Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me. Writing is a little bit of a struggle at the moment, so feedback is appreciated for improvement.

Arthur blinked as Ariadne's lips met his. He immediately tightened his arm around her, and pulled her closer.

After a few moments, they pulled apart. Arthur looked at Ariadne; her expression was reluctant.

"Um..." she swallowed, clearly trying to think of something coherent to say. He looked at the floor, then at her. "I..." words were failing him.

Then, they both started to laugh. Ariadne sank onto the couch, and within seconds, Arthur was settled next to her.

"I'm sorry!" Ariadne choked out. "I don't know what came over me!"

Arthur leaned forward. "The scent of my aftershave?" he said, smiling. He paused, and looked at her. "Ari..." cupping her chin in his hand, he drew her closer. Their lips met again. His hand caressed her cheek; she responded by letting him pull her into an embrace.

"This is-" she swallowed. "I go on a date with Robert, and I end up-" she blushed, and looked at him. "Please don't think I'm forward!"

Arthur blinked. "Ari, I'm glad you did that. Because I was wondering if I'd be seen as forward if I tried to kiss you, especially after the way I gatecrashed your date with Robert!"

She began to laugh, and visibly relaxed. "Arthur, the guy's an octopus!" She shuddered at the memory. Arthur frowned. The look of smug satisfaction in Robert's face as he'd laid his hand possessively on her thigh was burned into his memory. "What do you think he's going to be like tomorrow?"

Arthur shrugged. "Who knows? Who cares?" He looked at her. "I only wish I'd tipped something stronger than my ice cream over him!"

She smiled. "The look on his face..." Arthur stretched a hand out across the back of the couch, and she began to cuddle up. Arthur smiled, remembering the look of shock on the older man's face. "He had it coming," Arthur said, grinning.

Ariadne looked at him. "He's annoyed you before?"

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Pretty hard not to be annoyed with someone who makes it very clear that his job is something he does to keep access to his trust fund." He shook his head. "Robert doesn't need to work, and loves to rub it in." He turned to her. "But, lets not talk about him." He swallowed, and checked his watch. "Its half eleven, and I was thinking...you can have my bed, and I'll crash on the couch."

She looked at him, slightly taken aback. "OK, if you're sure."

"I am," he insisted. Then he took her hands. "Ari, I really-" he took a deep breath, afraid he was beginning to sound trite. "I think you're terrific, and I can't believe how lucky I am that you're here with me. But, I really want to do things the right way. Take you for dinner, and then..."

They kissed again. Ariadne pulled back. "Thank you," she breathed.

Arthur took a deep breath. He and Ariadne had both been up half an hour earlier than normal, in order for him to drive her back to her apartment. He'd reasoned that if she turned up to work in the clothes she'd worn the previous night, the gossip grapevine would be hotter than a barbecue grill within ten minutes. He was standing under the shower, rinsing himself. She'd let herself out of the car, and turned to him, shyly.

"So," she'd said.

"So," he repeated, his mind slowly going blank. Then he found his voice. "Tomorrow? Dinner? I promise not to bring an audience with me!"

She smiled. "Sounds great." Leaning over, they kissed gently, before she hopped out, heading for the main door.

He lathered up the shampoo, and started to smile.

Arthur walked into the staff lounge, and headed straight for the coffee machine. He could afford to spend a few minutes in there, before he greeted the pile of paperwork in his office.

"Artie!"

He groaned. Eames. The Drama teacher was practically hanging over the back of one of the couches, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. He looked at him. "Yes, Eames?"

"Yes, Eames?" The British man pouted slightly. "You tip a bowl of ice cream over Fischer, rescue the fair damsel in distress, and waltz off into the sunset, and all you can say is 'Yes, Eames?'!"

Arthur put his mug under the dispenser of the coffee machine. "Well, what do you want me to say?" He looked at him.

"Any jobs?" Eames grinned.

"What?" Arthur looked slightly confused.

"Oh, you know, Artie, things like hand jo-"

"Eames!" Arthur went scarlet. "How dare you! No, nothing like that!" He shook his head, and picked up the mug. "I'll have you know that it wasn't like that. It was very-"

"Sweet?" Eames was grinning. "Romantic?"

Arthur nodded, beginning to smile. "Yes. It was."

"Well, good to know." Eames slumped back on the couch. "I was beginning to think you were a robot, Arthur."

Stung, Arthur turned to him. "I'm not. I've got feelings, Eames. But so has she. And I-" suddenly, he blinked. His assistant, Mark, was standing in front of him.

"Arthur, I've been trying to call you," the PA hissed. "Where have you been?"

Arthur blinked. "Getting up, driving here. Why?"

"You need to go to Dom's office." Mark bit his lip. "Right away."

Arthur looked at the coffee, cooling in his hand. "OK." He handed the mug to Mark. "Put this in my office, will you? Thanks."

Mark nodded. "Sure thing."

Arthur hurried to Cobb's office, pulling his suit jacket on as he did so. As he knocked on the door, his eyes narrowed. Through the frosted pane of glass, he could see another shape inside.

One that looked suspiciously like one of the District officials.

Swallowing, he pushed the door open. Cobb stood up.

"Arthur!" he greeted him, pleasantly. "Come in. You know Michael Davis, don't you?"

Arthur nodded. "Yes, I do." He turned to him. "What brings you here, Mike?"

Davis shuffled his feet, and looked embarrassed. "Art, this is really embarrassing. We've had an official complaint made to us, about you."

Arthur's jaw dropped. "Excuse me?"

"Yes." Mike nodded. "A complaint that you used an acceptable level of physical violence against another member of staff."

"I what?" Arthur's eyes widened. "Who made the complaint?"

Davis swallowed. "Robert Fischer. Claims you assaulted him and caused public embarrassment. Now, I'm going to have to investigate-" he said this quickly, as though he were expecting Arthur to argue - "so I'm afraid there is something we're going to have to do."

Arthur's mind was racing. "What's that?" he asked, his voice suddenly sounding faint.

Davis looked embarrassed, and guilty. "Suspend you from your position of Vice Principal. Effective immediately."

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