Hello everybody!

Sorry for the delay in this chapter. I wasn't exactly sure if I was ready to write this one yet, but I put doubt aside and went on anyways. Hopefully you guys like it!

For all of you Arthur fans, I can say definitely that he'll pop up within the next few chapters! And he'll be staying for good!

Thank You's:

Platypus Core: He'll be here within the next two chapters, I promise! Thank you so much for reviewing!

Hefeweizen: Thanks! I really think that the technical aspects of dreaming are important. Chris Nolan explained a lot in Inception, but there's still a lot out there left to be said. I'm one of those people that needs to know exactly how something's happening, so I'm hoping to fill in a lot of those details for my readers. Thanks for reviewing! I can't wait to see what you think of this chapter.

BlackxValentine: I always love getting your reviews. I love the Eames/Ariadne friendship as well, and that bond will play a big part in later parts of this fic. Thanks for reading!

Kats02980416: Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for your multiple reviews! Glad to have you on-board. I absolutely love the Eames/Ariadne friendship, but I can definitely say I'm not planning on having it develop into anything more. I'm still trying to figure Eames out – as much as a playful character that he is, there's an underlying serious side to him as well. He's extremely intelligent and well-informed with the dream world. I'm still trying to figure out his story so I can include all those wonderful aspects of him.

I love writing Ariadne's curiosity and drive. She's fun to play around with, and as inexperienced as she is, she catches on quickly and adapts well. I hope you like her as much as I do!

And as far as Arthur goes, he'll be here really soon!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REVIEWING!

Legal-Assassin-006: Thanks for reviewing! I'm so glad you like my story. Can't wait to hear what you say about this chapter!

_: Thanks for reviewing!

DMCxWTF: Thanks! I'm glad you like my writing. I really love the idea of Eames taking Ariadne in and teaching her. I'm still figuring out his reasons in my head, but it's gonna be good when he finally explains. And Arthur will be around soon! Let me know what you think of this chapter.

L.C. Li: Thanks! I'm glad you like my metaphors

Kuro Chocobo: I can promise it only gets more interesting from here on out! I'm glad you like my story and I can't wait to hear what you have to say about this chapter!

Well, on we go with Physicality!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inception.

Four days have passed since she's seen Eames.

Yet the passing of time does not unnerve her. She's gone to class, completed her assignments, and made herself substantial meals, all without even a hint of doubt or loneliness. And despite her brief interaction with the forger, she's flourishing. Buildings and mazes alike seem to spring from the pages of her tattered sketchbook, growing and becoming with each frantic stroke of her pencil. Professor Miles sees it too, leaving notes for her on her assignments that applaud the originality and splendor of her work but beg her to remember that there's no place in Paris for a terracotta palace.

She returns from class on Friday to find a cardstock note folded carefully on her desk. As she picks it up, she feels a small metal object slide from between its folds.

Ariadne,

Six o'clock, darling. Don't be late.

E

She does not squeal with delight at this note as she had with the first one; instead, she laughs and shakes her head. The bronze-colored key stands out against her dark wooden desk, and she fingers it warmly. Her initial excitement still pools within her, but unlike before, it does not cluster in her stomach and make her giggle and cry and jump up and down. Instead, it runs freely, unhindered through her blood, familiar and appreciated.

She knew he was coming back.

So she finishes making her dinner (and actually eats most of it) before leisurely making her way to the warehouse. She'll still be ten minutes early, but she won't walk any faster than normal – Ariadne knows now how to remain calm in her anticipation.

Her fingers deftly unlatch the lock with the key Eames has left her, and the old, wooden door almost sighs in relief. She can hear a faint whistling from the upstairs corridor, and a gentle smile tugs at her lips.

"Who knew you'd be one to be early?" she greets her colleague.

He responds with a rueful smile. "Lucky for me, then. I'm still young enough to pull the occasional surprise."

"How was your trip?"

"Productive enough," he responds.

"Loose ends all tied?"

"Loose ends all tied," he affirms. Ariadne knows better than to press for information, so architect and forger drop into a comfortable silence.

Eames pulls the PASIV from its hidden safe, carefully concealed behind a cabinet. His easy stride crosses the room. Ariadne reclines easily in a lawn chair as he sets up the device, and she marvels quietly at how the tattered plastic can feel more comfortable than her memory foam mattress at home.

"Don't fall asleep on me too quickly, love."

Her brown eyes snap back to Eames. "Don't worry, I'm wide awake." She feels a gentle prick at her wrist and the forger has the needle placed and taped before her body can even register the pain associated with the act.

"You know what's funny?"

"Hmm?" he responds, settling himself in the chaise lounge opposite her.

"I used to hate needles," she shrugs calmly.

"I used to hate jellyfish."

"What's that got to do with anything?"

Eames gives her a cryptic smile, reaching over to press the button that will send them into a different reality. "Sometimes the job changes us. Sometimes it doesn't."

She hears the subtle hiss and feels the seeping of chemicals into her left forearm. She tries to make sense of Eames's words, but her response is lost as she is plunged into a comforting darkness.

"Jellyfish?"

"Oui," he responds. "Les méduses." He's shaping the world around them. A wooden table pops up before them at waist height, matched by two panels that create what seems like an altered cubicle. A black expanse stretches before them, enclosed by a concrete ceiling and a concrete floor. The architect can faintly see the silhouette of a man marked on charcoal paper about three hundred meters in front of her.

"We're at a shooting range," she voices quietly as the room finishes before her. Sure enough, a black pistol appears on the wood before her, and she needs no confirmation from Eames.

"Have you ever shot a gun before, Ariadne?"

"I'm an expert with a SuperSoaker," she answers with a cheeky smile.

The forger purses his lips and shrugs. "Good, then. I told Cobb we'd eventually need an architect who was skilled in drenching our mark."

It was meant as a joke, but all humor is forgotten at the mention of Cobb's name. She looks at the gun before her for a long moment before answering. "I shot Mal, once."

To her surprise, Eames's eyes are not on her when he answers. "Did you mean to kill her?" he asks briskly.

His words shock her so much that she almost forgets to answer. "I –I…yes," she finally mumbles.

The forger's posture relaxes, and when he turns to look at her, he almost looks proud. "Then you did the right thing."

"How?"

He reaches forward and grabs the gun, handing it to her. "It seems you already know the first rule of handling firearms."

"What's that?" she asks, utterly lost. The cold metal feels foreign in her grasp, and she wants more than anything for Eames to take it back.

"You only point this," he nods his head to the Glock in her hands, "at something you have full intent on destroying. Guns are not meant to be toys or show objects. They're meant to kill." His normally light tone has taken a stern edge, painting his face in a somber light.

"So…you're saying me killing Mal was alright because I had the intent to kill her?"

"No. Murder is never correct unless necessary, and even then, it's not moral, merely excusable. But you followed the rules by using a gun against someone whose life you meant to take." His pupil is silent, but not in her usual taking-in-the-details silent. As she looks at the weapon in her hands, shock and fear mask her normally expressive eyes, and Eames softens his tone before speaking to her again. "Ariadne, this is serious business. I know it's frightening to comprehend the magnitude of all of this, but it's something you have to learn."

"It's ok because they're not real, right?" she asks him in a small voice.

As badly as he wants to comfort her, he's determined to tell her the truth. "Murder is never 'ok,' as you put it. Yes, killing someone in the dream world is virtually harmless because you're not taking a real life, and it's potentially helpful when you need to wake up a teammate. But never tell yourself killing someone is alright. Every time you watch the life fade from a person before you, real or not, it should be unnerving. That's what keeps you from becoming a monster. If you're never comfortable with murder in the dreamscape, you'll never be comfortable with it in the real world."

"I was trying to protect Cobb," she says, looking him directly in the eye. He realizes that she's never had the chance to talk this out with anyone. Despite her initial meekness, he's impressed by her resolve and faith in her decision.

"And that you did," he affirms. "You were being a good teammate, something that is always acceptable. However, you need to remember that no matter how many times you fire this gun, no matter how many projections you kill, murder itself is never truly justifiable."

"And therefore something I should never be comfortable with," she finishes.

A pregnant pause passes between them, filled with mutual understanding and respect, before Eames returns to his light tone and continues the lesson.

"Second rule," he begins. "Treat every gun as if it's loaded. That way, you never run into any accidents." He continues to teach her the mechanics of the gun and what each part is called. As soon as she's familiar with her weapon, he continues into the actual firing of the pistol.

"Right, then." He takes the gun for her, and positions himself towards the target as if he's going to shoot it. "You hold the gun like this. You're right handed, correct?"

"Yes."

"Good. Then your right hand closes around the side of the gun so your pointer finger can press the trigger. Your bottom hand –"

"'Press' the trigger?" she repeats. "Isn't it usually 'pull the trigger'?"

"You can pull the trigger all you want, darling, but you're only going to jam the gun. Use your pointer finger to quickly press the trigger, and you won't have a problem." His student nods intelligently, absorbing the information. "Your left hand," he continues, "is placed at the bottom of the gun for stability. Your left hand fingers should be able to slightly wrap around your right hand, sort of cocooning the gun. You try."

He hands the gun to her and she shapes her form according to his instruction. "Like this?"

"Good," he critiques, "but do you see how your feet are square with the target?"

"Is that bad?" she asks, noticing her position. Her entire body faces the shooting range before her as Eames comments over her left shoulder.

"Not necessarily, but it'll be impractical when we get into how to move with a weapon. That's later, though," he promises. "But for now, turn your hips a little bit towards me – actually, never mind. We're going to try shooting the way you are."

"You're going to have me shoot standing in the wrong position?"

"Not necessarily. I'm just going to show how what it feels like shooting this way so you'll see the benefits of shooting another way." He smiles cryptically again, and Ariadne rolls her eyes. "Now, hold the gun up at shoulder level. Do you remember me showing you where the sight is?"

The architect nods. "I need to line up the little knob on the top front of the gun between the two slits on the top back of the gun, right?"

"Good work, Ari."

"Ok. Which eye should I shut?" She proceeds trying to squint through one eye at a time, producing a laugh from Eames.

"Neither," he chuckles at her facial expressions. "A good marksman doesn't need to shut an eye."

"But that makes it kind of hard to see," she protests.

"You'll learn. Press the trigger when you're ready."

"Don't I need eye and ear protection?"

"Not strictly speaking, no," he declines, but a pair of red headphone-looking things appears on the table before her, and Eames goes to put them on her head. "But should you be complaining about eye protection when you're having trouble lining up what you're shooting at? At this rate, we're going to be here all day, and that's without anything clouding your vision."

She mumbles something colorful in response, and once she finally sights up her target, she presses the trigger. The firearm rips to life with a loud bang, and the recoil pulses through her strongly enough that she needs to take two steps back to maintain her balance.

"That's why you wanted me to reposition my hips," she mumbles, adjusting her body.

"Right. You can use your body –"

"To balance out the recoil of the gun by counteracting the force with my left foot, yeah," she finishes, raising the gun to shoot again. She sights her weapon up much faster this time, smiling when she's able to counteract the force of the shot.

"Straighten your arms a little, love," Eames advises. "It'll make the recoil even less powerful."

Ariadne does what she's told, and after a few minutes, she's emptied the Glock's magazine. Eames presses a button to her left and her target moves slowly toward them as the forger reloads the gun.

"I didn't do a fantastic job," she frowns, noticing that most of her shots had strayed out of the silhouette. The few bullets that had connected with the target were low in the abdomen area. Several hadn't even hit the paper.

"You're learning," Eames shrugs, handing her a newly-loaded gun before reaching up to exchange the target with a fresh one. "Have at it again."

Several hours later, she has fired at countless targets at multiple distances, learning to adjust for proximity or lack of it. By the end of her practice, her arms are too fatigued to hold the gun at shoulder level. Yet Ariadne takes pride in knowing that her last few rounds had all found the target, and her shots were increasingly, if slowly, improving.

"I'm not bad," she smiles, handing the sleek gun back to Eames.

"You're not bad at shooting at a stationary target with a nine-millimeter pistol. There are still different types of guns and different shooting styles. Not to mention moving targets," he answers cheekily.

She wants to say something back, but the building around her starts to shake and crumble. Ariadne takes one last look at the range in front of her before succumbing to the force pulling her back to reality.

The warehouse comes back into focus, a rush of greys and hard edges and concrete. Eames is already up, whistling as he plucks the needle gently from her wrist. Ariadne stretches, noting the ghosts of pain fatiguing her muscles.

"Jellyfish?" she ribs the forger again, remembering their previous conversation.

"Yes. They are revolting animals that ruin a perfectly good day at the beach. Not to mention they move in a disgustingly eerie manner."

"You know they don't have brains, right?"

"Doesn't matter. Still disgusting."

She laughs at his grimace before he goes to return the PASIV to its proper place. "Is there a story behind your ridiculous fear?" she calls out across the warehouse.

"Not one that I'm planning on telling," he responds, voice booming across the expanse. She laughs, relaxing back against the lawn chair, marveling again how she came to Paris as a simple architecture student and somehow stumbled her way into a life that was more than she could have ever imagined.

"Eames?" she calls as his footsteps plod back into earshot range. "How did you get into extraction?"

"That, my dear, is a story for a different time."

"What about the others?"

"Cobb," he purses his lips thoughtfully, "was taught by your Professor Miles. Yusuf was formulating different compounds for a sleep medication, I believe, when someone from the business employed him for some odd job. And Arthur was with Cobb when I met him. He told me some half-ass story once, but I could tell from the start that he was lying."

"What'd he say?"

"Ariadne, dear," he says, turning his blue eyes on her, "why bother with a lie when you can find out the truth?"

She chooses not to focus on his deflection but instead takes up the chance to tease him. "Coming from a professional con-man?"

Eames laughs as well. "Ari, you cut me to the core," he jokes, pretending to wince.

"Where are they, Eames?" she asks after a long moment, letting the void left by humor be filled with unanswered questions.

Eames's expression turns stoic. "I don't know," he answers. "They didn't tell me."

"They're coming back, right?" she asks before correcting herself. "I mean, I know they're coming back. But do you have an idea as to when?"

Eames looks up, then down, then at her again before shrugging. "The best answer I can give you is that they'll be found when they want to be found, Ari. When they feel it's safe to come out of hiding, they'll be here."

"Why did you come back, Eames?" Her eyes are open and honest, her tone frank and sincere.

For a moment, it seems like the forger will open up and spill his motives. But as quickly as somberness graced his sea-colored gaze, humor returns and his eyes sparkle again like the sun across the Caribbean.

"You ask me so many questions, darling. Why don't we go to dinner so you can get me drunk, eh? Maybe after a drink or two I'll be in a more gossipy mood."

She's disappointed but satisfied, so she grabs her coat and accepts Eames's playfully-offered arm as they step out into the Parisian night. The air around them is dark with secrets and desires and unspoken truths yet comfortable in its mystery just the same.

Again, I apologize that it took so long to post this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it!

I'd like to thank BlackxValentine, Catwin, Collier World, DMCxWTF, FatHo, InceptionFan, JourieLuvzColurz'N'Musick, Kuro Chocobo, Lyricalmadness, Miss Conduct, ReadFish24, Relakshu, Roguefan101, ShadowedSerenity, Sukiyop, SunniCal33, Tele-tubby-, TimTam's Rule, and Twelvepastnever for adding this story to their favorites list! You guys are the absolute best. I'm so honored and proud to have Physicality be one of your favorites.

I'd also like to thank 00Butter, A Crazy Elephant, Anbu Fox, Andrea the Girl, Arisprite, BiaABall, BlackxValentine, Bobbie, BoundlessxLabyrinth, Cassomora, CoolDuck, DMCxWTF, Dragonflamecrystal, EasilySwayed, gretlcascade, Hefeweisen, InTheGreatBelow, JourieLuvzColurz'N'Musick, Kats02980416, Kuro Chocobo, L.C. Li, LeilaLives, LoquaciousLilLovely, Lovers'Lies, Irqs, lyricalmadness, moviemaniac12, musicchica10, obsessionist97, Pendareva, platypus core, Ra-ra Kim, relakshu, sakuravixen, Shadow Cyrse, Shelma Ce, , tailzje, TimTam's Rule, Tuuna, WorriesAreForSquares, xxxpurplesky, and Ybs for adding this story to their alerts list! I'm so glad you find my work interesting enough to ask for emails alerting you to when it's updated!

Here's a question for all of you: Where are you from? I'd love to find out where my readers/reviewers hail from.

Let me know what you think! REVIEW like there's no tomorrow!