Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me.

Ariadne shivered as she slid the plastic tube into Cobb's lower arm. The Extractor was sleeping peacefully - his chest rising and falling with the rhythms. She began to slide the tube into her own arm, lay down, and pressed the centre button.

Suddenly, she was falling into darkness. Blinking she opened her eyes. She was on the Metro - the subway train that rattled along under Paris, taking her to the warehouse each day from her cosy studio apartment. Swallowing, she peered out of the window - she could see herself entering the warehouse, going up the steps.

Swallowing, she began to get up, to follow herself. Shouldering her bag, she walked in, knowing she would have to conceal herself carefully.

She watched herself entering the main room, going past the piles of dusty papers, and mismatched furniture. Arthur was leaning over a PASIV, humming softly. She walked up to him. "Hey."

"Well, good morning." He turned, and kissed her on the forehead. "Did you sleep?"

"Not much. Busy sketching this design." She pulled a cardboard tube out of her rucksack. As Ariadne watched, she realised she'd forgotten about this particular design - it had been for a hit on a financier, whose wife was convinced he was cheating on her. Arthur unscrolled them, and frowned. "Hmmm."

"What do you think?" she asked, nervously. Arthur lowered them and smiled. "They're terrific." Ariadne watched as he leaned forward again to kiss her doppelganger. "A nightclub is perfect."

"My idea was his secrets could be in the cash register," she explained.

"But if he is a womaniser," Arthur mused, "being in a club with women will lower his defences." He started to roll the papers back up. "Thank you, Cobb will love them."

Ariadne blinked. Before she could be noticed, she hurried away, stepping back onto the train. As the doors slid shut, it began to journey on once more.

She blinked as it stopped again. As the doors slid open, she saw Arthur and Cobb, talking. No-one else was around.

"So, I'd really like you to test this out with me." Cobb was smiling invitingly at the Point Man, who frowned slightly.

"Just us? What about Ariadne, and Eames-"

"Arthur, you know that the core operation has to be executed by the two of us. I don't see a problem with us taking charge."

"Yes, but Dom-"

"Arthur. Please. Just trust me."

Their voices began to fade, and Ariadne stepped away, letting the train rattle on again. Shortly, it stopped. She blinked. She was standing in the hallway, with Arthur.

"I just...don't know if this is going to work." Arthur smiled. "I mean, I do have my standards..."

Ariadne blinked, her mouth falling open slightly. "Arthur, I-"

"No, don't say anything. Just don't." Stunned, she watched as he turned and walked away.

Ariadne swallowed, and then got back on the train. As it rattled to its next stop, she blinked, stunned.

Cobb and Arthur were in a nightclub. As she watched, her heart began to pound. It was her design. Suddenly, she realised that Cobb had played her completely. He had made her design the level for the inception.

Shocked, she shook her head, waiting for the ground to shake.

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