Ever wonder why Arthur's totem was a loaded die? This is just a simple short with A&A. I hope you like it. This as a sequel to "A Week at This Level". As far as erotica... I promise nothing. We shall see what this story WANTS to become.

Besides, I give you enough A&A lovin'. Aren't you getting bored reading about two attractive people fucking?

Arthur's Totem

~ Ariadne was curled into the Point Man's arms. They had escaped from the prying of the rest of the Team into their privet sanctuary. Arthur had had enough of Eames for one day, and she could see he was becoming increasingly frustrated by the Forger's antics. Ariadne had quickly taken the Point Man out of the situation.

Arthur was staying at her place during the Teams newest job. The Team had no idea that the Point Man and Architect were always stealing away together. That they were a couple. The only one of their group who knew about them was Eames, and he had far to much fun teasing Arthur.

"Your going to have to forgive Eames." Ariadne said as Arthur held her close to his body. They were in her bed and he held her as if she were a stuffed animal there for comfort.

"He and Sadie are off again." She told him. "She threw all his things out of their apartment window in the middle of the night. He had to go downstairs naked to get them*. Almost got arrested."

"He knew what kind of woman she was when he went back to her." Arthur grumbled. Ariadne laughed as her little fingers played at loosening his neck tie.

"He's only teasing you because he knows your happy." She said softly kissing the skin she was exposing. Kissing his lips, his neck. Cleaver little scheme to get the Point Man to forget about any stress. It was working. It always worked.

"You smell good." Arthur breathed. His normally ridged body becoming relaxed under her care.

"Thank you." She breathed sweetly into his ear. Causing Arthur to tense up under her attentions.

"Their going to be expecting us back soon." The Point Man told her sadly. Not wanting to start something that would only have to be put on hold.

"We still have an hour." She told him.

"Not enough time." He said with a smile. "At least not for what I want to do."

Ariadne giggled as she kissed him more chastely on the lips.

"Tell me something." She said

"Anything."

"Why is your totem a loaded dice?" She asked.

Arthur gave out a heavy sigh and rolled away from her. His lean body stretching out on her bed.

"Well it's a long story." He admitted.

"I'm listening." She grinned at the idea of making her lover so uncomfortable.

"Well... it has to do with Eames and I." He said said finally.

"Arthur..."Ariadne pretended to gasp in a mock horror. "Not you and Eames!"

"Very funny." Arthur chuckled. "No it was when we first met. First job we ever worked together."

"Was Cobb there?" She asked.

"Oh yes." Arthur said with a small far away smile. "Mal to. I wish you could have know her. She was an amazing person."

~ Monaco, French Rivera. Two years ago. ~

"So what's this new Forger's name?" Arthur asked Cobb. He was driving the Extractor and his wife/Architect down the winding road that would soon revel the magnificent city.

"He's called Eames." Cobb said. "Just Eames apparently."

"Just Eames." Arthur grumbled. "And why do we need him?"

"Because for this particular job, we need a Forger." Mal's voice came from the back seat.

She and Cobb, always acting like they were still on their honeymoon, were snuggled deeply in each others arms in the back seat. Arthur cast a quick glance in the rear view mirror at the handsome couple and their strong love for one another.

A cold demon of jealousy stirred in Arthur's core. Not that he had any unrequited love for Mal. But he wanted what Cobb had. Someone to give him the affection she gave to the Extractor. Someone who could make him as happy as Mal made Cobb. It was becoming more difficult to be alone in this world. A third wheel to a happy couple.

"Looks like were here." Arthur said ignoring the fact that Cobb was necking with his wife. The Extractor's hand moving up her simple black skirt. Mal suppressing a ticklish laugh. Arthur couldn't get the idea of him being a driver to a pair of horny kids on prom night, out of his mind.

The hotel and nearby casino were extremely tasteful. Modern and elegant. Drawing tourists and their money in, without the need for garish lights and tacky neon.

"Um Arthur, they... have a casino... nearby." Cobb said resurfacing from his wife's neck. Mal looking somewhat disheveled as her husband had stealthy unbuttoned her blouse. "Were going to go and check in..." Cobb smiled at Mal. "Maybe you can explore the city...for a few hours... maybe more."

"Right." Arthur grumbled as Cobb and Mal quickly scurried up to the hotel hand in hand. Forgetting their bags entirely. The Point Man sighed as a valet approached the luxury sedan.

"Please hold the bags at the lobby till I pick them up." He told the valet and bell hop in broken, bad French.

"It's going to be a while."

Arthur knew Cobb and Mal would be in their own privet suit for hours making love. He had nothing else to do with his time there, he took Cobb's advice and explored the city, finally winding up in one of it's Casinos.

The Casino's looked noting like a standard Vegas casino floor. There were well dressed men and women around elegant wood gaming tables. Impressive chandeliers hung from the walls. It was all very tasteful.

Arthur was in no way a gambling man. He saw no fun in leaving things to chance. But this gambling hall, was just his style He ordered a drink as he sat in on a game of black jack. All of it's participant's, gaming for the fun of it. Each happy to lose thousands of dollars.

The Point Man did well in the strategy game of black jack. He easily won a few rounds by the simple strategic move of advance and retreat. Easy for someone like him to do. Harder for someone filled with greed.

"You did well." A musical voice came to his ears. Arthur turned to see a young woman, nicely dressed, in a simple white shift dress. She was was not terribly beautiful, but her clothing, her make up and general style, spoke of a girl with good taste.

~ "Are you saying she wasn't pretty just so I won't get jealous?" Ariadne asked interrupting his story. Arthur laughed.

"I'm saying, now that I have a beautiful woman of my own, she's not looking so good in my memory." He explained. Ariadne gave her lover a appeased little smile before letting him continue.

~ "I'm sorry?" The Point Man offered as a way of an answer. The young woman shrugged.

"I said you did well at the tables." She pointed to the black jack table. "You must have a strategy." Her accent was a thick French one. But her voice was clear and lovely. Like that of a a song.

"Not really." Arthur said feeling intrigued by her. Women rarely hit on him.

"What is your secret then?" She asked playfully. He sighed.

"I guess, I'm just not afraid to lose." he admitted.

"Not afraid to lose? A true warrior." She said admiringly. Looking over him with heavy blue eyes.

"Umm. What's your name?" Arthur found himself asking. Looking over her well toned, sun bathed body. Her dark black hair.

"Arabella" She told him in her rough sexy cadence.

"Arthur." He replied.

"Like the great knight? The great King. A man of fairy tales." She said her eyes growing wide. Arthur chuckled.

"I try to be." He admitted. Feeling oddly flattered.

~ "Oh Please!" Ariadne giggled. Arthur sighed.

"You asked to hear this story, now do you want to hear it or not?" He asked. Feeling flushed.

"It's just so transparent!" She laughed. "Calling you a 'King' right off the bat."

"Well, it worked." He admitted.

"Of course it did." She teased. "Your a sucker for pretty girls who are impressed with your chivalry and bravery." She kissed him sweetly on the lips. "I'm sorry, I won't interrupt anymore. Please go on." She said. "Your Highness." She adding mockingly.

"That's more like it." Arthur said with a smile.

~ Arabella laughed at the Point Man. Not a hurtful laugh, but a laugh that showed she actually found him amusing.

"Well, then I will let you buy me drink then." She said. Arthur didn't argue as she gracefully flagged a waiter and ordered herself a rather expensive beverage.

"So, what are you doing in Monaco?" She asked once they were alone again.
"Work." Arthur answered simply.

"Hmm. What kind of work?" She asked seeming to be genuinely interested.

"The kind of work that's hard to explain." He offered.

"Sounds boring." She ventured. Her eyes bright and lively. Arthur laughed.

"It can be." He admitted. "I'm here with friends so it's not all bad." He told her.
"Girlfriends?" She asked. Her accent so heavy he almost didn't understand.

"Are... are you asking if I have a girlfriend?" He asked.

"Yes." She said as her drink arrived. "Do you?"

"No. No, I don't." Arthur said not able to take his eyes off of her. Her simple yet elegant style. Her fashionable clothes. Nothing about her was over done or powerful. She looked young and carefree. A girl with nice taste enjoying a summer in Monaco.

"Boyfriend?" She asked him. He laughed.

"Oh no." He said with a smile. "I don't go that way." She was smiling at him.

"That is good for me." She told him. "I can let you buy me dinner then."

*Tom-Hardy-with-his-"Warrior"-body-naked. (drooling) Arthur who?