III

"You're falling out of character again, Eames."

The forger growled in frustration as he tried to keep all the details in check about the individual he was supposed to be impersonating. This was their tenth session. While he was getting better at impressions and forging identities, he still needed to work on building his stamina to keep the forgery in place for extended periods of time. This was proving difficult for Eames since it was quite different from forging inanimate objects. He was grateful for Arthur, who turned out to be a lot more patient than he expected.

"How much time do we have left until this blasted job again?" Eames asked.

Arthur chuckled. "About another couple of weeks. Don't worry, Dom figured that we would need a bit of time, so that's why we sought you out months ago. This hasn't exactly been done before."

"Heh, and I can see why," said Eames. "Because this is bloody impossible, is what it is! Why he thinks I am right for this job is beyond me."

"Because you're the best," Arthur said quietly.

The forger raised an eyebrow and observed a slight rosy tint rising in the point man's cheeks.

"Sorry, darling, I'm afraid I didn't quite catch that," said Eames.

Arthur cleared his throat.

"I mean Dom made sure, you know...that we had the best forger in the business," Arthur said at a more acceptable volume. "He scoured every casino, chased every rumor, and finally he one day came across you and came to the conclusion that you were it."

"Mmhm, I remember that day well," said Eames. "Now had I seen the future and known what exactly I was getting myself into, I'm not sure I would have jumped on board so hastily."

"Do you regret it?" Arthur asked, perhaps a little too quickly.

The forger's brows furrowed together slightly for a moment, the corner of his lips curling into a small smile of bemusement.

"I...ah, no. Not all of it," Eames said finally, shaking his head.

Arthur let out a subtle breath of what sounded like mild relief, one that Eames did not fail to miss. Eames chuckled.

"You know, Arthur, you don't always have to be such a stick in the mud," said Eames. "Loosen up a little; it would do you some good."

The point man frowned. "I'm not that uptight, Eames, you're exaggerating."

"Oh really," Eames said with a smirk, eyes glinting mischief. "I beg to differ—oh look! What's that?"

"What?" Arthur was momentarily distracted away from facing Eames, looking instead in the direction where the forger was pointing, only to have blood rush to his cheeks upon realizing that he had so easily fallen for the other man's childish prank. "Really Eames, that was quite juvenile—hey!"

Arthur's expression changed from one of surprise to one of fury. "I do not look like that!"

"Oh come now, Arthur," Eames said with a perfect impersonation of the point man's voice. "I didn't even change your face! Just your hairstyle and state of dress."

"Well I don't dress that way," Arthur said, clearly miffed at seeing himself with disheveled hair and in a short-sleeved shirt and jeans. "Or perhaps that's the best you can do, seeing as how you're having so much trouble with impersonating the person for our client."

"That isn't fair," Eames said, shifting into a more accurate interpretation of Arthur. "Actually, it seems it is easier to stay in character once I've studied the subject for a considerable amount of time."

Arthur cocked an eyebrow. "You've been studying me?"

"Not intentionally, of course," said Eames. "Don't fret, darling. It's only natural really, since I've been exposed to you the most all this time. After all, we work together often."

"Hm, I suppose...though now that I'm taking a closer look, it really does seem that you have every detail in place. Even the voice sounds like mine," said Arthur. "As I've said before, Dom wouldn't have chosen you if he didn't think you were the best in the business, and it looks as if you've proven yourself. Eames, I'm impressed."

"I'll take that as a compliment, even if the tone sounded a little backhanded," Eames said with a smile. "Receiving a praise from you is like pulling teeth, love."

"Forgive me for not seeing the point in meaningless praise," said Arthur. "This gives me an idea though; perhaps it would help if we could find a way to get you in a position to shadow the target, or even if we could find some kind of footage for you to observe."

"You're absolutely hopeless, darling," Eames said, shaking his head.

Arthur looked confused. "I'm not sure I understand what you mean."

"Of course not," Eames said with a small sigh. "You're brilliant, Arthur, but absolutely oblivious when it comes to certain things. You completely lack imagination."

"I have plenty of imagination," Arthur protested.

"Oh really," said Eames. "I quite disagree, seeing as how you and Cobb decided to seek out a forger to help with the manipulative work."

"That may be, but you also need imagination to draw out the framework for each extraction," said Arthur.

They were bantering childishly, hurling immature insults at each other, but it was clear that they enjoyed it. Over the course of their work together, they had progressively become more comfortable with one another, even if their personalities weren't entirely compatible. It usually happened towards the end of their sessions, and secretly, neither minded that it was becoming something of a routine.

"Maybe so, but perhaps it has more to do with your intelligence," said Eames. "Which you have no problem reminding me daily that I lack of it. No matter though really, since it's the truth."

"What?" Arthur said with a slight frown; occasionally the debate would take a turn where he wasn't entirely sure how to react.

Eames slipped out of character and became himself again. He approached the point man and gently gripped Arthur's shoulders, shaking him once.

"I said it once and I'll say it again," said Eames. "You're bloody brilliant, Arthur, no one in this world compares."

"You're of a different caliber yourself, Eames," Arthur replied, a small flush forming across his face once again; Eames had a knack for bringing it out of him.

Eames chuckled, but his expression was serious. "I mean it, Arthur. You may lack imagination and may be a devout saint and stickler when it comes to protocols, but at the end of the day that's what makes you a solid point man. I don't think you'd be nearly as good otherwise."

Arthur chuckled and slowly pried the forger off of his body.

"I'm flattered to know that you hold me with such high regard," said Arthur. "However, that doesn't change the fact that we are now out of time. I'll go see if I can at least find some footage of our target for you so that you can better prepare yourself."

Eames sighed.

"All right. I suppose you won't be sticking around as per usual, correct?" he asked.

Arthur nodded. "I should be on my way out as soon as you start waking."

"Tell me, darling, why do you do that?" asked Eames. "I've been curious about it for quite some time now. At first I thought it was because we were not well acquainted at the time, but that was in the beginning. Surely you don't still have any reservations about me, I hope?"

"No, on the contrary," Arthur said with a soft expression in his eyes. "I just don't have the time to chat. The work of a point man is never quite finished, I'm afraid, especially when there is an ongoing job running."

"Hm, I suppose," said Eames. "Just don't wear yourself out, darling."

Arthur smiled as if to say I'll try not to, and then disappeared a few seconds later. Eames woke just in time to see a glimpse of Arthur's backside as the point man slipped out of the room. Eames slid his hand into his pocket and took out a poker chip, flipping it in the air and catching it like a coin. He smiled lazily at the ceiling and let out a light chuckle as he spoke to no one in particular.

"Well he was off in quite a hurry today, wasn't he? Didn't even wait for me to say a word." Eames said softly to himself. "Until next time then, love."