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Outline: The crew goes takes a little holiday…but not quite.
Shanghai, China 5:00 p.m.
"Eames, your house is sure far away from all the touring sites. I know the perfect place, but it's probably an hour's drive from here. This city is huge." Arthur murmured, examining the map of Shanghai. Their location was very off to the side of the big city, almost off the map page, while downtown and the real urban areas were located on the other side.
"Gee, sorry. But I'll tell you this, these houses here are the best villas you'll ever find in the city, darling."
Later they drove up to the big city, the sun was beginning to go down, and the lights hanging from the trees alongside the street were starting to flash. Ariadne leaned against the cold car window, looking outside. "Why don't we park the car and walk? It's beautiful outside."
Eames, driving, looked around and saw a whole row of amazing pubs. "Darling, I think that's a great idea."
They parked the car and got off in the center of the city, where lightscameraflash seemed to dominate the area. Eames walked in the front with the map, and Arthur and Ariadne following awkwardly in the back. Arthur looked down at his polished shoes, then at Ariadne's slender hands, swaying beside him. He wanted so much to hold her hand… He slowly touched Ariadne's hands, and she looked up in surprise.
"Hey." Arthur smiled his lopsided smile.
Ariadne looked up into his translucent eyes, reflecting the beautiful lights of the city like a mirror. She hesitated for a while, searching his eyes for a lingering impression… "Hey." She smiled back. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Oh." Arthur scratched his head, embarrassed. "Nothing, really. Don't you just love this place? This street we're walking on is the Nanjing road. It's a famous historical site, lasting through out the Sino Japanese war."
Ariadne grinned. This was more like him. But she shivered in a newfound joy. She decided that she had feelings for Arthur, but she kept it to herself, at least for now… Her warm thoughts were interrupted as Arthur took her hand. A tingling feeling spread through her as she felt how perfectly his hands felt in hers, although she had such petit hands.
"So where do you guys want to eat for dinner?" Eames loud voice boomed. He turned around casually, only to see Ariadne's hands entwined in Arthur's. He whistled and turned back, humming to himself. Suddenly he felt almost…lonely. In the busiest and most popular street in the world, he was alone. Every person who knew him would only see his outside. His real self was hidden by a masquerade of foolish grins and insolent remarks. They thought he was a ladies man and liked to spend his days soaked in a bar, gambling, drinking. They all thought he hated long-term relationships, because he was a womanizer. But little did they know it was because he had to escape somewhere, a place where no one got hurt. Where love and feelings didn't directly get to him and make him feel hurt. But the truth is, what he did all day only hurts one person, and that is himself. All that drinking, to submerge to a different world where nothing mattered. To gamble, just so he would feel accomplished and happy, even if it was only for a moment. To meet new people, and never to stay in a relationship for too long, just to not get hurt. All this, only one person knew. Only one person knew him, and it was Arthur.
Eames hated seeing Arthur and Ariadne so untroubled, so blissful. Half of him wished he was the one beside Arthur, telling him of all the glorious things and pretty places. The other half of him silently cried, accepting his despairing fate. He would beam in happiness, if Arthur felt happy. That's all he needed, and he was glad they were on another mission. Eames really wanted to see Arthur's past and to get to know him more.
Arthur's dark hair, and long eyelashes, which turns blonde in the sunlight, and his eyes, squinting up at the blinding sky, they have an undermineable shine. And the way his fingers moved, working a rubric cube in the warehouse. And his voice, smooth and slurry while he talked in determination. But Eames learned that Arthur's voice turns low and husky when he's relaxed. And Arthur's tie, oh that tie! He'd always loosen it, and lean back in his chair when he was fatigued, and prop his feet on his desk and rest his interweaved hands on his stomach, before giving a completely witty comment.
Silently, Eames wished Arthur were his. Eames had never been gay, or even close to it. Arthur wouldn't have ever guessed Eames's feelings for him. Though Eames had teased and played with Arthur more than once, Arthur had never taken him seriously. Besides, he was the ladies man.
Ariadne was the only one who could make Arthur's heart skip a beat in happiness.
But for now, no one should see himself like this, not now. Eames thought. He put on his usual, mystifying expression, and swiveled back, talking in his normal, upbeat voice: "Say, how many of you want to eat Chinese food tonight?"
They walked into a building, one of the tallest skyscrapers in the city.
"This is the Shanghai World Financial Center," Arthur whispered to Ariadne, who nodded, amazed. "This is 101 floors high and more than 1,600 feet tall.
"Ni hao, greetings. How may I help you?" A woman, covered heavily in make up, said from the Help Desk.
"Is there a restaurant up here?" Eames smirked. His emotions were long tucked away and hidden from the entire world to find.
"Yes, follow me." The woman led them to an elevator with gold swirls and studs reflecting white light. As the elevator door closed behind them, she smiled at the three visitors.
"Here to tour? This is the tallest building in China," The woman gestured. "It is the third tallest in the world, about 1,614 feet tall."
Ariadne squeezed Arthur's hand. You were right.
"The restaurants here are the best in the world. I'm guessing you are going to the Chinese cuisine? It's in the 88th floor. If you do, I highly recommend sitting near the window. You can see all of Shanghai, and even the bordering cities up there. It's the perfect spot for couples, very romantic." The woman looked at Arthur and Ariadne.
As they heard this, they immediately dropped and separated their hands. Eames noticed from the reflection of the mirror, that Arthur's lips were pressed in a hard, tense line. Ariadne was blushing.
They stepped out of the elevator, and into, what Ariadne thinks, the most beautiful place on Earth. The restaurant was tinted in a pretty purple hue, little floating lily pads greeted them at the entrance, as if smiling and saying welcome. The soft music, the sound of the Chinese zither, played in the background. They tried avoiding the more concealed seats and went for the center of the restaurant, near a small artificial fountain. Arthur sat next to Eames, while Ariadne sat opposite from Arthur on the other side.
"Mmm… this is delicious!" Ariadne crooned, picking up another adorned rice bun awkwardly, with chopsticks.
Eames chuckled. "I love their dim sum. Try this one. You too, Arthur." He pointed to the other plate, filled with little cakes shaped like lotus flowers, embellished with pink dressing. Then he sat back, taking in the scene. Arthur had those chopsticks between his fingers, so swiftly. As if he's used them before, though of course this was his very first time. Eames wondered. He'd never really realized how much he loved Arthur, until now. Really, credits to whoever said trips to faraway places can help you figure out who you are. He picked up his chopsticks clumsily, trying to get a slippery garnished bun. "Ughh, screw it," He growled, putting away one of the chopsticks and using the other to skew his food. "That's more decent." He mumbled, while Arthur and Ariadne laughed.
Beautiful little desserts and vegetables kept coming, and they were made so beautifully that Ariadne felt sorry to eat them at all. They were like little pieces of artwork, all made and designed on a plate! She took pictures of all the different dishes, taking a mental note to use them as inspiration for her next architectural project.
"I need to use the bathroom," She said, standing up. Arthur looked up, worried. "You sure you don't want me to come?"
Eames groaned. "Gee, darling, give the girl some personal space."
Arthur almost felt like blushing, and sat down again. "Fine. Be careful, Ariadne."
The two men were left in awkward silence. "So…" They both began, at the same time. Arthur coughed and looked away. Eames drank his water.
"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" Arthur suddenly turned, staring intensely at Eames.
"Did anyone tell you that you have the longest eyelashes, darling." Eames didn't know what else to say. It was always just so hard for him to speak his true feelings. Instead, he said something totally expected.
"Tchh…" Arthur mumbled.
"How do you really feel about Ariadne, darling?" Eames asked.
"…I don't really know. Ever since that kiss in the dream, I can't seem to…stop thinking about her."
Eames nodded, hurt. "I see."
"Why?"
"Arthur…You know me well."
"Yes, I do. And I can tell something's bothering you, ever since we got on that plane. Why are you so upset, so hurt? You don't need to always hide your feelings like that, Mr. Eames."
Eames was taken back by this soothing comment. His husky raw voice almost wavered. "Arthur…What would you think if I said...If I said…That...I really like you? Bloody hell, no, not just like. God, I love you Arthur. Ever since I met you, even before the Fischer job. Arthur." He trailed off, glad that he'd finally said it.
Arthur gave a little start, nearly knocking over his glass. His heart thudded loudly, he felt like it was going to leap through his throat any second. "Do you, Eames?" He touched the tablecloth and leaned forward. "How come you've… never told me?"
Eames exhaled slowly. He shook his head and looked down at his hands. "I'm sorry, Arthur. I'm starting to think, I might as well leave all of you, or else we're going to get more hurt. I might as well leave now, before things get so serious."
"No! Mr. Eames, you can't leave. Not now, when Carter is tracking us down this minute."
"Speaking of Carter…why isn't Ariadne back yet? It's been a whole half hour." Eames checked his watch and frowned.
The two men got up in an instant. Arthur threw down his credit card on the desk and they strode off to search for her.
"You check this floor to 50, I'll do the rest. Meet up at the lobby!" Arthur shouted, worried.
"Got it, darling." Eames ran off. He turned the corner, following the bathroom sign, and busted through the door with the red dress symbol. Two women applying mascara at the mirror screamed, dropping their make up.
"Oops, wrong door! Sorry!" Eames apologized sheepishly, backing away quickly and going to the next floor.
Ten minutes later, they met up back at the lobby, each person looking at the other, in hope of finding a slight sliver of hope.
Eames stern face told Arthur no.
He gave out a shout, kneeling to the floor. "Where the hell is she?"
Eames put his hand on Arthur's shoulder. "Calm down. We'll-"
Arthur's iPhone began to ring. Non, je ne regretted pas…
Arthur took out his buzzing black phone and slid over the touch screen. He heard Carter's voice booming through the little speakers.
"Nice to hear from you again, Arthur." There was something wrong with Carter's voice. It was sounded so…victorious.
"Arthur, if you want your little girlfriend back, you'd better listen closely. Ariadne ran right into my trap, oh dear. If you want her to survive then hurry up and meet me at the abandoned Chinese theatre behind Nanjing Road."
Arthur's breaths became short and rapid as he shouted over the phone, "Goddamit, Carter. WHAT DO YOU WANT?"
"As I said, come unarmed and find out. If you disobey, you'll be sorry."
Arthur's heart raced as he heard Ariadne screaming in the background.
"STOP! WHAT ARE YOU DOING, WHATEVER IT IS, STOP!" Arthur shrieked. The people in the lobby were staring at him now.
"You hear that, Arthur? Oooh, aren't you worried now. Come quick, or else."
Arthur's kneels buckled under him, and he sat on the floor, breathless and weak. His face was paler than ever. Eames walked up to him and nodded.
"Let's go find her."
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Summary: Eames, Arthur, and Ariadne go for a little short break to relax, only to face a terrible obstacle…