Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me.
Ariadne walked down the street, pulling her jacket around her, tightly. She swallowed, realising how dry her throat felt. Stopping, she made a detour into a local coffee shop, and approached the barista behind the counter.
The young woman smiled at her. "What can I get you?"
"Um...a latte please." The Architect fumbled in her bag for her wallet, and pulled out some loose change. Suddenly, she heard the door of the shop bang, and turned.
She frowned. Arthur was walking straight towards her. Clad in a suit, his hair freshly swept back, he was attracting several admiring glances. But, she noticed, something was different.
His face. She blinked. His face looked smug, and as he noted the looks directed towards him from woman, an almost leer in his expression. She shuddered slightly, distracted by the piping hot coffee gently pushed towards her. Swallowing, she hastily paid, and picked it up, walking towards a chair.
Arthur, she noticed, was still standing at the counter. He suddenly leaned over, smiling directly at the barista, who blushed. Frowning, the Architect tried to focus on her coffee, which was cooling in front of her. Suddenly, she heard giggling. Glancing up, she saw the barista turning away, before handing Arthur an espresso.
He began to walk towards her. Feeling paralysed, she sat, unable to think of anything coherent to say. He smiled, and pulled out a chair. "Morning."
Nodding, she picked up a spoon. "Morning."
"Sorry you had to see that," he commented, nodding his head in the direction of the barista. "But I shouldn't have to hide the fact that I'm-"
"You're what?"
"Free and available." He looked at her. "The Warehouse...ok, I turned up, and I had spent the night with someone, but you're a grown up and you can handle it."
Ariadne narrowed her eyes. This, she decided, was not Arthur. This was someone else masquerading as Arthur. It had to be.
"What you do is none of my business," she commented, turning her attention away.
"Good. Because you see the girl behind the counter?" He smirked. "She's seeing me tonight. I gave her my number." He smiled. "Looking forward to it."
Ariadne blinked. There had to be something wrong.
"Arthur?"
"Mmmm?"
"Are you...allright?" she spoke carefully, not wanting to cause offence. "You've been so different, lately."
Arthur shook his head. "No, I'm fine."
"But its not like you to..." she stopped, aware she was in danger of causing offence. "Not like you to leer at women. Not like you to be so crude."
"Ariadne. I'm not a monk. You have ridiculous expectations." He got up, his features contorted in an almost scowl. "Just grow up."
He turned, and began to leave. As he walked out, Ariadne watched him, a suspicion in her mind beginning to form. Hastily downing the rest of her latte, she got up to leave.
Cobb sat in the warehouse, feeling the tremours of guilt. What he was doing to Arthur...he blinked, feeling a wave of hatred against himself. But if it meant he could have Ariadne...smiling, he stood up, ready to see what impact the previous night's dream had had upon the Point Man.
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