Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me.

"So, what do you suggest?" Arthur asked, a touch irritably. He'd found two glasses, and Eames had poured the scotch. A few sips later, and he was beginning to suspect that Eames had no solutions, but merely needed a drinking buddy.

"Its very simple," Eames said. "You go to the restaurant with someone, you bump into them, and you casually ask, 'can we be a four?'"

Arthur blinked. "Right. And how am I suppose to get a date at such short notice?"

Eames shrugged. "I was thinking you could ask me."

"You?" Arthur looked stunned. "Eames!"

"Look, friends go out for dinner!" Eames shook his head. "We could say we were working late, and-"

"Eames! Do you have any idea how many rumours that will start?" Arthur sometimes wondered if Eames lived on any planet other than his own.

"No." Eames smiled innocently.

"I'm not doing it." Arthur said, grumpily. "I have a reputation, and so do you!"

"Indeed I do, you should hear what they write about me in the girls' toilets. Anyhow, its simple. We go out, bump into them, and then-"

"Let's ask Mal and Dom along," Arthur interrupted.

"What?"

"You heard." Arthur looked at him "We ask Mal and Dom, or I'm not going."

Eames pulled a face. "Honestly Arthur. When you get a strop on, you're worse than the kids. Ill see what I can do."

Ariadne looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing her black dress, and heels. She rarely got dressed up, and the outfit felt tight, and restricting.

She bit her lip. Robert seemed like a nice guy, but Fargo's...it was expensive. Very expensive. She had a feeling Robert wanted to impress. The doorbell rang, and she hurried to the door.

Robert stood in the doorway, wearing a black suit and light blue tie. He offered her his arm, smiling.

She swallowed. "Hi."

"Good evening," he responded. They walked to his car. She blinked. It was a top of the range silver porsche. She got in, wondering what was going to happen.

"Right." Robert turned to her. "The restaurant is wonderful. I do hope you'll enjoy it."

His hand slid onto her knee; her eyes widened. Arthur had never been so forward. Even when he kissed her he'd done it awkwardly.

"Let's go," he whispered. She nodded. Turning, he started the engine.

"You ok, Arthur? You look nervous."

Arthur blinked. Eventually, he'd agreed to Eames suggestion of going out for dinner with Dom and Mal, but he couldn't hide his nervousness.

What if she doesn't show up? he fretted. He cast his eyes round the restaurant; Eames nudged him.

"Stop being so bloody obvious!" he whispered. Arthur nodded, his expression tightening. Suddenly, he stood up.

"They're here!" he hissed.

Eames nodded. Ariadne and Robert had entered the restaurant, Robert leading her in. He noticed she was wearing a dress, which made his eyes widen. He turned.

"Eames!" He nudged his friend and colleague. "You're staring!"

Eames blinked. "Well, Artie, you see someone in a different light when they're-" he turned, smiled and waved. "Robert! Ariadne!"

Robert looked up. Arthur could tell that his pale, still face was trying to suppress annoyance when he saw the four of them. He also noted that Ariadne's face showed something akin to relief.

Dom walked over, smiling. "Well, hello! Listen, we thought we'd-" he waved his hand in the direction of the others - "would go out to eat. Let's put some tables together!"

Robert pressed his lips together, tightly; Ariadne smiled. "Sounds great!"

Arthur looked at her. Her face was slightly flushed, and she seemed anxious. He walked over.

"Hey," he said, softly, "are you ok?"

She bit her lip. "I'm fine," she said, her voice sounding unnaturally high pitched. "Shall we all sit down?"

Arthur nodded, trying to ignore the icy glares emanating from Robert. The six of them were ushered to a table.

"Well, I don't hold with all this testing. Students should be allowed to flourish!"

Arthur sighed inwardly. Eames was on his third glass of wine, and becoming more rambunctious. Mal was smiling, indulgently, Cobb looked as though he were wishing he were somewhere else. Robert, who was sitting next to Ariadne, was very quiet.

"Yes, but Eames..." Cobb let the sentence drift, as Mal put her hand over his.

Arthur, who was sitting on her other side, turned to her. "So, did you have a good day?"

He could have kicked himself. How facile.

"It, was interesting," she responded. She was looking at the table, and not at him. Arthur frowned slightly and reached for his water glass.

Ariadne felt decidedly uncomfortable. Robert, she decided, had been an octopus in a previous life. His hands were all over her. She'd never felt so relieved when she'd seen the others in the restaurant.

Arthur, she mused, wouldn't be like that. Yes, he was a man, but he was also respectful.

She blinked. Robert's hand was on her thigh.

"Robert, please." Her voice was barely a whisper.

Robert frowned and leaned forward. "I've just bought you dinner."

"But you-"

Ariadne swallowed. She felt completely out of her depth.

Arthur took a swallow of water. The food was delicious, and the company was good, but he could see how Robert's hands were crawling over Ariadne.

Suddenly, he blinked.

Robert's hand was on her thigh. And he was smirking.

He looked at Ariadne, and then locked eyes with Robert. The slightly older man raised an eyebrow.

"Problem, Arthur?"

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