A/N: So, another Inception story. I know that I have "Confusion" unfinished, but this idea just popped in my head and I had to sit down and write it. Beside I need some sort of springboard from writing angst.
Just to make it clear: Everything in italics is dream. I decided also to write every dream in present tense, no matter, when it takes place: in past or present.
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Inception. I just borrow some characters to play with them, putting them in my plot.
(Hopefully) enjoy!
And please- if you read, leave review!
Now
Mal wakes up suddenly, not sure what actually thrown her from dream. It's only seconds later when she realize; her mobile phone is ringing. Ringing in the middle of the night.
Mal grabs it quickly and froze for a moment.
The person, who's calling is Dominic Cobb.
Sure, they're have same sort of relationship, they're working together after all, but still it gives Dom no rights to call her at 3 am!
She finally answered call her voice sounds reluctantly even in her own ears.
"Hallo."
"Mal! God thanks, I thought you wouldn't answer!", Dom's voice is filled with mix of relief and something else, something indeterminate. Fear?
"What do you want? Why are you calling to me in the middle of the night?", Mal asks angrily.
"Because I need your help."
5 months ago
When they first meet Mal first thought about Dominic Cobb wasn't a nice one.
"What an asshole!", she thought actually.
It wasn't strange considering how he looked down on her with patronizing smirk on his lips. He flipped through her papers like they were nothing, like she didn't have to spend endless hours of learning and training to got them.
"Really impressive achievements.", he said, but in Mal's ears it sounded more like an insult than compliment. Before she could say anything he gestured towards tiny couch staying in the corner of the room.
"Shall we?", he asked with this infuriating smile.
Mal glared at him. "I'd rather stay here.", she answered trying to sound politely.
"Really?", his smile became a little broader. "As you wish, but it'd be more comfortable to dream on couch rather than on chair."
"We're going under?", Mal exclaimed surprised.
"Of course, we're going under.", he answered with a glint of superiority in his voice. "How am I suppose to check if you really can do anything?" He caught her glancing of her diplomas and certificates laying on desk and sighted.
"I want to see what you can do in five minutes, ok?", he asked for the first time looking at her eyes and finally without this smile of his on lips. Mal couldn't help to notice that his eyes was amazingly blue. Exactly in her favorite shade.
She smiled. "Only five minutes?", she asked. "Really, there is no way to show at least half of things I can do in this amount of time.", she added putting a needle in her wrist.
The picture of surprised and somehow amused Cobb was the last one she saw, before the dream began.
Mal is staying with her eyes closed, feeling the warmth of sun on her cheeks. She knows exactly what she'll see, when she opens her eyes.
The panorama of city.
But not just an accidental city. Her city, which she has been building almost since her first experience with dream sharing. Her secret masterpiece, still unfinished. She's not sure why she decided to show it to Cobb. She suspects that it has to have something with his patronizing smile. She doesn't want to see the "I knew it" look in his eyes. She doesn't want to hear: "Sorry, but you're not the person I'm looking for".
She opens her eyes when he reaches her. One short glance in his direction is enough.
She's sure, she won't hear that.
Waking up from sedative induced dream was always unpleasant for Mal. That time she also woke up with her usually desperate gasping for air and stayed still for a moment to regain her composure. She could feel Cobb's intense gaze, but didn't look at him.
"You need to get used to that.", he said finally. "I don't want to keep wondering if you're ok every time we'll end dreaming."
Mal raised her head vehemently.
"It means I'm in?", she asked.
"Yes, you're in", Cobb answered and stretched out his hand. "Welcome to the world of dream sharing business."
Mal shook his hand before smiling broadly and standing up.
"We still have some papers work to do.", Cobb's words stopped her. "Shall we go somewhere to coffee?"
Mal thought for a moment. Going anywhere with Cobb wasn't really alluring idea, but still she was working with him since now, so she has to used to him. Spending afternoon with Cobb in some café would be much more nicer, than spending afternoon with Cobb in his office, after all.
"Sure.", she answered. "Why not?"
The café, Cobb lead her in, was amazingly cozy. She could even pretend that she's still in her hometown, Paris, not in some strange American city. What was more surprising coffee served there was delicious; Mal was already losing her hope for drinking decant coffee in this country. She took small sip of her drink delighting in its taste. All paperwork was already done, documents laying neatly in manila folder, but they still sat together. Mal wasn't sure what's really keeping her there.
"Can I ask you something?", Mal finally decided. She wanted to ask him this question since the first time she heard about his offer.
Cobb looked at her and narrowed slightly his sky- blue eyes.
"You can try.", he answered nonchalantly, which lighted her anger once again.
"You're an architect.", she said watching him carefully. "Why did you look for another architect?". There was a tone of accusation in her voice, she knew that.
"It didn't seem to bother you, while you show me your city.", Cobb observed lazily.
Mal glanced at him angrily.
"We're partners in work from now.", she announced. "It gives me the right to know such things."
Cobb sighted and shifted hand through his hair.
"It's because of creation.", he said at last.
"Creation?", Mal was bewildered. "What you mean by it?"
"I'm training people in subconscious security.."
"I know. That's why I answered for your offer", Mal snorted.
"And sometimes is hard to teach create and teach people by myself.", Cobb continued patiently. "I can't imagine myself working with somebody, who has no imagination, so I decided to start looking for an architect. Beside the imagination, that was the only way to find somebody, who actually would understand the act of pure creation."
"You don't believe that other people can understand it?", Mal asked curiously.
"I don't know.", Cobb shrugged. "But there's no point in wasting my time for people like that. I needed an architect.", he looked her critically and Mal, no matter how bold she was, felt a little uneasy.
"And I found much more than just architect.", Cobb added. "I found somebody with real talent."
Mal blushed slightly at this and didn't answered. The rest of their meeting they spend in peaceful silence.
Maybe working with Cobb won't be so bad, after all, thought Mal opening door leading to her rented flat.
Now
"Help?", Mal can't believe her own ears. "You need my help at 3 am? Dom, are you crazy?"
"Look, Mal I'm close to your flat. Could just come here?"
"Nothing is close at 3 in the morning", Mal snorts. "God, just tell me what happened!"
Dom sighs heavily and stays silent for a moment.
"I've done something incredibly stupid. I need you, please. Please, Mal, help me.", Cobb sounds so desperately that Mal shakes her head and gives up.
"Fine. Tell me where you are exactly."