Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me.

Cobb followed Trent through to the kitchen. The blonde's face was inscrutable as he filled a glass with water, and took a sip.

"What do you mean?" Cobb demanded. "What do you mean, leave them?"

"What I say." Trent's voice was calm, and the sheer refusal of the Point to be ruffled merely irritated the Extractor further. He turned and faced Cobb. "We leave them. Ariadne is with Arthur, I think she's the only one who can really break through the surface. She doesn't have a hidden agenda." He raised an eyebrow and took a long swallow of water. "He's in the safest place possible for him at the moment."

Cobb looked at Trent, his anger mounting. "You have no idea."

Trent looked at him, his ice blue eyes matching Cobb's. "I think that's your byline."

"What do you mean?" Cobb's temper was rising, and he took a step forward towards Trent. The Point finished his water and clamly put the glass down on the table.

"What I said." Trent turned to leave, but the Extractor blocked his path. Trent looked at him. "What is it?"

"You insinuated I have no idea." Cobb's voice was glacial, and he steadfastly blocked the younger man's way. "Care to explain? All I know is that Arthur has gone, Ariadne has gone, and you -"

"Have been brought into pick up the pieces of the mess you've made." Trent's tone was sardonic.

"What?" Cobb felt an overwhleming urge to strike him, but kept his fists clenched. Trent kept his face composed.

"You incepted your own Point Man."

"I didn't have a choice." Cobb's anger was straining at the leash. "You should have seen him. Gorging, bingeing, throwing up - he was erratic, out of control, and untrsutworthy. He went after Elise, and nearly got himself killed. Saito wanted him, we didn't have a choice!"

"You should have let him go." Trent's voice was still calm.

"And let him be eaten alive by Saito and his illness?" Cobb'e was face was incredulous. "That is the biggest load of bulls-"

Suddenly, Trent grabbed Cobb by the collar, and shoved him up against the wall. Real anger flashed in his eyes, and the Extractor suddenly became aware of the gun discreetly hidden at the Point's waist.

"Arthur has an eating disorder. You knew he was ill. You should have got him help long before it escalated." Trent's voice was monotonous, the calmness betraying his well of emotion. "But you let him suffer with it. Because he's too valuable for you to do without. Now, he's gone. He's put you in a position where he may not come back. And are you thinking of him? No. You incepted him. You violated his mind. So you didn't have to deal with the problem. Just like you tried to lock Mal away. Everything you've done so far is for your own neck. So lets try again. I want to hear one thing come out of your mouth that says you want to help Arthur."

Stunned, Cobb looked into Trent's eyes. The Point relinquished his grip, and letting go, turned and walked out.

"Trent!" Cobb sounded angry, hurt. "Remember - Arthur's my friend!"

Trent stopped, and turned. His expression was again inscrutable.

"Then do him a favour. Start acting like it." He continued to walk, and Cobb heard the door of the apartment close.


Arthur felt Ariadne's fingers lightly brush over his face. "Hey. You awake?"

He stirred, his eyes fluttering. After they had broken apart, she had gently insisted she needed a shower, and he'd crawled in between the sheets. They were slightly scratchy, but clean, and he burrowed down in them. Closing his eyes, he'd drifted in and out of sleep. Ariadne's light touch made him realise that this was his reality. No clinic, no Fischer, no Cobb. Just him, and her. The realisation was making him feel more liberated than he'd felt in months. She was wearing a white bathrobe, and he swallowed.

"I'll go outside, let you get dressed," he mumbled. Suddenly, he remembered that he was still in the hospital garb. "I should get myself some new clothes-"

"Oh, I forgot to mention!" Ariadne looked startled. "Clothes for you are in the backpack!"

Arthur blinked. He unzipped the dark green bag, and began to pull some carefully packed clothes out. She had packed a pair of black jeans, and two button down shirts. He pulled the jeans on, and suddenly noticed that they gaped at the waist. He frowned.

"When did I buy these?" his tone was wondering, and she winced. He hadn't. They'd been a gift from her, shortly after they'd got together after the inception on the Point Man. They'd fitted him well, hugging his narrow waist and accentuating his lean legs. Now, they made him look small, vulnerable.

"A while ago," she said, gently.

"Ari-"

"Yes?"

"Do they make me look-" he stopped, blinking. Turning, he scooped up the denim and a white shirt. "I'll get changed in the bathroom."

She quickly dressed, and ran a brush through her hair. He emerged, wearing the shirt and jeans.

She swallowed. The jeans were too big; and the white shirt merely emphasised the hollowness of his cheeks and the darkness under his eyes.

"You look great," she said, gently.

He nodded. "Thank you." He sat on the bed, and Ariadne realised she needed to keep taking the initiative.

"So, how about some food?" She asked it casually, but noted the flicker of terror on his face.

"I...OK," he finally said, swallowing. "I'll get us some takeout. Should be a short walk."

She looked at him. "Arthur, you don't have to-"

He met her gaze. "Ari. I don't have a problem with eating food. My problem is, I don't know when to stop. I don't even really feel hunger anymore. Its just a want, sometimes."

She blinked.

"I'll be back soon," he said, gently, and opening the door, turned and left.


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