Dream a Little Dream (Inception: Arthur/Dom) For Me

Dream a Little Dream (Inception: Arthur/Dom) For Me (Chapter Nine)

I stirred the coffee idly, aware that I had almost drained the whole cup, but unwilling to go back to the offices just yet. I raised my eyes to peek at the handsome man across from me. He was gazing off into the distance, grey eyes surprisingly relaxed as he sipped his drink. His eyes flicked to me as I continued to stare.

“What is it?”

“Nothing,” I murmured. I felt shy when near this new Dom – this relaxed, kind Dom. “Dom, why are you being like this? Normally you’re so stressed and angry.”

He pursed his lips. “I suppose I’ve gotten tired of being that way. I’m not always like that, you know. “

“I bring it out in you,” I teased.

“Sometimes. Did you finish your coffee?”

I set the spoon down. “Yes.”

“We should probably get back…”

“I suppose so.”

We got up and pushed the chairs in, and left the café. Me, very reluctant to go back out into the cool air. I tightened the jacket around me and followed after Dom. We hurried down the street, feeling the wind nip at our skin. Just outside the office building, Dom stopped, and I ran into his back. “Oof!”

“Sorry,” he apologized. “I just wanted to tell you…if you’re stressed, you don’t need to bottle it up. I – we – are all here for you. It’s part of being a team.”

“Thanks, Dom,” I said, tucking a piece of hair behind my hair, and offering up a small smile. “I’ll, uh, try not to take it out on you next time.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

I grinned to myself and followed him back upstairs, taking the stairs. Back in the office, Richard was no longer there, nor Eames. Instead, Arthur was sitting in a small circle, talking lowly to Chandler and Cassie. I couldn’t help but smile at the sight, and the serious look on Arthur’s face. He heard us, and turned, a smile spreading across his own face.

“You’re back.”

“Good observation,” I said, unable to help myself. Dom and I joined their small circle, pulling up chairs. I shrugged off my jacket, now warm. “What are we talking about?”

“What we’re going to do about Robert,” Cassie informed me brightly. “The guys think that you should use – what is it again? Feminine charm? Right, feminine charm. They want you to lure him into a situation where we can get him back into the dream state.”

I tried to suppress a groan. “There has to be another way.”

“I’ll try it,” Cassie offered. Arthur looked at her skeptically, and Dom snorted back a laugh. Cassie looked offended. “I can be charming.”

“I have no doubt about that,” Arthur assured her. “But we don’t want to practice your charm on a billion dollar job.”

“Billion?” I raised my eyebrows. I had no idea that Richard was so rich. He was so young, it must all be inherited money. I could see that, actually. Richard being the billionaire playboy. But he was so serious…well, either way, it didn’t matter. He was loaded. “What exactly do you want me to do?”

“Just get him into a place alone,” Chandler told me. “That shouldn’t be too hard, right?”

I grinned at him. “What kind of girl do you think I am? Just tell me when and where, and I’ll get him there.”

Dom stifled a yawn and looked at his watch, pushing up his sleeve. “I think I’m going to head out for the night. Good night.”

“Me, too,” Cassie said, leaping up. Chandler followed, mumbling something about walking her home. I watched as the three exited the room, and I settled back in my chair, suddenly aware that Arthur and I were alone. It had happened before, of course, but for some reason, I couldn’t help but over analyze everything that I did, or every move that he made.