Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me.

Arthur sighed, and took a sip of coffee. "Dom."

"Arthur, please." Cobb looked mildly irritated. "I really need to talk to you."

"All right."

"Do you want me to leave?" Ariadne asked, politely. She flicked her eyes from Arthur to Cobb, and Cobb nodded, slowly. "Please."

Ariadne grabbed her purse, and left. Annoyed, Arthur banged his fist down on the table. "What did you do that for?"

"I'm sorry, but I needed to speak to you, and in confidence." Cobb swallowed. "Listen, Arthur. I don't normally go all out for emotion, but I need you. I need you to agree to be my Vice Principal."

Arthur sighed. "Cobb. Please."

"Arthur." Cobb leaned back. "I know what happened to you - it was wrong. But, listen - we're going to have new buildings, a new start. Fischer is never coming back. I really would like to have you on board for this."

Arthur bit his lip. "I don't-"

"Arthur!" Cobb's voice was terse. "Please!"

"Look, Dom, its not that simple." Arthur's eyes flashed. "You need me more than I need you. Did it ever occur to you I'm tired of being your sidekick?"

Cobb's jaw dropped. He blinked, shifting mental gears, then got up. "I'm going to get an espresso," he said, stiffly. "How about yourself?"

Arthur saw he had no choice. "Cappuccino, please. Double shot."

Cobb nodded and walked to the counter.

Ariadne sighed as she flagged down a bus, and hopped on. She doubted she would see Arthur again that night - she suspected that he and Cobb would argue over coffee and then end the conversation more amicably in a bar.

She slumped into her seat. The prospect of a brand new High School was exciting - but the prospect of leaving, or perhaps starting something with Arthur was more so. She rubbed her forehead. She wanted to stay in education, but was no longer sure that she was in the right place.

She leaned back against the seat. Closing her eyes, she began to drift off.

"I don't understand what the problem is."

Arthur scowled. The thought that Cobb was being deliberately obtuse was pleasanter than the thought he was stupid. He decided to go for the former. "You do know." He picked up the sugar shaker, and began to deposit into the cappuccino cup. "I'm the one who has to deal with everything. The discipline issues, fights, everything. You glide around in your fancy office, and give orders. I like being in the classroom. I like dealing with the students. When I took over Tom's classes, they hated me. They saw me as this uptight stiff who only liked shouting at them." He shook his head. "And I don't want to go back to that."

"I see," Cobb said, slowly.

"I want to teach. Its what I trained to do. Not crunching data all day."

"I see."

"Yes, you do," Arthur muttered.

"So," Cobb said, picking up his espresso, "let's compromise."

"Really?" Arthur raised an eyebrow. "How?"

"Blake? You got a minute?"

John sighed, and got up. He was tired, and his head was starting to ache. Pulling 18 hour days was not a good thing, he decided grimly. Pushing the chair underneath the desk, he walked towards his Lieutenant's office.

"What is it?"

"I've got some bad news. Sit down."

"Co-Vice Principals? With you?"

"No. With Eames."

"Cobb!"

"Think about it. He's been there a couple of years, he could do with more responsibility-"

"And yet again he's the good guy and I'm the bad one!" Arthur shook his head, feeling agitated. "No, Dom, this is not a compromise. Its not how I see things going."

"OK." Cobb exhaled, slowly. "So- how about you and I, co-Principals?"

Arthur blinked. "You really think that's possible?"

"The school is expanding." Cobb looked down into his espresso cup. "I think we need two people, sharing responsibility. We work well together, we can both run the school, and also teach. Mal could be Vice-Principal. What do you think?"

"I-" Arthur opened his mouth, only for his cell phone to screech into life. He sighed and pulled it out. "Yes?"

"Arthur? Blake."

Arthur blinked. "John? What is it?"

"Its not good. Please listen to me."

Ariadne got off the bus, and began to walk towards her small apartment block. She might as well enjoy having the evening to herself, she felt. Reaching inside her bag, she began to pull out her key, letting them jangle in her hand.

Suddenly, she turned. She thought she heard something, footsteps. Shaking her head, she focused on putting the key into the lock. As she began to turn it, she felt a hand suddenly grab her elbow. Ariadne opened her mouth, but suddenly, she was plunged into darkness.

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