The whole situation was becoming frustrating. All I wanted to do was kiss the smirk right off of Arthur's perfect face. But, no, that would ruin the plan. And I was sticking to it, from the very beginning I told myself so. All I had to do was wait it out a tad bit longer. I would tease him, lead him on just somewhat longer. Then I would go in for the kill. He would never know what hit him. All I had to do was tell myself - It would all be worth it in the end. I would eventually be kissing him senseless. Eventually. Crap. Ugh.
I could feel his stare on my back as I was working. I knew that he wanted that kiss as much as I did. But at the same time, the professional side has to put his two sense in. That had to be what was holding him back. Every time he thought about kissing me or asking me out, the business comes into the picture. Well I say screw business. We could keep it separate if we really wanted to….sort of. Well it was along shot, but I was willing to take it.
I tipped my totem over for the fiftieth time today and watched it hit the table at a normal speed. I was engrossed in my work, creating something as magnificent as a dream world was tricky, but a great time. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, doing anything else. This whole ordeal was perfect for me, and I had to admit that Arthur was making it better. The other guys too. Eames was brilliantly funny and Cobb was like a brother I never had. Yusuf didn't say much, but he always tried to help if I asked for it. They were a better team then I could ever ask for.
I felt someone's hand come down onto my shoulder as I was working intently on a drawing. When I didn't answer the hand squeezed and I got annoyed. Finally I couldn't take it anymore and whirled around ready to yell.
"Leave me alone," I growled. Sometimes I got to into my work for my own good. Arthur wasn't fazed. He just looked at my drawing and nodded his head in approval.
"Well I hat to take you away from you work, but I don't have time for this later. It has to be now." He said. I knew I looked confused because I had no idea what he was talking about. I raised an eyebrow and him.
"Eames asked me to continue your gun firing lessen. Of course, we have to go into a dream for you to really shot. So lets get going."
He pulled me up before I could protest and dragged me to the lawn chairs. I hated those things. They were more then uncomfortable. When you woke up, you had aches and pains all over.
"10 minutes should be enough," he muttered to himself. I thought about it. Two hours in the dream? Wasn't that a lot of time? Instead of saying my thoughts out loud, I said,
"I hate these lawn chairs. Why don't we get something more comfortable. We do go into dreams a lot." I murmured. He watched my face carefully as I said this. He seemed to be thinking about it.
"Well maybe I'll go buy something. I don't want you uncomfortable." He said with a wink. Was he flirting? No, he couldn't be. Arthur doesn't flirt, it just wasn't something he even thought about. I shook the idea out of my head and smiled at him. It was a nice thing to say, I might as well be polite.
"Are you ready?" I asked him, motioning to the lawn chairs. He nodded his head once and waited for me to lay down first. He stuck my arm for me and I was soon dozing off.
I woke up in my dream world, Arthur appeared next to me after a few moments. He looked around, taking in my own personal world. He had been here many times before, but always looks around like its something new. Almost like he doesn't want to forget anything. I always get worried that my projection of Arthur will show up and possibly ruin everything. When it's just me in my dream, I usually like to have a little fun with him. Ah not so appropriate kind of fun.
"Lets get started," I say. Because I'm nervous that if I stand around to long, the projection might actually show up.
Arthur nods his head and pulls a gun out from his belt. he hands it to me. I get into the stance that Eames showed me and let Arthur take it in. I look at him and he's assessing my body. After he feels done, he comes over and puts his hands on my hips. I stiffen.
"You want to tilt them more this way," he says, using his hands to move my hips. I can feel his breath on the back of my neck and I shiver. Then he takes my elbow and fixes it till he thinks its perfect. Just the fact that he is touching me, is making me crazy. How am I supposed to shoot a gun right in this situation. I need Eames.
"Alright shoot the target. Relax, but concentrate." I shoot but miss on my first try. In my mind, this seems okay, but Arthur feels differently.
"Your not concentrating hard enough." He says harshly. Well how am I supposed to do that when your around me.
I take me stance again and make sure to tilt my hips the way he says. I miss again. Now he seems more then mad, it's almost like he is pissed off. Which is unacceptable. I've never shot a gun in my life. Get over it Arthur.
He growls out and. "again." And I take my stance. This time I'm intent on doing everything perfectly and hitting the target more then once. I'll freaking show him who's boss. I aim my gun and concentrate as hard as I do on my dream layers. I breathe deeply and shoot three times. Hitting the target right in the center each time. I bring the gun down to my side and turn to look at him.
His face is blank and doesn't show any hint of anything. That basterd. I walk up to his still form and hold out the gun. He takes it in his hand but doesn't put it away. I look at his face confused and notice he is staring again. But not at my eyes, my lips. I slowly stick out my tongue to lick my lips and bring it back in. I see him gulp. Oh yeah baby.
"Arthur, how was that?" He seems to be broken out of a trance and brings his eyes back up to mine.
"Perfectly fine." He says dully. I narrow my eyes at him and step forward. I actually did something great and perfect and that is the answer I get. Well screw him, he is getting a piece of my mind.
I step close to him and then hit him on the chest. Hard. He looks at me with rather large eyes, seeming shocked. Good, something different. I hit him again. He doesn't say anything. So I move my fist to hit him once again, but this time he grabs my wrist so fast, I never saw it coming.
"Was there something I did?" He asks me with almost no emotion in his voice. I glare at him.
"Is that all you have to say? Why are you being such and ass Arthur? I just did that perfectly, and three times in a row!" I'm seething now. He doesn't even flinch.
"Were you expecting a trophy?" I was shocked. He was never mean or rude to me. Maybe we goofed around, but never did he mean any of it. He was always the perfect gentleman.
I pulled my wrist out of his grip and stumbled back a few steps. I knew I was looking at him with hurt and shock, but I couldn't help it. I was a girl, I still had emotions. And the man that I cared for was treating me like complete and utter crap. That's bound to hurt an ego or feelings.
"What is it Arthur?" I whispered, wishing he would tell me something. "God, please just let me know what I did to upset you so." I felt more then hurt and let the feeling in my voice show.
"Ariadne, I just- I." He stopped talking and seemed to be thinking of what to say next. I waited patiently for him to give me some sort of explanation.
"I don't want to have to teach you to use a gun. I don't want you to have to be in a situation were you might have to use a gun. The mere idea of a you having a gun, astounds me. The idea of you getting hurt, astounds me. When Eames asked me to finish your lessen, no, was on the tip of my tongue. But then I realized that you were apart of this team, and that we do get into dangerous situations. This has been my irrational side talking and acting. I know you need to know how to use a gun, but I don't want you to. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?" Arthur seemed out of breath by the time he was done. And I couldn't stop thinking about what he said. Now I knew for sure that he cared for me.
I had no words. Instead I walked back to him and wrapped my arms around him. I laid my head on his chest and pulled tight. After a few seconds he too, slowly rapped his arms around me. I felt him rest his chin on my head and all I could think about was this moment. What he just said to me. All I could think about was him. I had a feeling that would be all I could think about for a while.
It had to be at least a good five minutes before we pulled apart. I couldn't tell who pulled away first because I was to busy trying to look anywhere but him. He actually looked a little flushed which gave me a wonderful feeling. I was falling for him. Hard and fast.
"We have about thirty seconds left. Lets walk." Arthur stepped to my side and we began to walk. I grabbed his hand and he didn't hesitate to hold mine at all. It felt wonderful.
Right before we were pulled from the dream, I looked at him and said, "Thank you for caring." I smiled and it was over.
Groggily waking up was the worst part. I pulled the IV from my arm and looked over at Arthur. He was sitting up and pushing his hair back. He looked over at me, but looked away after seeing I was doing the same. We both stood up at the same time. I took in his whole appearance, which was a little disheveled.
He began to smooth hiss arms sleeves when I walked right in front of him.
"Here, let me help," I said. I grabbed his tie and fixed it to perfection. The whole time I could feel his gaze on me, and was painfully aware of how close we were. When I was done I looked up at him. He was smiling a real smile. One that he never gave unless it was a rare occasion. I decided that I wanted to see it more often.
"I like that," I said tapping his lip. "You should do it more often."
He reached out one hand and brushed my hair back behind my ears.
"You have a lovely face," he said adoringly. His eyes never left mine. I was blushing, I knew for sure.
I turned away from him. I had to get away before I did something stupid. When I was a good three feet, I heard him saw, "Oh and Ariadne?" I looked at him.
"I wouldn't touch my lips if I were you." His smile was wide and mischievous as I continued on my way. I looked back at him as I was walking out of the warehouse. He was still staring.
Shit. Shit. Shit.