, and he consequently found himself sitting opposite a doppelganger. The accuracy was quite extraordinary, from how he sat to his stubble and the lilt he had on some words. Cobb looked at the pair, and Eames could see the process shifting in his mind. Cobb put his arms around the Eames he thought was a forgery, and the sight was quite surreal. He was right, of course, and Eames melted back to Mal who held onto his shirt sleeves, laying her head on his chest.
A few weeks later...
Forging Cobb was quite difficult in some respects, but he had practised and used bathroom mirrors in dreams on his own to see the transformation. He knew how Cobb sat, spoke and even – god forbid – drinks. The accent was evolving, and Eames knew from experience that in forgery, the voice is the last thing to click. He even began to show Mal the younger boy she never knew. She laughed and blushed as he recreated a teenage Dominic Cobb.
Next she tried forging the man Eames had known for years, the half which made her a whole. The process was – and there was not another way to describe it – amusing. No matter how hard the woman tried, Mal couldn't get it just right. Cobb always ended up with an echo of Mal in him – something slightly strange. Because she wasn't perfecting it the way she wanted, Mal – still in the forgery of Cobb – picked up the vase in the Greek styled emporium, and threw it against the pillar. A smirk, a rather dangerous one, slid on Mal's lips as the pillar collapsed but the building remained.
'Well you certainly have Dom's temper down' Mal swivelled, back to herself in a white cotton dress and sandals. Eames saw her dress flutter when she huffed out a sigh. Mal walked over to stand beside him, briefly looking at the few projections at the pool, who were splashing water, their light voices pattering around the walls.
'How do you do it?'
'I focus, really hard. Mal-' she had insist it was better than Mallory, a name even her father never called her. Forever Mal Miles.
'It's a skill. Your architecture and visions for the world are beyond incredible, I could never try to size up to what you and Dom do, and are' he glanced at his watch. The time was running down. He looked at her, looking at deep brown orbs and saw a scowl.
'Eames' she admonished 'do not say that. You're part of us' words he still doesn't understand. She leant in and kissed him on the cheek, the tips of her fingers on his chin.
It wasn't until Mal convinced him to come under with her that Eames became aware of what was going on around him. She asked him to forge Cobb for her. He watched as her eyes widen, and glint. But the dreamscape suddenly started to rock. Eames was consequently woken up by a smack to the back of the head.
'What in the name of King George the fifth was that?' he asked, rubbing the back of his head. Mal was up on her feet, shouting at the chemist who cowered by the sofa. She coughed and Eames went over to her. She was paler than usual, and was shivering. The language that slipped from the extractor's mouth was coarse, and made Eames raise his eyebrows. The little chemist bolted when Mal advanced on him. He doubted that Mal would actually hurt the kid, just scare the daylights out of him. There was the sound of the door being opened, keys twisting in the lock.
'Dom, we're in the living room' Eames said, and there was a frown on his face when he appeared.
'I thought you were having a trial run, for the Milton job?' he asked Mal who sighed.
'We were, but that stupid man made a mistake with the sedative' she grumbled, and Cobb's eyes hardened. 'It's fine Dom, I'm just feeling a little strange. Nothing to worry about. Eames, are you okay?' and both adults turned to look at him. He was fine. Yes he got hit on the back of the head, and was aware he was subconsciously rubbing his head from time to time, but it was nothing drastic.
'Perfectly fine. Are you sure you're okay Mal?' Eames asked and Dom nodded in agreement, his eyes worrying over his lover and moving closer to place a kiss on her shoulder.
'Yes, yes I'm okay. Dom sweetheart, can you make Eames, I and yourself some coffee?' she said, falling onto the plush two-seater armchair and curling into the cushions like a cat. 'Eames how was the Dubai job?' she asked, looking up at him.
'Fine. Dom gave us the plans and it all went smoothly. Bloody boring really'
'Did he give you the ones with the cathedral?' she asked with a smile. Eames nodded with a questioning look. 'The one with the sloping hallway?' she asked, her smile growing when he nodded. He was still confused. 'Dom, the cathedral designs were fine'
'Really? Oh good' his voice drifted through the walls.
'You see, they were my designs. I felt left out' she pouted and Eames smirked.
'Don't worry darling, we'll keep you in the loop'
'You better' now how did she go and make that sound like a threat? He sat down on the sofa, crossing his feet at the ankles.
Cobb padded into the living room and handed Eames his coffee, giving Mal hers and sitting down next to her.
'Are you taking that job in Dallas?' Mal made an indignant noise in her throat.
'No he isn't' and Eames frowned. 'It's my birthday, and you're not leaving' she touched his arm.
'Now I know why you're a good extractor' Eames commented, flashing a grin at Cobb who grinned back. Mal nodded, her curls shaking at her shoulders. 'It appears I'm not leaving' Eames dug in his jeans for his phone, and he text the extractor to tell him he was pulling out.
Two weeks later...
'She really enjoys your company' Cobb said, a beer in his hand.
'Glad she does. Nothing like an annoying teacher is there?'
'Fuck off' Cobb said, but there wasn't any bite in it. They stood at the party with a selection of handpicked guests, including a few women Mal had known at school. Mal stood, as elegant as ever, in a black cocktail dress that touched her knees, and criminally tall heels. It was her birthday and she was soaking up the attention modestly.
'How did you manage it? How did youget a woman like that?' Eames asked, looking at Cobb with curiosity.
'Thanks' he replied drily.
'I'm being serious. The floppy haired git got the princess. It's Disney – backwards' Eames humoured lightly, shaking his head.
'I don't know. She clearly sees something in me. And she does not have a sister before you ask'
'Damn it'
'Here she comes' Cobb muttered as Mal swayed over, took Cobb's hand and voluntarily pulled him across the floor. Eames laughed at the sight, but apparently he wasn't getting away with ordering another Sambuca at the bar. Nope. She ushered him over, and introduced him the people.
It was interesting, and rather fun. But he wondered when 'Dom: my boyfriend and Eames: a friend of mine' became 'my boys'.
