Guarded heart

Artoria pulled up at the bar.

Today was a hellish one.

Not only did she run into Guinevere in the morning, but now she's forced to pick her up as well.

Forced wasn't the right word, but she was the one who got called, so it was her responsibility.

She left the car with a heavy sight, and walked inside.

She was hit by the smell of alcohol the moment she walked in, and she forced herself not to turn back.

She didn't have the best memories when it came to that smell.

"I told you that's enough for tonight. Go home."

"No way...! I still have money so pour me another one!"

"I said no! Listen lady, I won't be responsible if anything happens, so that's enough drinks."

Artoria let out another heavy sight.

She knew exactly whose voice that was. The person protesting, that is.

There she was. Guinevere was in her full drunken glory, with messy hair, a face so red that it might explode, and her hands grabbing the bartender by his collar and pulling him over the counter.

The usual.

"Hey." She slowly approached her ex and put a hand on her shoulder. "That's enough, Gui-'' only to receive a punch to the face.

The blonde grabbed her by the arm as if her own nose wasn't bleeding. "I'm sorry for the disturbance, we will leave now..." She paused. The bartender before her was none other than the journalist from the other day. His name was... Shirou wasn't it? "Did you lose your job?"

"I have multiple jobs." Shirou deadpanned. He had a stressful night. "Can we pretend we haven't seen each other?"

"I better not see anything in the journals."

"You won't... and you're bleeding."

"I know."

"Let me go! Who are you?" The drunk woman continued to weakly punch her chest.

"Let's go."

"I'm not going- why do you look like Artoria? How dare you disguise yourself as-"

Artoria picked her up and threw her over her shoulder, ignoring the stares she was getting.

She was too tired for this.

"I'm being kidnapped! Let me go!" Guinevere continued to protest.

Fortunately, Artoria was used to this irrational behavior.

She knew her since their college days.

"Alright, Guinevere. If you don't stop hitting me, I will make you walk home."

The woman on her shoulder flinched. "Where do you live, anyway?" Artoria put her down and helped her get into the car.

"Uh..." Guinevere paused. "With the freeloaders."

Artoria raised an eyebrow and put on the seat belt. "The freeloaders?"

"The one with the pigtails and all red. The devil."

The devil.... Morgan? No, not that kind of devil...

"Okay... I'm taking you to my place."

"You better not do anything suspicious! I have a blackbelt!"

"I won't, and you're lying." Artoria sighed. "Stop terrorizing people."

"I am innocent."

Artoria started driving.

"What's your name?"

"Guinebere cameldart."

"That's completely off!"

"Marmelade cameliard."

And so Artoria had the most stressful car ride she’s had in a long time. Fortunately, she managed to get to her house without any accidents.

Guinevere started to doze off, so she ended up carrying her all the way into the guest room. Once she placed her on the bed, she noticed that her clothes would be uncomfortable to sleep in.

Artoria sighed and tried to undress her, but Guinevere suddenly woke up and she had to dodge another punch.

"What are you doing, pervert?!"

"If you don't want me to change your clothes then do it yourself!"

"You took me here so that you can take advantage of me!"

Artoria was beyond exhausted.

"I have no interest in doing so."

"Why? Am I not attractive enough?!"

"No. Get changed."

"I am such a snack though!"

"Okay. I give up." Artoria let her go.

"W...wait Artoria-"

"I'm not Artoria, I'm marmelade pendragon."

"You're not!"

Artoria would find this amusing if not for the fact that she was incredibly frustrated.

Suddenly, Artoria felt a pair of arms wrapping around her neck and pulling her down.

"H-hey!"

"You're not going anywhere!" Guinevere started sobbing, and Artoria froze. "You're so mean! Saying I'm not attractive, and lying about your name! The only person I know with a sentient piece of hair is Artoria!"

Artoria's ahoge sneezed.

Guinevere pressed Artoria's face against her chest. "You're the worst!"

"I... I can't breathe."

"Good!"

Artoria wanted this night to be over.

Fortunately, the grip around her neck loosened and Guinevere fell asleep, letting her live another day.

Artoria pushed herself up and stared down at the woman she once loved.

Who was she fooling? She still loved her.

Her expression softened and she pushed the strands away from her face.

She was cute.

"I'm sorry..." Guinevere whispered in her sleep.

Artoria sighed, and the sleeping woman pulled her down again.

"I'm sorry... I love you..."

Artoria stopped breathing for a moment.

Then why...? She wanted to ask.

Why did you leave?

But no words came out.

She could only focus on her warmth as she hugged her back to comfort her.

Or was she comforting herself?

Guinevere had lost weight.

She has been wearing herself out lately, and despite never running into her until today, Artoria still heard from coworkers that she didn't look well.

"Oh Gwen..." Artoria sighed and placed her chin on her head. "What are you doing to yourself?"

There was no answer.

Perhaps it was for the best.

  - Guarded heart-

Something did not add up.

The last thing Guinevere remembered was getting drunk again at a bar attempting to forget all of her problems or hopefully die, though that would not be a death to be proud of.

And now she woke up, and it was morning, and she was not in her bed.

She knew this room, and she wished she didn't, because everyone knows that the worst outcome to getting drunk is waking up in your ex's house.

Okay, maybe she is mistaken and it's a stranger's house which would be even worse but it is still better than having a very awkward meeting with Artoria.

Guinevere stood up. She almost fell but to her credit, she didn't. She slowly opened the door, peeking through for any sign of the blonde.

Once it was safe, she stepped out of the room.

And then there was a puppy by her feet, wiggling his tail at her and barking.

"A...Artoria?!"

"No, I'm right here." Artoria appeared behind her, making her yell and jump back. "I was about to wake you up."

"Don't give me a heart attack!"

"Why did you think the dog was me?"

"I... why did I, actually?"

"Here are some of your clothes that you left here. You can take a shower, breakfast is ready." Artoria explained, but the brunette couldn't keep up.

"Wait, why am I here?"

"Because I have been saved as your emergency contact for the past 15 years, and have been picking you up from bars since then." Artoria's eyebrow twitched. She was angry. Her expression and voice were calm but she was definitely angry.

"I'm sorry." Guinevere looked down in shame and just took the clothes from her.

If the bartender called Artoria, then she must have been on the verge of passing out.

Of course Artoria would be angry with her!

Guinevere let out a sigh. She tried not to focus on the familiar building, and instead headed straight to the shower.

Cavall followed her then sat by the door, as if to guard her.

That was adorable.

But when did Artoria get a dog?

The shower and the change of clothes helped ease her headache, but that was the easy part.

The hard part was sitting at the same table with an erringly calm Artoria pouring her coffee.

She muttered a small thank you and quietly drank her coffee.

Guinevere knew too well that a quiet Artoria meant that she was likely to get scolded brutally. An angry Artoria never held back with her words.

So she decided to go with the smartest escape possible.

“I’m sorry.” She quickly muttered and bowed her head in regret.

“You should be.” Artoria crossed her arms. “Do you know how dangerous that could have been for you?”

“Please don’t give me a lecture while I’m having a hangover.” 

“Well if you were actually responsible then you wouldn’t be having this hangover now, would you?”

“Please spare me.”

“No.”

Guinevere let out a comical sob and continued to drink.

This is fine.

“Well uh… Thank you for everything.” Guinevere had enough of this awkward situation, so she slowly got up. “I need to go now-”

She felt herself falling back into her chair with the room spinning around her.

Artoria left her seat and rushed to her side.

"You're burning up."

Guinevere whimpered as Artoria placed her hand against her hot forehead.

"I'm fine!" She protested, but it was in vain, as Artoria picked her up in her arms and carried her to the guest room. "I... I can just go home!"

"No." Artoria deadpanned and placed her on the bed. "I'm calling a doctor." She pulled her phone from her pocket.

"I'm not..." Guinevere paused. "I'm not your wife anymore. I don't want you to take care of me." She clenched her fists.

Artoria looked at her for a moment, then looked back at her phone.

"You have no right to complain. You're only in this situation because of your own actions." Artoria calmly reasoned.

Guinevere's eyebrows twitched.

She was right.

But still...

"My actions don't concern you!"

"Yes, of course." Artoria answered absentmindedly.

"Hey, are you even listening to me?"

"No."

Guinevere stood up and tried snatching the phone away, but Artoria placed a hand on her head and effortlessly stopped her. She brought the phone to her ear and called a doctor, while Guinevere struggled to stop her.

"He will be in an hour or so." Artoria, unfazed by her actions, proceeded to tuck her into the bed. "I will bring you the rest of your food."

"Like I said...!"

"Would you prefer being sick and alone at home?" Artoria sighed.

"I don't live alone."

"Ah."

A heavy silence fell between them.

"N...not like tha-"

"You are free to do whatever you want-"

"I am living with Rin and Sakura!" Guinevere quickly blurted out before the misunderstanding could get worse.

Artoria frowned.

"Wait... the Tohsakas? Why?" 

Guinevere sighed.

"Rin had a fight with her father and took Sakura and left home, but they're both terrible with money and ended up wasting and their next solution was me... their father's overworked and sleep deprived employee."

"You wouldn't be if you had taken the job I offered you." Artoria's words came out harsher than intended, making her flinch.

"I told you before, it was a matter of principle!"

"Well, look at where that got you."

"If you're going to start a fight, then just let me go home." Guinevere tried to get up, only for a hand to rest on her shoulder and stop her.

"Sorry. Let a doctor see you first."

Guinevere stared at her for a moment then sighed. She might as well get over this so she could go.

-Guarded heart-

Meanwhile, Irisviel was dealing with her own headache.

The moment she walked in, she found the most infuriating woman waiting for her.

Or well, waiting for her boss but since there was no boss yet, that meant the secretary had to deal with it.

"Uhm... Miss... I hope this doesn't sound rude but... you're covered in paint." Irisviel tried so hard not to look. She saw what happened on the news, but even then this was a sight to behold.

"Don't look at the paint! Look at me!" Ishtar complained. "I am going to have a talk with your boss about sending men to ruin my plans!"

"Actually, we didn't ruin them, we fell into all of your traps." Lancelot muttered, feeling shame.

"Well this paint isn't getting off and SOMEONE has to take responsibilit-" A hand covered her mouth.

"I'm terribly sorry for her. We came for something different so if you could-" Ereshkigal was interrupted when she felt her palm getting bitten. She withdrew her hand and wiped it in disgust.

"Our CEO isn't here today, so how about I give you an appointment?" Irisviel was patient enough for this.

"Yes, that would be great!" Ereshkigal wiped her hand on Ishtar's arm. "Please make it soon!"

"What about me?!"

And just like that, Ishtar got blasted with water.

Everyone turned to find Morgan standing there with a water gun

Irisviel wondered why everyone seemed to own a water gun.

"Oh, I heard an annoying sound so I thought my uncle flew back." Morgan casually blasted her again. "Shame it was just this parasite. I even brought the bug spray."

"You have an uncle?" Irisviel gave Ishtar  something to wipe her face with.

"Yes." Morgan shot again.

"WILL YOU STOP THAT?"

"He lives in Spain but without the s."

"...so where's that?" Irisviel asked in confusion.

"We locked him up in the hot springs to force him to take a shower. It's been a year. They're still trying."

"Oh, I get it." She understood nothing.

"Alright! Call an ambulance!" Ishtar tried to pull up her non-existent sleeves. "BUT NOT FOR ME!"

She launched herself at Morgan only to be hit with the bug spray and fall backwards and into her sister's-expecting- arms.

"Lancelot, get rid of the body." Morgan threw the bottle at him.

"She isn't dead."

"Yet."

"You're all acting like this happens often." Irisviel laughed nervously. Morgan seemed to be in a horrible mood.

"Everyone tries to kill my sister. Even me." Ereshkigal sighed and started dragging her away. "Why do I even love you?"

"You love me?!" Ishtar woke up.

Ereshkigal knocked her out in a panic.

"Ah, siblings." Morgan sighed wistfully. "I hope they get hit by a bus."

Yikes. Irisviel thought.

"Why isn't Artoria here yet?" It was Morgan's turn to complain.

“I’ll try calling her-”

“Don’t bother.” Morgan just said then left.

Irisviel and Lancelot exchanged a glance.

“You’ll get used to it.” He gave her a thumbs up, but she could tell this interaction took a few years off his lifespan. “I think you should still call her. She doesn’t usually show up late.”

Irisviel nodded.

She’s been a little worried since Artoria got that call last night.

Irisviel bit her lip as she picked up the phone to call her. She could’ve made a mistake last night.

She was going to say something she might have regretted.

Her life was going so well. She didn’t want Artoria to turn her back on her by finding out the truth.

Irisviel shook the thought out of her head.

She had to stay positive!

Meanwhile, the doctor just left Artoria’s house, reassuring her that Guinevere was fine, but needed to rest.

To which Guinevere said:

“No way. I’ll get fired.”

“If you’d like some advice, I think you should look for another job. You have an impressive resume.”

“Advice taken into consideration.”

“And perhaps do something about the Tohsaka kids?”

“Impossible. Rin is the scariest person I’ve ever met.”

Artoria raised an eyebrow. “She’s just a highschooler.”

“Correction. She’s in college now and she is going to call in fifteen seconds because I didn’t go back home.”

“That’s oddly specific-” Artoria frowned at the sound of Guinevere’s phone beeping. Her ex gave her an ‘I told you so’ look.

Guinevere answered the call, and immediately pulled the phone away from her ear.

Artoria could hear the sound of yelling from the other side, but she couldn’t dwell on it when her own phone started ringing.

It was Irisviel.

Artoria sighed. She forgot to call Irisviel, so it was fortunate that her secretary reached out to her.

The problem was explaining her current situation.

"Hello, Irisviel?" She picked up the phone. "I'm sorry for being late, but I have things to deal with... would it be too much trouble if you could send me today's work? You can have someone drive you there."

"It's no trouble at all! But someone needs to fill in for me. Can't I send you Lancelot?"

"No! Absolutely not him!" Artoria whispered, only to receive a suspicious look from Guinevere. She ignored it. "It has to be you!"

Anyone else would make this situation awkward.

"O...okay. Well, I'll be there soon. Oh and a pair of twins showed up looking for you. You won't guess who-"

"Ishtar and Ereshkigal from Anu's heavinly jewels."

"...Oh nevermind. How did you guess it?"

"Ishtar has a world-ending tantrum that gets her on a hit list every year and Ereshkigal is always with her to keep her on a leash."

Irisviel giggled.

"Oh, and Morgan-"

"Tell Morgan to drop dead."

Yikes.

"I can't tell her that. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. If I wish it hard enough it will eventually happen."

Artoria heard a chuckle from her secretary as she hung up the phone.

“Anyway, I should get going.” She turned to find Guinevere preparing to leave. “I feel better now, and I really need to get going, so-”

The doorbell was ringing.

Who could it be? She just finished calling Irisviel, so there was no way she was this fast.

Artoria opened the door, and was met with no other than Morgan.

“Hi-” Artoria slammed the door.

Unfortunately, Morgan’s reflexes allowed her to stop the door with her foot. “Ha! You think I didn’t see that coming?” She let herself in despite the protests. “I don’t care if you’re mad at me but you’re missing important work by-” Morgan stopped in her tracks as her eyes saw her worst enemy.

Guinevere’s eye twitched, and the two glared at each other like two fierce storms about to hit a poor house barely keeping together.

And that house was going to be Artoria, who had to stand between them.

“YOU!” They yelled and Artoria had to physically restrain them.

“Listen! How about you two leave the house and solve your problems away from me?” Artoria restrained grown men in her line of job and yet these two’s powers overwhelmed her.

Wasn’t Guinevere supposed to be sick?

Was her hatred for Morgan enough to heal her?

“So you finally showed yourself, you cheater! Are you asking for death?” Morgan tried to pull her hair, but Guinevere bit her arm.

“I heard a certain WITCH was causing trouble again, so I came to finish her off!”

“Can you two not throw death threats at each other?!”

“GET HER GUINEVERE!” Artoria heard a third voice and realized she hadn't locked the door.

Was that… Was that Rin Tohsaka at the door cheering?

“Shirou! Come over here, this fight is getting good!”

“Why are you in my house?!”

“Tohsaka! You can’t just walk into someone’s-” Shirou peeked from outside and he and Artoria stared at each other.

The vow of silence.

Artoria decided she’s had enough, and picked up the kicking Guinevere into her arms and carried her outside.

“That’s it! Run away you fox!”

“I’m not running away, I’m being kidnapped!”

“Morgan! If you don’t stop, I will call Medea!” Artoria threatened and Morgan cursed under her breath and crossed her arms.

“Uh… It’s been a while, Rin. Could you take care of Guinevere for me?” Artoria put down her ex who continued to glare. “Actually, why are you in my house?”

“The last time we met was at one of my father’s parties.” Rin politely shook her hand. Wasn’t she cheering just a second ago? Why was she acting so elegant all of a sudden? “I came to pick her up and I brought a car!”

Artoria glanced at the taxi behind her, she then turned to Shirou.

“I’m the taxi driver.” Shirou muttered. They needed to stop meeting like this. “She won’t even pay me.”

“You owe me plenty of favors, Shirou.” Rin took Guinevere by the arm, and waved goodbye to Artoria.

Guinevere glanced at Artoria for a moment, as if wanting to say something.

She ended up quietly leaving with Rin.

This was such a chaotic morning, and although the day just started, she couldn’t wait for it to be over.

Running into Guinevere was the last thing she needed, and now it was harder to get her out of her head.

“Do you never learn?” Morgan walked towards, rolling her eyes.

Guinevere and Morgan have always hated each other, so it was no wonder that Morgan was ready to start another fight.

“What do you want?” Artoria crossed her arms and took a step back, leaving enough distance between them.

Although, no distance could ever be enough.

“You won’t even invite me inside?” Morgan glared, and Artoria didn’t grace her with an answer. “Fine. I’m here to remind you that you must attend tomorrow’s event.” She paused. “Oh, and your beloved ex will most likely be there. Every big name in town will be there, including Tokiomi.”

Artoria wanted to protest, but a job is a job. She was professional enough to separate her feelings from her work.

“Very well.”

“Oh, and by the way? Stop threatening me with Medea, she doesn’t scare me.” Morgan started to walk away.

“Well seeing how you never do your work, she’s the only thing keeping your company together.” Artoria shook her head, and waited for her to be out of sight so she could call Irisviel.

“Hello?”

“Irisviel, did you leave the building?”

“Oh, I need time to gather everything, I’ll be right there!”

“There is no need. I’ll be there soon.” Artoria took a deep breath. “How would you feel about attending a party tomorrow night?”