Cú stormed out, slamming the door behind him and leaving Arturia in disappointment. She walked back to her desk and sat down on the seat, frowning and glancing once again at her paperwork. She lifted her pen, preparing herself to sign whatever she needed to.

She, however, jumped just as someone burst into her office once again, dropping her pen in the process. She caught her breath before she was able to gasp or complain and looked up from her work.

"Oh, thank goodness you're alright! I was so worried when I heard someone came into the office." Jeanne rushed to Arturia's side, making sure that the woman was, indeed, completely fine. "What happened?"

"Diarmuid's brother stopped by, we introduced one another and it was a pleasant experience, to say the least."

"Pleasant?" Jeanne questioned, "I heard he rampaged through the building, causing havoc wherever he stepped."

Arturia raised an eyebrow, sighing, "Did Gawain tell you that?"

Jeanne nodded.

The CEO blinked, giving the other woman a pointed look. "You are spending an awful lot of time with him lately."

"Am I?" She blinked, her cheeks dusting pink ever so slightly.

Arturia nodded, "In fact, I could even assume there is something happening between the two of you. Is there anything that you are not telling me, Jeanne?"

"No, no, nothing—why would you even think—I. We, er...we're simply friends. Just friends..."

"Friends?"

"Yes..." Jeanne nibbled her bottom lip, "nothing has happened between us, I can, uh, assure you of that."

"You are a terrible liar, Jeanne, you do know that, yes?" Arturia shook her head slightly, "He kissed you, did he not?"

Jeanne turned beet red and she had the urge to cough, "I, erm, ah...what?"

"You need to confess that," she advised. Arturia proceeded to stand from the desk, pushing herself off the comfy and thick chair, "How come you did not tell me sooner? I had hoped you would confide in me."

"It was on the cheek! He would never just kiss me out of the blue…" The Frenchwoman argued.

"Are you certain on that? It seems to me like something he would most definitely do. When did this happen?"

"I…" Jeanne's eyes cast downwards, "it happened a long time ago… I didn't think I needed to mention it, you know?"

"When?"

"Er…" She blinked, looking down at her hands and playing with a gold ring that was snuggled around her index finger. "Around five months ago…"

"Five—Five months ago?" Arturia was scandalized, holding a hand over her chest. "How? What?"

"I went with him to a photoshoot and when he was getting ready...he, well, he kissed my cheek. It happened all so fast and… he, um...yeah. But, it really shouldn't be a problem."

"He kissed you, just like that?"

"Well," she shrugged, "yes."

Arturia's face was filled with anger and disturbance. "How could he not ask for your consent? What is wrong with him? I am going to scold him." She walked towards the door, "No, better yet, I'll fire him!"

Jeanne managed to take Arturia's arm to stop her, "No, no. He… he asked…"

"And you said…?"

"Yes," she squeezed Arturia's arm, "anyway, he didn't force it on me. We just…As I said, it was just on the cheek."

Arturia frowned, "First it's your cheek and then what? Jeanne is this not sexual harassment in the workplace? I will not let that happen within my company."

"No, Arturia you're acting ridiculous. He asked and I gave consent and it was just a kiss on the cheek, for goodness' sake! Why would you fire him over something so trivial?"

"Do you like him?"

Jeanne shut her eyes, face burning at such a question, "Uh...yes, I, um, I do…"

"But," Arturia's nose wrinkled in disgust, "this is Gawain we are speaking of."

"Your cousin, yes."

"He is a… man." Arturia frowned.

"Really? I did not know that." Jeanne was barely ever sarcastic but the dense nature of her friend and boss killed her. "Of course he is!"

"Well, obviously. What I mean, is, well, it is Gawain."

Jeanne crossed her arms over her chest, sighing she spoke, "And you are judging him on his past."

"I know you firmly believe the whole 'every sinner has a future'," she quoted with her hands, "but this is Gawain. Gawain Lothian, he is known for being very disinterested in the things of women and such. He is only going to make light of your feelings."

"Why do you have little faith in him?"

"I know him, Jeanne. I have lived with him since my early youth, I know his personality, his flaws, and most importantly all the mistakes he has ever made in his life."

"Why do you have him as a model in your company then?"

Arturia blinked, "I cannot deny he has a very beautiful face, sadly. I would not want my own cousin to be working for someone else when he is an amazing addition to my agency."

"Ah, of course, money is always key."

"You make me sound as if I am mercenary. I am simply worried about you. Please be careful with him." She crossed her arms over the chest and sat at the edge of her desk,. "Anyhow, we were originally talking about Cú."

Jeanne tilted her head, she asked, "Oh, is that his name? Diarmuid's brother, right?"

"Yes, the Irish have some odd names, don't you agree?"

"Says 'Arturia' the cousin of 'Gawain', what names are those?"

Arturia brought a hand to her chest in defense, she gasped, "Arturia is the female version of Arthur and well, Gawain is an odd name."

"Cú made a scene in the lobby, is that much true?"

Arturia nodded, "Yes and it seems he does not like the modeling industry because he was very unmannerly with me and the situation."

"Will you still be taking Diarmuid home with you?"

"Well… I might be. I am not sure as of yet. Diarmuid is going to be the one to choose since he is ruler of his own life."


"Arturia, surely you cannot expect me to stay with you for three entire weeks." Diarmuid frowned, sitting obediently on the bed as she had instructed him to.

"I believe I can. I thought we had settled the argument this morning. You must understand that I wish to take responsibility for the problem. It is the best remedy for my guilt and worry."

"I think you heard him, Arturia." Cú was leaning against the wall and Arturia had tried her best to ignore him and his rude comments.

She shot him an even look and her authority was enough to silence him...well, for the moment.

"Arturia, I really do not want to inconvenience you or trouble you in anyway. I want you to live as you normally would, having me around will only be a nuisance to you."

"Why would you think something like that? I want to make sure you are safe and healthy and-" she glared at Cú- "I know that you would be most comfortable and safe under my care."

"I'll have you know that I can very much take care of him," Cú growled.

She faced him, cool composed, calculated, she began, "I have no doubt of that. I mean in no way to disrespect you. I am simply stating that with my nurses and caretakers, he will be always cared for."

"You can't just buy me, Pendragon."

She pursed her lips into a straight line. "I never planned to."

"O-kay," Diarmuid whistled, "I think we should all calm down, just a tad bit?"

Arturia promptly returned her gaze towards her model. She offered him a smile as she fixed her blazer, "What will it be, mister Diarmuid."

He coughed. Even when she was assertive it made his heart skip a beat and feel small all the same. "Well, I…"

"No, he will come home with me." Cú deadpanned.

"I apologize, Cú, I was rather certain I did not ask you, I asked Diarmuid." Arturia blinked, tilting her head ever so slightly.

Diarmuid shot his brother a look of astonishment and scolding almost as if he were saying 'what has gotten into you?'. A frown on his lips and his brows furrowed but his eyes wide.

"Yes, but he's my brother and not related to you at all. Blood is thicker than water, as they say."

Arturia crossed her arms over her chest. "The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb, you mean? That is the entirety of the quote which means that bonds you make in battle prove to be stronger than just mere name... which only proves my request further."

Diarmuid sighed, "Okay! Please, I was going to give my answer."

She stared at him expectantly and he could not dare to see her disappointed, "I fear that I must accept your offer, Arturia. I must say you are very convincing."

A smile stretched her lips and she took a breath, her cheeks rounding and eyes squinting. "Delightful. You wave made a well informed decision."

"What?" Cú gasped, "What the fuck, Diarmuid? Do you even know who she is?"

Diarmuid immediately frowned, upset he couldn't admire her brightness any longer. "Miss Pendragon, would you please leave me with my brother for a short while? I want to speak to him in private.

"Why, of course." She was still smiling as she nodded her head and walked past Cú towards the door, not failing to shoot him a look of indifference.

"What is going on? Why are you acting so...nasty with her?" Diarmuid wasted no time at all to scold his older brother, standing from the hospital bed.

"What do you mean?" Cú raised an eyebrow.

Diarmuid glared, "Why do you hate her? What did she do to you?"

Cú's face twisted with anger, his vision went red and he began to shake. "This is Arturia bloody Pendragon we are talking about. Do you have any idea of what she is capable of?"

"Being an exceptional boss and successful business woman? Is that so wrong?"

"Diarmuid, I am only going to tell you once," he breathed, "The modelling industry is toxic as fuck and it is no joke. Arturia Pendragon is a monster and you can fool yourself by buying into all that calculated and premeditated charm bullshit she has but she sure as hell does not have me under her spell."

Diarmuid was taken aback by such slander coming from his own brother. Never before had he heard his brother so hateful, even since before Emer. "What are you even talking about? She's genuine and does not have me wrapped around her finger, okay?"

"If only, Diarmuid." Cú turned away, "whatever, spend all you time with her, but don't you dare fall for her sick tricks. And don't come crawling back to me when she shows her true scaly, horrid, dragon self."

"I won't…" Diarmuid murmured, not content with the fight between them. "Take care of the house, make sure to take care of yourself, okay?"

Shortly after Cú had left, Arturia trickled in and she gave him a soft smile. "Are you ready to head out?"

Diarmuid took his coat from the hanger with his non-injured hand. "I would very much like to apologize for my brother's behaviour, he is acting very disgusting towards you, please excuse him. There is no good explanation or excuse, so I only ask for your mercy."

Arturia's smile grew wider, she sighed, "Worry not. I have forgiven him. How could I ever hold a grudge when is brother is ever so kind to me." She stepped towards him, landing a hand on his forearm. "Trust me, I bear no ill feeling towards him. I am certain he has his reasoning, even if I may not understand it, it is still valid."

A smile lit Diarmuid's lips and he felt his chest swell, and his cheeks dusted in a soft and almost faded shade of pink. "Thank you, you are very kind."


Author's Note

Hello all! This is very important, I am in need of your help. Okay so wow you all noticed I've started this Gawain x Jeanne train and wow I've just been reading Arthurian Legend Gawain and Fate Gawain and like man I love this boi and I've also been reading up on Cu and he's like sorta snakey. Like wow, I don't like him much but I love him only in fate. I mean, he cheated on his wife repeatedly... T.T SO it brings me to this point!

Please go on my profile and vote for which pairing you like most! And if you don't have an account just tell me here!

Gawain x Jeanne

Cu x Jeanne

Sincerely,

Ms. AtomicBomb