All in Black verse: For Ariadne

[loadedparadox]

It had been three years since the team had completed the Fischer case and made inception happen. Three years since Arthur had realized he was on his own. Cobb had gone back to his family, Ariadne to school and Eames had disappeared into the ether of the Mombasa underground. Mal was dead, and he'd finally seen her grave, but that didn't make it any easier to deal with. He had two choices. Find a new team, or give it all up.

His family, the family he'd had before, accepted him back without a second guess. He was the boss' son, Arthur Tossi, and no one questioned him. Especially not after he'd shot Danny Sanducci in cold blood, leaving the body to bleed all over the floor of his new office. That was three years ago. He was no longer the man he'd been, not the one that the dream share community had known. He couldn't be that man. Sweet and kind and tender yet determined. He had to be cold, distant, and the world was another place than it had been. He might not smile anymore than he had before but at least then his eyes had seemed warm.

Her name was Ashley. She'd been with him for a year the night she was killed. Smart, funny, easy to talk to. Petite and pretty and she reminded him of someone else - someone he hadn't realized he missed until he was standing over the grave site of another woman in his life.

Research still came second nature to him, finding her address and making his way there the next day. Dressed in black raw silk, his shirt blood red and the tie midnight with a tiny red pattern. Hair slicked back and a slight bulge under one arm as he knocked on the door, jaw covered in a couple days of stubble and his jaw set in a hard line.

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[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"Okay." Rolling her eyes, she nodded to the couch, eyes watching his actions. Unsure what exactly he wanted. But knowing somehow, it was still Arthur. And it really didn't matter, in some far off way.

"You didn't even say, goodbye." Which hurt her, and confused her more then anything. "I don't get what you're talking about, not at all."

Curling into the end of the couch, she watched him, a faint smile trying to come out. "Is everything okay?"

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"Right. Goodbye." He settled in on the couch, undoing the top button of his jacket and revealing the leather holster beneath when he moved. "I didn't think it was. I wanted to go home, and straighten things out. Find a life that isn't dreams and risking it all. Then it sucked me back in."

There was a moment when you decided to open up and reveal the truth or lock it away and pretend everything was okay and life was fine and go back to what you knew rather than what was in front of you.

"Two years ago the man who nearly raised me died. Heart attack. Since then I've been..." He paused, because the common names, the words, they had connotations. "I've been the mob boss for two years now. Running the syndicate out of Vegas, though we're more in Miami these days." He snorted. "God, I hate Miami."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

Another quick roll of her eyes, as he says goodbye. Only to focus in on the holster, brows furrowed, as she listens to him. Quickly doing a double take, making sure she had it correct.

"You're shitting me?" It came out, quicker then she thought it would, not thinking before she spoke. Her hand waving in some random pattern, as if she was trying to find the words she wanted. "You up and left, and became some Goodfellas sort of guy?" Pausing she looked at him, a skeptical eye on him. "Why are you here?"

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

He nearly winced but when he ducked his head, looking back up at her, there was a flash of a smile for a moment before it faded. "In this outfit, do I look like I'm shitting you," he asked, a brow arching sharply. "Sorry I don't have a business card or anything. The government would love that sort of evidence, and you should have seen me hiding the dream sharing money so I didn't end up like Capone, going to prison for tax evasion."

Again there was a hint of laughter, a bit of Arthur that had disappeared when he'd gone home.

"I didn't know why I came. I don't know. Two days ago I... I buried my first love. She came back into my life around the time I took over the syndicate. She was also an extractor. I realized, standing over that grave, that much as I cared about her... I've thought about you ever day for three years. So I got on a plane and didn't let myself walk right past and back to the airport. What I want? I don't know. I needed to see you. See... I can't walk away from it, Ariadne, but I couldn't not see you again."

He couldn't stand over her grave like he had Mal's and never say goodbye like he'd avoided.

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"Oh you're funny, Arthur." She said, almost cracking her standard smile, that was so common with him, back then. But things had changed. He obviously had, and so had she.

Resting her elbow resting against the end of the couch, only to support her head. As her mind was racing a mile a minute with all that he said. "I'm sorry about your friend, girlfriend, wife, I don't know, I'm sorry though." She stated, a sympathetic smile on her face. Pausing a few moments, just wanting to watch him. Say she had missed him, say that she was pissed he left, say all she thought about in her head many times. If she was only given the chance to say them. And now having the chance, she couldn't. All she could do was stare, watching him. Thinking back on all that happened to them in the past.

"Three years, Arthur. A lots changed. I just..." She sighs, running her hand down her face. "It's nice to see you."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"You think I'm kidding about the money and Capone,' he asked, smirking then. Almost a smile. "Wasn't giving it up. Of course, most of it is now in your name or Eames' so... You could ruin me fairly easily."

He hadn't meant to admit that but then it came out and was there.

"She was a friend. I think you would have liked her." He ran his fingers through his hair but it didn't muss very much. "You two together could have made my life miserable." Yet he said it fondly, without heat or concern. Just thinking about everything he never let himself think about.

"I'm sorry. I should have said something. Anything. Then the inception was over and I confronted Dom there in the airport and..." And he'd learned the truth. "I had to think and then I was gone and you were in a life where I realized you were safer than if I came to see you."

Except he was here. Now. "I missed you." The words came slowly, nervous to say them. "But I'm not who you knew and I shouldn't be here. Not with Mal and the business and everything that comes with it."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

Her eyes widened at that, not sure if she hear him right. "You're really not serious, are you? You haven't seen me, in three damn years. Do you actually think, putting money in my name, is going to change the fact; I've had no contact with you since then. Or even that, I was made to try to forget about you?" She snapped out, eyes not taking there focus off of him. "Arthur. I just don't get it."

Her hands running over her face, she let out a small frustrated groan. Focusing her attention back on him, unable to speak a moment. Just looking at him. Still wrapping her head around the idea of it, knowing it wasn't a dream. She knew that much. Or she figured that much.

"I'm sure I would have. Liked her, that is." She replied softly, closing her eyes a brief moment. "No one is the same. Not anymore."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"I did it years ago. When Mike died and then I was there and they voted me in and...' And he looked away then because her voice actually hurt him. "No one else I could trust. Still isn't." Never would be. Not with the life he was leading. "Dammit, Ariadne. Life snowballed on me. I was trying to deal with shit that I bottled up for three years and then I was in charge and you were gone and Eames was a damn ghost and Dom... Dom's happy and last I knew planning a wedding and it was like I was trapped in this world and outside of it was what I wanted and I just..."

He pushed to his feet, suddenly antsy, pacing like a wild animal with the scent of blood. Only it was his own that he was scenting and it made him nervous. Anyone else saw him like this and he'd be dead within a week.

Moving suddenly, leaning down over her with one hand on the arm of the couch. "Tell me you didn't miss me, Ariadne. Tell me you didn't think about me every goddamn day like I thought about you?" It was asking too much, demanding, and he couldn't stop himself. "Even haunted by that damn..." He shook his head, staring down at her and knowing any minute she could attack. 'Tell me you didn't and I'll go."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

Her eyes focused on him, torn between sheer confusion, and wanting to run to him, and tell him all she could. Not sure why, she was so conflicted. But knowing her stubborn side was getting the best of her. As part of her, always felt cheated out of something amazing. "I don't know what to say." She said flatly. Eyes not leaving his.

His pacing had her, straightening in her spot. Unsure how to react. As it sent a wave of emotions through her. All of which were battling for top position. But once he was over her, and all her senses were surrounded by him, her response was clear. "I can't say, I didn't think about you.". She paused, eyes fixed on him. Seeing something else in them, something she didn't recall. Something that sent a shiver down her spine. "I spent three years, trying to stay close to what we all had. You. Eames. Everyone. I thought about you all the god dam time. Is that what you want to hear?" She finished, a slight pained look to it. Knowing she hadn't admitted that to anyone.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, that's exactly what I wanted to hear."

His hand curled into the fabric of her sweatshirt, pulling her to him even as he kissed her. Hard. Fierce. Three years of trying to forget and being unwilling to forget. A man used to taking what he wanted and not being refused. Not by anyone.

"I wrote you out of everything I owned. I never wanted them to be able to find you. I wanted you protected, safe from me and everything I've become. Except my advisers, my enemies, all of them have been looking for the Bishop," he admitted softly, still over her. "I think they believe you to be an assassin."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

The kiss was a mix of need, anger and lust. She wanted it, she thought about it, over and over. But she was angry, bitter, over how life was now. And it was all coming out in one kiss. Breaking the kiss, her eyes closed a moment, gathering her emotions. Wanting to be the Ariadne he use to know. The one he left, with no word, three years ago.
"You're shitting me?" She asked, catching her breath. Eyes focusing back on him. "I didn't do anything. Hell, you just admitted, you wrote me out of your life." Her brow furrowing, jaw tensing, as she watched him.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

For a moment his eyes focused on her mouth, aching to push her down onto the couch and take everything he wanted. Seeing that anger in her eyes and knowing what it would be like, how much of a wildcat she'd be in his arms. It took every ounce of self control to drag his gaze back to her eyes, to swallow down that need and focus on telling her everything.

Hand dipping beneath his jacket, he pulled out the pistol he carried. Letting it slide down so the muzzle is in his palm, he showed her the side of the butt. Inlaid was the outline of a bishop done in brass. "A form of one of the tattoos I have," he admitted. "Rumor started I took this off a woman who tried to kill me."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

The look she gave Arthur, was one of more disbelief then anything. How could someone, obviously keep her in his thoughts, yet, never once contact her. Check to see if she was okay. When obviously she wasn't okay, at least in her opinion.

Focusing on the butt of the gun, she shook her head. Not sure what to make of it. Knowing full well, it referenced her. Unless there was someone else, with a gold bishop running around, Arthur's apparently new life. And that was highly unlikely. "Is this your slick attempt, at saying; sorry, I ditched you, left you to figure everything out on your own. Only to turn the memories of you, into something unlike, anything you could have thought?" Pausing she looked him over, a slight smirk appearing on her face. "You have a bishop tattoo? Seriously?"

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"If that's all I was doing, I'd show you the ink first,' he said, voice a bit gruffer. "Hurt a helluva lot more." Yet he dropped the gun on the side table with a thunk, his fingers brushing her cheek if she lets him. "I'm sorry, Ariadne. I screwed you over and then convinced myself it was a favor to you. I was an ass and that hasn't gotten any better. You deserved better than what I did," he whispered, staring into those beautiful eyes of hers.

He nearly smiled. "One of several I have, yeah. First one I got." He took her hand. "I swear, if you laugh, I may leave." Said even as he placed her fingers to the left side of his chest. "It's nearly three years old. I need to get it touched up."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

Not even a second thought was given to the firearm, finding a home on her table. It was becoming second nature now, having them around from time to time. So his was nothing new to her. Though, she did note, his was a high quality one. And found her self, oddly jealous of that fact.

"Yeah, you did. And you were." She sorted out, as she shook her head lightly. Her eyes closing at his touch, not moving towards it, or away from it. Just. Remaining. Still. As if she was debating, if she wanted to slug him, or do things, she has only thought about in dreams. "Don't try to tell me, I deserved better, Arthur. I know I did, but it didn't happen. None of you gave me a second thought. I was just something you all used. You got what you wanted, and then you left. Can't change that. I just found ways to deal with it." She said, her eyes opening again, focusing back on his.

"Seriously?" Said in a hushed tone, tracing her finger lightly over the area her hand now was. "Arthur. Why are you doing this?" She asked, a slightly pained tone. Now suddenly worried, she was going to let herself get hurt, before all of this was over.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"No."

He said it in a suddenly pained voice, sinking to one knee there on the floor before her. His hand stayed over hers, unwilling to lose that contact, not until she shoved him away.

"I never meant to use you." He wouldn't deny they had, but he had never meant to, no matter what Dom's goals might have been. "You're right. I can't changed I fucked up, and I did. I know that. What I can do though is not keep screwing it up. Or at least try not to."

He looked down, considering his words, her words, watching her fingers move against his shirt. Raising his head, staring into those eyes so rich with emotion, and all ones he'd caused. "I buried one of the few people in this world I care about two days ago. I stood over an open grave and all I could think about was you." He winced. "Which wounds wrong. I just... How long before I was standing by your grave like I had Mal's and never the right words to you? So... so I got on a plane. You throw me out, I accept that. Tell me to go to hell? Hit me? I deserve it all. Give me a chance to get to know you, Ariadne. Not the girl we... we abandoned, but the woman you've become. Come to Las Vegas.

"The syndicate is all dreams now. So much of it is the dens and the secrets and it's why I'm who I am. I'm the best, Ariadne. No, I'm one of the best. Even if you tell me to fuck off and die, come be with me as my architect, at my side, as something more than the next shade to haunt my dreams," he whispered.

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

Running her hands down her face, a faint groan coming out. Trying to figure out how she wanted to attack this. "I have a life here, Arthur." She stated, running her hand through the top of her hairline. "Not that I like it." She admitted for the first time out loud.

"I want to trust you. I do. Hell. I keep telling myself, there is not reason not to. Just because it is you." Pausing, her brow furrowed, intently focused on him. Trying to find a flick of the old Arthur, she once knew. "How do I know, you aren't just saying all of this? Saying shit, just to get me to follow you, like you know I would. How do I know, you wont just leave me to fend for myself?" She asked, her tone filled with doubt and nerves she wanted to so fight away.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"So make a life you would like, Ariadne. With me. Without me. Don't settle for a life you aren't happy with." He'd seen it too often. Was living it. Maybe Eames was too. They had for enough years before they ever met her. "Whatever you need, make it happen."

Sitting back on his heel, giving her the most open look he could, honest. "I can't tell you to trust me. I can't say believe me now because I know my actions speak a million times louder than my words. I didn't know you would though. I was... I was fairly certain you wouldn't let me past the door," he admitted. "Give me a chance to give you back what we took from you. Even if you never come to Vegas. What can I do to fix it? How can I set this right," he asked, knowing one thing. How to fix problems and make everything run smoothly.

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

Her brow pinched in a tight line, watching him. "You can't fix something, already broken, Arthur. There is nothing you can do that can fix that. You can only start over." She said, admitting in her own way, she would do what he asked.

"I wanna kick your ass so bad Arthur." Shaking her head, she pushed her self back into the couch more. Eyes not wanting to leave his. Just wanting to burn them into her memory. "Do you have any idea, how many times, I've wanted to check if this was a dream already?" She shook her head, pulling out her totem. Only to wave it in front of him, a frustrated look on her face. "I never had to do that, till I went to the those damn dens. Hoping one day, I would come across one of you." She sighed, tossing her totem to the side. "And now you want me to go back to that?"

Her hands rubbing over her face again, she groaned to herself. "Damn it, Arthur. "I know I shouldn't do this, it's utterly crazy. But I can't not do it. Hence why I wanna kick your ass more." She finished, somehow letting a ghost of a smile show.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"Bet me," he said in a low, pained voice. "A broken piece, reset, can be stronger than the original if you do it right. I'm responsible for this, let me help repair what I did?" Almost desperate now, realizing what he had done, unable to hide from the damage while staring into her eyes.

"Do it. Hit me. I won't stop you and..." And he reached for his die, even as she tossed the bishop aside. He jerked as if she had hit him. "Pick it up," he whispered, voice low and hoarse. "Please." He couldn't have her doubting this now, not like Mal, not and die like Mallorie had.

"Why would you go there? Jesus. Ariadne." And it hit him. He'd done this to her. He had. "Fucking hell."

Pushing back, scrambling to his feet, pale, almost shaking. "I'm sorry. I hadn't... I didn't realize..." He clutched at the die so hard it was going to leave bruises on his palm, and Arthur didn't care. "I thought you'd go back to school, to your home, family, a life without us leading you into..." Into crime and the dens and everything she'd found on her own.

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"You sound like me." Or how she use to be. "I don't know how you can though. It's there." She said, her tone slightly quiet.

"And I'm not going to hit you....yet." She smirked at that, rolling her eyes, before picking up her bishop again. Giving him a look, as if saying: happy. "It's just an object, Arthur. And I'm not going to let myself become Cobb. Always checking his. I wont do it." But she would, and she had, but she was going to fight the doubt tooth and nail, if it killed her.

"I'm not even going to get into why I did, what I did, Arthur. I did it, and I can't change that." Tucking her totem back into her pocket, she sighed, focusing on him. "I did go back. I have my masters. I have a job, with my family no less. So that part, you got right. The rest." She shrugged. "I guess, you just didn't know how stubborn I was"

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"Then it can only get better," he said, pacing the room again, the die still in his hand. He wanted to run. Deep down he'd never let himself and yet fight or flight tried to kick in and he fought it. Fought it for her.

"No. It shows you that this is real and you never need to escape it," he said. He'd learned some things in that airport, why he'd run. "I can't ... I can't bury you," he whispered, choking on the words. "I stopped checking mine until today. I knew it was real because my dreams were never this empty,' he admitted, pausing to look at a picture, his back to her, blinking rapidly as he regained his composure.

He looked over his shoulder at her, ached to move closer and fought against the desire. Not because she might hit him but that he might kiss her again. "No. I thought you were a survivalist enough to realize we'd hurt you, I would hurt you. I just made it a self fulfilling prophecy."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

She cringed at his words, not wanting to focus in on them too long. "That's the thing, Arthur. I won't let myself become her." She paused, inhaling a long breath, not taking her focus off him. Sensing he was bothered by this. But a part of her didn't care, as she did blame him or the others for it, in some small sense. Something she would never have done before. But over the last three years, something that just built up.

"If I stop questioning what is real, and what isn't, then I've lost all that I've tried to become." A snort of annoyance at the idea of that came out, when she spoke. Pulling her knees to her chest, her eyes searching over him. Finding herself lost in the site of him, realizing just how much, she missed having him around. Having his presence near her. "I need to question things. I need to doubt things. If I don't." Her hands going to her face, trying to rub away her frustration. "Well, it just doesn't matter. I won't let it happen."

There was a long silence that filled the room, focusing her attention back in on him. Wanting to just touch him, feel him, knowing it was real. God she finally was admitting, how much she really missed him. "Damn it. Will you sit the hell down? You make me nervous." She shot out, a faint laugh following. "There is a part of me, saying: stay the fuck away from you. But then there is that other part, that says: Go with him." She smiled a crooked smile at that, head tilting to the side as she watched him. "You know anything about me. You know which part is winning." And she hoped, he knew her some. Enough to know, she would follow him, almost anywhere, even now.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

When Ariadne had walked into that warehouse in Paris she had been bright, shiny, a brilliant copper penny, all shine and flash and youthful vibrance. Now she was something entirely different. Rough around the edge, sharp lines and a strong core. She saw herself as broken, had said as much, yet Arthur saw something that had drawn him to her in the first place. Kindred spirits. Someone that could understand now, could accept the man he'd become.

He'd boarded that plane afraid she'd see him, see the darkness and death, and throw him out. Perhaps the woman she had been would have but now, now things had changed yet again.

When she snapped at him to sit down, Arthur did smile then. Crossing the room and sitting on the end of the couch opposite her. Leaning forward, his elbows on his knees as he half turned to face her, watching her. "I want you to question everything, Ariadne. Me most of all. Everyone caters to me, gives to my every whim and need, second guesses what I'll want and does it. I want the woman that told me I was a fucking fool for following Cobb. I want the woman that went into Limbo without a second thought. I want someone who is likely going to kick my ass before the night is over, even if I kiss her again," he added, his gaze on her eyes. "And I want to."

He knew she was right. He did know her. He knew enough to know she'd come with him; had known it when he demanded, nearly asked, she come with him. He took a gamble, an echo to a time when they had been two entirely different people.

"Kiss me."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"Oh trust me, I plan on reminding you, just how much of an ass, or fool, you can be." Her brows rising, a smirk on her face as she watched him, her focus entirely on him, and his action. Her emotions on a mental roller coaster, she wasn’t entirely sure how to slow down. She hated him, she didn't. She knew she couldn't stay away from him though.

"Goddamn it, Arthur." She growled, leaning over, a mix of anger and need in her eyes, her fist tensing, as she swung at his shoulder. Only to grab at shirt, pulling him toward her, crashing her lips into his, with a kiss filled with need, pain, anger and all that was in between. "What the hell are you doing to me?" She groaned, as she bit on his lower lip, before pulling back, eyes focused on him.