Fire In Your New Shoes, 6/6. NC-17.
Title: Fire In Your New Shoes
Author: Eustacia Vye
Author's e-mail: eustacia_vye28@hotmail.com
Rating: NC-17 for language, violence and sex.
Pairing: Ariadne/Arthur(/Eames)
Disclaimer: Inception characters belong to Christopher Nolan. Supernatural characters belong to Kripke. I own nothing but the actual plot to this, and even that is up to debate. :)
Spoilers/Warnings: Inception AU fusion with Supernatural. This is also an AU of Supernatural, diverging from canon in season five and begins in November 2009.
For the inception_kink meme prompt in round 11: Arthur Campbell was born and raised as a hunter, since hunting is the ‘family business’. He ran for his life for years, since all relatives of Mary Campbell were persecuted and killed, so he doesn't know much about Sam and Dean except they are family.
Author's Note: This is the third attempt at filling this prompt. I first snagged it in November 2010, IIRC, and had to scrap that first attempt at it. Then I had to scrap my second attempt in December 2010. I then left this alone for all of 2011. Sorry it took me so long OP! I had to brush up on canon and completely rework the plot AGAIN to make this work. Hopefully it works this time. :)
The scene with Famine contains dialogue lifted directly from the episode, as was part of the scene with Death.
Summary: Arthur Campbell never approved of his Winchester cousins using demonic help to take down other demons. When other hunters are killed while helping them stop Lucifer, he calls on supernatural aid of his own to help them.
Big Bang art located here!
Previous chapters:
One - Red On The Inside
Two - We Raise A Fever
Three - All To See Here
Four - Splitting The Party
Five - Hunting In Concert
Six - Getting Out Alive
Arthur lay tangled up with Ariadne on the bed, feeling a measure of peace. It was early in the morning, and they were the only ones awake as far as they could tell. "Hey," he murmured at her, smiling gently. "Sleep well?"
Ariadne smiled at him. "Yeah." She carded her fingers through his hair tenderly. They didn't often get a chance to simply snuggle up close and enjoy each others' presence, so it was a welcome treat whenever they could.
"We're going to have to track down Death. I don't think that will be an easy one."
"We'll get through it. There's enough of us working together to get it all done." She gave him a soft smile. "When we help avert the end of the world, maybe then we can think of what we want for a change."
"Like a vacation?"
Ariadne laughed. "Yeah. And a day job and a house and kids."
"You don't skimp on the dreams, do you?" he teased.
"If I'm going to build something, I'm going to do it right. It's all about creating the right amount of details and then filling in the rest of it as we go along."
His stomach rumbled then, and they both laughed. "Dreams never take food into consideration," Arthur joked. He kissed her again, soft and languid, finally breaking it. "If I kiss you the way I want to, we're never getting downstairs."
"Too bad." Ariadne pulled him down for a kiss. "More incentive to live through this. We need a place of our own."
"God, yes. First chance we get."
They headed into the kitchen after getting dressed. Sam and Bobby were already in the next room looking for signs that might lead them to Death. Dean was out back with Castiel. Gabriel and Eames were nowhere to be seen.
The trickster in question simply appeared as breakfast dishes were being washed. Arthur was giving her a surreptitious caress on her rear when Eames entered the room. He stopped short abruptly when he saw Arthur touching Ariadne. "Oh. Bad timing on my part. I'll just..."
"No, wait," Arthur said slowly, turning to face him. "We need to talk to you."
Eames rolled his eyes and didn't move. "You haven't found Death yet. I'm sure I would have heard screeching of some sort if you had."
Without warning, Arthur pulled him closer by the front of his shirt and kissed him full on the mouth. Eames let out a startled sound, his own hand catching hold of Arthur's shirt in his hands as he responded enthusiastically. After a moment, he seemed to collect himself and pull away. He regarded Arthur almost warily, which was a change that made Arthur almost dizzy. "What was that for?" Eames asked in flat tones.
"I wanted to see if it was true," Arthur replied, voice soft. His gaze on Eames was assessing, trying to refit all of his old memories with this new information. He was normally very good at puzzles, but his mind was refusing to see the bigger picture.
"Well, then. Now what?"
Arthur could hear the hurt buried beneath the arrogance in his voice and suddenly felt ashamed of himself. "I'm sorry," he said after a moment, startling Eames. "I'm sorry I was such a dick to you. I didn't know."
"I see," he replied coolly, eyes flicking from Arthur to Ariadne. Both watched him intently, waiting for the smooth, bored mask to slip. "Now what?" he repeated.
"Start over?"
"It's far too late for that," Eames said quietly, turning away from him. "There's too much work to do, Arthur."
Feeling like a complete asshole, Arthur sighed. "I'm sorry," he repeated. "I thought that was how you were getting your kicks. It never occurred to me that you might mean it."
"Well." Eames didn't turn around, and made a big show of checking a glass for water spots. "As I've said, there's work to be done. I've done my duty and beyond, but there's still much left to do, even after you find Death's ring. Lucifer won't simply take a stroll into the Cage if you can't kill him, after all."
"Yusuf's bullets might slow him down."
Eames put the glass down and turned. "I can give you a sword," he said slowly. "An Angel sword, one that no one would miss."
Arthur simply stared at him. "How can you get one of those? Castiel made it sound impossible."
"Castiel is no longer privy to the Host of Heaven, so he's lost some of his abilities." Eames' expression was flat, giving away nothing. "It happens when someone is cast out, rather than sauntering vaguely downward."
Ariadne couldn't help but snicker at that. "What?" she asked, when both men turned to look at her. "I liked that book. Though it was the description of how Crowley fell and became a demon."
"It's not entirely accurate," Eames told her with a shrug. "There is a Crowley, and he's rather close lipped about whether he was inspiration for the novel or not. But there are differences in how angels leave the Host, and that's what determines if they lose their powers or not." Eames picked up another glass to inspect Arthur's drying skill. "I have access to two swords, actually. I can give you one of them," he said, putting the glass down. "The other I will keep as a backup, rather like Ariadne here being our backup plan with spells."
"Who should wield it, then?" Arthur asked, looking at Eames in concern.
"The backup sword?" Eames asked, eyebrow arched.
"No, the actual sword."
"That would be a matter of discussion, I'd imagine," he replied, shrugging as he leaned against the counter. "The Winchester brothers may want to, though Lucifer has interest in Sam and Michael has interest in Dean. It would be hard to hide a sword in that case."
"So it should be me," Arthur guessed, frowning.
"That was my thought on the matter."
"Do we need to know whose swords they are?" Ariadne asked with a frown.
Eames had an almost shuttered look on his face at the question. "Why would you need to know that information?"
"What if they're looking for their swords and catch us with them?" Ariadne asked. "I can't imagine the angels would be too happy about that, and I wouldn't pit my Enochian against an actual angel."
Now there was something almost like a smile on his face. "Don't sell yourself short, darling. It's a matter of intent and strength of will to reshape existence. Most humans don't have it, but you're an incorruptible one. I'd wager you will be much more effective than you think."
"That still leaves us with two angry angels..." Arthur began.
"They willingly left the Host and no longer need the swords, but you do," Eames said abruptly. "I told you. You are both under my protection."
A pained silence descended between the three of them; it went unsaid why Eames would be so invested in their safety.
"Where are they now?" Arthur asked. "Are they in a safe place, then? I'm sure word is getting out among the demons that three of the four Horsemen no longer have their rings. That would make them even more determined to stop us."
"There are protections on this house. Bobby is very skilled in his arcane knowledge," Eames replied with a shrug. "You're all safe here."
"Yeah, but we all have to leave sometime," Ariadne pointed out.
Dean banged back into the house at that point, cutting of Eames' reply. His hair was mussed and he seemed rattled a little. Castiel followed closely, appearing anxious. He stopped short at the sight of the three in the kitchen. "What?"
"You're looking upset," Ariadne observed.
"You think?" Dean replied, rolling his eyes. "I need a beer."
"It's ten o'clock in the morning!"
"So? It's five pm somewhere in the world," he said as he opened the fridge. "Might as well tell them," he told Castiel as he grabbed a longneck. He still looked unhappy as he twisted off the cap and took a deep swig.
"Michael was here," Castiel said quietly. "He couldn't go beyond the yard because of the sigils in place, but he was demanding compliance with his wishes." The angel looked over at Dean. "He is still refusing, but Michael is persistent and wants a vessel."
"So why is Dean so upset?" Ariadne asked, knowing she was missing something crucial. "You tell him over your dead body, and he walks. He can only take you on as his vessel if you agree to it, right?"
"Over my dead body? Huh." Dean snorted and shook his head. "Yeah. That's exactly the problem, Ariadne," he said.
"What are you talking about?"
"Angels cannot assume unwilling vessels," Castiel said when Dean took another swig of beer. "But they can compel someone to agree by various means. Or bring back the dead."
"Meaning?" Arthur asked, frowning.
"Meaning either I agree or he makes me agree. Or he takes on the half brother I burned after he died." Dean's voice was bitter. "One Winchester's as good as another, he said."
Eames looked between the stunned or bitter faces present in the kitchen. "We also have one more Horseman's ring to collect," he reminded the assemblage. "So there's going to be some planning before we even think about crossing Michael." He shrugged at Dean's glance at him. "What? You're not going to play along with his game and we'd rather let the dead rest in peace, yes? So it'll take some finessing on our part."
"You were not the one gifted with illusion," Castiel told Eames, a measure of concern etched into his otherwise stoic features.
The play of emotion on Eames' face was too rapid to easily identify. "That was Iaoel, yes. But I'm sure as hell better at it than you are," he said with a snarl in his voice.
"Camael..." Castiel began.
"Guards against demons and lost souls," Eames snapped, clearly angry with Castiel now. "Both of which we are up against right now. Do not question me again!"
Silence settled in the kitchen uncomfortably. Castiel finally nodded and then opened his mouth to speak just as Sam ducked his head in. "Hey. Um... We think we might have a location on where Lucifer is keeping Death."
Gabriel suddenly winked into existence near Sam, grinning. "And now it's a party."
Bobby rolled his wheelchair closer to the kitchen. "Get out of my way, boy," he said to Sam, who moved aside. "Too many goddamn people in my house," he grumbled, rolling up to the kitchen table. "Look," he said, once he was sure that he had everyone's attention. "Chicago is about to be wiped off the map because of a really nasty storm. This sets off a daisy chain of natural disasters centered around the city. Three million people are gonna die."
"We're not going to be able to kill Death," Arthur told him. "He's... Death. He's the one thing that can reap everything else, right?"
"There's his scythe, I suppose," Gabriel commented with a shrug. "Though you don't really need to kill him. You just need his ring in order to unlock and relock the Cage."
"Here's a thought," Ariadne said suddenly. "Has anyone ever just asked them for their rings?" All eyes swiveled toward her. "I mean, they're not monsters exactly. They can think and reason. Plus, with Death, he's been summoned by Lucifer. I don't think that would be a situation he'd enjoy, right? He'd want to collect souls on his own time, not because Lucifer said so."
"Well, that's just dumb," Dean sputtered, putting down the beer. "It's like Arthur said. He's Death. The granddaddy of all reapers. An entire town was slaughtered to raise him up."
"He didn't ask for that to happen, did he?" Ariadne asked.
"It's not that simple," Sam told her, shaking his head. "They're the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. It's what they do."
"Yes, but look at it this way. You barge in and take something that doesn't belong to you by cutting off their hands. This isn't some kind of vengeful ghost that needs to be put to rest or a vampire or dire wolf that's just acting on its nature."
"These things were definitely acting on their nature," Dean muttered.
"Okay, okay," Ariadne said, raising her hands in a gesture of surrender. "It was just a thought."
"Less of those kinds of thoughts, sweetheart, and more of the kind that will let us survive," Dean remarked, voice heavy with sarcasm. Arthur shot him an irritated look, but Dean didn't pay attention to it.
"Then why don't you just bind Death yourself?" she replied, irritated. "Then order him to kill Lucifer or open the damn Cage for you."
"Can we even do that?" Arthur asked.
Gabriel laughed in the stunned silence. "There's a thought, but you'd have to break the prior bindings. Killing my brother or locking him away in the cage will do that." The Archangel sobered. "It won't be easy."
"I have two angel swords that we can use," Eames told the assemblage. "One can be wielded, one saved as a backup. Lucifer would never let the Winchesters close enough to use a sword, but they can be the distraction that we need to get it done."
"Or I could do it," Gabriel said, looking at Eames evenly. "He's my brother, I should be the one to do it."
"Could you really?" he returned, crossing his arms over his chest. "Could you take the sword and gut him, stem to stern like a hot knife through butter? Could you stand there and watch his heartsblood spill across the floor and not lift a finger to help him?" His eyes bored into Gabriel's, jaw tight. "You did the job for mortals once upon a time, but could you take the life of the Morningstar without hesitating?"
"If I have to."
"I don't think you can. I know you want to," he said, cutting Gabriel off. "But I don't think you can. I don't think you'll be able to get one over on him."
"That's absurd."
"You've been off the angel game for far too long."
Gabriel was about to say something when Arthur cleared his throat and took their attention away from their argument. "Sam and Dean distract Lucifer and Michael. I'll wield the sword. I won't hesitate, and I want the bastard dead." He was dead serious as he looked at Eames and Gabriel. "I know how to use a sword, and I won't miss."
The archangel may have wanted to scoff at him, but didn't. "Are you sure?"
"I can't fail. I have too much to lose if I fail," Arthur told him. "We all do." He looked around the room, grim faced. "There's no other way to survive this than to win. He dies or he kills us all, end of story."
Eames nodded. "Then let's hash out the details."
***
Dean walked into the pizzeria where Death was waiting, the other occupants all dead. He didn't manage to be as stealthy as he wanted to be, but Death didn't seem perturbed in the slightest. "I've been waiting for you, Dean," Death said. "Join me?"
Surprised, Dean sat down across from Death and traced the pattern of the checkered tablecloth. It wasn't exactly how he expected the meeting to go. He was even more surprised by the existential discussion that followed, as well as hearing that someday God Himself would be reaped. "This is way above my pay grade," Dean commented, nonplused.
Death nodded. "Just a bit." He took a bite of pizza, ignoring the way Dean was looking at him.
Dean paused, aware that he wasn't dropping dead the way the other patrons in the pizzeria had not that long ago. The others were outside, and he couldn't let them walk into this place only to keel over. If he didn't give them some sort of signal first, they would likely storm the place. "So, then why am I still breathing, sitting here with you? Uh...What do you want?"
"Lucifer has me bound to him. Some unseemly little spell," Death told him, looking extremely displeased by the concept. "He has me where he wants, when he wants. That's why I couldn't go to you." Death leaned forward slightly, skeletal looking features suddenly more prominent. "He made me his weapon. Hurricanes, floods, raising the dead. I'm more powerful than you can process, and I'm enslaved to a bratty child with a temper tantrum."
"And you think...I can unbind you?"
"There's your ridiculous bravado again. Of course you can't. But you can help me take the bullets out of Lucifer's gun. I understand you want this," Death said, holding up his ring.
Dean nodded. "Yeah."
"I'm inclined to give it to you." He smiled thinly at Dean's surprise, then looked toward the door. "Tell your companions to come in. You may have this," Death dropped his ring into Dean's open palm. "And of course you'll need the instruction manual before they swarm in here to goggle at achieving this step."
Dean closed his fist around the ring, nodding. "We need to kill Lucifer. Or lock him up."
"You have to do whatever it takes to put Lucifer in his cell." Death stared at Dean until he felt all squirmy and uncomfortable. "Promise me."
It was actually easier than he thought it would be to promise Death that he would do everything, including letting Sam acquiesce to Lucifer's demands. In return, Death instructed him on the function of the rings as a key.
Dean carried all four rings of the Four Horsemen and he knew how to operate the Cage. He didn't go into detail when the others filed into the pizzeria to see if he all right. Death smiled a death mask grin at them, which made them stop short. "A promise on my part in exchange for your help. Barring a direct order by that child, I will not reap any of the souls present here unless you specifically ask me to." He took a slow bite of pizza, savoring the taste of it. "That should give you enough confidence to get the job done."
"Thank you," Ariadne said, trying to be polite. "Maybe we should let you enjoy your pizza in peace now?"
Death laughed, a low and rasping sound rather like the whisper of leaves fluttering across a gravestone. "You all have everything you need now. Make sure you finish the job."
***
Lucifer paced the length of the hotel room, eyes on the clock. The second hand swept completely around and was making another circuit when there was a knock at the door. It opened when he waved his hand, revealing Sam Winchester. He stopped pacing, lips stretched into a grin. "There you are. Finally ready for me?"
He stepped into the room, leaving the door wide open. The room reeked of sweat, stale cigarettes and blood. Sam's eyes swept over the room with its tacky wallpaper, stained sheets and body poorly hidden between the two twin beds. "So how many demons do you have to kill a day, now?" he asked, seeing the splayed feet on the floor.
His cheeks were sunken and sallow, eyes ringed with deep black circles. Lucifer was starting to resemble more of a walking corpse than a demon that had once been the Morningstar. When his lips stretched back into a smile, it only served to highlight the fact that the host was dying. "Does it really matter, Sam? I knew you'd come around sooner or later."
"You think that only because you ignore what everyone else has been telling you all along."
"You're here, and you know what I'd do if you refused me." Lucifer smiled his death's head smile at Sam again. "It's easier to just give in."
"But he's not alone," Gabriel said, sauntering into the hotel room. He looked around, taking in how shabby everything. "Wow. Not up to your usual standards."
Lucifer curled up his lips at Gabriel. "Finally taking a stand? Figured you would side with Father's favorite," he said, bitterness lacing his tone.
"Grow up!" Gabriel snapped. "You were the favorite. Why do you think you're still alive and not dead?" He charged forward, but Lucifer spun around behind him and caught the real Gabriel by the throat and picked him up off of the ground.
"Did you really think you could get one over on me, little brother?" he snarled. "I taught you that trick." Lucifer turned to look at a surprised Sam with a satisfied look. "Now you'll see what happens if you cross me."
"Could be," Sam murmured, shrugging. "Except there's a flaw in your plan," he said as Dean walked into the hotel room. "You didn't catch who you thought you did."
The Gabriel in Lucifer's hand smiled and thrust an angel sword right into his chest. As he did so, the illusion spell slipped from him and he became Arthur Campbell again. "Gotcha."
Dean began the ritual that would open the Cage. The initial Gabriel that had shown up in the hotel room was actually Ariadne, and she placed a silencing spell on Lucifer. He roared in fury, throwing Arthur through the wall. Ariadne shrieked and darted after him. Lucifer stalked toward Sam, who held out a hand and tried to push him back the way that he could with demons. He'd let all of the demon blood leave his system, however, so he wasn't strong enough. Ariadne started chanting a spell to help Sam contain Lucifer, which drew his attention. He yanked the angel sword out of his chest and turned away from Sam's ineffectual attempts to stop him. "You dare to use the old tongue against me?" he asked, lips drawn back from his teeth in a snarl.
Ariadne crouched on the ground, her body between Arthur and Lucifer's approach. She continued chanting, and the spell started to weave around Lucifer. It felt as if the spell was boiling her blood, and all she could hear was the roar in her ears as the magic started building up around her. Her eyes were locked on Lucifer, tracking his approach and willing him to stop so that the magic could wind even more tightly around him. He raised the angel sword up over his head, moving slower than before but still far too fast for her liking. A downward stroke would take her head off of her shoulders, but if she moved she knew she would lose her concentration.
Eames materialized and thrust the second angel sword into Lucifer's back. The blade went up through his ribcage, puncturing the host's lungs. He gurgled in surprise, which allowed Sam to rush forward and take the angel sword from his hands. "I said I would protect them," Eames told Lucifer in Enochian. "They are mine, Morningstar."
Lucifer started to say something that sounded similar to the phrase that would summon Death, so Eames clamped a hand down over his mouth. Even when Lucifer started biting his hand in desperation, he held on tighter and merely grimaced in pain. Sam shoved the angel sword in his hand into Lucifer's chest again, narrowly missing Eames' side.
Dean completed the ritual that opened the Cage, and Eames fell back, releasing Lucifer. He shouted the true name of Death as Sam kicked him into the Cage. He was sure to retain his angel sword, and Eames had the presence of mind to step forward and reclaim the sword he had been holding. Dean rushed forward to seal the Cage shut and pull Sam away from its edge.
There was a howling sound, and Eames looked toward Ariadne and Arthur in alarm. He made a slashing gesture in their general direction, and a sideways tear in reality opened beside them. She just managed to stand up when Eames pushed with his power, sending her flying backward into Arthur. They both fell backwards into the rip, and it sealed shut just as Death arrived in the hotel room.
The Cage was already shut and Dean was in the process of sealing it. Gabriel materialized between him and Death, a determined look on his face. "Hello, my old friend," he said in a quiet and respectful tone.
Death swept his eyes around the room. "Well, then. The child's bonds are weaker." He nodded toward Dean. "Finish it, Dean."
It was like the final twist of a key, and then it was done.
"Feels rather anticlimactic, doesn't it?" Gabriel asked the brothers, who were looking at each other with almost confused expressions. "Well, you got what you wanted. Armageddon averted, the world spins on, same as always. Congratulations."
Dean frowned as Death picked up the rings. The Horseman made no move to do anything with them. "So now what?"
Death actually smiled. "So now you live."
Sam glanced at Eames and handed over the sword he was holding. "Where did you send them?"
"Somewhere safe," he replied evasively. He smiled at the brothers, though they could tell it was a fake one. "Which is where you should go, too. There are still plenty of creatures out there in the darkness, and Michael won't be pleased that we interrupted his destiny."
Death was exiting the hotel room, but paused at the words. He turned back to look at Eames with a pointed expression. "By the way, Camael, your sister isn't dead. Iaoel is only sleeping. I thought you would like confirmation, since you did ask the last time she went missing this way."
Eames had a shuttered expression on his face, but he nodded. "Thank you. I did worry about her, especially when Phillipa couldn't see her in dreams."
"The child didn't understand what she saw," Death replied. He pulled a hat out of thin air and placed it on his head. He stepped outside of the door to the hotel room, then vanished.
"So wait up," Dean said after a moment. "You're an angel, too?"
"The swords are yours and your sister's then," Sam said when Eames didn't reply.
Gabriel held a hand out toward Eames. "Go take care of your mortals, Eames. I'll clean up here."
Eames nodded and shook his hand. "Perhaps the next reunion will be less exciting, yeah?"
Laughing, Gabriel turned toward the Winchester brothers. "Time for everyone to go." Eames vanished, and Gabriel snapped his fingers. The brothers, the Impala and Castiel were back at Bobby's house. He stepped back and let them all reunite and confirm that they were all alive, that Lucifer was locked away in the Cage and it was all over.
Smiling to himself, Gabriel vanished as well.
***
Phillipa had a pleased smile on her face as she opened the back door to a bewildered Ariadne and Arthur Campbell. "Come in!" she chirped.
Dom Cobb was making breakfast and scowled at them. "What are you doing here?" he growled.
"Um... I'm assuming it was to get us out of the way," Ariadne said, a trifle uncertainly. "We were somewhere else for a while, then here."
"Is that why you smell like magic?" James piped up around a mouthful of English muffin. He grinned and ignored Cobb's admonishments, kicking his feet merrily under the table.
"What do you mean by that?" Arthur asked, somewhat warily.
"You both smell like it, but especially her," James replied, pointing at Ariadne.
"Maybe because they've both been absorbing it for so long," Phillipa told him matter of factly as Cobb sputtered. She sat down in her own chair with a dreamy smile on her face. "I wonder what the little one will do."
Ariadne stared at her. "That's not very nice, Phillipa," she managed to say. Beside her, Arthur bristled on her behalf.
Before Cobb could admonish her, Phillipa giggled. "I wasn't talking about you, Ariadne. I was talking about your baby."
The adults went still. "What?" Arthur asked faintly.
"Little ones absorbing magic like that come out special," Phillipa continued as if she hadn't just rattled the adults' equilibrium.
"Like me?" James asked, still kicking his feet playfully. He took a bite of muffin as Phillipa nodded. "Can I play with it when it's born? There aren't too many kids around to play with."
"I need to sit down," Arthur murmured. Ariadne simply stared at Phillipa as he did, not sure what she should do or say. She believed Phillipa; this was a nephilim, after all. Arthur looked at Ariadne with a vulnerable expression, and she knew that he wasn't sure whether or not to be happy. He clutched at her hand like a lifeline, and she managed a smile for his benefit. "Do you think we'll be okay?" he asked.
"Yes," she said after a moment, voice firm. "Lucifer's locked away, Armageddon is averted. It's going to be business as usual, then."
Cobb placed a plate with English muffins in front of them. There was the faint whiff of alcohol around him, but nothing overpowering. "You'll need a place to stay, I guess," he said grudgingly.
"That would help. At least for a little while, until we figure out where the hell our stuff is," Arthur told him with a nod. On this count he knew what he had to do. "We can clear out once we're settled a bit better."
"Daddy, no," Phillipa pleaded. "Let them stay..."
"How can I play with the baby if they leave?" James complained.
Cobb rubbed his jaw tiredly. "Listen, before I said I'd only help you stay the night..." A knock on the back door set him grumbling. "Since when was my house a railway station?"
Eames stood at the back door, hands stuffed in his pockets. He seemed tired and more drawn this time, and he waited until Cobb acknowledged him. "Can I come in?"
"What the hell. Why not? Everyone else has."
Eames accepted the squeals of joy and hugs from Phillipa and James, then looked over at Arthur and Ariadne. "It's definitely done now," he said, an arm around each child. "The Cage is locked and Lucifer is gone. I imagine that the other Gates will shut now."
"You imagine," Arthur said slowly. He looked up at Ariadne and their still-linked hands. "So it really is back to how things usually are. There are still things out there to hunt. Still monsters in the dark and all the creatures that won't leave humanity alone."
"You get to do what you choose to," Eames told him.
Arthur's brow furrowed as he thought about everything that had happened over the past few weeks, about the new information Phillipa had just told him. He pulled Ariadne's hand against his lips and kissed it. "Feel like raising a fourth generation hunter?" he asked her.
She laughed and leaned down to kiss his forehead. "Sure. It's bound to be an adventure, right?"
Eames gave them both a wide grin. "That's the spirit. Do I get to be the fairy godfather?"
"No," Arthur said, shaking his head emphatically. Eames' grin slipped slightly. "Can't have the kid trying to kill you, right? Plain old godfather will have to do."
He nodded and smiled at them. There would be time enough later for explanations and blessings and casting protective circles. For now, it was nice enough to realize that there was a new start for the lot of them.
And maybe this time they would all get it right.
The End
Author: Eustacia Vye
Author's e-mail: eustacia_vye28@hotmail.com
Rating: NC-17 for language, violence and sex.
Pairing: Ariadne/Arthur(/Eames)
Disclaimer: Inception characters belong to Christopher Nolan. Supernatural characters belong to Kripke. I own nothing but the actual plot to this, and even that is up to debate. :)
Spoilers/Warnings: Inception AU fusion with Supernatural. This is also an AU of Supernatural, diverging from canon in season five and begins in November 2009.
For the inception_kink meme prompt in round 11: Arthur Campbell was born and raised as a hunter, since hunting is the ‘family business’. He ran for his life for years, since all relatives of Mary Campbell were persecuted and killed, so he doesn't know much about Sam and Dean except they are family.
Author's Note: This is the third attempt at filling this prompt. I first snagged it in November 2010, IIRC, and had to scrap that first attempt at it. Then I had to scrap my second attempt in December 2010. I then left this alone for all of 2011. Sorry it took me so long OP! I had to brush up on canon and completely rework the plot AGAIN to make this work. Hopefully it works this time. :)
The scene with Famine contains dialogue lifted directly from the episode, as was part of the scene with Death.
Summary: Arthur Campbell never approved of his Winchester cousins using demonic help to take down other demons. When other hunters are killed while helping them stop Lucifer, he calls on supernatural aid of his own to help them.
Big Bang art located here!
Previous chapters:
One - Red On The Inside
Two - We Raise A Fever
Three - All To See Here
Four - Splitting The Party
Five - Hunting In Concert
Six - Getting Out Alive
Arthur lay tangled up with Ariadne on the bed, feeling a measure of peace. It was early in the morning, and they were the only ones awake as far as they could tell. "Hey," he murmured at her, smiling gently. "Sleep well?"
Ariadne smiled at him. "Yeah." She carded her fingers through his hair tenderly. They didn't often get a chance to simply snuggle up close and enjoy each others' presence, so it was a welcome treat whenever they could.
"We're going to have to track down Death. I don't think that will be an easy one."
"We'll get through it. There's enough of us working together to get it all done." She gave him a soft smile. "When we help avert the end of the world, maybe then we can think of what we want for a change."
"Like a vacation?"
Ariadne laughed. "Yeah. And a day job and a house and kids."
"You don't skimp on the dreams, do you?" he teased.
"If I'm going to build something, I'm going to do it right. It's all about creating the right amount of details and then filling in the rest of it as we go along."
His stomach rumbled then, and they both laughed. "Dreams never take food into consideration," Arthur joked. He kissed her again, soft and languid, finally breaking it. "If I kiss you the way I want to, we're never getting downstairs."
"Too bad." Ariadne pulled him down for a kiss. "More incentive to live through this. We need a place of our own."
"God, yes. First chance we get."
They headed into the kitchen after getting dressed. Sam and Bobby were already in the next room looking for signs that might lead them to Death. Dean was out back with Castiel. Gabriel and Eames were nowhere to be seen.
The trickster in question simply appeared as breakfast dishes were being washed. Arthur was giving her a surreptitious caress on her rear when Eames entered the room. He stopped short abruptly when he saw Arthur touching Ariadne. "Oh. Bad timing on my part. I'll just..."
"No, wait," Arthur said slowly, turning to face him. "We need to talk to you."
Eames rolled his eyes and didn't move. "You haven't found Death yet. I'm sure I would have heard screeching of some sort if you had."
Without warning, Arthur pulled him closer by the front of his shirt and kissed him full on the mouth. Eames let out a startled sound, his own hand catching hold of Arthur's shirt in his hands as he responded enthusiastically. After a moment, he seemed to collect himself and pull away. He regarded Arthur almost warily, which was a change that made Arthur almost dizzy. "What was that for?" Eames asked in flat tones.
"I wanted to see if it was true," Arthur replied, voice soft. His gaze on Eames was assessing, trying to refit all of his old memories with this new information. He was normally very good at puzzles, but his mind was refusing to see the bigger picture.
"Well, then. Now what?"
Arthur could hear the hurt buried beneath the arrogance in his voice and suddenly felt ashamed of himself. "I'm sorry," he said after a moment, startling Eames. "I'm sorry I was such a dick to you. I didn't know."
"I see," he replied coolly, eyes flicking from Arthur to Ariadne. Both watched him intently, waiting for the smooth, bored mask to slip. "Now what?" he repeated.
"Start over?"
"It's far too late for that," Eames said quietly, turning away from him. "There's too much work to do, Arthur."
Feeling like a complete asshole, Arthur sighed. "I'm sorry," he repeated. "I thought that was how you were getting your kicks. It never occurred to me that you might mean it."
"Well." Eames didn't turn around, and made a big show of checking a glass for water spots. "As I've said, there's work to be done. I've done my duty and beyond, but there's still much left to do, even after you find Death's ring. Lucifer won't simply take a stroll into the Cage if you can't kill him, after all."
"Yusuf's bullets might slow him down."
Eames put the glass down and turned. "I can give you a sword," he said slowly. "An Angel sword, one that no one would miss."
Arthur simply stared at him. "How can you get one of those? Castiel made it sound impossible."
"Castiel is no longer privy to the Host of Heaven, so he's lost some of his abilities." Eames' expression was flat, giving away nothing. "It happens when someone is cast out, rather than sauntering vaguely downward."
Ariadne couldn't help but snicker at that. "What?" she asked, when both men turned to look at her. "I liked that book. Though it was the description of how Crowley fell and became a demon."
"It's not entirely accurate," Eames told her with a shrug. "There is a Crowley, and he's rather close lipped about whether he was inspiration for the novel or not. But there are differences in how angels leave the Host, and that's what determines if they lose their powers or not." Eames picked up another glass to inspect Arthur's drying skill. "I have access to two swords, actually. I can give you one of them," he said, putting the glass down. "The other I will keep as a backup, rather like Ariadne here being our backup plan with spells."
"Who should wield it, then?" Arthur asked, looking at Eames in concern.
"The backup sword?" Eames asked, eyebrow arched.
"No, the actual sword."
"That would be a matter of discussion, I'd imagine," he replied, shrugging as he leaned against the counter. "The Winchester brothers may want to, though Lucifer has interest in Sam and Michael has interest in Dean. It would be hard to hide a sword in that case."
"So it should be me," Arthur guessed, frowning.
"That was my thought on the matter."
"Do we need to know whose swords they are?" Ariadne asked with a frown.
Eames had an almost shuttered look on his face at the question. "Why would you need to know that information?"
"What if they're looking for their swords and catch us with them?" Ariadne asked. "I can't imagine the angels would be too happy about that, and I wouldn't pit my Enochian against an actual angel."
Now there was something almost like a smile on his face. "Don't sell yourself short, darling. It's a matter of intent and strength of will to reshape existence. Most humans don't have it, but you're an incorruptible one. I'd wager you will be much more effective than you think."
"That still leaves us with two angry angels..." Arthur began.
"They willingly left the Host and no longer need the swords, but you do," Eames said abruptly. "I told you. You are both under my protection."
A pained silence descended between the three of them; it went unsaid why Eames would be so invested in their safety.
"Where are they now?" Arthur asked. "Are they in a safe place, then? I'm sure word is getting out among the demons that three of the four Horsemen no longer have their rings. That would make them even more determined to stop us."
"There are protections on this house. Bobby is very skilled in his arcane knowledge," Eames replied with a shrug. "You're all safe here."
"Yeah, but we all have to leave sometime," Ariadne pointed out.
Dean banged back into the house at that point, cutting of Eames' reply. His hair was mussed and he seemed rattled a little. Castiel followed closely, appearing anxious. He stopped short at the sight of the three in the kitchen. "What?"
"You're looking upset," Ariadne observed.
"You think?" Dean replied, rolling his eyes. "I need a beer."
"It's ten o'clock in the morning!"
"So? It's five pm somewhere in the world," he said as he opened the fridge. "Might as well tell them," he told Castiel as he grabbed a longneck. He still looked unhappy as he twisted off the cap and took a deep swig.
"Michael was here," Castiel said quietly. "He couldn't go beyond the yard because of the sigils in place, but he was demanding compliance with his wishes." The angel looked over at Dean. "He is still refusing, but Michael is persistent and wants a vessel."
"So why is Dean so upset?" Ariadne asked, knowing she was missing something crucial. "You tell him over your dead body, and he walks. He can only take you on as his vessel if you agree to it, right?"
"Over my dead body? Huh." Dean snorted and shook his head. "Yeah. That's exactly the problem, Ariadne," he said.
"What are you talking about?"
"Angels cannot assume unwilling vessels," Castiel said when Dean took another swig of beer. "But they can compel someone to agree by various means. Or bring back the dead."
"Meaning?" Arthur asked, frowning.
"Meaning either I agree or he makes me agree. Or he takes on the half brother I burned after he died." Dean's voice was bitter. "One Winchester's as good as another, he said."
Eames looked between the stunned or bitter faces present in the kitchen. "We also have one more Horseman's ring to collect," he reminded the assemblage. "So there's going to be some planning before we even think about crossing Michael." He shrugged at Dean's glance at him. "What? You're not going to play along with his game and we'd rather let the dead rest in peace, yes? So it'll take some finessing on our part."
"You were not the one gifted with illusion," Castiel told Eames, a measure of concern etched into his otherwise stoic features.
The play of emotion on Eames' face was too rapid to easily identify. "That was Iaoel, yes. But I'm sure as hell better at it than you are," he said with a snarl in his voice.
"Camael..." Castiel began.
"Guards against demons and lost souls," Eames snapped, clearly angry with Castiel now. "Both of which we are up against right now. Do not question me again!"
Silence settled in the kitchen uncomfortably. Castiel finally nodded and then opened his mouth to speak just as Sam ducked his head in. "Hey. Um... We think we might have a location on where Lucifer is keeping Death."
Gabriel suddenly winked into existence near Sam, grinning. "And now it's a party."
Bobby rolled his wheelchair closer to the kitchen. "Get out of my way, boy," he said to Sam, who moved aside. "Too many goddamn people in my house," he grumbled, rolling up to the kitchen table. "Look," he said, once he was sure that he had everyone's attention. "Chicago is about to be wiped off the map because of a really nasty storm. This sets off a daisy chain of natural disasters centered around the city. Three million people are gonna die."
"We're not going to be able to kill Death," Arthur told him. "He's... Death. He's the one thing that can reap everything else, right?"
"There's his scythe, I suppose," Gabriel commented with a shrug. "Though you don't really need to kill him. You just need his ring in order to unlock and relock the Cage."
"Here's a thought," Ariadne said suddenly. "Has anyone ever just asked them for their rings?" All eyes swiveled toward her. "I mean, they're not monsters exactly. They can think and reason. Plus, with Death, he's been summoned by Lucifer. I don't think that would be a situation he'd enjoy, right? He'd want to collect souls on his own time, not because Lucifer said so."
"Well, that's just dumb," Dean sputtered, putting down the beer. "It's like Arthur said. He's Death. The granddaddy of all reapers. An entire town was slaughtered to raise him up."
"He didn't ask for that to happen, did he?" Ariadne asked.
"It's not that simple," Sam told her, shaking his head. "They're the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. It's what they do."
"Yes, but look at it this way. You barge in and take something that doesn't belong to you by cutting off their hands. This isn't some kind of vengeful ghost that needs to be put to rest or a vampire or dire wolf that's just acting on its nature."
"These things were definitely acting on their nature," Dean muttered.
"Okay, okay," Ariadne said, raising her hands in a gesture of surrender. "It was just a thought."
"Less of those kinds of thoughts, sweetheart, and more of the kind that will let us survive," Dean remarked, voice heavy with sarcasm. Arthur shot him an irritated look, but Dean didn't pay attention to it.
"Then why don't you just bind Death yourself?" she replied, irritated. "Then order him to kill Lucifer or open the damn Cage for you."
"Can we even do that?" Arthur asked.
Gabriel laughed in the stunned silence. "There's a thought, but you'd have to break the prior bindings. Killing my brother or locking him away in the cage will do that." The Archangel sobered. "It won't be easy."
"I have two angel swords that we can use," Eames told the assemblage. "One can be wielded, one saved as a backup. Lucifer would never let the Winchesters close enough to use a sword, but they can be the distraction that we need to get it done."
"Or I could do it," Gabriel said, looking at Eames evenly. "He's my brother, I should be the one to do it."
"Could you really?" he returned, crossing his arms over his chest. "Could you take the sword and gut him, stem to stern like a hot knife through butter? Could you stand there and watch his heartsblood spill across the floor and not lift a finger to help him?" His eyes bored into Gabriel's, jaw tight. "You did the job for mortals once upon a time, but could you take the life of the Morningstar without hesitating?"
"If I have to."
"I don't think you can. I know you want to," he said, cutting Gabriel off. "But I don't think you can. I don't think you'll be able to get one over on him."
"That's absurd."
"You've been off the angel game for far too long."
Gabriel was about to say something when Arthur cleared his throat and took their attention away from their argument. "Sam and Dean distract Lucifer and Michael. I'll wield the sword. I won't hesitate, and I want the bastard dead." He was dead serious as he looked at Eames and Gabriel. "I know how to use a sword, and I won't miss."
The archangel may have wanted to scoff at him, but didn't. "Are you sure?"
"I can't fail. I have too much to lose if I fail," Arthur told him. "We all do." He looked around the room, grim faced. "There's no other way to survive this than to win. He dies or he kills us all, end of story."
Eames nodded. "Then let's hash out the details."
***
Dean walked into the pizzeria where Death was waiting, the other occupants all dead. He didn't manage to be as stealthy as he wanted to be, but Death didn't seem perturbed in the slightest. "I've been waiting for you, Dean," Death said. "Join me?"
Surprised, Dean sat down across from Death and traced the pattern of the checkered tablecloth. It wasn't exactly how he expected the meeting to go. He was even more surprised by the existential discussion that followed, as well as hearing that someday God Himself would be reaped. "This is way above my pay grade," Dean commented, nonplused.
Death nodded. "Just a bit." He took a bite of pizza, ignoring the way Dean was looking at him.
Dean paused, aware that he wasn't dropping dead the way the other patrons in the pizzeria had not that long ago. The others were outside, and he couldn't let them walk into this place only to keel over. If he didn't give them some sort of signal first, they would likely storm the place. "So, then why am I still breathing, sitting here with you? Uh...What do you want?"
"Lucifer has me bound to him. Some unseemly little spell," Death told him, looking extremely displeased by the concept. "He has me where he wants, when he wants. That's why I couldn't go to you." Death leaned forward slightly, skeletal looking features suddenly more prominent. "He made me his weapon. Hurricanes, floods, raising the dead. I'm more powerful than you can process, and I'm enslaved to a bratty child with a temper tantrum."
"And you think...I can unbind you?"
"There's your ridiculous bravado again. Of course you can't. But you can help me take the bullets out of Lucifer's gun. I understand you want this," Death said, holding up his ring.
Dean nodded. "Yeah."
"I'm inclined to give it to you." He smiled thinly at Dean's surprise, then looked toward the door. "Tell your companions to come in. You may have this," Death dropped his ring into Dean's open palm. "And of course you'll need the instruction manual before they swarm in here to goggle at achieving this step."
Dean closed his fist around the ring, nodding. "We need to kill Lucifer. Or lock him up."
"You have to do whatever it takes to put Lucifer in his cell." Death stared at Dean until he felt all squirmy and uncomfortable. "Promise me."
It was actually easier than he thought it would be to promise Death that he would do everything, including letting Sam acquiesce to Lucifer's demands. In return, Death instructed him on the function of the rings as a key.
Dean carried all four rings of the Four Horsemen and he knew how to operate the Cage. He didn't go into detail when the others filed into the pizzeria to see if he all right. Death smiled a death mask grin at them, which made them stop short. "A promise on my part in exchange for your help. Barring a direct order by that child, I will not reap any of the souls present here unless you specifically ask me to." He took a slow bite of pizza, savoring the taste of it. "That should give you enough confidence to get the job done."
"Thank you," Ariadne said, trying to be polite. "Maybe we should let you enjoy your pizza in peace now?"
Death laughed, a low and rasping sound rather like the whisper of leaves fluttering across a gravestone. "You all have everything you need now. Make sure you finish the job."
***
Lucifer paced the length of the hotel room, eyes on the clock. The second hand swept completely around and was making another circuit when there was a knock at the door. It opened when he waved his hand, revealing Sam Winchester. He stopped pacing, lips stretched into a grin. "There you are. Finally ready for me?"
He stepped into the room, leaving the door wide open. The room reeked of sweat, stale cigarettes and blood. Sam's eyes swept over the room with its tacky wallpaper, stained sheets and body poorly hidden between the two twin beds. "So how many demons do you have to kill a day, now?" he asked, seeing the splayed feet on the floor.
His cheeks were sunken and sallow, eyes ringed with deep black circles. Lucifer was starting to resemble more of a walking corpse than a demon that had once been the Morningstar. When his lips stretched back into a smile, it only served to highlight the fact that the host was dying. "Does it really matter, Sam? I knew you'd come around sooner or later."
"You think that only because you ignore what everyone else has been telling you all along."
"You're here, and you know what I'd do if you refused me." Lucifer smiled his death's head smile at Sam again. "It's easier to just give in."
"But he's not alone," Gabriel said, sauntering into the hotel room. He looked around, taking in how shabby everything. "Wow. Not up to your usual standards."
Lucifer curled up his lips at Gabriel. "Finally taking a stand? Figured you would side with Father's favorite," he said, bitterness lacing his tone.
"Grow up!" Gabriel snapped. "You were the favorite. Why do you think you're still alive and not dead?" He charged forward, but Lucifer spun around behind him and caught the real Gabriel by the throat and picked him up off of the ground.
"Did you really think you could get one over on me, little brother?" he snarled. "I taught you that trick." Lucifer turned to look at a surprised Sam with a satisfied look. "Now you'll see what happens if you cross me."
"Could be," Sam murmured, shrugging. "Except there's a flaw in your plan," he said as Dean walked into the hotel room. "You didn't catch who you thought you did."
The Gabriel in Lucifer's hand smiled and thrust an angel sword right into his chest. As he did so, the illusion spell slipped from him and he became Arthur Campbell again. "Gotcha."
Dean began the ritual that would open the Cage. The initial Gabriel that had shown up in the hotel room was actually Ariadne, and she placed a silencing spell on Lucifer. He roared in fury, throwing Arthur through the wall. Ariadne shrieked and darted after him. Lucifer stalked toward Sam, who held out a hand and tried to push him back the way that he could with demons. He'd let all of the demon blood leave his system, however, so he wasn't strong enough. Ariadne started chanting a spell to help Sam contain Lucifer, which drew his attention. He yanked the angel sword out of his chest and turned away from Sam's ineffectual attempts to stop him. "You dare to use the old tongue against me?" he asked, lips drawn back from his teeth in a snarl.
Ariadne crouched on the ground, her body between Arthur and Lucifer's approach. She continued chanting, and the spell started to weave around Lucifer. It felt as if the spell was boiling her blood, and all she could hear was the roar in her ears as the magic started building up around her. Her eyes were locked on Lucifer, tracking his approach and willing him to stop so that the magic could wind even more tightly around him. He raised the angel sword up over his head, moving slower than before but still far too fast for her liking. A downward stroke would take her head off of her shoulders, but if she moved she knew she would lose her concentration.
Eames materialized and thrust the second angel sword into Lucifer's back. The blade went up through his ribcage, puncturing the host's lungs. He gurgled in surprise, which allowed Sam to rush forward and take the angel sword from his hands. "I said I would protect them," Eames told Lucifer in Enochian. "They are mine, Morningstar."
Lucifer started to say something that sounded similar to the phrase that would summon Death, so Eames clamped a hand down over his mouth. Even when Lucifer started biting his hand in desperation, he held on tighter and merely grimaced in pain. Sam shoved the angel sword in his hand into Lucifer's chest again, narrowly missing Eames' side.
Dean completed the ritual that opened the Cage, and Eames fell back, releasing Lucifer. He shouted the true name of Death as Sam kicked him into the Cage. He was sure to retain his angel sword, and Eames had the presence of mind to step forward and reclaim the sword he had been holding. Dean rushed forward to seal the Cage shut and pull Sam away from its edge.
There was a howling sound, and Eames looked toward Ariadne and Arthur in alarm. He made a slashing gesture in their general direction, and a sideways tear in reality opened beside them. She just managed to stand up when Eames pushed with his power, sending her flying backward into Arthur. They both fell backwards into the rip, and it sealed shut just as Death arrived in the hotel room.
The Cage was already shut and Dean was in the process of sealing it. Gabriel materialized between him and Death, a determined look on his face. "Hello, my old friend," he said in a quiet and respectful tone.
Death swept his eyes around the room. "Well, then. The child's bonds are weaker." He nodded toward Dean. "Finish it, Dean."
It was like the final twist of a key, and then it was done.
"Feels rather anticlimactic, doesn't it?" Gabriel asked the brothers, who were looking at each other with almost confused expressions. "Well, you got what you wanted. Armageddon averted, the world spins on, same as always. Congratulations."
Dean frowned as Death picked up the rings. The Horseman made no move to do anything with them. "So now what?"
Death actually smiled. "So now you live."
Sam glanced at Eames and handed over the sword he was holding. "Where did you send them?"
"Somewhere safe," he replied evasively. He smiled at the brothers, though they could tell it was a fake one. "Which is where you should go, too. There are still plenty of creatures out there in the darkness, and Michael won't be pleased that we interrupted his destiny."
Death was exiting the hotel room, but paused at the words. He turned back to look at Eames with a pointed expression. "By the way, Camael, your sister isn't dead. Iaoel is only sleeping. I thought you would like confirmation, since you did ask the last time she went missing this way."
Eames had a shuttered expression on his face, but he nodded. "Thank you. I did worry about her, especially when Phillipa couldn't see her in dreams."
"The child didn't understand what she saw," Death replied. He pulled a hat out of thin air and placed it on his head. He stepped outside of the door to the hotel room, then vanished.
"So wait up," Dean said after a moment. "You're an angel, too?"
"The swords are yours and your sister's then," Sam said when Eames didn't reply.
Gabriel held a hand out toward Eames. "Go take care of your mortals, Eames. I'll clean up here."
Eames nodded and shook his hand. "Perhaps the next reunion will be less exciting, yeah?"
Laughing, Gabriel turned toward the Winchester brothers. "Time for everyone to go." Eames vanished, and Gabriel snapped his fingers. The brothers, the Impala and Castiel were back at Bobby's house. He stepped back and let them all reunite and confirm that they were all alive, that Lucifer was locked away in the Cage and it was all over.
Smiling to himself, Gabriel vanished as well.
***
Phillipa had a pleased smile on her face as she opened the back door to a bewildered Ariadne and Arthur Campbell. "Come in!" she chirped.
Dom Cobb was making breakfast and scowled at them. "What are you doing here?" he growled.
"Um... I'm assuming it was to get us out of the way," Ariadne said, a trifle uncertainly. "We were somewhere else for a while, then here."
"Is that why you smell like magic?" James piped up around a mouthful of English muffin. He grinned and ignored Cobb's admonishments, kicking his feet merrily under the table.
"What do you mean by that?" Arthur asked, somewhat warily.
"You both smell like it, but especially her," James replied, pointing at Ariadne.
"Maybe because they've both been absorbing it for so long," Phillipa told him matter of factly as Cobb sputtered. She sat down in her own chair with a dreamy smile on her face. "I wonder what the little one will do."
Ariadne stared at her. "That's not very nice, Phillipa," she managed to say. Beside her, Arthur bristled on her behalf.
Before Cobb could admonish her, Phillipa giggled. "I wasn't talking about you, Ariadne. I was talking about your baby."
The adults went still. "What?" Arthur asked faintly.
"Little ones absorbing magic like that come out special," Phillipa continued as if she hadn't just rattled the adults' equilibrium.
"Like me?" James asked, still kicking his feet playfully. He took a bite of muffin as Phillipa nodded. "Can I play with it when it's born? There aren't too many kids around to play with."
"I need to sit down," Arthur murmured. Ariadne simply stared at Phillipa as he did, not sure what she should do or say. She believed Phillipa; this was a nephilim, after all. Arthur looked at Ariadne with a vulnerable expression, and she knew that he wasn't sure whether or not to be happy. He clutched at her hand like a lifeline, and she managed a smile for his benefit. "Do you think we'll be okay?" he asked.
"Yes," she said after a moment, voice firm. "Lucifer's locked away, Armageddon is averted. It's going to be business as usual, then."
Cobb placed a plate with English muffins in front of them. There was the faint whiff of alcohol around him, but nothing overpowering. "You'll need a place to stay, I guess," he said grudgingly.
"That would help. At least for a little while, until we figure out where the hell our stuff is," Arthur told him with a nod. On this count he knew what he had to do. "We can clear out once we're settled a bit better."
"Daddy, no," Phillipa pleaded. "Let them stay..."
"How can I play with the baby if they leave?" James complained.
Cobb rubbed his jaw tiredly. "Listen, before I said I'd only help you stay the night..." A knock on the back door set him grumbling. "Since when was my house a railway station?"
Eames stood at the back door, hands stuffed in his pockets. He seemed tired and more drawn this time, and he waited until Cobb acknowledged him. "Can I come in?"
"What the hell. Why not? Everyone else has."
Eames accepted the squeals of joy and hugs from Phillipa and James, then looked over at Arthur and Ariadne. "It's definitely done now," he said, an arm around each child. "The Cage is locked and Lucifer is gone. I imagine that the other Gates will shut now."
"You imagine," Arthur said slowly. He looked up at Ariadne and their still-linked hands. "So it really is back to how things usually are. There are still things out there to hunt. Still monsters in the dark and all the creatures that won't leave humanity alone."
"You get to do what you choose to," Eames told him.
Arthur's brow furrowed as he thought about everything that had happened over the past few weeks, about the new information Phillipa had just told him. He pulled Ariadne's hand against his lips and kissed it. "Feel like raising a fourth generation hunter?" he asked her.
She laughed and leaned down to kiss his forehead. "Sure. It's bound to be an adventure, right?"
Eames gave them both a wide grin. "That's the spirit. Do I get to be the fairy godfather?"
"No," Arthur said, shaking his head emphatically. Eames' grin slipped slightly. "Can't have the kid trying to kill you, right? Plain old godfather will have to do."
He nodded and smiled at them. There would be time enough later for explanations and blessings and casting protective circles. For now, it was nice enough to realize that there was a new start for the lot of them.
And maybe this time they would all get it right.
The End