Arthur stumbled naked down the hallway, struggling to pull his boxers up his legs. He counted it a victory that he covered his ass before reaching the bathroom. He slammed the door shut, hearing the sticky movement of Gwen's feet outside.
He threw himself at the toilet, doubled over, the last few hours exploding into the bowl with a terrible force. His stomach retching over and over again, until it was empty. He struggled up from the floor, flushing the toilet as the door creaked open.
He couldn't look at her. Not yet. Not if he wanted to keep from worshiping the porcelain throne all over again.
Arthur leaned his full weight on the sink, hearing Gwen's breathing behind him. He had never been one for false modesty. He knew he was a good-looking man. But the thing peering back at him in the mirror tonight-it was ugly as sin.
"How much did you drink?" she asked softly.
Arthur let gulps of water purge the bile from his throat. "I lost count at ten."
Air pulled through Gwen's teeth. "I haven't seen you puke like that since high school. Arthur, is everything okay?"
"No," Arthur exhaled his voice shaking. "My mouth tastes rancid and half the vomit went up my nose."
"Lovely," Gwen frowned, patting his back. "Remind me to yell at Gawain for sending you home this drunk. I'll get you a glass of water, love, do you need me to help you back to bed?"
"No, I think I got the worst of it out, I just want to take a shower," Arthur pleaded.
She stroked her hand across his waist and left him.
He turned on the shower, praying that water could wash away the world. Back to his old self? To the man Gwen once knew? Never, he thought, banging his head against the glass. He would never attempt to sleep with her again; never try to hide inside her body. Even if his mind was willing to peruse the lie, his body now flat out refused.
He loved Merlin.
And he knew now, no one else would ever be enough.
Gwen was still asleep when Arthur left their bedroom. He rapped once on the door on the right and when no one replied, peeked in. The room was its usual disorder, but the bed was made, which meant only one thing: Merlin hadn't come home last night.
Arthur dug through the fridge, pouring a glass of Merlin's Calistoga water into Merlin's favorite cup. He swished the fizzling carbonation in his mouth until Gwen appeared behind him.
Fuck.
This was going to be torture.
"Arthur-" Gwen said, starting a kettle.
"You're a very attractive woman," Arthur said, taking a gulp of air as he stuttered. "Very, very, attractive-"
Gwen's lips puckered. "Umm….."
"I just wasn't feeling well last night. I was drunk," He flushed. "The male body isn't a machine, sometimes it doesn't-"
"Do your classes end early today?" Gwen asked, obviously trying to change the subject.
The blond man nodded his relief, pouring a heaping bowl of Frosted Flakes.
"I was thinking we could eat dinner tonight on Valencia, spend some quality time together; we haven't done that in while-" She ran a hand through her loose ponytail. "I feel like it's what we need, Arthur, you and I. Take our minds off of finals. Kat says Luna Park is good restaurant, a bit pricy but-"
Arthur made a non-committal noise through his chewing. Thanks to a certain redhead, his wallet was sadly empty this month.
"The restaurant makes their own corn dogs," Gwen pressed. "From scratch."
"Sold," Arthur replied, tapping the end of his spoon at the table like an auctioneer's gavel.
Gwen made an airy laugh, which seemed to raise both their spirits. "My studio class is having an open critique in the main building today. How about you meet me there at four, say a few nice things about my dress, and when it's over we'll head out to dinner?"
Didn't she have that studio class with Merlin? It would be the perfect excuse to see him. To try and apologize again for last night-
"Okay," Arthur said. "But what do you want me to say about the dress?"
"That it's the most awesome garment you've ever seen."
"How about I pretend to be blind then act like the dress cured me with its miraculous beauty?" He teased.
"Sure," Gwen smiled. "It's not like the teacher knows we're dating."