Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Avalanche Corp.
This is a fic that has been in my mind for a while and I never found an inspiration to write it until I found out it was someone's birthday. So this is a birthday gift for Kellouka2. It's quite late though. I'm sorry! But I do hope you still enjoy it! It came out much longer than expected (so I'm going to have to steal 1/4 of the love).
Unbeta'd so all mistakes are mine.
Missing: Something
1. If the COBOL job was a success.
Something's missing in his life.
The extraction for COBOL was a success. He isn't being hunted down and he's made a lot of money. Cobb is still on the run. Nash is God knows where. And him? Sipping a drink in a bar in Mombasa while Eames plays his games. Saito's men are looking for him but he needs a break from dodging bullets. "To me," he mutters as he rises the shot glass a little.
"You are such a pitiful bastard," Eames says as he sits beside him and ordering a drink. "Have a game with me."
"I'd rather not spend hard earned money on something that will destroy my life."
"Has anyone told you that you're insensitive." Eames smirks. It's not a question, it's a fact. "You're never going to find a girl who would stay with you for life."
"Maybe I don't need one," Arthur retorts.
"Darling, I know you're a great liar, almost in my level, and a great lie detector, again, almost in my level," he chuckles, "but you should stop lying to yourself and, most importantly, me. We both know that if you find the right person you won't want her to get away."
Arthur scoffs. "The right person doesn't exist. She probably lives halfway across the world."
"You are such a pessimist; there are plenty of beautiful people in Mombasa. I've found myself many during my stay here."
"You mean while you're hiding."
"Pessimist."
Arthur shakes his head and sips from his drink before his phone starts to ring. He picks it up and sees an unknown number. "Who are you and how did you get my number?" is his greeting. Eames raises an eyebrow.
"Nash is dead."
"Cobb."
"He sold us out. Went to Saito and thought he could be safe."
"Then why the fuck are you calling me?" Cobb's always said that each man is responsible for themselves.
"Saito's got a job for us. He might be able to help me get back to my children. Will you help me?"
"An extraction?" Arthur raises an eyebrow, looking at the man beside him. Eames's eyebrows are also raised.
"No. An inception."
"That's impossible."
There's a pause on the other end of the line. "No, it isn't."
"How can you be sure?" This time, Cobb doesn't reply. "So what do you need?" Arthur asks, sighing. His loyalty to Cobb is undeniably unhealthy. "I'm with Eames right now."
"I need the two of you. And a chemist."
"A chemist?" Arthur raises an eyebrow. He knows Eames has an acquaintance here and is trustworthy.
"How much time do you need before going to Paris?"
"We'll take the first flight tomorrow." He sees Eames frown.
"Then make Eames and the chemist head for Sydney. I need them both here. Eames needs to talk to Saito and I have to speak to the chemist."
"Here? So you're already in Sydney?"
"For a while now, with our client."
Arthur sighs. "Why Paris?"
"We need a new architect."
The next day, both the Point Man and the Forger with the Chemist arrive at the warehouse that the Extractor had asked Arthur to rent. Everything is still a mess and the whole place is bare except for two lawn chairs. Despite Arthur telling Eames and Yusuf to help clean up before leaving for Sydney they both disappear. Without a second thought of Eames and his antics, Arthur begins to set up the place.
Until he hears a shy and feminine clear of the throat from behind him.
Cobb had sent him an e-mail regarding some information about the job and an architect who blew him off but is sure to come back. "I've never seen anyone pick it up so quickly before. When she comes back you're going to have her building mazes."
When he turns around, he sees her surprised look. "Um…" she begins to look around, "I must have gone to the wrong warehouse."
"Ariadne?" She tilts her head to the side and then gives a slow nod. He gives her a small smile. "Arthur. Cobb said you'd be back."
She smiles. "I tried not to come but…"
"But there's nothing quite like it," he finishes for her.
"It's just...pure creation," she continues.
He likes her. She's pretty. "Cobb told me to help you when you come back. So," he pulls down the PASIV, "shall we take a look at some paradoxical architecture?"
2. If Cobb said no to the inception of Robert Fischer, Jr.
Something's missing in his life. But he's sure as hell doesn't mean that he's willing to do something dangerous, and not to mention impossible, to find it.
"Hey, Mr. Cobb, how would you like to go home to America? To your children?"
Cobb continues to move forward to the airplane waiting for them on the other side. Arthur is relieved that he isn't taking up the offer. He doesn't know what Saito's playing at or even if what Dom had said about inception was true.
On the plane, he asks, "Inception. Is it really possible?"
"It is. I've done it before and I don't plan on ever doing it again."
Months have passed. The last time he saw Cobb was when he was dropped off at Buenos Aires. Hiding in the US is easier than Arthur thought. COBOL didn't think that he'd be able to get back to his home country. He had only taken one job during those few months and it was easy money.
Cobb calls him again for a difficult job in Paris. He flies over there as soon as he can to meet up with him. After dropping off his luggage in his resident apartment in the country, he walks to Ecole D'Architecture where the Extractor is meeting up with his father-in-law.
When he arrives, he takes in the beautiful buildings that are a second home and—and perhaps to some, their first home—to thousands of college students wanting to become architects once they graduate. He's used to the stares that linger a little too long, and if he's being honest, he loves it—although he'd always deny it when someone asks about the attention he's getting.
He knows his way around the campus and his feet carry him to Miles's classroom. Cobb tells him about how the old man despises his office, always comparing it to a broom cupboard. When he reaches the room he sees the professor talking to one of his students. His friend is nowhere to be found.
He stays put by the foot of the door, not wanting to interlude. Miles looks up and smiles. "Arthur, come, come. We can use another set of eyes for this." Arthur carefully steps down the flight of stairs, eying the petite brunette in a red jacket with blueprints in her hands and models of buildings beside her. He likes her. She's pretty. She smiles at him and he feels a strange sensation in him. "Ariadne, I'd like you to meet Arthur. He's a very close friend of Mr. Cobb's."
They shake hands. "It's very nice to meet you," she says.
"Likewise."
"Dom's still on his way. But, Arthur, we need another opinion for Miss Belaire's works. She needs just another year in this hell hole and she's starting her portfolio early."
He smiles. "I'd gladly help out."
3. If Mal had not died.
Something's missing in his life.
He wonders when he can get an amazing family like the Cobbs with two children running around. A house with a married couple and two kids is a madhouse. But he wants one: a beautiful and loving wife like Mal to come home to, and cute kids dashing to get to you once you arrive.
But it isn't for him right now. Maybe when he's done with dream sharing. Maybe.
"Why don't you go out there and find someone?" Dom suggests.
"I can't exactly find someone who won't judge me when I lie to them about my job," he replies. "You and Mal are one of the lucky ones. Besides, I'm not ready."
Dom shrugs. "Just make sure I'm one of the people you introduce her to."
A small smile appears on Arthur's face. "Of course." He zips his bag and slings it around his shoulder and grabs the PASIV with his other hand. "So where are you headed?"
"Gonna lay low in Canada for two months before heading back home." Dom starts to carry his bag. "You?"
"Probably head to Manila. I need some time to think."
"About what?"
Dom has never been a sensitive person. Arthur figures that he knows him way too much anyway. "If I should meet up with my parents or not. They invited me for the holidays."
"Are you going to spend it alone again?" Dom asks as they head out the door of the hotel suite.
Arthur shrugs. "I was thinking about it."
"You know you're always welcome in our house. Why don't you finally accept the offer?"
"Maybe."
They reach the elevator and they give each other a look. This is the time when they have to pretend they don't know each other for a few months. Arthur will never admit it but he always feels downhearted during these moments.
"Take care of yourself," Dom whispers.
"You, too," Arthur murmurs.
The elevator reaches their floor and they both step inside.
Four months later, Arthur finds himself standing outside the Cobbs home in California with his bag and a PASIV. He has a spare key, they gave it to him years ago and he's always welcome to just come inside and surprise them. He's family. But he always rings the bell not wanting to invade their privacy.
As expected, it's Dom who answers the door with his hand behind his back.
"You have a peep hole for a reason," is Arthur's greeting.
"Always better to be safe than sorry." Dom grins. "Arthur."
"Dom." They give each other a brotherly hug before the blonde takes the younger man's bag and closing the door behind him. "Finally thought about your offer."
"And you accepted." Dom nods. "Unfortunately you're going to have to sleep on the couch. Stephen and Jacqueline are, as you know, also spending the holidays. And they decided to bring one of his students." Arthur raises an eyebrow. "Her family is spending the holidays with missionaries around the world, her brother's spending it with his girlfriend's family and her grandparents in Paris are depressed that they're not spending it together."
"That's very nice of you to take her in for the holidays."
Dom smiles. "He's Stephen's favorite student. He says he's a much better architect than I am."
"So she knows about dream sharing?"
"No, not yet. But he plans on making her another one of his protegés."
"And you plan to do it in a house filled with extractors?" Arthur smirks. "When though?"
"One of these days the kids would want to go out because of cabin fever. Jacqueline will take them out while we give her her first lesson."
Arthur nods. 'This is going to be interesting,' he thinks. They step inside the kitchen to find Mal by the stove. "Mal," he calls her.
She turns around and grins. "Arthur!" Wrapping her arms around him, she asks, "How are you?"
"Good, good. How are you?"
"Wonderful," she replies. "Have you seen the kids yet?"
He shakes his head. "I'll go get them myself."
Two days later, Stephen and Jacqueline Miles arrive from Paris bringing a young lady with them who looks a little shy but with an aura of confidence. She trails behind them a little but when she's introduced, she gives them a bright smile and thanking the Cobbs for their hospitality. He likes her. She's pretty.
"This is Arthur," Dom introduces him, "he's my best friend. He's spending the holidays with us, too."
They shake hands. "It's nice to meet you, Ariadne." Maybe he'll be as lucky as Dom and Mal.
4. If Dom had not allowed Ariadne to accompany them during the Fischer job.
Something's missing in his life.
The Fischer job was bad and Arthur knew it was trouble from the beginning (and a part of it is his fault). It didn't go south but it almost did. Luckily, Eames used his brain to convince Cobb to go into Limbo and save Fischer and Saito. "I spent way too much time with that little architect, darling," the Forger told him after the Point Man asked when his brain started to function properly. "And I wanted to save my ass."
He had to admit that the revelation made (and still makes) him jealous. He spent enough time with the brunette when they were still working together but he always kept things professional. Yes, he had noticed the Brit with the young lady quite a few times but he never thought of them as being close. "You got that idea from her?"
"Yeah. We were talking about the levels of the dreams once and she asked what would happen if you'd go one level deeper when the somancin can only hold a certain number of levels."
"And you answered her?"
"I didn't want to lie so I told her that I didn't know. I guess it slipped her mind after some time."
"So telling Cobb to go into Limbo was just a spur of a moment?"
"It was worth a shot, wasn't it? We're all alive and well." He shrugged.
It's been months since the job and he hasn't seen any of the extractors since then. After Fischer, he decided to take a break from all the thrill and rest. He has more than enough money for a lifetime, might as well enjoy first.
But as he sits in a comfy five-star hotel armchair with a good book in his hands, he can't help but let his mind wander to the architect he had worked with months before. He likes her. She's pretty. And maybe he should have done something to get her to go out with him. He doesn't want her to think that's a boring, stuck-up man like how Eames describes him to be.
"She wanted to come with us," Cobb had told him before boarding the plane, "I promised Miles no."
And he's glad she didn't go. He didn't want her in trouble in case anything happens. She's still young and has a bright future ahead of her. Much more than he does now. Maybe almost as much as him when he was in grad school. (Although the selfish part of him wishes that she'd come with them and go on an amazing adventure.)
So at that moment, he decides to get up, pack up and leave and head straight for Paris. He doesn't know what's in store for him when it comes to her, but for once in years, he hopes they're good. "First class, next flight to Paris."
There's a connecting flight in Germany and he boards the plane right away, refusing to lounge around the airport. His leg bounces in anticipation and he doesn't even try to stop it. Checking his watch every two seconds; he wishes that time would go faster for now. He needs to see her.
"Arthur?"
He looks up and his eyes widen a little. "Ariadne."
She checks her ticket, smiles and sits on the seat beside him. "How are you?"
"I've been good. The job was a success." She nods and he continues, "How are you?"
"Finishing my thesis soon, hopefully I'll be on their good side and start getting into firms."
"I have contacts, I can help," he tells her. "Or if you're still interested in that other job, I'm accepting pretty architects with a sharp mouth and a wise brain." He cracks a small smile.
She giggles. "I'm interested. I'll think about it." She looks at him and smiles. "You're heading to Paris?"
"I am," he answers, suddenly nervous. "Why are you in Germany?"
"My friend, Valeria, had a fashion shoot here. This is actually a last minute thing. I was supposed to stay until the end of her event but a lousy professor decided to move a submission date early." She rolls her eyes. "Why are you going to Paris?"
"I wanted to see you again," he replies before losing the courage to do so. "I miss you."
She gives him a warm smile. Maybe time should go a bit slower from now.
5. If the dream share world did not exist.
Something's missing in his life.
He doesn't hate his life. In fact, he's blessed. A successful and booming company that will be his in a few years, a loving family, and brains that could put the world's known smartest person to shame. He hates paparazzi and how everyone wants to interview him or his father.
"Not all companies are like this, Dad," he said once.
"Not all companies are as successful as ours, Arthur," his father replied.
Arthur still doesn't understand the business world. Sure, it's great knowing that people want to work for them and that they are regarded with much greatness (honestly, who doesn't?), but why couldn't people just keep out of his life. Wherever he goes, there's someone who recognizes him and asks for some of his time to answer questions.
And that is why he always searches for a spot that's just him. The park, the farm, the countryside, and even the mall, but nothing sticks with him until he finds the bookstore. It's peaceful and quiet and he can find just about any book he wants to read about. There's no one who wants to interview him about his future plans and whatnot.
"Where do you disappear to?" his brother Edward asks. No matter what answer he gets, he would never fail to ask at least once a week. It's annoying but Arthur thinks that if he should tolerate one question that's constantly being asked then he should at least choose his brother's.
"A place I'm not willing to share," he answers.
The younger one smirks. "You've got a girlfriend, haven't you?"
"I don't have time for that."
"You have time to disappear."
"To a place that involves only me."
Edward snickers and Arthur glares at his direction. "I'm only making presumptions, dear brother. I'm not saying anything."
"You better not," he mutters.
The secret bookstore goes on for a long time and Arthur never gets bored. Sometimes, he'd bring Edward with him but with certain conditions. "This is so you," the little brother comments. "No wonder you're always lost in here."
Not once has he minded other people around him. He'd a buy a book whenever he'd come, just to show his appreciation. They range from classical novels to joke books (his best friend, Eames, says he doesn't have a sense of humor) to business books to how-to's just for fun.
Today, he's feeling a little like an architect so he goes to the design and architecture center, hoping to find good books on models and scales. He's always had a soft spot for buildings, the patterns never cease to amaze him and the complications and details are wonderful. In another life, he might be an architect. Maybe. But right now he's a researcher.
There's only one person on the far side of the shelf but he doesn't pay attention. Instead, he scans through the books with interesting titles and setting the ones he think would be useful down to be able to pay for them later. He's too lost in his world to realize that the other human in the aisle is stealing glances at him.
In his peripheral vision, he sees his companion trying to reach up for a book at the top shelf. She's short and obviously needs help. He walks over to her and grabs the book she's trying to get. "Here."
"Oh, thanks," she says. She looks up at him and smiles. He likes her. She's pretty. "Are you an architect, too?" She gestures towards the piles of books on the floor near the middle of the aisle.
"I'm a researcher," he answers, "I've just always been interested in architecture. You're an architect?"
"Well, student. I'm in grad school." She smiles. "I'm Ariadne."
"Arthur." He shakes hands with her. She's very legal and that's good. He won't go to jail for anything illegal. "How long until you graduate?"
"Just another year," she replies, shrugging. "But I'm starting my portfolio pretty soon. In a way, I can show the firms how I've become better over the years."
"I'm sure you're really good. Perhaps you can show me some of your works over coffee one day?"
She nods. "Sure, I don't mind. I'll give you my number. I'll be in the country for another month."
Three days later, he finally has the courage to call her and ask her out the next day. They meet at the café beside Avalanche Corp., careful to get a seat far away from the bright sun. When she arrives, she's led to his table and he sees her carry some files with her.
He stands and pushes the seat away from the table for her to sit. "Thank you for meeting up with me."
"This sounds more like a business meeting than a date," she says, giggling.
Arthur chuckles. "I don't go on dates often."
"I don't believe it," she continues to giggle.
The menus are brought and they order. Arthur asks how she is and she tells him that she's enjoying her vacation while it lasts. She's visiting her family for the break and she's studying in Paris. When it's his turn, he leaves out the detail that he's the heir to the successful company right across the street. He looks at her work and is blown away by the details and the structure and the design.
"I see a lot of Stephen Miles in here," he notes casually, actually seeing the similarities and remembering that he supposedly had not researched about her once he arrived home the day they met.
"He's my mentor," she says. "You know him?"
"His daughter and son-in-law are close friends of mine, I'm their children's godfather."
"Oh," is all she says.
He grins. "You know, sometime in the future, my company will be looking for architects. Pretty ones always make the list."
She raises an eyebrow. "You have a company?"
He nods. "Avalanche Corp. You've heard of it."
She twists from her seat and glances at the tall building across the street. "As in that Avalanche Corp.?"
He nods. "I'll save a spot for the prettiest woman in the world."
"You're sweet talking me." A small smile is starting to show.
"Maybe I just want you next to me all the time."
"Do you even have a say in this?" Her smile is fully showing now.
"I'm inheriting it in a few years, so yes." He shrugs, smirking.
"You're going to miss out on a lot of people and opportunities right now and forever if you're gonna hire me and I haven't even graduated grad school." She leans forward.
He leans towards her and smiles. "Nah, I've got you now."
So, this is just a little something that went beyond the limit I expected it to be. It just goes to show that no matter what would have happened in their lives, the two would still meet.
I know I always call Cobb 'Dom' in my stories because I think that after what the team had gone though, there's a sense of closure and more familiarity, but I made him Cobb here (sans number 3 because I believe that if Mal had not died, those two wouldn't be so closed off) because since these are all "what ifs" then that means there is no closure and not much familiarity. But that's just me. And also, for the last, I thought that Arthur wouldn't be such a secret and tight person so I made him loosey goosey, and again, that was a "what if", it's not really OOC.
I hope you enjoyed it! Please leave a review for me to know what you think of it!
