It's freezing cold, their breaths are coming out in steam, clearly visible in the darkness of winter's evening.
Ariadne shivers and nestles her head against Arthur's arm. He doesn't have any problems in reading her, as always, and embraces her with his arm, putting her closer. Ariadne sighs in contentment; they know each other for two years right now and are a couple for almost a year, but Arthur's touch seems to have a constant effect on her, even through all the layers of clothes they're wearing.
She sneezes and feels Arthur trembles with laugh.
"First you ordered me to walk in this weather and now, when I'm most likely terribly ill, you're laughing?", she asks with chuckles. "You're mean!"
All of sudden Arthur stops. "I'm offended.", he announces with serious expression on his face and mischievous twinkles in dark eyes. "It seems I need to do something to change your mind. Fancy a hot chocolate?"
"Only with whipped-cream.", Ariadne answers, trying to hide a grin.
"Whatever you wish, my lady.", Arthur responses immediately and gestures toward small and supposedly cozy café, which is in front of them. Ariadne doesn't hesitate even for second; she enters it hurriedly, blessing warmth welcomes her as soon as she opens the door.
"Your hair are much longer than when we met first time.", Arthur says unexpectedly, when they're sitting, waiting for their drinks.
Ariadne narrows her eyes, the most female part of her brain alerted. "You don't like it?", she inquires, unconsciously twisting strand of hairs on her finger.
Arthur chuckles and Ariadne once again hits the realization how lucky she is: for more than a year Arthur always lets all his guards down in front of her. It's a rare gift and shows his feeling better than thousands of words.
"Your hair was the first thing that caught my eyes when we first met. I think that partially it's the reason I fall in love with you.", Arthur's voice is soft and quiet, maybe even a little shy.
Ariadne frowns at his confession, even though she's pleased with this compliment. "Wait, I woke up after my first Dream-sharing, asking some stupid question and you were admiring my hair?", she asks with disbelief, slightly confused.
It's Arthur turn to be confused. "But we saw each other before you came under with Cobb."
Ariadne freezes. She doesn't remember anything like that. It's only until now she realizes Arthur's right: they had to see each other before she felt asleep, she just simply never thought about it and Dream-sharing eradicated the memory of that meeting.
She takes the sip of her hot chocolate, her thoughts swirling in her mind.
"It's unfair.", she states finally. "I have no idea what was my first impression of you and I wasn't aware of that until now."
Arthur looks at her amazed. "Why is that so important?"
"Because I always wanted to check the theory of first sight love.", Ariadne answers with mischievous smile. "And now it turns out that all my conclusion can be wrong."
Arthur leans closer to her, so she can smell his cologne, she buy him herself. It seems that not only his touch has this special effect on her, but also his smell. Ariadne shakes her head to clear her mind in perfect moment to hear his question.
"Could you share those conclusions with me?"
Ariadne chuckles. "They were pretty simple: there's something like love at first sight, you just need to find the right guy."
Arthur smirks, but Ariadne can see happiness shining in his eyes.
"I'm sure that it's good you don't remember our very first meeting in that case.", he announces. "It'd most probably ruin everything."
"You couldn't make such bad impression on me, really!", Ariadne protest fervently.
"I could.", Arthur says shortly. "But I was impressed by you from the very beginning. Even though it takes a lot of time to admit that."
He closes his eyes for a moment and Ariadne's sure he can see everything in front of his eyes.
"Tell me.", she demands. "I want to remember everything from the very beginning."
Arthur sighs and takes a sip of his espresso, before he starts talking.
Arthur wasn't really pleased by the fact Cobb decided to hire someone completely new. To be honest, he was furious, the idea of working with greenhorn during the job on this level of difficulty. The awareness that she's not more than just a student, what is more: a woman, didn't help either.
He turned to enter, when he heard the sound of footsteps. Cobb went first with a winning smile on his lips; a rare picture for a long time now. And behind him…
Behind him was a girl.
A petite and beautiful girl, with waving hair and huge eyes, filled with curiosity and intelligence.
Arthur forced down the moan, which tried to escape his throat.
He could expect anybody and everybody but no this.
Not a woman, who fits so perfectly in his taste.
Not a woman he was so damned sure doesn't exist!
"Ariadne.", Cobb said. "This is Arthur, my Point Man."
Arthur nods slightly his head, feeling her scrutinizing eyes on himself. She waved a hand in an answer and he could see a flashes of amusement in her eyes.
Like she found him somehow ridiculous!
He fix the knot of his tie, making her smile mischievously.
Cobb once again broke the silence and Arthur was grateful for that; for the first time since long time he felt awkward.
"Is the Pasiv ready to use?", Cobb asked, clearly blind to Arthur's uneasiness.
"Pasiv?", Ariadne repeated after him, her eyes widening slightly at this new and mysterious name.
"Portable Automated Somnacin IntraVenous device.", Arthur said with shrugs, trying to sound unbothered.
"It's easier to show than to explain.", Cobb smiled. "Please, take a seat."
Ariadne obeyed, Cobb took a seat beside her. Arthur gave him the needle and then gently touched Ariadne's fragile wrist.
"Would you?", he asked, gesturing at the needle in his hand. She shook her head so Arthur as delicate as he could put the needle into her wrist.
"Sweet dreams.", he said before pressing the button at the Pasiv.
Ariadne laughs, almost causing her cup with hot chocolate to collapse with a rapid gesture of her hand.
"I was always sure that nobody sees my dislikes.", she admits honestly and then her smiles disappears. She reaches for his hand and squeezes it strongly. "I can't say for sure, by judging by your words I acted as a complete jerk… Which isn't impossible, considering how much I disliked men, who want to prove something by their clothes."
Arthur stares at her with disbelief. "Are you trying to say that you thought my suit is compensating something?"
Ariadne smiles broadly. "Most probably: yes. But my second first impression was much more better.", she adds quickly and complains: "And I still can't remember anything from the situation you told me."
Arthur leans to her and gives her a chaste kiss.
"Let's go,", he whispers into her ear. "I can't help you remembering in a more private place."
Ariadne feels a shiver of expectation coming down her spine. She stands up without a single word.
Outside welcomes them with freezing cold and huge flakes of snow.
They start walking, their fingers entwined, when suddenly Ariadne hears a screech of tyres and feels that Arthur pushes her away violently.
She collapses on the pavement, yelling shortly when her wrist explodes with a sharp pain. She hears people screaming something, but for a moment everything is vague and distant, barely noticeable through the mist of pain. She winces and hears an elder woman speaking to her in smooth and gentle tone.
"Breath, my child, breath.", Ariadne hears. "The ambulance will be soon."
Ariadne shakes her head, clearing her head. The wave of panic washes over her.
"Arthur.", she speaks slowly. "Arthur!"
She stands up too quick for the elder woman to grab her and freezes.
Arthur is laying on the ground.
And there's blood.
She takes a step toward her, but someone grabs her strongly. "You won't help him, the ambulance is almost here.", she hears a stern voice and she feels so weak that she doesn't fight.
She lets take herself into the hospital, answers question, has her wrist X-rayed and plastered.
None of that really bother her or takes her attention.
All the time she has this terrible picture in front of her eyes: this horrifying contrast between the whiteness of snow and dark crimson of blood.
And the most scaring paleness of Arthur's face.
Ariadne keeps asking questions, but the answer is always the same: Arthur is being operated right now so there's no way to say anything about his current state.
Ariadne catches that answer with desperation; it means Arthur is alive.
At least for now.
When the surgery finally ends Ariadne is able only to collapse on the chair beside Arthur's bed and listen a quiet explanation of doctors. It comes to her in fragmented pieces.
"A serious brain damages…"
"A very hard surgery…"
"The brain swelling…"
"Prognosis still unknown, we need to wait…"
She's not crying; it seems too complicated for her right now. She just sits beside the man who love the most in the whole world and refuses going away.
Nobody and nothing can force her to leave him alone.
She waits patiently next hours, listening doctors and nurses' quiet voices and hoping.
And then he opens his eyes. Just for a second, he drifts back to unconsciousness the same minute, but this time is a normal dream.
Ariadne reluctantly lets nurses take her to another room, takes shower and wears some fresh clothes. She even tries to eat something, even though is a failed attempt.
As soon as she's back in Arthur's room he opens his eyes again. They're blooded and absent-minded, the flash of intelligence is missing.
Ariadne gasps and gently touches Arthur's cheek.
"Arthur?", she asks, barely above the whisper. The doctor standing behind her patiently waits for Arthur's response, who seems to be confused.
It's clear that he's trying to focus his attention on her, Ariadne can see the effort he puts into it. Finally he gives up and blinks.
"I know you?", he whispers so quiet that Ariadne hardly hears him at all.
She gasps and feels the doctor behind her shifts his position and delicately touches her arm.
"Let me.", he says quietly and Ariadne obediently makes room for him.
"Do you remember what happened?", the doctor asks and Arthur opens his eyes. there's nothing more than confusion in them.
"No.", he admits.
"Can you tell me your name?", the doctor inquiries further.
This time Arthur doesn't answer immediately. He thinks for time, which seems to be like eternity for Ariadne before finally giving up.
"I can't.", he says and sounds very much like a hurt child, which breaks Ariadne's heart even more.
"Do you know the current date?"
Arthur regains his composure and thinks for a moment.
"It can be 26. February.", he decides eventually. Which is almost right answer- the 26. February was yesterday.
The doctor nods his head and smiles wearily. "I'll be right back.", he says to Arthur and gently leads Ariadne into corridor.
"Most probably traumatic amnesia.", he announces as soon, as they are outside Arthur's room.
Ariadne winces. "How long it will last?", she asks quietly, afraid of answer.
"I wish I could tell you.", the doctor response with sigh. "It can last a couple of hours, days, months…"
"And whole life?", Ariadne adds, hoping that the man in front of her will deny.
But he just slowly nods his head.
It's when Ariadne decides that she'll give Arthur the chance to know her once again.
Days are passing slowly, all of them almost the same.
Waking up.
Taking a shower.
Eating the breakfast.
Going to hospital.
Watching all this excruciatingly slow progression Arthur is making.
Sitting with him.
Helping him.
Talking whenever he's able to talk.
Walking as soon as he stands up from the bed.
Giving him the chance to know her.
Giving him a new first impression.
Somewhere deep inside her Ariadne hopes that he'll recall everything, but as days fade away it's less and less possible. So she puts all her efforts, all her affection she feels toward him into tries of giving him a normal life.
It's not easy.
No matter how damaged his brain is Arthur is very well aware of the fact how much he lost with his memory.
A whole twenty nine years of life, eradicated within a seconds.
Lost somewhere among another forgotten stories and lives.
The accident took more than memory, though. The physical strength is also taken; the cat grace of Arthur's movements flown away with the hit of the car.
Sometimes Ariadne wishes she could kill the driver who took away all their old life and gave her this dark days with few threads of gray.
She walks beside Arthur in Hospital' park. Their pace is slow, adjusted to Arthur's condition.
It's still cold, their breaths are coming out in steam once again.
Ariadne slowly reaches and takes Arthur's hand in her. She doesn't touch him since her first attempt after the accident. That time he reacted rather violently, scaring her off. But today Ariadne finds the courage and with surprise she feels his fingers entwine with her.
He stops and for just a second everything is like it was before.
Ariadne doesn't even have to close her eyes: the ugly scar on Arthur's head is hidden under the hat and he doesn't look bad.
He pulls her closer and Ariadne gasps. She missed the feeling of his arm around her so much that it was almost painful.
"Ariadne?", his voice is hesitant and it brings Ariadne back to reality. It sounds nothing like Arthur's.
"Yes?", she answers raising her head and meeting his dark eyes.
"We were a couple before, didn't we?", Arthur says quietly, looking in her eyes intently.
"Yes.", she admits.
He reaches his hand and gently asides a strand of hair from her face. His touch on her cheek is butterflyly light, but Ariadne shivers even though.
She sees him smiling, more openly than before.
"Your hair", he says slowly. "I had to fall in love with you partially because of them."
Ariadne's eyes widens, but Arthur doesn't notice.
"Just like now", he continues quietly and Ariadne blinks.
"I love you, too.", she says before Arthur can add anything more.
For the first time since something like eternity she feels happy again.
And only very deep inside her she regrets that the first impression couldn't be the only one first.