Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me.
"I mean...he couldn't..." Arthur was pacing in circles, as though trying to confront a terrible, hideous truth. "He couldn't do that to me. Would he?"
Eames, his facial muscles tightening, watched the agitated movements of the younger man. He swallowed, trying to think of something more constructive to say.
"Arthur, I could be wrong..."
"But what if you're not?" Arthur whispered, his face looking drawn, haggard. "What if you're right? What if he- Cobb - what if he incepted me? He did it to Mal, why not do it to me?"
Shocked, Eames watched as the younger man sat down heavily on a chair, slumping. He put his hand up, and rested his forehead on it.
"It makes sense," Arthur said, slowly. "Ariadne. She and Dom - well, he confided in her, during the Fischer case. Told her things that he never told me." He looked at Eames. "But if he'd wanted her-" he swallowed. "Well, I would have...stepped aside."
Eames raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Well, if I thought she and Cobb were better suited," Arthur said, hesitantly. "I would have just..." his voice trailed off, and he sank down in the seat, visibly sagging.
"What do you remember?" Eames asked, moving round to sit opposite him. Arthur swallowed, and rubbed his chin. Eames noticed with concern that the formerly trim and clean shaven Point Man was developing stubble. He studied him carefully. Arthur was thinner than he remembered, and by the shape of his arms, had also lost muscle tone. Eames felt a wave of anger - if Cobb was responsible, he couldn't help but think he'd be pleased by this loss of the Point Man's chiselled good looks.
"I remember..." Arthur leaned back, and looked up. "I remember looking at these women, and being overcome by lust. Wanting them. Wanting to do things..." he looked at the Forger, and blushed.
"You never felt that way?" Eames asked, gently. Arthur scowled.
"I'm not a robot, Eames," he said, with dignity. "I do have needs, I have...urges." He shook his head. "But I don't think pouncing on someone, and trying to rob them of theirs is...a good idea."
"So what happened?"
"I met a girl in a coffee shop, she was sweet, and sexy. I went out with her, took her home- and apparently, I tried to-" Arthur's voice dropped. "But I have no idea how I thought it was a good idea."
"And if its out of character..." Eames mused, "you could only think its a good idea..."
"If someone wanted me to think it." Arthur finished. He looked at Eames. "You have to help Ariadne."
The Forger got to his feet. "Why?"
"Because she's in danger. And not from me."
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