Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Hello there! Thank you so much for the continued support! I'm really motivated by you all. Classes started once again but all I can think of is updating, haha. Thank you to new followers [ and Amy Bennet]! I'm so happy you like the story. This chapter is unbeta-d sadly and my editing skills weren't the best so I apologize for mistakes.
Neverlandspirit: Oh my gosh, thank you! I'm so glad you think so! Yup, Eames is a true AriArthur shipper, haha. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
NightWhisper184: Thank you! I hope you like this chapter!
Kamarooka: Thank you! Yes, a touch of Eames always brightens up the day! I'm glad it made you giggle, I was really hoping the humor would be good, haha. Yes! Spies are awesome and James Bond will always be a reference, haha. Sin City was good! Kinda sad at some parts but really fun! I really hope you enjoy this chapter!
JuseaPeterson: Thank you, yes, all is better :] I'm so happy you think so! Characters can be so tricky and I especially find Inception characters to sometimes make me think too hard, haha. But thank you, writing Eames is so fun! I sometimes think Eames is the official captain of the AriArthur ship, haha! I'm so happy you liked that chapter, I really wanted to make the humour natural and I'm glad it was funny. The chapter on Arthur's background won't be for awhile but we'll get there. :] I hope you enjoy this chapter!
D.B: Thank you! Me, too! I thank my friend for it.
Alca: Arthur is perfect (almost). And I so agree with you. I still become so happy when we (and espeically Ari) learn more about him, hehe. :]
Please note that I tried so hard to make Valeria's words like how a Parisian speaks English but I didn't want to continue with how I was writing it because I really don't know how they speak in English. So, can we pretend that you can hear her accent? Please :(
Also, I just used a translator so please don't be mad if the French is wrong. The letters in parenthesis, italics and bold are the translation. I decided to put them right beside each other since I know the feeling of having to go to the bottom and then back up.
Step Seven: Season – Danilov, Russia
1 month after Rio (end of September)
The heavy water drops and occasional cars passing by are all they can hear in the quiet town. Usually, the rain allows Ariadne and her best friend, Valeria Normandeau, to think of new ideas for their architecture and fashion designs. But the rain in Danilov just makes them sulk on their beds in their shared room in an inn.
"This isn't how I pictured our trip, Val." Ariadne sighs and turns to her friend. "It was supposed to be filled with sun and a tour of the green part of Russia. It's supposed to help us with the ground aspects. You could've been back in your apartment, enjoying the sun and drawing new designs."
"I don't think I'll be able to concentrate." Valeria rolls over her bed and suddenly asks, "Where have you been, mon ami?" The blonde French woman's accent is still thick. She decided to learn English when Ariadne moved to Paris years ago, to be able to communicate with her better, and she found out that it's a great advantage to speak the universal language.
Ariadne looks up from her sketch pad and tilts her head. "I haven't left this room since this morning."
Valeria sits up on her bed and looks at her friend. "Non, ce que je veux dire, c'est when you leave the country and you come back with so much! Mais je vous remercie pour vos cadeaux." ("No, what I mean is..." "But thank you for your gifts.")
"Oh, well…I…" she starts to mumble. "You know I've been offered jobs that take place around the world for very…influential people and they pay a lot of money."
Her friend pouts. "Does it have something to do with that friend of yours? Ce bel homme, Arthur." ("That handsome man, Arthur.")
Flushing, Ariadne nods. "Well, yes. He finds the jobs and I help him."
"What kind of jobs, Ari?" Valeria stands from her bed and walks over to sit on Ariadne's. "You earn so much when you disappear for a month or two. Do your parents know about this? Anyone at all?"
"Professor Miles does," she murmurs. "I don't mean to keep secrets from you, Valeria. But I'm not really allowed to say anything about my job. I would tell you, I really would, but…I can't. It's not that I won't. Oh, Val."
The blonde smiles a little. "Will you at least tell me your experience?"
"It's amazing!" Ariadne gushes. "It's a world filled with your desires. And I get to create it! It's more than what I learned. I can break the restrictions, there aren't any barriers! To hell with the lectures of my professors—well, aside from Miles, of course. It's pure creation." There's a pause as she remembers herself coming back to the warehouse after her first shared dreaming with Dom. The man she caught fixing the PASIV like he does it every day. His amused smirk. Finishing her sentence with his own description. "There's nothing quite like it."
Valeria grins widely and exclaims, "Oh, Ari, vous êtes dans l'amour!" ("Oh, Ari, you're in love!")
Ariadne smiles. "I guess. It's a wonderful job. The opportunities aren't much but it's great. I love the people I'm working with. Eames is the actor, I suppose, and Arthur, he's amazing, a researcher who knows everything and—"
"Non, non, non." Her best friend cuts her off. "You're not in love with the job, you're in love with the man you're always with. Arthur."
The silence is light but Ariadne can feel tension. Valeria simply waits for her to reply, the smile still on her lips. Taking a deep breath, Ariadne admits, "I…I have a crush on him, yes. But I don't think you can call it love…at least…not yet?"
Valeria shakes her head. "Peut-être, but I'm positive it's leading there. The way you talk about him—when you mention his name. I'm positive that you just quoted him, non? I remember during your first job, when you came to talk to me about it, you said you had a co-worker who said something like that. I have a great memory! I suppose it's because he's a man and a not a silly boy…un homme très beau et chic, oh mon." She sighs. "I still remember when he came to pick you up, during your first job. He looked so stiff, but when he brought you back to your apartment, when he went inside the elevator he was smiling! You can see his eyes crinkle and his cute dimples!" ("Maybe..." "…a very handsome and classy man, oh my.")
"He looks much younger when he smiles," Ariadne says, smiling. "But he's so sexy when he's serious."
Her best friend begins to giggle. "Je suis d'accord!" ("I must agree!")
Ariadne doodles on her sketch pad as she ponders over her feelings for Arthur. "I love working with him. I'm not going to deny that I don't notice him spoiling me." She chuckles. "At first glance he seems cold and unapproachable but he's such a sweetheart. He and his best friend constantly bicker but I'm sure he cares about him greatly. You'd love him, Valeria. Arthur, I mean. I'm sure you two will get along well."
"I would love to have some coffee with him, Ari. Perhaps the next time he visits you, instead of running away, we can grab some lunch."
"Bien sûr," Ariadne says, nodding. "I don't think he'll mind. Remember when you had to come over to my apartment to wash the dishes and unplug the appliances?" She waits for Valeria to confirm. "He's known about you since the first job. He knows you and I have been best friends since I moved here but he still wasn't comfortable with the idea of you being inside."
"Il ne me fait pas confiance?" Valeria pouts. "I'm hurt!" ("He doesn't trust me?")
Ariadne sighs and leans on the blonde. "I'm sorry."
"Pourquoi? You haven't hurt me." ("What for?")
"My first job I was stationed here so it was kind of easy, although I did have a last minute flight to Sydney and Los Angeles..."
"And you were gone for a week!"
"And my second job was in Ireland."
"I was a bit surprised when you suddenly showed up at my door and told me you'd be gone for a few months and that I shouldn't contact you. If you didn't e-mail me after a month...I was so worried! Je pensais que vous étiez en difficulté!" ("I thought you were in trouble!")
"And my latest job was in Iceland."
"I should have been mad but Arthur brought you to Charlottetown for a good time, non?"
Ariadne smiles at the memory of her time with Arthur in the hotel, in the park, and go-karting... "Oui."
Valeria nods. "Je comprends. Just as long as you're not part of the mafia. You'll tell me about your job when you're ready, oui?" ("I understand.")
Ariadne squeezes her tight. "Merci."
When Ariadne releases her, Valeria smirks. "Maintenant, dites-moi plus sur Arthur." ("Now, tell me more about Arthur.")
Ariadne breaks into a grin and the two start to laugh.
Their tour guide was boring. Ariadne silently thanks the heavens that they've got the rest of the week free. She's learned a lot from the tour of the country but she's happy they're now free to roam around, even if it is limited to the small Danilov area.
The two roommates didn't want to be stuck in their room again, especially since the weather is bearable, and decided to head out. Once outside, they stood under a tree, not knowing what to do.
"So, where do we go?" Valeria asks. She tugs on her coat tighter and turns to her friend.
Her blue eyes bring out the brightness of the place despite its gloomy disposition. Ariadne is sometimes jealous of her eyes...and her height. And maybe a little bit of her bust, too. She isn't curvy, nor do her breasts and butt stick out, but she's 5'6 and lean. Ariadne doesn't look much when they're standing together. Guys tend to be interested in the blonde French woman, unfortunately—or fortunately—for them, she has an equally beautiful girlfriend.
"Um...I'm freezing, they must have a coffee shop somewhere, right?" Ariadne asks, standing on her tippy toes and looking from side to side.
"I suppose," Valeria agrees. "Let's walk around. It'll help us warm up. They must have gift shops somewhere here, too."
As the two walk around the two, Ariadne begins to realize just how pissed off she is with the arrangement of going to Danilov. She doesn't hate the town. There's a lot to do, with the little cafés, some restaurants, gift shops, a small shopping center and a nice park. She liked staying in an inn instead of a hotel (where she's sure she'll be spending a lot of time in). She simply doesn't like the fact that the school trip's meant to be in a greener area of Russia. She wanted an inn with a nice view, not of a rundown pub (which Arthur would not approve of).
"The train station is right there," she murmurs, "let's run away and get tickets on the first flight to Paris, I've got money, I can pay for both of us."
Valeria laughs. "We're only here for a few more days."
"But it's fall!" she whines. "It's not supposed to be this cold yet! And the clouds aren't supposed to be this dark!"
"We'll be back in Paris by the weekend, mon ami."
Ariadne huffs and pushes her hands in her pockets.
"There's a gift shop over there, maybe we can buy some things for people back home." Valeria begins to lead the way. "It'll take your mind off this weather."
"I hope so," Ariadne grumbles. She follows her friend to the third store they passed by, which also looks like it's the most welcoming.
There's a bell on top of the door that rings when they step inside the gift shop. The lady behind the counter turns back to smile at them, offers a greeting, then resumes to fix the shelf behind her.
They each have a basket to put the trinkets the pick out for their friends. So far, Ariadne has keychains for her friends, little stuffed animals with the flag of Russia for James and Phillipa (whom she has yet to meet) and, just for fun, even bigger stuffed animals for Dom, Eames, Arthur, Miles and Yusuf (who would probably give it to his son). She doesn't have much people to give to.
While walking along the last aisle, a familiar shade of red catches her eye. A black neck tie with red dices as the print. She immediately picks it up and fingers it.
"Qu'est-ce que, Ari?" ("What's that, Ari?")
"It just reminds me of Arthur," she answers absentmindedly. "The dice...the tie..." She stops herself from saying "the kiss", afraid Valeria will take it the wrong way no matter how much she explains. 'And anyway, Arthur was wearing a dark red tie that time.'
"Oh, vraiment !? Magnifique! I'll buy it for you!" Valeria exclaims, snatching it out of Ariadne's hands. "In fact, I'll buy two so that you could give one to Arthur and you'll be matching!" Grabbing another one, she holds it up triumphantly and walks away, murmuring in French about true love. (Oh, really!? Wonderful!)
Ariadne quickly follows her to the counter to pay for the items she wants to purchase.
While the lady rings them up, Valeria suggests they go to the coffee shop around the corner since even the place looked good enough to eat. Ariadne agrees and they carry their bags and walk out of the shop.
The coffee shop that Valeria insisted on going to, called Mary Grace, is pretty. It reminds her of a cabin. The lights are high and bright, the plants look well taken cared for and the armchairs are soft and comfortable, the table they were brought to is big enough for four people.
"I should bring Marí here, she'd like it," Valeria says, smiling as she looks at the decor.
"I think I've heard of this place," Ariadne tells her, "I think they're constructing two. One near the college and one by the tower."
"Great! I'll bring her to the one near the tower. Maybe we can even have a picnic!"
"Sounds nice," Ariadne comments. 'Okay, so I'm not thinking of me and Arthur on a picnic near by the Eiffel Tower and having some of these delicious looking food. Besides, Arthur and I would rather visit the Notre Dame.' A server gives them their menu and they begin to have a difficult time choosing. "Are you having a hard time, too, Val?"
"Everything here sounds magnificent," Valeria answers with a sigh. "I don't know which one to get."
"I'm choosing between the Strawberry Shortcake and the Tiramisu."
"Mm, how about the Mango Bene? And the Limone Santi!"
A chair pulls up beside them and a deep, accented voice speaks up, "I have a solution. You're choosing between four cakes, and now that we're four, why don't we go ahead and a buy a slice of each, our treat."
Valeria looks at the man seated beside her, her eyes widen and her jaw drops.
Ariadne turns and sighs in relief. 'It's just Eames.' She looks up at the man beside him. "Arthur!"
He smiles at her. "Having a good time?"
"It's a dream," she replies. She's not sure whether she should be surprised or not. Taking out her bishop from her pocket and placing it on the table, she's familiar with the weight and it topples over like its supposed to be. During the first few times she did this in front of Valeria, she had assured her that it just helps her relax and be at ease.
"Aren't you going to acknowledge my presence, love?" He shifts to look at her. "And why is your little friend out?"
"What are the odds that you two are here."
"Yes," this time he turns to his companion, "yes, Arthur, what are the odds?
Arthur glares at him. "You're the one who wanted to come up to them." He clears his throat. "Do you ladies mind if we join you?"
"Non! Pas du tout!" Valeria answers quickly. "Please sit." ("No! Not at all!")
"Merci." Arthur smiles as he sits next to Ariadne. "I don't believe we've met before." Holding up his hand, he introduces himself. "I'm Arthur."
"Oh, I've heard lots about you, monsieur." Ariadne blushes and swears she saw him smirk. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm Ari's best friend, Valeria." She then turns to the Forger. "And you are...?"
"Eames, my dear. Lovely to meet you." He kisses the back of her hand. "Ariadne never told me you are this beautiful."
"Stop making me sound like a bad friend," Ariadne says, frowning.
"Shall we order?" Arthur takes over. "Eames and I will pay for it."
"You don't have, to, really, Arthur—"
He cuts her off. "But I want to."
"He's a changed man, Love," Eames says. "Let the stick-in-the-mud loosen up. I'm much happier working with this Arthur than past Arthur."
"And this all started when Ariadne began to work with him, non?" Valeria giggles.
Eames nods. "That's when it all started."
Ariadne begins to feel her neck heat up. "Let's order!" She raises her hand a waiter comes in a jiffy. Slices of the four cakes were ordered, including mint flavored hot chocolate for each of them.
The four have a small chat before their food arrives, mostly consisting of Valeria asking many questions about the job—Ariadne's not surprised that the Forger and Point Man have their stories sorted—and wondering why they're in Danilov. "It's such a coincidence," she drawls as her cake is placed in front of her. "You've been stalking Ari, n'avez-vous pas?" ("...haven't you?")
Arthur shakes his head. "No, we were on a job."
Ariadne immediately turns to him. "You had a job?"
"It was easy, Love. They didn't even need me," Eames tells her. "I was bored in the Swiss so I called up Arthur and asked him where he was. Of course, he put up a fight, but I finally wheezed it out of him. So I hopped on a flight here."
"Where are you two staying?"
"We're staying in a hotel just out of town," Arthur replies.
"How'd you get here?" Valeria wonders, a smile on her face.
Arthur clears his throat, his neck becoming red. He drinks from his hot chocolate to stall.
"Oh, just spit it out, Darling." Eames chuckles.
"We were walking around and I remembered Ari saying that she'd be here for a school trip," Arthur explains quickly, giving Eames a glare. "And I decided to...say hi." He turns to Ariadne. "Hi."
She smiles. "Hey."
Valeria squeals, "Je t'aime déjà!" ("I love you already!")
Eames laughs. "I see you two have gone shopping."
"Oui! We wanted to bring gifts for people back home. I'm sure Ari's bought some for the two of you. Actually, Ari, don't you have a necktie for Arthur?" She fishes inside her bag and takes out two blue boxes, the neckties perfectly tucked inside. "Here, give it to him!"
Ariadne blushes as she takes the boxes from her. "I...I thought of you." She hands one box to him. "And...um...I've got one for myself."
Arthur grins. And Valeria's right. His eyes do crinkle and his dimples are always plus points.
'Stop. You've seen him grin countless of times.' She gulps. "I hope you like it."
"I do," Arthur says. He takes the lid of the box and fingers the clothing. "This is my new favorite tie."
"Monsieur Eames, why don't we go look for some pastries to bring home?" Valeria asks.
"I was thinking of the same thing, Dear." Eames nods and stands, bringing up his arm for Valeria to take.
When they leave, Arthur is still touching the tie. "You thought of me?"
"It's kind of hard not to," she answers as she looks at the design. "Really, Arthur, you shouldn't be surprised."
His smile falters and he covers it again. "Right, of course. Thank you."
There's a change in his tone and she's not comfortable with it. "You should tell me when you'll wear it so I can wear this, too. I think I can change my scarf for this for a day."
He nods and gives out a little laugh. "I will."
It begins to rain again and she sighs. "It's supposed to be fall."
"You'll be in Paris soon enough," is all he says, echoing Valeria earlier.
She groans. "I want it to be spring."
"You'll have to go through winter first."
"Yeah, but—" she stops when she sees him smiling. "What's with winter?"
"Hm?" He tilts his head.
"Winter. There's something about winter."
"Only time my whole family is always together." He shrugs. "When Dad isn't busy researching or taking up some business calls since he became Grandpa's right-hand man. And when Mom's not in business school studying to become the best. When Edward and I are home from college. When we're actually a happy family. I know it's my fault we're not complete anymore but...I still like to reminisce."
"You should go back, Arthur."
He looks away and closes his eyes. After a few seconds, he turns back to her. "Why do you like spring so much?"
She blinks and sighs. "I like how everything begins again. New beginnings. Fresh start. Our house in Brooklyn has a backyard and it was always fun planting new flowers. And there's this tree in the front yard where Theo and I would always climb onto when we'd people watch. Spring was also always the time Grandmama and Grandpapa would visit us from Paris. Until Grandmama became sick."
"When was the last time you visited them?"
"I stayed with them for two days before coming here, and then I'll visit them again once I get settled back. If you aren't busy, would you like to come with me?"
"I have to lay low for awhile, maybe just for another week but I'll tell you once my day mark is done, okay?"
She nods and smiles. "Okay, no problem."
They continue to plan their trip just as Eames and Valeria return to their table.
I hope you all enjoyed this. I'm not very sure about how I feel about this but I'm still happy, haha. Not much Eames, kinda sad. And the ending is too abrupt, sorry. Eames/Arthur is one of my top brotps so expect a lot more of their friendship. Now that we know how Ari feels (okay, so we did long ago but now we're very very sure), let's see how she'll go about her friendship with Arthur since she isn't denying them anymore. I decided to use this as a school trip kind of thing, and probably the next one, too. I'm sure you all know why Arthur accepted that job.
And, if you check chapter 1, I changed Ariadne's name from Ariadne Venus Drew to Ariadne Maeve Belaire.
I really want to have a faceclaim for Valeria but I'm not very sure who. Any suggestions? The next chapter is also quite silly and random, but! We'll be meeting a lot of familiar faces.
Step Eight: Animal — Auckland, New Zealand
See you all next week!