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[loadedparadox]

He didn't take long from that last text, wearing slacks and a shirt, unbuttoned at the top and sleeves partially rolled, as he came down to Ariadne's room and tapped on the door.

"You know, I find it comforting to know I have contact with you all the time. Do you think it weird when we text a room apart?"

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[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

This was the part he was so worried about. It really could change everything. "Meaning my life wasn't immediately on the line, though I knew if I didn't..." He closed his eyes. It was another life, a lifetime ago to him, and he wouldn't have told anyone but Ariadne this. Not like this, not all of it. "I understand if it changes things between us. I really do."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"Oh" She paused, resting her hand lightly against his cheek, attempting a small smile. Letting her mind process all he was saying. "Is that why you didn't tell me, right away? Because you thought it would change something? Why would you think it would change something? I'm sure Eames knows, and it didn't change him. So why me?" She asked, a hushed tone to her voice.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

His eyes closed, enjoying that touch for a long moment before his eyes fluttered open, watching her. "Because you're not the horrid criminal he is," he said, smiling and trying for a joke. "He's seen me at some of my worst moments, and I've worked hard for you to only see me at my best. I met you because we hired you for an inception and yet I always wanted you to see me above and beyond the criminal."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"I do Arthur. I've never thought of you as anything other then Arthur. Not a criminal or anything. And I knew you were a criminal, if you needed to define that sort of thing. But I always said that didn't make you who you were. Why, feel the need to keep stuff, you think will scare me away? I don't understand. I just assumed you knew none of that mattered to me." She smiled some, knowing now, Eames truly knew the real Arthur. And one day, maybe she would.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"Because you're precious to me," he said, no hesitation there. "You're exquisite. Strong and bright and beautiful and I wanted to ensure I was worthy of that." His hand slid along her side, feeling more secure. "I guess this thing with Cobb made me realize I can't be either or. I have been that man and now I have my life here. With you. I just want you to know. Its been a lot of years and I I can't say I wouldn't kill again, but not like that, not because of the job."

He made a face. "At least not outside of dreams."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"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."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"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.

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"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."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

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."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"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."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"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."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"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."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"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."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"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."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

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."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"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."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"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."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"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.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"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."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

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.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"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."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

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

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

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."

[dreamsofmazes.livejournal.com]

"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.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"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."