Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me.

Ariadne swallowed, and kept looking at the floor. Arthur was glaring at her.

"I didn't know how you..." she swallowed. "How you'd behave-"

"No, you do know!" He snapped. "We work together - have done for months. Do you honestly think I'm a bully? Someone who would make somebody feel bad about how they look? Would taunt them about it?"

She opened her mouth. "Arthur, I-"

He shook his head. "No, just don't. Please. That's what you think of me, and-"

She turned her head away. "Fine, ok." Her voice was cracking, and he realised she was on the verge of tears. "I think I'd better leave."

"No, wait, I-"

"Arthur, I have to-"

He swallowed, and moved. Before she could leave, he'd got in front of her, effectively barricading the door. "Stop." His voice was firm. "You're not going anywhere, until we talk this through."

She looked at him. "I-"

"Come on." He'd softened his voice, and held out his hand. "Why do you think I'd be like that? Bullying you, controlling what you eat? Why?"

She bit her lip. "It was just after I went to college."

"What was?" Still holding hands, he guided her to the lounge, and the couch. They settled down next to each other, their eyes meeting. "What happened?"

"I met someone," she almost whispered. "We started dating, and I got comfortable with him. Then, we took it a stage further-" she blushed slightly - "and he commented on how good I looked."

Arthur blinked, a wave of jealousy threatening to course through him. "What did you say?"

"I told him I used to be heavier." She swallowed. "He told me that he couldn't stay with me, as I might get fat again, and walked out."

Arthur felt a pang of repugnance. "Ari, no! That's-" he stopped, fumbling for words. "That's awful!"

She nodded. "But I-" she stopped. "I just thought that-"

"That I might be like that." He raised an eyebrow. "Trust me, not going to happen."

She looked at him. "Really?"

"Yes." He stopped, examining his hands. "If you want to know why, then you can go into my dreams. My memories."

Ariadne blinked. "You're sure?"

"Absolutely." Arthur nodded. "I went to a different type of school, but-" he smiled. "Kids are kids, wherever you go." He shrugged. "Don't think I don't have body hang ups."

Ariadne smiled. "I can't believe that."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Oh, when you're thin for your age, and people make comments that you're not filling out properly, it does get to you. Want to see?"

She nodded. "If you're sure."

"I am. Come on."

As they walked back into the bedroom, Arthur checked the PASIV. "Five minutes, ok? Let's see what you can see in five minutes."

"OK." She settled herself on the bed and began to attach the IV. Arthur laid down next to her, and turned his head. "Ready?"

She nodded. "Ready."

He pressed the centre button, plunging them both into darkness.

"Arthur!" She blinked. She was sitting on the bed of a teenager. Turning her head, she realised it was early morning. "Arthur, are you up?"

"Yes!" a voice called. Getting up, she hurried into the closet, closing the door.

Suddenly, the teenage Arthur came striding into the bedroom. Ariadne peeked at him.

He was, she realised, thin. She also realised, blinking, that he was naked except for the towel swathed around his hips. Turning her head, she decided not to watch him dress.

After a couple of minutes, she looked. He was wearing dark trousers, a white shirt, and a tie - the uniform, she suddenly realised, of a private school. He reached for the back of a desk chair, picking up a dark blue blazer.

"Arthur!" The voice was more insistent now, almost with an undercurrent of annoyance. "Where are you?!"

He groaned slightly, and picked up a stack of books and a small backpack. She watched as he left, then followed him, quietly.

He was entering the kitchen. An attractive, dark haired woman, clearly his mother, was standing at the counter. Her look of annoyance was softening the minute she saw her son.

"Arthur, you really need to hurry in the morning! You don't have time to eat!"

"Mom, we've had this conversation before." Arthur looked at her, and bit his lip. "I'm really not hungry. Toast is fine."

"You should eat more," his mother insisted. "I worry about you- you're growing!"

"Yes, but I'm just not hungry at the moment." He swallowed. "Mom, you shouldn't worry about me. I do eat at school. But-"

"I'm taking you to a doctor next week," she said, suddenly. He blinked. "Why?"

"Eating disorders, Arthur. That's why!"

"Mom, I don't have a..." his voice faded, clearly in the face of his mother's stern expression. "I need to go."

Before she could protest further, Arthur grabbed his bag, and hurried to the front door. As he walked past, Ariadne prepared to follow him.

"Arthur!" His mother's voice echoed down the corridor. "Anorexia is a problem in teenage boys!"

Ariadne, beginning to wonder what she would witness next, followed the teenage Point Man out of the house.

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