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]

"And what would I do if this was real," he asked, turning to fully face her. "Tell me, Mal. You know me. You know me better than anyone I can think of. If this isn't a dream and Cobb incepted you to believe it was, how would I react finding you on that ledge," he demanded to know.

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

"Frightened," Mal replies quietly, thoughtful in her own way, "Very angry and very afraid, I believe."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"So you can't deny that I could be real, because this is the way I would react to knowing the woman that I care most for in this world nearly killed herself in front of me."

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

Mal falls silent, watching him for another long moment before her hands fall to her side.

"I am very tired," she admits a little slowly, "I do not know how to see what is happening to me. I just want -" Another pause, "I'm tired."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

Instantly food was forgotten. "Then let me help, Mal. Let me do what I have always done and let me fix this for you," he said, stepping in closer, reaching to take her hands. "Please."

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

She curls her fingers around his easily, marvelling at how right and normal it feels, tipping her head to watch their hands.

"Do you really think you can?"

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"I can't give up, Mal. I won't. All these years with you, there and watching and do you think I could walk away and lose you," he asked, so much pain in his eyes, in his voice.

"I can't let you die and leave me. I have no right to say this, but I can't live without you."

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

"Then what should I do?" Mal asks quietly, "What could I to make it better?"

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"Start by accepting I wouldn't lie to you, Mal. You husband did this to you and I care enough to fix it."

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

"I don't understand why he would - why this? My husband loves me, Dom loves me, doesn't he Arthur? He has to, we were going to have a family together. Why would he-?"

She takes a startled breath, wounded like she wants to cry, is so lost that she can't see out of it, but Mal hates being weak. Arthur's the only one she's ever let her guard down round, when she had been panicked and scared of insects. Arthur, her little white knight, her lamb. She raises his gaze to his, eyes flecked with confusion, with pain.

"Oh my love, my lamb. I am sorry."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"He didn't mean to hurt you." As angry as he was at Cobb, he wouldn't make her believe it had been malicious. "He does love you. You just... you didn't want to come back from limbo so he incepted you, but it carried over to reality and now you're trying to escape reality but if you do..."

He grabbed her, hugging her fiercely. "You have nothing to be sorry for. Nothing at all."

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

She curves her hands up under his arms, fisting her fingers in his shirt like she can't let go, cheek pressed hard against his chest. Mal breathes in the scent of him, like it could calm her, like it could bring her peace in a way she hasn't found yet. Arthur, her anchor for everything.

"Please," she whispers, turning into him, "Help me find my way out, I feel so lost. I don't know - please my love."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

Both arms went around her, holding Mal tight to him. He wasn't going to let go. Not and risk losing her. Not after all this. He rested his head against the top of her head, closing his eyes tightly.

"I will. I promise, Mal. I will fix this and make it right again. I swear."

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

Mal nods against his chest, matching their breathing as though it could keep her safe, in the moment with him. Eventually she pulls back a little, not enough to step out of his grip, and lifts her face up to his.

"What shall we do?"

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

Yet when she stepped back, he didn't let her go. He wrapped his arms a bit tighter around her. Kissing her temple, unwilling to let her go as if he did then he might lose her for good.

"Get you settled, comfortable. We'll have to try dream shares and undo what he's done."

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

She nods, momentarily unbalanced by the idea that they'll have to dream further, have to go back to get it to work right, but it frightens her. Instead of panicking, fighting back, Mal lets him kiss her, stays still.

"Okay, all right. I trust you lamb."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"I need you to, Mal. I need you to trust me. Just remember that I would never do anything to hurt you. You're my Mal and I will do whatever I have to to protect you," he whispered.

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

Mal nods, eyes glistening, but seems to pull herself together reasonably well, enough that she can stand on her own, breath normally without the shake of worry to it.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"We will fix this, Mal. I won't ever let you down." He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "You'll be okay. I won't let anything else happen."

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

She nods, working with him for the first time since she found him in the hotel room. "I trust you."

Mal takes another deep breath, straightening out even further and for a moment she looks like the old Mal, stronger again. It might not last, but she's trying.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

His breath came out in a slow release, not realizing how tense he was until that exact moment. "Thank you. Mal... thank you. I appreciate you having faith in me."

He leaned in, kissing her cheek. "Let me get you something to eat. I promise to take care of you."

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

She nods her ascent, curling her arms around herself but this time instead of hovering she leans against him while he works, cheek pressed into his shoulder, like contact helps.

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

His heart knotted in his chest. How could it feel right to have her like that when she was broken and hurting. Sighing softly, he started on omlettes.

"It'll be okay, Mal."

[acleandive.livejournal.com]

"I have seen you make omlettes before my lamb," Mal teases lightly, it's only very slightly off like her energy's flagging but it's still a tease, directing them away. "You'll be fine."

[loadedparadox.livejournal.com]

"Smart ass," he said in light, teasing tones, smiling. That made her sound like herself. Reaching around, he stroked her hair lightly. "We'll be fine. Both of us. Promise."