Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me. Thank you for reading and reviewing the previous chapter!
"Come on," Jules said, softly. "Let's go and sit down."
Gulping and sniffling, Robert allowed himself to be led to the living room couch. Jules settled him on it. "Here. I'll get you some water."
She walked back into the kitchen, letting him sob. She bit her lip as she filled a glass with ice water. It seemed almost voyeuristic, as though she were intruding on someone else' pain. But, as she carried the glass into the lounge, it seemed to have done him good. As though a well of unhappiness had finally burst free.
"Here you go." She carefully placed the glass onto the table, and sank down onto the other couch. Robert stopped, sniffled, then reached for the water and took a sip.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it." She paused, wondering what she could say next. He wanted her help...but would he ever admit to what was really wrong? Leaning back, she waited for him to speak.
"I suppose you..." he stopped, trying to compose his thoughts.
"Suppose what?"
"I suppose you think I'm really self-indulgent." His sky blue eyes met hers. "That I'm just a spoiled brat."
Jules swallowed. She had to resist a burning temptation to say yes. But she knew that if she did, it would serve no purpose. "I think you have some issues," she said, calmly. "Do you want to talk about them?"
Robert looked at her. "What are your parents like, Jules?"
Arthur sighed, and stretched out in the sun, letting it warm his face. He smiled as Ariadne cuddled down beside him.
"This is so peaceful," he said, softly. "Its wonderful."
Ariadne squinted. "See that cloud?"
"Which one?"
"That one. To the left." She pointed upwards. "Do you know what it reminds me of?"
Arthur looked at her, and raised an eyebrow. "No idea. Tell me."
"It reminds me of Hawaii," she said, finally. "Look at the curve-"
"Hawaii," Arthur interrupted, his mind whirling. "Do you want to spend a vacation there?"
Ariadne looked at him. "Before or after I move to New York?"
He looked at her. "I was thinking before. I promised Eames I do London fashion week, which is where I'll announce I'm leaving modelling. Then, its a case of us sorting out what we need, but I really want to take you somewhere warm and slightly exotic."
She looked at him. "Sure you don't just want to see me in a garland?"
He smirked. "Of course. Preferably, just that."
He laughed in mock protest as she playfully pumulled him. He took her hand, and kissed the palm. "Seriously. Warm sand, beautiful sunsets...and I get to be with you, with no interruptions. How does that sound?"
She turned and looked at him. "Perfect," she said, softly.
"My parents?" Jules looked at him, trying to guage how he wanted her to answer the question. "Well...we get along ok. No pressure."
Robert swallowed. "Wish I could say the same about mine."
"Really?" Jules pressed.
Robert nodded. "My father and I...we didn't get along. And when he found out I was going into modelling, it made things worse."
"Worse?"
Robert paused. He could still remember his father's face, contorted with anger, and the confrontation that they'd had. "You're wasting yourself!" Maurice Fischer had raged. "Throwing yourself away! Are you really planning to do this, Robert? You know what I want you to do!"
"Be like you," Robert had responded bitterly. "And die old and alone."
"You-"
"Robert?"
He blinked. Jules' voice had pulled him out of his reverie. "Yes?"
"Did you go into modelling as a way of rebelling against your father?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps." He swallowed. "Then Browning offered to be my manager. That mollified him slightly."
"Any other reason?"
Robert looked at her. "Well, I'll put it this way. You try growing up in a household where you're meant to feel that nothing you do is ever good enough, where your made to feel a constant-" he swallowed. "Before he died, he called me to his deathbed, where he could barely speak."
"And?"
"I made out one word." Robert's tone dropped, and so did his eyes. "Disappointed."
Jules bit her lip. "I'm sure thats not the case."
"Really?" Robert looked at her. "I tried everything, to get his approval Jules. And I mean, everything. At school-" he shuddered - "I tried out for the swim team, Athletics, and the Football team. It didn't get me anywhere." He fell silent, flinching at the uncomfortable memory of being pounced on by his more athletic classmates, of having his face shoved in the dirt at one practice. He could still remember the jeers of "hey, pretty boy!" and the brutal kicking he'd received. He'd kept silent, afraid of telling anyone. He'd hidden the bruises.
"But maybe he didn't want you to try and gain his approval," she argued. "Maybe he just wanted you to be yourself."
Robert looked at her, and shrugged. "I tried. And still failed." He swallowed. "And then-"
"Then what?" she pressed.
He swallowed. "I became a model. And then he despised me." He shrunk into his seat. "And, trust me, if he knew about all this, he'd despise me even more."
She swallowed. "Robert...I really don't think thats the case."
He looked at her. "You never met my father. You don't understand."
She sighed, and got up. "I'm going to go for a walk. When you stop being so stubborn, I'll talk to you again."
He fell silent, and his eyes watched her as she moved out of the room. He opened his mouth, and lapsed back into silence.
Arthur slipped his fingers through Ariadne's as they walked along the stream. She squeezed them gently. "Arthur..."
"Yes?"
"Why did you become a model?"
He looked at her. "You really want to know?"
She nodded. "Yes."
Hesitantly, he swallowed. "All right. I'll tell you." He turned and looked at her. "It was because-" he paused. "It was because I just didn't think I would ever be able to be what I wanted." He looked at the floor. "I didn't think I was talented enough."
"To be what?"
He paused. "A musician."
Jules walked out the front door, and shut it quietly. She hurried down the steps, not noticing the figure hanging around in a parked car, watching.
Robert got up, and walked into the kitchen. As he topped up his water glass, he suddenly became aware of a knocking on the front door.
Puzzled, he walked to it. "Did you forget your key?" he called out, feeling irritated. As he opened the door, his eyes widened. Summer lunged at him, locking her arms around his neck, and pulling him down into a kiss.
"Robert!" she cooed. "So good to see you!"
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