A/N: Thank you for the reviews, cinematherapy and Lauraa-x! Also the favorite from miamighurl and follow from Lauraa-x. I know there were some mistakes in the first chapter but I'll read my them more carefully. Let me know how you're like the story. It's a bit slow and full of fluff but it will pick up in the upcoming chapters.
Months after her graduation, the team started their work. With the job deadline in December and only being the beginning of November. Also not being able to hide anything from the best architect they've ever met, she decided to enter the world of dreaming once again. Arthur protested but gave in knowing he had no chance against Ariadne's stubbornness. He wished more than anything to keep her away, always warned her about the consequences. But Arthur wasn't one to argue when she was at work.
On her side of the room at her desk across from him, Arthur would steal glances from her. He loved seeing her work. How her brows furrowed in concentration, biting her lip whenever she made a mistake, her eyes squinting as if she discovered something new, and the way she brushed back her hair when it covered that flawless face. Arthur most of the time became less focused on the mission and more focused on the architect. The point man would simply nod to her every word while she explained the layout. This wasn't right, he's the point. Professional and up-to-date. This job couldn't afford slacking especially if it could be because of him. But oh, how he wanted her so. To take her away from the world and keep her forever beside him.
Arthur dozed off more than he thought. He hadn't found most of the information of the mark that was needed. Also he was alone in the warehouse when it reached nighttime. He looked around to everyone's station. Had Eames or Yusuf even say they were leaving for the night? Arthur couldn't remember. The situation didn't get any better for him when he noticed Ariadne had left too. Arthur let out an exhausted sigh and packed up his work to continue back in the apartment. Bringing along the PASIV, Arthur locked up the workshop and called a cab. It was a quiet drive home through downtown Paris. He paid the cabbie and made his way through the lobby of the apartment building to the elevator. He seemed to relax a little more on the lonely ride up to the fourth floor, apartment seventy-two. He walked the long hallway to the middle and took out his key to unlock the door. When he opened the door, the living room light was on. Arthur closed the door behind him slowly and looked around the condo for any disturbance. That's when he heard speaking.
"... You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter. You are the best thing that's ever been mine..."
More like singing then speaking. Arthur entered the room to see the person he got to wake up to every morning. His girlfriend was a silly one. She loved to dance. Arthur would find it very rare to hear her singing since she only did so when she felt alone. He loved her more than anything and everything she did. Arthur couldn't and wouldn't take his eyes off her as if she would be gone the next moment he looked away. He suddenly felt a pain surge through him that he also wanted to join her in her moment of solitude.
"Flash forward and we're taking on the world together. And there's a drawer of my things at your place..."
"I would think there was more than a drawer full of your things laying around here," Arthur mused as he appeared.
His girlfriend turned around with a jump, thinking that she was alone. Her fears went away when she notice it was just her boyfriend. She let out a uneasy huff. "Don't do that! I almost messed up the model, then whose fault would that be."
"Yours?" Arthur dodged whatever object was chucked at him, "Okay, okay. I'm sorry Ari. Why don't you sing around me more often?" He made his way towards Ariadne and wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the crown of her head.
"I sing on occasions, Arthur. (A.k.a.), 'when I'm alone.' You're lucky you heard me once." She maneuvered out of his arms and into the kitchen to fetch him something to eat.
Ever since her graduation, the strangeness of the job having to be done in the winter for the objective, Arthur agreed to the inception and moved to live in Paris. Being closer to the architect Arthur finally had the courage to officially be with Ariadne. They went on many dates in the city for five months of their relationship. Strolling, sightseeing, dancing, picnics, dinners, you name it. On their second month, as Ariadne had sung, she was the one to move in with the point. The rest of the days after they spent their time doing everything together.
Sitting down at the kitchen table away from her dream layout models, Ariadne prepared his meal before him. Grilled salmon, no doubt she made it. His favorite. "Still have work?" she asked and placed her hand on his shoulder as she stood beside him.
Arthur let out a sigh, forgetting again that he still needed to do research. "A lot," he replied. He debated on eating or working first.
"Well, just make sure you eat okay? I'm gonna go to bed." She swiftly pressed her lips upon his that made his insides jitter. She pulled away and smiled down at him then retreated to their bedroom. With one more glance towards her boyfriend with a smile, she disappeared into the dark room.
Arthur kept his gaze fixed on the door. Some part of him hoped she would come out. When that wish didn't come true, he looked back down to his food. He was hungry, he didn't remember the last time he had eaten. Then he looked to his laptop ready to be opened and begin researching. Needing to come up with a decision, Arthur ate briefly to keep his mind functioning. Eat and continue working tomorrow, or, finish working now and eat in the morning... So many options.
Then there was the PASIV placed by Ariadne's dream model. Well, he ate just as she asked. And memorising the layout is also apart of working... What did he have to lose?
(• • •)
If Arthur was known for anything in this world, it was procrastinating. Fortunately for him, this was a different world.
Arthur was located in a snow filled downtown area of New York from what he remember of the layout. This area would be where the would plant an idea in the mark. He walked the sidewalks of the outlets filled projections of his subconscious (he didn't even know why he added them). Although he was just 'procrastinating' he was able to concentrate more while being in his own dreams. He made mental notes of where to go in case of danger. Easy escape routes to avoid the projections. As he passed by all of his projections Arthur finally took notice of how he had dreamt them as. Most projections were bystanders, others just normal everyday people taking interest in the outlets. That's when he spotted the first couple in the distance. They were walking hand in hand, smiles plastered on their faces, looked so much in love.
Arthur's dreaming got the best of him when he started to imagine his want for a normal life again. That the couple should be him and Ariadne. They should be the ones living that life. No worry of the world around them. Next he saw parents adore a toddler in the mother's arms. The family reminding him of Cobb. Arthur became jealous of Cobb getting to have a family and kids with the women he loved. Even so if their marriage wasn't the greatest, Cobb was still gifted the chance to actually live a normal life. Something Arthur couldn't have. All the more, Arthur wanted it that. Even more, he wanted it with Ariadne.
Arthur needed that.
Now Arthur wasn't one to be jealous or even realise he ever was. Until his projections behavior became more aggressive. Started to bump into him and glare at him. He tried to ignore their actions as his aggression grew and grew. Was it that she didn't feel the same about him? That one day Ariadne will become Mal and leave him like she left Cobb? How hard was it to be with the person you loved? Of course it was a challenge but that didn't stop him. He loved her, he would fight for her, die for her. So what was he missing?
Marching through the snow with hands in his pockets and picking up his head that stared at the floor blankly he noticed his projections started to calm. He wondered why they were even aggressive in the first place. Arthur stopped his tracks and looked around the landscape to find Ariadne behind him.
Arthur was lost at words when he saw his girlfriend standing there calmly looking back at him while he was gaping like a fish with wide eyes. "So this is work?" Ariadne teased rubbing her arm. She must've been pushed also by the projections. By his projections. Arthur took this in offence when he saw this as his fault she was hurt. He'd never hurt Ariadne, not even in his dreams.
Arthur rushed to her side, checking her arm. "Are you alright? Does your arm hurt? I'm so sorry Ariadne I didn't mean-"
"Arthur! Relax, I'm fine. It's just a dream." Just a dream, Arthur remembered.
"Hey," Ariadne placed her hand at his cheek, "You alright?" He looked into her eyes and gave her a brief nod, his breathing starting to pick up. Ariadne wasn't convinced. "Don't lie to me. You won't get out of this dream until you tell me," she threatened.
"Promise me something," Arthur sighed. She was about to respond but he continued. "Promise me that you'll never leave me. To stay with me always. During the job I mean..."
Arthur had a desperate look is his eyes as he waited for an answer as Ariadne let out a breath and took his face in both her hands. He was having doubts, she thought. "Where else would I go if it's not with you?" That seemed to reassure Arthur enough. Gave him another chance. Hope that he and Ariadne could still strive for a life together. Arthur didn't focus on the world around him. Only focused on the goddess in front of him. He didn't notice the dream collapsing as Ariadne pressed her lips against his forehead. "I can't spell 'us' without 'u'," she added. Arthur would've laughed at her cheesy joke if his vision hadn't turned black.
(• • •)
Arthur would've remembered the dream if the last and only thing he heard was more than "us."
