I'm baaaaack! :D did you all miss me? I missed you guys.
I SAW INCEPTION FOR THE 5TH TIME TONIGHT! IT ENDED AT 1 O' CLOCK! AND NOW I AM POSTING THIS! I AM SUPER HAPPY! :D
Anyway, straight to the point: the team is here in the U.S. for their next job. they are on the east coast, so even though it is raining, it is hot (because it is summer). They are currently in a hotel (a couple days before the job, of course they would get there a little early. and they're freakin' rich, so they got NICE hotel rooms). It is mainly focused on Ariadne struggling with some of her inner demons, and Arthur is there to help her out.
This chapter is slightly more dramatic and angsty than my previous ones, but it is hopefully still cute with a bit of sweet. =)
Disclaimer: me no own.
Ariadne couldn't sleep.
It was raining outside. She didn't like rain, it reminded her of her childhood dislike of thunderstorms. She curled up under her blanket, but she didn't feel any safer. She just lay there, unable to sleep, and unable to calm herself. She looked at her clock. 2:04 a.m. She sighed.
If only Arthur was there to wrap his big, strong arms around her, it might be able to help her sleep. She wrapped her own small arms around her body, imagining it was him, but it didn't feel the same. She wanted Arthur. She wanted to feel his breath on her neck, she wanted to feel his head nuzzled into the crook of her shoulder, and she wanted to feel his arms curled around her.
She sighed again and got up. It wouldn't hurt to spend just one night with him, would it? It was the only way she could think of that might help her sleep. She needed him.
She went to her balcony door and stared at her reflection in the glass for a long time. She was a mess. Her hair was untidy and flying all over the place, her eyes were bloodshot from getting so little sleep, and her favorite pair of navy blue pajamas were wrinkled; no matter how she adjusted them, she didn't look any less disheveled. Ariadne didn't know how long she stood there. She was caught up in the rain; watching it splatter against the balcony door, listening to the way it was falling all around her.
Ariadne couldn't handle it; she began hyperventilating. She could see a woman kneeling in front of her, in pouring rain, crying after a figure that was walking further and further away; she could hear cries of anguish, not sure whether they were the woman's or her own-
A low rumble of thunder brought her back to reality. She looked around, breathing heavily. She was inside; she was in her hotel room, not in the rain. She was dry, she was safe, there was no woman, and no cries of terror...She leaned towards her bedside table, knocking over her totem, just to be sure. It clattered over. Just like a totem should. Reality.
Ariadne let out a breath, leaned her head against the cool glass of the door, and tried to take in some calming breaths, but she was still shaking. She knew that she was now even further from getting any sleep than she was before. One panic attack usually left her feeling weak, and vulnerable to more. Flashes of what she had seen were still running through her head, and she could think of only one way to get rid of them. She needed to see him.
It was her only option, and although it was a long shot that he would answer his door this early in the morning-although she wouldn't be surprised if he had stayed up working, she didn't want to spend the rest of the night awake and alone, fighting a losing battle against her demons.
After what felt like ages, she summoned up her strength and left the room. Not bothering to put on her slippers or a less revealing shirt, she closed the door behind her, and quietly padded Arthur's room, which was right across the hall from hers.
It was locked.
She wiggled the doorknob a couple times, hoping that it would loosen and open up, but to no avail. She sighed and slid down the wall, curling up into a ball there. If she were to fall asleep right here and now, she didn't care; being that much closer to Arthur was making her feel slightly better already.
Her eyes began to drift closed when she heard a voice-
"Ariadne, what are you doing out here?"
She looked up quickly to find Arthur standing in the doorway, wearing only a pair of cotton pajama pants. There were dark circles under his eyes.
"Arthur!" she got up, using the wall for support; she was feeling a bit off balance. They stood there, staring at each other for a while, until Arthur decided to break the silence.
"You going to answer my question?" His words sounded harsh, but his eyes were soft and caring.
"I couldn't sleep." She wasn't looking at him.
They were quiet for a moment, before they both simultaneously moved together in a hug. She hadn't realized she'd been holding her breath until she let it all out in one burst. She eventually pulled away from him.
"I'm sorry for waking you up," she said, "I'll just...go back to bed now." She started to leave, but he pulled her back.
"That's it?" he asked. "You came all the way over here to tell me you couldn't sleep, and now you're just going to leave?" He had a slightly amused look on his face, as though he could see right through her.
She didn't know what to say. "I...I didn't-" she began stuttering. He gave her a knowing look, silencing her.
"I just...thought you could help comfort me." she almost whispered, looking shyly up at him.
He smiled before stepping back to let her inside. She gratefully walked in, but stopped right after the doorway. "I couldn't sleep either." Arthur said as he closed the door. But when he turned to see that she was still standing there awkwardly with her arms wrapped around her small body, he went silent. He put an arm around her and led her towards the middle of the room, but she broke away from him and went to the window to look at the pouring rain outside.
"You okay?" He was still standing where she had left him. He wasn't very good at this whole comforting thing, and of all people Ariadne could choose to go to, she chose him. Not that he wasn't flattered by the gesture; they had gotten awfully close since their first job together. But she knew that he wasn't the best advice-giver, and yet, she always came to him. And Arthur was always there for her, irregardless of when or where; she was one of his best friends, and he would never turn her down.
"I don't like thunderstorms." She began, pulling him away from his thoughts. "It reminds me of when..." she stopped suddenly, and they stood in silence. Arthur's face hardened. He was absorbing every word, cautiously; for he wasn't quite sure he was prepared to hear everything she was going to say.
"It was raining when my dad left. I was nine." She took a shaky breath. "And-and I remember my mom standing out there," she couldn't stop the tears from falling. "She spent 2 hours, kneeling on the ground out there, begging for him to come back..." she tried choking back her sobs, but found that the more she talked, the harder it became.
She felt an arm curl around her shoulders and pull her close, and before she knew it, she was sobbing into Arthur's neck.
He hugged her tightly. He couldn't help but want to spill a few tears with her; this was the first time she had ever opened up to him about her past, and he understood why she had never told him-or anybody else-any of this before. It was horrible, it was eating her up inside, and he hated, more than anything, to see her this way. It killed him to see what these memories were doing to her. He hugged her tighter, and they swayed slightly on the spot.
"And he never came back!" she sobbed. "My mom always believed that he would come back one day." she moved her head down so that it was laying on his chest. "I had to watch her waste her life, waiting for something that never came back."
She pulled herself out of his arms suddenly, and backed away until she was against the opposite wall. She slid down it to the floor.
"That's why I'm so afraid of letting myself get to close to anybody." She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. "I don't want to end up like my mom." Her voice had gotten quieter and quieter until it was near a whisper.
Arthur went over to her, knelt down in front of her, and extended his hand. When all she did was look up at him with her tear-streaked face and red eyes, he took both her arms gently, and pulled her up.
She swayed slightly on the spot, and he gripped her tighter and pulled her close to him.
"Ari," he put a hand under her chin and turned her head up so that their faces met. "You're not going to end up like her."
"But how do you know?" she gasped. "How can you be sure that no one's going to leave me again?"
Arthur sighed. "I don't know." he admitted, and it was hard for him to say that to her. "But I can assure you that I will never leave you." He looked right into her eyes, penetrating her. "I promise." He took her face in his hands and kissed her forehead lightly.
Her mouth formed a shaky smile and she stepped closer to him, pressing their bodies together in a hug.
"Thank you." she murmured into his shoulder.
He smirked slightly, and rubbed her back. After a moment's silence, he said, "You know, when I was little, my dad used to tell me that thunderstorms were what brought zombies to life." He chuckled. "Used to give me nightmares."
Ariadne's body shook slightly, and Arthur noticed-to his relief-that she, too, was giggling.
"That's adorable." she said. "And thanks. Again." She smiled up at him and took some deep, steady breaths.
He returned her grin. "It's good to see that smile." he said, and he wiped her tears away. "Now come on, I think it's time you get some sleep." And he led her to his bed.
"What?" She was shocked when he sat her down on the edge of the bed. "Arthur, what are you doing?"
"I thought you wanted some comfort." he said while pulling the covers back for her. "Come on, Ari, you don't have to sleep alone tonight." He gave her a sweet smile as he moved to the other side of the bed.
Ariadne still sat there, unmoving.
"Ari," Arthur sighed. "You don't have your key, do you?"
"What?" Ariadne suddenly remember that she had left her key on her bedside table, in her room. She wouldn't be able to get back in tonight. "Damnit." she muttered quietly.
"Come on, just sleep here tonight, and we can go get your room unlocked in the morning." Arthur yawned. He was still standing there, waiting for Ariadne to give in and lay down.
Ariadne paused before finally succumbing the soft covers of the bed. She felt her body immediately relax. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath; waves of exhaustion were already washing over her. Maybe she would finally be able to sleep, to dream.
She felt Arthur get into bed next to her.
"Arthur," she turned over to face him. "I really appreciate this."
"No problem, Ari." he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. "Just try to get some sleep." He stared into her eyes for what felt like ages before she blushed and turned over again. He curled his arm tighter around her and pressed his chest into her back.
Ariadne smiled to herself. Arthur was such a sweet guy. How did she ever manage to deserve someone as great as him? She clung to the arm that was curled around her waist and took in the feel of his smooth skin. His cologne surrounded her, and she breathed it in. She sighed and let her head fall back so that their cheeks touched.
After many minutes-or perhaps it was hours-of nothing happening, Ariadne suddenly felt herself begin to get hot, but it wasn't because of the temperature. Arthur was placing slow, sweet kisses down her neck. She internally moaned and turned her face to meet his; an intense and passionate look was in his eyes. She closed her eyes and kissed him, this time, moaning out loud...but suddenly, Arthur was gone. The scent of his cologne, the feel of his hand, all of him...was gone.
When Ariadne woke up, she found that her limbs were splayed across Arthur's body. His head was tilted slightly upward to look at her, and she saw that he was wearing an amused grin. She could feel her face getting red, and she knew what had happened before he spoke.
"So, did you have a nice dream?"
THEY SPOONED! :DD (sorry for my spazzing attack, but you guys have no idea how happy it made me to write that! ^_^)
Did you all like it? :D I really hope the ending made sense, but in case you didn't get it, the kisses were a dream. ;) yeah. One of those "they're-best-friends-but-she-wants-to-be-more" type of things. poor Ari only dreamed that part. hehehe. and again, I really hope parts of this weren't too repetitive for you guys. it kinda bugged me. :P
Well, this was probably the hardest chapter to write so far, so I dearly hope it was up to scratch! Don't forget to review cos it'll make me want to update faster! ALSO, if you have any ideas for future chapters, let me know! They will be greatly appreciated and I will try my best to write them!
Thank you MUCHOS for sticking with me, lovelies! I love you all! *mwah* like I love JGL. ;)
ByTheBeautifulSea :3
