Itches and Bets
Last Night…
"You're a good man. You know that, right?" Gwen said, curled up on the couch her with her drink cradled to her.
Arthur knocked back the rest of his. "I know," he smirked. "Tell me more."
"And you're stupid."
"I take it back."
"No." Gwen sat up. "You're stupid. You shouldn't have let Gaius close my case. You should've been firm and said 'No, sir, she killed her husband, and I can prove it!'"
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Do you feel the need to turn yourself in every time you drink?"
"I'm…I'm…" Gwen snapped her fingers, thinking of the right word. "Dangerous!"
"Are itching to kill again?"
Gwen burst out laughing. "You would too if you had to deal with dance moms!"
Arthur sighed in relief. A part of him had been afraid that she was going to genuinely say yes. He put his cup on the table and sat back.
"I could do it," she continued. "I don't know how yet, but I could."
"You could poison their artisanal water," Arthur played along.
"That's cute." Gwen finished her drink. "Killing doesn't suit you," she said quietly into the empty mug.
He heard her loud and clear. "I'll try not to do it again."
Gwen looked up and beamed. "Good. Leave it to me. But if you want lessons…" she giggled, and a snort escaped which Arthur found adorable. She made a move to take another drink and remembered it was empty.
"Still thirsty?" Arthur joked.
Gwen made a face at him and stretched to place her mug on the coffee table, but she couldn't reach. Arthur leaned over and passed it off the rest of the way for her. "Whatta gentleman," Gwen gasped lightly with both hands on her chest.
"I try," Arthur said, tipping his invisible hat to her.
In the process of rearranging her position to get more comfortable, Gwen found herself leaning on Arthur and his arm around her shoulders. They reclined in their usual comfortable silence.
"Hey," Gwen muttered.
"Hmm?" was Arthur's response.
Gwen tilted her head up to see that his was back and his eyes were closed. "You should give me a house tour."
Arthur chuckled at her suggestion. "Some other time. I don't wanna move."
"Yeah," Gwen said, relaxing deeper into his hold. "Me neither."
Now…
"Who's the guy you stood up?" Arthur asked as he passed Gwen her tea.
Gwen wasn't thrilled with the aroma that it emitted. "Someone's eager to get back in the interrogation room." She took a sip and grimaced.
Arthur anticipated the face she made. "It's horrible, I know. Morgana made a custom blend and gave it as a gift one Christmas. It gets the job done, though."
"It's…" Gwen tried to think of a word that could accurately describe the tea blend. It was an onslaught of citrus, pepper, and God knows what, but she already felt more awake. "Interesting."
After analyzing Moragna's tea, Arthur brought up Annis looking for tea suggestions. Gwen thought he was joking and asked if Annis knew how she killed her ex-husband. Arthur confirmed that Annis was well aware.
"I think I like her. Can you give me her number?" Gwen said. "And maybe I can talk to her about other things."
Other things.
It lingered in the air for a moment. Arthur didn't need to push because he knew what she meant.
"Right, so who's the guy?" Arthur asked instead, abruptly bringing the conversation back to where it started.
Gwen powered through the tea with a long sip. "You're so nosey."
Arthur agreed. "I won't deny that."
"I met him last week. I was loading groceries in my car when it started to rain. He had just pulled into the spot next mine. He offered me his umbrella, and then he asked me out," she explained. "That's it."
"Seriously? That's it?"
"Chivalry makes me weak." Gwen took a few more forced sips and patted her face. "I should get going. I've got a dog to feed." She made an attempt to fix her appearance again.
"You look fine," Arthur said.
Gwen dropped her hands. "Are you sure? Because I can't have your neighbors or mine thinking I'm doing the walk of shame."
"I've sent girls off looking far worse than you do," Arthur said casually as he walked her out. A crisp morning breeze hit them, and Gwen shivered which caused a curl to fall into her face. "Since you're so concerned…" He tucked the strand carefully behind her ear.
In the second it took Arthur's hand to remove the hair from her face, Gwen felt a warmth overcome her. "You still owe me a house tour," was all she could think to say.
Arthur crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe. "I guess you'll have to come back, then."
"I guess so." Gwen smoothly turned on her heel and made her way back to her car. Arthur watched until she was down the road and out of site.
A drawn out whistle caught Arthur's attention. His neighbor was waving at him from his front steps.
"Looks like someone had a good time last night." Trevor called out. Arthur learned that Trevor was recently divorced, and in his words, "Newly single and ready to mingle."
Old Mrs. Thorne, his other neighbor, said she doesn't blame his wife for leaving him.
"Morning, Trevor." Arthur forced himself to wave back.
Gwen was right to be paranoid about how she looked when she stepped out with neighbors like Trevor. But to say that she looked fine was an understatement, he had thought. Her dress was barely wrinkled, her lipstick had worn away to a stain, and she didn't have raccoon eyes. That one pesky curl was, to exaggerate, the most scandalous thing about her appearance.
Scandalous.
Her body against his on the couch, the flash of her leg, and the smooth skin of her cheek he grazed before moving her hair came to mind. Don't go there, Pendragon, Arthur scolded himself.
He saw Trevor open his mouth again, but before he could hear another asinine comment, Arthur stepped back inside and slammed the door behind him.
Later that night there was a small dinner at Gaius and Alice's to celebrate Gaius' retirement and Arthur's return to work. As the guys set the table, they continued to poke fun at Arthur for being weird and moving everything himself.
"I wouldn't help my sister move if she paid me, but I would help you in a second, mate," Gwaine said.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Gwaine with the same surprised expression. "You have a sister?" Percival asked for all of them.
"Yep," Gwaine clenched his jaw. "She's awful. Anyone want her?"
On the subject of sisters, Merlin brought up the bet he had with Morgana, and he thanked Arthur for not going crazy from not working. "You saved my wallet."
"Thank Gaius and Annis for making me take the vacation. It was the right time," Arthur said. "And at least you're learning to not bet against me."
Leon leaned on the back of a chair and bowed his head. "Wish I could say the same."
Arthur's head snapped to Leon's direction. "Wait, what?"
The other cop looked up and gave his colleague a sheepish grin. "I was sure you'd come crawling in the office begging to be let back after at least two weeks."
"Traitor," Arthur snickered.
Gaius scratched his chin. "It really is a miracle. You, my boy, are a workaholic."
All but Arthur nodded in agreement. "Fine, fine. I bet you all have a wager for how long I last before I'm at odds with the new superintendent."
"Yes," they answered in unison.
Dinner was spectacular. Alice had gone all out, and even went as far as to make a separate apple pie for Gwaine so he didn't have to share. The dining room was full of laughter as they recounted their shenanigans Gaius had to put up with.
Gaius looked upon each of them as if they were his sons. "I give you all permission to give the new superintendent hell."
Merlin and Gwaine shared a mischievous look. Percival and Leon were more subtle with their amusement, but just as willing.
Arthur was more concerned with the identity of his new boss. "Do you know who he is?"
"I'm in the dark just as much as you," Gaius said. "I guess it will be a surprise."
Arthur wasn't a fan of change, especially when he didn't know what to expect from them. He frowned. "I don't like surprises."
A/N: Hi everyone! Sorry for the wait, but I had a little battle of the intros. Good thing though because now I already have a start to the next chapter lol
Thanks for reading and reviewing!
