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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"I do prefer it in the winter. Less heat and well, it is a dry heat so I can live with it but the clothing gets to be much," he said with a chuckle, stroking his finger tips down the length of her spine. He needed that, the constant contact. It, more than any totem, proved she was there and real.

"I tried and you asked if you really needed a hotel and spa," he argued, giving her a look. "Don't challenge me on that, Ariadne. I can make things happen, and I can do my best to impress. You may end up with a pony," he said in tones full of dire warning.

He froze at that, a brow arching. "Ariadne, are you saying you want to introduce your parents to a crime boss," he asked, a small smile twitching the corners of his lips. "I might have something that is less severe, if that's what you really want." He'd give her that. Anything. He needed this, her last contact to his humanity.

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

There was a faint laugh at that, rolling her eyes, hiding her amusement. "Nice Arthur."

Shooting him a small glare, as not to test her, she smirked. "You know exactly what I mean. I don't need shit fancy. Impress me with who the hell you are. Just you. The Arthur that I hardly know." She stated, a matter a fact tone to her.

"My parents," She started, rolling her eyes in thought. "They are the most over protective s.o.b's that I know. I wouldn't mind putting a burr in their asses, telling them just what you are." She snorted, a smirk on her face at the idea. "But no. I can't do that to them. Might have you help with my reason. But we will talk about later." She said, hand running along his collarbone. "Right now. I wanna catch up, so to speak."

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"I could have made it dirty," he pointed out.

"You might be disappointed with that. Throwing money around, I do rather well," he said with a shrug. "Need a car?" He smiled though, trying to make her smile.

"I would rather you didn't so they didn't call the cops on me for taking you away or something. As for a reason? Tell them you were hired by an old friend to design a hotel in Vegas and you want to get a feel for how they're laid out and the sort of things that work best,' he said , kissing her brow. "You could do that, if you wanted. I own three."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"Who says I didn't?" She pointed out in return, a smirk on her face.

Rolling her eyes, she shook her head. "Seriously Arthur. Never been good with the material things. Hell, I still have cash from the Fischer job." She stated, brows raised.

"Three hotels?" Her expression showed a slight surprise, quickly shaking it away. "I will feel my dad out later, see how I want to tackle it. You might just be a new coworker is all."

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"You haven't jumped me," he asked, trying to look serious. It sort of failed at her next words though.

"You get into a certain world and that's all you have anymore, or all you want to offer others."

Ducking his head. "Well, they're great tax write offs, and technically they're owned by the corporation."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"Who says I wont?" She said with a shrug.

Nodding though as she listened to his explanation. "I get it." She paused, brows furrowing as she thought. "Don't offer me anything, that isn't needed. Or truly meant from the heart. I'm not someone that is bought." Her expression softened slightly as she said that, not wanting to sound anything but honest. But wanting to make sure it was understood.

She laughed slightly though, when the tax write off came about. "Cute Arthur."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"If you've resisted me shirtless, I'm not sure what hope there is," he sighed, biting his lip, but there was no smile.

"I'm not sure I remember other ways to impress," he admitted, looking honestly pained to admit that. "I don't.. I mean..." He hasn't had to. People feigned it even if they didn't feel it. "I'll figure it out."

A brow arched. "Think I'm kidding? I technically own, as boss, the entire company. Course, they kill me tomorrow and it reverts to the corporation and not my heirs. Not that I have any."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

She shot him a, are you serious look. Only with a small smirk at the end. "Didn't want you thinking I was easy."

Her eyes softened at his admittance, shaking her head lightly. As she lightly brushed her thumb along his jaw bone. "This right here. How you are. That impresses me. There is nothing to figure out."

Nose crinkling, she eyed him for a few moments taking in his words. Knowing she assumed what the business he was in entailed. But hearing him actually admit it, was more something all it's own. "Pity there are no cute mini Arthur's running around." She said, a ghost of smile, not sure what else to say to it.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"You didn't give it up in the dream, why would I think that now," he asked, grinning faintly, more fond than teasing.

"Yeah yeah. Make me do it the hard way," he said, actually stomping his foot before chuckling. "I'll do my best."

Ducking his head slightly, knowing he was offering the one thing he could. Honesty. "What? I'm too old for you now," he asked. "If you're looking for one, you'll find it."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"Let me think." She paused, hand to her mouth tapping her chin. "I was more worried about your safety, then sticking my tongue down your throat."

Laughing shaking her head, amused by his behavior. "I know you will do fine."

She paused though, eyes widening slightly. "So wait. You do have kids?" Because now she was more curious then anything, if she misunderstood him or not.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"And yet you kissed me," he pointed out. "Must have been something." His lips brushed her cheek with a small sound of amusement. "I'll see what I can muster."

He jerked back. "Wait, you meant... God, no. I thought you meant like imposters to the throne, others copying me to become me... No. No kids. No."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"That is true." She smirked. "It was something alright." A sigh escaping her, as let her hand go back, tracing his collarbone.

"No. No imposter's." She laughed, not taking her fingers off him. "Those are easily taken care of." Her brow arching as she said that. "Again. Pity no mini Arthur's running around. They would be cute." She finished with a tease. Knowing it was just that. Her teasing him.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"I've never done that," he admitted softly. "Never put my emotions into a job." Which had been a small part of what scared him. Biggest job of his career and he'd risked it, for her.

He gave her a look, arching a brow. "Ariadne, are you asking to carry my baby?" It took everything in him to keep a straight face.

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"And I've never just kissed a man, when they just randomly asked me. Until you that is." She replied, a honest smile at his admittance.

Only to cough, clearing her throat. An obvious look of fluster showing on her now. "No. No. Sorry to disappoint. But no. I will cross my legs, to keep you out." Rolling her eyes when she said that. Knowing that was unlikely, crossing the legs that was. "I'm not ready to be a mom."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"Good. I mean, I can imagine other men might ask but I like being the special one," he noted, fingertips along her hips, sighing softly at merely having here there.

Nearly smiling, giving her a look. "I'm sure I could get your legs open if we both wanted it," he murmured. "Though not for kids." Though her words made him pause, considering what they could mean. "Do you want them? In general, that is?" The smile sort of slipped, never having considered it.

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"Well you were." She smiled, eyes closing for a moment, contently clam as she enjoyed the closeness of this. "You still are."

Rolling her eyes, she smirked, head tilted to the side as she watched him a moment. "Honestly? Fairly sure you could." She said, a small nod following, as she brushed her index finger along his lower lip.

"As for kids." Her brow furrowed, fixing her site on the tattoo on his chest. "I don't know. Maybe one day. Sure. But. I don't live the most family friendly of lives." She said with a faint smile, before glancing up at him. Now curious why he asked. "What about you?"

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"Good. I like knowing that even better now," he said, unable to resist brushing his lips to hers as if afraid to let himself stop would end it all between them.

"I think I'll behave and not try tonight,' he said, almost as if musing it over as he kissed the tip of her fingers.

"I... Think the same. Look who I am," he said softly, almost sadly.

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

Her eyes drifting over Arthur, as her features softened. "Who you are, doesn't mean you can't be a dad. Some of the most amazing people grew up, in what you are apart of." Smiling at that, as she hoped he got what she was saying. "So that shouldn't factor in too much. Being who you are, that is."

Her nose crinkling as she thought. "There is just a lot to factor into having kids you know. At least I assume as much." Blowing a strand of hair out of her eyes, she smiled. "I'm sure you would be an amazing dad. You don't do things half-ass, Arthur. Wouldn't see you doing that as a parent."

She shrugged, pushing away from him some. A smirk on her face, as she moved into the kitchen, digging in the fridge. "Who says, I'm going to behave."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"What? Could you mean me," he asked, trying to sound stunned. "Yeah, I'm a great example to want to emulate." He chuckled as he said it, yet the smile never reached his eyes. He certainly didn't see himself as a role model. "And this conversation has gotten much more serious than I would have expected."

He kissed her brow though. "Give us time to get to know one another and we can have this talk again. I'd like to be having sex with you before I discuss our future children." And a little more to the point than he had been.

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"Ding. Ding. Ding." She laughed, rolling her eyes amused. "He can catch on." She teased, as she made her way back to him, handing him a beer. "It's all I have. Well there is whiskey in the cabinet. Knock yourself out, if you must." She said, as she took a long sip from the bottle, eyes focused on him.

"Oddest conversation I've ever had. And I've had a few good ones." She smirked, pulling herself up onto her barstool. "Sit." She nods, brows raised, bottle to her lips.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"See, you think I"m serious and I think you're kind of insane to think that," he admitted, but there was no worry or concern in his words or tones. "And this is fine. Really. Thank you," he said, taking a drink and pulling her back to him.

"Sit? Now we're giving orders," he asked, sitting down close to her, hand resting on the small of her back.

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"I'm good with orders. You will learn." She smirked, eyes closing as she sipped her beer. Surprisingly happy, just how the littlest touch from him, seemed to be a comfort in some way.

She snorted, almost spitting out the beer she had in her mouth. "Oh Arthur. Trust me. I'm purely insane now. You just need to find a way to work that to your advantage." She teased, eyes focused on him.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"Only in giving or receiving as well," he asked, arching a brow. This was so companionable and it scared him. Life seemed so normal in that moment. Something he thought he'd never have.

"So you're wild then? I could be content with that," he teased, giving her a wicked smile.

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"Guess you'll just have to guess." She replied, a sly smile on her face. "Or wait and see." Smiling at the honesty to that. Knowing she wasn't out of her comfort zone with him. Which was slightly scary, yet nice to have.

"And I wouldn't say wild. Lock me up sort of thing. More." She paused, a quick sip from her beer before continuing. "the sorta insane girl, that lets a man she hasn't seen in three years, into her house. And comes to find out, he is some sorta mob boss, who most likely is a bit on the crazy side himself. To only then, ask him to strip, and show her his tattoo he apparently has in her honor on his chest. And. To top it all off. Is willing to go almost anywhere with him, which apparently means Vegas. And doesn't want him leaving her site, anytime soon, sorta insane wild girl." She finished taking a breath, smiling. "Yeah that would be me."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

He listened to her, loving the things she said and what they meant for the both of them, for what they were going to make happen. He smiled though, taking a drink of his beer.

"You missed where I'm sitting around in half a suit and we have discussed going to Kenya to track down a crazy brit for no other reason than we can... or because we want to," he added, raising his bottle in toast. "To us."