Hey all! Sorry for such the long wait for the update. I was planning to write this this last weekend but I went to Tulsa and didn't have my laptop, so it took me a bit to actually get down to it. But I finally got some motivation and here it.

I apologize in advance because this one is sort of more filler. I feel like a got a bit off base here, but the next chapter will go back to the Beauty and the Beast storyline.

And another fun note. I actually watched Beauty and the Beast while I wrote some of this. Go me!

Anyways, I hope you all enjoy this. I do not own anything except for the mistakes. They are mine.

And there is a hint of Eames/Gabriella in this chapter, so a forewarning.

Chapter 5: Conflict

Arthur stormed back into his room, slamming the door shut so hard he was sure that he made the walls shake. He let out a small sigh. He needed to calm down but he couldn't help it. He was so angry right now he could almost kill someone.

Of all the people Arthur could have had a thing for, why did it have to be Eames? It could have been anyone at the company. Seriously, there are a ton of people there that Arthur didn't know. Why did it have to be the one person he hated with a fiery passion?

Because life hated him, that's why.

Arthur almost had a heart attack when he had opened the door and saw that it was the man. The man. He was in Arthur's house. Arthur had dreamt of this moment for so long and of course, Arthur looked like a monster when his dreams had actually become reality.

But, since Arthur was a quick thinker, he thought about what Dom and Ariadne had told him. He attempted to be nice and to make a good impression, regardless of his looks. He let his guard down and let himself be vulnerable.

He pulled on all the charm he could muster and let himself relax and just be himself for once. To let him be the Arthur he hadn't been in months. He couldn't really read the man's reactions very well so that made him a bit nervous. But Eames wasn't doing anything that said he wasn't interested. Arthur took that as a good sign.

And the man's smile. Oh it was so much more perfect up close. Arthur felt like he could lose himself in that smile.

So, since life hates him, when Arthur thought he could actually be getting somewhere with the man, he found out that he was Eames. Everything then proceeded to get shot straight to hell.

Arthur was embarrassed. And when he got embarrassed he got defensive. He kicked Eames out. He wanted to prove that he was still in control and that he was strong. Even though he was embarrassed he could not have Eames know.

But Eames still managed to outdo him. Eames had smirked at him before he left. Smirked! Like nothing had happened. That Arthur had not just thrown him out. The nerve of him! It reminded Arthur on why he really hated Eames so much. Arrogance like that was just disgusting.

Arthur was thrown out of his thoughts by a light knock on the door.

"Come in." Arthur said as the door opened and Dom walked in. Not a surprise. Arthur knew it would only be a matter of time. Arthur had sort of made a scene out there. Dom was probably here to lecture him about trying to control his temper and all that. Arthur had heard that lecture a million times. He did not want to hear it again.

Arthur started pacing back and forth in front of his broken mirror, trying to calm himself down. Dom just walked in quietly and sat down. There were a few moments of silence before Dom spoke up.

"So?" Dom asked, glancing around the room.

"I don't want to talk about it." Arthur replied curtly.

"Don't give me that lame excuse. You lasted ten minutes with the man that you hate most in the world. That is nine minutes longer than I expected from you." Arthur sighed and fell down onto his bed.

"Eames is the guy." Arthur looked over when he didn't get a response and saw Dom giving him a confused look.

"I'm sorry, what guy now?"

"The guy! Jesus Dom, the man I have been obsessed with for months now."

"Oh, that guy." Arthur sat up.

"Yeah, Eames is that guy."

"So, what exactly is the problem then?" Arthur rolled his eyes. Leave it to Dom to be as clueless as ever.

"The problem is that I pretty much threw myself at him! The man I hate. That is completely unacceptable Dom."

"Why exactly is it unacceptable?" Arthur turned and glared at Dom. "I mean, hear me out, okay? To me, Eames seemed like a normal human being. He was nice and courteous. Phillipa liked him and that is saying something. I mean, he came over to give you medicine. He didn't have to, Arthur. He knew exactly who you were and still came anyways."

"I don't care. Yusuf could have paid him for all I know."

"Arthur. Why don't you just give him a chance? He could be a really great man once you get to know him."

"I doubt it. I don't have to get to know him. I know men exactly like him. They act all nice but it is all part of the con." Dom let out a small sigh.

"Arthur, I know you, alright. I know for a fact that you don't want to die. You act like you don't care about anything but in reality you are scared shitless. Why won't you give him a chance? I mean, what harm can it do?"

"I don't take chances Dom, you know that. I only do things that I know are a sure bet. Things are much easier that way." Dom stood up and walked towards the door. Arthur knew he knew a lost cause when he saw one.

And that was what Arthur was, a lost cause. Everyone knew that.

"Maybe it is time for a change Arthur. Nothing is meant to be easy, especially life. You need to learn to take chances."

After dinner, Arthur snuck out of the house, not that he really needed to, he was alone in the house. Dom was out with the children for ice cream and a movie while Ariadne was still out with Robert.

But Arthur was still careful. He made sure he took one of his older cars that they wouldn't notice was gone if they came back before he did.

Arthur also made sure that he was well covered up so he wouldn't be recognized or noticed. He really doubted that anyone would recognize him, but still. It never hurt to be cautious.

Arthur had a beanie on to cover up his ears, a baggy hoodie to cover up his arms. He even had the hood up just as a precaution and to help with his face. He was also wearing sweatpants since they were the most comfortable at the moment and boots to cover up his feet. He really hoped that no one recognized him because he felt ridiculous.

As he drove into town, he made sure the windows were down so he could try and catch onto Eames' scent. He had no idea where Eames lived or where he was or what he was doing. It was a Friday night so the possibilities were endless.

Arthur had thought about what Dom had said. He wasn't going to apologize for kicking Eames out; he merely just wanted to see if Eames was what Arthur thought he was. He wanted to prove to Dom that Eames was not a good person. Arthur had to be right about this.

He came to a sudden stop when he caught whiff of Eames's scent. He quickly parked in the nearest parking spot and looked around. He saw that Eames' smell was coming from a bar.

Well, as if that was surprising. Arthur quickly got out of the car and made his way towards the bar. He knew he wasn't going to be here very long. If Eames was here he knew his accusations were going to be proven correct.

He was accosted by the loud music before he even entered the bar. The noise was bursting past the door. As Arthur walked in, he glanced around the bar. There were quite a few people here considering the time. There was also a thin layer of smoke throughout the room and Arthur knew he was going to be getting a headache soon. If the music didn't do it the smoke would. People were laughing and having a good time playing pool and watching some sports game on the television. How joyous.

He glanced over the bar again and his eyes landed on Eames. Eames was standing on the other side of the bar laughing loudly with a group of people. Arthur noticed that he knew some of these people. They all worked for Saito.

Arthur quietly ordered a drink and snuck over to a table near where Eames was standing. He wanted to make sure he wasn't going to draw attention to himself. He wanted to be able to listen in on their conversation but not be too obvious that he was eavesdropping. That was a good thing about his new hearing, he could hear from longer distances but he still needed to be close.

The group of people Eames was with seemed to be having a really good time. Arthur couldn't help but feel a little envious of them. Eames seemed to be well liked and was obviously very popular with his other coworkers. Arthur had never been like that. No one from work had ever invited him out for drinks after work.

In fact, no one at work ever really talked to Arthur except for work related things. No one really approached him to talk about life and ask how he is doing. It was just work all the time. Arthur used to like it that way, but seeing this, Arthur felt like he was missing something.

Arthur had always seen himself as a very approachable person. But maybe he was wrong. Maybe everyone at work hated him.

Arthur was thrown from his thoughts by the sound of a woman laughing. He knew that laugh. He let out a small sigh as he saw her face.

Gabriella.

Arthur had grown to despise her lately. She was after his job. Saito had told him this and she was always emailing him about the things he did and how to do certain things. It was quite annoying. Arthur knew she was going to take his job once he was gone, but still, he still had six months left. She needed to back the fuck off until he was actually dead.

He saw that she was laughing and smiling at Eames. Right, she was flirting with him the night of the party. Arthur remembered that. She must want to get with Eames. At the party it seemed that Eames wasn't interested, but tonight was a different story. Eames was flirting back.

Arthur shouldn't be bothered by this, but he was for some odd reason. For some unknown reason this bothered the shit out of him.

He took another drink and decided to listen in.

"So, what made you change your mind about coming out tonight?" Gabriella said with a smile as she leaned into him. She was really trying too hard. It was almost embarrassing.

"Well, the truth is that I had quite a shitty day today."

"Oh. What happened?"

"I had to go see Arthur today." Gabriella choked on her drink. Arthur almost laughed. Bet she was expecting that.

"Arthur? Why would you go see him?"

"Yusuf sent me. I had to give him medicine since Yusuf's misses is bedridden.

"Oh. And how was it?" She asked and Arthur could hear the anger in her voice. Arthur could only assume that she was jealous of something.

"He threw me out, literally."

"Well, Arthur is like that. Not a people person. It is amazing that he has any friends. I don't know how Dom and Ariadne stand him."

"He didn't seem that bad to me." Eames said quietly. Wait, Eames was defending him. What was going on?

"Arthur is a total bore. The only talk he gets from anyone at the office is from all the people he fucks. And that is usually just to complain about how he used them to get off then left them on the curb."

"Yeah but…."

"No one likes him Eames. Arthur has made sure of that. He thinks he is better than everyone else because he inherited that mansion and is attractive. He didn't have to work to get where he is. Saito hired him because he is a fucking Callahan. The whole office is glad that Arthur got cursed." Arthur straightened up a bit. "He was a horrible human being and deserves to be cursed."

"You are just saying that because you want his job." Eames added with a small laugh.

"Please, I already have his job." Arthur rolled his eyes and chugged the rest of his drink. Eames didn't say anything else. He didn't exactly defend Arthur, but he didn't throw him under the bus either. And somehow, that almost made it worse.

But Arthur could sense the fakeness in Eames' voice. He was just upset so he went out to drink. He didn't exactly want to be there, but he could hide it very well, but not from Arthur. Arthur could see through it because he too had mastered that art.

"Well, enough about Arthur. I came here to have fun." Eames finally said.

"Well, we could always go back to my place." Eames laughed. Arthur laughed as well. At least Arthur could listen to Eames reject her. That would make the night worth it.

"That sounds like an excellent idea." Arthur knocked over his glass, causing it to fall to the floor and shatter. What the hell? He glanced over and saw Eames paying the bartender before leading Gabriella out of the bar.

What had just happened?

He sat at his table for a few moments in shock before he collected himself and left the bar. He was upset that Eames had gone home with Gabriella. That was not supposed to happen. Eames was supposed to reject her. It was what Arthur had expected. It was a sure thing.

But then it should have been that way. That was how he saw Eames. Eames would go home with some sleazy girl because Eames was a sleazy man.

Well, at least Arthur could tell Dom that he was wrong. Eames was exactly the man that Arthur thought he was.

When Arthur walked back into the house, he was greeted by Ariadne sitting in the foyer, smiling at him.

"Where did you sneak off to?" Arthur sighed as he pulled off his beanie, scratching his ears while he kicked off his boots.

"No where important." Ariadne stood up and walked towards him.

"You smell like smoke. Were you in a bar?" Arthur just glared at her. He did not need her interrogating him right now. He was already in a bad mood. "Why did you go out? You never go out."

"Ariadne, I really do not want to talk about it."

"Does this have anything to do with Eames?" Arthur turned and looked at her. "Dom told me he was here and that he is the guy you have been crushing on."

"Ariadne, please, drop it."

"Did you go to find him?"

"Yes!" Arthur shouted. "I did. But not for the romantic reason you are coming up in your mind right now. I went to prove a point, a point that was proven right." He pushed passed her and started up the stairs.

"And what point is that?"

"That Eames is exactly who I thought he was."

"And you figured all that out by watching him for what? An hour?" Arthur was getting more upset over this. Why was she being so pushy? She was always a little but pushy but she usually backed off whenever she knew Arthur was getting upset.

"Yes. And the small fact that he went home with the woman who is set to take over my job once I die!" Arthur shouted. The kids were probably asleep but he didn't care right now. Ariadne took a step back.

"Gabriella?"

"Yes. It was disgusting and I hope I never see Mr. Eames again." Arthur said as he turned and went upstairs to lock himself in his room and to sleep away all the pain he felt.

The next morning, Arthur was still lying in bed at noon. Ariadne said he was moping but Arthur refused to call it that. He didn't know what to call it. He had these feelings he just didn't know what to label them as.

He didn't want to label them. He just wanted them to go away.

He looked over when he heard his door open. It was Ariadne.

"Yusuf is here to see you." Arthur sat up right as Yusuf walked in. He had the silver briefcase in hand. Ariadne gave Arthur one last look before leaving. She had tried to get Arthur to talk more about last night but couldn't get anything out of him.

"You are early." Yusuf just nodded as he walked over to the bed.

"Well, I wasn't planning on coming today."

"Well, why are you here?"

"I am here because I told Eames I would come and talk to you."

"Why? I don't ever want to see that man again."

"Arthur…."

"Eames is not a man that I think I can get along with."

"You barely know him. Why won't you give him a chance?" Arthur just looked at him. Yusuf let out a small sigh as he set everything up. Arthur was not going to argue with him on this. Eames was not worth it.

After Yusuf gave Arthur his medicine, Arthur could tell that Yusuf was still going to argue on Eames' behalf. Arthur could sense it. Yusuf looked determined.

"I am not going to say that Eames is perfect. I know he isn't. He had a rough life but I know he really did work hard to get to where he is. He loves his job and is a good man."

"And this matters to me because?"

"Arthur, my wife needs me right now. I cannot leave her. I really need Eames to do this for me. He is the only one I trust to do something important like this. Even though Eames didn't really want to this either, he still agreed to come here and give you your medicine."

"Yusuf…."

"I'm not asking you to like him, just to be civil with him long enough for him to give you your medicine once a day." Arthur didn't say anything. "I mean, I can leave the briefcase here and let you administer it yourself and then I can send refills, but I would recommend that it be from either Eames or myself."

"I couldn't do it myself, you know that."

"Surely you can endure Eames for 10 minutes once a day." Arthur was silent for a bit.

He really didn't know what to do. He was still attracted to Eames; he knew that much for sure. Finding out his name was wonderful and horrible at the same time. But personality mattered too. Eames was a jerk and a fake. Arthur wasn't sure he could handle that.

But he needed his medicine. And it seems like Eames was the only way that he would be able to get it. The medicine would be worth it to endure Eames for a few minutes each day.

"Alright." Arthur said.

"Good. If he does anything, just let me know. I can talk to him. I will tell him this is just business, not some social call." Arthur nodded.

"Alright. He can come by tomorrow if he is up to it." Yusuf nodded.

"Okay. I will talk to you soon Arthur, just to see how everything is going."

"Thank you Yusuf. And, I hope that your wife gets better." Yusuf looked up and smiled at him.

"Thank you Arthur. I really appreciate it." Arthur let out a small smile as Yusuf gathered up his things and left.

Arthur pulled himself out of bed and walked over to the broken mirror.

He had six months to live. He knew he wouldn't find true love, but he could try and be a better person. But not for Eames. He would be normal and distant to him. It would be a simple business transaction between them. That was it. Nothing more.

Hope you all enjoyed it! I will try and get the next chapter written and posted as soon as possible! I appreciate all your reviews. It really makes me happy that you all are enjoying the story as much as I am. =)