Guarded heart

Artoria hated weakness. She hated yielding.

She liked to think that she was strong and unmoving, that nothing could get her to stop and look back

But today… She was proven wrong.

She left her car during the traffic -she was positive it would not move for a while, considering she has been waiting for nearly half an hour… perhaps she should walk from now- and followed the desperate cries of what appeared to be a cold and abandoned pup, trying to stay warm in the rain.

No. She did not just tear up.

“Hey.” She bent down, and gave him her hand for him to sniff. He was hesitant, and was slow to approach her. “You’re all alone here?” The pup sniffed her hand, before licking it. She smiled. “Wanna come with me?”

And that was how she arrived at work, soaked from head to toe.

“FATH-” Mordred’s immediate reaction was to yell, and Gawain’s was to shut him up before anyone would hear him. Mordred bit his hand, and glared at his father and the stranger in her arm. “WHO IS THIS?!”

“A dog.” Artoria answered, dryly. “Aren’t you supposed to be at school? Go to your classes if you have time to waste.”

“No!”

“Then you’re not allowed to be here.”

“BUT FA-”

“STOP IT ALREADY!” Gawain flickered his forehead. “Boss, you should probably change out of your clothes, we don’t want you falling sick. Do you want me to take him?”

Artoria held the pup closer, and glared.

“No he’s mine.”

“That’s not what I…”

“I’m heading to my office, don’t mind me.”

The Ceo made her way to her office, but forgot an important detail.

That detail was her new secretary.

Her secretary is a mother, so naturally her reaction to seeing someone soaked from head to toe, was to rush her into her room, order her to change into dry clothes, AND run off to get a towel.

"I can't believe how reckless you are! You could have caught a cold!"

"I... I can dry my own hair..."

"No!"

Artoria sighed in defeat.

Here she was on the couch holding a puppy wrapped in a towel while her secretary was drying her hair with another towel because apparently she was not allowed to do it herself.

"I figured the rain wouldn't bother me since I was in the car but... I couldn't abandon this little guy." Artoria muttered. The way Irisviel was drying her hair was soothing, like a mother tending to her child.

And scolding them in the process.

"That is exactly why you should always have an umbrella on you. Boss, you need to learn to take care of yourself." Irisviel finished her job, and smiled in satisfaction. She then snorted because for once, it was not just the ahoge sticking out. "Your messy hair looks cute!" She chuckled, and Artoria couldn't help but smile.

This was not how a professional CEO and secretary should act, but she found the woman's friendliness a nice change from the previous ones.

"So what are you doing with him?" Irisviel looked at the puppy. Artoria wrapped him in the towel, turning him into a burrito shaped pet.

"His name is Cavall."

"You already named it?"

"He is staying with me, please be nice to him." Artoria pulled him into a hug. "He was alone in a box, and no one bothered to pick him up."

"Oh, you poor thing." Irisviel reached out to scratch his ear. He barked happily in response, leaning towards her hand. She smiled. "He is friendly."

"I know. I must train him to attack Morgan."

"Oh." Irisviel folded the towel in her lap. "You two don't seem to get along."

"No." Artoria frowned. There might have been a darkness to her eyes, a certain cloudiness, but Irisviel wasn't sure. "It is better that way." She put Cavall down and reached for her bag.

She already got him a bowl and collar.

Irisviel laughed.

"H-hey don't laugh, the store happened to be on my way here." Artoria fed her new dog and ruffled his fur. "It's time to get back to work. Iri, please bring my schedule and anything I need to check on."

"Yes!" Irisviel nodded, and rushed back to her work.

When Irisviel was about to sit at her desk, she heard Mordred's loud screaming:

"NOT YOU AGAIN!"

She sighed.

This was the third time this week.

She went downstairs only to find the same ginger boy in his camera on the floor, with Mordred having him in a choke hold.

"Mordred, maybe you should let him go." Lancelot tried pulling the boy away.

"Shut up! Wife stea-" Gawain covered Mordred's mouth and dragged him away.

"Where was he this time?" Irisviel asked, crossing her arms.

"In the trash can." Lancelot sighed.

"Oh."

"Alright, that is enough." Agravain walked towards them with a phone in his hand. "You kept coming back despite us sparing you several times for what is a crime."

"Wait, please! I just need one interview!" The boy held up hid camera. "That is all I ask for! If I don't do this I will lose my job."

"And we told you that we are not doing any interviews for your magazine."

Irisviel stood between the two, deciding it was time to intervene before things got worse.

“He is just a boy, perhaps we should give him one more chance.” Irisviel did not falter under Agravain’s glare. “I’m sure he won’t come here anymore.”

“We have given him enough chances. You should set feelings aside and do your job.”

Irisviel responded by snatching the camera from his hand.

“We can just confiscate this camera and delete any pictures he took, and no harm done.”

“You are enabling illegal behavior!”

“What is happening?”

The two stopped arguing to see Artoria walking towards them, with Cavall following after. The puppy took a turn before running towards the boy and smelling him.

“This boy snuck in again to take pictures without asking for our consent, again.” Agravain glared back at both Irisviel and the journalist.

Artoria eyed the boy for a moment.

“I thought I made it clear I will not be doing any interviews for a while.” She said and took the camera from Irisviel’s hand, checking for the photos in it. “I could take legal actions against you, so you better explain yourself.”

“I don’t like doing this, but I need to pay for college and I was told if I don’t get anything worthwhile then I will be fired.” He nervously rubbed his neck. “Please let me have one interview, and I will leave you alone.”

Artoria sighed, and handed him back the camera. “I can’t do that. You should find other news.”

“I will be calling the police-”

“No, let him go.” Artoria raised her hand, dismissing him. “If that is all, I will go back to my office.”

Agravain sighed and nodded.

“What is all of the ruckus about?” Artoria shuddered and started walking away the moment she heard Morgan’s voice.

Agravain immediately paled, but did not speak a word.

Morgan walked in, wearing a fancy blue dress and what looked to be a crown on her head. It had spikes so big she could stab someone with them.

“Oh, a photographer?” Morgan looked at the boy, and he took a step back. “You don’t look like a professional so I doubt you will get my good side.”

“Uhh, no I’m not here for-” Before he could finish his sentence, Irisviel took him by the arm and dragged him outside, knowing better than to enable Morgan going on a fit.

“Alright, you got off free this time, but it’s better if you don’t show up again.” Irisviel walked him to the door, while anxiously looking back at Morgan who seemed to be making her way to the elevator.

“I’m sorry.” The boy sighed. “Thank you for helping me.”

“I understand finding jobs is hard, I hope your boss is understanding.”

He gave her a smile and walked away.

Irisviel waved at him, then tried to make her way back to the office as soon as possible

But Irisviel was not fast enough, because an argument was already happening.

"I told you, for the last time, that I don't want to be involved in any of your events." Artoria paced around her office, frustrated. Not a day passes by without this annoyance.

"So you would rather the press spreads rumors about you?" Morgan crossed her arms. "You're that scared of going out in public without your trophy wife protecting you?"

Artoria stopped.

"Don't you dare bring her up. She has nothing to do with this."

"I told you before. Soon, there will be more rumors because of you hiding." Morgan approached her. "You just have to show up, answer some questions, and act natural." She hugged Artoria's arm, who in return tensed. "Then you can break loose, have a few drinks." She whispered into her ear. "Then you and I can leave and have some fun together, like that night."

Artoria pushed her away.

Morgan fell against the couch and glared at her, but she didn't care.

Her body was shaking, remembering a horrible memory.

That night, almost two decades ago, was the worst night of her life.

She tried to calm herself, but her entire being was filled with fear.

"You know I hate to be touched by you." Artoria growled. "Don't ever do that."

Morgan scoffed.

"You act as if it was all me. You enjoyed it too." Morgan flipped her hair, casually strolling around the office. "You only blame me because you feel guilty."

Artoria clenched her fists. She could not believe what she was hearing. No... she knew exactly what kind of person Morgan is.

She turned to glare at her.

"You drugged me." It was suffocating. 

"I did not. We were both drunk. There is no proof I put anything in your drink."

"You did not even touch your drink."

"Of course I did. You are just misremembering. You should stop blaming me for your actions."

"MY actions?" Artoria wanted to laugh. It was so horrible she wanted to laugh. "You assaulted me." Her heart started racing. "You took advantage of me." If she could just move closer. "You drugged me!" Place her hands around Morgan's neck. "And you keep trying to gaslight me." And choke her.

"Of course, someone like you could never make mistakes. You have always been the golden child, the prodigy, the favorite." Morgan crossed her arms, and laughed, bitterly, shallowly. "I came to you that day because you made a mistake, didn't I? I helped you forget, and you were so into it that you didn't push me away."

"Are you done?" Artoria's eyes stared at the door. She knew there was no logic that could get through to this monster, and no way for her to look at her face and not feel disgust.

Morgan, of course, wouldn't stop.

It has always been like this.

Fortunately, Cavall started barking at her, distracting her.

"What is this thing? Keep it away from me-" Artoria took her by the arm and dragged to the door.

"As you wish." She simply said as she pushed her sister outside, ignoring all of her protests.

Artoria sighed, and leaned against the door, before sliding down.

Cavall ran to her, and started licking her face to comfort her.

She pulled him into a hug.

Was it actually her fault? Was it her fault that Morgan took advantage of her?

No.

No, Morgan has always hated her just for existing.

She let out a shaky breath, then stood up with Cavall comfortably clinging to her arms.

She heard a knock on her door, it better not be Morgan again-

“Boss?” Irisviel's voice came, reassuring her. “May I come in?”

“Yes.”

Irisviel opened the door, and studied her for a moment. Artoria patiently waited for her to talk, she did not have the energy to start a conversation anyway.

“Are you okay?” Irisviel asked.

Artoria shouldn’t have been so surprised at the question, Irisviel was incredibly kind, but when she looked at her, in such a vulnerable moment…

...She saw her.

She saw Guinevere, who came to her at her most vulnerable, when she shut the whole world out, and Artoria felt her heart ache for projecting that image, even for only a second.

“Yes, thank you.” She answered, and put Cavall down. Artoria rubbed her temple, in an attempt to ease her stress. “Did Morgan leave?”

“Yes, she seemed furious and pushed everyone out of her way.” Irisviel winced, it was like watching a hurricane pass by. She wanted to ask what happened, but she could see that her boss was troubled. “Do you need anything?”

“Bring me the bodyguards files, and start with the ones whose contracts are near their end, I want to see who is going to be available soon.” She sighed. “Gilgamesh is too demanding.”

“We keep recieving offers from Tohsaka jewelry, would you like to check those out?”

“No. I would rather not deal with them any time soon.”

Irisviel nodded, though she could not shake the feeling that there was a hint of anger in the blonde’s voice.

-Guarded heart-

The sky continued to rain, and the company grew quiet, with everyone focusing on their work, and with no more disturbances.

However, Irisiviel remained uneasy, she continued to doodle on the sticky notes, and sighed when she noticed that it was Artoria she was drawing.

She was concerned, despite the blonde’s reassurance.

Whatever history her and Morgan had, she always ended up stressed out whenever her sister showed up.

It was natural for her to worry. After all, it was Artoria who turned her life upside down. From the moment they met, Artoria kept helping her, and looking out for her.

That was why she wished to help her somehow.

But she couldn't just ask her, not when it seemed too personal.

Irisviel slammed her head against the desk.

"Irisviel, I am aware that work can be stressful, but giving yourself brain damage is not a productive solution." Artoria left her office with Cavall... on top of her head.

This puppy was unstoppable!

Distracted by him, Irisviel forgot to hide the doodle.

"Is that your art?" Artoria asked. "It's really good."

"Uh… thank you! I'm sorry, I got a little distracted."

"That's fine. It's lunch time after all."

If Artoria recognized that the doodle was of her, she didn't seem to mind.

For the first time, Artoria has joined them downstairs instead of eating in her office.

Eating with everyone was wonderful, but also the fact Gawain came back with his plate full of nothing but raw potatoes was troubling.

"Is he okay?" Irisviel leaned close to whisper to her boss.

"Ignore him. Just make sure you don't look at Bedivere's plate." Artoria whispered back 

Even if Irisviel tried looking at Bedivere's plate, her mind would simply reject it.

Bedivere's taste and ways of eating are so horrible that the human consciousness has decided to censor his plate and protect the human mind.

If one were to look at him right now, their brains would turn everything into pixels.

It was a tragedy.

"It can't be that bad, right?" Irisviel was a believer in good faith.

Artoria shrugged and shoved the spoon into her mouth with the most depressed look she had on all day, and that is saying something.

Irisviel decided to risk it and look his way.

Irisviel is no longer a believer.

"Bedivere." Artoria called, and he turned to her.

"Yes?"

"You are going to be Gilgamesh's guard for the next week." His spoon dropped.

"Why me?" Poor man looked like his soul was getting sucked out of his body.

"He asked me to send him my most handsome men."

"B...But."

"No need to worry, I would not throw you under the bus." She turned to Lancelot, who kept quiet the entire time. "Lancelot, you are going with Bedivere."

Lancelot's eyes widened, and his face paled.

"W...what?"

"It is only going to be for a week, so don't worry too much. Gilgamesh is going to be too busy working to annoy you."

Lancelot chewed on his food, his eyes showing extreme concentration, the kind one would have before walking into the gates of hell.

And then, he stopped chewing.

Lancelot blushed.

"He is quite handsome, so that is okay."

Artoria chocked on her food.

"GILGAMESH IS WHAT?!"

"He has a pretty face and a sexy body and his mean attitude is... he can call me mongrel all he wants." Lancelot sighed. "I will take the job."

"So you're that desperate, huh?" Irisviel kept the thought to herself.

"I lost my appetite." Artoria buried her face in her palms.

"He can step on me."

"That's enough Lancelot."

Gawain, unable to hear more of his fantasies, picked up his plate and shoved the potatoes into Lancelot's mouth.

"That will shut you up!"

"?!"

Artoria's shoulders shook for a moment, trying to repress her laughter at the scene before her, but hearing Irisviel and Bedivere laugh prompted her to do the same.

Irisviel's laughter was interrupted when she looked at Artoria.

Her laugh was beautiful.

She looked beautiful when happy, laughing without a care in the world, laughing to the point of wiping tears.

It was so unlike her pained smile from earlier.

Irisviel wanted to cup her face and stare at her forever.

But that would be inappropriate, wouldn't it?

So she watched quietly, ignoring the loud beating of her heart.