note: thank you for the follows and the comment! I hope to gain more of both, seriously...very encouraging and makes me want to write more and post as often as I can! short chapter, enjoy :)
A few days had passed since Ashby's return to the team. She had dropped her hours back at the small cafe she'd been employed in for nearly 2 years since she had returned to Paris, so she could devote her time to the research. She had hated to admit it, but she'd missed it. more then she'd thought. She had gotten an immense thrill from figuring people out when they'd had no idea of it...and this new project wasn't any different.
"Trust me, you've got it wrong" she laughed slightly as she erased the familiar handwriting.
"Oh?" He laughed. Eames simply shook his head at the 2.
"Look, I can guarantee without any shadow of a doubt I'm right on this" she said re-writing over the faint lines of Arthur's handwriting.
"Suppose we're even...you were off the other night" Arthur added.
"Not sleeping causes that" she said without skipping a beat.
Much as she had enjoyed the job, she couldn't let herself be drawn in fully. It had been just over 3 years that she'd left him, at times she thought she'd follow Arthur anywhere...but she'd been wrong. very wrong.
"Right then. I'll leave you to that," she said grabbing her coat "I'm off for a much needed ciggie"
"I'll join you" Eames said getting up from his chair. Arthur glared at him as he walked past.
"Relax darling," Eames said with a smirk "I'll keep an eye on her"
"That's what I'm afraid of..." Arthur said under his breath as he continued with his work.
There was a chill in the air outside, it would be winter soon. Ashby breathed deep as the crisp air of fall filled her senses.
She had always loved this time of the year. She slowly pulled a cigarette from a pack in her pocket, then searched for a lighter. she dug through each pocket before remembering she'd left it at her flat. Suddenly a light flickered in front of her, she obliged and lit her cigarette from it.
"If I recall, you always seem to forget your's" Eames said before lighting his own cigarette.
"Some things never change, do they?" she laughed slightly. Eames smirked.
"Too true," he said as he exhaled a bit of smoke "too true."
"Oh how I missed our little chats Eames" Ashby said picking up on the cryptic hint behind his words "Now, why not stop this little game and tell me why you really wanted to talk to me"
"Nothing important really," Eames said "I know it bothers dear Arthur whenever I'm around you"
"It's like I never left" Ashby laughed. Much as Eames and Arthur had a strange relationship to say the least, she had always gotten on well with Eames. They'd known each other before she had met the rest of the team, both were from the same city in England, both had worked together on previous jobs for Cobol when Eames recommended her to Cobb for her last job.
"So, what made you come back to this little band of thieves?" He asked finally.
"If I knew that...I probably would be long gone by now" Ashby smirked. There was another pause in the conversation.
"You realize he's still got the jollies for ya'?" Eames said finally.
"He can have the jollies for me all he wants, I'm here to work" Ashby said as she finished her cigarette and began walking to the door.
"Seems to me you said the same thing all those years ago" Eames smirked as he held the door open for her.
"Oh sod off!" She said hitting him slightly on the chest. Arthur glanced up and merely glared at Eames as Ashby returned to her folders.
"Relax dear boy," Eames said patting his cheek as he walked by "We just had a chat"
Arthur couldn't help but wonder what had happened, what they chatted about, but was soon after back to work.
"I'm going to the cafe to see how Mr. Girard is doing," she said jarring him from his own thoughts "Can I get you anything?"
He smirked "Depends." he said "How is their coffee?"
"I told you to trust me" she smirked.
"Alright, you were right," Arthur gave in "but what about here? You say our mark wouldn't have been trained against extraction, however, he is clinically paranoid...if you ask me, that would give him every reason to be worried about people like us"
Ashby opened her mouth to speak, but then calculated the problem.
"You're right...I can't believe it...you're actually right" she laughed. Arthur smirked. They'd gotten used to each other after a few weeks of working together, it seemed they almost enjoyed being around each other. Ashby yawned then rubbed her temples
"I must be tired...can't believe I missed that..." she yawned. She and Arthur were the only ones in the warehouse, the rest of the team had left hours ago.
"Coffee?" Arthur asked politely.
"Ech..no!" Ashby said showing her distaste on her face "Tea if you please!"
"How can you not like coffee?" Arthur laughed slightly astonished, he'd always had a love for fine coffee.
"Do you know what that stuff does to your stomach?" Ashby argued.
"At least it tastes better then tea" Arthur teased.
"Oh no no no," she laughed as they made their way to the small kitchen in the warehouse "You haven't had the tea I drink"
Soon after, both of their respective drinks brewed they sat at a small table in the kitchen talking.
"See? smell this" Ashby said handing her cup of tea to Arthur. He obliged only to make a face.
"Smells like a bunch of wet leaves" he laughed.
"Wet leaves my arse!" Ashby laughed.
"Fine smell this, it's the perfect blend...you can't deny it" He said handing her his cup of coffee. Ashby sniffed at the drink and turned up her nose.
"Smells like a stomach ulcer" she said.
"Guess we'll have to agree to disagree" Arthur smirked.
"Seems to me, that's what we always do" she said as she took a sip of her tea.