AN: Hello, friends. I hope I can call you all that. I know it has been four weeks since I last updated Above The Law. I've just been going through some things; still going through them actually. But I just couldn't let one full month pass me by, so I decided to type to take my mind off of my woes. And you know what, it helped.
So here is chapter 25 of our fic. I hope you all enjoy it, and thank you for your patience and unwavering support.
Justine
Gwen walks into her firm the next morning softly singing Heather Headley's latest melody.
"The night is quiet.
I watch you sleep.
The room is dark.
I hear you breathe.
I wish this would never end.
Never end.
Your breath is music to my soul.
A rhythm that I've come to know.
I can't resist,
I touch your skin.
Again and again".
The lyrics perfectly relay her evening with Arthur. In fact when Gwen had awoken the night before, she traced small circles up the forearm that was protectively guarded around her waist. She had picked up Arthur's hand, softly kissed his rough palm and made a mental to treat the hard working detective to a manicure before she filed the thought away. At the fore of Gwen's mind had been thoughts of an entirely different pampering. She carefully peeled away Arthur's heavy muscled arm and wiggled away from its safety. He grunted once in disagreement but the detective had remained asleep. Gwen carefully pushed Arthur on to his back and stared down appreciatively at his impressive sleeping form. Even while dormant he had looked every bit of a tough copper. A strong wave of desire had swept through Gwen and washed away all remnants of slumber that were in its path. Gwen glided her warm palms across the range of Arthur's soft haired chest and placed tender kisses on each of his pecs before her mouth had started to travel downward, leaving a trail of searing wet kisses down Arthur's abdomen and stopped at the dark blond line of hair, that disappeared into his dark blond bush, when Arthur had moved. His arm reached across the bed looking for Guinevere so she'd risen, reached over and picked up one of the pillows, hoping that the feather stuffed substitution would have fooled the detective, when his hand stilled in its efforts and he carried on sleeping.
Gwen smiled wickedly at Arthur. 'You won't be sleeping for long, my love' she thought. She resumed her post at Arthur's hip and gently took his flaccid member into her hand, massaged Arthur's cock in her palm and elicited a sleepy groan from the detective. Gwen had continued her ministrations until the thick flesh pulsed in her hand. Encouraged by Arthur's body's reaction, she licked and gently nibbled the length of his ever growing shaft. Arthur stirred and moaned in his sleep but his eyes had remained shut to the world. Gwen continued licking, kissing and stroking Arthur's shaft until it had grown fully erect. She licked the pre-ejaculate from his head then took it into her mouth, sucking the bulb and releasing it, making a "pop" sound. Gwen took as much of Arthur's thick flesh into her mouth as she could, swirled her tongue around its length as she came up, lubricating it, and took him in deeper as she came back down. She had formed a ring with her fingers on one hand and kept it tight around Arthur's shaft then slid it from the base and up toward her mouth. She massaged any part of his shaft that was still exposed, while her free hand massaged his testicles. Gwen had found a steady rhythm working Arthur's swollen flesh in and out of the moist, warm walls of her mouth and slowly stirred him out of his slumber. Arthur's hand had instinctively reached to the top of her head to investigate the wet arousing sensation in his lap. Ever the detective.
Arthur thought he had been dreaming when he discovered Guinevere's mass of curls beneath his hand, felt her mouth around his member and heard the wet sounds, and the deep moans that came from her throat. But when a loud drum of thunder had beaten across the sky and he heard the rain still pounding against the window pane, he knew that it was real, and it felt incredible.
"Arghh...Guinevere", he'd moaned when he felt the head of his cock hit the tight space at the back of Gwen's throat. She'd responded by tightening the walls of her mouth around his shaft, as she slid her head up and down, taking him in further. Arthur thought then about the fleshlight that he had purchased when the nights alone just got too much for him to bear. It failed in comparison to Guinevere's passion, enthusiasm, the warmth and endless depth of her glorious mouth. He couldn't wait to chuck the fallacious device away.
Arthur massaged Guinevere's scalp and slightly sat up to run his palm along her smooth back as she continued pleasuring him. Her moans and wet suction sounds had mingled with his own groans and filled the bedroom with their primal music.
"Oh...Guin..." Arthur groaned when he'd felt his loins tighten. "...Guinevere". He had called her name and laced his fingers tightly through her hair. "...Guinevere" he'd panted again, grinding the backs of his teeth to delay his release. Guinevere never showed any signs of slowing. She loved the feel of Arthur's bulging veins as they glided along the walls of her inner mouth. Arthur hadn't bothered calling out to Guinevere a fourth time. Instead he'd tightened his fist around her curls and forced her to bring her head up.
"Ouch, Arthur!" she panted crossly at him.
"Please..." he'd gritted out. "Finish me with your hand". A look of confusion and slight offense then marred Gwen's face.
"Please" he'd urged. Gwen heeded. She closed her fist tightly around Arthur's shaft and jerked the ring of fingers up and down his cock rapidly. Arthur's hips bucked and his body tensed.
"Arghhh...". He'd groaned fiercely when his climax hit him and erupted his hot seed like lava into the air, then down Guinevere's hand. Gwen had marveled at the viscosity of his ejaculate before she slowly and seductively licked it from her nimble fingers. Arthur's head fell back as he panted and tried to catch his breath. Gwen moved up and joined him. She wiped his damp locks from his sweated forehead before she rested her own head on to his chest. Arthur had been afraid to release into Guinevere's mouth, afraid that the sheer velocity and volume of his gush would have chocked her, and he told Gwen as much. She'd laughed at his revelation; touched by his thoughtfulness but at the same time thoroughly amused by its absurdity. She would have to disprove his theory another time. Arthur silenced her laughs with his tongue. First in her mouth, then on the sweat tinged skin of her throat, her breasts, her stomach, and finally in her intimate flesh. Arthur had silenced Guinevere's laughs and brought forth her screams until she too released in climactic bliss. Before the sun rose they'd made love one final time, slowly, tenderly, as they rode out the last of the storm together.
In the morning Gwen arose sore to the bone. But that did not stop the lazy smile that had spread across her face at the memory of the delicious events which lead to her tender state. She shifted her head and found Arthur gazing down lovingly at her, so she shifted again and took his face into her hands, kissing him good morning.
"How did you sleep?" Arthur had asked.
"As if you don't know" Gwen had replied cheekily, as she gently brushed her thumb across his full lips. Arthur had tried to keep the smug grin that threatened to form on his mouth, but to no avail. Gwen fixed him with a look before she caved in and kissed him again.
"I don't even want to know what time it is" Gwen said then, looking at the streaks of sun that broke through the windows.
"We have plenty of time" had been Arthur's response. Gwen had taken one look at the wicked gleam in his eyes and fixed him with a different look.
"Addicted already are we?" she'd asked teasingly.
Not blinking once, "You have no idea" Arthur replied. Gwen was the one who had to fight the smug grin off of her face then.
"You and I will get more in depth about your addiction later. Right now I need a hot shower". Gwen gingerly climbed out of the king sized bed and she'd hidden her wincing face from Arthur as she did so. She padded her tiny bare feet around the bed and across the room while Arthur leaned back into the pillows and hungrily absorbed the sight of Gwen's bare body in the day's light. Gwen had felt his gaze and exaggerated the sway of her hips as she made her way to the bathroom.
Arthur knocked on the bathroom door minutes later.
"Yes?" Gwen had answered around the toothbrush.
"Aren't you going to let me in?" Arthur had asked.
"No" Gwen replied.
"No?"
"No", she'd said a bit firmer and ignored the false hurt in Arthur's voice.
"Guinevere. If we shower together we'll save water" he'd reasoned.
"Pleeazze" Gwen said after rinsing her mouth. "I doubt your motives have anything to do with the preservation of the planet's natural resources. I know for a fact that if I let you in to this bathroom only dirty, naughty things will come of it. Kind of defeats the purpose of a shower, yeah?". She'd been right of course. Guinevere would not have made it past the lavatory before Arthur would have seized her and showed her just what kind of 'dirty' and 'naughty' he'd had in mind. Groaning in defeat, he had sulked out of his room, across the hall and in to the main bathroom where he shaved and showered.
Both the detective and attorney had decided that skipping breakfast and opting for a cup of coffee at their respective workplaces was in the best interest of time. When Gwen had insisted on driving herself to work Arthur had convinced her otherwise. So long in fact had Arthur taken to convince Guinevere that his favourite neighbor, Ms. Beatrice, a sprightly elderly woman who always found an excuse to make baked goods for the detective that reminded her of her grandson in the States, had to clear her throat to get the attention of the couple, as they blocked the apartment complex's main entrance.
"Ms. Beatrice" Arthur had greeted the silver haired woman, bending low to meet her four foot ten frame, and kissed her cheek. "Up for your morning walk I see".
"You know I'm no good to the world without my three miles" she'd stated satisfactorily. Ms. Beatrice looked at Gwen then and asked, "And who might this lovely lass be?"
"This is Guinevere, my girlfriend" Arthur stated with evident pride.
"Lovely indeed" Ms. Beatrice reiterated. "You've got a good one here, Guinevere".
"I know" Gwen agreed then, gazing up at Arthur as the thumb of her hand, intertwined with his, absently stroked his own.
"I suppose you won't need me to bake you any more puddings and such" Ms. Beatrice said then to Arthur, laughing sadly.
"On the contrary" Gwen had answered before Arthur could. "You may have to bake twice as many". She winked at the elder woman and smiled. Ms. Beatrice beamed with relieved elation.
"I quite like her" she said cheerfully.
Arthur looked down into Guinevere's eyes. "There seems to be quite a bit of that going around".
"'Only One In The World' by Heather Headley" Mona says, snapping Gwen out of her daydream. "That's one of my favourite tunes". Mona sizes Gwen up; looking her up and down carefully.
"Gwen, love. Far be it from me to question the- pardon my French- Head Bitch In Charge, but you are an hour and a half late". Mona confirms with a quick glance of her watch. Looking back up at Gwen with a glint of mischief in her eyes she asks, "Pray tell me why".
"My alarm didn't go off this morning" Gwen says, telling a partial truth. Her alarm indeed did not go off in the morning because she was never home to set it last night. But Mona doesn't have to know that.
Mona suspects as much.
"Hmm...Funny your alarm doesn't go off on the very morning that Arthur picks you up from home and drops you off at work" Mona says, stretching her neck and looking pointedly through the firm's front entrance glass doors where she'd seen Arthur wave farewell to Gwen before he drove off moments ago. Gwen is busted.
Smiling sheepishly, the barrister says, "I spent the night at Arthur's last-"
Before Guinevere can get the final word out Mona lets out a loud girlish squeal. "I knew it would happen! I knew it would happen! I knew it would happen!", the words leave the secretary's mouth in rapid succession.
"What's going on?!" both Gwaine and Elyan demand after jogging from Elyan's office to the lobby at the sound of Mona's yelp. The two had been going over notes and documents on an upcoming case.
"Um...Uh...Well..." Mona stutters, looking back and forth between Gwaine, Elyan and Gwen. "You see Gwen...". The secretary looks helplessly at the barrister before her mind quickly forms a suitable fib. "...just booked an appointment with Albion's most highly acclaimed hairstylist. The average time on the waiting list for her salon is usually months long. Gwen got reserved in only a few weeks; hence my excitement" Mona concludes, discreetly winking at Gwen, who just as secretly sighs in relief.
Elyan looks suspiciously at his sister and knows that there is more to the story than Mona is telling, but he chooses not to voice his suspicion.
Instead he turns to Gwaine and says, "The day you ever show that much excitement about hair is the day I officially terminate your membership as a man".
"Suit yourself". Gwaine shrugs easily. "I'll be in the "non man club" using Nancy's Mango Shampoo from the Albion Farmers' Market that you love so much" he says, before walking back toward Elyan's office.
Elyan is hot on his heels. "Clean hair has nothing to do with vanity, Gwaine".
"Aye!" Gwaine agrees from down the hall. "But exclusively using hair products that are formulated with rainwater, is".
"Rainwater is softer and kinder to the hair follicles..." Gwen and Mona hear Elyan justify, before he shuts his office door. The two girls snicker at the irony.
"Right". Mona brings the attention back to Guinevere. "You. Arthur. Details. Now". Gwen giggles again.
"I'll tell you anything you want to know". Mona's eyes and grin grow in anticipation. "Later" Gwen clarifies. The secretary huffs and folds her arms across her chest, pouting like a petulant child.
"After lunch call the girls" Gwen instructs "and tell them, tea at mine after work".
Gwen walks to her office humming the rest of Heather's tune. Once inside she laughs quietly at her appearance. Any passerby would think she were appropriately dressed for a day at the office: trench coat, modest pumps and briefcase in hand. Even Mona had been none the wiser. 'If only they knew' Gwen thinks to herself. Underneath her, now dry, trench coat Gwen is clad in the t shirt and boxer underwear that Arthur had provided her with the night before. She never did get the chance to where them. She smiles to herself at the thoughts of her forwardness last night. Gwen was glad she used a bit of her assertiveness outside of the courtroom, and it paid off many, many, many times. Warmth engulfs her cheeks at the thought and she shakes her head, trying to dispel images of Arthur's sweat dampened, brawny body hovering over hers. Gwen refocuses on her appearance. Thankfully the solicitor always keeps a spare change of undergarments, clothes and shoes in her office closet, just in case. Gwen gets redressed, gathers her curls into a hair clip and has a cereal bar with her cup of coffee before getting straight to work.
Arthur walks into the precinct with a spring in his step, greeting nearly everyone- including handcuffed perpetrators- in the lobby on his way to the lift. Once inside he begins singing:
"When you move me.
Everything is groovy.
If they don't like it, sue me!
Mmmm the way you do me.
Oh I swear to ya.
I'll be there for ya.
This is not a drive by ah, ah, ah-"
"Arthur Pendragon!" Morgana bites out as soon as the lift doors open. She had grown tired of waiting for him at her desk and decided to go and wait for her brother outside instead, where she could have greeted him with a few choice words without the prying ears of their colleagues.
"Good morning, baby sister" Arthur greets her, smooching her loudly on the cheek, and continues down the hall to his office, humming the rest of Train's 'Drive By' along the way. Morgana quickly falls in step beside him until they are inside his cubicle.
"Arthur" she says in a harsh, conspiratorial whisper. "Do you know that you are nearly two hours late!"
"Am I?" the detective asks, unfazed, then shrugs.
"Yes". Morgana stabs her forefinger into Arthur's chest, emphasizing each word. "You. Are".
"Not to worry, though. I covered for you of course". She shrugs as if to say 'naturally'. "It's just that you're never late. Yet judging from the look on your face..." Arthur is grinning like a maniac. "...you don't seem to care too much about it".
"I do care" Arthur says, as he reaches back to sit on the edge of his desk, trying in vain to dim out his grin. "Of course I care. It's just that I had to drop Guinevere off at work this morning, that's why I'm late". Morgana narrows her eyes and tilts her head in confusion.
"Why would you drive all the way across town to Gwen's house and then escort her to work, when Gwen has her own car? If she was not inclined to drive, certainly she could have carpooled with Mona".
"Guinevere stayed the night with me last night" Arthur states insouciantly.
Morgana shrugs. "Oh. Okay. That makes sense". Realization soon dawns on her and her eyes slowly grow wide with it.
"You mean...Gwen stayed the night. As in...". She wiggles her brows indicatively. Arthur chuckles.
"Yes" he confirms. No sooner does the confirmation leave his lips, Morgana launches herself at her brother and he catches her in a hug. She kisses both his cheeks happily and pulls away.
"Arthur's got a girlfriend! Arthur's got a girlfriend! Arthur's got a girlfriend!" Morgana sings merrily, dancing in a small circle. Arthur just sits back, shaking his head and chuckling at the silly ritual his sister would perform years ago when he began dating in his early teens.
"Now you know this is usually the part where I ask you for all the details", Morgana says once she's concluded her customary dance. "But uh...I think we'll just skip that part, yeah?"
"Yeah- yes. Definitely" Arthur confirms, straightening up from his desk. He'd sooner choose death over divulging the salacious details of his sex life to his sister.
"Right then" Morgana says with a clap of her hands. "Chief has given us our next assignment. I'm afraid our services are required in Liverpool". Arthur groans. Walking over to the back of his desk, he draws out his backup firearm from the bottom compartment and holsters the weapon to his inner ankle.
"It's a good thing I had my orange juice this morning" the detective says, joining his sister in the hallway.
"Is that what their calling it these days?" comes Morgana's cheeky reply. Arthur chuckles as he locks the door behind him.
"Might as well call 'it' orange 's just as fortifying" the detective answers, grinning wolfishly.
"Ewww!" Morgana squeals. "We promised no details". Arthur laughs again, ignoring the strange and inquisitive looks from a few coppers and detectives as they pass them on their way to the lift.
No sooner had Gwen placed the platter of finger sandwiches and biscuits alongside the tea set on her living room coffee table did the doorbell ring.
Opening her flat door and walking down the hall to answer the front door, "Elena. Felicia" Gwen greets the physician's assistant and nurse respectively, warmly hugging them both. Still clad in their hospital uniforms, the women have come to Gwen's flat straight from work.
Gwen had invited Elena and Lance over to her home for dinner when the two first began dating, eager to meet the girl who had captured her childhood friend's heart. By the end of the main course it was clear to Gwen why Lance had been so taken by Elena. The woman exuded positive energy and was simply charming. She and Gwen conversed animatedly about everything, from Elena's love of botanical gardens, to her and Gwen's shared love of sewing and online shopping. Gwen liked her, and the feeling was mutual.
Soon after, Gwen was introduced to Felicia when Merlin and Arthur took the women out on a double date. The two women bonded instantly over their love for the acoustic guitar and famed guitarists/musicians like India. Arie, Landon Pigg, Ingrid Michaelson, among others. They made the mutual exception for the living legend, electric guitarist, Carlos Santana; 'Into The Night' being one of their favourite pieces by the guitarist. That night Gwen and Felicia laughed and talked like old friends throughout dinner and during the park stroll afterward; having all but forgotten the true long time friends, their boyfriends, who were with them.
"I am famished" Elena drawls once they are in Gwen's space, removing her shoes and tucking them into the hallway's shoe cupboard, before she walks down the corridor.
"I can eat an entire Chinese buffet" Felicia adds exaggeratedly, following the physician's assistant's lead.
"There's an assortment of finger sandwiches and biscuits laid out in the living room on the coffee table, and plenty for everyone. Help yourselves" Gwen offers as she hangs their jackets in the hallway coat closet.
"Oh, bless. Being a P.A., I hardly have time for loo breaks; let alone lunch ones" Elena laments as she helps herself to a small plate of fish paste, roast beef, and chicken sarnies.
"Too true, love. Too true" Felicia agrees from the kitchen, opting instead for a glass of juice to go with her own plate of food.
"Where's our lovely Mona?" Elena asks before biting into her fish paste triangle.
"She had to stop by Gwaine's for a bit. It's not too far so she'll be here momentarily" Gwen offers coming down the hall to join her guests in the living room.
"I don't know about that" Felicia adds, heavy with skepticism. "As dishy as Gwaine is, I wouldn't blame Mona for missing tea entirely".
"The way he looks at her..." Elena dips her chin low, giving her eyes a predatory look, and runs her tongue slowly along her top lip. Felicia and Gwen laugh wholeheartedly at her impersonation of Gwaine.
The doorbell rings and Gwen rises, still laughing, leaving Elena doing impersonations of the other men to go answer the door.
"Morgana". Gwen warmly embraces the detective who has become a legal ally and close friend to her over the past months.
"Hi, gorgeous" Morgana says, hugging Gwen with equal enthusiasm. "Sorry I'm a little late. I had a few case files to review at the precinct".
"No, not at all" Gwen offers. "I know how that goes. There are times when Elyan literally has to pry a file from my hand and pull me away from my desk. If it weren't for my family staying on top of me I would sleep at the office most nights". Morgana smiles at Gwen as they walk down the hall. The barrister is an over achiever. She works hard for her clients, her family, her community and her firm. Yet Gwen never gloats or basks in her victories and successes. That is one of the qualities that drew Morgana to Gwen. She admires the woman's diligence, her humility, her humanity as well as her poise under pressure.
Guinevere and Morgana's friendship began shortly after Tilly's murder trial. The two had encountered one another on the lunch queues at a burger restaurant in the town's square.
"Extra pickles, please" both had uttered simultaneously when the two clerks behind the sales counter had asked each woman how they wanted their burgers embellished. Gwen and Morgana had looked at one another in astonishment and laughed.
"I love pickles" Gwen had said as she waited for her lunch order.
"You can't possibly love them as much as I do" Morgana had responded back, waiting for her own lunch.
"I eat them by the jar, dipping them in ketchup" Gwen deadpanned.
"The sweet and sour pair so perfectly together, don't they?!" Morgana had asked, amazed again at their similarities in culinary tastes and habits. "Finally, someone who gets it".
Gwen laughed then and nodded agreeably. "Blessed are the delicatessens who will have us as pregnant customers".
"Aye! You and I alone will make them rich".
No one can ever say that the love of pickles never brought people together.
"Hello, my lovely birds" Morgana greets Felicia and Elena when she walks in to the living room.
"Hi Snow", both Felicia and Elena greet the alabaster complexioned detective with the affectionate nickname she had been given by Mona, before they resume chewing and sipping.
"Gwen, you're an angel" Morgana chirps, at the sight of the sandwich, biscuit and tea spread. "I hope you made fish paste; you know it's my favourite".
"Mine too" Gwen chimes. Walking to the kitchen and retrieving a jar off of the counter Gwen walks back in to the living room. "Here, I saved you these". She gives the jar of gherkins to a widely grinning Morgana and giggles. "It was hard, too, considering I only have three jars left". Morgana extends her arms before her and bows at her waist repeatedly in reverence. Gwen laughs again.
"Where's Mona?" Morgana asks as she walks to the kitchen for the ketchup. As if the secretary could sense the detective questioning her whereabouts, a knock comes at Gwen's door and she opens it to reveal her guest and answer Morgana's question all at once.
"Good afternoon, my dears" Mona greets the group, air kissing the three that were busy eating. "My apologies for my tardiness, but I have brought wine and some chocolates in case my words do not suffice".
"You're forgiven" Felicia says, quickly rescuing the box of truffles from Mona's hand and eliciting laughs from the other four women.
"So, how is Gwaine?" Elena asks, as if Mona had mentioned the solicitor, biting back an 'I know exactly why you're late' grin that so desperately wants to form on her mouth.
Warmth spreads across Mona's dusky cheeks, making them plum in colour. "He is well" she responds nonchalantly despite her betraying cheeks and heart. Just the very thought of Gwaine quickens her heartbeat, and Elena and Felicia can see just as much.
"We can see that" Felicia quips, joining in on the teasing.
"And just what is that supposed to mean?" Mona asks, trying her best to sound offended. Morgana and Gwen look at one another confused.
"Oh come now, love" Elena cuts back in. "We know exactly why you had to 'stop by Gwaine's'".
"What are you two carrying on about?" Gwen asks, feeling the urge to Mona's defense. "Mona went over to Gwaine's home to assist him with his case". Gwen turns to Mona. "You said he needed help with his oral deliv-". Gwen pauses when realization dawns on her and she see's Mona's eyes avert to the ground.
"You little vamp" Morgana utters, vocalizing Gwen's thoughts, causing Felicia and Elena to laugh.
"Hush, you" Mona admonishes Morgana, swatting her on the shoulder. She turns back to Gwen. "Gwen, now you know that if Arthur lived just minutes away you too would find any little excuse to go help him with his...oral delivery".
"Oh God, I think I'm going to be ill" Morgana moans, falsely gagging on air and holding an arm across her stomach for dramatic affect.
Gwen laughs at the detective before addressing her with a naughty gleam in her eye. "Then you might want to run to the loo, my dear, because I have much to say on Arthur's manual, pelvic and oral deliveries". At this Mona, Felicia and Elena howl and cheer. Morgana, however, takes her pickles, sandwiches, biscuits and the bottle of wine that Mona brought from Gwaine's home, before scurrying off to Gwen's guest bedroom.
"Snow! That wine is for the five of us" Mona shouts down the hall at Morgana.
Morgana stops short of stepping over the threshold and in to the bedroom. Turning to address Mona she says, "If my brother is as thorough at orange juice as he is at detective work, then I will be barred in this bedroom for quite some time". She enters the room and shuts the door behind her.
Mona looks at the other three faces that match her own puzzled expression. "Did she say 'orange juice'"?
Arthur, Merlin, Leon, Lance, Gwaine, Elyan and Percival are all seated together at 'Gilli's' bar and grill. Three tables had to be aligned end to end to accommodate the seven men. A mix of classic and modern rock tunes stream through the hidden speakers in the dimly lit bar, giving it an at home atmosphere, encouraging the patrons to drink and eat their fill. It is after ten in the evening and 'Gilli's' is filled to maximum capacity, loud and lively with lawyers, analysts, coppers and other law enforcement officials. But the most boisterous of them all are Arthur and his party. Elyan is seated to the left of Arthur and reaches over to pat his back when the detective chokes on his beer at something fresh that Gwaine says.
"Thank you, El" Arthur says once his throat is clear.
"No problem, mate". Elyan chuckles. "I've gotten used to Gwaine's...heavily detailed stories.
Looking to Gwaine Arthur says, "You kiss you mum with that mouth?!", and the gang erupt in laughter.
Elyan had approached Arthur while at the gym one day. Gwaine, who had accompanied him, decided to join Leon, Lance and Merlin, who were running laps around the track.
Arthur had just added the last plate to the end of the barbell and straddled the bench before he reclined until his back laid flat across the bench. Just as he had gripped the barbell to lift it, Elyan tapped Percival's shoulder and silently dismissed his friend as Arthur's spotter, filling the vacancy.
"Arthur" Elyan had said, looking down into momentarily confused blue eyes.
"Elyan" Arthur had responded. "I thought Percival was-"
"You are dating Gwen now?" Elyan interrupted then, lifting the heavily weighted bar up from its stand and placing in to Arthur's waiting hands.
"Yes" Arthur grunted out when he'd taken the weighted bar and pressed it upward for the first bench press.
"Gwen is the most important person in my life, Arthur, much like I am the most important person in your life at the moment". Arthur had faltered at Elyan's blunt honesty when the bar tipped slightly before Elyan corrected it for him, and he continued pressing.
"It would crush me if anyone hurt Gwen, much like this bar would crush your larynx if I were not here as your sentry". Arthur faltered a second time then, before he decided to break from his exercise and address Elyan from a standing, and much safer, position. Elyan did hesitate to take the heavy bar from Arthur, only to emphasize his severity, before lifting it from Arthur's wobbly hands and placing it back on to the stand.
"Elyan" Arthur panted once he'd been upright. "You are fiercely protective of your sister, believe me, I understand that. I would threaten bodily harm to anyone who ever dared to hurt Morgana...or Guinevere". Arthur had paused to gauge Elyan's reaction to the confession before he continued. "I am not looking for something casual, nor a new challenge. I genuinely care for your sister, Elyan, and you have my word as a man, as a brother, that I will treat her with honesty, and kindness and I will always hold her in the highest regard. If ever I fail in those areas then you have my permission to 'crush my larynx', as you so eloquently stated". Elyan had stifled a laugh and the tension ebbed away from his shoulders.
"I didn't say that I would crush your larynx" he'd responded after a while.
"But I'm sure you could" Arthur had quipped.
"I definitely could" Elyan retorted, and Arthur guffawed.
"For Gwennie's sake, though, I'll keep your voice box intact a while longer".
"So Arthur" Lance asks, after taking a swig of his lager. "How are things between you and Gwen?". The computer analyst does not miss the change in his colleague's eyes at the mention of his friend's name.
"Things are good between Guinevere and I" Arthur responds.
"How 'good'"? Leon asks, bringing his mug up to his lips.
"So good I was two hours late to work this morning" Arthur boasts.
"Yeah!"
"Attaboy!"
"Woo!". The men howl and cheer, genuinely happy for their friend, knowing the devastation he had been through with his last relationship.
"Come one, Golden Boy; don't be shy" Merlin cajoles. "Give us the goods".
Not at all willing to hear 'the goods', Elyan looks upward toward the bar's ceiling. "Dear God, if you have any mercy or love for me at all, strike me deaf" he supplicates. The men at the table roar in another round of laughter.
Arthur places a hand on the solicitor's shoulder. "Elyan" he says, once he is able to breathe. "Worry not my friend, I will spare you the details".
"That's not fair; we want to hear" Gwaine whines.
"Then go behind his back and read about it in his journal like any normal person" Elyan practically growls. The men all laugh again.
"That's all right, mate. I can just get the details from my lady love later on" Gwaine reasons. The men all nod and mutter their agreement knowing that the women sat down for tea a few hours earlier; where they no doubt spilled a bit of "T" as well.
"It's a wonderful thing isn't it, men? Being in love".
"Aye" the men agree in unison with Arthur.
Turning back to Elyan, Arthur says, "You know El, I can't help but notice that you and Percival are the only ones here without partners".
Lifting up his mug and tilting it to Elyan and then Percival, Merlin states, "The night is yet young, eh boys?", before draining the rest of his ale. Thunderous laughter spills from the table's occupants yet again. Lance had been wise enough to put his mug back down on to the table when he caught the wicked gleam in Merlin's eye, so his hand is free to pat Gwaine's back, who chokes on his beer at Merlin's cheeky quip.
Elyan stares menacingly at the laughing fools, which only makes them laugh even harder. "May the plague claim you all". He chances a look over at Percival to find his giant friend looking at him expectantly.
"What are you looking at?" Elyan asks leerily.
"Hey" Percival reaches out and cups Elyan's face, gently stroking his thumb across the attorney's cheek. "No need to be frightened, pet. I'll be gentle".
Elyan looks at Percival as if flowers had just sprouted out of his ears. The look on his face must have been quite convincing because Percival falters and his face breaks out into a grin.
"You...Go on, you!". Elyan slaps Percival's hand away from his face. He soon starts to chuckle and before long joins in on his friends' mirth.
So lost are the men in their happiness that not one of them notices the ruddy faced, balding, shady looking man seated in a corner booth spying on them.