loadedparadox | (no subject)

"Yeah." She smiled faintly, resting her head against her pillow, watching him. "I guess I'm glad you felt comfortable enough to tell me that now. I mean, I assumed most of it. But you know.." She sighed, smiling faintly again. "You can't assume, without being an ass first."

"You're never an ass. You have a cute one but..." He sighed, so close, loving just the intimacy of laying like that. "I can tell you the names, the dates, if you want them. Only two. One was the man that ordered the hit on my father,' he admitted, voice going kind of soft.

"I don't need names and details, Arthur. I figure you had your reasons. You don't need to tell me the details. Just the basics would be nice, you know? I just want to know all of you. Even the things, you hide from me." She said, her eyes closing as she slid her head into his side, resting it there. "I'm sorry about your father, Arthur. I really am. I understand you did what you felt you needed to. I don't know, what that feels like. Any of that. But I'm sure it wasn't easy."

Wrapping his arms around her, he took those words to heart. "The basics then. My mother..." He took a deep breath at that. Most of his life and she was still the hardest to talk about. "I was nine months old, I'm told, and sickly. Colic. Stomach issues. You name it. She had gone to the store to get a new prescription for me and... and two underage girls had been drinking and they hit her car. Fled the scene but they were caught later."

He spoke softly, mouth brushing her hair, not hesitant but slow. "I was... ten, I think, when my dad told me what happened. I remember worrying he'd hurt them, the girls that was. Last I knew, they were both married with kids though."

"Accidents happen, to good people. It's one of those things in life that really aren't fair. You never will really understand, why they happen. And you just know, they change your life forever." She sighed faintly, wishing she knew more of what to say to that. Knowing it wasn't something he talked about much, but appreciated that he told her more. "You realize, all of this, just makes the cameo, much more amazing to me."

"I'm glad. I've had it since then. Since I was ten. The moment we moved in, I knew I wanted to give it to you. Then I thought I could just cheat and be a romantic at the same time," he teased, stroking his fingers along her spine.

"So... from then until I was seventeen... I just hung out at the diner where they made book in the back, then it was moved to a small casino. I learned bookmaking and a lot of the traits that make me a good point, if I'm honest."

"I see how you play." She laughed faintly, nuzzling into his side still. Just contently calm at his actions.

"So awkward teen years; you learned all the ins and outs, of pretty much, whatever. Must have had been, interesting, to say the least."

"You're the only one I would want wearing, Ariadne. Plain and simple.'

He leaned in, chastely kissing her. "Back then I never thought it was odd. Everyone I was surrounded by expected it. Though you have one thing right. I was so awkward," he said with a sigh. "Glasses and all."

"Not sure the necklace would look good on Eames anyway."

"It's what you grew up with, of course it would be normal to you." Smiling some, tilting her head back, to gain a better view of him. "Turn on, you in glasses."

He rolled his eyes, smiling. "Such a smart ass.

"Wait, me in glasses is hot? Seriously?" The smile widened a bit. "You're adorable. I don't need them for everything. Sometimes just with reading."

"Oh come on, Arthur." She rolled her eyes, a hint of amusement showing. "You look hot in anything. "Again, the little things like this, that's what I want to know."

"I've been hiding them for yeas. I think only Cobb knew I needed them from time to time,' he admitted. "Let me think... You know I learned to dance from a show girl. Somewhere there is a picture of me in her headdress, unless I burned it."

"Don't tell me that. I might, make it a mission to search that out." She teased, raising her brow, showing she could very well be serious also.

"As I said, I may have burned it in a fit of what the hell was I doing saving this," he teased, smiling, relaxing more. "Let me think... So, I learned dream share because of my father. I was pulled into one trying to get information and when that didn't work, when I saw through it and the dream collapsed, they had my father killed to hide the information."

Ariadne paused some, searching over Arthur's face, as she attempted to find the words she wanted to say, to what he said. "I'm sorry." It was a sorry, sorry for that having to happen like that. For him having to been used that way. "Why are you still in this then, besides the given?" She asked, now curious as to his reasoning for doing this.

"I went to my father's boss and told him I wanted to learn. I couldn't not know how they had gotten into my head. So I learned the business and I found out I was good at it, and really it is a nonviolent business. People live through our thefts, people don't have to die if we do our job right. So I stuck with it. I got better and then I was with Cobb and Mal, and I had friends and a job and it all seemed to work."

"Oh." She smiled, running her thumb along his jawline. "Your dad would be proud of you then. I feel that."

He smiled at that, eyes closing. "Thank you. I... Thank you." Another small kiss, enjoying hearing that. "I know the... my father's old boss thinks I've done well. Already there's noise of wanting me to come back. It won't happen though."

"It really isn't going to be a problem, you going back, is it? You wont have to deal with anything, will you?" It's an honest question she feels. Wondering if him going back there, might cause issues. Knowing how people can be, getting something they want. Or anything along those lines, she assumes.

"Not really. They'll pitch it at me to return, I'll explain I have a family now and a team and I'm keeping with that," he said, determined. "Now, I can guess a few who might try and steal you from me, but that I can handle as well."

"And you saying you have a family, will stop them?" Because, she figured, someone being determined enough, it wouldn't stop them from getting him. Her nose crinkled, rolling her eyes, a faint smile. "I'll wear a sign then. Saying: I have a boyfriend. Whom has a boyfriend, and they both can kick your ass. Don't make me sick them on you."

"It will because I've already spoken to the man in charge. He accepts I'm not coming back. He owed me for a job I did a few years back for him, so this is me letting him off the hook - all that he's doing for us while we're there. Promise, it'll go over well."

He laughed, giving her a quick hug. "I have no doubt you can defend yourself but you won't have to worry. You will be respected."

"Well as long as you are sure." She let out a small breath, nuzzling back into his side. "I just worry you know."

"And I know I will, I can hold my own with you both. Think I'll be pretty damn good, with folks like what you have told me. Not worried there."

"Worry all you want. I wouldn't let you go into that if it was the least bit dangerous. I wouldn't risk you. You know that," he said, sighing at the nuzzle.

"Most of them will be delighted by you. Trust me."

"Well then, I'm thrilled you can go back. Relax and what not. You deserve it after all." She smiled into his side, inhaling his scent she so much loved.

"You aren't worried, I would leave you, are you?" She asked, at random, now curious slightly again at what he said before.