This is in Arthurs POV, just thought it would be a nice for a bit of variety.

Hope you like it!

Arthur

Those stupid fuckers. I curse their damned souls to the pit of hell. Of all people, Ariadne. They had to be interested in her. The one girl that made me feel and do weird thing whilst in her company, I want them to die. That would make my life just that much better.

She was confused, her eyes would glance to mine every once in a while, as if she needed assurance.

"Have you got your totem with you?" I blurted randomly. Her face was calm, and it softened ever so slightly.

"Yeah, I fished it out before I left for Morocco. I didn't realise how much I missed it until I tested it that first time in… what, six months?" her chocolate brown eyes were warm.

Her new silk scarf was wrapped around her head like a bandana, a few curls escaping and lying on her collar bones. The urge to gently tuck them behind her ear was almost unbearable.

Almost.

The task at hand filled me with hate and rage, those sick men who wanted everything, to be the most powerful con artists on the earth, and they wanted her to join their disgusting little cult…

I took my anger out on the road; I revved the car so loud it screamed.

"Well, at least you have it." I breathed out slowly. Now that she was following, she could help us…

"Arthur, where in the god's name are you taking me?" her curiosity was evident, but she was still irritated from my out-of-the-blue phone call. It was necessary. With Agra and Ethos, it was join, or die. Ariadne will never have that option.

"We are going back to L.A, Eames and I have been working there for a while. Just keeping a low profile, you know?" she nodded and stared out the window.

"Ariadne, I'm sorry for dragging you out of your holiday like this, I am only doing this for your safety. We'll get rid of these guys, I promise."

"Arthur," she sighed. Her voice sent confusing goose bumps up my arm. "I don't even know who they are, or why they're so dangerous. I don't care that you just barged over and demanded that I leave, I really don't. I just want to know why I have to be protected against these men. I'm a grown woman for pity's sake!"

I stared at her for a minute, her porcelain face stared right back at me. You don't know what they're capable of. I thought dryly to myself.

"The dreaming business is a very dangerous game. We are hired normally to uncover secrets of huge members of society, which are aroused suspicions by a family member or rival. But if they were ever to find out whom we are and what we do, they can easily send a truck full of men to hunt us down, and kill us.

"The two men that I showed you in that photograph, are very skilled extractors. Not nearly as good as Cobb, but smart all the same. They want to be the best. They want to have every business man begging to hire them. If they see someone they are interested in, someone like you who is extremely talented, they will stop at nothing until they get them. It's join or die."

I let Ariadne drink all of this information in; I could see the click in her head as she registered what I just said.

"And they're interested in me," I could hear the frown in her voice.

"Let's hope not. But if they are, we have to stay hidden for the time being."

The silence in the car echoed against the frame. "What are their names?" she asked abruptly. These topic changes never ceased to fascinate me. Was she feeling uncomfortable? Or was she just curious?

I grimaced. "Agro and Ethos. They're both Russian."

"Ok. Oh yeah, you just missed the turnoff for the airport." She stated, matter of fact. I chuckled at her strange, funny little quirks of constantly changing the subject.

I pulled into the airport and parked right in front of the automatic doors.

"You're not supposed to park here…" but I cut her off mid sentence by gently putting my hand to the small of her back. I marvelled how delicate her spine felt underneath my fingertips…

As quickly as the thought came, I banished it, but didn't move my hand. I escorted her to the ticket counter, then finally let my hand drop. I could barely hear her exhale of breath, but ignored it and went about to getting tickets out of here as quickly as possible.

Once we were sorted and ready to go, I sighed heavily and boarded the plane after Ariadne. We had just made the half two flight, and we would be in L.A by eleven p.m.

Airplanes were so familiar to me now, it was almost comforting sitting in our first class seats, waiting to take flight. Of course, the weird and wonderful girl sitting next to me helped just a bit…

"You look tired. Try and get some rest," her eyes looked sleepy, and she was slouched in her seat. She nodded daintily.

"Good ideaa…" she slurred and was out in less than ten seconds. I smiled at her peaceful face and closed the blind by her eyes. I wrapped her in a blanket that the waitress had offered, and patted her hand. It felt rather nice to take care of her, which was very unlike me, and not something i would normally do.

For the rest of the journey, I dozed, planned escape routes, or watched Ariadne dream. It was indeed, a very comfortable journey.

I should have the next 2 chapters up by tomorrow night! :)