Something Stupid

Wanting to catch up with Sefa, Gwen took her out to lunch. She learned that Sefa was looking for a job and trying to reconnect with her father, but she was failing on both fronts.

In the middle of the lunch, Sefa's phone rang. "It's the store manager," she said, staring at her phone anxiously.

Gwen shared her look. "Don't just look at it. Answer it!" She watched in anticipation as Sefa answered and greeted the manager with a friendly tone. Her heart sank when Sefa's face fell.

"Thank you for your consideration," Sefa said in a strained voice. She ended the call and started to wring the cloth napkin in her hand. "They did a background check, and my arrest for soliciting popped up. So not only am I a whore to them, I'm a whore with a record." She threw the napkin down on the plate. "This is the third rejection this week."

"I know someone. They can set you up with something…" Gwen was already scrolling through her contacts ready to make the call now but Sefa stopped her.

"Just stop," Sefa said coldly. "It's your fault I'm in this situation in the first place."

"Sefa, I'm only trying to help."

"I don't need your charity." Sefa looked away, trying not to cry. She noticed the chic atmosphere of the restaurant. "Oh, God. I'm getting it right now. Is this your way of making amends?"

"I'm just—"

"No!" Sefa jumped out of her chair. "Just stay out of my life!" she shouted, and stormed out the restaurant.

Gwen felt countless of eyes on her. She left twice the amount of the bill on the table and made her own hasty exit.

Arthur's phone was on silent during the meeting but on top of the desk. He saw it light up for the incoming call. Guinevere. When the call ended, the screen went dark. He focused back on Gaius until his attention was brought back to the phone when the screen lit up again, notifying him of a new voicemail. Something about it nagged Arthur, so he excused himself to listen to the message.

"My name is Guinevere Leodegrance, formerly Maynard, and I killed my husband…" Her message detailed how she planned and executed Helios' death. "I always thought about killing him. Then one day at the botanical garden, I was entranced by the beauty of a belladonna plant. When I got home, I realized I had plucked one of the flowers and had been carrying it around in my pocket. I heard of the flower's poisonous properties and read more about it. Detective Pendragon was right; poison is a woman's weapon. I kept going back to the garden, inconspicuously plucking flowers every time." There was a pause and a small chuckle. "They should maybe increase their security." The lighter tone was quickly dropped when she continued. "Being a dutiful housewife, I always had a pot of tea ready for Helios when he came home from work. The day he died—the day I killed him—I told him I would probably be late coming home, but the tea leaves and belladonna—which he didn't know, obviously—were already in the tea pot. All he had to do was add water…" There was a brief but heavy silence. "Well, that's pretty much it. You can arrest me now. You have my address. The door will be open."

"End of messages," the automated voice said and gave him the option to erase or save it. Arthur saved it, popped his head back in the meeting room, and said he had to handle an emergency. Gaius let him go without a second thought.

Her door was indeed open, unlocked instead of broken in like her previous residence. "Guinevere?" He called out to her as he went down the hall. Tiny barked in response. He entered the living room where she sat on the couch, back to him, arms raised in surrender. "What are you doing?"

Gwen looked back at him with a frown and dropped her arms. "Did Superintendent Gaius send you? Is it his way of giving you the honor of having your perfect record restored?" She leaned over the back of the couch and held out her wrists to be handcuffed. "Well, what are you waiting for?"

She wasn't really focusing on him, and she couldn't hold out her arms without the support of the couch. Arthur saw an empty wine bottle on the coffee table. "That message was meant for Gaius?"

Gwen's mouth formed a silent oooh. "I should probably try again." She looked around. "Where'd I put my phone?" She called Tiny over to her, bent down to his level, and scratched behind his ears. "Do you know here I put my phone?"

"Ruff!" was Tiny's response.

"I'll take that as a no," she sighed. "I'm gonna miss you." Tiny whimpered when she pulled away. She tried to stand and failed, flopping back on the couch.

"I'm not arresting you, but a night in the drunk tank might do you some good," Arthur said, and sat down next to her. "What brought this on?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," Gwen grumbled, reclining back and draping an arm over her face.

"I would, actually."

"Sefa. She's been struggling to find work. I've been trying to help, but she keeps giving up. She blamed me for ruining her life." Gwen let out a resentful laugh. "She's not wrong. Look at me trying to be the savior of working girls. No matter how hard I try, I can't undo what I did. How many lives did I ruin? Those girls are scarred for life. I don't deserve to walk free."

Tiny rested his head on Gwen's knees and looked from her to Arthur with sad puppy dog eyes. Gwen blindly reached out to pet him with her other hand, missing several times before Arthur took it and rested it on Tiny's head. "It's not your fault," he said.

The arm across Gwen's face dropped. She sat up with a clear and pained expression. "The moment I found out…I could've…should've done something. In life you always have a choice. Sometimes it's easier to think that you don't."

Choices can have consequences. Arthur knew that no matter what she chose, the odds would've been against her. "Going against a man like Helios usually results in death."

"That would've been a blessing," Gwen said.

"And then there would've been a lot more girls in trouble," Arthur finished.

Gwen lazily waved her finger at him. "I see what you're trying to do and it's sweet, but the guilt won't go away." She fell back again, and her eyes lingered closed. "How long will it take me to be made a prison wife? I have all the makings of one: meek and obedient. I'm just a scared little girl, like you said."

Arthur hated when people misconstrued his words. "I didn't say you were a scared little girl. I said you can drop the tough girl act. And you're none of those things. You're just drunk."

She didn't respond, and remained in that sprawled position. If she stayed that way, she would surely be feeling it in the morning. Arthur sighed and picked her up, slinging her over his shoulder. She protested half heartedly and threatened to kill him. "I did it before, and I can do it again!"

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Uh huh. Where's your bedroom?"

"That way, Neanderthal." Her directions were ineffective with her torso slung over his back. Tiny moved in front of him and led him to the bedroom. He tossed her down on the bed, and Tiny hopped up and curled up at her feet.

"You certainly have a way with women." Gwen muttered, rolling over and burying her head in the pillow. "Next time just club me over the head, and drag me by my hair."

Arthur glanced around the room. It was sparsely decorated and boxes still needed to be unpacked. The only other furniture was a computer chair, desk, and lamp. He sat in the chair.

"You're not gonna watch me sleep, are you? Because that's creepy," Gwen said. "Or are you making sure I don't call in another confession…to the right number this time."

"The second one."

"Well, you have the message, though you don't strike me as the blackmailing type."

Arthur liked having the upper hand. He's gotten quite a few confessions with blackmail, but she didn't have to know that. "Do you want to test that theory?"

"You can go. I promise I won't do anything stupid. I don't see why you care anyway. It's not like we're…" Gwen let out a long yawn, "…friends…"

"Guinevere?"

She responded with soft breathing. She was asleep. Arthur got up and stretched. When he pushed the chair back in, he spotted a stack of post-it notes behind the laptop.

Gwen's head was splitting in two. She sat up as slowly as possible, but her brain still rattled. She pressed her temples with the heel of her palms, and then ran her hands down her face, coming in contact with a piece of paper. She pulled the post-it away and squinted. She didn't know if it was the appalling handwriting or her hangover that made it worse than it appeared.

Reminder—

Don't do something stupid.

A smile began to form but a passing car backfired causing Tiny to let out a distressed bark. Gwen groaned, flopping back on the bed and smothering her face with the pillow.

She forced herself up two hours later and treated herself to aspirin and coffee. Her first thought with her freshly cleared head was Arthur's relationship with Mithian. Gwen felt like she had her favorite toy taken from her. She now sympathized with Tiny when she had to throw away her slipper he destroyed while using as a chew toy.

The last time she felt jealousy, her brother and father were still alive. When they were children, their father got Elyan a bicycle and she threw a tantrum, saying it wasn't fair that he got one and she didn't. Then Elyan fell off the bike and lost a tooth. Her tantrum turned into fits and giggles.

The detective was the closest she had to a friend. The least she could do is be happy for him.

Tiny was pawing at the door, itching to go for a walk. Gwen was itching to not do something stupid.

They entered the gallery and were quickly approached by one of the workers. "Excuse me, Miss, but animals are not allowed in here," she practically screeched. If Gwen had to listen to her any more, her headache would return.

"There were plenty of those teacup dogs in here a few days ago," Gwen said. The woman tried to deny it. "Oh please, every purse had a fuzzy head sticking out of it."

She let herself into Mithian's office. Tiny bounded in, causing Mithian to startle back.

"What—Mrs. May—Ms. Leodegrance! What's the meaning of this?"

Gwen sat in the chair, and Tiny sat next to her on the floor without being commanded.

Mithian looked at Tiny. "Um…dogs aren't allowed inside."

Gwen lifted an eyebrow. "Well I couldn't just leave him tied up outside. Someone could steal him. People are prone to stealing, you know. Cars, jewelry, husbands, etcetera, etcetera…" She tilted her head. "Or is there just a size limit, because during the opening…"

Mithian laughed falling back into her chair. "Some woman and their dog accessories. It's ridiculous!"

Gwen forced a smile. "Yes, anyway, I was wondering if I could have a quick word."

"Of course," Mithian nodded.

"I was a bit short with you at the opening. I apologize for that," It pained Gwen to say.

"I understand. I couldn't imagine being widowed so young," Mithian said softly. She leaned forward as if projecting her sympathy. "Helios was a generous contributor to the gallery. Would you mind telling me where he's buried? I'd love to leave some flowers."

While Mithian had been talking, Gwen was picking dirt out under her fingernails. She looked up. "Huh? Oh. You can try the dump." Having to fake her emotions all the time trained her in not inappropriately laughing at the look on Mithian's face. "I had him cremated. I threw his ashes in the trash."

That still didn't help the other woman understand. Gwen prepared to explain how much of a scumbag Helios was, but a knock on the door stopped her.

Mithian quickly looked at the door. "Um, c-come in," she said.

Lance came in. "Oh, you're busy."

Gwen studied the artist looking just as dashing in a white button down, jeans, and sneakers as he did in his tuxedo. An artist in a tux was a sight to behold. A very handsome artist in a tux. "You've got something on your…" she indicated to his collar.

Lance blushed and his hand went to his shirt collar. "Must be paint," he muttered. "I'll, uh, talk to you later, Mithian. Excuse me." He left, closing the door behind him.

Gwen turned back to a Mithian who was looking a little flushed. "It's always the lipstick on the collar that gives it away—which brings me back to why I'm here. I'll make this quick like I intended this to be." Mithian looked nervous and confused. It was Gwen's turn to lean forward, projecting intimidation. "I met Detective Pendragon before the opening. Helios was murdered and he was on the case. What I came to tell you is that Arthur is a good man. Much too good for you."

"E-Excuse me?"

"Hurt him and you'll be sorry."

Tiny ruffed. "Are you ready to go, boy?" Gwen asked sweetly, the complete opposite of how she sounded seconds before. Tiny wagged his tail. "Yeah, me too. Enjoy the rest of your day, Mithian." She got up and Tiny followed. They left Mithian in a stunned silence.

A/N: This should've been up earlier, but I started knitting socks and weeeellllll… haha. Did you notice that I threw in Gwen's line from 1x06? I get really excited when I can incorporate stuff from the show into aus, especially this one since the characters are OOC (but a good OOC I hope?).

Just fyi I totes exaggerated Helios' death. Back when I wrote it I was wracking my brain for gruesome death by poisons and my brain was like DING Game of Thrones. Talk about excellent book to screen translation, if you know what I'm talking about. (purposely not saying in case there are readers who are catching up and avoid spoilers like the plague)

To my dear Guest who mentioned the magic compass from Your Greatest Desire in Across the Universe (which I should get to adding to one of these days), it can make an appearance in this…in the form of a GPS! Ooooooooor a murder case in which someone was killed over a very interesting trinket hmmmm.

Don't worry if suggestions haven't made an appearance yet. I'm trying to make things flow episode/story-like instead of one-shots. But there will be a kidnapping or something, more heart to hearts, definitely the knights helping to renovate Gwen's dance studio, UST, and more!

So keep those suggestions coming and THANKS ALWAYS for reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting! (wow this author's note was long)