Hi to those reading :) so chapter 4 starts some flashbacks and such. Are people enjoying this fic? Still working on it but really love comments. Helps get me writing faster. thanks for reading!
She stood in front of a large warehouse, checked to make sure her hair was in place, straightened her shirt and buttoned a button on her vest that had somehow come undone. She always made a good impression.
"This better be worth it" she muttered as she knocked "I told Eames I work alone"
"Bonjour!" a very attractive French woman answered "You must be Ashby. My name is Malorie...come, we have been expecting you"
Without saying a word Ashby followed the woman into a large room where the rest of the team was.
"Ah ha! I knew you wouldn't turn this down" Eames said amused. He'd known Ashby since she had been sought after by Cobol Engineering and knew her stubbornness, she'd never turn down a large job.
She shot Eames an annoyed look as she was greeted by the team's leader.
"Miss Wilkes," he said shaking her hand "I'm Dom Cobb, it's a pleasure to have you on our team. We need all the help we can get with this extraction"
"Pleasure to meet you" she said as a younger man stood from his desk, his dark hair slicked back and dressed impeccably.
"Ah, perfect timing." Dom said "This is who you will be working with, Arthur."
"Happy to meet you" he said sternly. He had been slightly insulted that Cobb hadn't thought he could do this job on his own, moreso that they'd hired a friend of Eames' to help him. Ashby picked up on the subtle sarcasm behind his words.
"We'll see about that" she scoffed. She pushed passed him as politely as she could to the area she'd be working in.
"So, how long have you been a point man?" Arthur asked as he watched her look over his folders in annoyance.
"Doesn't matter, I'm probably better at it anyway" she said not even looking up from the paper she was notating.
"Excuse me?" he said shocked. who the hell did she think she was?
"You heard me," she said setting the folder down in front of him with her notes. He glared at her, she simply glared back.
"Look, I know you don't want me here and frankly I don't want you here" she said "but you're in my home bloody yank, so you'll have to accept my ways of doing things or stand aside"
She walked outside for what he assumed was a cigarette, he stared after her. They weren't even an hour into what would be a long project and he hated her already.
"I can't believe I'm doing this"...She thought as she put her coat on.
"Ash where are you going?" Nel asked upon entering the living room, she was dressed much better then Nel was used to. Ashby simply nodded with a weak smile before leaving. Nel sat on the couch lighting herself a cigarette, she'd tried many times to figure out her roommate only to be completely off base. Today, she decided it was better just to not think on it.
Arthur glanced at the door, it was mid afternoon.
"What's wrong lover boy?" Eames teased.
"Nothing that concerns you Eames" Arthur bit before trying to re-focus his energies on other tasks.
Just as his hope had all but disappeared, there was a bang of the large warehouse door closing. Everyone's focus was on the form that had entered. Arthur lit up a bit, surprised.
"You came back" he smiled as Ashby entered further into the building.
"To the team," she answered plainly.
"Welcome back Ash" Cobb said warmly.
"Thank you Cobb," she smiled, she glanced around confused "Where's Nash?"
"Ah..well, Nash..not entirely sure, he's no longer on the team" Arthur explained stepping a little closer to her "This is our new architect, Ariadne"
"Pleasure to meet you" Ariadne smiled extending a hand. She felt like she already knew Ashby well after her discussions with Arthur. Ashby hesitated a moment and glanced over the young girl.
"Charmed" she said finally accepting the greeting. She didn't know what to make of her, of course she never really knew what to make of anyone new.
"What caused you to get rid of Nash?" she asked.
"Well, Nash failed...on a job we were on, it's really a long story" Cobb tried explaining.
"Fine by me..." Ashby interrupted him "never really cared for him anyway."
"Good to have you back Ash" Eames said patting her shoulder
"Good to see you as well Eames, shall I expect the insults to start after I get settled or shall we just skip ahead?" she grinned.
After the greetings amongst old colleagues were finished a very dignified man Ashby had never seen before stepped toward her.
"Miss Wilkes," he said firmly shaking her hand "It is an honor to finally meet you"
"And you are?" she asked.
"Mr. Saito" he answered simply.
"Pleasure as well," she smiled "When do we get started?"
"That's what I like to hear" Saito smiled back.
"I've gathered everything I have so far about our mark here," Arthur explained to Ashby as she glanced over the papers.
"Right..." she said looking over the information
"Currently I'm working on how we get out of the dream.." he explained further.
"And his mind?" Ashby asked absentmindedly as she glanced over his notes
"Pardon?" Arthur asked.
"Is there anything...upsetting...any ticks..." Ashby asked concerned.
"Always 2 steps ahead of me Ash?" Arthur smirked.
"If you aren't used to it by now, this is going to be a long project" she laughed slightly as she penciled in something by one of Arthur's own scribbles.
Arthur smiled, happy to have her back but wondering if things would be the same ever again.
"Glad to finally meet you Ashby," Ariadne said as she put her coat on "see you tomorrow"
"You as well" Ashby said watching as she left.
"Finally meet me? I feel as though everyone knows me better then I do" she said stretching
"Well, I suppose Cobb, Eames and I might have something to do with that" Arthur admitted as he put his coat on. Ashby smirked slightly, gathering her things.
They walked in silence outside, Arthur taking care to lock up for the evening.
"So...you're back on the team..." Arthur said trying to make last minute conversation.
"Appears so, doesn't it?" Ashby said
"And us?" he asked without thinking. She didn't react negatively, she didn't react positively.
"See you tomorrow Arthur" She smiled weakly before hailing a cab. He watched after the small vehicle, still perplexed by how the day had played out.