Disclaimer: I do not own Haruhi Suzumiya and/or Inception or anything related.
A/N:I assumed that Cobb knows quite a bit of other languages, because of his work as an extractor.
WARNING: If you have not seen Inception yet, then go see it before you read this. It goes without saying that there will be MAJOR SPOILERS for the movie.
Also, for this fic, I assume that Cobb got back to reality. Screw whether the top falls in the end, I've got fanfiction.
Title: The Inception of Haruhi Suzumiya
Synopsis:
Dom Cobb thought that his life as an extractor was over. He didn't realize that while he was no longer an extractor, he would be asked to become an inceptor. And his first target after the Fischer job? A girl named Haruhi Suzumiya.
Chapter 2: The Architect's Shade
"So, you're really going through with this."
Dom Cobb was packing his things. A couple of suits, two grey shirts, his brown leather jacket, and at least three pairs of pants were stuffed into a suitcase.
"Yes Arthur." He looked at the young Point Man as he closed the suitcase. "You better contact Eames and Yusef. We'll be needing our Forger and Chemist back for this mission."
"That still doesn't explain you going to Paris." Arthur stated dryly as Cobb lifted the suitcase from the bed.
"Arthur." Cobb paused. "I'm gonna look for a new architect."
Arthur raised his eyes in surprise.
"Why not Ariadne? She's probably the best out there."
Cobb sighed. Arthur was right. Ariadne is the best Architect for their team.
"Ariadne," Cobb paused "is attending to her studies. She will be too busy for this."
"That's not the reason." Arthur deadpanned.
"I can't. Maybe someone else, but not her."
"Why not? She helped us before." the Point Man asked.
Cobb's face turned to meet Arthur's.
"No Arthur. She doesn't need me to mess up her life further."
If the Point Man knew anything to be true, it would be that whenever the Extractor made this face, he was dead serious.
Ariadne was having the time of her life. She was about to graduate from her Architecture course this year. She's looking forward to drafting buildings and bridges, and downtown Paris was just the place to get some inspiration for her latest project.
"You create the world of the dream…"
Ariadne stopped walking. That voice. It would seem, for a moment, that she heard Dom Cobb's voice.
Well, I guess it can't be helped. She thought. After all, whatever happened in the last few months wasn't something you'd forget immediately.
She continued her walk.
Yes. For an Architect like her, it was truly a Dream to be able to create her own world with her own rules. She realized what Cobb meant by easily getting lost in a Dream.
It was like being a god of your own little world. Where anything happens the way you wanted it to.
But it was all just a dream, right? You still have to wake up in the end.
But it felt so good. Sometimes…
Sometimes, even Ariadne wished that she could just stay in there, and dream.
"Cobb, are you really that thick?" Eames asked.
The Extractor turned to the Forger, who was busy making himself at home in one of the chairs.
"I told him that this was a bad idea." Arthur piped.
"Clearly, someone planted the idea in your mind that the young gal will get into trouble if she involves herself with you." Eames sniggered.
"I'm serious about this Eames!" Cobb yelled. "I can't help but feel responsible if she suddenly wants to stay in the Dream! I taught her to create a world where she could be a literal God!"
It's my fault if she decides that reality is not enough for her anymore. Cobb thought.
Ariadne made her way through the crowd. She didn't realize that Paris was this big. Walking around aimlessly seemed to have been a bad idea. She couldn't find her way back to the college.
Taking chances, Ariadne took the nearest left turn.
Upon turning, she realized that she had been here before…
The street was lined up with fruit stands. On the corner was a café. A very familiar café.
"This..is.."
This was the café where Cobb had taught her about dreams. That Cobb. He said never to build from memory. But this café actually existed in the real world.
She looked around. The café was filled with people, like before. She went to look for the exact spot where she sat with Cobb.
She found it. A smile grew on her face.
Cobb was sitting there. And from the looks of it, he was waiting for someone. She ran towards him, hoping to greet him, to ask him how life has been for him lately…
But then, she heard a voice calling her from behind, sending chills down her spine…
"Are you the one they call Ariadne?"
She turned around. Behind her was a woman she could never forget.
"Mal?"
She was shocked. What is Mal doing here?
That could mean only one thing…
"I'm dreaming?"
"Ariadne!" a familiar voice shouted.
She turned around to look for whoever shouted.
Mal lunged forward before Ariadne could get away. She could feel the pain of her knife…
"Ariadne, wake up!"
She opened her eyes. She was in a library. Spread in front of her were blueprints and books. She looked to her side and saw Cobb and the Dream Machine hidden under the table. He had been inside her dream.
"Cobb?"
"Ariadne, are you allright?" he asked.
"C-Cobb… M-Mal… she's…"
"How many times has this happened?"
"A couple of times…"
Cobb raised his eyebrows.
"Okay, fine. I can't lie to you. Every night."
Cobb looked defeated.
"I'm sorry, Ariadne. This was my fault… I…"
"Cobb."
It was Arthur and Eames.
"Saito just called. The briefing will begin."
"Briefing? What briefing?" Ariadne asked.
"Nothing, Ariadne. Sorry to bother you." Cobb stood up from his chair and left.
"Cobb! What is this all about?" Ariadne shouted.
"This has nothing to do with you, Ariadne." He answered with his back turned to her.
"You have Eames and Arthur here, you jacked into my dream, and you're telling me that this does not concern me? What are you playing at?" She shouted.
"Calm down, love, this is a library." Eames pointed out.
Ariadne shut her mouth. The librarian looked at her with a fierce look.
"That librarian sure looks more menacing than one of them projections." Eames added.
"Arthur. Eames. Let's go." Cobb ordered.
The three made their way out of the library. Ariadne, hastily cleaning up her things, marched outside, hot on their heels.
"You can't just leave me out of this. Cobb, you hear me! You can't just do that to me!" she shouted to no one in particular.
Ariadne's shouts could be heard in the hallway.
"You know, old chap," Eames said, "You really can't get rid of a girl who's out to get you."
"In more ways than one." Arthur sniggered.
With a smirk, Cobb stopped and turned around to see the Architect, infuriated. Whether or not he wanted her in his team this time, he couldn't deny that it was really cute to see her face like that.
A/N: Whew! That's it for now! A little Cobb/Ariadne-ish chapter. Whoohoo!
Preview for next chapter:
"Suzumiya-san said she has a surprise for the brigade today."
"Yes. She was so excited about that during second period. Then she disappeared during lunch time."
"I wonder what it could be?"
"Yahoo!"
The door opened to reveal the energetic Brigade Leader and…
"Mr. Cobb?" Kyon and Koizumi said in unison.