Something Wicked This Way Comes

Arthur liked this office better than the one at the station. The grayscale set the mood, and Arthur Pendragon, P.I. on the frosted glass of the door window was a nice touch. He wished he could go back in time and give his childhood self a high-five. Now all he needed was a case. He cracked his knuckles and sat back in his chair.

The silhouette of a person appeared behind the glass, and a beautiful dame came through the door. She was dressed in a dark grey trench coat and matching floppy hat. She sat down, crossed her smooth ash colored legs (a lovely set of gams, Arthur thought), and tilted up the brim of her hat to reveal her face. It was Gwen.

"Can I get you something to drink?" he offered.

"I can help myself," she said, and a cup of tea materialized in her hand.

Arthur leaned forward and folded his hands on his desk. "What can I do for you, sweetheart?"

The headlights from a passing car shined through the window and across the brim of Gwen's hat, casting a deep shadow across her face. He lost her eyes, but the corner of her black painted lips tilted up in a smirk. "I think the question is: What can I do for you, detective?"

"What you can do for me?"

"Just say the word and I can…" Gwen ran a finger across her neck, miming slitting a throat.

Arthur's eyes narrowed. "Who?"

Gwen giggled. "Mithian, silly."

"I don't want you to kill Mithian!" Arthur said, alarmed.

"But you don't want her in your life anymore."

"That doesn't mean I want her dead."

"Dead…gone," Gwen shrugged. "She'll be out of your life either way." Her obsidian eyes twinkled back at him, and Arthur failed to form words. "Clearly you have doubts. That's why you conjured me up." She took a long sip of her tea. When she put it down, a bright red lipstick stain was left on the rim of the white cup.

When he looked up she was gone, but then he felt her presence behind him. "Is there anything else I can do for you…?" Gwen whispered in his ear. Her hand slid up his arm, to his shoulder, and around his neck.

He couldn't breathe. He couldn't move. He clenched his eyes shut, and the grip tightened. He didn't know how much time passed, but when he felt the slight give in her hold, his eyes snapped open.

He was awake, back in the world of color and out of sleep paralysis.

This was not Arthur's ideal way to wake up on his day off. Fighting his sleep laden body, he got up. He probably should've waited until he was more put together before he called Mithian, but the universe was telling him it was time to rip off the Band-Aid.

Mithian's phone rang and rang, and Arthur was pretty sure it was about to go to voicemail, but she answered. "Arthur? What do I owe this early morning phone call? Do you want to do breakfa—"

"I can't do this anymore, Mithian." There. Bandage off.

"Do what? Us?" She paused. "Are you breaking up with me first thing in the morning?" her tone raised in the last bit. "Over the phone!"

"…Yes," Arthur said carefully.

"…"

He took her silence as a chance to continue. "Listen—"

"I don't think I want to," Mithian said tightly.

"Hear me out. This is our fourth—"

"Third," she corrected.

"Third time trying. It's not working." Arthur rubbed his brow. "You like du Lac, right?"

Mithian was shocked by the sudden change in subject. "I-I haven't slept with him."

That wasn't what he asked, and Arthur refrained from saying there were other ways to cheat as he didn't want to elongate the conversation. "Well now's your chance."

"I…don't know what to say… This is so sudden."

"You don't have to say anything. Bye, Mithian."

"Goodbye…Arthur."

He hung up first and sighed in relief.

Gwen peeked out the window and saw the car still parked across the street. She moved away and went to the door, grabbing the leash hanging on the hook next to it. Tiny bounded to her without needing to be called.

As they walked down the sidewalk, Gwen occasionally glanced behind her, but it didn't look like she was being followed by anyone suspicious. She got a shock when she faced forward again.

Tiny barked in response to her, and the woman in front of them jumped in reaction to Tiny. Gwen apologized on their behalf. "Sorry, I didn't see you there."

"It's alright," the lady smiled. "You're the owner of that studio, right?"

"Yes," Gwen nodded.

"I'm so glad it's not another one of those snooty coffee shops. Welcome to the neighborhood," she said, and was on her way.

Gwen thought about Uther's words and how she could be putting others in danger. She watched the lady for a couple of seconds and looked to see if anyone was watching her as well. It's probably best I limit my interaction with the neighbors, Gwen thought. For all she knew, she could be condemning the neighborhood to hell.

Newly single, Arthur felt a weight off his shoulders. He even had a spring in his step when he went to answer the door. He opened it to reveal a frazzled Merlin.

"I'm stupid. I'm so, so, sooooo stupid," his partner rambled.

"I've been telling you that for years," Arthur said moving aside to let him in. "What happened?"

Merlin sat on the couch and lowered his hands in his hands. "I was going to propose to Freya last night."

Arthur knew it was coming because Merlin had been running ideas about how to do so all week. "But?"

"But I chickened out," Merlin groaned.

Arthur sat and patted him on the shoulder. "I'm not surprised."

Merlin dropped his hands and faced Arthur with the most pathetic look. "Do you want to know what I said? Do you?"

"Are you going to tell me, or are you going to keep asking if I want to know?"

Merlin geared up his tale. "We were having dinner and I said Freya will you—cue dramatic pause—"

"Get on with it, Merlin!"

"Alright, alright. I said, and I quote, 'Will you be a dear and get me a napkin.'"

It took approximately five seconds before Arthur registered what Merlin had said. He bellowed with laughter.

"Not only did I sound like an idiot, but an old woman as well." Merlin gave Arthur a shove. "Stop laughing!" he tried ordering, but he couldn't help but smile.

"I'm sure she thought nothing of it, mate," Arthur said, catching his breath. "It's not far off from how you usually are."

"Ha-ha," Merlin snickered.

Arthur got up to get them beers. "How about a Pink Panther marathon to cheer you up?"

Merlin agreed. "That'll be excellent."

"Right, then. Be a dear and pop the DVD in," Arthur laughed again, sitting back down with the beers in hand.

Merlin sucked in his lips in a pouty frown. "I hate you."

A block away from Gwen's place, Percival caught up to her. "Hello, Gwen. Can I walk you home?"

"Officer Grail, for a man your size, you sure are stealthy," Gwen complimented. "Do you have any idea about the men watching me? I mean the creepy ones, not you and the others."

"How long have you known?" he asked.

"Long enough." When they got to her door, Gwen took a quick glance at the car across the street. The man inside turned his head away a half second too late. "It's still your shift, right? I'll make you lunch."

Percival smiled. "Well I do have another hour…"

Gwen made them sandwiches, and they ate by the window so Percival could keep watch. Tiny sat by Percival's side with begging eyes. Percival gave him a piece of his sandwich without a second thought.

Gwen pointed with an accusing finger. "That's why he's so big, isn't it! You all just kept feeding him, turning him into a doggie garbage disposal."

Percival laughed and Tiny made a contented ruff. He looked back outside just in time to see the car leave an. "They're on a rotation," he said.

"Much like you guys," Gwen added and Percival gave her a look. "While you all look out for me, who is looking out for all of you?" she winked. "They're not much on top of each other though. You guys swap out immediately. There's about a half hour until a new one shows up."

"You know our timetable and theirs?" Percival chuckled. "Maybe you should be the one giving orders."

Gwen picked up Percival's empty plate. "Did Detective Pendragon order the detail?" she asked as she walked back to the kitchen.

"Actually it was Gaius," he said.

"Do you guys know who's doing the watching?"

"No, but we know Morgause Essetir is involved."

The plate fumbled out of Gwen's hands and into the sink. She winced at the loud clatter, but luckily it didn't break. "Morgause?" She gulped. "Oh boy. I'm in real trouble."

A/N: A long while ago larasmith mentioned Gwen invading Arthur's dreams. And of course he would have noir styled dreams. I also wanted to get the break up over with so sorry if it seemed kind of abrupt.

We'll be reaching the climax soon!

Thanks always for reading and reviewing!