Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Hello! I'll keep this short. Thank you so much, readers and reviewers! Thank you to new favoriters and followers [ZENtrio and wackycherry]! Sorry, eva lun, your name wasn't properly cited in the last chapter. But thank you!
On a side note, while writing Valeria, I pictured Taylor Momsen but I'm really into Landry Allbright being her, I think it fits. What do you guys think?
Kamarooka: Omg, we had the exact same conversation in our heads! Haha! I've already written their conversation down for Arthur's chapter, I'll cite you for the connection of our brains, haha. I agree, Arthur is a cutie. Please enjoy this chapter!
Neverlandspirit: Haha! Agreed! I enjoyed writing Ariadne's feelings. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
JuseaPeterson: Yay! I'm so happy you loved it! I found it quite simple as compared to the one with Eames, though. Yup! I couldn't resist not putting Eames even with his minor role. Mm, I'm also enjoying writing their friendship, I'm glad you like it and Valeria :] I shall make them the captain in this story, haha!
Guest: Actually, dear, Guest, I have an original character named Blake Brandon (where I took Arthur's name from), I made him back in 2010, 2 years before TDKR came out. So it's merely a coincidence. And honestly, I never noticed it. But thank you for pointing it out. It actually fits.
ZENtrio: Thank you! I'm so happy you're loving it! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Beta'd by carameltoostieroll but the two of us are...ugh...and I only re-read it once. I'm so sorry if there are a lot of mistakes. Again, I used a translator for the French parts.
Step Eight: Animals — Auckland, New Zealand
1 month after Danilov (end of October)
'It's perfect. It's absolutely perfect,' is all Ariadne can think about as she received the handout for the trip to Auckland. 'I'm an adult and I can make my own choices.' But deep down, she's scared and nervous. 'Will Arthur be proud of me? Will he run a background check on them to see if they're trustworthy? What if he doesn't like them?'
"Please have a parent or a guardian sign the consent form. I know you are all legal adults but you are still children of people, people who love and care for you," their professor says. That's not a problem. The scanner in Brooklyn works well. "I'd like them all back by next week if you could. There's an extension of another week but that's it." He checks the clock and nods. "Any questions?" When one student raises her hand, he gestures to her.
"Professor, during our trip to Danilov we were allowed to bring a friend."
"If your friend isn't busy then I suppose they can come, just as long as they have a consent form. Any other questions?" When no one answers or raises their hand, he dismisses them.
Ariadne leaps from her seat and runs out. Immediately, she takes out her phone and dials the extractor's number. "Hello, Gomez? Yeah, it's Ariadne. I can do the job."
Valeria is lounging around the couch as Ariadne walks around the apartment, packing all that she needs for the trip. "So you and I are going to this trip in Auckland but you'll be creating some model for a job during your free time?"
"Only for the first two or three days," she clarifies. "A week at most. They only need one model, I think, and if they give me enough details and enough time, I can give it to them even before the week ends. I promise we can still go sight-seeing."
The blonde woman nods. "Bien. But what happens when Arthur suddenly arrives?"
Ariadne pauses and looks at her. "What?"
"It's obvious that man can find you wherever you are. I won't be surprised if he finds us there. I'm sure he always keeps tabs on you, Ari. It's kind of creepy but somewhat romantic, vous ne pensez pas?" ("...don't you think?")
"He can't find me there!" she tells her, but mostly assuring herself even if she knows he probably will find her. "He just can't. He'll probably be disappointed in me."
"And why is that, mon ami?"
She bites her bottom lip. "Because I accepted a job that isn't with him and without his consent. I mean, I don't need his consent, I can accept jobs if I want to but it's kinda scary since this is my first job alone and I don't even know the people."
Valeria shrugs. "He'll be able to find you once you're off the Paris radar."
"I don't want him to find me." She sighs. "Not that I don't want to see him—"
"Évidemment."
"But I'm scared that he'll be mad at me or hurt his feelings and he wouldn't want to s—work with me anymore."
"Eames told me he's a machine."
"That's not true!"
"C'est ce que j'ai dit. He obviously likes you. How is he a machine?" ("That's what I said.")
"Val!" Ariadne whines. "Maybe I just remind him of someone. His younger brother—"
"Incest."
"Or an old friend?"
Valeria raises her eyebrows. "Vraiment?" ("Really?")
"…an old flame…" she trails. Valeria doesn't answer. "I'm not going to keep my hopes up. I'm done with heartbreaks…for now at least."
Valeria sits up and says quietly. "He's an idiot if he doesn't think of you as your own person."
She shrugs. "He never ceases to tell me how amazing I am when we're on a job."
Valeria grins, stands and tackles her best friend to the ground. "And you never cease to make me love him."
"This is much better than Danilov," Valeria exclaims, lying on the bed. "I'm happy you took me with you. Merci."
"Soyez le bienvenu." Ariadne smiles. "Tour doesn't start until tomorrow. What do you want to do?"
"I'm jet lagged, mon ami. Will you bring me some dinner?"
Ariadne nods and tucks her friend in bed. There are only limited suites that are reserved with two beds and the two friends agreed to stay in a room with a twin sized bed. "Doux rêves," she says after she kisses her forehead. ("Sweet dreams.")
With her satchel hooked around her and the lights off, Ariadne slips out of the door to do a little exploring and to grab dinner.
Every tall, dark haired man wearing a suit makes her nervous. She didn't feel right not letting Arthur know where she would be for the next week and a half so she sent him an e-mail. He replied with a "safe trip, tell me how it goes" and a smiley face and another paragraph to tell her how he's doing. She didn't tell him about the job that she's pretty sure he'd know by now.
There's a bakery by the corner and an employee had a tray filled with egg tarts. Liking it, she decides to buy a dozen. Grabbing iced tea in the convenience store, she heads back to the hotel.
Pullman Hotel is the kind of hotel that Arthur would stay in. The college apologized for the lack of a better place to stay in Danilov and they seem to making up for it now. Ariadne loves that the room has so much space. The couch is similar to the one she owns back in Paris, a regular, long couch with one side longer than the other. The dinner table is classy with the kitchenette just a few feet away. The bedroom door is near the window that has a view of the city.
She places the packages on the counter table and goes to check on Valeria. She's sitting up and reading from her cellphone.
"I thought you wanted to sleep."
"I did for like, fifteen minutes but I'm too hungry. What did you bring?" she asks as she stands up.
Ariadne leads her to the counter. "There's a bakery around the corner and they have really good egg tarts. Try it. I also got us some iced tea."
"Merci." Valeria smiles and sits on one of stools. "What time is the tour?"
"We start at nine and end at around five, a school day, basically," she replies and sits beside her. "We can save some for breakfast and snacks," she says as she munches on one, "or wake up early and buy more before."
"Looks like you've found your new favorite food." Valeria laughs. "What about your job?"
"They're calling to give the information in an hour or two."
"How can you have fun and rest when you need to finish it by the end of the week?"
Ariadne shrugs. "I'm not sure, actually. But I know I can do it."
Valeria nods. "Okay, but make sure you don't miss the tour or have fun."
"I won't," she says, smiling.
'A restaurant is all they need.' She's a little disappointed by the simple model that she has to make but at the same time, she is here for school and not for the job. "Sure, I can do that."
"Great. We'll send you the pictures in a while. Then e-mail back with the estimated time you can complete it. We'll have someone come over and collect it, perhaps it'll make you feel better if you're in a public place."
"That'll work," she replies, unknown relief overcomes her. "Thanks." She hangs up the phone and puts it back in her pocket.
She leaves the room and finds Valeria on the couch and flipping through her laptop. Valeria doesn't look up when she says, "These pictures you have…they're all either of you and me, me, you and a dog, the three of us with a dog, your family and our friends." Ariadne waits for her to continue. "Why aren't there any of you and Arthur? I'm sure you have some from your trip in Charlottetown, non?"
"It's…um…it's in a secret folder," she answers, blushing.
Valeria smirks. "And what else is in that secret folder, mon ami?"
Ariadne frowns at the implied question. "Just pictures of us…and the document version of our emails and letters," she says the last one quietly.
Her friend giggles. "Oh, vous aimez fille malade. Quelle vie compliquée que vous avez. Votre petit ami est toujours loin encore, il parvient à apparaître et rester avec vous en permanence. It really makes me more curious to know what kind of job he has…you, too." ("Oh, you love sick girl. What a complicated life you have. Your boyfriend is always away yet he manages to appear and stay with you constantly.")
Without answering, Ariadne plops down beside her and takes charge of the mouse. She clicks on the My Music folder and a list of songs appear. She scrolls over to 'J' section and scans it. Under the artist Justin Timberlake are about three songs and one folder entitled 'Suit and Tie'. She clicks on it and one, lonely folder and a music file pops is shown.
"How many folders do you have for him?" Valeria laughs.
A small smile appears on Ariande's lips as she clicks on the lone folder entitled 'Nothing Quite Like It'.
"Mm, I must agree," Valeria coos.
"Here. I have a folder for Eames as well, and one for the three of us." Ariadne hesitantly leans back on the couch. 'I had to make more folders even with nothing in them just to make sure.'
As Valeria grins at the pictures and some videos she's found, Ariadne can't help but feel proud and special knowing that only she can make Arthur smile like there's no one hunting him with a price on his head—as far as she knows. "He's really fun to be around. Especially when he's not all..." She doesn't continue knowing fully well that she's still very very attracted to Arthur when he's fighting and being broody. "When he—" No, she still finds him attractive when he gives Eames the look when they're arguing or when he's just annoyed with his antics.
"Does he have any flaws?" Valeria asks quietly.
"Oh he has lots!" Ariadne exclaims. "He's too uptight and meticulous. It's part of his job, yes, but he can get so frustrating!" She remembers the time in Ireland when their extractor, Hewitt, had allowed them a day off but Arthur stayed cooped up in his hotel and continued his job even if she and Eames continued to persuade him to leave and have a little fun. "Sometimes he acts without thinking even if logical reasoning is his specialty." She remembers when he punched Eames in Iceland when the Forger accidentally walked in on her while changing in her room. "And he can be quite conceited." He hasn't exactly told her about how highly he thinks of himself, but appearance wise, it's obvious he knows what he's got and flaunts it. "He can be so sure of himself sometimes. And stubborn."
"Just like you?"
She doesn't reply.
"Maybe one day I'll snoop around and read these letters of yours, I'd like to see if maybe he has some hidden messages for you that you," Valeria taps her temple, "don't understand."
"He's a straight-forward guy."
"Not according to monsieur Eames," Valeria counters as she pops an egg tart in her mouth. "He's not very good with...feelings. And the last time I checked, neither are you. You're making progress, though."
"Relationships aren't his thing."
"Oh I can see that," Valeria says sarcastically, as a picture of Ariadne and Arthur hip to hip, appears on the screen. "He really doesn't know how to do the 'relationship'."
It's been three days since they arrived and Ariadne had finished the sketch of the restaurant yesterday. She even recorded her voice as she tried to explain them. She's now sitting in a café a few blocks away, waiting for their Point Man.
She's nervous.
Valeria had noticed and offered to come with her. Ariadne was reluctant but allowed her, just as long as she stayed away and would not do anything to go after her in case something goes wrong. Whether Ariadne admits it or not, she's scared. 'I should have asked Arthur for help.'
"Miss Ariadne?"
Ariadne looks up and smiles at the man in front of her. "That's me." He doesn't look like a bad guy. He kind of reminds her of Eames. He's a clean man but didn't shave this morning. He has a muscular build and is wearing a flannel shirt and khakis.
"I'm Harry, Gomez's Point Man." He takes out his hand for her to shake.
She receives it and gestures for him to sit beside her. "Have a seat." When he does, she asks, "What do you need to know?"
And the two proceed to talk about the maze. It's a good thing she had chosen a seat by the porch and far away from where most people would sit yet still in the sight of her best friend. The maze isn't complicated and people could easily mistake their conversation to be about a regular, fancy restaurant.
When all questions and clarifications are answered, Harry asks for the estimated time of the model.
"I can probably give it...give me two days."
He nods. "All right. We'll meet again here? Just call me when you're ready. Gomez gave you my number, didn't he?"
"Yeah, I have it."
When both have said their farewells again, she waits for him to be out of sight for three more minutes before heading back inside to Valeria.
"How was it?" her friend asks as she slides a cup of coffee in front of her. "I got you something new."
"Thanks." Ariadne sips from it before sighing in content. "Okay. Everything's approved. We'll have to meet up again in about two days." Her phone vibrates in her pocket and she checks it out.
It's a message from Dom. More like one of Dom's kids, probably Phillipa. "We are in Auckland too Auntie Ari!"
Valeria grins. "Pourquoi suis-je pas surpris?" ("Why am I not surprised?")
Arthur smiles. "I'd like to think of it as merely coincidence?"
"Que diriez-vous devenir?" ("How about fate?")
Ariadne gives her a glare. James and Phillipa are on either side of her, holding her hand tightly. Dom is walking behind them, with Arthur and Valeria.
"Auntie Ari," Phillipa starts, "can you take us to the zoo? I know they have animals here that we don't have back home."
"Phillipa," Dom warns, "Auntie Ari is here for school."
"But I wanna go with Auntie Ari!" James exclaims.
"James!"
Ariadne smiles. "No, it's okay. I missed my two favorite children." The kids begin to jump. "But I still have three more days before the school lets us go. Will you be able to wait for me?"
"Can't we come with you?" James asks.
"I'd love for you guys to come along but I've already brought your Aunt Val." Ariadne smiles apologetically. James buries his face in her jeans at the mention of the blonde. It seems he has a little crush on her.
Phillipa pouts. "Just promise us, okay, Auntie Ari? Pinky swear?" She holds up her tiny, right pinky finger.
The Architect wraps her own right pinky finger with the young girl's. "Promise. But go ask your daddy first, all right?"
When the two let go and run to their dad, Ariadne joins Arthur, who had been quiet since Valeria began to talk to Dom. "Why'd you decide to come along?"
"I haven't accepted a job since Danilov and I haven't seen Cobb and the kids in a while." The last time they had both seen the Cobbs was when they came to visit Miles in Paris a few months after the inception job. Arthur had gone to check on the young architect. "They asked me if I wanted to go with them on a vacation...and I," he clears his throat, "suggested to go here." He rubs the back of his neck. "Coincidence that we bumped into each other."
Ariadne tilts her head, narrowing her eyes. "Which hotel?"
Arthur doesn't answer.
"Arthur!"
"I'm sorry!" he says. "Since we're coming here, might as well, right? It isn't very suspicious."
Ariadne rolls her eyes. She's not sure whether to be annoyed or creeped out. 'No, it's Arthur. Annoyed would make more sense. I'm not unhappy to see him.' A small smile creeps to her face. "You're such a stalker."
He raises his eyebrows.
"Valeria's right, you have been following me."
"Ari—"
"Does Dom know you chose this place because of me?"
Arthur grabs her hand and raises his index finger. "I chose this place because it's a good vacation spot. You haven't seen James and Phillipa in a long times so yes, I'd want them to see you, too. You and Dom have some catching up to do. Yes, I check up on you so I know where you are and where you're staying and...I just want to see how you're doing with your first job without me."
"I'm not surprised, you know."
"Gomez and I have worked together and he's heard about you, probably from Hewitt. So far, you've done well. I kind of...interfered, though."
Ariadne frowns. "What did you do?"
"I told you that you have to think of ever detail. I know their employer and they can be quite vengeful." He looks up for a brief moment before looking back down at her. "I told them that they had to make sure your name doesn't come up anywhere. That you aren't a part of this. Hell, you don't even know half of what they know about the employer and the mark. If I had it my way, your name wouldn't even pop up in the inception job."
"Wait...so my name wasn't in any of the files during our job in Ireland and Iceland?"
"I kept it under a different name, but only because if anything happens, I'm sure I can protect you." He lets go of her hand. "I made them promise not to even put a fake name. I told them to severe contacts once your part is done. If anyone wanted you to work for them..." he hesitates, and she's sure she doesn't like what he'll say next, "they'll have to contact me."
Ariadne glares at him. "I can take care of myself, Arthur! I don't work for you!"
"I just want you to be safe! If you want to continue this job then fine! As much as I don't want you to. But you still have plenty of opportunities, a simple mistake could throw away everything! I'm the best when it comes to hiding and I can keep you safe. I can make the world think you don't exist if I have to!"
As much as she wants to understand him, she doesn't want to just yet. She's angry because she thinks she's being treated like someone who needs protection, and she doesn't need protection. Stomping away, she hooks her arm around Valeria's, who she notes has been trying to eavesdrop, and goes over to the kids.
It's been four days since hers and Arthur's argument, and two days since she met up with Harry again to give him the full model. She also talked to him about Arthur's interference.
"I've never seen him so determined to keep someone safe," Harry commented. "He's a lone island. It's really only Cobb and Eames I'm sure he's pretty close to. You must be special to him."
But she still wasn't up to understanding Arthur so she dismissed it. When she did talk to Valeria about it, Valeria made sure that she would see Arthur's point of view.
"I know you don't need protecting," Valeria said. "He wants to make sure that you'll live long enough to marry him."
"Val!" Ariadne threw a pillow at her. "I'm serious!"
"Look, for all I know, your job involves mobsters. And if that's the case, then I can totally see why he's watching out for you. He doesn't want to see your future crumble just because you involved yourself with the wrong people. I'm sure he knows much more about this than you do, mon ami. Be honest, you'd run to him if anything happens, non? He knows all the tricks to keeping himself safe and being able to continue seeing the love of your life."
Now, in Auckland Zoo, she's finding it hard to say sorry to him. She's a little embarrassed about it.
"Did you receive them?" he asks.
Of course she did. A bouquet of purple hyacinths had been delivered to them. "I did." 'I'm the one who's supposed to apologize,' she wants to say.
"I really am sorry. I just wanted to make sure you're okay."
She watches James and Phillipa stare at the tiger inside the glass. Dom's keeping watch of them and Valeria's being a great friend by giving her and Arthur privacy by trying to have a chat with the extractor.
"I know you can take care of yourself, but—"
"Arthur," she stops him, "I'm the one who should apologize. I understand where you're coming from...not exactly, but I guess...in a way. I mean, Val's right, you know better than me and if something does happen then I'm pretty sure I'll freak out and get paranoid. You'll keep me safe, I'm sure of it. And...I'd probably run to you first." Grabbing his hand and giving it a squeeze. "I'm sorry for snapping at you."
He smiles at her and pats her cheek. "You have to forgive me, too."
She giggles and wraps her arms around his neck, pulling him to her for a hug.
"Look, Auntie Ari!" James shrieks. "A penguin!"
"We have those in the zoo at home, James," Phillipa says, but she's also gazing at the black and white animal with amazement.
"Aren't they the cutest?" Ariadne squeals as more penguins come around.
"Well, that's good," Arthur says, appearing behind her, "then those stuffed toys Dom and I bought won't be a waste."
"What stuffed toys?" Phillipa turns her attention to them.
Dom arrives with two bags from the gift shop. He hands one to Arthur and kneels down to open the one he has. He reveals a seal for Phillipa and a sea lion for James. The children are delighted to see their gifts and hold it close to them.
Arthur smiles and opens the bag he has. He hands a dolphin to Valeria, he thanks him with an enthusiastic hug, and to Ariadne, a penguin.
"Mr. Chip!" She hugs him tight. "Thank you, Arthur!" Leaning forward, she gives him a kiss on his cheek and coos at the new gift. "You'll be sleeping with me now."
As the group continues the last few sites of the zoo, Ariadne can't help but notice Arthur smiling at the little antics the animals they pass by have been doing.
"Do you have a favorite animal?" she asks while they're looking at the golden lion tamarins.
"Edward once brought a stray dog home. We weren't really pet people but we grew to love him. When he...left us, Edward was devastated so Dad bought him a Golden Retriever and St. Bernard. When I left they were still puppies. I'm quite certain they're still healthy right now. I guess you can say I'm a dog person."
"Me, too!" Ariadne exclaims with a grin. "They're so loyal and always so happy but they can be fierce when they have to. We have a Labrador in Brooklyn. Although I've always wanted a Siberian Husky. The apartment allows trained pets and I'm still thinking if I can train a husky."
"I suppose when we move in together, you'd want a dog."
"Yes, I suppose," she answers. After a few seconds, her face heats up. "Wait! What?"
Arthur simply laughs.
"Auntie Ari! Uncle Arthur!" James calls out.
"It's time to go have some dinner!" Phillipa adds.
"You still have to lead us to that restaurant you reserved for us," Dom says.
"Confessez votre amour ailleurs, Arthur!" Valeria laughs. ("Confess your love somewhere else, Arthur!")
Arthur's ears turn pink. "Shall we go?" he asks without looking at Ariadne.
"Yes," she answers right away, ready to tell off her best friend. But she doesn't have the chance to because the children latch on to her quickly.
Again, I am so sorry if there are a lot of mistakes! :[ But I do hope you guys still enjoyed it. Not much Dom, rushed and abrupt ending and no Eames and no mention of Mal (for sure though, there will be in the next chapter), kinda makes me sad :[ Drop a review if you'd like! See you next week!
GUYS PLEASE READ:After this story, I'm planning on making an AU fic. The one that's been in my head for some months now is a Red Riding Hood AU (she's my ultimate favorite fairy tale character). But I've got some other ideas, too. Would you be willing to read it, if ever?
Step Nine: Food (Pizza Toppings) — Rome, Italy