Triptych: A Life in Ten Acts
An Inception Fanfic.
Act VI:
Two months later, Ariadne moved in to Arthur's flat.
They lived simply, but simply for them was quite different from simply for someone else.
And then Cobb called.
He had a job that he needed his best Point Man and Architect for. It was a simple in and out kind of mission. A global telephone company wanted insider secrets on its closest competitor in order to remain ahead of the race.
Arthur and Ariadne were both excited to jump back into dreams again. Neither had gone under since the Inception job, and Ariadne was beginning to feel rusty. Immediately she began sketching, just to practice. Arthur also took to his task right away. He began researching the employees of their target, trying to find a weak link. They booked a flight for a Friday morning, and hours later were greeting Cobb and his children.
Arthur noted the changes that Dom had made in the home's décor. He had subtly removed some traces of Mal. But not all of them. Her picture was still next to every other in the house. But her clothes were missing from the closet and little knick knacks that she had collected were now boxed in the garage.
Miles was staying with the children while Dom was away, and he cheerfully greeted Arthur and Ariadne when they entered the kitchen. A suitcase sat by the backdoor.
"We leaving already, Dom? We just got here," Arthur questioned. Arthur looked up.
"What?"
"Your suitcase. Looks like it's been packed for days." Arthur motioned toward the case resting on its side. One of Phillipa's dolls sat next to it.
"That's mine actually, pet." God, that voice. It slid like honey down Arthur's spine. Just a few words and his blood coursed hot through his veins.
"Eames!" But Ariadne filled what would have been uncomfortable silence. One moment she stood next to him, and the next she was across the room, arms flung around Eames' neck in a tight embrace. "I haven't seen you in ages. Not since we had dinner. But, God, that was months ago."
This was news to Arthur, and he assumed she meant before he had moved to Paris.
"Missed you too, love." Eames disengaged himself from her arms, and smiled at her, before looking up at Arthur.
"Hello, Arthur."
"Eames. Pleasure as always." Arthur couldn't help the smile that slipped from his lips.
"Ha! I think I missed your sarcasm most, pet."
He took a step forward, as if going for a hug, but then thought better of it, and stepped back. If Ariadne noticed the tension, she didn't let on.
"Greetings over? Good. Down to business."
And that was Cobb in a nutshell. All business.
.
Arthur tried to forget the past so that he and Eames could perhaps be friends. Ariadne kept planning things they could all do together. Both he and Eames shut down the idea of dinner, and while Ariadne had pouted slightly, Eames had promised her a dinner for just the two of them to catch up.
Arthur thought that was fine.
The group of them boarded a flight to New York the next morning. Cobb spent a lot of time in his hotel room, making sure the correct somnacin formula was being shipped. Arthur headed to the spa to wind down. And Eames asked Ariadne to dream share with him so that he could practice a few people he had been working on, just for fun.
Ariadne was not exactly surprised that Eames had his own PASIV device. It looked like a miniature version of the one she was used to.
Once under, she was confronted by a perfect replica of Barack Obama.
"You're mimicking the president? Really? Isn't that like, illegal or something?" She hid her laugh behind her hand, then paused to glance at her surroundings.
"Where are we?"
Obama answered her. "This is the suburb I grew up in."
"You? Or Obama?"
"Ha ha ha." And he morphed into someone unfamiliar. A tall woman, wearing a navy pantsuit, pearls around her neck, brown hair pulled back.
"Who are you supposed to be?"
She was taken aback by the proper British accent that answered her. "Young lady. Aren't you supposed to be in a class right now? Hmm? What would your mother say?" A dainty hand gripped a thin hip.
"Are you some sort of school marm?"
Eames laughed, a strange experience as midway through it changed from the woman's cackle to Eames' usual laugh, low and gravelly.
"That was Mrs. Petersmith. Teacher from secondary school. God I hated that woman." Eames rubbed his forehead and gestured behind Ariadne. She followed his lead as they entered a bar.
"Then why forge her?" An aged bartender placed a glass in front of each of them. Gin.
"So I can hate her in detail." Eames grinned as he drank his down in one quick gulp. Ariadne sipped hers delicately.
"Is this what you do in your spare time, then? Choose random people to forge?"
"Got to keep in practice somehow. Plus, I like the challenge of trying to remember someone from long ago; the details start to slip away. Like with Mrs. Petersmith. I loved trying to remember exactly how she walked. The little sway in her step. Or the thin line she used to keep her lips in. Those kinds of things are what make or break a forgery."
The glass was refilled, but Eames drank this one slower.
"We're only under for a minute, right?" She sat her glass on the marble countertop.
"Yep. Didn't need that long, really. Just wanted a second opinion on the forgeries."
"They are very good. But then, they're always really good, Eames."
"Thank you much, love." He nodded to her before tipping the glass back and swallowing the last bit.
Ariadne looked at the people around her. "Are these my projections or yours?"
Eames looked thoughtful. "Care to test it?" He waggled his eyebrows.
She shoved him playfully. "No way."
"Mine probably. Since clearly you know your way around this bar."
"I don't-" But she did. As she glanced again at the décor of the bar, she realized that it was one she and Arthur had visited the week before.
"How did you know?"
"Well, one, you motioned automatically to the bartender. Two, I have no idea where this place is, nor could I, or would I have thought it up. And three, you keep staring at Arthur."
"What?" She looked around. And yes, there was Arthur sitting in the booth they had occupied on their visit together.
"But he's your projection."
"So? You were subconsciously looking at him. Which means, well, it was obvious here that you were looking at him."
"I don't think I'll ever understand all there is to know about dreams."
"Ariadne, darling, I've been at this for years and I still don't know the half of it. But he's coming over now."
And sure enough, Projection Arthur was walking toward them.
"Should we go?"
"'Fraid he'll hurt you? What with you invading my mind and all?" Eames grinned at her, clearly amused. "Don't worry love, I'll protect you."
But there was no need for protection. No need at all. Because instead of moving toward Ariadne as a threat, he passed her and walked up to Eames.
And pressed the most sensual kiss against his lips.
And then they woke up.
A/N: First off, let me say I am extremely sorry for updating so late. I was bombarded with midterms this week.
So a bit of a cliffhanger here. But I'm on Spring Break next week, so I should post on time.
Many thanks to my continued readers. I love you all and enjoy your reviews. And to new readers, welcome!
Now, to lift my spirits and let me know that you aren't too angry with me for posting so late in the week, please click the little button below and leave me a review. They make me smile!
Thanks!
sl
Disclaimer: Inception is the property of Christopher Nolan.
