A nightmare in Paris
Chapter 1
"Yes Arthur. Call you when I land & each day for the next few days on your new you straight away if I notice anything suspicious at all...If I can't get you then ring Eames or Cobb or Yusuf or go to Miles' house –don't sleep on the plane. Stay safe, don't do anything stupid and don't take any chances" Ariadne stated with a grin. "I'll be fine" - Loosely based on taken
"Madame" Ariadne lifted her head up from where it lay in her arms and offered a large smile to the forger standing on the other side of the kitchen bar, plate in hand .
"Morning Eames" she greeted, happily accepting the plate that he slid across to her that was stacked with pancakes. She laughed at the outraged expression that spread across Cobb's face who stood behind Eames with a spatula in hand having just filled her plate.
"Thanks Cobb" he nodded before turning back to the stovetop.
"Good morning darling, sleep well?" she nodded at his question as Eames took a seat on her right, still in his sleep wear – which consisted of track suit pants before turning to her left and quickly stealing the glass that sat in front of the man on her left. Arthurs eyes flicked up towards her, filled with mock-annoyance, and she smiled over the top of glass filled with orange juice causing him to simply shake his head before looking back down at his paper,
"If I did that I'd get shot" Eames muttered earning an elbow to the ribs but his attention was quickly stolen when a pattering of footsteps could be heard behind them,
"Uncle Eamesssss" the forger grinned at the excited voices and then several gasps were heard as the two children entered the room,
"Auntie Ari and Uncle Arthur" Philippa cheered as she took in the two other bodies she couldn't see from the top of the stairs. The trio couldn't help but smile and Eames caught Philippa who all but threw herself at him swinging her into the air,
"Hey Pippa!"
Ariadne slipped off the chair and met a stumbling little James who was grinning widely, cute as a button, with sleep tousled hair. He lifted his arms up, his eyes sparkling up at her and she picked him up placing a kiss on his forehead. Once the children had greeted the three adults who had arrived sometime during the night the six of them sat around the table devouring the pancakes. Philippa, sitting in her chair that she'd pulled as close to Arthurs as possible, chattered away still excited while James grinned from Ariadnes lap, as Eames cut his pancakes and Cobb shook his head at his sons devious ability to get Eames every time with a single look.
"What time's your flight Ariadne?" Cobb asked and the young woman turned to him,
"Just after ten" she answered before smiling at Phillipa's frown. The young girl had not been happy when told that Auntie Ari would only be staying for a quick visit before flying back home –"Where Grandpa lives" Cobb had explained. The three: point man, forger and architect, had all arrived at varying times during the previous night after spending a week apart that followed a completed job. It had become a normal routine for them if their work took them to the states to meet up at Cobbs a week or two after the job. It hadn't been long after Ariadne's graduation that she had sat in the warehouse once again with Eames, Yusuf and Arthur having bothered all three of them not to mention Cobb and Miles about the job they'd promised her after her successful graduation. And after a more than successful graduation – at which they were all present – Ariadne had not exactly exerted the greatest amount of patience.
It was now almost eighteen months since inception, seven months since Ariadne had graduated and a handful of jobs completed. At first working without Cobb, who she had worked most closely with on inception, was strange for her but she quickly found the dynamic between the three remaining men easy to fall into step with. Yusuf didn't always work with them and she loved Mombasa since Eames had taken her the first time to meet Arthur and Yusuf – so they visited often. And Cobb….well Ariadne found that she'd really never known Cobb at all. Not the real Dominic Cobb anyway. Now though, she was not only the young architect stumbling in a foreign world of dreams but now Auntie Ari.
Two hours later Ariadne slid back into the car where three men were waiting a big smile on her face. Cobb simply laughed,
"They have that effect" he smiled and she nodded slipping back in the car beside Arthur in the back.
"You'll have to come back soon Ari" the former extractor-architect said as they pulled away from the curb and from the bustling primary school ringing with children's laughter.
"Definitely" she agreed as she laid her head back on the seat as Cobb headed for the airport.
"There have been whispers that Marksons industries have in the past, and may currently be, involved with extensive illegal importing of their products and potentially on the side illegal weapon trafficking. The company now finds themselves under heavy investigation of multiple international corporations" Arthur read and Ariadne let her head roll towards him her gaze falling upon a familiar face staring up at her from the point mans computer screen.
"Another happy customer" Eames said from the front and Arthur snapped his laptop shut turning towards her,
"There's no signs of any suspicions from Markson or Greene but you know the dri-"
"Yes Arthur, Call you when I land and each day for the next few days on your new number. Ring you straight away if I notice anything suspicious at all, don't believe that anything is a coincidence. If I can't get you then ring Eames or Cobb or Yusuf or go to Miles' house – don't sleep on the plane. Stay safe, don't do anything stupid and don't take any chances" she stated and suppressed a smile when Arthur simply raised an amused eyebrow ignoring the snickers from the front of the car.
"Good" he said shortly leveling her with a pointed gaze since he couldn't repeat his own rules.
They didn't get out of the car at the airport, didn't help her with her luggage or lean out to wave – as much as Eames would have taken great pleasure in embarrassing her. Instead the architect planted a kiss on each of their cheeks before she got out and retrieved her luggage bidding them farewell before the car slid away, tinted windows masking their faces from the camera's. It wasn't always so strict, but this close after a job they were always wary – well that and everywhere Ariadne was involved.
The plane flight was long and not for the first time the young woman wondered if she would be wise to make her permanent residence closer to Cobb and the kids. But Paris was Paris and it still had a tight grip on her heart. Plus it didn't really matter where Arthur and Eames were concerned – both frequent global gallivanters. She often wondered how many frequent fliers points they each would have accrued had they used the same name throughout their travels.
As the aircraft circled over Paris Ariadne's heart fluttered as she stared down at the lights, sending thanks to Arthur who never failed to acquire her a window seat. The Eiffel tower glittered up at her welcoming her back and her eyes zeroed in on the area she knew her little apartment was located. Eames often teased her about moving – usually when he was crammed into her small place, or crashing there on her couch, or trying to make French toast in her closet of a kitchen. But again it was hers, and she loved it, and it had been good to her since she'd arrived in France all those years ago.
The country had brought her so much, from a brilliant college and professor, to amazing friends, a quaint little apartment, brilliant architecture, a new language, and of course the one Dominic Cobb and in turn Arthur, Eames and Yusuf. France had delivered in spades – more than she could ever dream. The plane touched down and Ariadne smiled as a man pulled her bag down from the overhead locker with a charming smile before she exited the plane nodding to the air hostess' – and not for the first time realising how natural it had become to her. Who would've thought.
The young architect grinned as she spied the young blonde that was waving from behind the glass, with what was no doubt a cappuccino in hand, and she hugged her tightly once she'd passed through customs,
"Thank you so much for coming to get me" Ariadne said and the blonde, Anita, shook her off handing her a second cup,
"No problem ma Cherie. How was work?" the two friends fell into easy conversation as they headed out of the terminal where they had in fact met almost four years prior.
"So where's Arthur and that other bloke" Ariadne snorted at her friend, shaking her head as Anita smirked,
"They're still stateside wrapping up – but they might pop by in the next couple of weeks" Ariadne replied not missing the excitement that made Anita's eyes sparkle,
"The other bloke said to say hi by the way" Ariadne said as she pushed through the doors holding it open so they could enter the lobby of the airport.
"I'm going to the bathroom, go get the car" she said before Anita could reply and all she got was a frustrated scoff before the put out blonde stalked towards the doors making Ariadne laugh.
Five minutes later Ariadne pulled her jacket further around her body as she stood outside the airport waiting for Anita's familiar car to pull up. Suddenly she was thrust forward and the young architect stumbled tripping over her bag that lay at her feet. Two firm hands grabbed her shoulders before she could hit the ground and steadied her as she flushed bright red as her jacket,
"Oh I am so sorry!" Ariadne looked up at the young man before her and shook her head,
"It's alright"
"I didn't see you and are you okay? I'm very sorry" his English was stilted but Ariadne waved a hand,
"It's no problem really" she smiled and he nodded,
"I am from Spain, but my parents live here. You? On holiday?" he asked kindly and she nodded,
"I am yes. I'm from California" she answered with a smile before peering down the road to make sure Anita hadn't arrived,
"Wish they could be all California girls" he sung a moment later and Ariadne's eyes widened before she let out a laugh with him,
"I'm Peter" he said laughing and she took his hand shaking it before clearing her throat animatedly,
"Je'mapelle Anna" she replied letting out a giggle and knew that Eames' would be proud of her acting skills that were slowly getting better. Peter laughed and clapped his hands in mock applaud.
"Lovely to meet you although I'm sorry I crashed into you, are you heading into Paris?" he asked and she nodded,
"Oui" she said,
"You know the taxi here, are so damn expensive, you want to share?" he asked gesturing to the line of taxi's several metres away. She shook her head,
"Oh no it's okay thank you though. I'm getting picked up by a friend, she is at college here on exchange" Ariadne grinned and Peter nodded,
"In fact here she is now" Ariadne said picking up her bag as she saw Anita pull up,
"Ah well maybe I will see you again Anna" Peter said before stepping forward and placing a kiss on each of her cheeks. He laughed as she stiffened up reflexively,
"It is custom here" he said and she nodded her eyes narrowing in annoyance.
"Well aurevior" she said with a smile before opening the door as Peter nodded before walking away grinning.
"Who was that then young lady!" Anita teased as soon as Ariadne was in the car.
"Take me home" Ariadne said to Anita who just smiled and shook her head,
"I just want you to be happy and if you won't ask Arthur out then you could at least take a nice tourist out on a date" Anita teased and Ariadne shook her head before turning the heater on and fiddling with the radio. When her phone beeped a moment later Ariadne didn't fail to notice the smirk spread on her friends lips,
"Bet that's Arthur" ignoring her and yet knowing Anita was more than right she pulled her phone from her pocket.
I JUST got into Anita's car mr. punctual! All is good here. Will ring later give my love to everyone and thank Cobb for letting us stay xx
As the car warmed up and Ariadne avoided the topic of Arthur neither of the girls noticed the taxi that had followed them from the airport and passed them as they pulled into Ariadne's apartment building.
Hi guys! Had an idea and it wouldn't leave me alone. I know not much happened in this chapter but there's more to come. This story is kind of based on Taken which I saw yesterday and looooved!
Hope you like it and please review!
