Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me.
Arthur turned over, and smiled. Ariadne was lying next to him, and he gently brushed and tickled her side.
"Arthur..." Ariadne murmured. "Don't."
"Don't, what?" he asked, perplexed.
"Don't tickle me, I'm sensitive."
He smirked. "I know. Come on..." reaching over, he began to move his hands down insistently, reaching her waist. As she tried to playfully bat his hands away, he continued to move down her torso.
"Ari," he breathed, softly. "Ari-"
Suddenly, he blinked in shock. Her body was shrinking before his eyes, getting thinner. He blinked, staring in horror. "Ari-"
"What Arthur?" she was smiling dreamily. "Isn't this what you want?"
She continued to lose flesh, shrinking down to the point of near emaciation. Horrified, Arthur looked at her. "Ariadne!"
Turning her head, she smiled at him. "But I'm thin now Arthur. Don't you like it?"
"NO!" His eyes were terrified. "Ari, come back, come-"
He sat up, thrashing, and kicked back the covers. The cool night air hit his exposed torso, soothing his hot skin. Sitting bolt upright, he swung his legs round, and began to get out of bed, heading for the kitchen. As he drew himself a glass of water, he found himself shaking.
The dream...it was too vivid. Too real. He bit his lip, wondering if it was a warning or a sign. He rubbed his face, and took a sip of water, shuddering as the icy liquid blazed a path to his stomach. He began to carry the glass carefully back into the bedroom.
As he sat back on the bed, he turned and looked at her, smiling. She was lying stretched out, heavily asleep. He reached over, gently flicking a lock of hair back from her face. He blinked, remembering how delicate she'd felt in his arms, how fragile. He turned and looked at the frumpy clothes she'd covered herself in, and frowned.
He laid down next to her, moving his arm to lie across her side. Sighing, he began to bury his face in her soft hair, inhaling her scent. Slowly, he began to fall asleep again.
"And that's what you saw?"
Arthur nodded, looking down into his cappuccino, which was lying untouched. Cobb had finished his own, pushing the cup aside. Reaching over, he looked into the younger man's eyes. "Arthur." his tone was gentle. "It was just a dream."
He shook his head. "This was different. It was so vivid. So visceral." He shuddered, remembering how Ariadne's
He shuddered, remembering how Ariadne's flesh had seemingly melted off her bones, leaving her fragile. "It was a warning. A warning of what could happen."
Cobb shook his head. "Arthur, please. Don't think like that."
"What else am I supposed to think?" Arthur snapped, glaring at the Extractor. "My girlfriend - I dreamed she was wasting away, and I'm not going to sit here and do nothing!"
"Arthur-" Cobb swallowed, realising his protestations where pointless. "What are you going to do?"
"Extraction."
"Arthur, you could damage her mind-"
"What like you damaged Mal's?" Arthur challenged. Cobb blinked, and a spasm of pain moved across his face. Arthur leaned back. "Dom, I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
"Yes, you did," Cobb said, heavily. "Forget it." He began to get up. "If you want to do this, go ahead. But remember, the possiblities for damage are limitless."
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "I'll bear that in mind."
Cobb nodded, pulling a five dollar bill out of his pocket and leaving it on the table. As he walked away, Arthur swallowed, feeling his determination had been confirmed.
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