Work Text:
The drugs still haven't quite faded when Alice clocks in. But she's had plenty of practice hiding it, and nobody bats an eye at her. Alice settles into her desk with a sigh, the movement a bit like moving through static.
Gwen keeps giving her weird looks, and there's a few moments where Alice has to really resist the paranoia that's trying to worm its way through her system. She manages to stay calm for about an hour. Whatever she's using has its drawbacks, one of which is a terrible headache coming on between her eyes. Alice grimaces, pressing her fingertips to her head, rubbing the tension there.
Gwen scoffs. She mumbles something under her breath. Alice tries not to snap at the woman. She may be an arse, but that noise could have been about anything. Maybe it was just a case.
It's not. Alice is sure it's not.
"What're you on about?" Alice says, reaching for a plastic water bottle she keeps at her desk. The water is lukewarm and stale.
Gwen's actively trying not to stifle a smile. "Nothing. Do you know everyone can smell the weed on you?"
Alice freezes mid swallow, water in her mouth and head tilted back. She glances at Gwen out of the side of her eye. Gwen only raises a level eyebrow, corner of her mouth twitching.
Alice swallows her water. "I was at a party earlier. It's probably just that you're smelling."
"Oh no, I know what it looks like when someone's high."
"Oh really? Care to share with the class?"
Gwen's face doesn't move. "Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies."
Okay. That's something Alice is going to have to unpack later. When she isn't coming off a high.
"Not to mention the strain you're using is probably shit," Gwen mumbles loud enough for Alice to hear.
"You don't even know what I'm using!" Alice complains, a little louder than she meant it to be. She scowls when Gwen raises that damn eyebrow again.
"So go on then. Share with us."
Alice tries not to pout. She's not sure if she succeeds. "Shut up. Free weed is free weed."
Gwen's lips tilt into a skeptical frown. "This job doesn't pay that badly."
Alice sticks out her tongue, because she's not above using such tactics. Gwen rolls her eyes again. With a groan of effort, she bends over to rifle through her bag. She emerges with two blunts, holding them between her fingers expertly.
Alice can't help it - her mouth drops open in shock. "Excuse me?"
Gwen doesn't blink. "Oh, I'm sorry, did you have better things to do?"
"I- Wha-" Alice closes her mouth. What the eternal fuck is going on. She takes a quick mental inventory, suddenly unsure if this is real life. She takes a good ten seconds to evaluate the reality of her situation. All the while, Gwen doesn't move except for a faint glimmer in her eyes. Her green eyes are dark and Alice comes to the realization that she's never really taken inventory of how nice they look.
Focus. Now is not the time, Alice Dyer.
"Why," Alice starts again, "Do you have weed with you?"
Gwen shrugs. "In case Lena is being a bitch. I'm not a robot, contrary to what people think."
Alice watches the blunts held between Gwen's thin fingers, half wondering if they'll jump up and eat her. Huh. You learn something new every day.
At some point, Alice realizes that she can't spend the entire shift trying to reconcile uptight and prickish Gwen with the Gwen that's offering to share a smoke with her. She stands. "Alright then."
"Outside," Gwen gestures, and they make their way out the side exit. The door leads out to a small stairwell going down the building. Alice lounges against the wall and on the steps, legs spread wide. Gwen leans casually against the wall, long legs to Alice's left. Very long legs.
Get ahold of yourself, Dyer.
Gwen lights the joint with expert hands, practiced movements and casual grace. She offers the second one along with the lighter to Alice, who takes it with stunned hands.
After a moment, they're both leaning sighing smoke into the early spring air.
"Oh, this is much better," Alice says.
Gwen scoffs. "Your standards are low."
Alice looks up at Gwen, who looks down with that condescending stare that usually accompanies her mouth. Pretty mouth.
"Shut up," Alice says, half to her own thoughts and half to Gwen.
Gwen grins sarcastically. "If you're going to have terrible standards in women, you could at least have better standards with marijuana."
For the second time, Alice's jaw drops open in shock. "I- How do you know-?"
Gwen's lips quirk up and she brings the cig to her lips. She waits until she's exhaling smoke to say, "I'm not above a bit of social media stalking now and then."
Alice makes an undignified noise. She's too high to really be worried about that little tidbit of information, but Gwen doesn't seem to have a care in the world that Alice likes women. Then again, Alice hasn't exactly tried to hide it.
Alice shrugs. "I can't be perfect."
"That much is clear."
"Aw, you love me Gwen," Alice says, leaning her head into Gwen's knee. Gwen jerks her leg away.
"Don't get comfortable. We have work to do after this."
"There's the Gwen I know and love.”