Camelot Investigations
Summary: Camelot Investigations is known for being the best of the best in the private investigation business. But a new case will make or break them. When a new client comes in asking for their help Gwen becomes flustered, Arthur gets in way over his head and Merlin is enjoying the show.
Rating: PG-NC17
A.N: Modern AU. This story is about Gwen and Arthur with a smidge of Lancelot. Other characters will make an appearance.
[Chapter 1]
"Here, let me."
Gwen looked up and smiled at her best friend as he held open the door to Camelot Investigations a little wider for her. "Thank you, Merlin."
"Anytime…" he looked down at the two Styrofoam cups in her hand and smiled when he saw the familiar emblem of their favorite coffee shop. "Is that for me?"
"Of course." She grinned handing him his usual order as she walked into their office. "Caramel Macchiato with soy milk and 2 sugars."
"I swear if you weren't my best friend, I'd marry you."
"Don't forget you're dating my best friend. She might not take too kindly to that remark." she rolled her eyes and glanced at the clock on the wall. "Is his Royal Highness in yet?"
"Is it before nine in the morning on a Monday?" Merlin countered before shaking his head. "No, you're safe. By a few minutes at least."
"I miss Gaius as a boss." Gwen muttered.
"Me too." He nodded. "I can't believe Uthur bought him out. But it's good that Gaius gets that retirement he's always deserved."
"Very true." She nodded as she settled at her desk in reception. "At least something good came out of being bought out by Uther Pendragon."
"His son's not that bad…" Merlin smiled. "You just don't like that he doesn't let you out in the field."
"Which is bollocks because Gaius trusted me to." She frowned. "Besides, he actually considers you one of his best friends."
"He's just worried is all… being that you're the only woman on staff and all." He shrugged with a smug smile. "And we're barely friends."
"Merlin, look around you. We are the staff." She glared. "You get to take pictures at least. And you say you're not his favorite."
He shook his head. "I almost forgot to show you. I took these last night." Grinning, he pulled a file from his saddle bag and opened it to the first picture. "His name is Gwaine… he's been having an affair. His wife wanted to proof for alimony. What do you think?"
She looked at the illicit photograph and cringed. "I'd say she got it."
"Yeah…" Merlin nodded with a grin. "Apparently, she paid a few thousand pounds and is paying the other half tomorrow when we give her this."
"Wow… must be nice to be rich…"
"According to our sovereign, she'll be worth more when she divorces she poor chap."
Gwen laughed. This was the only thing she liked about Monday mornings. It was rare for their boss to be in the office early on Monday mornings, so to be able to joke with her friend for even a few minutes was worth the effort of being at her office earlier.
They both looked up when the glass door swung open and cringed.
"I don't pay you two to stand around." Arthur Pendragon glared.
Merlin took the folder back from Gwen as she settled in her chair.
"Are those the photos?" he asked his bumbling photographer.
Merlin nodded. "Yeah. Seems the wife was correct in her suspicions. Her husband is having an affair. She just wasn't right about who it was with." He handed the photos to Arthur and smiled proudly when the blond cringed in front of him before snapping the folder shut.
"I didn't peg him for poof." He looked up with a shrug. "Good job, Merlin."
"Thanks…?"
"Don't get used to it." Arthur rolled his eyes, smacking the folder against the thinner man's chest. "You're photographs aren't usually this well taken."
"I had a good vantage point." He shrugged.
"I'm sure." Arthur mocked walking toward his office. He stopped at Gwen's desk. "Guinevere."
"Sir…" she nodded with a tight smile.
"Any messages?"
"Not this morning."
"Quiet weekend then…" Arthur smiled brightly. "That means we'll be busy today. I'm expecting a visitor. Let me know when they arrive."
"Of course." She nodded. "What's their name?"
"Lance…something." He shrugged. "Not entirely too sure. He's the son of a family friend. He needs us to investigate the company he works for. He claims that they are stifling funds."
"Corporate takedown…" Merlin cut in. "I like it."
"You'll be sitting this one out, Merlin." Arthur said. "He's a friend. Sort of. I'll handle this case personally. Neither of you are to interfere."
Gwen nodded and smiled when she caught Merlin's pout. "Yes, sir."
Arthur slammed the door to his office shut behind him.
"Prat." Merlin muttered under his breath.
Gwen laughed softly.
"I heard that, Merlin!"
Around mid-day, Gwen was getting ready to place their lunch orders when the door to the office swung open. She looked up startled. The man who walked into the office looked as if he didn't have a care in the world. Dressed in a designer suit he strolled up to her reception desk and smiled. She felt the fluttering in her stomach before he even spoke.
"Hello, my name is Lance Du Lac." His voice was a smooth baritone. "I have an appointment with Mr. Pendragon."
Gwen swallowed thickly. Merlin's snort from his desk behind her shook her out of her revere. "Oh yes… he told us… me… he told me. I'm sorry. Hang on… let me page him…" she cleared her throat before picking up the phone in front of her and dialing Arthur's extension. "Mr. Du Lac to see you, sir…"
"Who?"
"Lance… Du Lac."
"Ah… thank you. Send him in."
"Of course, sire… I mean sir." She rolled her eyes at herself and looked up to see the mirth in the man's dark brown eyes. "Right this way, Mr. Du Lac."
He allowed her to lead him through the office toward the frosted door with DETECTIVE ARTHUR PENDRAGON, Private Investigator emblazoned on it. She knocked softly.
"Come." Her boss' muffled voice granted her permission from the other side.
She opened the door and curtsied before introducing the man behind her. Arthur's eyebrow rose in confusion and she groaned inwardly. She'd curtsied in front of both her boss and this Adonis currently standing so close to her that she could feel the heat radiating off him.
"Thank… you…" Arthur stretched the words and Gwen felt even more embarrassed.
She smiled politely before ushering Lance in and closing the door behind him softly.
"Did you just curtsy?" Merlin asked as she sat down at her desk again.
She scowled in his direction before turning back to her task of order their lunch. She groaned. Now she wasn't sure how long Arthur's meeting would last or if she should order lunch yet or if she should order for Lance as well. She eyed the menus in front of her with a confused look. Merlin eyed her warily.
"Something wrong, Gwen?"
"I don't know what I'm supposed to do…" she mumbled.
"About… what?" he asked.
"Lunch… should I order… should I wait… should I order for Lance… what do you think he likes…. Do you think he's allergic to anything…" The mirth in her friend's eyes caused her to frown. "What?"
"Nothing…" Merlin shook his head. "I've just never seen you this flustered before. You fancy Lance or something?"
"I do not fancy anyone, Merlin." She rolled her eyes.
"If you say so." He shrugged. "I've just never seen you make such a big deal about anything as minimal as lunch before."
"Well, it'd be rude if Lance was still here when lunch arrived wouldn't it?"
He shrugged.
"And then if Arthur couldn't eat because he was in this meeting, he'd chuck out the cold food and I'd have to order it again." She rolled her eyes.
"So just wait then…" Merlin said.
"But I'm so hungry…" she whined.
"Then order."
"But…"
"Gwen…" Merlin eyed her with that look that said she was acting childish.
"Fine." She groaned hearing her stomach rumble. "I'll wait."
He laughed and shook his head. "Oh my dear Gwen… you do make my work day interesting…"
"Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Mr. Pendragon." Lance greeted once the door shut behind him.
"Please, call me Arthur." He said as he stood from his chair to greet him. "Any friend of my father's is a friend of mine. You said that you had proof the company you worked for was stifling funds?"
Lance nodded. "From the research department. I work for one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Europe and a lot of the government funding that should be going to us is being used for something called Avalon." He pulled a USB drive out of his pocket and handed it to the detective in front of him. "I believe it to be a new designer drug they've created. Some sort of hallucinogen compound from what I've garnered."
Arthur took the USB and walked back around his desk to put it into his laptop. "How did you get this?"
"Right place at the right time, I guess."
Arthur opened the only file on the drive and his eyes skimmed the information for a minute before looking up at his new source. "You realize that you are accusing one of the most renowned leading pharmaceutical companies that provide prescription drugs to 87% of the world's population to be creating an illicit drug that causes hallucinations?"
"I realize what is at stake here…" Lance started. "But the drug does more than that what you think… these hallucinations aren't to give the average person a good time, Arthur. It's a mind control. They create the hallucination for you. This drug can make a person attack another just at the whim of someone's instruction. It could turn you against your own mother through fear. It'll make you think that she is trying to harm you, so you need to strike first."
Arthur sighed. "Sounds dangerous."
"Not yet. But in the wrong hands… it can be." Lance answered.
"Very well." Arthur nodded. "I've advised my staff that this case is priority and I will make sure to remind them of their discretion."
"I'd rather your staff didn't know…"
"Mr. Du Lac, I trust my staff. More than anyone and quite frankly more than I trust you right now… if you want my help, you need to agree to my terms." Arthur cut him off.
Lance nodded. "Very well."
"Can I keep this?" Arthur nodded to the drive currently embedded in his computer.
"I have the only other copy." Lance nodded.
Arthur nodded in understanding. "I will contact you when I find something incriminating."
"Is this not incriminating enough?" Lance felt sudden annoyance with the man in front of him.
"Frankly, no." Arthur shook his head. "All you've given me is a log that there are funds missing from your company's research department. That could be for any number of reasons… Avalon could be the mistress of your company's CEO… whatever the case. It does not automatically mean that they are creating this drug. I need something more concrete. Right now, this is all circumstantial."
"Your reputation precedes you, Arthur."
"It's all I have." The man shrugged.
"That and your last name."
"My reputation is especially important because of my last name."
"Spoken like a true Pendragon. You are your father's son."
"It's a blessing and a curse."
"I'll leave you to your work then." Lance bowed his head respectfully and turned to walk out the door.
"Just leave your contact information with my receptionist, Guinevere."
"I will."
Lance walked out the door and toward the young woman in question with a smile. "I was told to leave my contact information with you, Miss…"
"Leodegrance." Gwen supplied. "I'm Guinevere but my friends call me Gwen…. I mean you can call me Gwen."
"Gwen…" he smiled softly. "It was a pleasure meeting you."
"You too…" she smiled with a blush.
"I look forward to seeing you again, Miss… Gwen."
"Me too." She smiled feeling her face heat up more.
She watched as he walked out the door and turned toward her friend who was no doubt looking at her with a knowing smirk. She rolled her eyes and scowled. "Ordering lunch…. Speak now or forever hold your peace!"
[Chapter 2]
http://sv-lilah.livejournal.com/8786.html#
Rating: PG-NC17
A.N: Modern AU. This story is about Gwen and Arthur with a smidge of Lancelot. Other characters will make an appearance.
[Chapter 1]
"Here, let me."
Gwen looked up and smiled at her best friend as he held open the door to Camelot Investigations a little wider for her. "Thank you, Merlin."
"Anytime…" he looked down at the two Styrofoam cups in her hand and smiled when he saw the familiar emblem of their favorite coffee shop. "Is that for me?"
"Of course." She grinned handing him his usual order as she walked into their office. "Caramel Macchiato with soy milk and 2 sugars."
"I swear if you weren't my best friend, I'd marry you."
"Don't forget you're dating my best friend. She might not take too kindly to that remark." she rolled her eyes and glanced at the clock on the wall. "Is his Royal Highness in yet?"
"Is it before nine in the morning on a Monday?" Merlin countered before shaking his head. "No, you're safe. By a few minutes at least."
"I miss Gaius as a boss." Gwen muttered.
"Me too." He nodded. "I can't believe Uthur bought him out. But it's good that Gaius gets that retirement he's always deserved."
"Very true." She nodded as she settled at her desk in reception. "At least something good came out of being bought out by Uther Pendragon."
"His son's not that bad…" Merlin smiled. "You just don't like that he doesn't let you out in the field."
"Which is bollocks because Gaius trusted me to." She frowned. "Besides, he actually considers you one of his best friends."
"He's just worried is all… being that you're the only woman on staff and all." He shrugged with a smug smile. "And we're barely friends."
"Merlin, look around you. We are the staff." She glared. "You get to take pictures at least. And you say you're not his favorite."
He shook his head. "I almost forgot to show you. I took these last night." Grinning, he pulled a file from his saddle bag and opened it to the first picture. "His name is Gwaine… he's been having an affair. His wife wanted to proof for alimony. What do you think?"
She looked at the illicit photograph and cringed. "I'd say she got it."
"Yeah…" Merlin nodded with a grin. "Apparently, she paid a few thousand pounds and is paying the other half tomorrow when we give her this."
"Wow… must be nice to be rich…"
"According to our sovereign, she'll be worth more when she divorces she poor chap."
Gwen laughed. This was the only thing she liked about Monday mornings. It was rare for their boss to be in the office early on Monday mornings, so to be able to joke with her friend for even a few minutes was worth the effort of being at her office earlier.
They both looked up when the glass door swung open and cringed.
"I don't pay you two to stand around." Arthur Pendragon glared.
Merlin took the folder back from Gwen as she settled in her chair.
"Are those the photos?" he asked his bumbling photographer.
Merlin nodded. "Yeah. Seems the wife was correct in her suspicions. Her husband is having an affair. She just wasn't right about who it was with." He handed the photos to Arthur and smiled proudly when the blond cringed in front of him before snapping the folder shut.
"I didn't peg him for poof." He looked up with a shrug. "Good job, Merlin."
"Thanks…?"
"Don't get used to it." Arthur rolled his eyes, smacking the folder against the thinner man's chest. "You're photographs aren't usually this well taken."
"I had a good vantage point." He shrugged.
"I'm sure." Arthur mocked walking toward his office. He stopped at Gwen's desk. "Guinevere."
"Sir…" she nodded with a tight smile.
"Any messages?"
"Not this morning."
"Quiet weekend then…" Arthur smiled brightly. "That means we'll be busy today. I'm expecting a visitor. Let me know when they arrive."
"Of course." She nodded. "What's their name?"
"Lance…something." He shrugged. "Not entirely too sure. He's the son of a family friend. He needs us to investigate the company he works for. He claims that they are stifling funds."
"Corporate takedown…" Merlin cut in. "I like it."
"You'll be sitting this one out, Merlin." Arthur said. "He's a friend. Sort of. I'll handle this case personally. Neither of you are to interfere."
Gwen nodded and smiled when she caught Merlin's pout. "Yes, sir."
Arthur slammed the door to his office shut behind him.
"Prat." Merlin muttered under his breath.
Gwen laughed softly.
"I heard that, Merlin!"
Around mid-day, Gwen was getting ready to place their lunch orders when the door to the office swung open. She looked up startled. The man who walked into the office looked as if he didn't have a care in the world. Dressed in a designer suit he strolled up to her reception desk and smiled. She felt the fluttering in her stomach before he even spoke.
"Hello, my name is Lance Du Lac." His voice was a smooth baritone. "I have an appointment with Mr. Pendragon."
Gwen swallowed thickly. Merlin's snort from his desk behind her shook her out of her revere. "Oh yes… he told us… me… he told me. I'm sorry. Hang on… let me page him…" she cleared her throat before picking up the phone in front of her and dialing Arthur's extension. "Mr. Du Lac to see you, sir…"
"Who?"
"Lance… Du Lac."
"Ah… thank you. Send him in."
"Of course, sire… I mean sir." She rolled her eyes at herself and looked up to see the mirth in the man's dark brown eyes. "Right this way, Mr. Du Lac."
He allowed her to lead him through the office toward the frosted door with DETECTIVE ARTHUR PENDRAGON, Private Investigator emblazoned on it. She knocked softly.
"Come." Her boss' muffled voice granted her permission from the other side.
She opened the door and curtsied before introducing the man behind her. Arthur's eyebrow rose in confusion and she groaned inwardly. She'd curtsied in front of both her boss and this Adonis currently standing so close to her that she could feel the heat radiating off him.
"Thank… you…" Arthur stretched the words and Gwen felt even more embarrassed.
She smiled politely before ushering Lance in and closing the door behind him softly.
"Did you just curtsy?" Merlin asked as she sat down at her desk again.
She scowled in his direction before turning back to her task of order their lunch. She groaned. Now she wasn't sure how long Arthur's meeting would last or if she should order lunch yet or if she should order for Lance as well. She eyed the menus in front of her with a confused look. Merlin eyed her warily.
"Something wrong, Gwen?"
"I don't know what I'm supposed to do…" she mumbled.
"About… what?" he asked.
"Lunch… should I order… should I wait… should I order for Lance… what do you think he likes…. Do you think he's allergic to anything…" The mirth in her friend's eyes caused her to frown. "What?"
"Nothing…" Merlin shook his head. "I've just never seen you this flustered before. You fancy Lance or something?"
"I do not fancy anyone, Merlin." She rolled her eyes.
"If you say so." He shrugged. "I've just never seen you make such a big deal about anything as minimal as lunch before."
"Well, it'd be rude if Lance was still here when lunch arrived wouldn't it?"
He shrugged.
"And then if Arthur couldn't eat because he was in this meeting, he'd chuck out the cold food and I'd have to order it again." She rolled her eyes.
"So just wait then…" Merlin said.
"But I'm so hungry…" she whined.
"Then order."
"But…"
"Gwen…" Merlin eyed her with that look that said she was acting childish.
"Fine." She groaned hearing her stomach rumble. "I'll wait."
He laughed and shook his head. "Oh my dear Gwen… you do make my work day interesting…"
"Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Mr. Pendragon." Lance greeted once the door shut behind him.
"Please, call me Arthur." He said as he stood from his chair to greet him. "Any friend of my father's is a friend of mine. You said that you had proof the company you worked for was stifling funds?"
Lance nodded. "From the research department. I work for one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Europe and a lot of the government funding that should be going to us is being used for something called Avalon." He pulled a USB drive out of his pocket and handed it to the detective in front of him. "I believe it to be a new designer drug they've created. Some sort of hallucinogen compound from what I've garnered."
Arthur took the USB and walked back around his desk to put it into his laptop. "How did you get this?"
"Right place at the right time, I guess."
Arthur opened the only file on the drive and his eyes skimmed the information for a minute before looking up at his new source. "You realize that you are accusing one of the most renowned leading pharmaceutical companies that provide prescription drugs to 87% of the world's population to be creating an illicit drug that causes hallucinations?"
"I realize what is at stake here…" Lance started. "But the drug does more than that what you think… these hallucinations aren't to give the average person a good time, Arthur. It's a mind control. They create the hallucination for you. This drug can make a person attack another just at the whim of someone's instruction. It could turn you against your own mother through fear. It'll make you think that she is trying to harm you, so you need to strike first."
Arthur sighed. "Sounds dangerous."
"Not yet. But in the wrong hands… it can be." Lance answered.
"Very well." Arthur nodded. "I've advised my staff that this case is priority and I will make sure to remind them of their discretion."
"I'd rather your staff didn't know…"
"Mr. Du Lac, I trust my staff. More than anyone and quite frankly more than I trust you right now… if you want my help, you need to agree to my terms." Arthur cut him off.
Lance nodded. "Very well."
"Can I keep this?" Arthur nodded to the drive currently embedded in his computer.
"I have the only other copy." Lance nodded.
Arthur nodded in understanding. "I will contact you when I find something incriminating."
"Is this not incriminating enough?" Lance felt sudden annoyance with the man in front of him.
"Frankly, no." Arthur shook his head. "All you've given me is a log that there are funds missing from your company's research department. That could be for any number of reasons… Avalon could be the mistress of your company's CEO… whatever the case. It does not automatically mean that they are creating this drug. I need something more concrete. Right now, this is all circumstantial."
"Your reputation precedes you, Arthur."
"It's all I have." The man shrugged.
"That and your last name."
"My reputation is especially important because of my last name."
"Spoken like a true Pendragon. You are your father's son."
"It's a blessing and a curse."
"I'll leave you to your work then." Lance bowed his head respectfully and turned to walk out the door.
"Just leave your contact information with my receptionist, Guinevere."
"I will."
Lance walked out the door and toward the young woman in question with a smile. "I was told to leave my contact information with you, Miss…"
"Leodegrance." Gwen supplied. "I'm Guinevere but my friends call me Gwen…. I mean you can call me Gwen."
"Gwen…" he smiled softly. "It was a pleasure meeting you."
"You too…" she smiled with a blush.
"I look forward to seeing you again, Miss… Gwen."
"Me too." She smiled feeling her face heat up more.
She watched as he walked out the door and turned toward her friend who was no doubt looking at her with a knowing smirk. She rolled her eyes and scowled. "Ordering lunch…. Speak now or forever hold your peace!"
[Chapter 2]
http://sv-lilah.livejournal.com/8786.html#