Work Text:
To say that Maria Goulloyne was unique would be an understatement. A woman more preoccupied with death and the macabre than the world of the living, Gina sometimes had to ask herself why she held the coroner in such high regard, or even why she was so intent on befriending the strange woman in the first place.
In the months since the boss’ death, Gina had been in a state of depression, she couldn’t quite remember the man she thought she had known properly due to his own secrets and sins.
Gina wrung her beloved cap, a gift from her late mentor the day she had officially become an inspector, the soft green cotton rubbed against her coarse hands, coarse due to her roots. She rubbed her thumbs against the mustard colored buttons, thinking about every word of wisdom he had shared.
“Never forget your roots when you wear this hat, Lestrade,” The older detective instructed her. “Our job is to keep the streets safe… you of all people know how much they need it… and I know you will give out the compassion that those kids need…”
“You got it, Boss!” Gina grinned while she proudly placed the cap on her head. “We’re London’s first line o’ defense, yeah?”
Gina sighed, putting her cap back on its rightful place, while shoving her memories back where they belong.
The Boss helped me out in so many ways… If it weren’t for ‘im, I’d still be out there… thievin', Gina reminded herself. ‘E was a good man… even if ‘e was a li’l misguided…
Did ‘e just help me ‘cause he was feelin’ guilty for everythin’ else? Gina wondered. Was this ‘is way of sayin’ sorry?
Perhaps it was no wonder why Gina found herself finding comfort in the dark depths of Maria’s basement laboratory, away from the joys of life and simplicity.
Perhaps it was no wonder why Gina found comfort in the admittedly, somewhat, unsettling coroner who would listen to her wholly and honestly (and occasionally making Gina an unofficial assistant).
It made sense, Gina was an inspector of the Scotland Yard, Maria was a coroner, they would have to work together often; It only made sense to Gina that they should at least be friendly.
But it didn’t explain why Gina found herself at a local flower stall. It didn’t explain why she decided she wanted to get Maria something. It didn’t explain the racing of the inspector’s heart as she stared at all of the choices in front of her, or why she anticipated Maria’s reaction at the surprise.
“You’re lookin’ a little pink there, lass,” The flower vendor, a short and plump woman in her fifties, said. “How can I ‘elp ya, love?”
“O-Oh! Well… I wanna buy flowers,” Gina said.
“Tha’ much is obvious, dearie, in’erested in any kinds?” She asked. “There a cer’ain boy yer tryna impress?”
Gina bit back her grimace, she was never one for boys and she knew she never would be, “No, ma’am, it’s for a… a friend,” Gina replied, ignoring that sad sinking feeling in her stomach.
“Hmm… a friend I see… well… well… I’ll start ya off real simple, kay?” The vendor offered. “Why dontcha look at these tulips ‘ere, see…?”
Gina had to admit, the tulips were lovely, bright colors of yellow and red and pink and white. They were all beautiful in their own ways, but none of them felt right, they were far too bright for someone like Maria, even the white ones seemed too full of life. They were too bright and full of life, they weren’t quite right for someone like Maria, she would think they were too garish or loud or cumbersome.
Just as Gina was about to give up, one bundle, carefully tucked away behind the others. It was small, five tulips to be exact, and it wasn’t very large either. Five dark tulips, seemingly black as the deepest night were bundled together. Gina picked them up and noticed that whenever the light hit the petals just right, they would fade into purple.
That’s it! These’re the ones! Gina realized.
“Ah, the Queens of the Night, eh?” The Vendor mused. “That’s a pretty little bunch, innit?
“Not a lot o’ folks would look at these twice,” she mentioned. “Think they’re too sullen…”
Gina dug through her pockets and pulled out two silver shillings and slammed them onto the table, “I’ll take the lot!”
She knew what the beating of her heart meant, just as much as that warm heat flush to her face and the sweating of her palms. Gina watched as the vendor wrapped them up nice and carefully, tying them off with a black ribbon.
Everything finally started to make perfect sense
Maria never minded being seen as strange or peculiar, macabre or terrifying, she never cared much for what others thought of her. It was one of the lessons from her mother that Maria kept close to her heart; never pay any mind to what strangers think of you. Despite everything that happened, Maria insisted that was the one thing her mother would never be wrong about.
Maria muttered to herself as she conducted her third cleaning of that day, it was her favorite activity, making all of her instruments sparkle and shine, peak cleanliness was what she desired. All of the dirt and muck and grime were all the pent up things she had been thinking that day, and they were scrubbed away without a care.
Maria didn’t care about what anyone thought about her, they never paid her any mind, she was just the strange creature at the bottom of the basement who only kept company with the dead. No one visited her unless they had to.
Except for one person.
There was only one foolish woman, that loud inspector, who willingly sought her out. Even when she didn’t have a case, she would just walk over to chat mindlessly, about anything and everything. That Gina Lestrade, constantly interrupting the important work of the coroner, it was only recently that Maria decided that she may as well make Gina useful by making her help out every once and awhile if she was dedicated to bothering her.
“So what if I get just a little more lonely when she has to go…?” Maria muttered. “So what if I’m starting to laugh at her dumb jokes… and so what if I’m starting to expect her… is it really that bad that I’m enjoying her company, Horace?”
Her polished skull, that was who knows how many years old, that sat atop her mahogany desk simply stared back at her, never replying lest she would think herself insane.
“I mean… there are worse people who could distract me from my work…” Maria added. “Besides… she could be dreadfully annoying… or worse…
“A man,” Maria shuddered as she giggled.
She clicked her tongue as she dusted the skull’s cranium and cavities, “Now, Horace, I suppose you’ll be my one exception, you’re not half bad yourself,” She said. “You can’t talk back, which I guess is your one downside…”
Then she heard the familiar tap, tap, tap on the door, a sound that Maria had gotten used to hearing at least once, sometimes twice, a day. She chuckled to herself, if not out of sheer irony, that she used to dread being disturbed, and yet now she waited with anticipation for the woman who would dare to enter her own world of dark beauty.
My god, is this what it’s like to be alive? Maria wondered as she felt a warm flush tide over her skin and felt her heart racing against her sternum. This coiling feeling in my stomach, an unsteady heart… logically this should mean I am dying… and yet…!
“Oi, Maria, you in ‘ere?” Gina called, pulling the coroner out of her thoughts. “It’s me! Hope ‘m not interruptin’ nuffin’!”
What a feeling to be so alive! Maria thought as she pulled down her gas mask, reminiscent of a vulture, to cover the pink flush she had developed.
“I’m down here… do be sure not to bump into anything,” Maria said. “I just cleaned, and if you make a mess, I’ll have your head…”
“Hah…! You want m’head no matter what way!” Gina quipped. “How are ya?”
Gina seemed to be holding something behind her back, she too seemed to have her own flush that caused Maria’s heart to flutter more than it already had been. Maria set her cleavers onto the nearby workstation and took a few deep breaths in order to get ahold of herself before slipping the mask off and setting it down.
“What is it that you have there, Gina…?”
“Always so quick to the point, aren’t ya?”
“Well, consider me curious…” Maria smiled. “I quite like discovering new things, you know…”
Gina nodded and cleared her throat, “Right… true… I’ll give ya that,” The Inspector stammered. “Well… I’ve been visitin’ ya a lot… nearly ev’ry day ‘n all… and I thought, we’re friends, yeah?”
That caught Maria for a loop.
Friends.
Admittedly, Gina was the only person Maria was close to, ever since the incident with her mother just those months ago. Gina listened to her without judgement or ire, she always treated Maria like any other person instead of some freak. Gina always went out of her way to visit Maria, when no one else would, not out of any reward but simply because she could.
Maria’s heart nearly leapt out of her own chest as she nodded, “I believe we are friends…” Maria couldn’t help but smile, that word sounding lovely in her mouth. “Good friends, possibly…”
Gina perked up and grinned, “Course! An’ friends get each other gifts all the time, right?”
Before Maria could muster up an answer, Gina took out what she had hidden behind her back with shaky hands. Her face was as red as a beet and she bit her bottom lip as her bright blue eyes darted from corner to corner.
In Gina’s hands was a bundle of five dark tulips, they weren’t quite black, more like purple, tied together with black ribbon. They were truly the most beautiful things that Maria had ever seen, and her heart pounded and drummed like never before.
She felt her eyes prick with tears as she carefully took them and found an empty jar to place them in, making a mental note to get fresh water later. She placed the jar next to Horace the Skull, marvelling in the small touch of life given to her so willingly.
“Gina… they’re too beautiful…” Maria whispered. “No one has ever gotten me anything so lovely before… thank you…”
“W-Well… it was no trouble… I wanted t’ get ya somethin’ nice…” Gina stammered in a low tone. “Jus’... to think of me whenever ‘m out… so you don’t get lonely…”
Maria turned to face Gina, she no longer cared how pink her face was or how fast her heart fluttered. She looked at Gina, truly looked at her, as if it were the first time once again all those months ago. She memorized every small detail in the inspector’s face, from her bright blue eyes to the small splattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks that was also concealed by a bright pink flush.
Maria’s eyes glanced down to Gina’s lips, they were pink and looked soft, and were quirked in a hopeful grin. One corner of her mouth was usually quirked up, Maria had remembered that ever present impish look of Gina Lestrade.
Without thinkinking, Maria gently took hold of Gina’s face and pulled her lips down to her own. Like a surge of electricity, Maria felt every nerve in her body tingle on end as she pressed her lips against Gina’s. They both let out soft gasps in surprise of the sudden nature of the kiss, but Gina relaxed into it, allowing her hands to settle at Maria’s waist.
Slowly, ever so slowly, their lips ebbed against the others, as if it were a dance. The two women held each other close, even as they had to eventually depart, Maria felt a particularly giddy feeling as Gina pressed her forehead against hers.
“W-Wow,” was all that Gina could muster.
“My goodness…” Maria chuckled. “Stay a while…?”
Gina nodded. “Of course… always…”
Gina pressed a kiss onto Maria’s forehead and pulled her in closer. The coroner rested her head into the crook of the inspector’s shoulder. She hummed and let her eyes close, safe in Gina’s embrace.
Maria never cared much for what strangers thought of her, if they believed her to be strange, peculiar, or macabre, but in that moment there was only one person who mattered to the coroner.
And Maria was being held in her arms.