alchemyalice: (cobb)
[personal profile] alchemyalice
Title: Negotiation
Genre and/or Pairing: Arthur/Cobb
Rating: PG
Warnings/Spoilers: None, really.
Word Count: ~1,700
Disclaimer: Entirely not mine. Just playin'.
Summary: Sequel to Proof of Life, and second in what I'm now calling the Hostage Trilogy, despite the stories being related to hostage situations in name only. In which new bridges are built over a series of sleepless nights.




The morning was pale and wan--an accurate portrayal of everything at the moment, really, including Cobb himself as he looked at his reflection in the mirror. He hadn’t slept, and at his age that took more of a toll than he was willing to admit.

It didn’t dampen the nervous energy buzzing in the backs of his hands and in his chest, though.

He took the children to school, smiling at them and unable to match their energy as they bounced towards their classrooms. As he drove home, his phone whirred, and he glanced at the text as he pulled into the driveway.

1:46 PM, it read. Delta 417.

He went inside, made himself scrambled eggs that he nearly burned, and waited.

At 12:30, he braved traffic to LAX.

As he drove, he felt the tension in his stomach rise to his throat.

He hadn’t seen Arthur, not in person, since the inception.

They had talked, obviously--mostly through email, though occasionally Cobb had made a point of calling, if only to check whether Arthur had changed his number.

For the first six months, Cobb had half-expected him to. He wouldn’t have blamed him.

But instead, Arthur answered about once every three calls, and they’d talked, mostly about James and Phillipa, and Cobb’s teaching position at UCLA. Occasionally Arthur mentioned a job, or a city, or a difficult client, though not often.

Cobb had tried to apologize once, early on, and Arthur had talked over him like he hadn’t heard. So he didn’t try again. They rehashed old conversations they’d shared whiskey bottles and Chinese takeout over instead.

Not once had Arthur been the one to call him first. This was the first time in two years.

In the light of day, Cobb didn’t really know what had possessed him to practically order Arthur to him in the middle of the night. As if he had that right anymore, or ever did in the first place.

He shook his head, and turned onto the off ramp.

He parked in one of the complexes and made his way to arrivals, dodging trolleys and people with unwieldy bags. His eyes felt faintly grainy but clear, the briskness of autumn air doing much to keep him awake. Arthur’s flight was on time, so he hovered vaguely around the entrance, watching and pointedly ignoring the security guards.

Two years, and he still got nervous around law enforcement. He snorted to himself.

Arthur emerged from customs looking the same, like time had mostly deigned to stop for him. His collar was slightly crooked from the flight, the top button left undone beneath his tie and pullover. His khakis were rumpled but presentable, as was his hair.

He looked around once and found Cobb unerringly, stepping through the crowd without hesitation. It occurred to Cobb that he had no idea what was expected of him, or what he expected of Arthur.

If he was honest with himself, he’d half expected Arthur not to show at all. But then again, Arthur would have texted ahead to tell him that.

Arthur stopped in front of him, expression neutral and not showing even a shadow of the previous night’s distress. “Cobb,” he acknowledged, and held out his hand.

Relieved at the cue, Cobb took it warmly, and then on impulse grasped Arthur’s shoulder as well.

And there it was. The muscles beneath his hand were as tight as bridge cables, hard and unyielding. Cobb tightened his hand just slightly--not squeezing, just accepting. “Hi, Arthur,” he said. “It’s good to see you.”

Arthur’s eyes widened fractionally, for perhaps half a second. Then Cobb felt the shoulder soften, just slightly beneath his palm. Some of the tension in his own gut eased.

“Come on, my car’s in the middle of nowhere.”

***

The children, unsurprisingly, squealed with delight at Arthur’s return when their carpool dropped them back at the house, and they immediately pulled him into the living room to interrogate him about his travels and to share stories of their schoolmates. Cobb let them take the lead, glad for their easy acceptance of Arthur back into the house. He’d managed to offer coffee without any mishaps, but Arthur seemed unwilling to do anything but small talk, and Cobb didn’t know where the hell he could start, or even if he should.

They both unwound fractionally as Phillipa began to run out of stories and James began to drop with exhaustion, so that by the time the children retreated to their room Cobb felt comfortable enough to take their place next to Arthur on the couch. “What do you want for dinner tonight?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” Arthur replied. “Have you learned to cook yet?”

Cobb leveled a look at him. “I’ll have you know that I have mastered the fine art of macaroni. Also spaghetti bolognese, and various other forms of pasta with their respective sauces.” He paused. “Also frozen pizzas, if you really don’t trust me.”

“Pizza it is, then,” Arthur said.

“Bastard.”

Arthur smiled, but only slightly.

The evening was quiet, and when it closed it took several hours for Cobb to finally sleep.

***

He wasn’t asleep for long.

“Cobb?”

He sat up before even opening his eyes, and then he squinted at the sliver of light from the door, and the figure it cast into silhouette. “Arthur,” he managed to croak. “What’s up?”

The shadow in the doorway was still for a second, and then Arthur said, “Nothing. Sorry. Go back to sleep.”

“Wait,” Cobb said, automatically. He pushed himself back to lean against the headboard. “It’s fine. Come in.”

Arthur seemed doubtful, but after another still pause he moved, barely needing to open the door further in order to slip inside before shutting it behind him. Cobb’s eyes adjusted to the darkness fairly quickly, in time to watch Arthur take measured steps forward and then stop at the dresser. Cobb could just barely see the outline of his face in gray and blue tones from the moonlight coming through the curtains. His frown lines cut deep shadows across his brow.

Cobb exhaled very slowly, and then moved to turn on the bedside lamp.

The click of it was even brighter than the light coming on in the silence, and Cobb watched Arthur flinch at it. “Hi,” he said simply. “Do you want to sit?”

Arthur grimaced very slightly, but then nodded. He barely settled, even as he lowered himself onto the edge of the mattress, his spine straight and legs taut. It would take a microsecond for him to be up and across the room, out the door. So Cobb kept himself as still as possible, except to flex his hand slightly.

He sort of hated that he was treating Arthur like a skittish animal, but he was at a loss as to what else to do. Mal had always been better at these things.

They sat in silence for a long minute, in which Arthur breathed shallowly and Cobb perhaps more so. This was new territory for both of them; even on his worst days after Mal, Cobb hadn’t gone to Arthur, preferring to drink alone until the night obliterated itself from memory. Now it was the middle of the night again, but the Atlantic didn’t stretch between them, and Cobb could feel Arthur’s body heat against his calf.

He held an internal debate for a second, and then said, “Eames’s portrayal must have been very good.”

Arthur blinked slowly. “He’s watched you die before,” he said eventually. “And his memory is frighteningly accurate.”

Cobb nodded.

He said, after a long moment, “If James had been born a girl, we would have named him Claire.”

Arthur looked sharply at him, something close to incredulity crossing his features. “Oh?”

“Mm. I’ve never told you that before, have I?”

Incredulity melted into something unreadable. “No,” Arthur said, more softly, “You haven’t.”

And then very carefully he drew his die from the pocket of his dark flannel pants, and rolled it on the floor. The clack of its plastic surfaces was sharp across the wood panelling.

“Are we dreaming?” Cobb asked, when it settled.

Arthur leaned forward to retrieve the die, and shook his head. When he looked back at Cobb, there was something new in his expression, something assessing. “Thanks,” he said.

And then he slipped out of the bedroom like he’d never been there.

Cobb turned out the light.

***

The next night, Cobb told him how he’d gotten the scar on the inside of his left arm (climbing a barbed wire fence in high school). The night after, he admitted that he’d drunk fruity white wine on dates with Mal for nearly a year before telling her that he hated it and only ever drank dry-as-bone reds.

Arthur never moved from his strange perched position at the very edge of Cobb’s bed except to roll the die, and then re-pocket it.

The third night, he slipped inside the room and before Cobb could turn on the light, he said, “What happened in limbo?”

Cobb lowered his hand, and left the light off.

As evenly as he could, he told the truth into the darkness.

When he finished, Arthur shifted. “You could have told me,” he said. “About the sedative.”

“You would have stopped me,” Cobb replied.

“I’d have tried,” Arthur corrected. “And then I would have followed you when you decided to do it anyway.”

Cobb hesitated, and then said carefully, “Maybe I didn’t want you to have to consciously make that choice.”

Arthur moved again, and then it was Cobb’s knee that absorbed the faint heat of his proximity through the blankets. Cobb said, “I almost didn’t expect you to actually come here, you know.”

“Neither did I,” Arthur replied. “But. That was a bad night.”

“Yeah.” Cobb paused. “Is this helping?”

Arthur was silent for a long while, and then he said, “I think so. Maybe.”

Then his hand was on Cobb’s, covering it.

They hadn’t had any physical contact since the handshake at the airport. Arthur's grip was warm and dry. Cobb barely had time to react before Arthur was gone, out the door and into the hall again, leaving a phantom residual heat on the edge of Cobb’s bed, and on the back of his hand.

Cobb felt frozen against the headboard. He listened to the faint and distant click of Arthur closing the guest room door.

He didn’t sleep until his hand went cold above the sheets.



Edit: The Hostage Trilogy is concluded here.

Date: 5 Jan 2011 13:19 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] coldthermistor.livejournal.com
Another Arthur/Cobb fix! Soon, my slide towards the Dark Side will be complete! :D Uh wait sorry. I've already crossed over. My bad. Ignore that then.

The first section that really really struck me hard was (as usual) everything that happens and isn't said, and yet it's all so significant. Cobb and Arthur really don't need to communicate verbally. And even what they say has much more underlying meaning. Take this one:

He said, after a long moment, “If James had been born a girl, we would have named him Claire.”

Arthur looked sharply at him, something close to incredulity crossing his features. “Oh?”

“Mm. I’ve never told you that before, have I?”


That's something Cobb's offering Arthur right there, but I think there's more to that. It isn't just about that at all, it's Cobb picking up on Arthur's distress and trying to talk to him, ground him in the present. And that's another thing (although from the position of an extreme skeptic, this isn't sufficient): it's another kind of totem, isn't it? Reminding Arthur he's real, and he's here, because here's something that Arthur would never know if Cobb hadn't told him.

Okay you know what? I love the whole thing, okay? :D

Date: 5 Jan 2011 13:45 (UTC)
ext_443402: (Default)
From: [identity profile] alchemyalice.livejournal.com
Indeed! I'm avoiding finishing an essay, and so this is what happens instead :P

The semi-totem effect was EXACTLY what I was going for, I'm so happy you picked up on that. I agree that it's hardly sufficient proof, but it's what Cobb can offer, so it's what he gives. As you said, it's all about the series of gestures, and what they add up to.

So glad you enjoyed it! :D

Date: 5 Jan 2011 13:48 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] coldthermistor.livejournal.com
LOL. How's the big bang and stuff? ;)

Also, mind if I kind of hijack this to ask a question: where do you think Cobb picked up his martial skills etc from? All that climbing down windows, dodging, shooting, going off balconies, sniping...

Date: 5 Jan 2011 14:15 (UTC)
ext_443402: (Default)
From: [identity profile] alchemyalice.livejournal.com
Haha, the big bang is...fine, I think, though I may need to scrounge for a backup beta soon. I don't know, I'm now at the point where I just peer at it and go, "This could be better. But I don't know how to make that happen." It's very frustrating.

As to your question, you know I had wondered about that. It could have been that when he was recruited by the military they insisted on putting him through basic training, but I find that inadequate. I almost want to give him a really dark early life before he got into architecture (because let's face it, that would suit his personality rather well), but again, it doesn't jive with what we know of his family life.

One explanation I rather like is that he totally doesn't know how to do any of that stuff outside of dreams, but his mind is so quick and imaginative that he can dream himself into those capabilities. It would be consistent even with the way he escaped Cobol in Mombasa, since that was mostly ducking and dodging. And since his sense of reality was wavering at that point, he'd have no qualms about jumping out a second story bar because part of his perception of his capabilities has begun to fall back on what he knows he can do in dreams.

Does that make sense? It's the only idea that sits even semi-comfortably with me.

Date: 5 Jan 2011 14:25 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] coldthermistor.livejournal.com
Yeah, tell me all about it. Think I'm gonna tear my hair soon.

but again, it doesn't jive with what we know of his family life. In what sense? And just out of curiosity - why did you find the military basic training idea inadequate? For me, it's more of an instinctive 'I-don't-like-the-way-it-fits' kind of thing, when I consider the military explanation.

Ooooh, I like that :D That's rather cool and all. It'll actually fit though, because (as far as I've gone in a neurological discussion with a friend): it's actually possible for him to *learn* those skills, kind of. He'd still have to pick up the cerebral aspect, one way or another, but the muscle-memory aspect would actually transfer over from his dreams. It wouldn't just be his perception falling back: muscle-memory wise, he *could* do it. It just becomes a question of his physical condition.

Hmm. The more I think of it though, the more I consider it possible he did have some training. That's why I asked: I was thinking about it again mid-big bang. Because (mostly) of what Miles said: something about how they might find a way to make extradition from France to the US work in his case. Which seems to be...an inordinate amount of attention for a murderer and a fugitive. IDK, it just seems excessively odd, if it's gone to the extent that even French law enforcement might be notified of his presence.

Date: 5 Jan 2011 14:34 (UTC)
ext_443402: (Default)
From: [identity profile] alchemyalice.livejournal.com
Well, it would seem to me that if he had a really dark background, and furthermore dark tendencies, he'd have a lot of difficulty being so domestic, not only in the real world, but in the fifty years he spent in limbo with Mal. If he had soldierly instincts and urges from the beginning, I would have pegged him to incept her after maybe two years, three tops down there. But maybe that's just me.

As for military training, I would have thought he'd need to go far beyond basic training to get to the level of stealth he manages to pull off in Saito's temple dream. But I'm pretty ignorant about military training, so that could be totally wrong.

You make a good point about Miles' comment, I hadn't thought of that. Maybe once Mal's death came up, a whole bunch of Cobb's past got dredged up? That could be interesting. Or maybe it took him a while to get a hold of a PASIV to do dream work after he started running, so he initially took jobs being an assassin or something.

Woah. I think I just blew my own mind. That would be so cool.

Date: 5 Jan 2011 14:44 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] coldthermistor.livejournal.com
If he had soldierly instincts and urges from the beginning, I would have pegged him to incept her after maybe two years, three tops down there.

Oooh yeah, now you mention it, I get it. Yeah, makes sense and all :D

As for military training, I would have thought he'd need to go far beyond basic training to get to the level of stealth he manages to pull off in Saito's temple dream. But I'm pretty ignorant about military training, so that could be totally wrong.

True, but there's the alternative: that he has a basic foundation to work off and then just manipulates the dream to make himself more badass at it. Because the only issue I have is that when it comes to things that have a cerebral component (e.g. stealth), I'm not exactly sure how the 'dreaming himelf with the skills' would happen :/

Maybe once Mal's death came up, a whole bunch of Cobb's past got dredged up? That could be interesting. Or maybe it took him a while to get a hold of a PASIV to do dream work after he started running, so he initially took jobs being an assassin or something.

Holy shit, you blew my mind too! Are you going to pursue that?

Date: 5 Jan 2011 14:47 (UTC)
ext_443402: (Default)
From: [identity profile] alchemyalice.livejournal.com
that he has a basic foundation to work off and then just manipulates the dream to make himself more badass at it.

True, I like that as well. The whole skills in- versus out-of dream issue is really interesting that way.

Oh my god, I feel like that's a recipe for an entirely new big bang, and right now I'm pretty sure it would kill me. But someone should do it. Gah, maybe in a few months when I'm not partially insane!

Date: 5 Jan 2011 14:50 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] coldthermistor.livejournal.com
IKR! Urgh, it doesn't help that another solution presented itself midway in my big bang and gave me issues. (Uh, muse whacked me on the head with Arthur/Cobb crackfic too, but ignore that.)

...I figured I really should not have dumped both Arthur and Cobb in the FBI in their past. Although I figured that might have been why in Cobb's case, they would have been so bloody eager to get him back. Rogue extractor/citizen/murderer/fugitive is bad enough. But when the dude used to be an agent and all...? Ouch.

Gah, maybe in a few months when I'm not partially insane!

AWESOME. I will hold your banner all the way!

Date: 5 Jan 2011 14:55 (UTC)
ext_443402: (Default)
From: [identity profile] alchemyalice.livejournal.com
Ahaha, give in to the Arthur/Cobb crackfic! It's good times!

But yeah, I know what you mean. I've sort of been avoiding backstory just because it seems to explode in my face every time I try (as evidenced by our conversation, clearly!).

Woah, trying to bring in a rogue agent like Cobb? You just know he has tons of classified information in his head. I mean, think of how quickly he was able to memorize the stuff in Saito's safe. FBI files would never be safe again! I would almost expect them to send people after him, Cobol style and just take him out like Jason Bourne.

Date: 5 Jan 2011 14:59 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] coldthermistor.livejournal.com
Trying to prioritise big bang edits first ;)

I've sort of been avoiding backstory just because it seems to explode in my face every time I try (as evidenced by our conversation, clearly!).

Believe me, I share your pain. Very very much.

I would almost expect them to send people after him, Cobol style and just take him out like Jason Bourne.

Inception, spy movie-style! :D Naaah, I was considering a workaround where he did that for maybe 4 years and left at least 4-6 years before the Mal thing popped up and all. IDK really, just that the more I thought of the Miles quote, the more I like it :D And while assassin!Cobb is absolutely awesome, it does beg a question:

Where did those skills come from?

Date: 5 Jan 2011 15:03 (UTC)
ext_443402: (Default)
From: [identity profile] alchemyalice.livejournal.com
Okay yeah, that makes more sense. Who knows, I did see one White Collar AU where Cobb was a pretty effective agent, and that was in a far less dangerous spy-ish capacity.

Where did those skills come from?

Oh god, it's like the Mandlebrot set of origin stories!

Date: 5 Jan 2011 15:08 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] coldthermistor.livejournal.com
Who knows, I did see one White Collar AU where Cobb was a pretty effective agent, and that was in a far less dangerous spy-ish capacity.

Yep, that's definitely true, especially if you just consider him a guy with a cop background (and the time to build on all of that!)

Hey, iteration is always fun ;) Or at least it's cool how one story/question leads to another, 'till it's turtles all the way down!

Date: 5 Jan 2011 14:12 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] irradiatedsoup.livejournal.com
I am loving your trilogy tremendously. You write them so, so well. I know it is bad form to shout 'MOAR!' and swiftly exit.

But

MOAR!

Date: 5 Jan 2011 14:35 (UTC)
ext_443402: (Default)
From: [identity profile] alchemyalice.livejournal.com
Thank you so much! At least this time I can guarantee that moar is forthcoming, though I don't know quite when. But I'm glad you're liking it! :D
(deleted comment)

Date: 5 Jan 2011 16:16 (UTC)
ext_443402: (Default)
From: [identity profile] alchemyalice.livejournal.com
HEE thank you! I'm enjoying doing this whole snail's pace development thing :D

Date: 5 Jan 2011 15:08 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hesselives.livejournal.com
i love the quiet and intimate feel to this story. the turning over of each word and movement, like stones on the beach. perfect follow-up. <3

Date: 5 Jan 2011 16:16 (UTC)
ext_443402: (Default)
From: [identity profile] alchemyalice.livejournal.com
Thank you very much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it :)

Date: 6 Jan 2011 05:10 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ravens-rising.livejournal.com
Eee! I am also loving the slow build up here. Guh. So good. *_* I ditto the demand for MOAR!

Date: 6 Jan 2011 12:09 (UTC)
ext_443402: (Default)
From: [identity profile] alchemyalice.livejournal.com
Thank you very much! I shall try and write moar soon :)

Date: 6 Jan 2011 07:17 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] epistolic.livejournal.com
Very understated and lovely. The feel of this fic is amazing.

Date: 6 Jan 2011 12:09 (UTC)
ext_443402: (Default)
From: [identity profile] alchemyalice.livejournal.com
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it :)

Date: 8 Jan 2011 01:30 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] steam-pilot.livejournal.com
This is beautiful! I love their quiet, unassuming relationship, they're so sweet!

Date: 8 Jan 2011 13:45 (UTC)
ext_443402: (Default)
From: [identity profile] alchemyalice.livejournal.com
Thank you very much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it :)
(deleted comment)

Date: 10 Jan 2011 05:17 (UTC)
ext_443402: (Default)
From: [identity profile] alchemyalice.livejournal.com
Thank you very much! I'm very pleased you found them in-character. I shall endeavor to write more soon!

Date: 18 Jan 2011 13:35 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] steccer.livejournal.com
“I’d have tried,” Arthur corrected. “And then I would have followed you when you decided to do it anyway.”

YES. Awesome writing!

Date: 16 Feb 2011 06:51 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] a-loaded-die.livejournal.com
I'd comment about how amazing this was but I'm too busy looking for the sequel!

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