Author's Note: I know it's late! Don't hate me! :(
Disclaimer: Still don't own it..sad day.
Chapter Four:
"I-um…" she stammered.
Ariadne gaped at the point man standing before her, eyes wide and mouth open in a surprised "O." As usual, Arthur's face displayed no emotion, except for his eyebrow being raised. His eyes were crinkled around the edges, almost as if he was laughing at her. Great. As if the situation wasn't bad enough, he thought that her having a projection of him was funny.
"I can explain," she said.
His eyebrow rose even further, and she felt herself getting annoyed; she hated when he did that. It made her feel like he doubted what she was saying. Though, she supposed, he did have reason to doubt her now.
Ariadne led Arthur to another park bench under a tree to get a little projection from the rain that was now pouring. She steered clear of where projection Arthur sat, which proved to be a good idea. Projection Arthur was not shooting not so subtle glares in the direction where she and Arthur sat.
"I'm sorry," she blurted out.
Arthur's face contorted into one of surprised before his mask was back in place.
"Sorry?" he asked. "What for?"
"You weren't supposed to see this," Ariadne mumbled, her cheeks growing red once more.
The corners of Arthur's lips pulled up into a half smile. Ariadne mentally sighed. It was never a full smile with him, no matter how hard she tried.
They sat in silence, the rain having lightened to a drizzle.
"I'm surprised," Ariadne commented after a few minutes of silence.
Arthur glanced in her direction, silently encouraging her to continue.
"You've barely talked. You haven't said anything on how dangerous what I'm doing is. You haven't even complained that your suit is getting wet," she explained.
"A little rain isn't anything," he murmured.
She continued on, acting like she hadn't heard him.
"I know what I'm doing isn't safe, but what else did you expect me to do? Every time I feel like I should tell you how I feel, there's an invisible wall around you that goes up. I know our jobs are dangerous enough without our feelings getting in the way. This was the only way I could expel some of my feelings for you without endangering you or me in the process," she rambled.
"Ariadne," he said. "Can I-"
"I was only trying to keep you safe. I care about you more than anyone, and I can't imagine ending up like Cobb and Mal. Can't you understand that?" she asked quietly.
Ariadne looked anywhere but his face, at the sky, at the trees, at the rain. When she felt the familiar weight of his hand on her shoulder, she finally looked at him.
"Now if you can just tell Arthur that, I'm pretty sure he'll go for it," Arthur said.
"Wait, why are you talking about yourself in third person? Why-" Ariadne broke off.
Arthur sent her a cheeky grin, a chuckle escaping him.
Ariadne pushed off of the park bench, shock etched across her face as the truth of the situation finally dawned on her.
"Eames?" she gasped.
"In the flesh! Well, not literally," Eames joked, pulling at the skin on his arm.
Ariadne stared, unable to process what was going on.
"I knew you liked Arthur! Darling, I told you, I'm the best there is. Nothing gets by me," Eames stated.
"I can't believe you," she spat through gritted teeth.
"Oh, come on darling, don't be mad. I was only trying to help. Don't you feel better now that you've finally admitted you like our favorite point man?" Eames asked.
"No," she snapped, though she couldn't help the small grin that escaped her angry façade.
"Ah, I knew you couldn't stay mad at me," he said.
"I'm still mad," Ariadne said. "What exactly were you planning on doing, Eames?"
"To be honest, I really didn't get past this," he laughed.
"Change back. It's starting to creep me out," Ariadne said.
"You sure you don't want me to stay like this? Maybe get in some practice?" Eames said, puckering his lips.
"Eames," Ariadne warned, her voice sharp.
"Alright, alright," he said, holding his hands up in surrender. "No need to get your bloody knickers in a twist."
Ariadne stood, arms crossed over her chest, waiting for Eames to change back into his own form. Before he could do anything, though, a very familiar figure approached them from behind.
"Might I ask just what the hell is going on here?" Arthur inquired, his eyes livid.
Ariadne looked from the real Arthur, to Eames as Arthur, and finally to her projection of Arthur, wondering if this day could possibly get any worse.
A/N 2: 3 Arthur's? I'd be in heaven! So what did you think? Terrible? Amazing? Reviews are loveee!
A/N 3: Last author's note, I swear. You'll actually like this one. Fall break for my school is this week so I should have this story finished this weekend! Stay in tune to see what happens nexttt!