Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me.
Ariadne looked at his retreating back. "Arthur!"
He stopped, and she saw him flexing his hands. "Yes, Ariadne?"
"Arthur, you cannot just turn and walk away!" her voice was almost fearful. "We need to talk about this! About what you said!"
"Oh, do we?" he responded, turning, his eyes flashing. "Because I've seen everything. And now I know the truth - that you've been lying to me, lying to all of us." His facial expression was pained, and she noticed the hurt in his eyes. "Why couldn't you just tell us the truth? Tell me the truth? Why?"
Ariadne swallowed. His anger was overwhelming, almost oppressive. She leaned forward.
"Arthur," she said, her voice calm, "has it occurred to you that some things are none of your business?!"
The Point Man's eyes widened, and his mouth twisted. He looked at her, the muscles in his next visibly tensing. Without another word, he turned, and before she could open her mouth to speak again, he'd left, the door closing loudly behind him.
Cobb swallowed as he knocked on the door. He rarely visited the Point Man at home, due to his belief that Arthur put in longer hours than necessary. But, it was late. And Arthur, he knew, was never, ever late.
He knocked again, biting his lip. After what seemed an interminable wait, the door began to open. Arthur stood holding it, his clothes neat, and his expression neutral. "Cobb."
"Arthur." The Extractor's mind went blank, and he swallowed. "I'm just wondering...any reason for you not being at the warehouse?"
The Point Man swallowed. "Oh, sorry. Got...caught up in something."
"Well, just make sure you're there." Cobb nodded. "We need you for this."
Arthur blinked. "Why didn't you ring?"
Cobb shook his head. "You left your cell phone at Ariadne's."
"Oh."
"Are you all right?"
"Yes, fine, I just need..." he paused, trying to marshall his thoughts. "I'll be there soon, ok?"
"Just make sure you are." Cobb had to bite back a growing irritation. It was not like Arthur to be so evasive.
"I will be."
Ariadne looked at her designs, and bit her lip. The drawings were not as good as she'd hoped. There were too many gaps, too many areas where the projections could slip through.
She swallowed, trying to focus, and push the ugly encounter with Arthur to the back of her mind. But all she saw when she'd closed her eyes the previous night was his face - angry, and accusing.
She shook her head. She felt she could not explain, or defend herself. He'd find out. He always seemed to find out. She shook her head, trying to quell her nervousness. The previous night, he'd seemed so -
"Ari?"
She blinked, and looked up. He was standing in the doorway, an almost concillatory look on his face. He began walking towards her. "I think we need to talk," he said.
His voice was almost kind, but she shook her head. "Not now."
"Ariadne..." he swallowed, clearly trying to marshall his thoughts. "I want to help you."
She sagged slightly. "Why?"
"Because you have..." he looked at her slight frame, and frowned. "Just come to my place after we finish here, ok?"
The Architect looked at him. "I can't, I have other plans."
Arthur took a step closer. Before she could move, he'd put his hand on hers. "Please. Please."
She took a step back. Was he...begging? There was a pleading tone in his voice that she'd never heard before. His eyes were soft, reminding her of molten gold. "I don't know, I mean last night-"
"That's the reason we have to talk."
"But-"
"Please." He looked at her. "Do you want me to get on my knees, and beg?"
She shook her head. "I think we've both been humiliated enough." She bit her lip, watching his reaction. His face clouded slightly, but then he nodded. "Touche."
"I do want to talk to you, but-"
"Then we can do so later," he interrupted. "I'll see you at my place."
She looked at him, mouth open, as he turned and left the room.
Eames looked over at Arthur. The Point Man seemed tense, and withdrawn. Finally, the Forger cleared his throat. "Are you allright?"
"Perfectly," Arthur replied, not looking over. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, you were late this morning, and..." Eames' voice trailed off. "There's some tension between you and Ariadne at the moment."
Arthur raised his eyebrows in surprise. "There's no tension," he said, slightly stiffly, as he got up. "Not as far as I'm concerned."
"Yes, but Arthur-"
"Eames." Arthur shook his head. "Leave it."
Puzzled, and annoyed, Eames watched as the younger man left the room.
Ariadne flagged down a cab to take her to Arthur's, her nervousness growing as the vehicle neared its way to the Point Man's apartment. She was trying to piece together events.
She'd told him her secrets, he'd invaded her dreams, she'd invaded his. But then-
She swallowed. Why did he have to be so arrogant, so determined to push his way in? She smoothed down the dress she was wearing, hoping it concealed enough. As the taxi drew up in front of the apartment building, she took a deep breath.
She'd hoped, previously, she could confide in him. But that now seemed a very distant possibility. As the taxi came to a halt, she paid the driver, opened the door, and headed towards his apartment.
As she approached the door, her heart began hammering. He'd seemed so...cold. Controlling. Swallowing, she knocked on the door.
It swung open, instantly. "Ariadne, glad you came early." Arthur ushered her in. "Come on."
"Arthur, why did you-" she stopped. Her jaw dropped. He gently nudged her towards the lounge. "Look."
She bit her lip. In front of them both was a table, on which he'd served a meal. He looked at her, his features settling into an expression of satisfaction. She shivered slightly - there was an air of determination that she'd seen in relation to work, but never in relation to a person.
"I told you, I was going to get you to eat." His voice was quiet. "I suggest we both sit down."
"Arthur, you -"
"What?"
"You-"
"You're sick," he interrupted, and reached for her arm. "Come on, sit down - and do as I say."
All reviews appreciated, thank you!