It was hot but Arthur never minded the weather. It was Ariadne's graduation day, this wasn't about him. As a treat, the team payed for Ariadne when she requested to take Cobb's kids out to ice cream. Both Phillipa and James held her hand on the walk to the parlor. Arthur loved the sight. He couldn't deny how great she was with kids. Cobb especially pleased as the kids could soon consider her family, like another big sister or an aunt. Inside the parlor only few blocks away from her ceremony, Ariadne asked the children what type of flavor ice cream they would like.
"Chocolate! Chocolate, daddy!" James shouted as the toddler gave Ariadne a toothy smile.
Ariadne smiled in reply and turned to the little girl beside her. "How about you Phillipa?"
The little blonde girl seemed to be comforted by the architect's smile. "I like strawberry," she informed shyly.
Cobb payed for his kids desserts, Arthur witnessing the scene the entire time. Ariadne was amazing at what she did no doubt. It was a scene he would play over and over and never grow tired of. The way she spoke to children, the soothing angelic voice as she comforted them. The way she knew exactly what they wanted and how to please them. Arthur wondered where she learned such a skill.
"I used to watch my aunt's kids for a couple of years, I've picked up a few tricks on the way," Ariadne stated, almost like she read his mind. Her eyes following Miles and Cobb talking as the family seated and the kids eating their treats.
"Well, must I say, you are quite the expert my dear," Eames complemented.
"I suppose you're right." Ariadne winked before leaving to grab a handful of napkins to clean off the ice cream around James' mouth.
The two men watched her leave, cleaning off the mess on James as he protested but allowed to be cleansed anyway. A small but willing smile forming on the point man's face, another scene he wouldn't mind more than once. His smile quickly died as he turned to the forger, an amused smile on his face.
"Don't you have something better to do?" Arthur huffed, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"You mean better than you gaping at our architect while you play in your crummy mudhole?" Eames mused. "No I don't believe so."
"She's not our architect, we haven't even told her about the job."
"The job isn't until another seven months," Eames declared. "Which means you have plenty of time to start a, what do kids call it? 'An honest relationship' and make little architect and point babies."
"She'll find out eventually." Arthur not necessarily denying the thought of children.
"I never said she wouldn't," he countered. "I'm merely suggesting you could start being, 'more than friends'." Eames hinted as he moved away to join Yusuf in line for a cup of tea.
Arthur watched angrily as the forger decided to act smug about the subject. If Ariadne didn't know about the job offer, it would cause a reason for her not to be on the team again. Then again, Arthur wasn't one to argue with Eames' suggestion. He watched Ariadne finish cleaning the kids of their mess and made her way to dispose of the dirty napkins. Arthur subconsciously making his way towards the goddess, as well. He was lost at words as she noticed his presence and looked curiously up to meet his eyes.
"Can I buy you some coffee?" He knew he made a good choice when she smiled to his request.
Hidden in line, the forger smirked.
(• • •)
"Ariadne, have you been sleeping lately?"
"I appreciate your concern Yusuf, but is there anything you need from me?" The architect's tone like venom.
Yusuf can hear the annoyance in her words, but finally had reason to engage in conversation. He came inside her work area to observe her progress, her sharp glare piercing through his back as she watched him. Yusuf noticed the trash bin full of crumbled sketches and pick up one of the random drawings scattered on her tables. Looking very closely, he saw mazes. Except... Yusuf heard Ariadne's breath hitch when he turned around with one of her creations in his hand. His face shaped in confusion. "Ariadne..." he whispered fearfully. He removed his gaze off the drawing and saw the architect smile again, only it was filled with nothing.
(• • •)
"You did nothing but talk and suggest." Arthur remembering the of her graduation day very well.
"You weren't one to complain," Eames joked then realised the major stress through the point man's body language. His breathing uneven, clothes loosely undone, hands shaking and beginning to tap on the table. "Arthur, pour it out already."
(• • •)
"I'm trapped," said the couple.
(• • •)
"How?" asked the chemist.
"Why?" asked the forger.
(• • •)
Ariadne flinched at his question and shook her head. Yusuf seemed to take the challenge and grabbed the nearest chair to be faced in front of her. She kept her head down, acting like a stubborn child who had gotten their toy taken from them.
"Ariadne." No reply. "Ariadne, please listen to me," the chemist insisted.
She lifted her head up to face him. Before Yusuf could mutter another word, Ariadne interrupted him. "No. You listen to me," she spat. "Have you ever been stuck, nowhere to go and no one to turn to? It's like- I'm trapped. I'm trapped in a maze, everywhere I go there's always a dead end. I start to lose hope that I'll never escape. But I just, keep running and running." She searched his face for any sign of realization, "I just keep running... from the truth."
The chemist simply nodded. "May I ask a question?" She nodded. "Why do you run? What is so important that causes the need of escape?" Ariadne scoffed, he was starting to sound like a real therapist.
"I told you. I'm trying run away from the truth," she repeated. "I don't want- I can't... I'm not ready for the truth." How would he understand. She knew he wouldn't. What advice would she possibly expect? Yusuf was a babysitter of sleeping bodies and companions with a cat.
"So you resort to lying," Yusuf countered. "As you keep running, you're creating lies. Your lies are the maze. You lie to yourself, as well." Yusuf began to fiddle with his hands as he leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. "Ariadne." She continued to stare at him, desperately waiting for his next words. "No one can live in lies, you know that. We already do so as we speak. You don't to want to have lies rule your life, now do you?" Ariadne shook her head, acting like a child again. "It's okay to stop running, Ariadne." She watched as he got up from his seat and lay a supportive hand on her shoulder. "You know what they say, 'the truth will set you free.'"
(• • •)
Arthur shushed Eames, looking over to Ariadne's station to see her in deep thought. Quiet and alone the way he knew she liked it. His attention turned back to the forger. "We had a fight."
"Ooo goodie, what about?" Arthur was tempted to hurl something at Eames.
"She caught me hiding in her memory while she was dreaming," Arthur sighed.
Eames bursted into laughter, "That's it?" Wiping a unshed tear from his. "And here I thought it was something important."
Arthur scowled at the Brit. "This was different, she never actually told me about the memory," he confessed.
His eyes bored into the froger, thankful his laughing fit was over. "So she lied to you," Eames assumed.
"She told me about that memory. She just forgot to mention a minor detail," he defended. "But, she told me her reason. She was just worried about me."
"So she lied to you," Eames repeated. Arthur remained quiet. "Arthur, who exactly fixed the problem here?" Silence. Arthur could see him start to bubble with annoyance. "Chap, don't you see she's hiding from you?"
"Hiding what?"
"Goddamn Arthur, the truth?"
"... About?"
"Christ, you're the point man. I assume you would be more observant. What happened to being professional?" Eames huffed.
"I still am," Arthur argued. "I just feel-"
"My point exactly," the forger interrupted. "You feel. As a team member, you know better than to mix work with your personal life." To Arthur, his words meant: don't become Cobb.
Arthur took a moment. "You were the one to tell me to make a move. You told me start a honest relationship," he accused.
"And yet, who is the honest one?"
Arthur didn't respond to that. Only glared at the forger. How could he say such things, did he think he wasn't capable of handling his own life? And not being professional? Arthur never changed in his own eyes, only gained something to make his life better. He knew, Ariadne would never lie to him.
Eames seemed to be unfazed by his attentions. Arthur watched as he rose and place the chair back where it belonged. He saw as he looked down to him with an expression of disgust, Arthur likewise. "C'mon," the forger commanded. Arthur's face remained unchanged. Eames gave a frustrated sigh, "You had me talking most of the day, we need to fix that."
Arthur didn't know why he went along but did so anyway. He took one more glance to his girlfriend before following Eames out the warehouse. He was unaware of where he was taking him but if it meant going somewhere with Eames, Arthur was certain to regret it.
A/N: I'm sorry. I really am.
