Arthur woke tied to a chair, his head hurting after they hit it with something. The room contained 2 chairs, a light and a door with no window. Why did he let himself get caught? He should have shot himself while he got the chance. No-one had come to talk to him. Why were they waiting. They were only going to torture him again. He looked down at his arm and stared at the cigarette burns and knife marks. They wanted to know where the warehouse was so they could get the information they got from the mark earlier. He wasn't worried about that, he had been in a situation like this many times. He was worried about the others, the forger would take his shape. He only hoped that they could figure it out. He thought of all the things his doppelganger would be doing. Talking to Cobb, Eames, Yusuf…Ariadne.

Arthur twisted his hands behind him, in hopes of loosening the rope holding him down, but gave up when it burnt his skin. He cursed to himself whilst trying to loosen the material covering his mouth. He gave up when he heard footsteps approaching.

I'm ready. Bring it on you bastards. The person he saw when the door opened was much worse than torture. He saw Ariadne gagged and tied being dragged along by a man 2 times her size.

"Evening Arthur." Phillips said as he walked through the door. "Are you ready to talk yet?" Arthur didn't take his eyes off Ariadne. "As you can see, since you're not saying anything, we've found someone who might co-operate." She looked into his eyes, apologetic almost. He couldn't understand why.

"You have half an hour. Then, if your team isn't here, you're going to limbo." Arthur saw Ariadne twitch. She sure as hell didn't want to go back there, and he didn't want to go there with her. The man pushed her into the chair, and tied her to it. After they left the room, it was silent. Arthur spent about 3 minutes getting his mouth free. He turned to Ariadne, looking to her eyes for some sort of comfort. His face was as straight as it had always had been.

"Ariadne." He didn't know what to say. He moved his hand over to hers, and even though it burnt his skin, he grabbed her whole hand and squeezed it.

"How did they find you?"

Ariadne managed to get her mouth free and squeezed his hand back before answering.

"I left the warehouse, probably wasn't the best idea."

"Why?" She looked over to him, teary.

"I thought it was you. You told me that I shouldn't be there anymore. You said I was…a waste of space. I was just…so sure it was you." Arthur squeezed her hand tighter.

"I would never think that about you. Ariadne…you're part of the reason I even come to work in the morning."

"Thanks. " Arthur watched her for about 5 minutes. He really cared for her, he found her interesting, smart and beautiful. He had never had a problem with women. He'd been with many, had serious relationships with women he did love. But he would drop everything for Ariadne. He leaned his head over to hers and pressed his nose against her temple. He could feel her jaw tightening, probably out of shock, but he continued.

"We will get out of this. I promise you." he whispered into her face.

"Arthur, I won't say anything. About the warehouse or anything."

"Ariadne-"

Just then, as if on cue, Phillips and his point man Smith, walked through the door. Arthur quickly raised his head and glared into his eye. Leave Ariadne. Go for me.

"Times up. Are you going to talk?" No-one spoke. Phillips sighed. "Fine." He pulled his cigarette out of his mouth and twisted it into Arthur's arm. Arthur hissed between his teeth, he could not show pain, otherwise they would win. Ariadne looked at him in horror. Phillips then turned to her. His cold eyes smiled as he reached for her arm.

"No!" Arthur yelled. Phillips ignored him. The cigarette burnt into her skin as her face squinted, and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. This went on for 10 minutes, before Phillips gave up and left, Smith in tow. Arthur turned to Ariadne, who was stiff in pain.

"Are you scared?" he asked her, his voice deep and almost comforting.

"No." she whispered. "I feel safest when I'm with you." This made Arthur smile.