Title: The Music Makers
Fandom: Inception
Pairing: Eames/Arthur
Categories: Canon compliant, Action/Adventure, Romance(ish; it's understated), Background Story
Length: Epic (53,716)
Warnings: Arthur/OFC mentions, Violence

Author on LJ: mami_san
Author Website: Website

Author's Summary:
A. Graham Cole was twenty-one years old when he was killed in action in Iraq. This is the official story. The truth is, of course, somewhat different.

Review:
So here's one of my favorite fics in fandom. The Music Makers is just brilliant. It's sharp and detailed and the evolution of Eames and Arthur's relationship is this understated thing that is both delicious and heart wrenching at the same time. It merrily ignores a lot of fanon as well. Instead, you have an Eames and an Arthur (not that they're called that at first) who meet while they're both in the military. You have them go through the dream share program, meet Dom, end out of the military, and somehow get to the point of Inception.

It's brilliant.

Arthur is still Arthur, except there's something a bit odd with the way he dreams that somehow doesn't change canon. It adds a bit of difference that makes this fic stand out even more from all the others, and weaves into the story so seamlessly that you really can believe this was happening all the while during Inception.

His and Eames's relationship is so... hm, how to describe it. It's sparse in the details, but more telling all because of it. It's two men trusting one to watch the other's back. You have Arthur struggling with his feelings for Eames, while Eames is watchful and patient, and ugh, so much love, okay.

It's really one of the best Inception fics I've ever read. The ending is as amazing, for all that you know how it has to end, and it fits and it's perfect. It's also steady--no huge highs or lows, just one consistent, beautiful piece.

Give it a shot. It really is that good.

The Music Makers