Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me. All readers and reviews appreciated, thank you!
"Hi." Dom smiled at the newcomer. "Welcome."
"Jesus," Robert muttered. He slouched back in his seat, boredom flickering visibly across his face.
Saito looked at him. "Whats the problem, Robert?"
"Why are you welcoming him, hmmm?" Robert ignored Saito and addressed the question directly to Dom. "There is nothing…welcoming about this place."
"I just want him to feel comfortable." Dom's voice was slightly defensive.
Robert shook his head. "How noble." He leaned back in his seat, twisting his long, thin fingers.
"I think that's very interesting," Saito commented. "You want to make Yusuf feel at ease…right, Dom?"
Dom nodded.
"Which shows that you understand that if anyone is to achieve recovery…they need to feel completely safe and secure first."
"Bollocks." Eames yawned loudly.
Saito looked irritated. He turned to Eames.
"Would you care to explain that, Eames?"
"You say 'achieve recovery.'" Eames looked disgusted. "But you can only recover if there's something wrong with you…and there's nothing wrong with me!"
"Beg to differ." Arthur spoke, and his voice cut like a knife. The group shifted, Yusuf looked bewildered.
Eames glared at him. "You can-"
"Save it." Robert leaned forward, and put a restraining hand on Eames' arm. "He's not worth it." A taunting smile played across his face. "You know he's here because he finally snapped after two big guys put him in the garbage can."
Arthur looked at Robert. "At least I'm not here because I'm a disappointment to my father."
Robert's eyes narrowed in anger. "Excuse me?"
"You're here because you got kicked out of school." Arthur's voice was flat. "I guess your parents just didn't want you at home."
Robert stood up. "I'm not staying here to be subjected to this," his voice was stiff, and he began to turn. Saito got up. "Robert."
"No, I'm leaving," Robert insisted. "I'm sure once my father finds out what his money is being spent on in the name of help, he'll withdraw me."
He began walking out of the room. Saito hurried after him. The rest of the group sat, the atmosphere slightly sour. Eames was glaring at Arthur.
"So, why are you here?" He jeered. "Disappointment to your mum? Didn't raise her little precious to know how to fight? So embarrassed by you she shipped you here?"
Arthur flushed. Memories of that day were coming back to him, vividly. He closed his eyes. He could feel the sun on the back of his neck, and smell the blood. He could hear the taunts. He shivered, slightly.
He opened his eyes. Ariadne was looking at him. Flushing again, he dropped his eyes.
"Why are you here?" Eames turned to Yusuf. "They won't tell me anything. So why are you…?"
Yusuf looked embarrassed. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Oh, that's too bad…see, the point of being here is we tell each other how we feel. But we don't. For example, I ask her-" he pointed at Ariadne – "why she's here, and he decided to stick his nose in."
Ariadne looked at Eames. "Please-"
"No, come on, Princess," Eames leaned over. "Its easy. I'll tell you why I'm here, you all ready? I'm here because I think I'm different people. I told my Mum, she told me I was mad. So here I am."
Dom looked at him. "Is that true?"
Eames nodded. "Yep. Lots of different people."
Arthur looked slightly surprised. "That's not what I would have thought."
"Yeah, and I didn't think a scrawny little piece like you could nearly break my nose." Eames glared at him. "Goes to show none of us are what we think, are we?" His tone was bitter. "I tell my Mum, that I seem to be able to imitate others, become them. She takes me to a doctor, he tells her I'm schizophrenic!"
Dom looked at him. "I'm sorry."
"Piss off." Eames slouched back in his chair, his expression dark.
Dom turned to Yusuf. "So…why are you…?"
"I don't know if I can explain it," Yusuf's voice was weary, as though he'd already had to explain too many times before.
"Try." Dom's voice was encouraging.
"Well…" Yusuf struggled to find the words, "I'm-"
Eames yawned. "Very interesting."
Saito suddenly walked back in, his expression almost angry. He re-seated himself, and took in the group.
"Robert is spending some time in the Quiet Room," he announced. "He's a little upset."
"You mean for once in his life he got told no?" Arthur shrugged. "Probably a shock to him."
"What do you mean by that, Arthur?" Saito turned to him.
"He's a spoiled brat." Arthur's voice was calm. "He thinks he can have what he wants, whenever."
Dom was looking at him. "You're very astute." His expression was interesting – it was as though he were trying to analyse Arthur, trying to see if he would proffer any more information that could be considered useful.
Saito nodded. "Thank you Arthur." He turned to Ariadne. "Would you like to say anything?"
She shook her head. "No."
"Yes, you do," Eames interrupted.
She looked at him. "What?"
"You want to tell us all whats wrong with you." He was looking at her. "I've told you, Dom's told you, that dickwad"- he jerked his thumb in Arthur's direction – "has told you. So whats wrong with you?"
She swallowed. "I don't know if I can-"
"Go on." Eames was persistant. "Why are you here?"
She looked at him. "I'm here because my parents think I self-harm, that's why." Her lip quivered, and tears began to spring to her eyes.
Dom looked at her, slightly shocked. "Ari, that's-"
"No!" Eames looked surprised. "You mean you cut yourself, and things like-"
"I DON'T!" She shouted, getting to her feet. "I don't do things like that! I just want to go home!" She got up and ran out of the room. After a pause of ten seconds, Arthur got up, and hurried after her.
