Hello! Inception is one of my favorite movies and I'm glad to finally have the opportunity to write a few fanfictions for it-hope they do the characters some justice!
Arthur paced anxiously back and forth o the floor, heart racing.
"Darling, you need to calm down. Your stick in the mud brain can't take any more excitement or it'll explode." Eames teased, British accent drawling out the words.
Arthur paused to scowl at his colleague before continuing to pace.
"You're not doing this alone. We'll be with you the entire time." Cobb offered.
"That only makes me more nervous." Arthur stated. "What time is it?"
Eames stared at his watch, a smirk rising on his face. "Nine fifty,"
Arthur yelped, jumping up in the air. "WHAT?! I'm supposed to be there at ten!"
"Relax Arthur, it's only nine thirty." Cobb said, glaring at the hysterical man in the corner of the room.
"I-I'm sorry...sort of. I couldn't help myself. He was just being so Arthur, I couldn't not tease him."
"Oh shut it," Arthur growled, hitting Eames on the back of his head.
"Arthur, I know you and I know Ariadne. I guarantee that she's not going to reject you." Eames assured with a wry smile.
"An Eames guarantee isn't exactly a US treasury bond," Arthur scowled. "What if I'm rushing into things? What if we're not ready?"
"Now, you know I'd never lie to you darling,"
"I can think of ten occasions off the top of my head." Arthur snapped.
"But I really mean it when I say that she will not say no. Ariadne loves you. You've got nothing to worry about." Eames stated.
Arthur took a deep breath before announcing, "I think I'll go pick up Ariadne now."
"It's only nine thirty-five." Cobb pointed out.
"I'll just...circle her apartment a few times." Arthur resolved before walking out the door.
Cobb shook his head. "There are few things that can shake him, but the things that can more than make up for it. Did you really mean what you said Eames?"
"Mostly every word. They've been dating for two and a half years and known each other for four. Unless she really doesn't feel ready I doubt she'll say no."
"I agree." Cobb said. "Now come on, we've got a job to do."
Arthur drove around Ariadne's apartment for the 5th time, eyes hardly leaving the clock. 9:50. Still too early. Nerves bounced around in Arthur. The past four years had practically flown by. He couldn't imagine life without Ariadne anymore. She had stolen his heart piece by piece ever since she had stepped inside the warehouse. Arthur smiled as he thought about the first time they had kissed.
"What's happening?" Ariadne asked, watching the dream shake.
"Cobb's drawing Fisher's attention to the strangeness of the dream," he explained, closely watching the projections around him. A sudden, genius idea flashed in his mind- it was spontaneous, unplanned, the exact opposite of Arthur. But the opportunity was too much to resist. Taking a quick breath he continued, "Which makes his subconscious look for the dreamer...for me." Now or never Arthur. "Quick, give me a kiss."
It was short, no more than a few seconds, but Arthur relished every millisecond of it. It was nice to do some improve for a change.
Ariadne broke the kiss, eagerly looking at the projections and foolishly believing that Arthur was serious. "They're still looking at us."
Arthur could hardly suppress a smile at her innocence and trust. But the fun was over- she had to know. "Yeah, it was worth a shot. Come on, we should probably get out of here." He said slyly, a ghost of a smile flickering across his normally expressionless face as Ariadne stared at him in shock as realization hit her.
The memory gave Arthur confidence. 9:58. Arthur parked his car and walked up to the apartment. Once his clock struck ten, he promptly knocked on the door. A moment later, Ariadne stood in the doorway, smiling up at the point man. "Hey Arthur! On time as usual, come in. I just need a few seconds more," she explained, rushing back into her apartment. She wore a midnight blue dress with teardrop diamond earrings and a matching necklace. Her brown hair flowed in curled ringlets and her lips were a ruby red.
"Ariadne...you look...stunning." Arthur gaped. For once, the point man was at a loss of words.
"Well, you said to dress nice," she explained behind a blush, "though I don't know why."
Arthur smiled. "It's nice to go out every once in a while. Are you okay with dressing up?"
"It's fine. It's just that we both don't normally dress up. I usually go in jeans or a skirt and you always wear a three piece suit."
Arthur laughed nervously, anxiety rising. "Let's just go to the restaurant. Don't want to miss our reservation,"
Arthur could barely talk during the car ride due to his nervous thoughts. He wanted to talk like normal, but at the same time he worried that if he talked, he would reveal his secret. As they sat down and ordered, hardly fifteen words had passed between them.
"Are you okay Arthur? You seem distracted." Ariadne remarked.
"I'm fine."
"You're shaking." She said, nodding to the tilting glass of water in his hand. "Did something happen? Are Cobb and Eames okay? Wait, Yusef?"
"Everyone's fine Ariadne. Don't worry." He said with a sigh, quickly thinking of a new topic. "Do you remember when I first asked you out?"
"Do I remember? Of course! Any more help from the team and they could have taken me out too!"
Arthur laughed, trying to relax by losing himself in the memory.
I can't do it Eames. What if she says no?" Arthur whined, tapping his pen against his desk.
"She won't say no! You two are so bloody annoying, googling each other when the other isn't looking and dancing around! You're not in middle school anymore!" Eames argued. "If you won't ask her out, I will."
"You wouldn't!" Arthur yelped, jumping out of his desk.
"Try me! I'd fancy a date with our young, beautiful architect." Eames said coyly, analyzing the point man's reaction.
"Yusef!" Arthur yelled, turning for support.
"I don't care which of you she dates, but if either of you break her heart you'll be dealing with me." Yusef said calmly.
"You! Who said anything about you?" Eames demanded.
"I'm one of Ariadne's closest friends. As such, I have to look after the guys she decides to date." Yusef argued.
"Cobb!" Arthur yelled as the extractor entered the room. "Eames is threatening to ask Ariadne out and Yusef's threatening me!"
"Hello to you too," Cobb grumbled. "Nice to know you all get along so well when I leave."
"I only threatened him if he hurts Ariadne." Yusef reasoned.
"If you need to threaten anyone, it'd be Eames!" Arthur said.
"Hey! I would never intentionally hurt her! She's my architect!" Eames defended.
"Your architect?" Arthur dared.
"Stop it! I doubt Ari would like you fighting over her." Cobb pointed out. "And-"
"Wait, what gives you the right to call Ariadne Ari?" Eames asked.
"Yeah," Arthur chimed in, "when did that start?"
"Ariadne lets me call her that. Her permission is more than any of you have." Cobb explained indignantly. "Arthur, just ask her out already. Eames is just tired of your flirting. Yusef, calm down."
"We're not flirting!" Arthur protested.
"Oh, and you're not a stick in the mud," Eames sniped.
"I agree." Yusef added.
"Just ask her!" Cobb said "I give you my permission."
"Your permission?" Arthur, Yusef and Eames asked.
"I'm the father here, since all of you insist on acting like a bunch of children." Cobb snapped. "Please Arthur, for the sake of peace, just ask Ari already."
"Ask me what?"
The boys turned to see the girl in question entering the warehouse, a bag of supplies in her arms.
"Arthur has a question for you." Cobb said calmly, staring pointedly at him.
Arthur let out a nervous squeak, face turning red."No I don't!"
"Ariadne, will you go out with me?" Eames asked.
"EAMES!" Arthur yelled, running at him. "What happened to the guy code?!"
"I'm sorry Arthur, does that apply to you?" Eames asked teasingly, running away from the angry, barreling point man.
Yusef tried to stop Arthur from tackling their teammate, but Arthur dodged him.
Cobb sighed, before grabbing Arthur by the arm and swinging him towards Ariadne. "Get on with it!"
Coming face to face with Ariadne, Arthur quickly calmed down.
She stared innocently at him, hardly blinking. "Well Arthur?"
"Ariadne," Arthur said slowly, deliberately, "will you join me for dinner tonight?"
A broad smiled graced across her face. "Sure, I'd love to."
That's all for now! The rest of the memories will come in later chapters- too long to finish in a one-shot! I hope you enjoyed it!