Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me. All readers and reviews appreciated, thank you!
Cobb felt his face freeze. "You're - outside?"
"Yes." Arthur's voice sounded faint, due to the reception. "I'm outside."
Trent got up and made his way to the Extractor. "Who is it?"
Putting his hand over the phone, Cobb turned to the Point. "Arthur."
Trent nodded. "If he's able to, tell him to come upstairs."
Cobb narrowed his eyes. "Trent-"
"Trust me," the other man insisted. "Please, Dom."
Nodding, Cobb put the phone back to his ear. "Arthur? You can come up. But we're all here. Ariadne, Eames...all of us."
"Oh, I'm sure." Arthur's voice was faint. "See you in a minute."
Cobb turned to Trent. "I hope you know what you're doing."
Trent turned. "Trust me, Dom. Ariadne!"
The Architect approached the Point, looking uncertain. He smiled at her, reassuringly. She opened her mouth, but he spoke first.
"Arthur's on his way up." Trent's voice was firm. "We can deal with him, but Ari - don't let him manipulate you."
"Manipulate?" Her voice sounded tense, and she looked at him.
"Arthur is in a dangerous, desperate situation." Trent bit his lip, locking eyes with the Architect. "He could say or do anything. Don't let him browbeat you, Ariadne. He'll use the fact you love him against you."
"But he thinks I lied about that-" her voice trailed off, as Trent nodded. "Exactly. Stay strong. Don't rise to his bait." He looked at her. "Let Cobb and I deal with him, please."
Nodding, the Architect turned and went into the kitchen. Trent nodded at Cobb. "Its ok."
Biting his lip, the Extractor turned to the door. A gentle knocking sound was reverberating throughout the apartment.
Arthur adjusted his jacket, and pulled his tie straight. The clothes were hanging off his shoulders, but he thought with anguish, they still felt too tight.
He knocked again. Swallowing, he waited. As he raised his hand for the third time, the door swung open, revealing Cobb.
"Arthur." Cobb's voice was devoid of emotion; his blue eyes flicked up and down the Point Man. "Come in."
Arthur nodded, and followed the Extractor in.
Cobb couldn't believe it. The Point Man looked worse than before. His cheeks were sunken, and his skin, Cobb noticed with horror, had taken on a greyish tinge. As Arthur had smiled, Cobb was sure he could detect more signs of decay. The younger man had clearly lost more weight, and the Extractor realised, numbly, that Arthur had virtually nothing left now to lose.
A hospital, he told himself. A hospital to keep you safe...
Arthur spoke first. "Cobb, thanks for letting me come up..." his voice trailed off, and he blinked. He reminded Cobb of an actor who had stumbled into a play in the second act, and had no idea of the script. "Where is everybody?"
"Oh, I'm here," Eames spoke, walking in. Folding his arms, he leaned against the doorframe and looked at the Point Man. "Arthur."
Arthur nodded. "Eames."
Silence. The three men stood awkwardly. Eames looked at Cobb - the Forger had noticed the desperate physical state the Point Man was in.
"So...what can we do for you?" Cobb finally spoke, and realised the words sounded cold and detached. "We assumed you're still working for Fischer?"
Arthur flushed. "Cobb, I should have explained-"
"You don't have to explain yourself to me, Arthur." Cobb's tone was cool. "The only person you really have to explain yourself to isn't in this room."
Arthur turned his head, realising that the Extractor meant Ariadne. A look of shame flickered across his gaunt features. "Where...is she?"
"In another room," a male voice said, abruptly. Arthur turned, his eyes widening when he saw who was entering. "Trent?"
"Hey, Art." The blonde man smiled, and nodded at the Point Man. "Long time, no see."
"What are you doing here?" Arthur cringed as he heard the words snap out of his mouth.
Trent smiled, gracefully. "I was in Chicago, on a job for work...bumped into Dom." He nodded at the Extractor. "He invited me over. Its been good to catch up."
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "I bet it has." He looked at Cobb. "Replacing me, are you?"
"Replacing you?" Eames spoke, cuttingly. "You walked out on us, remember?" He took a step forward, his voice hardening. "And I don't see you in any hurry to try and come back."
Arthur blinked. "I was in a bad place-"
"We noticed." The Forger's tone was aggressive, and Cobb looked at him. Please calm down, he silently willed the Forger. Eames took a step back, saying nothing further.
A silence descended on the four men. Arthur's eyes flickered from Trent, to Cobb, to Eames. Trent held his gaze.
"What can we do for you, Art?"
"I wanted to see..." his voice faltered, and he cleared his throat. "I wanted to see Ariadne."
"Why?" Eames spoke abruptly, his anger beginning to break through. "You want to upset her again, do you?"
"Eames!" Cobb's voice held a warning note.
"I want to apologise." Arthur's voice sounded sincere, and he looked at Cobb, almost beseechingly. "Please. I know I said things-"
Cobb shook his head. "Arthur, I don't think its a good-"
"Arthur!"
The men turned. The Architect was standing in the doorway. Arthur took one look, and turned, his arms almost outstretched.
"Oh, Ariadne!" To everyone's astonishment, tears were beginning to stream down his face. "Oh, Ari, I'm so sorry, I'm-"
"Ari!" Trent's voice held a warning note. "Ari, don't let yourself be-"
She walked towards him. "Hey." Letting him enfold her in his embrace, a shudder ran through her as she felt his thin frame. He buried his face in her neck, sobbing.
"Let's go and talk," she said, softly. His head nodded.
Eames made a step forward, Trent shook his head. "Let them."
The three men watched as the two went down a corridor to the bedroom.
Ariadne bit her lip as Arthur sat next to her. She looked at his thin, pale face, and the way his jacket hung off his shoulders.
"Ari, the way I left-" he sucked in his breath. Guilt was beginning to bubble to the surface - memories of how Allie had found her way between his legs. He cursed himself for that. He'd been so easy. So easy to take advantage of.
But she lied to you, a voice insisted. She lied to you, and made you think-
"Arthur, I know you think I don't love you - really love you-" Ariadne began, her voice faltering. "But, I-"
"I treated you badly-" he swallowed. Painful memories were competing with the task he had to accomplish. He turned to her, and put his hand on her leg. She shuddered slightly, as though a shock had passed through her.
"Arthur." Ariadne's voice was getting stronger. "I love you. I love you, and I want to help you."
Trent looked at the other two, and beckoned. Eames walked forward. "Grab him," Trent said, barely in a whisper. "Now."
"But he's in there with-" Cobb looked at Trent, and the Point nodded.
"I know you do." Arthur nodded. She looked at him, and realised that she couldn't tell what was real with him, and what was not. She swallowed, realising what she had to do.
"I want to help you," she repeated. "I want to help you!"
"I know you do," Arthur mumbled. He met her eyes. "Ari, I've done-" he paused. He suddenly felt more confused than before. He looked at her, and felt his head swim. "I know you do, I-" He put his hand under chin, and their eyes met. "Ari, I love-"
Ariadne took a deep breath. "Cobb! Eames!"
Upon hearing her shout, the door burst open. Eames and Trent entered, both pinning the Point Man onto the bed. His eyes widened in shock and anger.
"You manipulative little b-" his words were cut off as Eames planted a cloth over his face, causing him to struggle slightly, then lapse into unconsiousness.
Eames looked at Ariadne. "Are you allright?"
She shook her head. "No." Her voice was wobbly. He sat down, and put an arm around her shoulders, squeezing her tight. Trent looked sympathetic, as did Cobb.
"Ari," Cobb said, looking at the limp figure of Arthur, "I know this is tough, but we can't let him go back to Fischer, we can't let him carry on like this."
She nodded. "I know", she said, a plan forming in her mind as she took in the form of Arthur. "I know."