Disclaimer: I don't anything.

Hi, friends! It's update day (Wednesday night)! You all do not know how happy I am with the reviews I got for last chapter. I've been having one of my depressing moments but then your reviews came and it really light up my heart! Thank you so so so so so much! Thank you to the readers and new favoriter [Tall and Simple] and follower [kamarooka], too! I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Thank you for the beta carameltootsieroll! Other mistakes are mine (I haven't edited it as well, though). Warning: Language!

Neverlandspirit: Thank you! Hope you enjoy this one!
JuseaPeterson: Thank you! I'm relieved you find the job interesting, I was stuck in that part and that's the only thing that went through, haha. I love Eames, too, and I'm glad I got him. I hope I still got him here. I love anything Arthur and Ariadne with Eames so I can't help but put more of him. He'll probably be a main character. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Guest: Did you know that seeing your review when I got home was the cherry on top of an amazing day?! You see, I went shopping and watched Sin City and then I come home and I see that my 20th review is an amazing review...I just want to say thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you! *gives you a great big hug* THANK YOU! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Carameltoostieroll: Thank you! Eames always makes things better, haha! I'm glad you think so! There was a part where I made a huge mistake and only noticed minutes before I was supposed to post but yay, saved!
Emily: I'm so happy you love this! Your review actually inspired me to continue writing this chapter, hihi :3 I hope you enjoy it!
Kamarooka: Hi! I'm so happy you're loving it! And thank you! I'm a bit worried sometimes but thank you for telling me :] Hihi, I planned to leave that a surprise but you're the only one who answered, so yes, it does have something to do with Ari, but I'll expound on that later :] I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Step Six: Skills/Talents — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

1 and a half weeks after Selfoss (end of August)

The job in Iceland was short, only taking up a week because of Gina's paranoia, and didn't really go as well as planned. They got into Rob Dewitt's, Gina's husband, mind and extracted the information they needed. Eames and Ariadne had sighed when they learned that he really was just planning a surprise party for their anniversary. When the job was done, they all raced out of the living room of the Dewitt household and let Gina take care of it. But for the couple, all had gone downhill when Gina told her husband the truth about the extraction. Cindy mentioned that Rob "is usually a very nice, honest and patient man". But she didn't know that he hates being doubted, especially by his own wife. When Ariadne asked why he didn't like being doubted, Eames merely shrugged and said, "Some people are just that way, Love." Cindy still did give them their share of money.

So now, they're riding a cable car in Rio on their way back to the ground from Sugarloaf Mountain.

Once Eames steps down, he stretches and yawns. "Well, wasn't that a fun rock climbing trip. Of course, you couldn't because of your outfit, Arthur."

"My pants are quite stretchable, Eames, I'm perfectly capable of climbing that wall," Arthur grumbles. "I wanted to make sure that the wires and cable are in perfect condition, just in case Ariadne falls I can catch her."

"And you'd leave me to fall?"

Before Arthur can reply, Ariadne, who's in between the two men, steps in. "Of course not, I'm sure he'll think of a way to catch you."

"Bless you for being here, Love."

"You weren't supposed to come with us in the first place," Arthur retorts.

Eames smirks. "You can't hog Ariadne all to yourself, Arthur. I've grown to love her, too."

Ariadne sighs as they continue to bicker. They pass by a gelato stall and she buys Menta while Eames gets Malaga and Fragola for Arthur. The Point Man suggests going on a shopping trip, which his companions agree to, so he hails a cab and instructs him to drive them to Rio Sul Shopping Center.

When they get to the shopping center, Ariadne is immediately drawn to the exotic items she finds. Eames offers to split up but Arthur thinks it's too dangerous—some lose ends haven't been tied—and they should stick together.

"You just don't want to take your eyes off of Ariadne," Eames says, smirking.

Arthur ignores him and continues walking, the Architect still in between them. "Just tell us if you want to enter any of the shops, okay? And if you're tired we can stop by a café to have some snacks."

The mall is different from the regular ones Ariadne's usually in. It's a tower, the tallest building in Rio; a commercial complex with the four hundred shopping stores in it.

Inside one dress shop, as Ariadne scans through the sundresses in one rack, while Eames continues to give her clothing choices that are very revealing, and Arthur sitting on a couch right next to her, she asks, "What's in Rio that you decided we should go here instead of back to Charlottetown? I still have a week before classes start again." She recently got an e-mail that the start of the new semester would be pushed to a new date because of repairs and renovations.

"Eames," he deadpans. "I was already purchasing tickets for us. He snuck up on me and said he wanted to come along but I didn't want him going to our place." She blushes at that. "So I got tickets for here instead. Indulge yourself, buy whatever you want. I know it isn't the best place to go shopping but we don't normally take jobs here anymore, the last one was...Dom and I are just lucky we got out alive. He had Mal worrying sick, she was back in California and he refused to let her join. He was willing to go back to Buenos Aries but I wasn't and never will be." He shrugs. "I never intended to bring you here but I wanted to bring you in at least one place around the world. At least Eames and I will be able to protect you."

"So that's why you want to do everything today and leave first thing tomorrow?"

He nods. "We're bringing you back to Paris."

"And where will you be?"

He only gives her a small smile.

She turns back to the rack and takes out a yellow dress. She isn't much for shopping for fancy clothes, especially in another country, but a girl has to enjoy being in a mall with enough money to buy whatever she wants once in awhile, right?

Eames comes bouncing in with a basket filled with dresses. "I've found the perfect outfits for you, Love."

"You've been giving me nothing but revealing clothes, Eames, and it's going to be really cold soon!"

"You haven't seen what I've got for you."

And true enough, Eames did find her suitable clothing. In fact, in every store they've gone to the shopping bags are filled with items the Forger found for her. Except for her bag of scarves, of course.

As the afternoon turns into night, the three make their way back to their hotel, tired. Arthur suggests they hit the sack early as their departure is at seven in the morning.

"You really do want to get out of this place," Ariadne says.

Back in Paris

"This is a very nice place you've got, Love," Eames comments once he's toured around Ariadne's apartment. "I assume the rent costs a fortune."

"My parents bought it for me, it's ours," she explains. She's on the floor of the living room with the items she bought from Rio scattered around her. "This is a lovely sweater, I'm sure it'll keep me warm during the winter."

Arthur smiles as he sips from his cup of tea then teases, "Eames has a skill of choosing women's clothing, that wasn't in the research."

Eames plops down next to him and says, "There's a lot you don't know about me, Darling." He smiles when Ariadne seems happy about a scarf she chose. "Speaking of skills, that chemist Norman is quite manipulative."

"I agree." Arthur nods.

"Why?" Ariadne asks. She stops checking out her clothes and leans on her coffee table.

"He tricked me into accepting the job. A charming one he is." Eames shrugs.

Ariadne snorts at that. "I never noticed."

"Norman's quite...an oddball," Eames begins to say, "he's an awkward, love-sick bloke who follows Cindy's orders. He'd do anything for that lady. When it comes to her, he immediately turns on his charms. Told me he'd buy me a round of drinks every night."

"Cheap, Mr. Eames," Arthur remarks.

"He once tried to make me do a job with him because he threatened me with this gambling bet. Bastard wasn't so lucky because I already paid it."

"So he's a blackmailer?" Ariadne clarifies.

"No, not if you agree to his plans at once. But if he's desperate to please Cindy...then yes," Eames agrees. He turns to Arthur. "And what did he say to you, Arthur? You fell for his charms?"

"Hardly," Arthur snorts, "he blackmailed me. And even I know that he can make them come true."

"What'd he blackmail you with?" Ariadne's been wondering what made Arthur accept the job.

"Nothing important."

Eames leans forward. "Oh it must be important, Darling, if you agreed."

"What I mean is that it's none of your business," he snaps. Ariadne stares at him and Eames merely smirks. He sighs and shakes his head. "He had a job for an old employer, he succeeded and I didn't. I've still got a price on my head."

"That little wanker," Eames mutters.

Ariadne pats his knee. "He can't do anything about it because you accepted and the job was a success in our part."

"Our skills and talents weren't put to waste, I suppose," Eames says. "That talent of yours by recreating the house exactly as it is unmatched, Love."

"I'd have to agree," Arthur says, smiling.

"Yes, Darling, we know you worship the ground she walks on." There's a teasing smile on his face.

Ariadne turns away with a scarlet face while Arthur mutters "shut up" and profanities to the Brit.

"Back to you, Love. I'm sure you have other talents aside from your amazing architecture skills."

"Well, I don't think I have any bedazzling talents, Eames. I'm good at roller-skating," she says, shrugging.

"She can sing and play the guitar," Arthur joins in.

"How did you know that!?" Ariadne demands. Eames and Arthur just look at her. "Okay, fine, yes. I'm not the best but I can."

"She's being modest," the Point Man says.

Eames rolls his eyes. "Yes, Arthur, we all know everything she does amazes you like no one else is good enou—oof!"

Arthur had just hit him with a throw pillow. "Shut up, Mr. Eames!"

The Forger roars and stumbles back on the couch while he clutches his stomach. "Arthur just hit me with a throw pillow! I'll take note of this day!"

Ariadne can't help but laugh along. Arthur continues to glare at his co-worker. When they've all calmed down, Eames urges Ariadne to get her guitar and sing. Ariadne refuses but promises to give them a sample one day.

"And what about you, Eames? Aside from thievery, forgery and charming the ladies, what can you do?" Ariadne asks.

Arthur snickers. "Gambling."

"On good days, Darling," Eames defends with a smile. Ariadne can see the tiny hint of disappointment in Arthur's face. "But, as you all know, I am a good actor."

"That doesn't count because you already do that in dreams," Arthur tells him.

"So you admit I'm a good actor?"

Arthur doesn't reply.

"All right, if that doesn't count...I believe I can consume as much alcohol as I want without getting drunk."

"That's a known fact."

"Arthur darling, will you please let me show off for a few minutes?" Eames sighs. He turns back to Ariadne and grins. "Believe it or not, little lady, but I'm an excellent chef."

Ariadne smiles. "You'd need to cook for the women in the morning, don't you?"

"That may be the reason why I started experimenting," Eames nods, "but I've learned that it is a God given talent. When I'm on the run, so as to not risk getting caught, I hurriedly grab whatever I can from the grocery and cook it wherever I'm living in. Stay the night and I'll cook you breakfast."

The Architect laughs. "Okay, for a good breakfast I might just take up your offer."

"You're welcome to join us, Arthur," Eames tells him.

'Eames isn't kidding when he says he's an excellent chef,' Ariadne thinks as she chews and then cuts another piece of meat. All she had in her fridge were chopped meat and vegetables. She had marked a date on her calendar for grocery day.

"Liking it, Love?" Eames asks.

"It's delicious!"

"Glad you think so. And you, Arthur, are you enjoying the food my magic hands made?"

"Oh, God," Arthur groans.

"Don't deny it, Darling."

Arthur rolls his eyes. "Alright fine, it's good."

"Thank you."

The three continue to eat in silence. Ariadne's savoring the best home made dinner she's had in a while. "You learned to cook by yourself, right?"

"God given talent," he repeats.

Ariadne nods. She then turns to Arthur who's gracefully eating his meat. 'Is messy even in his vocabulary?' She clears her throat. "What's your God given talent, Arthur?"

He looks up, surprised. "Hm?"

"Reflexes, dodging bullets, shooting with a great aim and killing with his bare hands, that's what," Eames answers for him. "This man has a sixth sense, too."

"You're exaggerating," Arthur tells him calmly.

"Am I?"

Arthur sighs. "Yes, it's true. I've got good reflexes, I can dodge bullets but it doesn't mean I can't get shot, my aim is quite good and I can kill with just my bare hands," he pauses and looks down at his food before continuing, "and no, I don't have a sixth sense. My senses are just more sensitive than others…more heightened."

"His head is large enough to fill and remember everything," Eames adds.

The Point Man doesn't say anything.

"Where'd you learn how to...you know...hone your skills?" Ariadne asks as calmly as she can. She knows Arthur is a very dangerous man but she doesn't want him to think that she's afraid of him. 'I'm not afraid of him,' she assures herself, 'I'm just...curious.'

"My dad," he answers. "Told and taught me how to defend myself without having to spend," he chuckles, "even if he's got all the money in the world."

"He didn't use real guns, did he?" Ariadne gasps.

He shakes his head. "No, the ones we used are all fake, of course. Real ones just came when I started dream sharing."

"What happened during your first gun fight?"

"Scared the shit out of me, honestly," he answers. "But I survived and I've been dodging bullets countless of times now."

Ariadne is eighty-five percent sure that he doesn't like to dwell on near-death experiences.

"He can be a stunt man, you know," says the Forger. "Or better yet, an actor who does his own stunts. I failed to mention that this man can act. Nowhere near compared to me, though. He can play James Bond. And you can be his Bond girl." He snickers.

"Will you stop with the double meaning?" Arthur snaps.

"No."

Ariadne nods slowly, lost in thought. "That would be hot."

Both men turn to her.

She slowly takes in what she just said and begins to turn red. "I mean, you as James Bond," she explains, "because he's pretty hot and I can totally see you as him, especially when he introduces himself and when he replies with the drink he wants. You're already wearing suits and you're actions are always so cool and it's perfect and—" she takes a deep breath, wanting to say more but knows she wouldn't be able to shake away what she just told them, especially from Eames, "I'm going to shut up now."

Arthur and Eames smirk.

"Stop that," she tells them, beginning to play with her food. "Is there anything else you can do?"

Eames opens his mouth to say something but Arthur cuts him off. "Don't say a word."

"I was just gonna tell her about your singing and instrument skills," he says. "No need to thank me, Darling."

"You can sing and play an instrument?" Ariadne looks at the suited man.

"Instruments," the Forger corrects.

"Instruments."

Arthur loosens his tie. "Since Dad taught me all the researching and crime-fighting skills, Mom taught Edward all she knew. She's a musician, you see. Aside from being the heiress of my grandfather's company."

"Your grandfather has a company..." she repeats him, "so you have a company?"

"Family company," he corrects her. "Edward is heir, obviously."

"So you really do come from a rich family."

He eats a piece of his meat instead of replying.

"He comes from one of those classy, elegant families," Eames breaks the silence. "That's why his father quit dream sharing, he didn't want to shame his wife-to-be. He wanted to be the perfect and clean husband for this rich, company heiress."

"What company?"

Eames is about to tell her but Arthur interrupts. "We should do a duet, you and I."

Ariadne chokes and she grabs her glass of water to wash her throat. "I'm sorry?"

"We should do a duet," he repeats. "You and I could sing, you'll play the guitar and I can play the piano. If you'd like."

"Yes!" She grins. "I'd love to do that. When?"

"I'll be here for another week or two," he says, shrugging, "whenever we can. You'll have to choose the song. I'm okay with anything; I'm willing to learn if I'm not familiar with it."

"Eames can record us!" she exclaims.

"He's the last person I want to record us," Arthur retorts.

"Would you rather it be a stranger?"

"No."

"Then it'll be Eames."

Eames smirks. "You don't have to brag that you're perfect, Arthur. Although I don't like you being better than me."

"I'm not bragging." Arthur narrows his eyes. "And I am better than you."

"Let's not resort to that, okay, Darling?"

Arthur purses his lips.

"So it's settled," Ariadne starts after taking her last bite, "before the semester begins, we'll record a song! I'll start choosing a song tomorrow." She begins to stand to put her dishes by the sink but Arthur, quick as he is, takes the plates from her. "Oh."

"It's okay, I got it." Arthur smiles.

"Thank you, Darling," Eames says, pushing his plate towards Arthur.

Arthur sighs and balances the plates on top of each other before heading towards the sink. "I can buy you a dishwasher," he offers.

"There's no need to buy it for me, Arthur, I can get one for myself. It isn't a priority right now."

"Yes, but one day I might take you away again and you'll forget you have dishes by the sink."

Ariadne flushes at the memory of Arthur inquiring her about her dishes and appliances. With all the excitement of Arthur whisking her away, she had forgotten to unplug all the machines and had to call her best friend, Valeria, to do it for her. Arthur had known about the blonde friend but he didn't think it was a good idea to let someone inside her apartment; Ariadne had re-assured him twice that she and Valeria has been best friends since she moved to Paris. It didn't stop him from scanning the place once they arrived earlier.

"And how does Valeria feel about your jobs?" Eames asks.

"I'm sure she's suspicious, but she's studying to become a fashion designer, so she must understand the travelling…I hope." She shrugs. "She's going to start asking questions soon, though. Especially with that stunt I pulled and I'm getting too much money."

"I'd love to meet her."

Ariadne shakes her head. "No, Eames, no."

"Has Arthur met her?"

"No."

"We can go on a double date!"

"Eames!" Ariadne laughs. "She's already in a relationship with our other friend, Marí."

Eames blinks. "Even better!"

"You're hopeless." She giggles. She sits backs down on the chair and asks them if they have any place to stay.

"A hotel as usual, Arthur?" Eames clarifies.

Arthur nods as he starts washing the dishes.

"I have a guest room, you know. And I'm quite sure my couch is comfy. I suggest you both stay here for a while. The apartment and I have always been lonely."

Eames immediately thanks her while Arthur refuses.

"Please, I've been living with you two—unofficially—and I'm a big girl, we're all adults."

"Arthur, listen to the young lady."

The Point Man sighs and nods. Ariadne wants to believe that he never wanted to put up a fight anyway.

As Eames and Ariadne clean the table, Eames suddenly bolts straight up.

"What is it?" Ariadne asks, stopping her wiping duties.

"I forgot another talent that Arthur's good at."

Arthur stops soaping the dishes and faces them. "And what's that, Mr. Eames?"

"Now, take note that I am much better than him, Love. But, he's very good in bed."

Ariadne's eyes widens as Arthur yells profanities at Eames—again—and a bar of soap hits the Forger's head.

"Eames!"

I will admit, Arthur/Ariadne/Eames is my OT3, but no worries, this story is pure Arthur/Ariadne. I quite enjoyed writing this chapter, I hope you did, too! Please tell me what you think! Your reviews help me through my days and actually makes me want to write :D It isn't my best but I like it. I hope you do, too.

Don't worry, we'll learn about Arthur's family, I've got a chapter dedicated to that. Sorry they didn't spend much time in Rio, I felt like I was forcing it and it wasn't natural so I had to bring them back to Paris. We'll be meeting Valeria in the next chapter.

Funny story: As I mentioned, I went to watch Sin City last Saturday with my mom (she's the only one who understands my rule of NO TALKING WHILE WATCHING). So it's an R-16 movie, right? I gave my ticket to the ticket guy and he just stared at it, then he looked at me and asked how old I am. And I told him the truth (I'm 18). He hesitantly let me in...like, do you not believe me, sir? Haha, anyways...another update next week!

Step Seven: Season — Danilov, Russia