"Cobol Security speaking," Nash said, holding the phone close to his ear and sending a furtive glance to Arthur, who was intently listening in to the conversation, no longer trying to hide it. Ariadne's palms were sweating again- rather than giving her a momentary rest from panic of their capture and the hasty exit from the airport, it only made her even more panicked. If it was going to end, she wanted it to happen now- not waiting for three weeks while she slowly went insane.
She'd taken psychology courses – she'd heard story after story after story about twisted experiments done to prove how easily one's mind could destroy itself. And these people have the advantage- they're dreamers.
The fact that they're in a limo doesn't seem to bother Arthur, Eames, or the Cobol suits facing them. Eames is jammed behind two, back against the front of the car, knocking against their captors at every bump in the road and glancing out the windows with a sort of silent intensity that he wears well. His eyes say it all- shrewd, calculating, and deadly serious.
Of course, every time there's a bump, she's jostled too; knocking shoulders with Arthur and wanting to ask how they'll be killed, but not doing anything, because the suits keep looking at her and him and smirking.
Nash mumbles something into the phone then- and Arthur perks up, throwing a pointed stare at Eames and then jerking his head in her direction. His eyes meet hers, dark and full of implication. Only she can't tell what he's trying to say, so she takes his hand in hers and gives it a squeeze even as her expression turns pleading.
He's clearly not willing to say it out loud, however, and simply applies pressure to her grip for a moment before letting go. Eames leans forward, hands on his knees, watching Nash like a hawk. Ariadne's counts to forty two before he finally blinks.
Her two teammates appear to holding a holding a rather long and meaningful conversation using only their eyebrows and small changes in the shape of their mouths. She resolves instantly that next time, she'll be able to do it to, already plotting ways to coerce Arthur into teaching her (though it's mostly for her own entertainment- he'll probably agree before she asks).
Of course, she's well aware she's in danger now- and that could never happen, but it's an automatic reaction. She always thinks of trivial things during times like these. And while she's always calm, cool, and logical outwardly, inside is a much different story.
"You want what?" Nash asks suddenly, whipping his head up to stare at the suit across from him. His eyes are wide.
"It's against the law to break into a person's subconscious, Mr. Browning"-Ariadne can tell she's the only one surprised by this newest development- "We can't do it against our own boss."
He waits. There's a pause in the car- not just a silence, but a legitimate wait that makes Ariadne start to feel tingly inside. The whole energy has changed- from the way Eames has straightened up just the tiniest bit to the sudden look Arthur shoots her- just for a moment.
Ariadne recognizes the feeling at the look Arthur gives her. She's had it twice before in her life- once, falling off the side of a building, and the other, kneeling next to the dead body of Robert Fischer, and putting pieces together in her head.
"I don't know of any teams, sir- most people usually hire teams off the record, and I don't…"
Arthur cleared his throat loudly, "We're sitting right next to you, asshole."
Nash slapped him across the face, painfully so, and his head snapped around with a painful noise. Ariadne's fear-filled eyes met his own, and he winced again at the pain on her face. He tried to convey silently that he was fine, but he wasn't sure if she'd gotten the message.
She had.
"That's a thought, darling," Eames said, much quieter, but in a voice that carried. Nash was glaring now, and shaking his head frantically, but the suits seemed unsure of whether to stop them from talking or not. "We are the best team in the nation."
Nash covered the phone with his hand. "Shuttup you prick, I could kill you in a second."
"Right." Eames seemed politely incredulous, crossing on leg and leaning back suavely. "Because it sounds like you need a team."
And then they heard the words that changed everything- spoken so loud and angrily even Ariadne could hear them
A.N…So…this chapter sucks, because I didn't know how to transition. Sigh. Anyway I have to read Passage to India part 2 for my junior level class tomorrow (how I got in there as freshman will forever remain one of life's greatest mysteries –like how Arthur really got in to dreaming- but I got asked out by a Junior sooo….
Not complaining!
:D
Anyway, please, please, please review this story. I'd love to hear some critiques on what I'm failing at. There will be some more dream-ish chapters, like the one about love and guns, and some more chapters like these (oh, bre, you mean terrible ones? Well yes, yes dear reader, I do!) And action chapters (it's called…a heist) and love, and training a new extractor and bringing in sooo many good plotlines (in my opinion at least)
So yeah! Reviews are love :D