Crash
~ "One objective leads to another." Arthur repeated to himself all during the messy, dangerous extraction. An job that would free the Extractor and the Point Man from COBAL.
Arthur kept Ariadne on his mind the entire mission. Cobb, now freed from his haunting of Mal, worked much better in the dream world. There was no need for an outside architect with Cobb. He was good, but not as good as Ariadne had been. Soon enough, the Extractor got the information and the two of them left the sleeping engineer on the floor. Arthur was quick to bolt for the door. They had to give the information to Saito, who would give COBAL the information they wanted.
"One objective leads to another."
~ On a privet plane to London Arthur was finally able to relax. Saito had kept his word and provided them with the information COBAL wanted. He and Cobb were free. He was even more grateful to find his research was finally paying off.
He had finally found Ariadne. She had registered a cell phone in her name. It was a work issued phone. Arthur devoured the information about he had found online. Her company profile even included a security photograph.
"Hello." He said softly as her lovely face flashed on screen. She was not working as a traditional architect with this computer firm. She was working in the art department. Her personal profile also included her home address.
"Knotting Hill." He breathed looking over the research. He was close. So close to her now. Angry or not, he would see her. A phone call would not do. She could hang up on him and be lost again. He had to see her in person.
Something was wrong. He knew it. Something she was not telling him. Arthur kept her company photo on the computer screen as the plane reached England. He would look to that lovely face of hers for comfort.
~ Ariadne had taken to masturbating everyday*. Her frustration was growing, just as her child was. She missed Arthur terribly. His warm strong touch, his body, his kiss, those hands. The shock at finding herself thinking of Eames that way troubled her. She had never thought of the Forger like that. It was better, safer, to preserve their friendship. Not ruin things they way she had with Arthur.
She snaked her hands down her nylon panties. Enjoying the friction they caused against her swollen sex bud. She thought about nothing in particular, no one in particular as she took care of herself. Rubbing and abusing herself, causing her back to arch up. Her breathing to increase. She rolled on her side as her hands agitated herself. The touch exciting her pulsating sex. She ground her hips into her hand and gasped as she could feel herself start to climax.
'It's not enough.' She thought fretfully. 'It's not enough.'
She wondered if Eames would be home, if he would help her. Surely... surely he would. He would see her need. Not a simple want, or desire, but a real physical need. She slowed her breathing as a halfhearted orgasm gave her some release. She relaxed back in her bed. Just as frustrated as she had been before she started.
~ Eames spotted the Point Man long before Arthur saw him. It was in the little market where the Forger always did the grocery shopping. The crowds were thick with the street fairs going on. Perfect for hiding. Eames tailed Arthur as the Point Man made his careful way up to Knotting Hill.
'He knows where we live.' The Forger thought.
Eames fished out his cell phone. He had to warn Ariadne that Arthur had found her. He knew she had not told him about the baby. Arthur would see her. See her large belly and know. There was no way they could hide her condition now.
Eames thought about the woman in his house. Arthur's intrusion would end that. Would they make up? Would she want to go with him? Something inside the Forger hoped that Arthur would fly into some kind of rage at seeing the Architect in her current state. Abandon her. Hate her.
Leave her for the Forger to pick up the pieces, protect her. Care for her.
"Hello?" Ariadne's voice came over the phone. "Did you forget something?" She asked. Her sweet voice made Eames pause and smile.
"Darling, just stay calm for me."He said slowly. "I just saw Arthur on the street. He is heading up to the house. I'll be right behind him."
"What?" She said. Threads of panic and fear in her voice.
"Ariadne, the time has come. Time has come to tell him. We should have done this a long time ago." Eames said trying to be calm and tactful
"No, Eames... please you have to stop him. Please!" She cried. It was enough to break his heart. He would have done anything Ariadne asked him. But this, he could not do. The painful memory of his own lost family still hurt. He would not do the same to another man.
"I can't... you have to tell him. He needs to know." Eames gently said.
"Eames! Please!" She was crying now.
"Ariadne..." He sighed heavily. Unsure of what to do. "I'll be home soon."
~ Arthur had reached the narrow little house and was ringing the bell. He was nervous about finally seeing her again. He would apologize to her. Explain everything. Tell her the truth about COBAL. Hope that she would forgive him. Hope they could talk for a long time. Spend some time together. Maybe he would even stay over. He smiled softly at the idea.
The door opened slightly. Ariadne's face appeared in the small crack.
"Ariadne?" he breathed in relief at finally seeing her in person. His face fell as he realized she had been crying.
"What do you want?" She said hostility.
"I came to see you." He said. "I wanted to apologize in person." He explained. "Can I come in?" He asked.
"No!" She said angrily.
His instincts were alerted. She was hiding something. She was afraid. Something was wrong. The thought that she was in danger flew into his mind. He imagined armed robbers in the house. Holding her hostage. Making her answer the door. Telling whoever was there that everything was alright. They would be hiding behind her telling her what to say. The Point Man reached into his back to retrieve his weapon.
"Arthur!" She shouted as he forced his way in. There was nothing but stillness in the small parlor and kitchen. The Point Man heard no noises upstairs as he looked around for intruders. He looked back to Ariadne. Her body was turned away from him. She was breathing hard.
"I'm sorry." he said. "I thought... maybe you..." He let his sentence drop as Eames ran up the front stairs.
"What are you doing here?" Arthur asked feeling a sudden rush of anger. He knew the Forger and the Architect had been together at one point. But he had no idea they were still together. He figured Eames would be gone. Never staying in one place for long.
The Forger ignored the Point Man as he leaned down to whisper into Ariadne's ear.
"It's time, it's time." he whispered softly. Arthur saw the petite Architect nodded and turn. He saw her tear stained face. Then, he almost didn't see it. His breath caught in his throat as his eyes landed on her large stomach.
"Ariadne..." He finally breathed. His hand tentatively reaching out to her belly. His mind raced backwards. Back to that night. Almost eight months ago now. A long, eventful eight months.
"What... why..." he tried to articulate his question. His mind was spinning. His world had gone sideways.
"I'm sorry." She said softly. Fresh tears falling. "You and I, they way we left things... I didn't think you would want..." She shook her head. Not willing to finish her sentence. Eames left her side and gave the couple some space. Away from ear shot but close enough to come to her aide, should she need him.
"Ariadne... how? I mean, we used a condom." Arthur whispered.
"No, we didn't." She said plainly. "I mean, I went and got it but we never used it." She amended. Her voice pitiful. Arthur had to think. Try and remember that night. He had been too drunk to recall anything but the feel of her body. He knew she was right though. The evidence was right in front of him.
"When are you due?" He asked gently placing his large hands over her belly. Over his baby. She allowed the contact.
"Over a month." She said simply. "I wanted to tell you when I called, I really did, but... I was just so... angry." She said. Another fit of tears coming over her.
Arthur pulled her into his arms then. She cried long frustrated tears as he held her close. She was whispering how sorry she was. He was whispering the same thing. Telling her over and over, that it would be alright.
In the tiny kitchen, Eames watched all of this unfold. He knew this was the beginning of the end. He knew his world was being ripped away from him.
I know I promised this would be an erotic story, but this story has wanted to become something more.
I will incorporate as much erotica as I can.
*EVERYONE masturbates. If they say they don't they are lying, or they have no hands.