A/N Disclaimer: I don't own Inception. This is an AU.
Arthur strutted down Main Street. Cobb, Mayor Cobb, was having a bit of a dilemma. Fischer and Saito, who both owned competing saloons, were having a...disagreement. Saito, who had been here longer, wanted Fischer kicked out. Fischer, who's bar was flashier, wanted Saito to stop grumbling about his saloon. However, Fischer was driving Saito out of business. I can't even get a lousy drink. Arthur grumbled to himself. Outwardly, he kept his calm and cool facade. He paused for a moment, considering the two saloons, before deciding to go into Saito's.
"The usual." Arthur told Saito, who attended the bar, as a man slipped into the booth next to him. He groaned inwardly. "Eames, what are you doing here? I'm going to have to arrest you if you're cheating people again."
Eames, the town gambler, laughed as he ordered two pints of whiskey. "Darling," he said, waving his hand around, "I've been looking for you."
Arthur winced as he sipped his drink. "What've you got?" He muttered underneath his breath. In response, Eames pushed a piece of paper towards him.
"Your eyes only, you stick-in-the-mud." Eames wandered off, probably cheating another poor soul out of his paycheck. Arthur clutched the piece of paper. No one knew the reason Eames got off scott-free...except for him and Cobb. Eames was their spy in the criminal underworld of Dreamland. He could mimic pretty much anyone and act like he was the all-important king. People were amused by him, and told him things.
Arthur contemplated the curious gambler, when another scene caught his eye. It was Ariadne, surrounded by men who all reached and touched her. She laughed and pushed them away, leaving them wondering who she was going to stay with tonight. Arthur's mind drifted as he remembered the younger Ariadne, the one you'd find after pushing past all of her defenses. She was a wide-eyed child, believing in anything and everything. She was also smart, and Arthur had gained a soft spot for her. He gripped his glass tighter as men started trying to get her.
"Arthur!" Ariadne called, waving to him. He smiled and waved back as the men scooted away from her. Everyone knew Arthur would kill anyone who came to close to Ariadne.
Another shadow slid into the stool next to him. The dark man ordered a pint of Scotch. "So, Arthur, keeping an eye on the town's restless men are we?"
"Hardly. Ariadne has her eyes on them already." The man snorted into his drink. "So how's Mal?"
The man's smile faded. "Not good." He said, shaking his head.
Arthur gripped his glass tighter. "Isn't there anything you could do, Yusuf? Cobb is willing to pay as much as it takes."
Yusuf shrugged his massive shoulders. "I tried. But Mal isn't working. I don't want Cobb visiting her. You remember what happened last time." Arthur nodded. Cobb had set Mal, his deranged wife, free, and she wrecked an attempt to bring some train robbers down. Yusuf was the doctor, willing to help. He was the only doctor.
Arthur mentally sighed. Now would be a good time to retire. He thought to himself.
A/N If you want the story to continue, say so in your reviews. So R&R.