Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me, nor does 50/50. Apologies this is a little short, but any longer and it might have gone wrong.
Kyle watched as Adam left. The smaller man had his head down, and he looked dejected. Bristling slightly, Kyle watched as Arthur picked up his order at the counter. He looked poised, calm, and collected. Kyle narrowed his eyes. Genuine rolex? Who is this guy kidding?
Kyle swallowed. He wasn't going to be intimidated by a man in an expensive suit and a flashy wrist watch. He walked up to him, just as Arthur was turning, holding the cappuccino in his hand.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Arthur apologised. He had turned and bumped into a shorter, slightly stockier man. "I didn't see you there!"
Kyle looked at him, fixedly. "Doesn't matter."
Arthur swallowed, narrowing his eyes. "Can I help you?"
Kyle returned the look. "Depends. You don't happen to know a girl called Ariadne, do you? Short, dark hair, pretty?"
Arthur looked at him, surprised moving across his face. "Not that its any of your business, but I do. Why?"
"Well, you're clearly her action man ex-boyfriend-" Kyle stopped, marshalling his thoughts - "no, wait a minute, you're more James Bond with an inferiority complex, but I'm here to tell you to stay away from her. Understood?"
Arthur blinked. "Are you threatening me?" There was, Kyle could have sworn, a near smirk on his lips. He bristled.
"Listen." Kyle's voice was low, and laced with venom. "My best friend was seeing her. He has cancer, ok? She told him that she was single. So don't you think you can swan in here, and make his life miserable!"
Kyle stopped. He suddenly became aware that he'd raised his voice, and people were turning to look at them. Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"Do you want to sit down and talk about this?" his tone was calm, and Kyle tried to steady his breathing.
"No," he said, flatly. "I want you to stay away from her. Jesus, the poor guy might only have a few months left! Let him have some happiness!" And with that parting shot, he strode out, leaving Arthur open-mouthed.
"So, how are you?"
Adam looked at Kathy. She was not as perky as she usually was, and seemed slightly wary of him. He swallowed, realising he'd have to reply. "I'm ok," he said, his voice sounding casual. She nodded. "OK."
He looked at her. "So, I guess its OK, then." He laughed, feebly, and unconvincingly. She looked slightly concerned.
"Adam?"
"Yeah?"
"Has something happened?"
He blinked. "No. Not really."
"You're sure?" her tone was pressing. "You're sure there's nothing you want to talk about?"
He shook his head. "No, nothing."
"OK, then." She closed his file. "Well, um, we could talk casually then."
"Actually, I want to ask you something." His voice cut across hers, causing her to blink. "If you had to make a choice between someone like me, who has cancer, and a guy who looks like a model, who would you choose?"
Kathy blinked. "I, um-"
"It would be the model," Adam said, tonelessly. "It would be the model because he's good-looking, and composed, and because I'm sick and may not have long left." He looked at her. "Its ok, you can say it."
Arthur stood, motionless, as Kyle left. Cancer. He'd noted the other man's slight frame, his seeming frailty, but had tried to ignore the possiblities.
He smiled to himself. Ariadne would be good to him, she'd take care of him, try and make him as happy as possible. Her kindness, and caring nature were the key things that had attracted him to her. And, he mused, what had obviously attracted this man to her as well.
"Not much time left," Arthur muttered. Rubbing his face, the cappuccino cooling in his hand, he began to walk to the door, determined to speak to her.
"Adam," Kathy said, gently, "do you believe that?"
He nodded. "Yes." His voice cracked slightly. "I believe that you, she, anyone, would pick a guy whose healthy over me. And I wouldn't blame you."
"Have you said that to her?"
"To whom?"
"Ariadne."
"I don't have to. Its obvious."
"Adam." Kathy's voice was stern. "Adam, you are making a lot of assumptions. You can't just assume she'd pick him over you!"
He shook his head. "Why not?" He looked at her, and she suddenly realised his eyes were glistening. "I would."
Kathy bit her lip. "Adam, don't judge her by what you would do. Please."
He swallowed, and rubbed his face. "I already have."
Ariadne looked up as Arthur walked in. He paused, then came over to her desk. "Ari. We need to talk."
She looked up at him. "Can it wait?" her tone was urgent, and the Point Man shook his head. "I need to ask you something."
"What is it?" the Architect was beginning to feel uncomfortable. Arthur swallowed, and looked at her.
"The guy you were with last night," he said, slowly, "does he have cancer?"
Ariadne blinked. Unable to lie to him, she nodded. "Yes," she whispered.
Arthur swallowed. "Thanks, thats all I needed to know. Please," he said softly, "go and find him, with my blessing." Before she could think of a reply, he'd turned and walked away.
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