Note-bad guy aka Thad-Rufus Sewell

Arthur's ex aka Lacey Christina Hendricks

~Heyy! Things are going to start picking up a bit now…yay! I really don't know how long this whole story's gonna be…oh, wells. Thanks for everyone who reads, please review if you can! I try to respond to my reviews ASAP so that you know I read them. Inception is not mine-yet. My plan of blackmailing Christopher Nolan still has a few quirks to it until its perfect…just kidding people. Anywaysss, enjoy!~

Part 5: Complete Disintegration

*Minutes before Cobb's arrival:

"Ariadne, I know you found out something. No one would come after you except Cobol, and we've dealt with them."

Her eyes were hard, anger making her mouth turn into a straight line. "I told you, I don't know, Arthur."

He wanted to do something, anything to make her understand. Grab her maybe, shake her up a little bit-because she hadn't seen herself dying slowly, having to work fast in order to save what remained of her life. She hadn't seen all the blood and all the times his red die was rolled across the floor…

"Tell me what you know, Ariadne." He spoke calmly, the words soft. "I need to know who did this, which means I have to know what you've been doing these past few months. I won't have to ask you this again-"

"Arthur, I am not comfortable with telling you anything about how my life as been-"

He was beyond exasperated, a spark flickering behind his chocolate eyes. "Why not-"

"How did you even know where my apartment was?" The question was so out of the blue it threw him off balance. He paused- the flames in his eyes died, his posture loosening in shock as she stared at him, waiting for an answer. He returned her gaze as coolly as he could, mind scrambling. His throat closed-the words were choking him, cutting off any semblance of a sentence.

She seemed to come to a conclusion during his silence. "I'm not safe being normal anymore, I know that now. But I can take care of myself." Her seemingly endless brown eyes bored into his, her challenge still ringing through the air around them, when there came a knock on the door…*

"Arthur! C'mon' now, is that a way to greet a friend?"

Arthur couldn't seem to help the permanent scowl that flew across his face when Eames was within a ten feet radius. Eames' cat-like grin practically glowed, his moss-green eyes bright with withheld commentary. The grey-button up that he wore was paired with a tan jacket and slacks, the entire outfit ruffled out of carelessness. Arthur wanted to tell Eames to go change and make himself presentable or something equally as ridiculous in order to make him go away. Eames noticed his gaze. "Jealous of my wonderfully dashing outfit, Arthur? I would be too if I was you." Make that a hundred feet.

Eames couldn't seem to keep his eyes to himself-he tried to peer around Arthur, questions pouring out of his mouth with distilled charm.

"Where's our little Architect, hmm? Recovering hopefully, not sulking like yourself, here, Arthur? Well, will you let me in?"

Arthur's jaw tightened and a grimace made itself known-he shook his head slightly as Cobb spoke up from behind him.

"Let him in Arthur. This is business."

Begrudgingly Arthur stepped aside, Eames striding in with the pride of some newly mated peacock. Arthur shut the door, slid the lock across with a fresh click, and then slowly turned around. Cobb stood near the rectangular drawing table (Same wood as the floor, probably a little bit older due to the wear) and Eames stood some feet away, hands on his hips as he looked around. A low whistle echoed throughout the apartment as Eames finally laid his eyes on Ariadne who lay against the door post. "Nice taste, luve." He complimented, striding over her as he spoke, casting one more mischievous glance around. Finally meeting her eyes she grinned up at him-Arthur felt strangely enraged by this, his fingers tightening around air. "But I think that a little…sultriness could be called for, no?" He raised his eyebrows at her as she replied cheekily:

"Like what I wonder…"

"Thought you'd never ask, dear-poles in every room."

Ariadne's eyebrows rose in disbelief at the suggestion, her smile growing wider as Arthur groaned:

"Thank God Ariadne's smart enough to not do something so undeniably idiotic."

Eames ignored Arthur's comment, reaching out an arm so that he could lean against the other side of the doorway, keeping his eyes on the small woman to the right of him. "Just think of it-your little artist parties would be hits, luve."

"I'm sure."

"Dear, if you did a little dance I'm sure everyone would come."

Every muscle tightened in Arthur as the thought occurred to him. Ariadne, dancing for a group of her male 'artist friends'…his stomach clenched in a death grip. Right then, he wanted to clock Eames one. She wasn't like that…couldn't Eames see she was more than that? That she was too smart and clever too ever submit herself to any man in such a manner. Molten lava slipped into his veins at the mere thought of any other man looking at her, like he would, if she was somehow rubbing herself against a bronze pole…

He stood up straighter, taking a deep breath through his nose. Eames was getting to him already.

"Alright, Eames." Cobb warned, shifting in his jeans and polo. "Here on business, remember?"

Arthur felt a rush of relief at Cobb's words-business, something that he understood…

"Of course, Cobb darling." Eames dropped his arm, standing on both two feet once more. Again Eames looked down on Ariadne-but this time he spoke in a softer tone.

"You all right, luve? Looks like they got you bad this time." He slipped his hands into his pockets casually, tilting his head in order to watch her reaction.

Ariadne smiled weakly-she appeared as if she would pass out where she stood.

"Yeah, I survived." She joked, her voice small in comparison to Eames'. Arthur felt the urge to go to her and lead her to the couch-but he didn't react fast enough.

Cobb stepped forward slightly, concern written all over his face. "Maybe you should sit down…"

Ariadne's head seemed to move in slow motion as she glanced at Cobb. "Right…" she turned back to Eames. "A little help?"

"With pleasure." Eames teased, holding out his elbow elegantly. Ariadne's laugh was hardly substantial-it fell flat as her small fingers closed over Eames arm. Eames made a big show of silently making the trek to the couch, placing his hand on Ariadne's waist in order to steady her. Cobb followed suit, sitting on a cleared edge of the drawing table, facing Ariadne's position on the couch. She plopped onto the nearest cushion rather ungracefully; Eames taking the spot beside her-Arthur barely withheld a hiss. Reaching Cobb's side he stood, towering over the other three.

"Well now that we're all settled-" Eames began, gesturing to the small circle, (Ariadne smiled at this), "why don't you mind telling us why we're all here, Arthur?" Finished with his question Eames leaned back on the couch, throwing his arms up and behind Ariadne's shoulders.

Arthur scoffed before speaking, glancing once at Ariadne's face. She was looking up at him just as expectantly as the others were, her eyes wide. His heart stuttered briefly-she always did throw him off. Looking away he cleared his throat, beginning his explanation.

"Three days ago I received a call from Ariadne. She informed me that she'd been shot and I reacted accordingly."

Cobb nodded thoughtfully hands clasped on his lap absentmindedly. "Good job, Arthur." He added. Arthur nodded, accepting the compliment.

"I have the bullet-later we can examine it and attempt to determine the shooter. This is not why I called you together, however." Arthur paused, looking off into the distance as he remembered the week before. "A week ago I received an email from a reliable source. They heard word of Inception and they want our team to do a job." Returning to earth he eyed his colleagues' reactions. Ariadne's eyebrows reached her hairline but other than that her face was calm.

"Sounds great, when do we begin?" Rolling his eyes Arthur finally looked at Eames delightful face.

"As soon as possible."

"What kind of job?" Cobb asked, "Anything we've done before?" Arthur looked at the famous Extractor gratefully, wanting Eames out of sight.

"No, something completely new. I've never even heard of it being done before, until now."

Cobb was genuinely surprised-his eyebrows went up, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"What is it?" Ariadne interrupted-Arthur couldn't help but look at her, taking in the generous amount of curiosity on her face that made him smile crookedly.

"Complete Disintegration." Arthur answered, "Or, to put it simply, erasing someone's memory."

There was a weighed silence-its length whispered doubts into Arthur's ears. He played his best poker-face, however-he remained utterly still, hands in his pockets, weight on one leg as his heart-beat skipped on replay.

Ariadne was the first to speak, naturally-all three men turned towards her. "Do we even know how to do this? I mean, is it just me or does this sound extremely difficult? It's one thing to plant an idea let alone pull that off…"

"I think we can do it, personally." Eames butted in, waving the hand nearest to her right shoulder absentmindedly. The gesture was another reminder of their close proximity and Arthur's chest constricted. Ariadne turned to face Eames, her face covered with wonderment at his open opinion.

"How do you think, Eames?" Cobb presented the question, folding his hands together and placing his chin upon them. His blue eyes landed on Eames, his challenge clear in the intensity of his gaze.

"Well, if Arthur here-" Eames gestured to Arthur with the same hand and Arthur barely withheld a grimace-"presented this idea to us, I'm sure he thoroughly thought about this, am I right?" Eames jade eyes glowed as he met Arthur's gaze-Arthur nodded in response, ebony hair gleaming in the sunlight. "Of course." He added flatly.

"Well then there you have it." Eames stated, dropping his hand onto Ariadne's shoulder carelessly. Ariadne stiffened but other than that didn't react, continuing to stare straight ahead. Arthur's lungs turned within his chest, unconsciously glaring at Eames hand. "Arthur here has a plan."

Cobb nodded at the response, sitting up, his eyes wandering away from Eames hand and to Arthur's face.

"I hope you have a professional that can help us. I don't want to screw up someone's mind because we weren't being careful."

Arthur covered up his surprise at the change of subject, his eyes dashing away from Ariadne's occupied shoulder. Silently he had noted the fact that Cobb seemed ready to board-that was a good sign- before speaking hesitantly.

"Of course." Immediately the team noticed his brief pause, his lack of informed answer. It was so un-Arthur-ish it was painstakingly obvious.

As if slightly worried about Arthur's lack of a name, Eames spoke up a little later than he would have.

"Who, mate?" All three members of the previous Inception team stared expectantly up at him.

Avoiding Ariadne's eyes, Arthur fixedly watched the horizon. His stomach jumped and he shifted in his slacks uncomfortably, but he said it anyway.

"Lacey. Lacey Bishop."

Eames muttered a quick curse at the stranger's name and Cobb closed his eyes slowly, as if the movement pained him. Ariadne frantically glanced at all of them, wanting to be in on it. Finally she placed her caramel eyes on Arthur, wondering who could've made her team members act this way.

"Who's Lacey Bishop?"

And once again, Arthur's stomach plunged.