The nurse told them what room to go into and they walked inside. And suddenly, it happened all at once. Ariadne was hit with the horrid memory of seeing her grandfather for the last time in the hospital, of the nurse who pulled her away because she wasn't allowed in the emergency unit and of her grandmother who was running after her and the nurse. Arthur immediately saw the tear running down her cheeks and the way her hands shook. This wasn't hate this was trauma. And she was having a hard time dealing with it. He muttered a quick thanks to the nurse and pulled Ariadne close to him.
"You're fine Ariadne, look at me, you're fine."
He rubbed her back soothingly but it didn't help her, she felt like she was in a dream again. She pushed her face farther into his neck. Arthur took his die out of his pocket.
"Here, take it."
He offered it to her. When she didn't move, he pushed it in her hand and it formed a fist around it. Her breathing evened out and she looked at the red translucent die.
"You- But I thought-"
"I trust you too."
He interrupted her.
"I'm sorry I freaked out. It wasn't necessary."
"It's not your fault."
Ariadne smiled and took a step back. She hated the way she had been the damsel in distress these last few days, that was not her. There was a slight knock at the door and a doctor walked in.
"Hello Arthur."
He greeted in a nearly perfect english and Arthur carried on with the conversation in Italian. They chatted for a couple of seconds and the doctor got up.
"He's gonna scan my heart and then he's gonna put little sensors on me to record the beating of my heart for a while."
Arthur explained.
"How long?"
"Two hours."
"Two hours?"
"Yeah, but you don't have to stay here the whole time, you can go out for food or something."
He said, his perfect poker face having only one flaw. His eyes. She could read the worry in them like a book. He didn't want her to go. Either he was worried for himself, or for her, but she didn't care. He would never abandon her in distress and neither will she.
"No it's okay, I'll stay here with you."
She assured him. She could se he tried to catch his smile but he failed, miserably. She also didn't miss the way he let out a breath. The doctor directed Arthur to lie down on the bed and unbutton his shirt so he could scan his heart. Ariadne held his hand the whole time and although he made it look like it was for her, she knew very well it was for him. After the exam, he got dressed again and they left, the doctor saying that he would have the results back in a week.
"What do you wanna do?"
He asked her when they walked out the doors.
"You tell me, I've never been here."
"Alright then."
He said and he spent the rest of the day showing her all his favourite things about the place he grew up in. When they came back home, the sun had already set and it was late so they both went to bed. That night though, Ariadne couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned. After a while, she decided to take a leap of faith. She walked out of her room and down the short hallway. She opened the door to Arthur's room soundlessly and walked in.
"Hey."
She heard him whisper tiredly and she knew she had woken him up.
"I'm sorry, I can't sleep... Can I sleep here?"
She asked quietly. He closed his eyes and nodded slowly. He pulled the covers back and moved over to make space for her. She lied down face to face with him and pulled the covers back over herself. They stared in each others eyes until she turned around and pressed her back to his chest. She had never felt this safe. The next morning, she woke up and was happy to find out that he was still in bed with her. As soon as she moved though, he woke up.
"Good morning."
She said.
"Hey."
He whispered in a raspy morning voice. They moved away from each other slightly.
"I'm sorry for bothering you last night."
She said suddenly eager to escape the awkward situation. As she got up to leave, he grabbed her hand.
"Stop apologizing for everything Ariadne, it's fine. I hope you realize that I've never overslept like this. Actually, I haven't slept that well in a long time."
"Me either."
She smiled softly and went to her room. She got dressed in a white and yellow checkered sundress and went down the stairs quickly so she could make breakfast for the both of them before he got the chance. She made french toast and he came down while she was placing plates of fruit on the table.
"I'm gonna go shopping for some new clothes later."
She declared. He nodded and sat down.
"Here you go."
She said, handing him a plate with a stack of three toasts on it.
"Thank you."
She sat down in front of him and they ate.
"Do you wanna come with me?"
She asked after a while.
"Where?"
"Shopping?"
"That sounds great."
He told her and half an hour later they were out on the streets. Arthur took her to the place with the nicer stores, she could afford more luxurious clothing now with her pay in the 6 digits from the Fischer job. Arthur carried the multiple clothes filled bag she purchased and soon they were on their way back.
"Thanks for helping me."
Sh told him.
"No problem."
He told her and they walked inside.
"How long are we staying here for?"
She asked.
"Why? Don't you like it here?"
"Oh, no I love it. I was just thinking that if we stay here for a while I could rent something so that I'm not such a burden."
"Ariadne, you're never a burden, not for me. I think we should stay in hiding for at least a month, and you're welcome to stay here the whole time."
He assured her. She smiled fondly.
"What are we having for dinner?"
"We can go out again."
"Alright, but no dancing tonight, my feet hurt from all the shopping."
He chuckled and nodded.
"I know just the place."
"Should I dress nice again?"
"When we go out, assume that you should always dress nice. You know my grandma told me that it's always better to be over dressed, at least then people stare at you because you look good and not because you don't belong."
"I'll keep that in mind."
She said and disappeared in her room. She put on a black dress with a belt paired with silver shoes that she bought earlier. Then she put her hair in a high ponytail and went back down the stairs. Arthur was already there, waiting by the door. She grabbed a red shawl and draped it over her shoulders before hooking her arm through his.
"Beautiful, as usual."
He declared. She smiled shyly and they were on their way. Half way through the meal, Ariadne excused herself to go to the bathroom. She was cleaning her hands when a guy walked in.
"Uh sir? This is the ladies room..."
She said as he walked closer to her. She backed away.
"What do you want?"
She shook in fear at the possibility that the bulky man might be there because of the inception. He grabbed her arm.
"What do you want?"
She asked her voice cracking. He started pulling her to the door that lead outside directly from the bathroom.
"Arthur!"
She screamed.
"Arthur help me!"
She screamed again before the man slapped his hand over her mouth. She bit it but he didn't budge. She did know a bit of self defense but this man had to be at least four times her weight so there was only so much she could do. He kicked the door open and pulled her through.