Author's Note: Hello everyone. This is my first ever fanfic - like ever. So, I'm not sure what response will be like. Like they say - review! And I shall definitely update this little plot I have going on.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inception or Arthur or anyone else-gosh, that was depressing to write.
Chapter 1
The darkened corridor seemed never-ending to Arthur. Ariadne had to choose this mission to go all out on the intricacy of her mazes. Of course, it was nessacary – the more intricate the maze, the more time the team had. Arthur walked on through the path, gun in one hand and torch in the other. The torch simply provided him with 3 meters maximum of light ahead of him. A faint burning smell wafted through the air.
"Arthur!" Her voice was filled with laughter as she ran from him, clutching his book. It served him right for convincing her to come on the walk, and then seeming to ignore her, apparently too engrossed in his book. The woods smelt of pine and cones crunched underneath feet as Arthur sped up. He quite literally pounced on her, breathing hard.
"My book?" He released the body tension and in that instant she took her chance and pushed him off her, and pinned him down instead. He groaned.
"Ariadne, I PROMISE not to ignore you again. Just get off me, I can't breathe!" It was a lie; he was enjoying their time in the deserted woods. Only him, her and a bunch of squirrels. He silently scolded himself. Where had his professionalism gone? The mask is slipping, Arthur.
A dim light ahead broke him out of his trance. The fluctuating light beckoned him, yet Arthur knew when to keep his head. It seemed to move further and further away from him, which was probably better for everyone. Cobb was coping well so far – the dream was not falling apart. Yes, this was not a decisive job, not important in any way. But judging that dream-sharing was not perfectly legal, you could never be too careful.
An elevator loomed up ahead of him, and he recognized with a jolt where he was. Pushing the button, he shone the torch around. The hotel corridor was absolutely deserted, as if everyone…had been…drawn somewhere-
"God damn it!" Arthur finally realized what had happened. Obviously the dream would only fall apart if the subject started to wake up. What if Cobb was not 'coping', and the rest of them could not tell. Why did they have to split on this job? No one controlling the PASIV up above was a major risk.
But no one could be trusted – no one had to be on a simple, quick job like this one.