Here's the update. I know, I know, it's long overdue. But I'm still grounded, so I typed up this chapter as fast as I could at my friend's house. Sorry in advance for any spelling mistakes/grammatical errors.
OH! And there's only going to be one more chapter to this story (an epilogue). Then I'll try to post some oneshots I've written as soon as I get my laptop back.
DOUBLE OH! Arthur might act more like Tom from (500) Days of Summer in this. My bad. I got my JGLs mixed up. Hopefully you'll still enjoy the chapter!
We'll Be a Dream
Chapter Eight
Arthur was a calm man, most of the time. He could pour over pages and pages of research (alone in the warehouse, at midnight, in complete silence) without growing bored, restless, or weary. He could kill multiple projections in the blink of an eye- never tensing, only snapping limbs and breaking jaws with skilled, practiced hits. He could stare down the barrel of a gun with an even breathing pattern and steady hand, ready to shoot down whoever was on the receiving end, be it friend or foe. He was even calm during the most urgent of situations, quickly planning escape routs while the rest of his teammates panicked around him.
But at the end of the day, when he couldn't hide behind his gun or the silver briefcase that housed the PASIV device, he was as human as the next man. And since his job required the ability to switch personal feelings off, his emotions were often heightened whenever he was allowed to feel.
Which was why he was standing outside Ariadne's apartment, shaking in his leather shoes and nervous as hell.
He should have never listened to Eames. Ariadne was still upset with him, if her absence during the Bonaparte case was any indication. And Cobb, who experienced first-hand how mad the young woman could get, had told the rest of the team the many accusations she'd thrown his way in the lower levers of the Fischer job. Arthur wasn't too keen on angering his already belligerent girlfriend, but he had promised Eames, and he was really starting to miss Ariadne. So, with a deep breath to calm his pounding heart, he reached out and tentatively knocked on her door.
The dull thud resonated through the empty hallway, even though his knuckles had barely hit the wood. Arthur could hear faint movement from inside the apartment, and suddenly, cautiously, the door swung open.
They stared at each other silently- reading faces, deciphering expressions. Ariadne's eyes were slightly red and puffy, and Arthur was surprised to see the same guilt and pain he felt swimming in her irises.
"…hi." He murmured softly, his normally steady tone wavering.
"…hi." He replied, her voice hoarse and quiet.
An uncomfortable silence came over them, unspoken words lingering in the air. The hum from the building's air conditioner buzzed faintly. In a nearby apartment, a dog barked.
"…Can we talk?"
Ariadne jumped slightly, startled by the sudden sound of Arthur's voice. Her cheeks turned a pale pink, and she slowly stepped aside to let him in.
Arthur nodded his thanks and gratitude, walking into the familiar apartment he hadn't visited since the beginning of the week. As he heard the soft click of the door shutting behind him, he couldn't help but silently lift up a prayer to whatever God happened to be listening at the moment. Arthur had never been religious- his father had been Jewish, his mother Catholic, and they'd never really decided on what faith to bring their son up on. But considering what has happened, and considering what was about to happen, he knew he could use all the help he could get.
She was wearing his shirt.
He noticed it from his spot in the armchair, watching her as she sat down on the edge of her couch.
It was the scarlet, Calvin Klein dress shirt he'd grown accustomed to leaving at her place. Arthur had frequently spent the night with his girlfriend, and having a clean change of clothes available helped him avoid rushing back to his own apartment across town, as well as the embarrassment of walking into work wearing yesterday's clothes.
The deep red contrasted with her almost translucent skin tone, and the cotton hung loosely on her body, making her already small frame seem even tinier. The shirt was wrinkled beyond repair and bore obvious signs of being slept in, but instead of feeling exasperated or annoyed, Arthur found it comforting and (dare he say it) adorable. He opened his mouth to comment on her choice of clothing, maybe to break the ice a little, but before he could utter a single word, Ariadne beat him to it.
"How did the job go?" she asked, her eyes locked on her clasped hands, avoiding his gaze. He dropped his stare to his own hands and replied, talking more towards his lap than her.
"It went alright. Cobb was able to get Miles to cover for you, so we at least had a dreamscape…nothing as great as you could have made," he quickly added. "But a dreamscape, nonetheless."
Ariadne nodded. "That's good…" They lapsed into another awkward silence before Arthur decided to just come out and say what he'd come to say.
"Ari, I'm so-"
"No, I'm sorry…"
The point man looked at her in confusion. "What?"
Ariadne finally looked up at him, eyes beginning to brim with guilty tears. "I'm sorry I yelled at you, Arthur. I overreacted, and I didn't even give you a chance to explain yourself. I knew you were just trying to protect me and Eames from all the projections, but…I don't know, I guess I was just upset that you thought I couldn't handle them myself. And I didn't even come to work yesterday….I'm so sorry…"
A few tears finally rolled down her face, and Arthur leapt up from his seat to kneel in front of the architect, gently wiping them away. "Ari," he murmured, "I never thought that you couldn't handle projections on your own! You're the strongest woman I know- and besides, they were your projections. As much as I hate to say it, I didn't punch myself to protect you…"
It was now Ariadne's turn to look confused. "But…then why did you punch yourself?"
"I, uh…I thought I was punching Bonaparte…"
"Bonaparte?...Emmett Bonaparte? But how? And why would you punch him in the first place?"
Arthur looked away from her, ashamed. "I don't know…I guess I was jealous….And in my defense," he said, thinking back to the dark head of hair that had started this whole ordeal. "Bonaparte looks exactly like me from behind."
Ariadne still looked puzzled. "You were jealous of Bonaparte? Why?"
Arthur sighed, getting up from his knees and sinking into the couch beside her. He pulled her into his lap and mentally cheered when she didn't resist. "It's just….I'm a…He's handsome," he finally answered. "And rich, and famous. And I'm a workaholic, uptight criminal who spends all his time sleeping. I'm nothing compared to him." He turned his head to glance at her, only to receive a shock when he felt Ariadne's lips on his. He reveled at the contact he'd gone without for two days, but pulled away when his senses came back to him. "…what was that for?"
"It was my way of saying thank you for getting jealous." Ariadne replied softly.
"Thank you?" Arthur asked incredulously. "My jealously almost caused a projection riot, and I also inadvertently accused you of cheating on me."
"I know," she answered, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear and wrapping her arms around Arthur's neck. "But no one's ever gotten jealous over me before….it's quite flattering, really. And, whether you were trying to save me or not, you still punched a projection in a room full of projections. You were brave to do so, albeit stupid…"
Arthur let out a low chuckle, kissing Ariadne on the forehead. "I'd punch a thousand projections for you, Ari… I'd do anything for you. In good times, and in bad. For rich or for poor. In sickness and in health, till death to us part."
Ariadne blushed a deep crimson. "I can't believe you saw us getting married, though. I know, I know, I'm thinking too far ahead into the future- don't think anything of it, please. I…I just needed a reason to practice building a cath-"
"But what if I want to think about it?" Arthur asked quietly, looking at her.
"…what?"
"I'm not asking you to marry me…yet." He quickly added. "But I have been thinking about it." His cheeks began to redden. "I love you, Ariadne, and maybe someday, hopefully, I'll be able to show you how much I love you…"
Ariadne smiled softly. "I love you too, Arthur. And I can't wait to become Mrs. Arthur Levitt…."
Arthur laughed and pulled his girlfriend even closer. "Mrs. Arthur Levitt, huh?" he mused. "I like the sound of that…."
Yes, I am aware that the ending sucks. And that the whole thing was veryveryvery fast-paced. Like I said, I was rushing. Don't wanna be caught by my mommy...
But still leave a review!
-MusicMakesMeWannaCRAZYDANCE