(I really suck at summaries, so sorry. and I DO NOT own Inception. Just thought I should say that.)
Life would have been so much simpler if Ariadne hadn't accepted the job. One more year in college and she would've graduated, but now with classes that were slipping out of her reach, she wasn't even sure she would graduate. She would have gotten a normal architecture job in France, Italy, England, hell, anywhere she would've wanted with the grades she got. But her life was flipped upside-down once the IV needle pierced her skin. Once she drank that champagne that contained the sedative. Once she helped a group of men alter the image Fischer had of his father. Now, Ariadne was always on her toes; always wondering if she could get arrested.
Of course she knew the possibility of her going to jail was slim to none. Arthur had assured her of that. It had been nearly a year since the Fischer job, and she still turned the other way when she saw a police car, or a black SUV. Was she ever going to get over this state of paranoia?
She wanted so desperately to call someone from her team. To ask 'When is this feeling going to end?' But she didn't know who to call. She had Arthur, Eames, and Cobb's number (all under alias's of course) in her phone. She had scrolled until she found Dom's alias: Christopher, one of the most common names. She almost pressed 'send' but quickly shut her phone. Of course he would be busy playing Dad.
Eames. Well, she didn't know what he would be doing. Probably picking up on some random girl in a casino. But Eames would reassure her and make her laugh. Hell, he might even come visit her.
And then there was Arthur. If she were close to anyone on her team it would be with him. She spent a lot of time showing him her mazes, he explained paradoxes and other things to her, and he even kissed her. She though that was just him being cocky, with his soft lips, a voice that she could listen to for hours, crinkle eye smile, and sharp looks. Wait… why was she thinking about Arthur in that way? He was just a teammate, and that kiss was just to try and distract the projections… right?
She convinced herself that it was and got up from her bed. She was able to buy an apartment with the money she was paid. She had enough money to buy her own home in Paris, but she thought an apartment suited her better. Her walls, desk, and parts of her floor were littered with architectural drawings that could only be achieved in the dream world. She obviously couldn't concentrate on the homework assignments Professor Miles gave, so she just gave him whatever drawings she drew and hoped he would understand that she just couldn't get it out of her head.
She placed her bishop on her table and watched it fall exactly the same as it did so many times. She shoved it in her trench coat pocket, grabbed her keys, and left her apartment. The fall weather in Paris always relaxed her. She inhaled deeply once she got outside, a cool breeze rustling her hair slightly. She walked to her favorite place to think, a bridge near a cute, hole-in-the-wall café.
She walked slowly, taking in the beautiful architecture of her city. She stopped by a street vendor selling coffee for cheap (not that she couldn't afford the best) and took small sips, feeling the liquid warm her body. She finally reached her destination, which was always empty, and rested her arms on the metal. It was maybe fifteen minutes before the sunset; she had gotten there just in time. She downed the rest of her coffee and watched the sun paint the sky beautiful colors before dipping out of sight. She smiled to herself and sighed.
She had no school tomorrow, and she really didn't want to spend another day in her room drawing buildings she knows could never exist. She reached in her pocket and gave her bishop a squeeze before taking it out and running her fingers along the edges and curves.
Her bishop was the one thing she could count on. She placed it on a table right next to her and watched it fall, a 'thunk' echoing on the metal surface.
"Think it's too beautiful to be real?" came a voice behind her.
She quickly grabbed her totem and shoved it in her pocket. She turned around to find herself looking at someone whom she hadn't seen in a very long time.
"…Arthur?" she said breathlessly. She was in shock; the empty coffee cup she held fell to the ground. Why was he here? How ironic was it that she was just thinking about him, and here he is now, standing in front of her looking exactly the same.
"Good to see you too, Ariadne." He said with a kind smile. He strode over and picked up the cup, throwing it away. He moved to stand next to her, his back leaning against the railing.
Her eyes followed him as he stood next to her. Then she realized how rude it must be that she wasn't saying anything. "Uh… I don't want to sound rude but… What are you doing here?" She mentally struggled to come up with a sentence that didn't sound rude, but settled with being blunt.
"Can't I just stop by to say 'Hi, how are you?'" He teased. She looked up at him and gave him a 'you would never do that' look. He chuckled a bit and gave a heart-warming smile. "In all seriousness, we have another job." She stiffened. "It's another Inception. Saito must have said something to someone, and you know how fast word spreads. But we're sure we won't get caught."
A flash of sadness passed over Ariadne's face. 'Of course he wouldn't come to just see you. He's only an acquaintance, not even a friend. You don't even know anything about him.' She mentally thought. She blinked rapidly to 'wake' herself up from her mental conversation and sighed.
"Arthur…" She paused. "I don't know if I can do that again" She played with her fingers, keeping her gaze anywhere but on him.
"What's wrong? Not sleeping well? Nightmares?" He sounded genuinely worried. She looked up at his face and saw his forehead adorned in wrinkles.
"Don't worry too much, you'll start to get wrinkles." She joked, trying to lighten the mood, and looked back down at her hands. She heard him let out a small laugh.
"But really, Ariadne," God, she loved the way he said her name, "what's wrong?"
"It's not really the right place to talk about this. Getting kind of cold, you know?" She shivered slightly. The moon shone brightly in the clear night sky. She noticed that the lighting the moon provided made Arthur look even more stunning. Blood rushed to her cheeks and she was thankful that the moonlight made everything look black and white.
"Alright, my hotel room?" He asked her. "It's a lot warmer there." He smiled ever so slightly.
"Why Arthur!" She feigned shock. "Are you trying to take advantage of me?" Her mouth formed an 'O' shape.
Shock flashed across Arthur's face when she accused him. "Wha- N-No… I-I just…" he stuttered and put his hand in front of him.
"Wow, the cool, calm, and collected Arthur is at a loss for words." She smiled and placed her forearms on the railing again, looking up at the moon. "Relax, I was just kidding."
She heard him let out a sigh and noticed his shoulders relax slightly. "So… Do you want my help or not?"
"Well, I have absolutely nothing else to do, the nights still young, and I have no school tomorrow. Take me to dinner." She said with a smile and bit her lip.
"Isn't it a little late for dinner?" He said.
"I don't think so." Her voice was innocent. "Why? Have you eaten yet?"
"Well, no. But-"
"Then let's just have a light dinner here." She cut him off. "It's open and it's literally twenty steps away. I've eaten here before and the food is delicious."
He smiled at her. "It's a date then." He walked beside her into the warm café and they ordered their food.
"So, what is it?" He said taking a sip of his water.
"It's nothing big, really."
"Ariadne." He said in a deadly serious tone.
"Well…" She started. "I don't know. It's just that ever since the Fischer job, I've just been really paranoid. Every time I see a cop car or an official looking government car I totally freak out. I know you handled everything but… It's stupid. Just don't worry about me." She felt her cheeks flush and she suddenly found her lap very interesting.
She felt a warm, big hand cover her own on the table. She looked up to see Arthur's face very serious and his mouth was in a tight line.
"Ariadne, you have nothing to worry about. Trust me. If I knew there was any chance you would be questioned, thrown in jail, or even bothered by any government official I would never have let you go back to your home."
She felt her cheeks burn again. "Thanks Arthur, really. It means a lot to me." She smiled meekly. Their food came and they ate in silence.
"So are you up for it?" Arthur said when she was done. "I know you've been having problems, but Cobb would kill me if I didn't come back with you."
"Can I have like, a day to think about it?" She couldn't make a decision like this without thinking it through first.
"Of course." He said understandingly. Arthur paid for their meal and walked Ariadne home.
"It was really nice seeing you again. And thanks for dinner." She smiled at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She noticed that he stiffened, but returned the embrace and relaxed. He smiled against her hair.
"No problem. Maybe you'll let me treat you again." He chuckled. She listened to his laugh echo in his chest and smiled against his expensive suit.
She pulled away and gave him a big smile. "Goodnight Arthur."
He put his hands in his pockets and felt his die. "Goodnight Ariadne, sweet dreams." He smiled. She shut the door and left him alone.
'Jeeze, what are you getting yourself into, Arthur? She's a coworker. You don't date coworkers under any circumstance.' He sighed and bent down. He rolled his die five times, each time it came up a six.
Ariadne rushed over to her desk. She sat down and pulled out her totem. She placed the bishop on the table and watched it fall down. She repeated this at least ten times. Arthur just showing up just felt so unreal.
She finally gave into the sleep that beckoned her. She took of her trench and slipped into her pajama bottoms and a lose t-shirt. She climbed into her bed and drifted off into a sleep she would hope to be dreamless.
Ariadne woke to warmth on her face. She looked at her alarm clock, 8:00 on the dot. She usually woke up at nine, but her mind was plagued with thoughts of the job. With a deep inhale she reluctantly got out of her warm bed and started a shower.
Ten minutes later, she emerged from a steamy room, a towel wrapped around her hair. She picked out a simple outfit, a grey v neck t-shirt that wasn't too baggy and not too tight, jeans, and her favorite pair of shoes.
She had made up her mind; she was going to do the Inception. It was a quick decision, but she knew that as soon as the job was mentioned, she knew she would go through with it. She wasn't one to make spontaneous decisions, but this was her chance to make her drawings come to life.
She threw on an off white jacket and tied an orange gradient scarf around her neck. She figured orange would suit her best today, the day she made a rare spontaneous decision. She knew where to find her team, at the warehouse where they planned the Fischer job.
Grabbing her keys, bishop, and phone she left her apartment and headed towards the warehouse. It took her fifteen minutes before she reached her destination. She tugged on the heavy door. She knew it wouldn't be empty; at least one person would be there. And she knew that one person would be Arthur. But she was pleasantly surprised when she saw a different face lounging on a lawn chair.
"'Ello darling. It's been a while, hasn't it?" the British voice sounded pleased.
Ariadne felt the corners of her mouth pull up in a big grin, but she stood still.
"No hug?" Eames held out his arms, waiting for her to fill the empty space.
Ariadne laughed and almost sprinted over to him. She embraced him and heard him give an 'oomph' as she tackled him.
"I missed you." She said against his shoulder.
"I think you might be the only person to say that to me." He joked.
"I know, I surprise myself too." She let out a small laugh and let him go. "What are you doing here so early? You don't strike me as a 'get here right on time, let alone early' kind of guy."
"Couldn't sleep. Got in quite early, actually." He shrugged.
Ariadne let the conversation go and looked around her. "Where's Arthur? I figured he would be here."
"Missing your lover boy, are we?" Eames teased. "He just went out for some fresh air, but I think he just didn't want to be around me." He said with a laugh in his voice.
"Shut up, Eames." Arthur said as he took off his suit jacket. He hung it on his chair and smiled at Ariadne. "Good morning, I see you've made you're decision."
She let out a small laugh. "Yeah, I guess I just couldn't get away from this."
"Once you've experienced it you get addicted, darling." Eames said casually.
"Is Cobb going to be with us?" Ariadne asked, taking a seat in her old chair.
"He said he was going to be catching a flight tonight, which means he'll be here sometime tomorrow. He already knows where to meet us." Arthur was studying a file of the mark.
"So who's the Mark?" Ariadne said.
"You're quite curious this time, aren't you?" Eames said smiling.
Ariadne threw him a faux glare.
"Our Mark this time is…" Arthur flipped to the front page of the file, "Victor Starnes."
He started briefing her. "Victor Starnes is the founder of Starnes Co. They manufacture and sell weapons to many countries. Our job is to get him to stop selling weapons to China."
"Sounds easy enough." Ariadne sighed. "Has he been trained?"
"Yes, but he's only started. It shouldn't be heavy security. Mild gunfire. We should be able to handle it."
"I'd better get started on the mazes then." Ariadne said getting up and walking to her desk. She took out a pencil and started to sketch the city that would soon be built.
"Come on Ariadne, darling." She heard Eames's voice come from behind her. "Join dear old Arthur and I for dinner."
Ariadne had lost track of time. Had she really been working that long? She looked at her desk that was filled with crumpled papers that held remarkable drawings, but she deemed them too simple.
Blinking fast she turned around to face them. "Y-Yeah, sure." She got up, put on her jacket, and followed the two men out of the warehouse.
Ariadne walked in between the two men who were much taller than her and realized how strange she would look if people from her school saw her. She didn't have many friends, they thought of her as the girl who focused way too much on her schoolwork. Of course, her shyness didn't help. But to the few that recognized her outside of the university, the sight of her with drop-dead gorgeous men flanking her caused them to do a double take.
"Where are we going to be eating?" Ariadne asked both of them.
"I don't know, darling. You're the one who lives here." Eames said, hands in his pockets.
"I know a really good place nearby." Arthur said and made a left.
They arrived at Le Grand Véfour, a grand looking restaurantthat was bathed in rich colors of red, gold, and white.
"Isn't this a little… expensive, Arthur?" Ariadne asked.
"Nonsense!" Eames butted in. "As long as he's buying, nothing is too expensive!" He opened the door and let his company pass him before going in.
Arthur somehow managed to bribe the waiter to get them a private table away from the other diners.
Ariadne noticed that the waitress that took their orders made flirty gestures towards Eames and Arthur. She couldn't hold in her laugh as soon as she left.
"What?" Arthur looked at her like she was crazy.
"Our waitress is hopelessly in love with you two!" She laughed. Their eyebrows raised at her statement. "Put those good looks to use and get us a free meal!"
"She was not." Arthur said as-a-matter-of-factly.
"She was too!" Ariadne argued in a playful way.
"Well I take that as a compliment." Eames said leaning back. "And a free meal would be just… peachy." He said with a smile. "Maybe you could get laid tonight, Arthur. It would be good for you."
Ariadne stiffened ever so slightly but giggled. Arthur just gave Eames a glare, and Eames laughed to himself. They made small talk while waiting for their food to come.
"God, this is delicious!" Ariadne exclaimed. She ordered lobster and white wine that complemented it beautifully. She hadn't had a high-end meal… ever, so it amazed her how good food could be.
"I love this place. I came here with Cobb and Mal once." Arthur said when they all finished.
"So, where have you been, Eames?" Ariadne asked him.
"Oh, you know. Here and there. Everywhere." He was always so relaxed. "I visited my mum in England for a little bit. Went back to Mombasa, gambled, drank. You know, the usual." He took a sip of his wine.
"What about you, dear Ariadne?" He smiled at her.
"School." Was her simple answer. "I've been trying to get my grades back up to where they were before the Inception."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Letting your job get in the way of your schooling, are we?" He joked. Ariadne blushed slightly.
"Are we done here?" The waitress butted into their conversation.
"Yes, check please." Arthur gave her a smile.
Ariadne could see the waitress melt with his smile. "I-I'll be right back." She smiled at him seductively and went to fetch the check.
"I can't believe you!" Ariadne hissed.
"What?" Arthur looked surprised.
"You're totally flirting!" She looked at him accusingly.
"No, I'm not." He was 100% convinced he wasn't. "I was being nice."
"Whatever…" Ariadne said under her breath and took another sip of her wine.
"No need to get jealous, darling." Eames teased her. "We're forever yours."
Blood rushed to her cheeks. She was not jealous. Anything but jealous. It wasn't like Arthur was her boyfriend or anything. He could do whatever he wanted to. He could date whomever he wanted to. But she still couldn't help but feel maybe just a tiny but jealous.
"Well, my hotel is that way." Eames said, pointing to the opposite direction of Ariadne's apartment. "See you tomorrow, ladies." He gave them a two-finger salute and began to walk away.
"Thanks for dinner Arthur." Ariadne said, walking with her hands behind her back. "It's was really nice."
"No problem." He said. "I saw how hard you were working, so I wanted to treat you. Eames just so happened to tag along." He chuckled.
A strong breeze blew by, sending shivers up and down her body. Her hands came up to rub her arms in attempt to warm herself up. Then she found herself blanketed by a warm suit jacket.
"Wha-" Ariadne struggled to find words. "Now you're cold, Arthur." She began shrugging off his jacket.
"I'm not shivering, you are. Keep it." Was all he said.
"Keep it?" Ariadne shoved her arms through the too big sleeves. "Then you're outfit will be incomplete." She teased him.
"I don't mind." He smiled at her. She didn't reply. She was too busy taking in the warmth his body heat left in the jacket.
They arrived at her apartment shortly after. "Thanks again, Arthur." She smiled and wrapped her arms around him, feeling no hesitation from him this time.
"No need to thank me." He grinned against her hair.
She started to pull back when she felt warm lips against her forehead. "Goodnight Ariadne. Sweet dreams." He muttered against her forehead and pulled away.
She fumbled for her keys in her pocket, her hands shaking. She managed to get her door open and said a small "Goodnight Arthur." Before she closed the door on him.
'What was that all about? It was nothing, right? Just a forehead kiss that parents give their kids, right? It wasn't a romantic kiss at all.' She tried to convince herself again that it was nothing. And she wasn't doing a good job at it.
Arthur stood outside her door alone again. His brows drew together like he was frustrated.
'What the hell is wrong with you? You know nothing can happen! You don't even know if she likes you in that way. No. You know she doesn't like you in that way.' He shoved his hands in his pants pockets and walked off in the direction on his hotel.
Ariadne pulled out her bishop and placed it on her desk. 'Thunk' The sound relaxed her and she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in. She climbed into her bed and snuggled against Arthur's jacket, inhaling deeply.
The strong scent that was on the jacket filled her head. The jacket smelled of clean sheets, cologne, and a scent that she could only describe as 'Arthur'. She inhaled deeply once more and welcomed sleep that called her.
(It's my first fic in a while, so be gentle! Anyways, I wrote this in about a day, and I hope you enjoyed it as much I enjoyed writing it :) I'll try to update as often as I can but I can't promise anything. Please review, I love reviews of all kind, even flames. Thank you!)