crack_van | Sleight of Hand by imperfectcircle (R)

Fandom: INCEPTION
Title: Palm, Ditch, Steal ; Load, Misdirection, Switch
Pairing: Arthur/Eames, Ariadne/Saito
Length: 22,320
Author on LJ:

imperfectcircle
Author Website: Author's fics at AO3; masterlist of fics on author's journal
Why this must be read: By turns funny, warm, calculating, cruel, and loving, this story never lets you forget the underlying uncertainty of Inception--or that we're dealing with amoral mind thieves. After the events of the film, the Inception team may be the best, but they still have enemies, and they each have their own demons. Told from the POV of Arthur and Ariadne respectively, "Palm, Ditch, Steal" and "Load, Misdirection, Switch" were written relatively early in the life of the fandom, and epitomize several classic tropes: Arthur and Eames doing practice runs in the dreamscape to test/play with Eames' abilities as a forger, the Inception team getting back together and working for Saito after canon, the repercussions of their takedown of Fischer-Morrow.

But as taut and intriguing as the plot is, what you'll remember later is the overpowering uncertainty of a life juggling reality and fantasy, and it's this that makes the emotions in this fic all the more deeply experienced. Arthur's longing for Eames is as intense as his distrust of what's real and what they have together, while Ariadne's calm certainty about what she feels for Saito can't quite quell the tricks dreamshare plays on her mind. Both relationships are written beautifully, as is the team as a whole and their group dynamic. This is a fic that will stay with you for a long, long time.

One time they're both under for eight hours, and Arthur thinks Cobb is going to snap and fly over there himself. He's tired of watching Cobb pace angrily through their halls, and goes to stand by a window, to watch the waking world.
There's a hand on his, and a warm presence just behind him. Eames.
"Stop fidgeting, dear," Eames says, holding his hand in place to make the point. "It's upsetting the help."
He stays behind Arthur, and Arthur doesn't turn. The nameless dread that Arthur's been steadfastly not thinking about eases a little, finally letting him breathe.
"Ariadne and our Mr. Saito are both capable adults," Eames says, "not feckless children like us."
His hand is still on Arthur's, a light pressure. Arthur does not lean back. Arthur does not want to lean back. Arthur is lying to himself, badly.
"Speak for yourself," he manages, eyes on the world below.
"They're off for charming eight hour jaunt. Why worry four hours in?" Eames says, irritatingly reasonable.
"Eames--" Arthur tries. The words won't come.
"Arthur," Eames says. He sounds resigned. If Eames were tired, or, rather, if Eames ever let anyone see that he was tired, this is what it would sound like.
"You know I--" Arthur's throat seizes up. He almost reaches for his die to check that this isn't a dream, that he's not going to choke to death and wake up sweaty and scared, vowing -- for that one split second before he gets control -- never to dream again.
But it's not a dream, and Arthur doesn't know what to say next.
"No," Eames says, soft. "I didn't."

________
Largely because she thought he wouldn't do it, Ariadne and Saito are holding hands under the table, allowing her to detect his slight twitch of amusement. Eames, as ever, sees no need for such restraint, and his grin only makes Arthur scowl harder.
"Is that a problem?" Yusuf asks.
Cobb frowns. "No."
"I thought of following your examples and dating within the team, but that would leave me with Cobb." Yusuf pauses. "No offense."
Ariadne will be kept warm for a long, long time by the look on Cobb's face before he forces himself to say, "None taken."
And if only the whole meeting could go like this, light and cheerful, with fond looks exchanged and everyone knowing each other too well. But it can't, and they know it can't, and it's left to Saito to break the mood.
"I understand your desire to maintain trade secrets," he says. Everyone is immediately serious, attentive.
"But?" Cobb asks.
"But if Arthur has concerns, it might be in the best interests of the team that they be shared."
Arthur looks as betrayed as Cobb. It's up to Eames to say, "He has a point, love. We could hardly miss your little tête-à-têtes." His accent is deliberately atrocious.
Cobb and Arthur both look to Yusuf then, who shrugs. "It might help if you thought of sharing a dream with someone as being like having unprotected sex with them." He pauses, surveys their faces. "Or it might not."

Palm, Ditch, Steal ; Load, Misdirection, Switch