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 :) Oh and I don't know what happened here, it changed course on how I was orginially going to do it. Never mind. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Everyone that had ever met Eames, asked him about his dubious sexuality. Now, to say he was straight would be a lie, because Daniel Eames has drawn straighter lines while forging paintings. He was comfortable with who he was, and he knew that women found him attractive as well as men. Any man who at some point spent time in an all boy's institution will know about this. He was standing outside bar on one of the many beaches in Los Angeles and looking out to the sea when someone stood next to him.

'You know, I'd recognise paisley anywhere' and Eames looked to his left.

'Flipping heck it's Charlie' he muttered, when he laid eyes on the man next to him who was grinning.

'It most definitely is. Hello Danny boy' and they shook hands, Charlie hugging Eames briefly. 'Have you missed me? I bet you haven't' and Eames stood staring at the man, rather taken a back. Charlie was a little taller than himself, with light brown hair that was beginning to curl at his ears. His bright green brown eyes hadn't lost their spark yet. He knew Charlie from school; they were the ones who sat at the back of class but always passed two grades above everyone else. He was built more like a tennis player than Eames' rugby player physique but he was gorgeous all the same.

'Of course I missed you. You left me for some Spanish girl off the beach of Barcelona' Eames mocked, mastering the terrible Spanish accent.

'Yes, it wasn't destined to be…' he sighed, his posh English public school accent sounding light and distant. Eames rolled his eyes.

'God, you sound like Dom' Eames groaned, sipping his two fingers of pearl whiskey. He had managed to sneak off, and drop off the grid for a while. They did a job that involved a good dose of malicious tricks, and a few hand grenades but the three pulled it off. Mal was rather good at shooting a gun, and she put a flesh wound in Eames leg (who was under the forgery of their mark's brother), and he growled at her aim but also her jumpy improvisation.

'Dom, as in Dominic Cobb?' Charlie asked, flicking a lock of hair out of his eyes.

'Yes. He's in love with a French girl' and Charlie sucked in breath, making a tutting sound.

'He's in deep water then. How is he, did he finish his degree?'

Charlie and Cobb met when Cobb came to visit him after he finished his term, and Charlie and Eames were still studying. Surprisingly the pair got one really well, even though Charlie had made a move on him Cobb turned him down.

'Yes he did, he's an Architect with a first now'

'Is he as pretty as he used to be?' and Eames wanted to throw him over the railing, but instead he replied.

'No. He's handsome. It suits him better' Eames leant on the railings, and looked out on the beach.

'Really? What about this French girl?'

'Mallory's beautiful, but like all beautiful women she's sneaky' Eames downed his drink and winked at Charlie.

Eames turned up at the Cobb residence a month later, Charlie had booked another flight but assured him in the most romantically cheesy way, that he would come back to him this time. He was laughing through gate control with a pair of aviator sunshades on.

Eames texted him: I hate you,get fucked.

The reply was: I will;-) Hehe. See you soon, oh and say hi to Cobb for me x

Eames had scowled at the text, but then grabbed a frappe and headed to Cobb's place. It seemed that in the month he was gone, more had happened than seemed remotely possible. Mal had begun to take over Cobb's apartment, and there was some girl at the school Cobb was assisting at, who had developed a crush on him - supposedly called Chelsea?

Eames stood in the kitchen with Mal fluttering around him and Cobb sitting on the counter, legs swinging.

'She's a sweet girl…' and Eames had to be in awe of her. He turned to look at his friend, hoping the man would see sense and shut her up. He smirked and Eames and coughed.

'Mal, honey, you think about this too much'

'No I don't. How old is she?' Mal asked and Eames pushed himself off the counter.

'Right, I'm off…'

'No' the two said in sync and Mal giggled, a sound rarely emitted from her person. She stepped between Cobb's legs and put her hands on his knees. She smiled up at him and lightly kissed him on the lips.

'Oh Charlie says hi by the way' Eames said, and Cobb's attention switched.

'You've seen Charlie?'

'Yep, he spotted me, a couple of weeks ago'

'Ah, so that's why we couldn't contact you' Mal smile dirtily.

'He's a friend of mine, and of your boyfriend' Eames replied and Mal looked back to Cobb.

'You never mentioned him'

'Well, I have only met him about four times'

'True that, he still has your aviator sunglasses' Eames remembered Charlie taking them off Cobb's eyes and remarking that they would look better on him.

Mal hummed and her eyes widened, showing she had realised something. Eames chuckled at the sight.

Eames took jobs with Cobb, and it felt extremely weird when Mal met them at the stations or airports and insisted that he come with them. Mal was aware of every move and touch she made in reality as well as dreamscape. At least Eames thought she was. Sitting in the back of a taxi with one of her hands holding Cobb's, and the other fiddling with Eames' cuffs. It was beginning to drive him crazy.

The blonde – named Olivia – a girl he had known in Venice on holiday, was the distraction he was using on a job. He was confidant with the role, and knew how he was going to use her. He spotted Mal coming down the steps of the cascading staircase, and into the spread dance hall. She looked stunning and innocent at the same time, her hair was pinned back and so a lock of hair swept as her fringe. Eames skirted past people to get to her.

'A cute little thing like you shouldn't be on her own,' he said, mimicking Olivia's voice and Mal whirled around, looking at him. Her features softened and she played along.

'Oh I don't know. Who would take advantage of me?' she smiled.

'What do you think?' Eames asked, and he was aware that in this role he was the same size if not shorter than her.

'You look gorgeous darling' and Mal laughed 'Go and find Dom for me' and Eames knotted his eyebrows in confusion.

'I thought he was going to be with you?' he asked, and she shook her head.

'No. He's around here somewhere. Bring him back, and stay in character' he did as he was told, still utterly confused. He shifted past all the dancers and began the search for Cobb.

It took him quite a bit of time, but he eventually found him sitting in the lobby patiently waiting. He was dressed in a dark navy suit with stark white cuffs peeking out from the jacket. Cuffs.He felt Mal's fingers on his own wrist, it made him shudder. Cobb looked very sleek and was tapping a hand on the arm of the chair. Eames still was none the wiser at what was about to happen, but he kept up the act and walked over to the reception desk at the foyer. Eames smiled at the receptionist and asked for room 203 and whether it was vacated or not. The receptionist busied herself with his request and Eames looked around, looking as bored as he could. He caught Cobb's eye and he smiled small at him (her?). He smiled back.

Did Cobb know about the forgery, or was this some strange test?

The last time they had talked about it, they were going to run through the extraction step by step. Cobb acting in place of the mark, but he was meant to be with Mal when they entered the dream. He had the feeling he had been left out of the loop again. Well, he just had to get on with it didn't he?

'I'm sorry miss; we don't seem to have your card registered' the receptionist said smoothly. Mal's projections were certainly good at this.

'Can you check again?' she asked politely, frowning at the woman's head as it bowed to the computer screen.

'Hello sir, how can I help?' another hotel steward asked Cobb as he appeared next to Eames.

'Yes, can I pay for dinner please?' Cobb asked, and Eames could swear that the dream was so realistic it almost made him drop his role. The hotel steward fixed his payment and handed the card back to him. 'Everything okay?' he heard Cobb's voice asked and Eames looked at him. He had an inquisitive expression on his face.

'Yeah, my card is just playing up' Eames muttered.

'Sorry miss' and Eames groaned.

'Oh great, 'll have to –'

'How much do you need?' Cobb asked and Eames tucked the long honey blonde hair behind Olivia's ear.

'It's four hundred and sixty' he said cautiously, and Cobb slid his card to the receptionist. 'You really shouldn't do that' Eames replied silkily, and Cobb smirked. There was a flash in his eyes.

The receptionist took the card and paid for the room and placed the card on the table. Cobb took the card, and Eames saw a band of gold.

'I don't think your wife would like you paying rooms for girls' he commented, and he watched as Cobb's eyes glanced at the band. Eames pieced together that the bad of gold was to signify Mal. Hmm.

'What she doesn't know won't hurt her' and the line rang chimes in Eames' head. This was the line they were meant to give the mark to make him confess.

'See that's what gets you men in trouble' he replied and then smiled sweetly 'Thank you, for paying for my room' and Cobb grinned.

'No problem. Are you a guest at the party?' he motioned towards the sign that pointed to the double doors where the hall was.

'Yes I am. Why, are you gate-crashing?' Eames asked, finding it easy to keep Olivia's smoothness with men to a T. Eames linked her arm through Cobb's, and walked back into the hall.

'Oh I got an invitation' Cobb said. Eames still didn't trust this whole game. That's what it was, a game, and one he was not told which side to play. The hall was still buzzing with guests, and the drinks were flowing. Eames spotted Mal and kept on with the charade, slipping his hand – which were small and had long slender fingers – into Cobb's.

'Dance with me' he didn't phrase it as a question, knowing that there were few men which could resist Olivia.

'Ah no, I can't' he resisted, and Eames smirked.

'Can't dance, or won't dance because you know what people would think?' he asked swaying their hands together, and something crossed Cobb's features. His eyes looked at Olivia's form. He was doing well at this Eames had to admit. 'Just one dance, it won't kill you?' Eames pressed closer to the extractor whose breath tasted of lemons.

'Olivia, what are you doing?' and Eames was startled to hear Mal's voice. He turned and was faced with Mal. He didn't like being this height as it made him feel like the weakest link. Mal was taller than him, and she cupped his chin – now free of stubble – and shapelier. His mind went back to when her hand touched his cheek. What the hell had he got himself into?

'She's just right, isn't she Dom?' Mal asked, and Eames had forgotten that the only man in this trio was standing behind him. He must have nodded, or something as a smirk slid over Mal's features.

Mal then kissed Eames on the lips. As if the situation could not get any more mind boggling? Mal was kissing Eames when Eames was in the forge of a woman. Things began to slot into place in his mind, and he opened his mouth, attempting to pull away, when he heard the ominous click.

That was the click of a lady's glock 45, when the safety was removed. The cold metal business end of the gun was aimed under his jaw. This was going to be messy. Eames couldn't do anything before the shot rang in his ears, and he was transported out of the dream.