Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me, all readers and reviews very much appreciated, thank you!
The cellphone vibrated by the bed. Cursing, Eames extended a hand and reached for it.
"Yeah?"
"Eames, is that you?"
"Arthur?" Propping himself up on his elbow, the Forger reached past the overflowing ashtray and glass to switch on the bedside light. "What? Where-?"
"I need you. I need your help."
Eames squinted at the digital clock. 2.45am.
"Can't it wait?"
"No, it can't, please Eames." There was an edge to the Point Man's voice.
Eames sighed. "OK, you whining prick. Where are you?"
"My apartment."
Eames started getting out of bed, reaching for a shirt off the floor. "Be there in twenty."
Cobb had walked Ariadne back to her studio, and declined her invite for coffee. The combination of alcohol and caffeine had made him restless, and he decided to take advantage by heading to the warehouse.
Upon entering, he paused. Satisfied that no-one else was there – Yusuf was known to pull all-nighters – he headed upstairs, and made straight for Arthur's desk.
Arthur winced. His ribs were sore and tender. A pounding throb behind his left eye was beginning to blur his vision. He felt his jaw. It felt two sizes too big.
A loud knock on the door startled him.
"Yes?" He called out, surprised his voice didn't sound weaker.
"Its Eames, you pillock. Open up."
Arthur limped to the door, unbolted, and opened it. The look that crossed the Forger's face was one of shock.
Cobb sat in front of Arthur's laptop, heading straight for the files. He needed to find something – anything – that could give clues as to how Arthur had become entangled in this nightmare. Anything he could use as leverage in the inception.
Hundreds of documents flew across the screen – Arthur had meticulously saved research on cases dating back five years. A look of intensity settled on the Extractor's face as he began combing through the files. Letters, emails, possible journal entries – anything that could indicate where this had started.
Cobb got up and headed for the water cooler. It was going to be a long night.
"So what happened?" Eames' voice was gentle. He'd taken one look at the mottled bruising on the left side of Arthur's face, what looked like a boot imprint on his ribs, and decided that he could put his anger with the Point Man to one side.
Arthur choked slightly. "I – I-"
"Tell me." It was an order.
"Can I have some water please?"
The old polite Arthur had resurfaced. Eames acquiesced, and headed for the sink. Arthur swallowed, thinking through the events of the previous few hours.
Rubbing his face, Cobb was prepared to concede defeat. It was nearly 4am, and all he had found was endless work files. He thought, ruefully, that Arthur would never put anything private on a machine that could be shared.
He slumped in his seat. Cobb was beginning to accept that he was at a dead end.
Arthur distinctly remembered lying on the floor of the men's room. He'd lain there for a few minutes, before finally shifting his weight in order to get up. As he did, he realised that he was trapped. There was a possibility his assailant was standing outside the door, and even if he wasn't, he would still need to get past Saito.
There was only one solution.
A small window was above the urinals. Removing his suit jacket, Arthur put one foot on to a urinal. Grabbing the top, he slowly hauled himself up. Both feet went up. Reaching up, he hammered at the window with the palm of his left hand until it opened. As it creaked open, he used his left foot to push himself up onto the window ledge. Using both hands and elbows, he got his upper torso in position to pull himself through.
You're not too fat to fit through.
The window was on a swing hinge, and Arthur pushed it upward. Pulling his shoulders through, he looked down.
He allowed himself a small smile. The window was conveniently position above several large black bin bags, all of which were bulging.
Taking a deep breath, Arthur pushed his upper body through, and downwards.
Cobb checked his watch. 4am. Draining the last of his cup of water, he decided to call it a night.
He reached for the mouse, and started shutting down the files. As he did so, he noticed that the desk drawer was slightly open. Reasoning that he'd already betrayed Arthur's trust by breaking into his computer, Cobb pulled the drawer open.
Gasping, Arthur did a clumsy handstand onto the bags. Using his feet, he pushed himself off the wall, landing on his back. The sharp cold of the night made him cough.
"Very clever." A voice floated out of the darkness above him.
Before he could move, Arthur felt a steel toe cap slam into his ribs.
"Thats for trying to sting my girlfriend."
Hands reached for his shirt, and pulled him to his feet. A fist collided with his jaw.
"And thats for making such a fucking bad job of it."
Cobb rifled through the drawer. A notebook – he decided it was best not to open it. Various pens, a couple of USB sticks. And then an envelope. Addressed to Arthur. Pulling it out, Cobb opened it.
A photograph fell out.
His heart beginning to accelerate, Cobb looked at it.
Arthur felt his eye socket begin to throb. "More water, please," he croaked.
Eames silently handed him another glass.
"So, lets get this straight," the Forger was trying to process what he'd been told. "You go out for dinner with Saito, and get threatened in the Men's room, try and escape, only to get beaten up by the mark."
Arthur nodded. A fresh wave of pain crashed through his skull.
"Arthur, I hate to say this darling, but you're a fucking idiot."
Arthur reached for Eames' arm. "Please don't tell Cobb."
"Oh, so you want me to keep your dirty little secrets now? " The Forger leaned back, and deliberately opened his cigarettes. Arthur winced. "No chance, Darling."
"Eames." Arthur struggled to keep his tone even. "Eames, please-"
"No." Eames lit up, struggling to muffle his temper. "Do you have any idea how much Cobb has put himself on the line for you? He met with Saito yesterday, ready to berate him for using you. He couldn't believe it when he was told that you decided to go it alone. "
Arthur blinked.
"Yes, Artie, Darling. Despite your lovely little outburst against Cobb, he was still prepared to defend your honour and your virtue. Except, you don't seem to possess either. And what you do have doesn't seem to be worth saving."
"But – why-"
"Because you're his Point Man." Eames blew a lungful of smoke upwards. "You're the one he relies on, leans on, depends upon. He wouldn't blink if I did something as stupid as you did, and he'd be pretty annoyed if it was Yusuf, but you – no, you're beyond reproach. At least until now. How does it feel, Arthur, to learn that the man you think you hate still needs you so much?"
Arthur flinched. "Stop it Eames. I mean it."
"Oh, its not just Cobb." The Forger continued, his voice smooth. "Ariadne is very upset about you. She can't believe that the Point Man is bingeing and purging himself to death, becoming more of a stick by the day. She's cried on my shoulder, on Yusuf's, on Cobb's. She doesn't know why you're doing it, and she doesn't want to either. She just wants you to stop."
Arthur looked at him. Anger was beginning to spark in his eyes. "And you?"
"What about me?" The Forger shrugged. "I knew people who did what you did at school, Artie. Hide food, gorge themselves on food, puke it up. Never made them happy. Oh, here's a quick tip – if you're going to keep on throwing up, you might like to get a dental appointment. Your teeth will really show signs of it soon."
"Just stop it!" Arthur's face crumpled, and he was on the verge of tears. "You don't know anything about me Eames, just shut up!"
"Oh, I know enough." The Forger crushed his cigarette in his glass. "I know that you've lied to us, betrayed us, and put us all in danger. You've compromised a job, which means that if Saito chooses to exact revenge, Cobb could be facing a long prison sentence if he ever returns to the States. How does that make you feel, hmmm?"
"STOP IT!" Tears were pouring down Arthur's face. "Stop it, Eames, please!"
"I think I underestimated you." Eames stood up, his voice hard. "I always knew you were a pedantic, humourless, controlling bore. Now I know you're actually a corrupt, self-serving bastard. Or is that just the effect of bulimia? Did it spring from thinking we all expect you to be perfect?"
Arthur was sobbing, his tears almost blinding him. "Please...go..."
"Of course, darling." Straightening his jacket, the Forger turned to walk to the front door, leaving the Point Man sobbing in his chair.