I had a feeling Arthur was catching on. Sometimes he had comebacks to my witty remarks, and sometimes he did small things. Like kisses on the cheek or the brush of fingertips. But everything he did now was different. Everything had been calculated and thought about. I mean, that is what Arthur does.
I walked into the warehouse about three days after my shared dream with Arthur. Looking around the room I saw something rather large covered under a sheet. I, of course, was curious. I began to make my way over to the new found object. I didn't make it very far.
"Well hello Darling," Eames said to me. He looked a tad bit worried.
"Eames, how are you?" I responded. He was looking at the warehouse door seeming anxious. He didn't even hear me when I spoke to him.
"Are you waiting for someone Eames?" This time he heard me. He looked right at me before tugging my hand in the opposite direction of the weird object.
"No, no, no. No one at all." It seemed more as if he was talking to himself. He was still tugging me and not to much later, we had arrived at my work station. It looked as if everything was in place. I was surprised. Usually the boys took something from me the night before without returning it. The were a little rude that way.
"You just stay here Sweets," He told me strictly.
"Alright, Dad. I just wanted to see what our new package is over there." This seemed to make him, if possible, even more anxious. He grabbed my arm in a rush.
"Well I need to show you something, sorry toots. Maybe later." I was pulled as far as possible from the secret package. Eames desk. The normal things were there. His reports and research. I began to wonder what the Forger possibly needed me to see.
"Al-right, cut the crap, Darling," I said sarcastically, " I KNOW you don't want me to see whatever is over there. And we both know I'm going to eventually. This is me were talking about. Might as well just get it over with."
Eames rolled his eyes at exactly the same time Arthur entered the warehouse. I watched as he scanned the building, his eyes first falling on the hidden object, then me. He also looked nervous. I looked at Eames for an explanation, but he was nodding his head, "No." I looked back at Arthur and he seemed more relaxed. Something was going on, and it was time for me to find out what.
Eames still had my arm in a tight grip. I had to figure out some way to get out. I had to be only thinking for a good 30 seconds before something brilliant and easy came to me.
I stomped on Eames foot. Hard. He squealed and let go of me, hoping around on his good foot. In a second I was sprinting towards the hidden object. I could help but look at Arthur as I was running by him. He looked shocked, and slightly impressed. Before I could think to much about this, he was running after me. And let me just say, he was fast. Faster then me. He had soon taken me by the waist, while I tried to fight him off. Both of our efforts caused us to go falling to the ground. He landed on top of me, which was more then uncomfortable. And it hurt. It seemed as if he weighed 500 pounds. I couldn't help but let out a noise of distress.
"Ugh," I said from underneath him, not moving in fear of causing myself more pain. He immediately lifted most of his weight off of me by holding himself up with his arms. I looked at him pointedly, waiting for him to get up. But he never did.
"Arthur, don't take this the wrong way, but….get the hell off me!" I shouted at him from my place on the floor. He lifted an eyebrow in response.
"No, because we both know what you will try to do. And I cant have that," he responded. My eyes. Once again, went in the direction of the hidden object. He followed my gaze.
"Ah yes, see I was quite right." He said smirking, satisfied with himself.
"I don't understand why I cant know." I said whining. This seemed only to amuse him more. He was getting a real kick out of my suffering. Time to take action.
"Arthur," I said pouting out my lip and making my eyes wide. "Arthur please, please show me." I ran one of my hands from the bottom of his neck to the middle of his chest, very, very, lightly. I saw his eyes go wide and soften.
"Don't fall for it mate. She's reeling you in like a fish. Stand your ground," Eames told Arthur. Inside I wanted to kill Eames, but didn't let it show. I continued to look at Arthur with everything I had, making sure to come off as depressed and sad.
"Arthur, please. It's all I want. Why are you being so mean to me?" I was in the zone. I lifted up my hand to his cheek and left it there. "Please." I saw him gulp. Eames chuckled.
"Ariadne-" he trailed off, staring at me intently.
"Hmm?" I ran a finger tip up one of his arms.
"I just-," I was winning. I saw him losing his nerve completely.
I leaned my body up as close as I could get to him in this position. "Please," I whispered one last time into his ear. I felt him let out a rather large sign.
"Fine," He breathed out, getting off of me slowly. Inside I was having a party for my victory. He was just so freaking cute. And I was just so freaking smart.
"You lost Champ. God you are such a pussy." Eames said meanly to Arthur. Arthur just looked at him without saying anything. Even he had realized he lost, but I don't think he was to unhappy about it.
"Come with me." Arthur grabbed my hand, interlacing his fingers with mine. He walked me over to the hidden object, but all I could concentrate on was his hand in mine.
"I wanted to wait, but…well you know," He said to me sadly. I almost felt bad, but I was just dying to know what was underneath that sheet. He walked over to it and looked at me.
"I felt like doing something special for you. I hope you don't mind." He smiled after saying this, and I couldn't stop looking at him. I loved when he smiled.
'Alright, I'm ready Arthur. Show me." I said to him, anticipating the reveal.
Arthur pulled the large sheet off of the object very slowly. I stood the waiting in anticipation, until finally it was off. I had to be standing there with my mouth wide open, for at least five minutes. It was beautiful. The best thing anyone had ever done for me. I was amazed and couldn't believe he had actually done it.
It was the biggest Lazy Boy leather chair you had ever seen. It could at lease fit two people comfortably. It was amazing. Dreaming in that chair would be the most comfortable thing on this planet. I couldn't believe he had actually done it. And I knew if was for me because there was a giant sized, red ribbon tied around the top of the chair. And a huge note card that said, "Ariadne." I felt like crying.
"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.
I realized that I hadn't said anything to Arthur about his perfect gift. I turned around and ran at him. I was doing, without thinking. I would probably regret it later, but at the moment I couldn't help it. He opened his arms right before my body hit him with a great force. My arms went around his neck as his arms went around my waist. I wrapped my arms around his middle and began planting kisses all over his face. His cheeks, nose, forehead, everything and anything besides his lips.
The great thing about the whole situation was he wasn't even tense. His body was relaxed and happy. He was smiling. It was at that moment I knew I loved him. That fact that he was excepting my idiocy, was something that sent my heart flying. He held me and smiled at me like I was the most important thing in the world. I felt like the most important thing In the world. I knew that I was going to have to kiss him sometime soon, or I might explode.
When I was done covering his face in kisses we just looked at each other for a good two minutes. I couldn't get enough of his handsome face. He was everything I needed. I had no idea one chair could make such a difference in my life. That chair had showed me something I could never see before. That Arthur was exactly what I needed.
He was always the one that kept me sane. From letting my mind wander to far. He made sure I knew how to protect myself, but still he was always there protecting me. He was the one I went to if I needed advice, or help with a maze. He was the one I talked to about the side effects of dream sharing with. He knew more about me then anyone else I worked with, then almost anyone else I knew. He wasmy best friend, but turned out to be so much more.
"Well I hate to interrupt this little love fest here, but I have to be getting back to work," Eames said loudly from somewhere beside us. I laughed and Arthur just groaned.
"And you felt the need to tell us this because…" Arthur trailed off, never taking his eyes off me.
"I thought you might like to smooch in private. I didn't want you waiting for me to leave." Eames was laughing as he walked away. I felt my face burning, but Arthur's never changed. He just looked so completely happy.
H put me back on my feet and I took his hand, "Come on," I said, pulling him. I took him over to the chair and sat down. When he made no move, I patted the open space next to me.
"What, scared?" I teased. I gave the seat one obnoxious pat. He rolled his eyes, but came to sit with me. I settled into his side putting my head on his shoulder.
"Thank you so much Arthur. You didn't have to do this. I thought you were kidding." I said to him.
"I would never lie to you. If you want something, it's yours. No questions asked." Arthur responded. And my heart melted. I didn't know what to say, and then I knew I didn't have to say anything. Because actions speak louder then words, right?
I turned my head just enough to meet his eyes and then…I kissed him. Full on the mouth, and it was perfect. It was everything I felt from the dream and more. He didn't go fast, instead he took it slow. Moving his mouth against mine in a smooth rhythm. I was feeling greedy, and before I knew it our hands were everywhere. I turned my head to take us deeper and opened my mouth. I ran my tongue along his lip and heard him let out a large groan. His hands were on my sides and in my hair. I couldn't keep track of everything he was doing. When I needed a breath me moved his mouth to my neck, and kissing all along my jaw. I straddled his lap and he moved his head backwards, giving me a better reach.
We pulled away after what seemed like forever, but felt too short.
"Well that took you long enough," He said against my cheek. I laughed and pulled back to look at him. He looked more disheveled then I had ever seen him. His tie was thrown over his shoulder and his gelled hair was messy. The was a piece of hair falling over his eye and I moved it back into place. He did the same with a few pieces of my hair and we continued to look at each other.
I finally decided it was time to get to work. I was very behind on what I was supposed to be doing and unfortunately needed to work on that. I got off of his lap and the chair, about to leave without saying anything.
"Leaving without a thank you?" Arthur commented as I was leaving. I turned to smirk at him.
"Oh, I believe you got a thank you- Mr." I responded rolling my eyes. He smirked at me but didn't say anything.
So, I had figured out I was in love with him. But my job wasn't done, he still had to figure out he was in love with me. Shouldn't be to long now, but the plan was still in action.
Tomorrow, step two.