Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me.
Arthur swallowed as he led Ariadne out to his car. His modest black fiat could hardly compare with Robert's porsche, but, as he opened the door for her, he decided being chivalrous might make up for it.
"Thank you," Ariadne said, gratefully, as she lowered herself into her seat. As he walked round to his side and unlocked his door, he stole a quick glance. She was fiddling with her handbag, and then her seat belt.
"So," he said, an his mind went slightly blank. "Where do you live?"
She looked at him, and giggled slightly. "Arthur, don't tell me you've forgotten! You came to my apartment when I was sick, remember?"
He flushed red, not wanting to be reminded of how he'd spied on her. "I know, I'm sorry about that-" he paused, aware he was in danger of sounding pathetic. "How about we go to my place?"
She looked at him. "You're sure?"
"Oh yes," he said, trying to sound carefree. "I have some ground roast coffee."
She nodded. "Sounds good."
He switched on the ignition, and began to back out of the parking space. His hands felt slightly damp, and he took a deep breath.
Just stay calm, he told himself.
Robert came back from the men's room, a dull flush upon his normally pale face. Cobb swallowed, trying to appease the angry man.
"Robert, look, I'm sor-"
"You're sorry?" the other man spluttered. "You're sorry that you, your Vice Principal, and a couple of others gatecrashed my date, and then he proceeded to tip his dessert on me and walk out of here with my date?"
"Well, when you put it like that-" Eames commented, but fell silent when Mal leaned over and patted his hand. Cobb took a deep breath.
"As I said Robert, I'm sorry," he said, calmly. "But, your behaviour was out of line. I don't expect to see someone I employ - someone I respect - making another one of my staff uncomfortable like that in public."
Robert blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You know what I mean," Cobb said, his voice taking on a slightly hard edge. "The way you treated Ariadne. Not acceptable Robert. Totally unacceptable."
Robert shrugged. "Well, thats your opinion." Turning, he walked away.
Arthur carefully steered his car into the parking lot outside his block, and braked. Ariadne was looking into her lap. She'd not said two words since they'd left the restaurant. He ran his tongue over his bottom lip, and turned to her.
"Ari-"
"Art-"
They both stopped, and then Arthur began to grin, and then laugh. As did she.
"Nervous tension," she offered, and they both started laughing.
"I agree," Arthur said, rubbing his forehead. He groaned. "I don't know what came over me!"
"Well, we all know what came over Robert!" Ariadne suggested, mischeviously. At that, both burst into laughter again.
"We have to get out of here," Arthur said, trying hard to control his laughter. "Come on."
As he opened the door, he paused. Ariadne's hand had found its way onto his. "Thank you," she said softly. "For what you did."
Arthur found himself blush slightly. "Don't mention it." He focused on opening the car door and getting out. As she stood by the door, uncertainly, he approached her. "Come on."
They walked in silence to the doors. As he pushed it open, he turned to her. "Well, we can either walk or take the elevator, depending on what you prefer."
"Oh, I don't mind walking!" she said, quickly. He raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Are you sure?"
"No, not at all!" She was already climbing up the first fleet of stairs. He started to hurry after her. "Ari, its-" He swallowed. "Seven flights."
Slowly, he began to walk after her. After ten minutes, he found her pausing on the stairwell. "I didn't realise it was so high," she said, apologetically. Arthur smiled.
"Doesn't matter. Gives me a chance to burn off the peppercorn sauce." He looked at her. "One major disadvantage of being a VP - I spend most of my time sitting down." He looked at her. "When I was teaching full time, I was always on my feet." He sighed and they continued to climb. After another four flights, they reached his apartment. "OK," he said, fishing his key out of his pocket. "I warn you, its a little messy."
She shrugged. "Doesn't bother me."
He unlocked the door, and ushered her in. "Take a seat." He hurried into the kitchen. She wandered into the lounge.
"Um, Arthur?"
He was trying to pull his coffee cannister off the shelf. "Yes?"
"I thought you said this was messy?" He hurried back into the lounge. Ariadne was surveying the tastefully decorated and modern living space. "This is immaculate!"
Arthur blinked. "Um, yes, but if you look..." he took a critical look at his lounge. A few CDs were stacked on the glass topped coffee table, rather than being in the rack. A pile of papers he'd been meaning to grade were on the dining table, and, to his shock, a cup containing a half drunk coffee was balancing precariously on the armchair. His eyes widening, he looked at her. "Well, there are things lying around, so-"
She was flipping through the CDs. "Wow! You have Nirvana! " She looked at him. "And-" she paused, her eyes widening. "Marilyn Manson?"
Arthur flushed red and hurried over. "Um, the Manson CD was a gift." He took it from her. "My sister. I asked for a CD by Mansun, the British band. She made a mistake."
She looked at him, grinning. "Have you listened to it all the way through?"
"No," he confessed. "I'm not really into metal." He sighed and put the CD back on the table. "Aside from Metallica. Especially Master of Puppets." He looked at her. "And The Black Album."
She shook her head. "Arthur. The more I get to know you-"
He swallowed, listening for the kettle. "Yes?"
"-the less I feel I know you," she finished. He swallowed, and turned. "Oh, the kettle!"
He hurried back into the kitchen. Ariadne, feeling she'd embarrassed him, continued to flip through the CDs he'd left on the table. She smiled as she looked at one. The Pixies. She remembered how she'd heard him singing "Here Comes Your Man" in the music room. And then she found another one.
"Portishead!"
He came into the lounge area, carrying a tray. On it sat a cafetiere, two mugs, and a plate with some cookies. He sat the tray down, and settled next to her. "Yes. I saw them live in New York when I was at College." He smiled. "She has the most incredible voice." He took the CD from her. "Shall I put it on?"
Ariadne nodded. "Please."
He slid the disc out of its box, and slipped it into the CD player. As the haunting beats of "Mysterons" began to fill the room, he leaned back, and poured the coffee. "Here."
She accepted her cup. "Thank you."
He offered her the cookies. "Um...cookie?"
She smiled and took one. "Trying to tell me I'm too skinny?" she teased. He blinked. "No," he said, hastily, "its just you never got to eat your cheesecake, so I-"
She looked at him. "Sorry, I'm doing a good job of embarrassing myself this evening." She bit into the cookie. "You're very thoughtful."
"I do try." He took a sip of coffee, listening to Beth Gibbons' haunting voice as it swelled around the room. He put his coffee cup down, and turned to her. "Would you like to dance?"
Her eyes widened, then she nodded. "Sure. Why not?"
They both got up, and he looped an arm around her waist. As they moved, the lyrics began to hum around them:
Nobody loves me, its true
Not like you do...
Arthur blinked. "Ariadne, I'm not sure if we-"
She put her hand on his face. "I'm sure," she said gently. Pulling his face down, their lips met.
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