Three years after surviving the greatest accomplishment of his career, Arthur found himself very alone.
Standing in front of the London architecture firm, he wished he could be anywhere else. He wished he didn't have to confront her. They had parted ways, hadn't they? Why couldn't that be enough? But he'd never known a better architect, and he was going to need a damn good one for what he was going to have to do this time.
The lobby is modern, and expensive looking. Of course, this architectural firm was one of the most successful in London, they could afford anything they wanted.
"I'm here to see Ariadne Hill." Arthur said to the receptionist, somewhat self- consciously. The woman picked up the desk phone and spoke softly into it.
"Yes, there's a man here to see you...about 5'11'', expensive looking black suit and briefcase, black hair, really small eyes." Arthur swore under his breath. There was no mistaking him now. Would she even bother to see him? It had been a year and a half, maybe she would talk to him without hitting him. The woman continued. "Really? I thought he looked familiar... okay, I'll tell him."
The receptionist put down the phone, giving him a mocking smile, now that Ariadne had filled her in on there history, or the amended version of it, he supposed. "She'll be right down."
Arthur sat down in a shiny black leather chair to wait. He chose a spot where he could see all corners of the room, all vantage points. He was the most skilled extractor in the world, he needed to keep his eyes open.
Five minutes later she appeared, looking much the same as she had when he'd last seen her. She was beautiful, he couldn't deny that. Her dark hair still neat and wavy, eyes still shining. She looked at him with distaste as he rose from his perch on the seat to meet her.
"There's a cafe across the street, we'll talk there." She said simply. No greetings, no hand shake, no "How you been the two years, ex-lover?"
She lead the way out the glass front doors, and they crossed the street in silence. They sat down at an outside table and stared at eachother. He took her in. She was so...healthy looking, even with the accusing look in her eyes, the tense set of her lips, the lips he knew so well...
"So, what do you want?"
He met her intense brown eyes.
"Your help."
"No. I'm done, Arthur. I told you that when we broke up. I can't live like that. I won't live like that. My life is straight now. I've gotta good job, I'm doing what I love. I..." She looked around. No one was paying attention to them. "I don't need dreaming anymore."
He knew she'd say that. He remembered her mental state in the last few months of there relationship. She'd been depressed, to say the least. She'd lost the ability to dream normally, like Arthur had a long time ago. With Cobb gone, Arthur had become world renowned in extraction with Ariadne as his partner, and as his missions got hairier and hairier, they were put in more and more danger. Ariadne had decided that she couldn't live in such a unstable manner, and had started to ask questions like "Where is this relationship going?" and "How are we ever going to find peace?". She wanted to quit dreaming and live a normal life, waiting for everyone to forget they exist. Arthur couldn't do that. No matter how much he loved Ariadne, he couldn't give up the thrill of vivid dreaming, being at the top of his profession. What would he do in the real world? Become an accountant? A dental hygienist? The subconscious was his calling.
And so they'd gone their own ways, and not on good terms in the slightest. It had ended explosively, with her storming out of the hotel room in tears after exchanging harsh, loud words with Arthur. The memories of that night were painful, he couldn't remember how long he'd stared at the door waiting for her to come back, and when she didn't, contemplating when he should go beg for forgiveness. He never did.
And here they were.
"One last mission. Then I will never talk to you ever again. You're the best architect I ever knew. That's all I ask, Ariadne."
She sighed heavily, curiosity getting the best of her. "What is it?"
"Deflection."
She blinked. "Are you fucking kidding me?"
He rolled his eyes. "Yes, I'm lying to you. I just wanted to drag you out here in the middle of your workday to have this awkward, tense, conversation with you. You got me."
She took an angry breath. "If you don't think I'll walk out of here right now..."
"Okay, okay," He interrupts her. "It is possible, but very difficult. That's why I need you."
She's already shaking her head before he's finished his sentence. "No, Arthur! I'm not gonna let you suck me back into this shit! Just leave me alone."
He reached down to pick up his briefcase and started to get to his feet. "Obviously I have wasted my time in coming here. Sorry to inconvenience you Ariadne, I just thought... never mind."
He starts to walk away.
"Wait." Ariadne called to him, regret in her voice. He smiled to himself then turned to face her. He knew she would do that.
"I have names." She choked out. Arthur sat back down. "For the first few months after we split, people would still come looking for an architect, until I made it clear I would not be involved." She grabbed a napkin and pulled a pen from her pocket in one, swift motion. "Are heard these names mentioned. I'm sure you'll be able to find them on your own."
He looked at the strange names.
November Patel
Juliet Butler
Butler
"Patel is a genius. She hasn't dreamed yet, but she has enormous potential. She has two phds and can hold her own in a fight. The other two are brother and sister, Butler's first name is a carefully guarded secret. His sister's isn't but they're both blue diamond, so, you know what that means. For Deflection you're going to need some sort of protection, and they have training in dreaming." Ariadne finished.
Arthur gazed at her for a moment. "Thank you, Ariadne. This is exactly what I need." He stood, and was nearly gone when he heard his name again.
Her expression was meaningful, and confusing. "And Arthur, I...I hope you find what you're looking for."
He nodded and disappeared.
Author note: There's the first chapter, I'll update soon. There is going to be a tiny crossover in this story, but since it's going to be almost entirely inception, I decided to post here instead. For those of you who are Artemis Fowl fans you've already spotted my reference to the Butler's. The song that I think of for this chapter is "After all that, it's come to this" By Amos the Transparent, which is a pretty kick ass song. Please review! :)