Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me.

Arthur looked at Davis and Cobb, his jaw dropping. "Suspended?"

Davis nodded. "Yes. From your duties as Vice Principal. For the time being, you will be expected to carry out the duties of a normal classroom teacher." He swallowed. "Mrs Mallorie Cobb will take over your VP duties."

Arthur shook his head. "You can't do this." He looked at Davis. "This is a jumped up charge, by a-"

"Arthur!" Davis shook his head. "Please, don't say anything. You will be questioned by a member of the District." He nodded at Cobb. "Thanks Dom." He hurried out.

Arthur turned to Cobb, his eyes blazing. "Well?"

Cobb looked at him. "Art, I don't like this-"

"You're not exactly standing up for me though, are you?" Arthur sounded angry, and embarrassed. "You saw what he was doing in the restaurant! He had his hands all over her!"

Cobb swallowed. "Arthur. Calm down. Yes, I did see. But, Ariadne's an adult. Not a child. If she was offended by Robert, she should have told him. She didn't need you to defend her honour!"

Arthur looked at him. "I just can't stand to see a woman mistreated!"

"You mean you couldn't stand that Robert could have got their first!" Cobb retorted. "You couldn't bear that he asked her out, so you got us to gatecrash their date, and then you dumped ice cream in his lap." He glared at Arthur. "You've tangled with someone who won't let you forget it!"

Arthur rubbed his face. "Dom, what have I done?"

Cobb bit his lip. "I think you've just put your career in jeopardy because of a woman," he said gently. "I hope you like her, and this isn't just macho posturing." He exhaled, slowly. "Now, Arthur. I need to find Mal...and let her know she'll be doing your job for a while."

Speechless, Arthur turned and left Cobb's office.

Ariadne walked to the Art room. Her heart felt light, and she smiled as she unlocked the door. A shadow fell across - a tall, thin one. Smiling, she turned her face upwards. Her smile froze as she saw Robert Fischer.

"Hello," she said, uncertainly.

"Ariadne," Fischer said, pleasantly. "I hope you enjoyed last night. Very interesting - I take a woman out to dinner, and she leaves with someone else."

Her face began to flush. Biting her lip, she looked at him. "I-"

"Oh, don't bother," Fischer said, kindly. He smiled at her. "There's a name for young women like you. But as there are minors around, I won't embarrass you by saying it."

Her jaw dropping, Ariadne stared at him. Fischer smiled, smugly.

"Oh, I wouldn't look for Arthur to save you," he said, as he turned and left. "He's in a lot of trouble." Chuckling, he walked down the corridor, leaving the Art specialist staring after him, slack jawed.

Arthur unlocked the door to his apartment, and threw his suit jacket over the back of one of the chairs. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been so relieved to get to the end of the day. Heading to the liquor cabinet, he poured himself a scotch. Flinging himself into a chair, he began to sip at it.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Groaning, he pulled himself to his feet. Setting the glass on the table, he peered through the keyhole.

Ariadne.

His heart sank. He'd managed to avoid her all day - even going so far as just grabbing a sandwich and eating it in the music room at lunch. But now, she was knocking on his door, and he had no choice but to answer it. Swallowing, he opened the door.

"Ari, I-"

"Whats going on?" she demanded, making no pretence at social niceties. "Fischer told me you were in trouble, you've been avoiding me and everyone else all day! What is going on?"

Arthur looked at her. "Have a seat." He slumped back in his chair, and picked up the scotch. "Fischer has made a complaint against me. About me assaulting him in the restaurant."

Ariadne sucked in her breath. "What?"

"Yeah," Arthur said, tonelessly. "I'm in trouble for tipping ice cream in his lap."

"And what happened?"

"I have been suspended from my VP duties," He said. He took a swallow of scotch.

"Arthur, you-" her voice broke off, and he looked at her. "What?"

"I've been suspended from my VP duties for throwing ice cream over Robert!" he repeated. He looked at her. "I shouldn't have crashed your date, and been such a jealous je-"

He stopped. Ariadne was kissing him, softly. He swallowed, and blinked. "Wow."

"Thought you needed it," she said, gently. Then she started to look more serious. "Arthur, it will be ok. You can get through this, I know you can."

He leaned back. "I hope you're right," he sighed. "I really hope so."

She bit her lip, deciding to keep Robert's taunts to herself. Getting up, she kissed his forehead, and showed herself out.

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