A need to save everything that was lost

[loadedparadox]

Who: Arthur and acleandive
What: Continued on from here
Verse: Love Stories

Arthur moved around the loft, ensuring all windows were locked, the bars still on the windows. It had been for his own safety before, but now there was the worry about what would become with Mallorie trying to leave, to return to Dom.

After a bit she curled up in the corner and he was okay with that. He could handle her if she wasn't near the door, wasn't fighting him. Yet even as she dozed, he couldn't. He'd fall asleep, wake with a start. Come to and then drop off again. I was going to wear thin quickly but he hadn't had time to think when he realized what was to come, only react.

He watched her, never once truly looking away from her, even when his eyes fell shut. Always he was oriented on her.

Comments

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"He loves you, Mal. Never lose sight of that." He sighed, straightening his shoulders, taking a deep breath. "You can't ever let that go. He did this because he loves you and was afraid to lose you."

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

"I just do not understand why, my lamb. I do not know why my husband would wish to -" Taking a shuddering breath, Mal stops, shakes her head once, "I would like to feel well again."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"He wanted to make you safe." And food was, for Arthur, forgotten. "You were trapped, Mal. Down in limbo and believing you were in reality. He thought he had no other choice to bring you back to the real world. He just didn't count on how much it would effect you."

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

"Why?" she murmurs softly, "Why me? Why can't I see?"

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"The inception process overrides your own thoughts, Mal. He implanted the thought that you were in a dream and needed to die and go home. Except you already did, but it is implanted so deep, you don't realize it isn't your own thought."

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

"But you've told me now, you've told me. I should be able to tell."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

Arthur sighed. "I had honestly hoped that might be enough. I don't know just how deep he went or what he did to convince you. Eventually I'm going to have to confront him directly about it."

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

Mal nods, biting down on her lip a little, nervous movements obvious. "And where will we go?"

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"Not far. I promise, Mal. I'm not trying to keep you from him. I know you love Cobb and always will. I'm just worried because he did this and he isn't fixing it and... and I can't be party to you dying," he said, words fierce with emotions he was having a hard time controlling.

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

Mal only lays her hand against his cheek, thoughtful, "I'm sorry, my lamb."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

Leaning into the touch, Arthur looked at her with such concern. "Sorry for what, Mal? You have nothing to be sorry for."

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

"I have hurt you," Mal whispers quietly, "You are upset and it is my fault."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"Mal, no. You are hurting and it isn't your fault. Not at all. You didn't do this to you." Dom had. He couldn't blame her. He just couldn't.

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

Mal nods, dropping her hands from his face and canting her gaze downwards, letting out a sigh. "We'll do what we have to, non? I trust you."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

His fingers brushed her cheek. "Thank you for having faith in me, Mal. I will do everything I can for you."

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

She leans into his touch breifly and then visibly pulls herself together, "We are forgetting breakfast, lamb."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"We do need to eat," he agreed, sitting back to work on trying to eat. "You included."

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

"I will, I promise." She even picks up her fork to demonstrate, still staring a little quietly and out of sorts.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

His next words were cruel and worth a try. "Please? For me?"

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

She cuts into her omelette with a little curl of her determination to her lips, takes the first bite like a child starting to learn again. it's the shock, settling in her system like a mist that it's hard to see out of but she is trying, that much is clear.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

Arthur smiled then, working on his own meal. "Thank you," he whispered, watching her.

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

She looks up, smiling slightly so that her cheeks dimple before going back to the task at hand.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

Arthur worked on eating, watching her and seeing that she ate. He barely touched his, still nervous and worried.

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

Mal's careful the way she divides her food up, controlling in a way she isn't usually, like all the gusto has been driven from her. Eventually her energy flags and she pulls a face, laying down her utensils.

"I'm not sure I feel very well, my Arthur. May I stop?"

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

The changes are heart breaking. He watches her but when she asks to stop, he nodded. "Of course. I won't force you to eat," he murmured, knowing the only thing he would make her do was not leave.