In Every Lifetime

by SaltwaterInk

Summary:

Merlin works the night shift at a small cafe, Magical Brews. Arthur is a night security guard at the Avalon Museum of Antiquities down the block. They meet on a rainy night, and it's magic. Just like all the other times before.

Notes:

This fic’s alignment is Chaotic Cozy.
The plot is whatever cute bullshit I can think up to throw at these useless gay boys & their found family.
Updates are dependent on how much free time I have at work on a given day.
I have a vague idea of where this story will end, but it’s very nebulous so it’s just various shenanigans until then.

Chapter 1: Your Best Shot

Magical Brews was a quaint little cafe located on a side street equidistant from the Royal Conservatory of Music, the Riverfront Market, and the Avalon Museum of Antiquities. Its exterior consisted of a giant bay window, which provided passersby ample opportunity to gawk at the interior, a wooden sign, which proclaimed their name in faded red lettering, and a latched door, which many could not resist opening. The interior was bright, clean, and warm. It smelled of coffee and caramel, cinnamon and vanilla.

The cafe had 3 employees. The owner, a white haired man in between the ages of 75 and 2 centuries, spent most of his days in the kitchen, concocting up all sorts of yummy pastries, scones, muffins and breads for his peckish customers. His adopted niece, a sharp-tongued crusader whose warm smile could outshine the sun, prided herself on knowing anyone’s favorite drink order, regardless of if the customer knew it before entering the cafe. His actual nephew, a lanky man too clumsy for his own limbs, studied coffee the way painters studied Picasso and was nothing short of a wizard when it came to beverages. They all worked together quite well, all things considered. The nephew, Merlin, took the night shift, and the niece, Guinevere (though she preferred Gwen), manned the counter during the day so the owner, Gaius, could stay hidden in his kitchen.

Truth be told, Merlin preferred the night shift. He was an insomniac by nature so keeping any semblance of a “normal” “sleep” schedule was foreign to him. Most of the customers he served were perfectionist musicians who had caffeine addictions worse than his own, tired museum curators who didn’t get paid enough for their overtime, and the opening shift workers commuting to the market. Most of the time he crafted new drinks or tried out new techniques. He could play his fantasy Lo-Fi over the cafe’s hidden speakers, and drown out his thoughts with the soft buzz of the coffee grinder and the subtle drip of the espresso maker.

It was raining that night. Nothing horrible. Just enough of a drizzle to make the traffic a nightmare. Merlin was cleaning the already spotless back counter when the bell above the door twinkled, and a customer stepped in out of the wet street.

“Welcome to Magical Brews,” Merlin said, his customer service auto-pilot kicking on. “What fantastic concoction can I get started for you?”

“I think I’ll have whatever’s got you so chipper,” a new voice said.

Merlin spun around on his heel, and stopped. He was looking into a pair of brilliant blue eyes that belonged to a man so far out of his league it wasn’t even funny. His golden blonde hair was short and swept back out of his face. He wore a grey trench coat over his museum security guard outfit. The man’s lips were twisted up in a wry smirk, and he was studying Merlin.

Merlin dropped his eyes, hoping to all the gods above that the man couldn’t actually see into his soul, and gulped. The man chuckled.

“Relax,” he said. “I’m messing with you.”

Merlin forced an awkward smile. “Right…”

“Sorry, I’ve never been here before,” the man said with an easy smile. “I’ll need a second to look over the menu.”

Merlin nodded, and then turned back around to grab the rag off the back counter. He tossed it into a nearby dish pan. Then he turned back around to the man, who was looking up at the menu over the register. Maybe it was the lack of espresso in his system. Maybe it was the rain. Maybe he was just crazy because the next words that came out of his mouth were:

“Please take all night. I am so terribly bored, and waiting on you is what I live for.”

The man glanced around the empty cafe, and then back at Merlin. Merlin blinked at him.

“I’m messing with you,” Merlin said.

“Right…” the man said, his smirk widening out into a grin. “Wise guy are you?”

Merlin shrugged. “I dabble.”

The man laughed. “I’m sure you do. Is that why I’ve never come here before?”

“Obviously,” Merlin said. “That, and…well, you couldn’t handle the drink I’d make you.”

“Is that so?”

Merlin nodded.

“Alright, wise guy,” the man said. “Take your best shot.”

Merlin smiled, his amber eyes flashing, and set to work. He prepped the espresso first. Double shot, dark roast, steeped with a little bit of cinnamon and then blended with some brown sugar. As he flipped some switches on the espresso machine to get it going, he glanced over at the stranger.

“So what part of the museum do you guard?” Merlin asked.

The man seemed taken aback for a moment, as if he’d forgotten he was wearing a very recognizable uniform, and then realized how Merlin had come to the conclusion.

“Uh,” he said. “All of it, really. But, I mostly keep an eye on Exhibit Hall C.”

“Ah, the armory. That was always my favorite section,” Merlin said. “Well, that and the manuscripts. And well, okay, it wasn’t all of Hall C, it was mostly just the swords.”

The man's grin turned back into a smirk, and his eyes sparkled.

"I don't think I'd trust you with a sword," he teased. "You'd probably loose it. Drop it in a lake or get it stuck between some rocks."

Merlin placed a hand over his heart and feigned injury.

"I'm wounded," he said. "My sword protecting skills are phenomenal thank you very much."

The man chuckled. Merlin got out the milk from a nearby fridge, poured some into his small metal pitcher and then tossed the carton back into the fridge. He steamed the milk to a scalding degree (he knew how hot was too hot and this wasn’t that) and then poured the milk and the espresso concoction into a waiting To-Go cup. He was careful not to give the drink too much foam.

Merlin topped it all off with a slight swirl of caramel sauce, and then secured a lid on top. The man reached over the counter, outstretched hand expecting to be given the drink. Instead, Merlin held back, glancing at the side of the cup as if he were reading out a name. Then he announced to an empty cafe:

“Uh, looks like this is for the prat who isn’t convinced of my barista skills”

“Ha ha very funny,” the man said, but he was still smirking. “Don’t be a git. It’s only proper to doubt what hasn’t been tested. Give it here.”

Merlin handed over the drink. The man took a sip, and his eyebrows shot up.

“Wow, that’s…” he said, and then took another drink. “Wow. Yeah, you’re right, I am a prat, this is bloody delicious.”

Merlin smiled. The man took an even longer sip, a smile forming on his face. That’s what Merlin liked the most about his job. The smile people got over those first few sips. To know that something he’d made with his own two hands could bring people joy, even if it was tiny, and fleeting, and gone again in an instant. Those few seconds were magic. Every time.

The man looked up from his drink and over the counter at Merlin.

“What do I owe you?” he asked.

Merlin waved him aside.

“It’s on the house,” Merlin said.

“No, please, I insist.”

“As do I.”

The man narrowed his eyes.

“Really!” Merlin said. “You were my guinea pig for that drink anyways so now I know I got the proportions correct. That’s payment enough.”

The man put his wallet away, and started for the door.

“As long as you’re sure…” he said.

“If it makes you feel any better, I can always charge you double when you come back,” Merlin said.

The man stopped, and glanced over his shoulder at Merlin.

“What makes you think I’m coming back?” he asked.

“Well, aren’t you?”

The man looked at Merlin for a moment, and this time Merlin held his gaze. Merlin knew he was right.

He was always right.

The man smirked.

"You caught me…” he said. “Do I at least get a name for who I should thank for this drink?”

“Merlin."

"Well thank you, Merlin. I believe this has been the highlight of a rather gloomy evening."

"What about your name? Or would you prefer I keep writing ‘PRAT’ on the side of your cup?”

“Arthur. But I can understand if ‘PRAT’ would be easier for you.”

Merlin laughed, and ran a hand through his tousled dark hair. The pair shared a smile, and then Arthur turned to leave again.

The bell about the door twinkled as he left.

Notes:

Anyways, if you like these two useless homosexuals as much as me and would like to read more, let me know in the comments! Kay love you bye!

Chapter 2: Mer-cchiato

Notes:

What's this???? A new chapter???? The same night as the first one???? Hope y'all enjoy an Arthur POV.

Arthur Pendragon turned down the side street a block away from his workplace. His eyes were already drooping, which didn't bode well since the entirety of an 8 hour shift lay ahead of him. He needed a pick-me-up. Which is why he darkened the doorstep of the small cafe he'd discovered yesterday. Sure, it had a corny name (Magical Brews. Really?), but gods, the coffee was amazing.

The same barista stood behind the counter, back towards the door again. His dark hair was unkept, and Arthur wouldn't have been surprised if he'd slept in that shirt from how wrinkled, and worn, and comfy it looked. He was tall, and Arthur suspected he only weighed about a hundred pounds soaking wet. But Arthur felt like Merlin was a fixture of the cafe. Like if he hadn't been there, Arthur wouldn't have liked the place as much.

The bell jingled as he opened the door, alerting Merlin to his presence.

"Welcome to Magical Brews," Merlin said, in a voice Arthur now knew to be fake as fuck. "What fantastic concoction can I get started for y --"

Merlin's voice trailed off into a smile.

"It's you," he said.

Arthur smiled. Merlin's amber eyes sparkled in the low light. Arthur couldn't hold his gaze for very long.

"Yes," Arthur said. "'Tis I."

"Back so soon?" he said.

"Where else would I be?"

"I don't know. There's a Starbucks right next to your work," Merlin offered.

"I don't go there anymore," Arthur said, his words fast and harsh.

Merlin raised an eyebrow in question. Arthur took a deep breath.

"Sorry," he said. "I used to, but then I started talking to one of the employees, and they told me all about the shitty working conditions, and the way their corporate operates, and I don't support union busting and I don't cross picket lines so I've trying to find a local coffee shop I could support instead, but I couldn't find one that made a drink I liked until yesterday. Plus, everyone knows you go to Starbucks for the caffeine fix not because their coffee is actually any good."

"Well my uncle doesn't employ enough people to have a union to bust," Merlin said. "So I will happily take your money. What am I making for you tonight?"

"Whatever will keep me awake and on my feet for the next...ten hours? Oh! And a...London Fog for my sister."

"Got it!" Merlin said.

He moved to start making the drinks, but Arthur's voice stopped him.

"Ah ah ah," Arthur said. "Not so fast. I'm paying first. Ring it up."

Merlin gave him a sheepish smile, and then moved back to the register. He punched a couple of things into the system, and then spun the monitor around for Arthur to complete the transaction. Arthur paid, and then stepped back, satisfied.

"Is there a particular reason you're needing to stay awake?" Merlin asked as his long fingers fiddled with some nobs on the strange machine behind the counter.

"I don't know," Arthur said. "I suppose so no one comes in and steals the priceless artifacts I'm paid to secure."

Merlin rolled his eyes. "I meant besides that!"

"No, I just slept like shit."

"Ah," Merlin said. "Okay. And do you prefer your adrenaline boost to taste good, or just to go down easy?"

"Is there an option for both?"

"...Maybe... I'll think about it. Let me make your sister's drink first."

Arthur nodded, and then stood back to watch Merlin work. The barista finished scribbling something on the side of both of cups, which Arthur assumed was to denote which drink was which. Then he pulled out the milk from the fridge. When he started fiddling with the machine again, Arthur zoned out. He glanced around the shop. The walls were painted a neutral yellow, and the wall sconces gave off a dull glow that made the place cozy but also somehow mystical at the same time. The soft fantasy ambiance that seemed to be coming from everywhere and nowhere only helped the aesthetic.

"Your music?" Arthur asked.

"Oh," Merlin said. "Yeah."

"It's nice."

"Thanks! It's only taken me like five years to build out this playlist, but I've finally gotten it perfect and long enough so that I don't have to skip anything during my shift I can just let it play, and I am rambling..."

Arthur smiled at him. He hadn't even noticed.

"You on Spotify?" he asked.

Merlin paused, and looked over at him. He blinked at Arthur for a second.

"Uh, yeah," he mumbled.

Arthur pulled out his phone.

"What's your username?" he asked.

Merlin froze again, his fingers still curled around the top of a To-Go lid he'd just secured on the London Fog. Arthur shot him a questioning look. Merlin cleared his throat, and wiped his hands on his apron.

"Mer-cchiato," the barista said.

Arthur bit back a laugh. Merlin made a face.

"My best friend came up with it for me, okay?!" he said. "I can never say no to her so it's my username for everything!"

"No, it's...very clever," Arthur said, smiling. "I'm just going to need you to spell it for me."

Merlin spelled out the name for him, and Arthur stifled another giggle over the pun. He added the profile to his Spotify, and immediately favorited the Lo-Fi playlist (appropriately titled "I Have To Work But Make It Escapism").

"Thanks," Arthur said. "I'll have something to listen to at work now."

"Shouldn't you be listening for cat burglars or something?" Merlin asked. 

Arthur shrugged. "I multi-task. I've got two ears."

"Yes because that's how focus works."

A couple of moments later, Merlin held out a lidded cup for him. Arthur glanced at it, and saw "PRAT" written on the side of it. He rolled his eyes, grabbed the drink, and took a swig. The drink tasted like a snickerdoodle cookie. It was sweet and a little spicy, but all the flavors complimented each other. Nothing overpowered anything else. They worked together to create this subtle symphony on his tongue. And this would also keep him awake?!

"How do you do that?" Arthur asked, the question spilling over his lips before he could stop it.

Merlin smiled, that teasing sparkle in his eye.

"Magic," he said.

"Git..." Arthur muttered. "I'll see what you can conjure up tomorrow. Thanks."

He picked up the London Fog, and headed out the door. He almost didn't hear Merlin's last words as the door closed.

"See you tomorrow!" he said.

The walk to his workplace was short. Arthur made it in record time, clocked in, threw an ear bud in one ear, and started his rounds. He sipped on his very large, very yummy coffee and turned on Merlin's playlist. It took maybe half a song before Arthur felt like he was wandering the halls of a castle instead of a deserted treasure trove perfectly preserved so a thousand and one tourists could ogle at items that were once useful. Clothes that were once splendid. Weapons that were once...magical. Sure, this place was amazing. There was so much history. But it was always still. It was always dead. It was always old. Which became so apparent to him as the bright white beam of his flashlight roved over the display cases and the warm sounds of harp and lyre spilled into his ear.

After finishing his round and his coffee, Arthur went to his sister's office. Morgana Aislin (formerly Pendragon; no, she was not married, their dad was just a dick) worked as the head archivist for The Avalon Museum of Antiquities. She was brilliant and relentless and a little terrifying when it came to the museum's collections. She loved history, and culture, and kept finding new ways to educate, and inspire, while still honoring the traditions of the past. Arthur would never be able to say it to her face, but he was endlessly proud of the fact that he was her little brother. She inspired him to be fearless. And he hoped that one day, maybe, he would live up to her expectations.

Her office door was open, and he heard her talking on the phone to someone. Arthur slipped in quietly, and she turned when he approached her desk. Her raven black hair was done up in a messy bun, her tortoiseshell reading glasses perched on the end of her nose, and she had her laptop open with about a dozen different spreadsheets littering her desk. She was speaking, very loudly, in Mandarin to someone on the other end of her cell.

Ooh boy.

Morgana gave him a small smile, but couldn't spare him any other attention. Arthur set the London Fog down on her desk, kissed the top of his sister's head, and then made for the door. Her voice stopped him right as he was leaving.

"Um, Arthur?" she said.

Arthur whipped his head around to look at her. Morgan had one hand held up to put a hold on her phone call, and the other was holding her drink.

"Why does my cup say 'Prat's sister' on the side of it?" she asked.

Arthur glanced down to the cup and sure enough, there in big, bold, black lettering was "PRAT'S SISTER". He could feel his cheeks growing hot.

"Uhhh..." he said. "Inside joke...wecantalkaboutlaterbye"

He dashed out of the office before she had a chance to question him further.

Notes:

Your honor, he's gay. They're both gay. They're gonna fall in love and it's gonna be GAY

Chapter 3: Pendragon?

Notes:

*Gwen has entered the chat*

Merlin listened to Gwen prattle on as he finished up the last set of drinks for the group that just walked in. He handed the last bloke their drink, and bid them all a good morning as they headed for the door. Gwen came back out from the kitchen, tying on her apron and clocking in. She was still yammering on.

“So then I was like, ‘Viola, you are a TA. You cannot shag the professor who is your direct supervisor. That is an abuse of power.’ And do you know what this bitch says to me? I say bitch lovingly. I know this walking disaster so I can call her that, you can’t.”

Merlin rolled his eyes. “What did she say?”

“Looks me dead in the eye across that counter and says, with her full chest , ‘It’s not if I’m the top.’”

Merlin snorted. Gwen flicked him with a rag.

“Don’t encourage her!” she said.

“She’s not even here!” Merlin protested. “And that was funny. Objectively, that was funny.”

“You’re impossible.”

Merlin smiled, and shrugged.

“Which one is Viola again?” he asked.

“The brunette violinist,” Gwen said. “The one I used to have a massive crush on.”

“The one with the caffeine problem? Or the serial philanderer?”

“That was both the same person, and yes, that’s her.”

“Well then I don’t know what you expected.”

“For her to have some common sense!”

“She snubbed you,” Merlin said. “She clearly has no sense.”

Gwen smiled over the compliment, the dimples in her cheeks showing. She stepped over, got on her tippy toes, and kissed Merlin on the cheek.

“That’s very sweet,” she said. “Can you watch the front for five more minutes? I promised Gaius I would start a couple of prep things for his recipes this afternoon.”

“Course,” he said. “But please tell me it’s no more of those blasted tomato tarts.”

“No, nothing like that.”

“Good! Those things are bloody awful.”

Gwen headed into the kitchen.

“I’m changing it to my music!” she called.

Merlin didn’t protest, and leaned against the back counter. He expected the next few minutes to be uneventful, and then the bell above the door chimed. Before Merlin could speak his generic customer greeting, he recognized the man stepping through the door.

Arthur stood in the doorway, hands in the pockets of his trousers, bags under his eyes, and a lopsided smile on his face. Merlin smiled back despite himself. There was a brief moment of silence, where Merlin could’ve sworn his ears turned red, and then he remembered he could words.

“Um, I’m sorry,” he said, glancing around. “It’s light outside. I don’t think you should be here.”

“Funny,” Arthur said. “I could’ve said the same thing about you.”

“That’s your mistake. I’m always here.”

“Good.”

“Good.”

There was another awkward silence. This one, however, was interrupted by Gwen flouncing back in from the kitchen.

“How do I always end up with flour in my hair?!” Gwen said. “I swear it’s practically magnetic. Did I get it al –”

Her question trailed off when she realized she was not alone with Merlin. Gwen smiled at Arthur, who broke eye contact with Merlin to look at her.

“Hello there,” Arthur said.

“Hi!” Gwen said, brushing her floured fingers on her apron. “Apologies, I didn’t know someone else was here.”

“Nothing to apologize for,” Arthur said. “Merlin and I were just exchanging our usual banter.”

Gwen glanced at Merlin and shot him a look which clearly communicated: Banter? USUAL ?! In the exaggerated way Gwen got when she learned a new piece of information. Merlin shot her a look back to the tune of: DON’T. It’s nothing .

Gwen, however, elected to ignore Merlin’s request.

“I’m Guinevere,” she said to Arthur. “But I go by Gwen. And you are?”

“Arthur Pendragon,” he said. “I go by Arthur.”

Gwen’s eyebrows shot up.

“Pendragon?” she said. “As in Pendragon Enterprises?”

“Unfortunately,” Arthur said with a sigh.

Merlin noticed the way Arthur’s shoulders tensed at the connection Gwen had just made. His brow furrowed, and his eyes flicked between Arthur and Gwen, assessing the situation. Gwen crossed her arms, and seemed to be studying Arthur with a cynical eye.

“I don’t like your father,” she said.

“Then we have something in common,” Arthur said.

Gwen smirked. Her dark eyes were still boring into Arthur, but he didn’t seem phased. He just seemed…tired. Merlin put a hand on Gwen, a silent gesture bidding her to stand down. Then he stepped towards the counter, and spoke to Arthur.

“What do you need this morning, Arthur?” Merlin asked.

It took the man a couple of seconds to respond. Eventually he blinked, and looked away from Gwen towards Merlin.

“Don’t really care,” Arthur said. “I just have a few things to do before I go to sleep so I was hoping to stay awake for a few more hours.”

Merlin paused to think for a moment. Gwen piped up.

“Has he made you a cappuccino yet?” she asked.

Arthur shook his head.

“Make him a cappuccino,” she told Merlin.

Then she disappeared back into the kitchen. Merlin set about to make a cappuccino. Arthur stood in silence, his hands in his pockets and his eyes on the floor. Merlin studied him for a moment.

“Sorry about Gwen,” he said. “She doesn’t really know how to hold her tongue. I love her, but it can get prickly sometimes. I hope she didn’t upset you too much.”

Arthur forced out a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“No harm done,” he said.

But Merlin didn’t believe him. To be precise he mostly didn’t believe him. He doubted the twist in Arthur’s mood was solely based on his friend’s words, but Merlin still felt a twinge of guilt over the whole thing.

Merlin finished off the drink, and handed the cup to Arthur. As Arthur reached to grab it, Merlin kept hold for a bit longer. Their fingers brushed, and they held eye contact for a moment.

“The cup doesn’t say prat this time,” Merlin said. “So there’s something at least.”

Arthur laughed. Merlin smiled, and dropped his hand. Arthur turned towards the door.

“I’ll see you later, you insufferable git,” he said.

Merlin watched him walk away, and sighed as the chime of the door bell faded into nothing.

Notes:

Hope you enjoyed the teeny bit of Arthur lorrrrrrrrrrrre

Chapter 4: But It Matters

Notes:

Oops here's an angsty Arthur

Arthur landed a roundhouse kick, and the punching bag shook from the impact. He followed the kick up with a series of jabs. He could feel his energy waining, considering he'd been working out for a few hours at this point, but he pushed through it.

He continued to punch and kick the bag, hoping the odd rhythm of his strikes would drum out the thoughts in his head.

He just HAD to drop his last name! He couldn’t have just said “hi nice to meet you, I’m Arthur” like a normal person?!!

Who knows what Merlin thought of him now.

Not that it mattered what Merlin thought. Arthur just cared about what Merlin thought. Which was stupid because he shouldn’t.

But you do…and you ruined it.

Arthur kicked the bag again. The sharp sound of his foot connecting reverberated through the gym.

He could just never go to Magical Brews again.

Never see Merlin again.

Never try any more of his incredible espresso drinks again.

I mean, what had he even been expecting in the first place?

It’s not like he could hide who he was if they became friends. Merlin would’ve found out eventually. Was it really so terrible?

You ruined it.

…

But there was nothing to ruin.

So why did it matter?

Arthur stopped. He steadied the still swinging bag as his heart thundered in his ears. The image of Gwen flashed across his thoughts. Her accusatory eyes. Her innate disgust. The barely concealed rage as she stood poised to put him on trial for everything his father stood for. Even now he couldn’t blame her for it. That look was what he saw reflecting back at himself in the mirror most days.

She doesn’t know you , he thought.

Would it matter if she did? he answered.

Arthur moved to a nearby bench, and sat down. He held his head in his hands for a moment, staring at the slate grey floor of the gym. He took deep breaths, trying to calm himself. As his heart rate slowed, something Morgana had said to him flitted back across his memories.

“You are not our father, Arthur Pendragon,” she had said. “I never wanted to run away from you.”

Arthur closed his eyes, and focused on the memory of her voice. The flat tone she’d used, as if she were speaking absolute truth and there was no recourse except to believe her. THe sincere look in her dark eyes. Arthur let his sister’s words calm his mind.

He took another deep breath, held it for a few seconds, and then exhaled.

If no one would ever believe in who he was, it didn’t matter. At least his sister knew. And that was enough to keep fighting.

Chapter 5: Don't Be Dramatic

Notes:

May I offer you a cute gay ship in these trying times????? They're both so awkward

Merlin was reading a book when Arthur walked in that night. The bell above the door chimed, and Merlin looked up to see him standing a few steps past the threshold. Neither of them said anything for a moment. Merlin kept quiet, deciding to let Arthur take the lead this time.

Arthur looked nervous. His eyes were on the floor, and he was scratching the back of his head like he was trying to kickstart his neurons.

“I don’t speak to my father anymore,” he blurted out.

Merlin blinked. Arthur looked up, and the two held gazes for a moment. His eyes were so blue.

“Okay…” Merlin said, the word sounding awkward and slow.

“I’ve only kept the last name because it’s…well it’s my name .”

“Okay.”

“I don’t usually tell anyone because people tend to act different around me when they find out and I didn’t really mean to say anything, it just sort of slipped out because I was tired –”

“Arthur –”

“– your friend caught me off guard so I didn’t have any defense prepared.”

“– Arthur.”

Arthur ceased speaking. The glow of the street lamps outside ringed his blonde hair and made it seem like he had a halo. Merlin looked at him for a moment, letting the silence settle around them. His amber eyes were soft.

“Your business is your business,” Merlin said. “You don’t owe anyone that.”

Arthur shifted on his feet, and dropped his eyes again.

“I know,” he growled.

“Then why are you monologuing to a stranger in a coffee shop?”

Arthur crossed his arms.

“You’re not a stranger,” he said. “You’re…Merlin.”

Merlin couldn’t stop the small smile that crept across his lips. Arthur took a deep breath and sighed.

“Look,” he said. “I know we’re not actually friends or anything. I’m just some random bloke who orders coffee from you and doesn’t have enough sense to disengage from a verbal joust. But I like talking with you, and I’d like to think you don’t completely loathe me. So what I’m trying to say is that I hope your knowing my heritage doesn’t change that.”

Merlin paused. He closed his book, and set it down on the counter. When he looked back up, Arthur was staring at him.

“I don’t judge anyone based on the unfortunate circumstance of their birth,” Merlin said.

“Oh?” Arthur asked.

“You can’t help where you were born. Or the body you were born with. Or what you were born into. Hell, you can’t even help being born! The choices you make with your life, those are what matter. Those are what define you.”

Merlin paused for a second.

“And you’re right,” he continued. “I suppose I don’t know you from Adam. But I suspect I’d like you a great deal more than I like him.”

Arthur laughed.

“Fair enough,” he said.

“I’m not actually an idiot,” Merlin said. “The son of the wealthiest capitalist in Britain isn’t working as a museum security guard against his will. There’s a reason. Probably several reasons…”

Arthur dropped his eyes.

“But that’s your story,” Merlin said. “You decide when, and how, and who you share it with, and if I ever have the pleasure of hearing it, it will be on your terms and in your own time. And until you give me a reason to act otherwise, I’ll still be treating you the same way I always have: with a pleasant sort of mockery that is at once endearing and degrading.”

Arthur laughed.

“Thank you,” he said.

The relief was evident in his tone. Merlin nodded.

“Soooo,” Merlin said. “What caffeinated concoction can I for sure not spit in before I give it to you?”

Arthur rolled his eyes.

“Something strong that will give me a sugar high.”

“Say less!”

It took Merlin about two minutes to whip up a madcap concoction for Arthur. He lidded it and then passed it over the counter. Arthur tasted it, and Merlin saw the sugar rush happen in real time.

“ Bloody hell ! What did you give me?!” he asked.

“Don’t…don’t ask,” Merlin said. “I call it the ‘Poison Chalice.’”

“Geez, Merlin! I thought we were friends!”

“We are! It’s just a fun little name. It won’t kill you… Probably.”

Merlin smirked at him. Arthur rolled his eyes.

“You better have an antidote if this actually poisons me,” he said, walking towards the door.

“Don’t be dramatic!”

“But it’s so much more fun when I am!”

When he reached the door, Merlin called after him.

“Hey Arthur!” he said.

Arthur paused, and glanced over his shoulder at Merlin. Merlin’s tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth for a second before he pried it loose enough to speak.

“About your story,” Merlin said. “I would be more than happy to listen. Anytime.”

“You would?” Arthur said.

He voiced the question with a quiet sort of astonishment.

“I would,” Merlin said with a soft smile.

Arthur smiled, and Merlin read the gratitude in his eyes. They didn’t say anything else before Arthur stepped out into the street.

Chapter 6: Leftover Pastries

Arthur tapped on his sister’s open office door. Morgana didn’t glance up from her workstation, which Arthur took as good enough permission to enter.

“What’re you doing here so late?” he asked.

He perched on the edge of her desk, careful not to be in the way of her work. A dozen or so different shaped crates were strewn about the place. She currently had one open on the floor beside her. Arthur could see the dull metallic glint of armor pieces hidden beneath the packing material.

Morgana was leaning over a set of gauntlets. She had a pair of jewelers spectacles on, and a tiny brush in one hand. She was going over the detailing on the wrist of the left gauntlet. Doing what, Arthur hadn’t the faintest clue.

“New shipment came in,” she said, eyes still on her work. “Wanted to take a look at everything. Make sure nothing was damaged in transit. The collector who donated this did an abysmal job at keeping it clean…”

Morgana straightened up, setting down her brush and taking off her glasses.

“All this history,” she said, gesturing around to the boxes. “All this wealth, and they saw fit to let it, what? Collect dust and rot in a cellar somewhere? Thank heavens the estate agent gave them our information.”

Morgana placed the gauntlets back in the open box.

“Who knows what would’ve happened if we hadn’t gotten these!”

Arthur sat silent as he listened to his sister. He was used to Morgana’s spiels at this point. He liked listening to her. Most of the time, he learned something. But it was different today. Her words didn’t have quite as much bark to them.

“When was the last time you’ve slept?” Arthur asked.

Morgana froze. She didn’t meet his eyes.

After a moment, she took off her gloves, and tossed them on her desk. Then she rubbed her temples for a moment before placing her hands back on the desk.

“Yesterday,” she answered.

Arthur bit back the reprimand that jumped to the tip of his tongue. He studied her for a moment, and saw the tears welling up in her dark eyes.

“Nightmares?” Arthur asked, his voice quiet.

Morgana nodded. Arthur felt his heart drop. This was the worst part of it, for him; seeing her scars, wishing he would’ve done something to prevent them, wishing he could do something now other than watch.

Arthur reached across the desk, and grabbed her hand.

They stayed like that for a minute, in the dim light of the office, hand-in-hand, the only sound between them the quiet ambiance of a dead museum. Morgana brushed aside a few stray tears.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Arthur stayed silent. Morgana squeezed his fingers.

“I’m glad you’re here,” she said.

“I’m glad I’m here too,” he replied.

Arthur stood up.

“I’m going on break soon,” he said. “Did you want me to get you tea or something?”

She gave him a weak smile.

“That would be lovely,” she said. “I’m going to finish this crate, and then I’ll try to rest.”

Arthur nodded. He kissed her on the top of her head, and headed for the door.

“Be back soon,” he said.

Arthur left her office and went back to the security control room. He let his supervisor know he was going on break, grabbed his coat, and headed outside. The walk to Magical Brews took no time, and soon Arthur stood inside the warm cafe. He greeted Merlin as he stepped up to the counter.

“Twice in one night?” Merlin said. “What on earth could I have done to warrant such a punishment?”

“No doubt some horrible atrocity in a past life,” Arthur said.

“Ooh I don’t want to think about that. I should only be allowed to fuck up one lifetime, and I prefer this one thanks.”

Arthur laughed.

“Anyways,” he said. “I’m here to get a London Fog for my sister.”

Merlin gave him a thumbs up and started making the drink.

“So is your whole family night security guards?” Merlin asked.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Arthur said.

Merlin quirked an eyebrow in question.

“I’m a security guard,” Arthur said. “My sister is a vampire.”

“My mistake," Merlin said with a smirk.

“She lives in the crypts below the museum."

"Obviously."

"I lure all of the potential burglars and wanna-be thug teenagers down for her to eat.”

“Efficient. And the London Fogs?”

“Even vampires need caffeine.”

Merlin laughed. The sound made Arthur's heart flutter. The ache he’d felt about Morgana seemed lighter now. More bearable.

Merlin set the drink on the counter and put a lid on it as always. Then he placed a little brown paper bag next to it. Arthur gave him a puzzled look.

“Couple of leftover pastries,” Merlin said. “You can convince your sister the raspberry one is actually blood flavored.”

Arthur laughed.

“You’re sure?” he said.

“That you should take them?” Merlin said. “Yes. About your powers of persuasion? Ehhhhh….”

“Sod off.”

“Would that I could! But you are not my boss and my shift doesn’t end for another 4 hours.”

Arthur conceded the point with a tilt of his head. He took the cup and the bag and headed towards the door.

“I hope your vampire sister enjoys the drink,” Merlin said.

“If not, I’ll have to sacrifice you to her,” Arthur called back.

“That seems justified!”

Arthur laughed, and closed the door to Magical Brews as he stepped out onto the street.

Notes:

No, but why am I actually obsessed with Arthur & Morgana actually being siblings and taking care of each other and recognizing the absolute STRUGGLE it was growing up with Uther?!?!?!

Chapter 7: I’m Walking You Home

Notes:

*three weeks, a Ren Faire run, and several (unrelated) mental breakdowns later*

I promise nothing happens to Merlin at the beginning. I just needed him a lil spooked.

The tube car was completely empty. Which instantly made Merlin nervous. Most of the time on his commute to work there were enough people commuting home to create a small enough crowd he could be lost in. It was a force of habit to find the fullest car and cram in, but he’d been running late today so he’d jumped in the nearest car and that one was vacant.

It was just him, the scathing fluorescent lights, his noise-canceling headphones, and the garbled voice announcing which stop was next.

He sat in a seat by the exit door and put on his music (a playlist of Arthur’s called “Songs I’d Slay A Dragon To”)

The ride was going smoothly. And then his car wasn’t empty anymore.

The group got on five stops before Merlin was set to exit. He didn’t even glance up when they got on, but the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. There was an entire empty car. There was no reason for them to congregate at the front near his seat.

Merlin tried to swallow the lump in his throat.

It was fine.

He was fine.

Nothing was going to happen.

But he couldn’t relax for the rest of the ride. Something about the way they kept glancing at him. He couldn’t make out their conversations through his music, but it didn’t feel right.

Merlin got off a stop ahead of where he needed to be. They didn’t move as he stood up so he went through the exit on the other end of the car and made a direct line to the stairs. He heard the group get off after him.

It took every ounce of his self-control not to run. He knew it would only wear him out, and they would easily catch up to him. He wasn’t exactly fit.

It must have been a coincidence they’d gotten off at the same stop.

But the pit in the base of his stomach worsened.

As the next song began to play in Merlin’s headphones, he heard one of them shout behind him. Merlin pretended not to have heard, and kicked up the volume on his phone. He contemplated calling Gwen, but she would just get mad over someone scaring him and that wouldn’t do anything to calm his nerves.

He turned onto the street in the direction of Magical Brews. He hoped the group wouldn’t follow. He was disappointed. Half a block down the street, he spotted them in a window reflection. His heart was pounding.

What was he even supposed to do in this situation?

He kept heading towards the shop, eyes scanning the street for a market or other crowded public place he could duck into to hide. Nothing presented itself. He walked as fast as he could without breaking into a full-tilt sprint.

He made sure not to get stopped for too long at any crosswalks, ducking over alleys and sidestreets before the lights turned green.

One more block to go. The group was still behind him.

Soon enough, the street corner before Magical Brews was visible. He dashed around the corner, ducked into the cafe, sprinted over the counter, and crouched on the floor behind the pastry case. He tried to control his breathing and made himself as small as possible.

He waited for someone else to enter the cafe. He waited for that infamous bell to ring. He waited.

One one-thousand

Two one-thousand

Three one-thousand

The bell above the door didn’t chime. Merlin exhaled, willing some of the tension to leave his body, and slumped back into the counter. He closed his eyes.

It was okay.

He was safe.

Somewhere back in the kitchen, a bunch of pans crashed together. Merlin jumped. A couple seconds later, he heard Gaius groan. That was enough to snap Merlin out of his stupor. He walked into the kitchen. A few sauce pans were scattered on the floor at his uncle’s feet. Gaius was holding a large cast-iron skillet, and was rubbing the side of his head.

“Everything okay, Uncle Gaius?” Merlin asked, an amused smile on his face.

“Oh! Merlin!” Gaius said. “I didn’t hear you come in. Yes, I’m alright. I just forgot how heavy this pan was and made a bit of a mess getting it down. I was planning to make cinnamon buns before I leave.”

“That sounds lovely. Would you like some help?”

“No, I think I’ve got it. Thank you.”

Merlin nodded, and left the kitchen. He went back out to the front, clocked in, and threw on an apron. He didn’t make himself his usual drink. Espresso wouldn’t help his lingering nerves.

Soon, the cafe was filled with the smell of baking cinnamon buns. Another twenty minutes later, Gaius came to the front and slid a wide tray of warm, iced cinnamon buns into the pastry case.

“Ooh those look amazing!” Merlin said.

“Thank you,” Gaius said. “I left a couple in the back for you and Gwen. I’ll go get yours.”

Gaius disappeared into the kitchen. When he came back out, he was no longer wearing an apron and had his coat on. He passed Merlin a cinnamon bun, which took up almost the entire small plate he’d set it on, and then clocked out.

“I’ll see you soon, Merlin!” Gaius said. “Let me know if you need anything.”

“Bye, Uncle Gaius!” Merlin said.

The bell chimed above the door as Gaius exited. Merlin sat in the silence of the now empty cafe. The cinnamon roll was delicious. He ate it on and off between making customers’ drinks. It was a slow night, which he was grateful for because he flinched every single time the door opened.

If this was what he was like during his shift, the commute back to his apartment was going to be hell.

Arthur came in about halfway through the night. Merlin jumped as the wind kicked the door out of Arthur’s hand and slammed it shut.

“You alright, Merlin?” Arthur asked. “You look like a deer in the headlights.”

Merlin blinked, and then looked at Arthur for a moment.

“What?” he said. “No, I’m… Yes, I’m fine. What, um, what can I get you?”

Arthur narrowed his eyes, but didn’t question Merlin further. He stepped up to the counter, and looked over the pastry case.

“I’ll take whatever drink you’re willing to make me, and one of the cinnamon buns,” Arther said.

Merlin nodded. His hands flipped the dials on the espresso machine without any undue hesitation or thought, and he made a flat white with mechanical precision. He boxed up the pastry, set that on the counter, and then placed Arthur’s finished drink next to it. All without saying a word.

Merlin stepped over and began cleaning the espresso machine as Arthur grabbed his order. He heard the door open as Arthur prepared to leave, and then heard Arthur not walk through it.

“No,” Arthur said. “No, this is too weird!”

Merlin’s head snapped up, as Arthur marched back over and looked at him across the counter.

“What’s wrong?” Arthur asked. “Tell me. Because something’s wrong. No music. No polite scolding. No teasing. No insult written on my cup. Seriously, Merlin, are you unwell?”

Merlin blinked.

“What?” Merlin asked, incredulous.

“Don’t be daft!”
“I’m not trying to?!”

“Then tell me what the matter is.”

Arthur crossed his arms across his chest and planted his feet in a most resolute manner.

“I’m not leaving until you do,” he declared.

Merlin blinked again.

He couldn’t tell if he was more shocked by Arthur’s bluntness or the fact that the man had even noticed something was wrong.

“Wh…” Merlin stammered.

“I’m serious,” Arthur said, taking a sip from his drink. “This is delicious by the way. But you’re not getting rid of me until we sort out whatever’s bothering you because I won’t stand for this. And I’ve already gotten two notices for tardiness so if I have to stay here all night and miss the rest of my shift, you’ll have my unemployment on your conscience. Do you really want that?”

“....No?” said Merlin.

“Good man. Now out with it!”

“I have a lot of anxiety over being alone in public, and on the commute into work, I ended up in a tube car by myself, and then this pack of people got on and stood really close to where I was even though the entire car was empty and I…didn’t like it so I got off a few stops early, and they got off too, and then kept walking in the same direction I was headed and I don’t know if they were purposefully following me but it felt like they were and it freaked me out so I’ve been paranoid something would happen all night.”

Merlin took a long breath at the end of his rush of words, and blinked again. The only other person he’d talked about this stuff with was Gwen. Someone like Arthur wouldn’t understand. That kind of instinct and fear wasn’t ingrained in him like it was in Merlin. Even though the average person wouldn’t clock Merlin as anything other than some scrawny guy, it didn’t change the fact that Merlin was different. He moved through the world in a way Arthur probably thought was stupid. Because he had to. Because it kept him safe.

Merlin glanced across the counter, ready for condescension, confusion, derision. And was shocked yet again.

Arthur’s features had set in a way where Merlin knew instantly that this man was dangerous . Not dangerous to him, but dangerous towards the things that threatened him. Arthur’s stance had relaxed, but not in an eased way, in the way tigers relaxed right before they pounced. His blue eyes were dark, studying Merlin’s features to see if he missed something, waiting to know where his target would be.

“Did they hurt you?” Arthur asked.

Arthur’s voice was low, and level, and deathly serious. Merlin felt his heart pound in his ears. He shook his head.

Arthur nodded.

“Okay. I’ll do a quick run of the block on my way out to make sure no one’s hanging around where they shouldn’t be,” Arthur said. “Are you taking a taxi home?”

Merlin shook his head again.

“I…I have to make the same commute back,” he said, dropping his eyes. “I was honestly dreading it.”

Admitting that out loud, he suddenly felt very small and very fragile.

“Okay,” Arthur said in that same disturbing calm. “When does your shift end?”

“Six.”

“Good. Okay. I’ll see you.”

Arthur turned on his heel and headed for the door. Merlin watched as he walked off further down the street, in the opposite direction of the museum. Not even five minutes later, he saw Arthur come back around after, presumably, circling the entire block around the cafe. He gave Merlin a thumbs up through the window and then headed for the museum.

Merlin sat back on the counter.

Wh…

…

…

?????????

 

The rest of Merlin’s shift passed without incident. Though the commute home was still looming over him, he was able to relax enough to not jump out of his skin every other time a customer came through the door. He put on his music, and made himself a hazelnut and caramel latte. Before he knew it, Gwen was clocking in, they were exchanging their usual morning banter, and he only had about half an hour left of the early morning rush.

That’s when Arthur walked through the door of Magical Brews again. Except he wasn’t wearing his usual security guard uniform. He was dressed in black sweatpants (that looked entirely too expensive to look at, let alone wear), tennis shoes, and a loose red muscle tank (whose faded white lettering still said “dost thou even joust, bro?”). He had a grey gym bag slung over one shoulder, with a rainbow heart pin secured to the strap and proudly on display. He waved at Merlin from the doorway. Merlin waved back, if more than a little stunned. Again.

Arthur came up to the counter after Merlin finished the couple of drinks he’d been working on.

“I’ll be over in the booth,” Arthur said. “Flag me down whenever you’ve clocked out.”

Merlin blinked.

“Um, okay,” Merlin said. “...why?”

“So I can walk you home,” Arthur said, as if that was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Sorry, what?”

“I’m walking you home today.”

“You don’t have t–”

“– Shut up, Merlin. That wasn’t a request. It was a statement. I’m telling you, I’m walking you home.”

“O-o-kay. I’ll come find you after my shift.”

Arthur nodded, and went to sit down in one of the booths. As he walked away from the counter, Gwen came back out from the kitchen and noticed him. She turned to Merlin.

“What’s he doing here?” she asked.

“Me,” Merlin said.

“Excuse me?!”

Merlin shook his head and then glared at her.

“Not like that!” Merlin said. “It’s not like that! I didn’t mean it like that. He’s…he’s waiting for me to finish my shift.”

Gwen glanced between Arthur and Merlin for a moment to the point where Merlin was a bit concerned for her neck.

“Why?” she asked.

“So he can walk me home?” Merlin said.

Gwen’s eyebrows shot up.

“Why’s he doing that?!”

“Will you please calm down?” Merlin said. “He’s going to hear you! It’s not that big of a deal.”

Gwen crossed her arms and studied Merlin with a severe expression.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“Nothing,” he said. “Nothing is going on, Gwen. Arthur’s just being nice. I promise. It’s nothing. And even if it was something, Arthur’s not who you think he is. I honestly think you would both like each other if you gave him half a chance.”

“You don’t even know him, Merlin.”

“Neither do you, Guinevere, but at least I’m trying.”

That hurt. Merlin knew it the second the words left his mouth. But he also didn’t particularly care. He knew he was right about Arthur.

Merlin finished out the rest of his shift in silence. He clocked out and then walked over to the booth where Arthur was waiting.

“Ready?” Arthur asked, looking up from his phone.

Merlin nodded. The pair left Magical Brews together.

Merlin couldn’t remember the last time he’d walked home with a boy. Merlin couldn’t remember the last time he’d walked home with anyone. He used to go everywhere with Gwen, but since they worked conflicting schedules, they only saw each other now on their off days or the few hours where their shifts overlapped. Yet here he was, falling into step with Arthur like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Arthur walked with purpose. His strides were long, and even, and powerful; like he was daring something or someone to challenge him. Merlin suspected that attitude went deeper than just his footsteps, but decided to keep that observation to himself.

It didn’t take them long to reach the subway entrance, and soon they were underground, sitting in the tube car, speeding through the dark.

“So is this normal out-of-work Arthur attire?” Merlin asked.

Arthur smirked. “Sort of. I had planned to head to the gym after I got off.”

“Ah. Makes sense. Do you do that a lot?”

“Prob’ly not as much as I should.”

“If there’s a set amount people should go to the gym then I think I’ve sorely missed my quota.”

Merlin wiggled his scrawny arms out in front of him for emphasis. Arthur laughed, and playfully elbowed him in the ribs.

“Not like that,” he said. “I just have an upcoming tournament. I’m not too worried about it, but it’s never too early to start training.”

“Right, yes, can’t have your abs become too undefined.”

“Don’t be a git.”

“Alright, fine,” Merlin said, holding up his hands in surrender. “What tournament?”

“Just this MMA thing I do every year.”

“Mixed Martial Arts? Are you any good?”

Arthur sighed. “I ought to be. I’ve held the title since I was twelve.”

Merlin fixed him with an incredulous gaze. Arthur rolled his eyes.

“Don’t,” Arthur said. “It’s not that impressive.”

“Considering I can’t even do one martial art, let alone mix them, I’ll be the judge of that,” Merlin said.

Arthur gave a resigned smile, and held up his hands.

“So you’ve competed in this tournament since you were twelve?” Merlin asked. “Isn’t that dangerous?”

Arthur shrugged. “Wasn’t any more dangerous than anything else I could’ve gotten up to at that age. My father allowed it because at least I was dedicated to something.”

Merlin didn’t respond, the venom in Arthur’s tone quite clear. Arthur noticed his silent gaze and shook his head.

“Sorry,” he said. “That wasn’t… Sorry.”

“It’s alright,” Merlin responded. “I take it your father isn’t exactly…naturing?”

“You could say that.”

“What about your mum?”

Arthur shook his head. “Died when I was a baby.”

Merlin nodded. The tube car pulled to a stop, and various passengers did the awkward dance of getting on and getting off. He didn’t speak again until the subway started moving.

“I never knew my father,” Merlin said. “Walked out on me when I was still a little thing.”

“And your mum?”

Merlin smiled.

“She’s an absolute angel. From the Cotswolds, still lives there. I was definitely not the child she ever planned on raising, but she did her best, and I love her to death and hope I make her proud.”

Arthur smiled.

“I’m sure you do,” he said.

“That’s very generous of you.”

“What can I say? I’m magnanimous like that.”

Merlin rolled his eyes. A couple seconds later, Arthur tapped him on the side again.

“So you know about one of my weird hobbies,” he said. “What about yours?”

Merlin thought for a moment.

“I don’t know if I have any odd hobbies,” Merlin said. “I don’t really do much.”

“Surely there’s got to be something.”

“Um…I like building LEGOs. I used to be really into Magic the Gathering, but had to give it up because I didn’t want to go completely broke. I do a lot of research and experimenting with my barista skills. On the whole I’m kind of a boring person, all things considered. I don’t really get out all that much. Gwen is like my only friend.”

“She seems…intense,” Arthur said.

“Oh she is! But I love her. Even when she’s out of pocket.”

Arthur shrugged, and they dropped the conversation for a moment.

“Does puzzling count as a hobby?” Merlin asked.

“Puzzling?” Arthur queried.

“Yes, building jigsaw puzzles. Puzzling. Cause if so, I do that a lot.”

“I’m sorry, what? Puzzles? What are you an old man?”

“I take offense at that. The boxes say they’re for a variety of ages, many of which are young.”

Arthur snorted.

“You should try it sometime,” Merlin said. “Sit down at a table with a nice cup of tea and a jigsaw. It’s really quite relaxing.”

“You really are an old man.”

But he said it with a smile and a disbelieving shake of his head. So Merlin decided it was a compliment…sort of.

The two got off at the appropriate stop, and walked to Merlin’s apartment complex. Arthur insisted on walking Merlin to his doorstep, and was not satisfied until Merlin unlocked his front door.

“Do you need to come in too?” Merlin asked. “Do a sweep of the place for intruders?”

“Do you need me to?” Arthur asked without hesitation.

His tone was entirely serious. Merlin softened.

“No,” he said. “That’ll be alright. Thank you for the walk. I…I really appreciated it.”

“The least I could do,” Arthur said. “And I was happy to oblige.”

Merlin glanced down at his doormat, unsure of what else to say.

“Are you safe to do the commute alone tomorrow?” Arthur asked. “Or would you like some company again?”

Merlin glanced up, confused.

“Like…like you mean you’d come with me into work?” Merlin asked.

“I mean, I might as well. I stop in to Magical Brews before my shift often enough. I wouldn’t mind, if it made you more comfortable.”

Merlin couldn’t stop the little grin that formed on his face or the blush that leapt to his cheeks. He glanced down again.

“If it isn’t too much trouble,” Merlin said. “I would feel better with a bit of company tomorrow. Especially if that company…was you.”

“When do you usually head out?”

Merlin gave him the time. Arthur nodded.

“I’ll see you then,” he said.

”See you then,” Merlin responded, his voice dazed as he watched Arthur walk away.

Notes:

Who says chivalry is dead? Not Arthur Pendragon!

Chapter 8: Your Mad Face

Notes:

Happy Christmas & Merry New Years. I hope you all survived the holidays relatively unscathed & with most of your mental health intact
This one's short, but I think it's super cute. Thank you to everyone who's read so far & left comments. I love reading them :)

“What do you mean you don’t dye your hair?”

Arthur stopped walking through the entrance to Magical Brews so he could stare at Merlin for his ludicrous question.

“I beg your sweet fucking pardon?” Arthur said.

Merlin sort of shoved, sort of side-stepped around Arthur to get into the shop. The door bumped Arthur in the ass as it closed, but he was still staring at Merlin.

“There’s no way your hair is that shiny and golden on its own!” Merlin said.

“Or maybe I just know how to use this little thing called conditioner! Unlike some people.”

“I know how to use conditioner!”

“The unkempt mop on your head begs to differ.”

“I happen to think my unkempt look is charming.”

Arthur rolled his eyes. He watched Merlin step behind the counter and start making them both a drink.

“No,” Arthur said. “I don’t bloody dye my hair, and frankly I’m insulted that you would even ask that!”

“I think it’s a perfectly reasonable question…” Merlin mumbled under the dull roar of the espresso machine.

“Sorry, what was that?”

“I said, I think it’s a perfectly reasonable question!”

“On what grounds?!”

“On the grounds that…your mad face is really funny.”

Arthur stared at Merlin over the counter. Merlin started giggling.

“Your cheeks get all red and you get all flustered,” Merlin said.

Arthur’s stare turned into a glare. Merlin just giggled.

“You git!” Arthur said.

“Oh come on. That was funny.”

“You’re insufferable.”

Merlin smirked, and shrugged.

“I’ve been called worse,” he said.

“You do realize I will have to get you back for this, right?” Arthur said.

“I’d like to see you try,” Merlin said.

Before Arthur could retort, an old man stepped out of the back kitchen carrying a tray of cookies. He was a stranger to Arthur, with white hair and kind eyes. Merlin and he shared a smile as the man stepped over to the display case to load in cookies.

“Hello, Uncle Gaius,” Merlin said.

“Hello, Merlin,” the old man, presumably Uncle Gaius, responded. “How are you doing today?”

“Just fine, thanks. And you?”

“It’s going to rain tonight. My bones are very achy today.”

Arthur smiled to himself listening to them, and stepped back to give them a bit of privacy as he waited for Merlin to finish his drink. A few seconds later, something Gaius said, made him glance up again.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend, Merlin?” Gaius asked.

“Oh!” Merlin said. “Right! Sorry. Uh, Uncle Gaius, this is Arthur. Arthur, this is my Uncle Gaius. Aka my boss. Aka the owner.”

The old man smiled at Arthur, and Arthur found himself smiling back. He gave the man a small, polite wave.

“Nice to meet you, sir,” Arthur said.

“Oh please,” Gaius said. “It’s just Gaius. Glad to meet you too.”

Gaius opened up the display case and began filling it with cookies from his tray as Merlin passed Arthur his drink.

“So what do you think of my cafe, Arthur?” Gaius said.

“Uncle!” Merlin said.

“Oh shush. I’m allowed to ask that,” the old man said. Then he turned to Arthur: “Well?”

“I like it very much,” Arthur said. “Very cozy, and…charming in a simple sort of way.”

“The staff hasn’t caused you too much trouble, I hope?”

“Hey!” Merlin said.

“Well,” Arthur said. “If Merlin hadn’t insulted me earlier, I would of course assure you that he has been a model employee responsible for crafting some of the best drinks I’ve ever tasted…but as it stands, I can only say that I come here in spite of your nephew and his sharp tongue.”

“You prat,” Merlin said.

“I thought it was funny…” Arthur said with a self-satisfied smirk.

Merlin glared at Arthur. Gaius was grinning as he shook his head and closed up the pastry case.

“Well I appreciate your candor, Arthur,” Gaius said.

“Thank you,” he said.

The bell above the door chimed as a few new customers entered the store. Merlin started towards the register to take their orders, but Gaius waved him away.

“I got this one,” he said.

Merlin conceded. Arthur finally took a sip of the drink he’d been holding. A rich chocolate flavor hit his tongue, and left the slight spice of cinnamon behind. He marveled at the complexity of the drink, how it was at once bold and cohesive.

“Any good?” Merlin asked.

Arthur nodded.

“Magic as always,” he said.

Merlin smiled.

“Okay, good,” he said, sounding relieved. “I’ve been working on that recipe for years.”

“It shows. You really are a wizard with this stuff.”

Merlin glanced down, and Arthur thought he noticed a slight blush on Merlin’s cheeks. A couple seconds later, Merlin ran a hand through his unkempt hair and met Arthur’s eyes again.

“Thank you,” he said.

Arthur shrugged as he took another drink.

“No need for thanks,” Arthur said. “I’m just stating facts.”

They held eye contact for a moment, and Arthur didn’t know his heart started pounding. As soon as he realized, he looked away, clearing his throat.

“I should probably head out,” he said. “Don’t want to be late for work.”

“Of course,” Merlin said. “I’ll see you later?”

Arthur nodded. He turned to leave. However, Merlin’s voice made him stop.

“Oh! I almost forgot!” Merlin said.

“Hm?” Arthur said, turning back around.

“Cafe is closed the next couple of days. It’s our ‘weekend.’ So you’ll be off walking duty after this shift, but I was wondering if you maybe wanted to grab a drink? With me? As friends, of course, if you’re not sick of me.”

“No,” Arthur said. “I’m not sick of you. And yeah, I could go for a drink. Text me details?”

“I don’t have your number.”

Arthur took out his phone and passed it across the counter to Merlin. Merlin typed his number in, and passed it back to Arthur. Arthur sent him a text message.

“Now you do,” he said.

Arthur turned again, and managed to make it out of the door this time. As the sign for Magical Brews faded into the distance behind him, Arthur’s phone buzzed in his pocket with a text from Merlin and Arthur tried to hide his smile.

Chapter 9: Losing A Game

Notes:

*checks notes*
Yeah I got nothin this is just fucking adorable

The corner pub had a decent crowd by the time Merlin arrived. Most of the happy hour goers were gone, leaving the regulars to linger at random bar stools and tables. Some sports matches played on the TVs above the bar. Merlin nodded to the barkeep, and ordered an ale.

He wasn’t waiting on Arthur for long. The blonde haired gent strolled through the doors and spotted Merlin through the nonexistent crowd. He was wearing a grey Henley, a dark jacket, and blue jeans. Merlin wondered for a second if he practiced looking so unbothered and effortlessly perfect or if he just rolled out of bed that way. Merlin faltered for half a second looking at Arthur. What was he doing here? There was no way Arthur actually wanted to be his friend. Arthur had probably only shown up out of pity.

As Merlin and Arthur exchanged hellos and Arthur ordered a cider, Merlin clocked the tension in Arthur’s posture. How he kept glancing away. And fidgeting.

Oh.

Arthur was nervous too.

Maybe it wasn’t hopeless.

The guys grabbed their pints, and went to sit down in one of the booths.

“Are you a football or a rugby bloke?” Merlin asked, nodding to the telly.

Arthur squinted at him over the rim of his pint.

“Neither,” he said. “I’m a fencing and theatre bloke.”

Merlin snickered. Arthur made an indignant face at him.

“Oh,” Merlin said. “You’re serious.”

“Of course I’m serious! I grew up with a sister who was more into historical reenactments than sleeping, and I was the somewhat willing participant in her flights of fancy.”

“That is honestly adorable.”

“Glad you think so. I was just grateful when she moved on from her accurate torture devices and medical instruments phase.”

Merlin made a pained face. Arthur had a haunted look in his eyes as he took a long swig of his drink.

“I’m pretty sure I still have scars from where she tried to suture me,” Arthur said. “Thankfully she never got her hands on any leeches or I don’t know where I would be.”

Merlin laughed. Arthur smiled, and Merlin tried not to notice. Arthur’s smile was just so bright. It made his blue eyes sparkle.

“What about you?” Arthur asked.

Merlin blinked. “Hm?” he said.

“Football or rugby?”

“Oh! Rugby, no question.”

“Did you play?”

Merlin almost choked on his drink due to laughter.

“No,” Merlin said. “Not even close. Me and playing full-contact sports has never really worked out.”

For more than one reason, Merlin thought. But he kept that to himself.

“I much prefer to spectate,” Merlin said. “And admire the players from a distance.”

Arthur rolled his eyes.

“So how long have you been a barista?” Arthur asked.

“Since I moved to the city a few years ago,” Merlin said. “Mum thought a move would be good for me and Uncle said he needed help with the shop so I came up. He taught me some basics, and then I sort of became obsessed and well, here we are. My codependency with espresso started much earlier though.”

“Naturally. So do you like it?”

“I love it.”

“Do you think you’d ever start your own cafe?”

“Why the hell would I? I don’t want to do paperwork. Or manage people. Or balance budgets. Or hassle with insurance, or secure suppliers, or the fifty thousand other things Uncle deals with on a given day. That sounds like slow torture.”

“When you put it like that, I suppose being in charge does sound unappealing.”

“I would much rather have my little creative sphere and craft my drinks and play the occasional fool.”

“You are very good at that,” Arthur said with a smirk.

“I am choosing to take that as a complement.”

They shared a smile. Merlin took a sip from his pint.

“Okay,” Merlin said. “I do have to ask: is your sister actually a vampire?”

Arthur laughed.

“No, Morgana is not actually a vampire,” Arthur said.

“But Morgana does sound like a vampire’s name,” Merlin said. “Or an all powerful sorceress.”

“It’s literally Morgan but with an extra a. One of you has a more ridiculous name and it isn’t my sister.”

“My name isn’t ridiculous!”

“Says the man whose name is Merlin .”

“I quite like my name.”

“I quite like it as well. It suits you. That was never my point. All I’m saying is that those who live in Merlin-shaped-houses should not throw stones.”

“What would a me-shaped house even look like?”

The pair considered this question for a moment, and then they glanced at each other and laughed.

“Sorry,” Merlin said. “Morgana. Your non-vampire, non-sorceress, history-obsessed sister.”

“Yes,” Arthur said. “She’s an archivist. Works with the curator to maintain the exhibits and get new ones in and a bunch of other stuff I’m sure she’s explained to me at one point or another that I’ve now forgotten, but I’m very proud of her. And I’m very happy that she landed her dream job because if anyone deserves good things, it’s her.”

Merlin felt a twinge of jealousy in the pit of his stomach listening to Arthur talk about his sister. He was an only child. Never knew what it was like to have a sibling, much less one who cared as much as Arthur.

“You two are close, I’m assuming?” Merlin asked.

“Yes, I suppose we are. We were insufferable to each other growing up, and there were a few years where we weren’t exactly on speaking terms, but she’s helped me a lot and I’ve helped her where I can, and we’re sort of inseparable now.”

Merlin smiled, and took another sip of his drink. Arthur balked.

“Not actually inseparable!” he said. “We obviously have different lives and schedules and things. We just mean a lot to each other and we’ve talked a lot about how we want the other person around.”

“I know what you meant,” Merlin said. “You know you have a tendency to over-explain sometimes?”

Arthur glanced down.

“Sorry,” Arthur said. “Guess I’m not used to being understood. I don’t really have many friends.”

“I was just teasing,” Merlin said. “No need to get all dower.”

Arthur glanced at him, and Merlin nudged his leg under the table.

“Besides,” Merlin said. “I’m your friend. I’m your friend, right?”

Arthur laughed. “Yes, Merlin. We’re friends.”

“Okay good cause that would’ve been really awkward if we weren’t.”

“I’m pretty sure it’s still awkward.”

“Don’t be a prat.”

Arthur took a long swig of his drink.

“Alright,” he said. “Enough of this. There’s a dart board over there, and I feel the need to knock you down a couple pegs. Fancy losing a game?”

“Oh you’re on!”

Merlin was, in fact, knocked down quite a few pegs over the course of the night. At one point, he tried to get Arthur drunk so he at least had a fighting chance of beating him in a game. The alcohol seemed to fuel Arthur’s precise aim with the darts so Merlin abandoned that strategy and decided to make Arthur’s wins as unglorious as possible.

As the pub was closing down, the pair grabbed their coats and headed out. Merlin insisted on walking Arthur back to his apartment. Arthur protested, but then amended his take when he remembered there was beer in his fridge and a garden on his building’s rooftop. Merlin thought the garden was pretentious until he saw it, and then declared it as even more pretentious. Arthur called him a git and the pair sprawled out on lawn chairs near one of the fire pits and looked up at the stars.

“Do you think aliens exist?” Merlin asked.

“I think I’m not drunk enough to have an existential crisis about the magnitude of life,” Arthur said.

“That was far too many words. It was a yes or no question. You say yes or no. Do you think aliens exist?”

“Yes.”

“Will they kidnap me and study my brain?”

“No, you’re way too much of an idiot for that.”

“Hey!”

Arthur laughed. Merlin punched him in the arm. The blow made Arthur laugh harder.

“Merlin, you can’t punch like that!” Arthur said. “That was horrible!”

“Sorry we can’t all be badass ninjas!”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“No, you’re ridiculous!”

“Sit up. No, sit up! I’m going to teach you how to punch properly.”

With great reluctance (and an even greater sigh), Merlin sat up. Arthur moved closer to him, and Merlin became aware of their legs touching. Arthur was in his personal space. Arthur was in his personal space and he was very warm and very close and his blue eyes were very pretty as they reflected the firelight.

Arthur took one of Merlin’s hands in his. He turned Merlin’s hand over, and pressed the fingers down into a closed fist. Merlin sobered up in an instant. Arthur tucked Merlin’s thumb over the four curled fingers.

“Like this see,” Arthur said, holding up Merlin’s hand. “That’s how you make a fist. Thumb on the outside, curled in tight. Otherwise, you’re likely to break it off.”

Merlin nodded. He blinked his eyes as Arthur continued speaking, as if that would be enough to get him to focus.

“You’re aiming to strike with these two knuckles right here,” Arthur said, running the tip of his finger over the two knuckles in question. “Like this.”

He moved Merlin’s fist into his open palm, simulating the correct way Merlin should punch.

“Now try again,” Arthur said, and held out his open palm for Merlin to punch.

Merlin shook his head to clear his thoughts, and then punched at Arthur’s open palm. It landed with a dull thwack. Arthur smiled.

“There!” he said. “Much better!”

Merlin did a mock little bow and then fell back onto his lawn chair. After a moment, Arthur did the same. He felt the absence of Arthur’s touch as if he’d just removed his cold hand from the heat of a fire. Merlin stared up at the stars, the alcohol now no longer buzzing in his brain but still clouding his thoughts. They laid in silence for a moment. Merlin found himself relaxing. Arthur broke the silence first.

“Thank you,” he said.

Merlin glanced over at Arthur, and met his eyes.

“Hmm?”

“Tonight was fun,” he said. “I had a really nice time. So thank you.”

Merlin smiled.

“I had a good time too. But we are never playing darts again!”

Arthur laughed.

“Alright,” he said, turning his face back up to the stars. “Fine. I’ll just kick your ass in billiards next time.”

Merlin felt his heart flutter.

“What makes you think they’ll be a next time?” Merlin asked.

“Well, isn’t there?”

Arthur glanced at him again, and Merlin felt his heart pound in his ears as their eyes met. He hoped the heat in his face and in his stomach was just from the alcohol and Arthur would think nothing of it. Merlin smiled.

“Yeah, sure,” Merlin said. “You can beat me in billiards next time.”

Notes:

Your honor, they do, in fact, both still think they are only friends.
They are stoopid.

Chapter 10: Apology Cookie

Notes:

This chapter brought to you in spite of my cat (Geralt) who sat on my arms and my keyboard in attempt to gain my attention/affection*

 

*do not feel bad for him. He is spoiled rotten

Arthur stepped into Magical Brews that morning, and waved at Merlin behind the counter. He was making drinks as Gwen took orders from the line of customers. It was pretty busy so Arthur decided to sit in one of the booths and doomscroll on his phone whilst waiting for Merlin to finish his shift. He didn’t mind waiting. Honestly, he’d gotten used to it at this point. Mondays and Thursdays were always the worst. Everyone was running late, but none of them could ever seem to part with their coffee because of it.

Soon enough, the morning rush was over and Arthur spied Merlin cleaning up the espresso machines. That is when Gwen slid into the booth opposite Arthur and cleared her throat. Arthur looked at her, one eyebrow raised in question. She set a lidded To-Go cup in front of him and one of the brown paper pastry bags.

“The drink is from Merlin,” Gwen said. “The cookie is from me. Toffee, chocolate, and pecan.”

Arthur retained his quizzical expression. Gwen shot him a flat look.

“It’s an apology cookie,” she said. “An offered olive branch, if you would. It seems like you and I sort of got off on the wrong foot because of something I said or some assumptions I made, and Merlin seems to like being friends with you so I suppose you can’t be all bad so I apologize if I offended you.”

“Okay?” Arthur replied.

“But don’t expect me to apologize for what I said about your father! I won’t take that back! But in recent days, I have done a fair bit of research on you and well you seem alright from what I know.”

“Thank you?”

“So, right, sorry.”

Gwen lapsed into silence. Arthur still didn’t know what to make of her. But from everything he could tell, she seemed genuine. He leaned forward on the table, taking a sip from the drink and sliding the cookie out of its paper sleeve. Arthur split the cookie in half and handed one of the sides to Gwen.

“I don’t blame you,” he said. “Do I think you were a bit extreme? Perhaps. Do I think I would have done much better in your shoes? Probably not.”

That elicited the faintest smile from Gwen. Arthur decided to push his luck.

“I’m a very private person, all things considered,” he said. “Not because I’m malicious. It’s simply because I have that luxury now and I prefer to maintain it.”

“What do you mean?” Gwen asked.

“You know who my father is. As you so aptly put, you don’t like him. A lot of people don’t like him. A great deal more people like him, or at least like his opinions, his power, and his money. For better or worse, I am his son. I was raised in the middle of that. I was in the public eye before I even knew what that was, even if that ‘public’ was sometimes only my father’s social and business circles. My whole life. Everything I did, all my friendships, all my relationships were seen and critiqued by more people than I’d like to recount. I had no say in what got out or didn’t and who heard it. I was never consulted on my intentions or allowed to learn from my mistakes because I wasn’t allowed to make mistakes. Couldn’t have anything for myself.”

“That’s awful!”

Arthur nodded.

“My life wasn’t really a life. It was a tool for my father to use as he saw fit, and sacrifice whatever was necessary to do it.”

Gwen crossed her arms and her expression turned very cross.

“I take it back,” she said. “Dislike isn’t good enough for your father. I think I loathe him now.”

Arthur laughed. Gwen looked apologetic as the tense moment passed, and then continued the conversation.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her brown eyes growing soft and sincere. “I didn’t know and I shouldn’t have made assumptions about you.”

“I appreciate your apology,” Arthur said. “Truly. I do want you to know that…I left that life. But that’s all I’m willing to share right now, and that might be all that I’m ever willing to share.”

“I understand. And I will respect that moving forward, I promise.”

“Thank you.”

The bell above the door chimed, alerting the interior to the presence of a new customer. Gwen turned toward them, and slid out of the booth to go help them. As she left, she glanced down at Arthur. Arthur returned her gaze, and gave her a little nod. She smiled. A few moments later, Merlin walked up and Arthur got out of the booth.

“You ready?” Merlin asked.

“Yes.”

“Is that a cookie? Where’d you get that? I thought someone bought the last one!”

“It was an apology cookie from Gwen,” Arthur said, popping the last of it into his mouth.

“Oh,” Merlin said as they headed out the door. “Was it good?”

“It was delicious.”

“Are the two of you good? Cause I’ve got to say if this friends thing keeps going, it’d be very awkward for me if you two developed some sort of feud.”

“We’re good for now.”

“That sounds ominous.”

“Believe me it’s not.”

“Good. I’m starving, can we stop somewhere for breakfast?”

“Yeah, I could eat.”

Notes:

So basically fuck Uther

Chapter 11: Obsessed? Really?

Notes:

OMG another new chapter?!?! Who IS this person updating twice in one week?!?!

Merlin’s shift ran slow. He had walked in without Arthur today, as Arthur had slept through his alarm and was running dreadfully late. As such, Merlin had resigned himself to an uneventful evening. Halfway through his shift, a woman stepped through the door. Merlin had never seen her before. She was tall and wiry, with raven dark hair and pale green eyes. Her lips were twisted into a half-smile, though it was impossible to tell what she was amused by. She wore a dark purple trench coat over a slim, tailored suit, all of which made her look like a museum piece.

The woman smiled at Merlin as she stepped up to the counter.

“Welcome to Magical Brews,” Merlin said, in his best customer service voice. “What fantastic concoction can I get started for you?”

“Hello there,” the woman said. “I’ll have a large London Fog annnnnd… Sorry, one moment.”

She peered at the menu overhead, her brow squinting in concentration.

“No worries!” Merlin said. “Take as much time as you need.”

The woman flashed him an appreciative smile, and Merlin started work on the London Fog.

“Was there something I can help you with?” he asked.

“Maybe…” she said. “Apologies. Normally I’m very decisive. The second drink is for my brother, and he never knows what he wants.”

Merlin’s hands stopped working. He registered the drink he was making. Then looked up at the woman. And then down at the drink again. And then up at the woman. The familial resemblance was obvious.

Before he could stop himself, Merlin blurted:

“Oh! You’re the vamp– I mean, you’re Arthur’s sister. You’re Arthur’s sister, Morgana, right?”

The woman turned a suspicious eye to him, and Merlin clenched up due to the severity.

“Yeeeeeees,” she said. “And you are…?”

“Oh I’m Merlin. I’m usually working when Arthur comes in.”

Morgana’s smirk was firmly in place as she appraised Merlin.

“Ah,” she said. “So you’re the reason Arthur is obsessed with this place.”

“Obsessed?” he asked. “Really?”

Morgana’s eyes softened for a moment. Merlin looked away, his cheeks flushing. He cleared his throat and returned to making the London Fog.

“Maybe obsessed isn’t the right word,” she said. “It just seems every time he’s brought me a drink the past few months, it has your logo on it.”

Merlin was able to shrug that off.

“We are the best,” he said.

“Sure,” Morgana said, in a tone that made Merlin doubt her sincerity with that word.

Merlin lidded the London Fog and passed it across the counter for her. Morgana snatched it up and took a sip.

“Was there anything else?” he asked.

“Yes,” Morgana said. “Do you know what I should bring for Arthur? I’m heading into the museum so I was going to stop in and give him something since he was running late.”

“Oh right, ummmm…”

“What does he usually get?”

“Whatever I decide to make him.”

“Excellent. Then I’ll take one of those too.”

“Okay.”

Merlin started working on a drink for Arthur. He decided to make him a honey lavender latte. It didn’t take him long. He passed the second drink over to Morgana. Then he rang up her order and she paid.

“Thank you very much, Merlin,” she said, with that curious smirk. “I hope we’ll be seeing more of each other.”

Merlin waved after her as she exited.

“Have a nice night!”

Merlin cleaned the espresso machine, and put the milk back in the fridge. His mind wandered over Morgana’s words. She was clearly exaggerating. Right?

It was Arthur. They were barely friends. The only reason he was in here half so often is because he walked Merlin to work. And he only did that because he was polite. And courteous. And sweet. But that’s just how Arthur was! The only reason he wasn’t drowning in friends was because he closed himself off from it, which Merlin knew wouldn’t last forever. Their friendship was a blip. Surely.

Merlin finished cleaning and leaned back on the counter. His phone went off and he glanced down at it. It was a text from Arthur thanking him for the drink. Merlin smiled.

Notes:

She knows
She knows.
Your honor, she knows.

Chapter 12: Your Friend

Notes:

So she knows.
And she obviously can't just sit still with this information.
But she's not gonna come out and just say it.
Because even though her name has been changed, Morgana is still a Pendragon. And heaven forbid a Pendragon be straight about their feelings

Arthur finished his rounds and went to his sister’s office, per text request from said sister. Morgana was taking off her coat and setting up her work station when he knocked on the door.

“Ah! Arthur,” she said. “Here. I got this for you.”

She handed him a coffee cup, bearing the Magical Brews logo. He took it with a grateful look at his sister.

“Thank you,” he said. “I’m dying.”

The drink was so light and sweet he could barely register the espresso. He shot off a quick text to Merlin about it. It wasn’t the first time that night he’d texted Merlin. He felt a little bad he’d been unable to commute with him today and had been trying to assuage the guilt by sending memes. He thought it was working.

When Arthur looked up from his phone, Morgana was studying him. Studying him with the expression she had when she was working on a particularly difficult restoration. Which meant Arthur was in trouble. He didn’t know how or why yet, but something was going on.

“What?” he said.

“You’re smiling,” she said.

Arthur felt his cheeks flush.

“No, I’m not,” he said.

“Yes, you are.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Would it be such a bad thing if you are? Because you are.”

“Not on the surface but you have that scheming glint in your eye which I don’t trust so until I know what you’re planning, I prefer to have no part in it.”

Morgana laughed. She turned away to boot up her computer.

“Really, Arthur, you are so daft sometimes. I haven’t schemed since we were children.”

“That is a lie, and we both know it.”

“Am I not allowed to take an interest in my little brother’s life?”

“Sure, but there’s nothing to take interest in.”

“Really?”

Arthur sat down in one of the chairs. He moved it over to be next to Morgana’s, and leaned against her desk.

“Really,” he said.

They sat in silence for a moment. Arthur picked up a mini helmet replica she kept on her desk and fiddled with it as he sipped on his drink. Morgana slipped a pair of blue light spectacles on and began answering emails.

“If there was something going on you could talk to me about it,” Morgana said. “You know that, right?”

Arthur glanced over at his sister, his demeanor softening.

“‘Course,” he said.

“I know, with the way we were raised, it’s not always easy to talk about our feelings, but whatever it is, I won’t judge you. I promise. If you ever need anyone, I will always be here and I will always support you.”

“Morgana, you’re starting to scare me. Where is all this coming from?”

“Nowhere!”

“Bollocks.”

“Don’t be crass!”

“Then stop being so ominous and vague and get to the point!”

“The point ,” Morgana said, turning to look at her brother. “Is that when I started my first real, good, sapphic relationship, I was so unsupported and alone and grappling with my identity and that wreaked havoc on my life and the relationship and I don’t want you to have to go through what I did.”

Arthur’s eyes darkened.

“No one should’ve gone through what you did,” he said, voice bitter.

“I’m speaking of after Uther,” she said. “There was a lot of learning after Uther. That I had to do alone. I don’t want that for you.”

Arthur set down his drink and the helmet and hugged his sister. She hugged him back, and kissed the top of his head.

“Thank you,” Arthur whispered.

Morgana tightened her grip in response. The siblings stayed like that for a while. Then Arthur let go and sat back in his seat.

“We haven’t really talked about those things since you came out,” Morgana said. “And I know that’s because you’ve been dealing with other things and dating hasn’t been a priority, but I’m sure it will be at some point, and I know you’re proud of who you are and very brave, but I worry.”

Arthur glanced down.

“I know,” he said. “I know I’ve internalized a lot of his hate, but I am better. And I’ll keep working on it. There is a reason why a sizable chunk of my trust fund has been spent on therapy.”

Morgana laughed. That made Arthur smile.

“I’m okay, Morgana,” he said. “Really. And if I am brave, it is only because I learned it from my older sister.”

Morgana smiled at him, and leaned over to kiss him on the top of the head again. Arthur allowed it.

“Promise me something,” she said.

“Anything.”

“If something comes up, some one comes up, that you want to pursue…don’t let him be the reason not to go for it. Don’t let him be the reason it fails.”

Arthur looked at his sister, determination shining in his bright blue eyes.

“I promise,” he said.

“Good.”

Morgana gave him a little nod, and went back to answering emails. Arthur went back to his drink.

“So I met your friend Merlin tonight,” Morgana said.

Arthur perked up in his seat.

“Oh?” he said.

“He seems sweet.”

“He is! He wasn’t too much of a bother, was he? Sometimes he can get too carried away with teasing, but I swear it’s all in good fun! He really just likes making people smile.”

Morgana laughed.

“There was no teasing,” she said. “Though I think he almost called me a vampire?”

Arthur froze. Morgana glanced over at him.

“You wouldn’t happen to know what that’s about, would you?” she asked, smiling.

“Nothing comes to mind, but my break is actually over now, so I should get back to work.”

“Wait, ARthur – !”

Arthur dashed out of the office and closed the door behind him. Once in the hallway, he slowed his pace and strolled back to the guard station.

What did she mean Merlin hadn’t teased her? Merlin teased everyone. Merlin teased everyone. Right? He was always the first one with a quip, or a comment, or a genuine compliment that made you feel so seen and validated. He must have been having an off night. He was probably still upset about walking into work alone. Arthur would have to send more memes.

Notes:

So Morgana is like the best big sister

Chapter 13: Pour Over

Notes:

This fic & y’all’s comments have saved my week. Genuinely thank you to everyone who’s interacted with this. It makes me so happy.

Slight content warning: Arthur gets into his backstory. It’s pretty vague, but still pretty brutal. If that’s not your vibe, feel free to skip. It’s a pretty obvious when he will start talking about it, and goes to the end of the chapter.

Merlin turned up his collar to the wind as he stepped out of the shop. It had been grey and windy all day. Arthur stepped out after him, and the pair started walking back to Merlin’s flat.

“I can carry my own groceries,” Merlin said.

Arthur shot him an indignant look.

“It’s one bag!” Merlin said.

“Yes, and I grabbed it first.”

“Because I was paying!”

“So? Are you actually going to argue with me on this? When I’m doing something nice for you? Really, Merlin, you can look me in the eye and tell me you wanted to walk two blocks with this?”

Arthur held up the full grocery bag. Merlin scowled at him. Arthur beamed back a perfect smile.

“Prat,” Merlin said.

“Git,” Arthur said.

Merlin rolled his eyes, and conceded the argument. They reached a crosswalk and waited for the light to change. The gray clouds above them broke open with a rumble of thunder, and rain fell.

“Shit,” Merlin said.

“Did you bring an umbrella?” Arthur asked.

“No. You?”

“No.”

Merlin glanced at Arthur for a moment. Their hair was already plastered to the top of their heads from the rain. The light changed. Merlin flashed a mischievous smile, and then took off running.

It took Arthur a couple of seconds to realize where Merlin went. Then he also dashed across the street, trying to catch up.

Merlin tore down the street, dodging and weaving other pedestrians, and ignoring Arthur’s shouts.

“Merlin!” Arthur yelled. “Mer-lin!”

Merlin turned down his street, and slowed his pace for a moment. Arthur caught up almost immediately. He grabbed Merlin’s hand.

“Merlin!” Arthur snapped.

“What?!” Merlin said, continuing to run despite Arthur’s hand in his. “We’re almost there anyways. Relax!”

“You’re going to fall! Slow down!”

They made it to Merlin’s building, and ducked into the doorway. Merlin paused to catch his breath.

“You’re ridiculous,” Arthur said.

“Sod off,” Merlin said between gasps.

He smiled at Arthur, cheeks flushed from the exercise. Arthur shook his head and looked away, but Merlin saw the smile he tried to hide. After catching his breath, Merlin opened the door and headed up to his flat. Arthur followed.

It wasn’t until Merlin reached his front door that he noticed he was holding Arthur’s hand. He paused. Arthur’s hand was much more calloused than Merlin would’ve expected. His fingers were large, his palm wide. Merlin’s hands were usually cold, but it wasn’t cold holding Arthur’s hand. It was nice. It felt…

“Oh! Sorry!” he heard Arthur say.

Arthur’s fingers slipped through Merlin’s as Arthur pulled away. Merlin glanced up, and Arthur was already shoving his now-free hand into a jacket pocket.

“Sorry,” he said again. “Didn’t mean to –  You were running I – sorry. Sorry. Won’t happen again sorry.”

Merlin blinked, still frozen. He didn’t know what was worse: seeing Arthur this flustered, the profuse apologies, or the tiny thought in the back of his mind that wanted to keep holding hands with Arthur. He decided to ignore the thought.

“Sorry,” Merlin said. “I – Let’s just –”

“– Inside, yeah,” Arthur finished.

Merlin unlocked the door, and the two entered the flat. They hung up their coats on a stand by the door. Arthur set the groceries on the counter, and then moved back over to the door to take off his boots.

“Coffee?” Merlin asked, as he stepped into the kitchen.

“Yes, please,” Arthur said.

“Pour over, okay? I have sweet things I can put in it.”

“I am at your mercy, oh coffee wizard.”

“Oh don’t say that,” Merlin said, smirking. “You might not like what you get.”

“I’m starting to think that’s impossible.”

Merlin put the kettle on and prepped the coffee grounds. Arthur stepped into the living room area and sat down on the couch. Merlin watched as he started working on the puzzle that currently spanned Merlin’s entire coffee table. Arthur was reluctant at first, idly picking and fiddling with a few pieces before finding a place for them, but soon hunched over the table as he became engrossed in trying to put it all together.

“Sod off,” Arthur said, focus still on the pieces.

“I didn’t say anything!” Merlin protested.

“I can hear your smug smile all the way over here. Sod off.”

That did not help Merlin’s smile at all. But he did turn away to finish making their coffees. He left the stir spoon in Arthur’s mug and carried the two drinks over to the coffee table. He set Arthur’s drink down on a coaster near Arthur, and kept the other mug for himself as he sat down on the couch. They sat in silence, listening to the sound of the rain outside, sipping on their coffee, and piecing the puzzle together.

Merlin didn’t notice the hours that went by. Time spent with Arthur felt natural. It felt normal. It felt…right. Before he knew it, the afternoon and most of the evening had passed.

Merlin’s phone went off, and he glanced at it. It was a text from Gwen, cancelling their plans for the evening. He sent her a quick response, promising to reschedule when they were both free again. Then he set the phone down.

“You hungry?” Merlin asked.

“Not really, but I will be in a bit. Why?” Arthur asked. “I thought you had plans with Gwen this evening.”

“No, she just cancelled. Want to order in Thai?”

“You just got groceries.”

“Yes, but I don’t feel like cooking.”

“Could we do pho instead?”

“OOh, yes. Absolutely.”

“Great. I know a place.”

Arthur pulled out his phone and pulled up the restaurant in question. He passed it over to Merlin so he could look over the menu. After Merlin made his food choices, Arthur called and placed the delivery order. Then the pair returned to puzzling. By the time the food arrived, they had finished putting it together.

“Don’t think because we did this jigsaw you’ve converted me,” Arthur said. “I won’t turn into an old man like you.”

“What’s wrong with being old?” Merlin asked. “I think I’d rather like it. Nobody minds old people. They can do whatever the fuck they want. Nothing ahead of you, everything good behind you or currently around you. All you have to do is be vaguely eccentric and reminiscence about how different your life turned out than what you thought it would when you knew nothing about anything.”

“You can do all of that now!”

Merlin sat back on the couch. He leaned against the armrest and looked across the sofa at Arthur, who was doing the same thing on his side.

“My life has definitely turned out differently than I thought it would,” Merlin said. “For the better, I think.”

“Cheers to that,” Arthur said.

“Oh? What did young Arthur think his life would be?”

Arthur scoffed. Merlin raised an eyebrow in question. Arthur met his gaze.

“I thought I’d have graduated from university, be working for my father, and have a wife and kids,” Arthur said.

“Oh.”

“Yeaaaaaaah. I had the whole of my life planned out. Now I know nothing, and the peace is blissful.”

They lapsed into silence for a moment, eating their noodles.

“What happened?” Merlin asked. “If you‘re comfortable sharing.”

Arthur looked at Merlin. Then Arthur stared down at the food in his lap.

“It’s a little heavy,” Arthur said, his voice quiet.

“I’ll be fine,” Merlin responded.

Arthur nodded, and then set his food aside. He looked up to meet Merlin’s eyes again.

“My father is an abusive piece of shit,” Arthur said. “A very rich, very powerful, very angry asshole. His children just happened to be the closest targets for his rage. Morgana bore the brunt of it. By the time I was old enough to understand things, Uther had pretty much given up on doing anything with her that wasn’t arguing with or beating her. Me, though, I was young. I was his son. I was moldable.”

Arthur spat out the word like it was poison. Merlin sat in silence, watching the pain, rage, and fear dance in Arthur’s eyes.

“I got the softer approach, if you can call it that,” Arthur said. “I was taught. Brought up on his beliefs of who I should be, how I should act, and what was right and wrong in his eyes. Though when I didn’t listen, I got bruises and broken bones to ensure I would make the correct choice next time. And of course, I was always aware of just how much Uther blamed me for the death of my mother.”

“Jesus…” Merlin breathed.

“I can’t say his methods were ineffectual. His words were my own. His hate weighed on my heart. His thoughts replaced mine. I suppressed everything about me that disagreed with him.”

Arthur paused again. Merlin noticed Arthur clenching and unclenching his fists. After another moment, Arthur resumed.

“Most of our life Morgana and I were close. She was the only constant, the only good thing growing up. But Uther drove a wedge between us. I started resenting her when she went off to university. Started to see her in the same light my father did. She was starting to gain more freedom and I was terrified of losing her. Because I didn’t want to be alone with him. And then Uther found out Morgana’s gay. To say it did not go well would be an understatement. That was the last night Morgana stayed in that house. I knew it too. I knew what was going to happen. I knew I would never see her again. I tried to convince her to stay. We fought. The next day she disappeared. Uther unceremoniously cut her off, and moved on like nothing happened.

I was devastated. I was angry. I was terrified. My relationship with my father deteriorated pretty quickly after that. It culminated in me having some pretty dark times at university and coming to terms with myself. I dropped out of Uni and tracked down Morgana. Thank fuck she took me in otherwise I’m not sure what I would’ve done. I told her everything and she helped me break things off with Uther. And now here I am.”

Arthur picked his dinner back up and resumed eating. Merlin, however, no longer had an appetite.

“I’m so sorry that happened to you,” Merlin said, his voice almost breaking with sincerity. “And I’m so glad you’re out of it.”

Arthur glanced up and met Merlin’s eyes. They didn’t speak. But the look they shared was enough. Arthur’s eyes filled with tears.

“Thanks,” Arthur said, his voice rough.

Merlin nodded. He shifted closer on the couch, and took Arthur’s hand in his. Arthur gave him a small, grateful smile. They stayed like that for the rest of the night.

Chapter 14: Arthur's Super Special Menu

Notes:

This is quick one cause I wanted to drop an update

Arthur stepped into the cafe, and waved at Merlin and Gwen.

“Oh good, you’re here!” Gwen said.

Merlin and Arthur shared a confused look. Gwen didn’t seem to notice. She reached underneath the counter, and pulled out pieces of pink stationary. Then she beckoned Arthur over to the counter. Arthur, still confused, decided to obey. She passed the pages to him. Arthur tentatively took the paper, one eye on it and one eye on Gwen.

“Whaaaaaat is this?” Arthur asked.

“It’s your new menu,” Gwen said.

“The cafe got a new menu?” Merlin asked, looking over Gwen’s shoulder at the pages.

“No, Arthur got a new menu.”

Arthur looked up.

“What?” he asked, his voice soft.

“I made you a special menu,” Gwen said. “Merlin mentioned that you were basically just drinking whatever he made you which I thought was dumb because I need to know your favorite drink. So. Special menu. There’s spaces for you to note what you like about them, and we can mark down which ones you’ve tried, and the back has spaces for Merlin’s new creations because we all know he’s gonna make more.”

Arthur looked down at the pale pink stationary in his hands. The edges were decorated with little hearts and coffee cup cartoons. Each drink had an empty diamond icon next to it to hold the checkmarks. Arthur set the pages down on the counter before he could ruin it with his tears.

He turned away for a second to blink back and wipe away the tears. He heard Gwen and Merlin’s brief exchange.

“Did I do something wrong?” Gwen whispered to Merlin.

“No, Gwen,” Merlin whispered back. “He loves it. I promise. Just give him a sec.”

After composing himself, Arthur turned back around. He glanced up at Merlin, who smiled at him. Arthur took a deep breath, Merlin’s soft, understanding gaze calming him.

“So what can I get you?” Merlin asked.

Arthur turned to Gwen.

“Gwen, would you like to pick?” he asked.

Gwen smiled. She picked up Arthur’s Special Menu, and scanned the pages.

“Apple cider caramel cold brew?” Gwen asked. “That sound good?”

“Sounds perfect,” Arthur said.

“On it!” Merlin said.

Gwen checked it off on the menu as Merlin started to make the drink. Arthur went over to the corner booth and sat down.

“Did you want to clock out early, Merlin?” Gwen asked. “It’s super dead, and you had a long night.”

“GOD, YES!” Merlin said. “You sure?”

“Yeah, absolutely!”

A few minutes later, Merlin slid into the booth next to Arthur, and set the drink down in front of him. The pale milk and dark coffee danced together in the plastic cup. Arthur listened to the ice as he stirred his drink.

Merlin held his hand under the table, and Arthur shot him a grateful look.

“What do you think?!” Gwen shouted across the cafe.

“It’s really good!” Arthur shouted back.

“Is that it?”

“Cold brew isn’t my favorite!”

“Got it!”

Arthur turned his attention back to his coffee and Merlin.

“Everything okay?” Merlin asked.

Arthur nodded. “Yeah. That was really sweet.”

After a second, he nudged Merlin.

“What about you?” Arthur asked. “Long shift?”

Merlin glanced down at the table.

“Yeah.”

“And?”

Arthur watched Merlin bite back saying something. When he looked at Arthur again, Merlin wore a very guarded expression.

“In my head about things,” Merlin said. “You know how it is.”

Arthur paused, and studied his friend.

“Why’d you do that?” he asked after a long moment.

Merlin flinched like he’d been caught.

“Do what?” Merlin asked.

“Why’d you hide?” Arthur asked. “We don’t… You don’t have to. Okay?”

Merlin took a deep breath before looking at Arthur again.

“Okay,” he said. “But I really don’t want to talk about it.”

“That’s fine. You don’t have to. You never have to. I just…”

Merlin squeezed Arthur’s hand.

“I know,” Merlin said. “I get it. It’s not you, I promise.”

“If it was, you would tell me, right?”

“Yes.”

Arthur nodded to himself. He took a long swig from his drink.

“Let’s get you home,” Arthur said. “I think we can both use some sleep.”

“Agreed.”

Merlin slid out of the booth and headed towards the door. Arthur followed after him. The pair waved at Gwen as they exited.

“Thank you for the menu,” Arthur said. “I look forward to making notes in it.”

“You’re welcome, Arthur,” Gwen said. “Cheers!”

“Cheers!” Arthur and Merlin said.

Notes:

Enjoooooooooy. I accidentally started to write an original fantasy novel and it's consuming all of my brain power but I didn't want to put this by the wayside because I love this fic anyways love seeing all your comments. I promise the next chapter will be more cozy things

Chapter 15: Severely Unqualified

Merlin smiled to himself as he stepped into work that afternoon. Arthur stepped in after him. It was Arthur’s day off, but he’d still agreed to walk Merlin in. Gaius was behind the cafe counter, rearranging the pastry case. He didn’t look up as the pair walked in. Merlin clocked in and grabbed his apron as Arthur finished a cursory work story.

“Anyways, Jerry says he’ll retire soon,” Arthur said. “I’ll believe it when I see it, personally, but there is talk about new hires. We’ll see what comes of it.”

“Maybe they’ll put you in charge,” Merlin said.

“I highly doubt that.”

“Why? You’re qualified.”

“Yes, but then I’d have to like…be in charge.”

“You don’t think you’d be good at that?”

“No, I think I’d be great at that, and then I’d be stressed about whether or not I was doing a good job, and as much as I love the Avalon, I don’t see myself working at a museum for the rest of my life, but if I get into management I’ll be indispensable or whatever.”

“You’d probably make more money in management.”

“I don’t want more money.”

“Oh, right. Trust fund prat.”

Arthur sneered at him over the counter. Merlin sneered back.

“Sounds like you need a change in careers then, Arthur,” Gaius piped up. “Are you any good at baking? I could always use another apprentice.”

“While that is an incredibly generous offer, Gaius,” Arthur said. “I’m afraid I am severely unqualified for that position. My culinary skills are rudimentary at best. And when it comes to your espresso machines, I am severely lost.”

“Plus, he’d make a terrible coworker,” Merlin said. “I’m sure of it.”

“No worse than you, Merlin,” Arthur shot back.

“Suit yourself,” Gaius said. “But my kitchen is always open.”

“Thank you,” Arthur said.

“Welp, I’m off for the day. Merlin, you set for the evening?”

“Yes, uncle. I’m good,” Merlin replied.

Gaius gathered his things, hung up his apron, and left the cafe. Merlin turned towards Arthur.

“So, how much of my shift will be spent irritating you?” Merlin asked.

“Not sure,” Arthur said. “I’m supposed to have dinner with Morgana later, and I’m trying to decide if I want to go to the gym before or after that.”

“Tournament prep?”

Arthur nodded.

“When is that, by the way?” Merlin asked.

“It’s a few months out still,” Arthur said. “I’ll be damned if I can find a sparring partner to train with though. I keep really odd hours so it’s hard to find anyone.”

“I could always spar with you.”

Arthur laughed. Merlin threw a rag at him.

“I’m serious!” Merlin said.

“I know,” Arthur said. “Which is what makes it so hilarious. Look, Merlin, that’s a sweet offer, but you couldn’t even punch correctly until recently. You’d hurt yourself sparring.”

“I suppose I see your point.”

“But hey, if I ever need a glorified punching bag, I’ll know who to call.”

“Okay, that’s rude. I could do more than a punching bag.”

Arthur shot him a look.

“Whatever,” Merlin said. “Do you want tea?”

“Sure.”

Arthur picked out what kind he wanted, and marked it down on the Super Special Menu. When the tea was finished brewing, Merlin sat down at a table with Arthur. He watched as Arthur tasted the drink, and then scribbled something down on the menu notes. When Merlin tried to read what he wrote, Arthur hid it from him.

“No!” Arthur said. “You can’t see what I wrote!”

“You do realize I’m just going to read it when you leave, right?” Merlin asked.

“Yes, but then I won’t be here for you to judge me.”

Merlin rolled his eyes. The pair talked and scrolled on their phones while drinking their tea. A couple of customers came in, which Merlin helped.

Arthur ended up staying until he needed to leave to catch up with Morgana for dinner. Merlin’s smile didn’t fade when Arthur left. Today was a good day.

Chapter 16: A Sight for Sore Eyes

Notes:

Hehehehehehehe is that an old crush I see????

Arthur sat down in an empty booth seat and waited out the morning rush at Magical Brews. Saturday morning was almost always busy so he typically didn’t bother Merlin and Gwen for anything. He texted a couple of things to Morgana, answered a few emails, and otherwise doom scrolled waiting for Merlin to finish his shift. Then his phone rang.

He thought about letting it ring, but he had nothing better to do so Arthur popped in his headphones and answered.

“Hello?” Arthur said.

“Oh fantastic!” a familiar voice said. “I’s afraid your number changed.”

Arthur paused for a second.

“ Gwaine ?!” he said. “Is that you?!”

“Last time I checked,” Gwaine said with a laugh. “It’s good to hear you, Arthur.”

“Likewise!”

“Are you still in London? I’m in the city for a while. Thought we could catch up.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m still here. I’d love to see you.”

“Drinks tonight? I know a great pub.”

“You always know a great pub,” Arthur said. “But uh sadly, I’m not free tonight. I have work.”

“Boo!”

“Yes, well, as I recall you never liked it when I was independently wealthy so my employment is really your fault.”

Gwaine laughed. It was a boisterous, bright sound that reminded Arthur of his days at university.

“I’ll take it,” Gwaine said. “When’re you free?”

“Right now orrrrrrrr next Tuesday.”

“Right now?”

“I’m at a cafe waiting for a friend. Honestly, you’d probably love this place.”

“Brilliant! I am in desperate need of a coffee. Text me the address.”

Gwaine hung up. Arthur smiled to himself as he pulled out his headphones and texted Gwaine. He also went ahead and added the number to his contacts.

“What’s got you all chipper?” Merlin asked.

Arthur glanced up and saw Merlin standing by the table. He set a mug down in front of Arthur, careful not to disturb the milk foam on top.

“Nothing,” Arthur said. “Are you finished?”

“No, I wanted to let you know I’ll be staying a few more hours,” Merlin said. “Gwen needs a bit of help. Is that okay? You don’t have to wait.”

“That’s fine. A friend of mine is stopping by actually so I’ll be here whenever you’re off.”

“Oh! Okay. Great.”

Merlin turned to leave, stopped and then turned back around.

“I just remembered you don't have any friends,” Merlin said.

“I have you,” Arthur said.

"Yes, but I'm here. So who is this?"

"He's an old friend."

“Old as in old? Or old as in you’ve known him for a long time?”

“Old as in I’ve known him for a time. What’s with the questions, Merlin?”

“Nothing! Just curious!”

Arthur studied his friend for a moment. Merlin didn’t meet his eyes.

“Oh for the love of --” Arthur said. "I’ll introduce you."

Merlin perked up. Arthur rolled his eyes.

“Git,” he muttered. “Go away. You have work to do.”

Merlin quickly bussed a few nearby tables, and then returned to his place behind the espresso machine. Arthur sat back in the booth and waited.

Maybe twenty minutes later, a tall, handsome figure strode through the door of Magical Brews. Gwaine Knight was six feet 2 inches, with a clean, short beard and shoulder length, wavy brown hair. His eyes always held a sparkle and his mouth a smile. He wore a dark grey dress shirt that had one too many buttons undone, dark jeans, and a leather satchel thrown over one shoulder.

He was, Arthur thought, entirely too charming for his own good.

Gwaine smiled the moment he saw Arthur. He crossed the cafe, pulled Arthur to his feet, and wrapped him in a hug. Arthur accepted the hug and patted his friend on the back.

“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” Arthur said as he sat back down.

Gwaine slid into the seat opposite him, and laughed.

“Stole the words right out of my mouth, Pendragon,” he said.

The pair exchanged smiles. Gwaine’s eyes grew soft.

“You look well,” he said.

Arthur nodded. “I am well,” he said. “You look tan.”

Gwaine laughed. “I blame Greece for that.”

“You’ll have to tell me all about it.”

“Yes, absolutely, coffee first though. Do you have a recommendation?”

“Literally anything on the menu.”

Gwaine cocked an eyebrow in question of Arthur’s statement.

“Trust me,” Arthur said. “Barista’s a wizard.”

Gwaine shrugged and got in line. Gwen was behind the register when he got to the front. Gwaine flashed her a smile. Gwen did not reciprocate the expression.

“Welcome to Magical Brews,” she said. “What can I get started for you?”

“I will take your hazelnut cappuccino in the largest size available. Annnnnd…something sweet. Any suggestions?”

“Depends on what you like.”

“I like you.”

Merlin snickered. Gwaine glanced in his direction.

“You’re barking up the wrong tree, mate,” Merlin said.

Gwaine glanced between Merlin and Gwen for a second. Merlin laughed again. Gwen, however, reached forward with a sigh and grabbed the pride flag sitting in a nearby pen cup. She waved it, and smirked at Gwaine.

“Oh my god,” Gwaine said. “I am so sorry! I will take the cinnamon muffin and shut up forever.”

Merlin and Gwen both laughed.

“Good call,” Merlin said.

“Alright,” Gwen said. “Large hazelnut cappuccino and a cinnamon muffin for the would-be casanova. Total’s on the screen.”

Gwen spun the computer around for Gwaine to enter in his payment details. He did, and left a huge tip before stepping aside to wait for his order. He retrieved his order once it was prepared and went back to the booth.

“Did you just hit on Gwen?” Arthur asked.

Gwaine looked down at the table.

“Uh, if you are referring to the stunning lady behind the counter, yes, yes, I did,” Gwaine said.

“You do know she’s –”

“– Yes, I am aware of that fact now .”

Arthur laughed. Gwaine shot Arthur a look, and took a sip from the cappuccino. Arthur watched his friend’s face light up.

“Wow,” Gwaine said. “That’s…fuck, that’s delicious.”

“Told you.”

Gwaine took a bit of the muffin and almost groaned.

“ Fuck me ,” he said. “That’s incredible.”

“Do you need a moment alone?”

“Piss off.”

Arthur laughed, and finished his own drink as he watched Gwaine devour the muffin.

“I’ll have to actually make a proper visit to this place,” Gwaine said, taking out his phone and jotting down a few notes. “Do you know how to get in touch with the owner? I’d love to set something up.”

“He works in the afternoons if you have a mind to come back,” Arthur said. “I’d be happy to introduce you.”

“That’d be amazing! I’m busy later, but maybe tomorrow?”

“Just let me know,” Arthur said. “I’m here like every day they’re open.”

“So at least your caffeine addiction hasn’t changed,” Gwaine said. “Good.”

Arthur rolled his eyes.

“So what’ve you been up to?” Arthur said. “What’re you doing here?”

“In London for work,” Gwaine said. “It’s been a few years so I wanted to do some updates on some earlier pieces and talk about some of the newer players in the restaurant scene. I’m also working on putting together a few different pub crawls. Because as you know I have a soft spot for pubs, and also because tourists are obsessed with those so it’s pretty easy money. As to what I’ve been up to…”

Gwaine heaved a big sigh and launched into the crazy stories of his life. Gwaine Knight was, as he himself put it, a traveling foodie. The rest of the world called him a restaurant critic and lifestyle influencer. A pretty damn successful one at that. His passion was food, and he loved sharing that with the world. The world, in turn, loved Gwaine Knight.

He told Arthur all about his various global escapades since uni as he sipped on his cappuccino. Then Arthur updated him on what he’d been up to. Though Arthur’s update was significantly shorter, Gwaine didn’t mind. He was just as interested as Arthur had been about his life.

It felt good to be with Gwaine again. To joke like they used to. There was a hint of nostalgia in the way they reminisced that wasn’t painful for Arthur. They were both different people, yes, Arthur very different. But they were still friends.

They were still friends...

Notes:

Oh geeeeeeeee I wonder what Merlin's gonna think.... Too bad I have to write the next chapter before I can find out....

No, but like seriously, I love Gwaine

Chapter 17: The Kind of Guy You're Into

Notes:

Obviously we needed Merlin's take on the Gwaine of it all...

Merlin washed the same spot on the counter for the fiftieth time as he stared at Arthur’s booth.

“Earth to Merlin,” Gwen said.

Merlin blinked and turned to his friend.

“Hmm?” he said.

“That counter is already clean,” she said.

“What?” Merlin said. “Oh. Sorry.”

He moved away from the counter and began cleaning the espresso machine. Gwen stepped over and started consolidating items in the pastry display. Merlin was still scowling in Arthur’s direction. Gwen smirked to herself.

“You alright, Merlin?” she asked.

“I’m fine,” he said.

“You wanna try that again?”

“Who the hell IS that guy?!” and Merin started pacing. “Shows up…out of the blue?!  And and and…Arthur!”

“What about Arthur, Merlin?”

“He’s all smiley! What’s that about?! He’s only that smiley when – he’s never that smiley!”

“You’re upset that your friend is happy?”

Merlin glared at Gwen. Gwen was looking at Merlin, waiting for him to answer. Merlin crossed his arms. He felt his cheeks grow warm.

“That…is noooooot what I meant,” Merlin said.

“Are you jealous, Merlin?” Gwen asked.

“WHat?! No! No. NO! I… Arthur can have as many friends as he wants. Even when they are…tall, and fit, and charming, and makes your insides melt when he smiles. WH…why would that make me jealous? It DoeSn’T!”

Gwen nodded, letting Merlin bluster. When he was finished, she took a moment before speaking again.

“So you don’t want to see his instagram?” Gwen asked.

Gwen offered Merlin her phone. Merlin reached for it, then stopped himself and retracted his hands.

“No,” Merlin said. “No. No I do not.”

“He’s got a couple shirtless pics,” Gwen said. “Apparently he’s just been to Greece.”

“Greece?!”

Merlin snatched the phone and glanced at the profile. He only managed to see the follower count, which was enough to make Merlin’s stomach turn. He shoved the phone back in Gwen’s hands.

“ No ,” Merlin said. “No. Nope. No. I’m not… No.”

Gwen put her phone away. She moved behind Merlin, and undid his apron.

“What’re you doing?” Merlin asked. “ What’re you doing? ”

“Your shift is over,” Gwen said. “It’s time for you to go home.”

“What?! No! No no nono I can’t go over there!”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m me!”

“Exactly! You’re Merlin! Go be your magical self.”

Gwen took off Merlin’s apron and nudged him towards the booth. Merlin gave Gwen a glare that  clearly meant “I’m going to kill you. No seriously, I MEAN IT.” Gwen just rolled her eyes and turned to a customer who just stepped up to the counter.

Merlin shuffled across the cafe floor and over to Arthur’s booth.

“No, but do you remember that fight on Christmas?” the handsome man said.

“How could I forget?!” Arthur said. “My hands would’ve gotten frostbite if I hadn’t been using them to punch.”

“God, that was a good day...”

“You were a menace.”

“Were? Still am.”

“Care to test that theory?”

“Square up, Pendragon.”

“Not here!” Arthur said, batting away the other man’s fists. “We’ll find a time to properly spar.”

“You’re no fun.”

“Maybe, but I can still out drink you.”

Merlin sidled up to the table, heard them talking, and turned back around to leave. Arthur’s voice stopped him.

“Merlin!” Arthur said. “Are you off now?”

Merlin nodded. Arthur moved further into the booth and patted the now-empty space next to him. Merlin hesitated for a second and then sat. Arthur turned to the handsome man.

“Gwaine,” Arthur said. “This is Merlin. Merlin, this is my friend Gwaine. He and I were roommates together at uni.”

Merlin waved at Gwaine. Gwaine smiled at him.

“Nice to meet you, Merlin,” he said. “Arthur tells me you’re the coffee wizard. I have to say I agree.”

“Thanks,” Merlin said, and couldn’t help but return the smile.

“Do you roast your coffee beans in house?” Gwaine asked.

“I wish! But no, we don’t have the space and I don’t have the time for that. My uncle found a few very good suppliers so we source from them.”

“And your syrups?”

“I make all of those.”

“Really? That’s impressive.”

“Yes, really. Took me a few years to perfect the recipes, but I’m pretty happy with them now. The caramel was the trickiest.”

“Caramel is so annoyingly difficult to get right.”

“Yes!”

Gwaine and Merlin spun off into a tirade about different recipes and food-related shop talk. Merlin soon forgot all of his earlier jealousy, pulled in by Gwaine’s genuine enthusiasm. He felt a little bad that Arthur didn’t have much to contribute to the conversation, but every time he glanced over at Arthur, the man had a slight smile on his face as he listened to them talk.

“Wait,” Merlin said. “You went to school with Arthur? How’d you get from that to being paid to travel the world and eat food?”

Gwaine laughed.

“Oh, right, yeah,” he said. “I suppose my life is a bit unorthodox, but that’s kind of how it’s always been. The university thing was a request from my father. Dying wish sort of situation. I went, but I hated it. Flunked out shortly after Arthur left. Decided to go on a holiday. Sort of never stopped said holiday.”

Gwaine shrugged.

“Life just sort of happens to Gwaine,” Arthur said. “You get used to it.”

“How’d the two of you meet?” Gwaine asked.

“We met here,” Arthur said. “Merlin was working, and I stopped in before my shift. He called me a prat –”

“– Only because you insulted me,” Merlin said.

“You were mean first!”

“I most certainly was not! That would’ve been highly unprofessional.”

“You write ‘PRAT’ on the side of my cup! When have you ever been professional?!”

“You know I’m being sarcastic!”

“You’re being a git!”

Before Merlin could retort, he caught Gwaine’s wistful expression out of the corner of his eyes and clammed up. He felt very self-conscious all of a sudden, though he didn’t understand why. It wasn’t odd, right? The way he talked to Arthur. The way Arthur talked to him. That’s just how they were together. Everyone else didn’t seem to mind, but Gwaine looked like he knew something.

“Anyways,” Arthur said. “I’ve sort of been coming here…a lot since then.”

“I don’t think I could get rid of him if I tried,” Merlin said.

Gwaine laughed. Arthur rolled his eyes.

“You’d miss me too much if I left,” Arthur said.

“Hardly!” Merlin said.

“Git.”

“Prat.”

Arthur smiled at Merlin. So Merlin smiled back.

“I think that’s my cue to leave,” Gwaine said. “I should probably find my hotel before too long or Lord knows I won’t make it there tonight.”

Gwaine stood, and Merlin and Arthur followed suit. Arthur and Gwaine hugged, exchanging threats to meet up again soon. Then Gwaine turned to Merlin and hugged him as well. Merlin accepted, though he was a bit shocked by the gesture.

“It was good to meet you, Merlin,” Gwaine said. “I’ll be back.”

“Look forward to it,” Merlin said.

Gwaine left. Merlin and Arthur turned to each other.

“You ready to head out?” Merlin asked.

Arthur nodded. The pair said their goodbyes to Gwen, and started towards Merlin’s flat.

“Thank you,” Arthur said.

“Huh?” Merlin asked.

“For meeting Gwaine. I know he can be a lot.”

Merlin glanced down at the sidewalk.

“It was no trouble really,” he said after a moment. “Gwaine’s…”

“What?” Arthur said. “Go on. Tell me. What does the illustrious Merlin truly think?”

Merlin sighed. He looked over at Arthur.

“This is about to be the gayest thing I’ve ever said to you,” Merlin said in a rush. “Gwaine is SO PRETTY.”

Arthur blinked for a second, stunned by Merlin’s outburst. And then doubled over with laughter.

“No one’s smile is that perfect!” Merlin said. “And his jawline?! He has a beard! He can’t also be chiseled! That’s not fair! I swear I was so worried I was staring like an idiot the whole time. And he’d be too nice to tell me if I was!”

Arthur couldn’t stop laughing.

“I swear, it’s so upsetting,” Merlin said. “You can be pretty or nice. Not both! He can’t be both! That’s illegal!”

“Stop,” Arthur said, weezing. “Stop. I can’t. God that’s hysterical.”

Merlin shoved Arthur in front of him as the pair crossed the street. It took Arthur a few more seconds to compose himself.

“Oh, that’s good,” Arthur said. “See, you understand. You see why I had a massive crush!”

“He is certainly…charming,” Merlin said.

There was a moment of silence between the two as they headed down the steps onto the tube platform and waited for the car.

“You had a crush on Gwaine?” Merlin asked, trying his best to make the question seem normal.

“Cliche, I know,” Arthur said. “Gay guy has a crush on his straight roommate. He was a gem about it though. Nicest rejection I’ve ever gotten.”

“You’re still friends. That’s nice.”

“I know! But that’s just the kind of guy Gwaine is.”

Merlin nodded. They stepped onto the tube car and sat down next to each other.

“So do you…” Merlin started. “Is… Like is that the kind of guy you’re into?”

“Not really,” Arthur said. “I was into Gwaine because he’s Gwaine , I think, not because he really fits my type. Plus, he’s far too sweet.”

“What do you mean?”

Arthur shrugged.

“I dunno,” he said. “I’d want to be with someone more sarcastic. Someone who could keep me humble, or give me a brutal reality check when I need one. Makes me feel seen in ways that I maybe don’t want, but definitely need. I want something real.”

Merlin watched Arthur’s face as he spoke. Without meaning to Merlin hung on each word coming from Arthur’s lips.

“Not that Gwaine isn’t real!” Arthur said. “It’s just that whenever you’re around him you kind of get swept away and next thing you know you’re six meads deep and getting in a fist fight in a pub on Christmas.”

Arthur glanced at Merlin.

“It’s fun,” he said. “But I could never live like that. Even if Gwaine was into blokes, ya know?”

Merlin nodded. Arthur nudged him in the arm.

“What about you?” Arthur said. “What kind of guy are you into?”

“Obnoxious prats,” Merlin said, with a joking smile.

Arthur rolled his eyes. Merlin looked down.

“Kidding, obviously,” Merlin said. “I think I’d want him to challenge me. Pull me out of my comfort zone, but in a respectful way. It’s less about how he looks, and more of a matter of trust with me.”

He looked over and met Arthur’s eyes again.

“I’d share a lot with him,” Merlin said. “Not everyone likes what I have to say. Besides, mapping out a hypothetical boyfriend seems a little silly if no one wants me anyways.”

Arthur frowned.

“You’d make a great boyfriend,” Arthur said.

Merlin looked down. Arthur moved so he was in his line of sight again.

“I mean that,” Arthur said.

Merlin gave him a half-hearted smile. He didn’t believe Arthur’s words. He knew better. Arthur, however, didn’t seem to care about Merlin’s protestations.

“You’re just about the easiest person to be around,” Arthur said. “I feel like I’ve known you all my life. You have this way of being honest and open and understanding that allows people to be themselves around you. And when they still hesitate, you encourage them. You’re patient with them. There’s no one like you in the whole world, Merlin. And if anyone doesn’t appreciate you, I will kick their ass.”

Merlin laughed. Having made his point, Arthur sat back in his seat.

“Thanks,” Merlin said, blinking back a few tears.

“I mean it,” Arthur said. “I will kick their ass between their ears since it was apparently already there anyways.”

Merlin laughed.

“You can’t threaten physical violence to anyone who would hurt me, you know that, right?” Merlin said.

“No,” Arthur said. “I’m pretty sure I can.”

Merlin rolled his eyes.

“You’re insufferable,” he muttered.

But Merlin didn’t mean it.

Notes:

Merlin & Arthur: *both proceed to describe the other as their ideal boyfriend*
Also Merlin & Arthur: *both proceed to NOT GET IT*

No, but like, Gwaine FULLY thinks they're boyfriends

Chapter 18: Soulmates

Notes:

Y’all I am so sorry for this one

Arthur turned up his collar against the wind. It was overcast, gray clouds hanging around the horizon and threatening a storm. The sidewalks were wet and the air was damp, but it wasn’t currently raining as Arthur and Merlin walked into work.

They hadn’t talked much today. Merlin didn’t seem to mind that Arthur was in a contemplative mood. He also didn’t mind when Arthur decided to voice the oddest question he’d ever asked Merlin.

“Have you ever been in love?”

Merlin glanced sideways at him as they waited for the crosswalk, intense amber eyes taking him in.

“No,” Merlin said. “There were a couple of times where I thought maybe, but…didn’t work out.”

They crossed the street.

“You?” Merlin asked.

“No, not even close,” Arthur said. “I don’t think I’d even recognize it if it was staring me in the face.”

Merlin smirked.

“You do seem like the type that would require him to cuff you in the head while confessing,” Merlin said.

“I’m not that bad!” Arthur protested.

He paused for a moment when Merlin didn’t respond.

“I’m not that bad, right?” Arthur asked.

“I dunno,” Merlin said. “I’m not in love with you.”

Arthur glanced at Merlin. Those words on those lips gave him pause for half a moment. He looked away and shook his head, attempting to clear his thoughts.

“When I was little, I was obsessed with the idea of soulmates,” Merlin said. “Beings who were made for each other, destinies and lifetimes intertwined. Two sides of the same coin. I sort of wished for it. Thought it would be nice, to have someone like that.”

“And now?” Arthur asked.

Merlin shrugged.

“Sort of seems tragic,” he said

“What do you mean?”

“What if they never actually end up together? What if they don’t even like each other? What if…what if they ended up in a time or place where it wasn’t safe for them to love each other?”

They lapsed into silence for a moment.

“I believe love isn’t something that just happens to a person,” Arthur said. “It’s a choice. Sure, you can’t help attraction or lack of attraction. That’s part of who you are. But, you can choose not to do anything with it, or even to act against it.”

He paused.

“Can’t say I recommend repression though,” Arthur said.

Merlin laughed.

“Neither can I,” Merlin added.

“Awful, really.”

Merlin and Arthur walked for a bit in silence.

“Do you want to fall in love?” Arthur asked.

“Maybe someday,” Merlin said. “Might be nice. You?”

“I’d like to,” Arthur said.

Arthur opened the door of Magical Brews. Merlin stepped in. Arthur stepped in after him and shut the door against the cold, gloomy weather.

Notes:

They would talk about this shit tho. They would share those ideas/dreams with each other. THEY JUST HAVEN’T FIGURED OUT IT SHOULD BE WITH EACH OTHER

Chapter 19: Pretty Eyes

Notes:

This chapter is a chaotic mess. Like all of the characters therein. Except for Percival. He is a precious bean who has never done anything wrong in his life ever

It was 3am when Merlin received the phone call. Which should have given him pause. It was from Arthur. Which should have given him more pause. But he had nothing better to do, and the fact Arthur was ringing him at 3am on one of Arthur’s days off was intriguing to Merlin. So he answered.

“Bored without me?” Merlin asked.

“Uhhhh,” a stranger’s voice said. “Judging by the state of them…no?”

Merlin tensed, and his heart started pounding. The adrenalin must have sharpened his senses because he heard the faint pulse of music and the chattering of voices in the background of the phone. He also heard Arthur’s voice in the middle distance.

“iSTHaTMeRLiN?!” Arthur shouted with very slewed speech. “TeLLHiMHeHaSPreTtYeYeS!!!”

Merlin heard Gwaine giggle somewhere in the background.

“Um,” the stranger on the phone said. “You have pretty eyes?”

Merlin heaved the biggest sigh, and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Sorry,” the stranger said. “I got this phone off the blonde one and you were the first person on his favorites. I thought it would be a safe bet to try calling you to pick these guys up. Neither of them were sober enough to give me an address.

“Apparently,” Merlin said.

“Would you be able to come get them? Or tell me where to send them?”

“I’ll come get them. Can you text me the address?”

“I can share the phone’s location if that would help?”

“That would be splendid! Who am I speaking with, by the way?”

“Oh! I’m Percy. I’m a bouncer at the Black Hound Pub.”

“Got it,” Merlin said. “Well, I shall be seeing you shortly. If the blonde one receives a stirring cuff to the head in the interim, I wouldn’t be upset.”

“Um, okay?” Percy said.

Percy hung up the phone and shared Arthur’s location with Merlin. Merlin quickly clocked out and closed the cafe. He texted Gwen and Gaius, letting them know he was leaving for an Arthur emergency, and then found a cab.

The Black Hound Pub might as well have been located on the other side of the planet for how long it took Merlin to get there. It was also in the randomest back alley sidestreet Merlin had ever seen. If he hadn’t known where he was going, Merlin might have missed it altogether. He asked the cabby to idle, and then hopped out.

Arthur Pendragon and Gwaine Knight sat on the curb outside the pub drunk off their asses. They both cheered and tried to stand up when they saw Merlin. Tried. Because it resulted in them falling back to the curb in a tangle of limbs, giggling and poking each other. Merlin took a deep breath and approached the very tall, very muscular man a few paces behind them.

“Hi, I’m guessing you’re Percy?” Merlin said.

The man nodded, and smiled. Merlin thought he had to be at least seven feet tall. His hair was a dusty brown color, shaved closed to his head, and he had a scruffy beard. He was dressed in all black, sleeves of his long sleeve shirt pushed up over his elbows leaving his massive, tattooed forearms exposed. His grey eyes were kind and soft, though Merlin guessed (accurately) that that was because he chose to appear non-threatening in this moment.

“Blonde one was right,” Percy said. “Your eyes are pretty.”

Merlin blushed over the compliment. He managed to recover himself when Percy handed over Arthur’s phone.

“I’ve kept an eye on them,” he said. “The only people who have messed with them are each other.”

“Thanks,” Merlin said. “I really appreciate it.”

“No problem,” Percy said. “I get it. It’s rough out here.”

Merlin shot a look over his shoulder at the pair giggling on the curb.

“I’m going to make sure their tabs are taken care of,” Merlin said. “Would you be able to watch them just a little bit more?”

Percy nodded. “Yeah, sure,” he said.

“Thank you,” Merlin said.

Merlin walked back over to the curb. He reached into Arthur’s inner jacket pocket, dodging the squirming Arthur did because of it, and fished out Arthur’s wallet. Then he went inside the pub and up to the bar. He closed out the appropriate tab, left a HUGE tip, and went back outside.

Somehow, Merlin and Percy were able to finagle the drunk besties into the back of the cab.

“Thank you so much for your help,” Merlin said, handing Percy some cash from Arthur’s wallet as a tip. “You really didn’t have to do any of this.”

“I know,” he said. “But, never hurts to be kind, right? Plus, it's a slow night and they both seemed like decent enough blokes when they were sober. Everyone goes a little too hard now and again.”

“You are a better man than me,” Merlin said, piling into the cab.

“Be safe!” Percy said, and headed back to his post.

Merlin gave the cabby his address, and sat back for one of the most chaotic car rides of his life. There was more than one occasion of him bidding Arthur and Gwaine “DO NOT PUKE IN THE CAB!” And it was very difficult to make sure both of them stayed fully clothed for the duration of the ride (their shirts were “ToOHoTTTT” and they needed to see which of them “HaSsssBetTeRAbs”)

Merlin felt a migraine budding in the back of his head before they were even within sight of his building. When they arrived, Merlin was able to deposit the drunk pair on the curb for long enough to pay the cabby with Arthur’s money. Then he set about trying to herd them up to his flat. It was like wrangling cats for bathtime. Except the cats really wanted to pee in the vestibule, and fall asleep on the stairs.

Somehow, he got them both into his flat and shut the door. Gwaine promptly faceplanted onto the couch. This, however, meant there was nowhere in the living room to dumb the floundering Arthur. After seriously considering leaving them both on the couch, Merlin decided instead to deposit Arthur onto his bed.

Arthur flopped down onto the mattress. He attempted to take his boots, his coat and his sweater off, but fell asleep before he could accomplish any of those things. Merlin sighed. He peeled off Arthur’s coat and sweater, thought about leaving them on the floor, remembered they were probably the most expensive things currently in the apartment, and hung them up in the closet instead. Then he took his friends boots off, and half nudged, half shoved Arthur so he was lying fully in the bed. Merlin pulled a blanket over Arthur right as Merlin's phone rang. He stepped out into the hallway to answer.

“Hey,” Gwen said from the other end of the line. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah,” Merlin said. “Other than the migraine currently shooting through my temples and the near heart-attack I had earlier, everything’s fine.”

“What happened?”

“Arthur and Gwaine went out and got shitfaced. Bouncer had to call me to come collect them."

“Oh my god! Please tell me you got pictures.”

“I was too busy trying to make sure neither of them stripped!”

“I bet that was fun for you.”

“Don’t. Just don’t.”

Gwen laughed.

“Alright,” Gwen said. “Well, I’m glad everyone’s okay. I’ll let Gaius know what happened. Don’t bother coming in tonight. Rest up, and we’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Thanks. Love you.”

“Love you too!”

Gwen hung up and Merlin made his way into the kitchen. He set the kettle on to make a cup of tea, poured himself a glass of water, and downed an aspirin. He glanced out into his living room and saw that Gwaine was now shirtless.

“How the hell– ?” Merlin muttered to himself.

He decided not to question it. He went into the restroom and grabbed the little waste bin by the toilet. He set that on the floor next to Gwaine’s head. Just in case. Then Merlin went back to the kitchen to pour himself tea.

By the time Merlin finished his cup of tea, he figured the rest of the world would be near waking. So he pulled out Arthur’s phone, got Morgana’s work number, and punched that into his cell. It rang a few times. Then a curt, male voice answered.

“Morgana Aislin’s office,” he said. “How may I help you?”

“Uh, hello!” Merlin said. “I’m Merlin. Is Morgana available?”

“What is this in regards to?”

“Her brother. It’ll be quick.”

“One moment, please.”

A few seconds of silence passed before the man came back on the line.

“Transferring you now,” he said.

“Thank you,” Merlin said.

He was waiting for a couple more seconds before he heard Morgana’s voice.

“Merlin?” Morgana said. “Is everything alright?”

“Yes,” Merlin said. “Everything’s fine. Sorry to disturb you, I just thought you should know that Arthur is currently passed out in my flat. He went drinking with a friend last night and the two of them got a bit carried away.”

“Oh good lord! It was with Gwaine Knight, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, ma’am, it was.”

He heard Morgana sigh.

“But he’s alright?” Morgana said. “Nothing happened?”

“Yes, he’s alright. I collected them from the pub. Everything’s okay. He’ll have a nasty hangover when he wakes, but otherwise, all good. I just thought you should know.”

“Thank you. Really, I appreciate this. Do you need anything?”

“No, I’m fine, thanks. I doubt Arthur will be in to work tonight though…”

“I’ll inform his supervisors.”

“Thanks.”

“This really was very sweet of you, Merlin,” Morgana said. “Not many friends would’ve put up with this.”

“Arthur would,” Merlin said. “Which is good enough for me.”

“Yes, I suppose that’s true. Well, um, I do have to get back to work.”

“Right! Sorry.”

“Call my cell next time, Merlin,” Morgana said. “It’ll be quicker than going through my assistant.”

“Oh,” Merlin said. “Hopefully there won’t be a next time, but, yes, I’ll do that.”

Merlin hung up. Then he changed into his pajamas, climbed in bed next to Arthur, and fell asleep.

Notes:

I hope you love the Percival cameo (he'll be back) & feel free to place your bets as to who Morgana's new assistant is (it's such a beautifully ironic pick and I'm honestly obsessed)(you will meet him in later planned chapters don't worry)

Chapter 20: Whatever This Is

Notes:

Was this whole thing contrived so I could have Merlin wake up hungover Arthur in a suitably dick-ish way cause that's like one of my fav bits from the show???????
You don't know I'LL NEVER TELL*

(*that's exactly what I did Gwaine is my most favoritest plot device)

Arthur woke up to an air horn going off next to his ear. He shot up, hair askance, and regretted e-ver-y-thing . His head felt like it was going to explode. His ears were ringing. His arms felt like jello. His stomach was both too full and too empty. Then sunlight flooded the room so Arthur was blind now too.

“ Ow ,” Arthur said.

His mouth felt like the inside of a shoe.

“Rise and shine, sleepy head,” Merlin said in a voice that was entirely too chipper. “Can’t let the day get away from you!”

“Stop shouting,” Arthur mumbled.

He fell back into the bed, but even that made his head hurt. He groaned.

Wait a second…

Why was Merlin in his bedroom?

Arthur blinked open his eyes and managed to focus on the blurry outline that he could now see was Merlin standing in the door.

The room looked wrong.

Arthur shifted in the bed. This bed didn’t feel right. Those weren’t his sheets. Or his pillows. Or…

This wasn’t his room. He sat up again, clutching at his head and blinked.

This was Merlin’s room.

Arthur glanced down.

He wasn’t wearing a shirt. He was in Merlin’s room with Merlin and he wasn’t wearing clothes.

“Am I in your bed?” Arthur asked. “Wh-what happened?”

“Don’t you remember?” Merlin asked, air horn posed between long fingers.

Arthur shook his head.

“We had sex,” Merlin said.

Arthur froze.

“We what?!” Arthur said.

“Had sex,” Merlin said. “You, me, soooo much sex. Alllll over this room.”

Arthur panicked. An onslaught of emotions crashed into him. For those few seconds, he even forgot how shitty he felt.

He had sex with Merlin?

Wh-wh…

But it was Merlin . It made sense, but how could he forget that?!

Would this change everything? Surely it would.

But he couldn’t remember!

H…how long had Merlin…?

“Merlin, I-I-“ Arthur tried to speak.. “…Merlin, look, I—“

Merlin started laughing.

“Oh god,” he said between giggles. “I’m sorry. I can’t. You should see your face right now.”

Arthur’s bewilderment turned to rage as Merlin kept laughing.

“You… bastard! ” Arthur said.

He grabbed one of the pillows and threw it across the room at Merlin. Merlin screeched and dodged out of the way.

“You insufferable PRICK!” Arthur yelled.

He threw another pillow at Merlin, who dodged again. Merlin was still cackling.

“I can’t believe you!” Arthur said.

“First of all, your pants are still on,” Merlin said. “Secondly, you’d remember if I fucked you.”

“That’s so not the point, Merlin!”

Arthur threw another pillow. This one managed to hit Merlin in the face. Merlin glared at him for a moment, gathered up all the thrown pillows, walked over to the bed and started hitting Arthur with them. Arthur wrested one away from Merlin’s grasp and the two just wailed on each other.

They stopped when they heard a knock and looked up to find Gwaine standing in the doorway.

“Not to interrupt whatever this is,” Gwaine said. “But can I use your shower?”

“Oh, yeah,” Merlin said. “Go for it. Towels are in the cupboard above the toilet.”

Gwaine shot them a thumbs up and then slinked away into the bathroom. Arthur clubbed Merlin over the head with a pillow so hard Merlin fell off the bed onto the floor.

“Breakfast?” Merlin asked.

Arthur nodded, remembering again how hungover he was. Merlin got up and headed for the kitchen.

“Don’t go back to sleep!” Merlin called over his shoulder.

Arthur groaned and got out of the bed. He sat down at the kitchen table and watched Merlin make breakfast. Merlin got Arthur a glass of water and a mug of coffee and put them in front of Arthur while he cooked the rest of the meal. Gwaine joined them at the table by the time food was ready, and the trio ate in relative silence.

When they were finished eating, Gwaine helped clear the dishes and then left. Arthur was still sitting at the kitchen table. He was resting his forehead on the dull wood of the table. Merlin refilled Arthur’s water glass and sat down with him.

“I can’t believe you,” Arthur mumbled.

Merlin glanced at him for a second.

“Are you still on the sex joke?” Merlin said.

“Was never off it! I almost had a bloody heart attack!”

“Well, now you know how I felt this morning.”

Arthur picked up his head.

“What?” he asked.

Merlin stared at him like he was an idiot. Arthur started to think that hypothesis wasn’t so ridiculous.

“I got a call from you at three in the morning,” Merlin said. “And when I picked up, it wasn’t your voice on the other end of the line. I dropped everything to collect you and get you somewhere safe. Because you were that out of it. What would’ve happened if I hadn’t picked up? Or if I couldn’t leave my job? What would’ve happened if the bouncer hadn’t looked after you?”

Arthur dropped his eyes.

“I know you’re an adult and can do whatever the fuck you want,” Merlin said. “That’s your decision and I know I don’t mean much to you, but I do care, quite a lot, and this wasn’t fun.”

Arthur hung his head.

“So excuse me if I needed to make light of the situation,” Merlin said. “I’m just trying not to focus on how terrifying the past 12 hours of my life have been.”

Arthur swallowed the lump in his throat, and wished he could redo the entire last two days of his life. He wiped away a few stray tears.

“You mean a great deal to me, Merlin,” Arthur said. “And I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Won’t happen again.”

Merlin sighed.

“I’m sorry too,” he said. “I might have taken the joke a bit too far, especially since I don’t know if you remember –”

“– I have 0 memories of how I ended up in your bedroom,” Arthur said.

“Yeaaaaaah, that would also be scary and I should not have joked about what would’ve been something very traumatizing so maybe no more sex jokes.”

“I think that’s for the best.”

“Yeah. Sorry.”

The pair sat in silence for a moment. Arthur stood.
“I should head home,” he said.

“Okay,” Merlin said, standing too. “I did call Morgana and let her know what happened. She said she’d call you out of work so you don’t have to go in tonight.”

Arthur nodded. He redressed himself with the clothes from the night before and then went to the door. Merlin followed him to the door, waiting to close and lock it behind him.

Before stepping over the threshold, Arthur stopped and embraced Merlin.

“Thank you,” he said.

Merlin sighed and returned the hug.

“You would’ve done the same,” Merlin said.

“Yes, but I’m an idiot,” Arthur said.

Merlin laughed.

“Eh, so am I,” Merlin said.

“Git.”

“Prat.”

Merlin let go of the hug so Arthur let go.

“See you tomorrow?” Arthur asked.

“See you tomorrow,” Merlin said.

Merlin closed the door and Arthur walked home. He texted Morgana, letting her know he was alive. When he got back to his flat, Arthur shut all of his blackout curtains and starfished on his bed.

He spent the next hour looking through his phone (which Merlin so graciously returned to him) trying to piece together the night with Gwaine. That was when he stumbled on the voice note.

“Merliiiiiiiiiiiiiiin,” said Arthur’s drunk voice on the recording. “Merlinnnnnnnn I’m making this thingy cause typing is really hard but YOU NEED TO COME OUT WITH US. And I know what you’re gonna say. Y-y-you’re gonna call me a PRAT and tell me you’re at work, but I DON'T CARE that you’re at work I want you to be HERE. With ME. I really want that like all the time. You’re probably my most favoritest person in like the all of the evers. You make me laugh and and you’re really smart and you LISTEN and I can be myself around you and and and I just you yoooooou are fuck you’re so hot, Merlin. You’re so hot and I can’t stand it sometimes. Most of the time. It drives me CRAZY cause you don’t see it but I Iiiiiiiiiiiiiii want you to – GWAINE?! GWAINE! GWAINE!!!”

The recording stopped. Arthur sat in the ensuing silence for what felt like forever.

Then he deleted the note and threw his phone across the room.

Notes:

So if Arthur hadn't realized he was in love with Merlin before, OOH BOI DOES HE NOW

Chapter 21: Big Feelings

Merlin sighed over his seventh attempt on a new drink. Nothing was right. First it was the grounds and then it was the milk. The flavors weren’t mingling the way he thought they should be – no, the way he knew they should be. Merlin tried not to take that as a metaphor for his life at the moment.

He dumped his trials into the sink and cleared his work station. Better to save it for another night.

“Gwaaaaaaaaine,” Merlin said. “I’m making tea. Fancy a cup?”

Gwaine, who had made himself a little writer's nook in one of the booths, didn’t look up from his laptop to respond.

“If by ‘cup of tea’ you actually mean a shot of espresso, sure,” he said.

“Compromise with earl gray?” Merlin shot back.

“Fiiiiiiiine.”

Merlin steeped the tea, then added cream and sugar to both mugs. He went to sit down with Gwaine, passing him one of the mugs while sipping on the other. Gwaine kept working, breaking up the background lofi music with the sounds of his keyboard.

“Can I ask you something?” Merlin said.

“Shoot,” Gwaine said without hesitation.

“Has Arthur been acting weird lately?”

The typing stopped for a few seconds. Gwaine consulted an open notebook off his left elbow, and then resumed typing.

“Not that I’ve noticed,” he said. “What have you noticed?”

“Nothing,” Merlin said.

“Uh huh.”

“He just seems…distant? Quieter. More moody. And practically every time we’re talking he tries not to look at me or looks away really quickly and we still joke, but not as often?”

“Ah, yes, classic Pendragon.”

Merlin looked confused.

“It’s not you,” Gwaine said, glancing up from his work. “Arthur just gets like that sometimes.”

“What do you mean?”

“He struggles with big feelings.”

“Feelings? Feelings how? Feelings why? Wh-What do you mean by feelings?”

“Relax. Arthur’ll come around. Be patient, be available when he’s finally ready to talk about it, and make sure he doesn’t do anything too stupid in the interim.”

Merlin listened to the click-clack of Gwaine’s keyboard for a moment, his brow furrowed in concentration.

“Seriously, Merlin,” Gwaine said. “You don’t need to worry. Arthur’s crazy about you.”

“He is?”

“Yeah, I promise. He can’t shut up about you.”

Before Merlin could even begin to think about forming a response, a pair of customers walked in. Merlin went back behind the counter to help them. He prepared their drinks and snacks, thinking about what Gwaine had said.

Of course he was relieved he hadn’t done anything to annoy Arthur.

But…what…what was Arthur so preoccupied with?

Feelings?

What kind of feelings?

Feelings like…feelings like…

Merlin shook his head. He finished out the two orders and passed them across the counter to the waiting couple. Then Merlin went about cleaning the espresso machine.

This wasn’t happening.

He couldn’t.

It was Arthur!

…

It was Arthur

He’d always known Arthur was attractive. Hell, Merlin had practically swallowed his tongue the first time he’d laid eyes on Arthur. But then they'd become friends, and gotten close and Arthur was so sweet, and so kind, and so generous, and so brave, and so strong, and basically the best person Merlin had ever met, and –

Fuck

Merlin was in love with Arthur.

Notes:

Guys, Gals, and Non-binary Pals, MERLIN HAS HAD A REVELATION (which we all saw from chapter 1 but it's okay he's not very self-aware and we still love him)

Chapter 22: Te Felicito

Notes:

I'm leaving more notes at the end cause putting any here would do too many spoilers, but I genuinely hope you guys like this one!

Arthur rushed into work, threw his bag in his locker, and headed towards the main guard station. He’d lingered at Magical Brews longer than he’d meant to ( stupid beautiful Merlin! ) , and now he was trying not to be late. Which is, of course, when he collided with another guard in the hallway, spilling their coffee everywhere. The guard let out a slew of words in Spanish which, from her tone, were not meant for polite company.

“I’m SO sorry!” Arthur said.

The pair stood in the middle of the brown coffee puddle and looked at each other. The other guard was about Arthur’s height, muscular, and had dark, piercing eyes. Which were currently staring daggers at Arthur. Her short dark hair was done up in two tight braids that ended in short ponytails at the base of her neck.

“I was drinking that,” she said.

“I know I know and I will buy you a new one,” Arthur said. “But I’m running late!”

Arthur heard his supervisor’s voice down the hall. If he was headed this way, Arthur was busted. The guard in front of him didn’t seem inclined to move out of his way.

“Why’re you late?” she asked.

“Because I’m an idiot!” Arthur said.

“Clearly. But why’re you an idiot?”

Arthur heard his supervisor moving closer. He would round the corner any second.

“Because I can’t seem to tell my best friend that I’m in love with him now will you move?!” Arthur said.

The guard stepped aside and Arthur rushed to the main control room door. He reached it at the same time his supervisor did.

“Arthur,” Jerry said. “You’re late.”

Arthur was about to respond when a now familiar voice chimed in from over his shoulder.

“My fault, sir!” the coffeeless guard said. “I got turned around, and Arthur here was just helping me out.”

“Oh,” Jerry said. “Actually that works out rather well. I was planning to have you on rotation with him.”

“Great! Can’t wait!”

Jerry went into the control room. Arthur let the door close before turning to the other guard.

“Thank you,” Arthur said.

“Don’t mention it,” the guard said. “Us queers have to stick together after all.”

She offered out her hand.

“I’m Lance, by the way,” she said.

Arthur shook her hand.

“Arthur,” he said. “But you knew that.”

“Shall we?”

The pair stepped into the control room. Arthur clocked in, grabbed his gear for the night, and then headed out to do his assigned walk thru. Lance accompanied him.

The first part of the round was fine. Lance asked a couple of necessary, practical questions. Upon hearing Lance had done her training with the day shift, Arthur shared a few useful pointers on how to adjust over to her new schedule. She seemed competent enough. She was very alert, which made Arthur a little nervous.

“So,” Lance said after a significant amount of silence had passed. “You’re in love with your best friend?”

Arthur sighed.

“Can you pretend I never said that?” he asked. “Please?”

“I’m shit at pretending.”

Arthur swept his beam over a weaponry case. He stopped walking. Lance stopped as well, glancing over her shoulder at him.

“Yes,” he said. “I think I’m in love with my best friend.”

“You think you’re in love? If you have to think, it’s probably not love.”

“— well, it’s compli —“

“— Also, you changed your answer! Before in the hallway, you were definitely more sure about the love.”

“— I didn’t —“

“— are you in love? Or aren’t you? It’s very simple —“

“— Okay fine!”

Lance swiveled her flashlight around to point at Arthur’s chest.

“I’m in love with him,” he said. “I’m…I’m in love with him.”

“¡Te felicito!” Lance said.

“Are you mocking me?”

“Un poco,” and she held up two fingers to indicate “just a little bit.”

She smiled at him. Arthur rolled his eyes, and the pair kept walking.

“Tu amor,” Lance said. “This friend of yours…how long has that been going on?”

“Nothing’s going on,” Arthur said.

“Which is the problem?”

“Sort of. I don’t know! I don’t want to ruin anything, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t see me that way.”

“Have you asked?”

“No.”

“You should ask.”

“No.”

“What reason do you have to not, Arthur?”

Arthur opened his mouth to answer, but Lance cut him off.

“ — not a good one!” she said. “So ask.”

Arthur glared at Lance. He was irritated and wanted to argue, but he could not find a flaw in her logic.

“Why’re you like this?” Arthur said.

Lance laughed.

“I am Spanish,” Lance said. “My people famously happen to know a thing or two about love. And I am a lesbian. So my other people tend to know about being in love with your friends and overcommitting too soon. Which makes me the perfect person to advise you! You’re welcome, by the way.”

“I didn’t say thank you,” Arthur said.

“¡No tienes que! It was implied.”

Arthur rolled his eyes.

“To be honest,” Lance added. “I’m also a little bitchy from the lack of caffeine since some bobo spilled my café.”

Arthur winced.

“You’ll get your replacement as soon as I go on break,” he said.

“Gracias.”

Lance gave Arthur a grateful smile, and the pair finished their rounds. A couple of hours later, Arthur was ready to leave for break.

“What’s your order?” Arthur asked Lance.

“The largest, blackest cup of coffee you can manage,” Lance said.

“Really? That’s it?”

“Sí, no one around here can ever get my order right so that’s what I usually end up with.”

Lance turned back to the bank of monitors she was scanning. Arthur sighed.

“God, I’m going to regret this,” he muttered to the ceiling. Then to Lance, he said: “Get up. You’re coming with me.”

“What?” Lance said.

“You’re coming with me,” Arthur said. “Jerry! Lance and I are going on break!”

Jerry acknowledged the shout as Arthur grabbed Lance by the arm and hauled her out of the guard station. She wrested herself from his grip when they were outside of the museum.

“Where are you taking me?” Lance said. “This is a little weird.”

“Said the woman who demanded the details of my love life when I’d known her for an hour.”

Lance considered that statement for a moment.

“...Fair enough,” she said. “You’re not going to kill me, are you?”

“What?! No!”

“Just checking!”

“We’re going somewhere that will get your coffee order right.”

Lance shot him a skeptical look, but they were already a block away from the museum and Arthur had her interest piqued. When they arrived at Magical Brews, Arthur held the door open for Lance as she stepped inside.

“Merlin!” Arthur called as he closed the door. “Lance here said no one gets her coffee order right.”

Merlin exited the kitchen and went up to the register. Arthur couldn’t stop the smile that formed on his face when he saw him. Merlin smiled back. Arthur’s stomach twisted in on itself. Merlin broke eye contact to glance over at Lance.

“I’m guessing you’re Lance?” he said.

Lance shot Merlin double finger guns as way of a confirmation.

“Nice to meet you,” Merlin said. “I’m Merlin, and I never back down from a challenge so, what can I get started for you?”

Lance stepped up to the counter and gave Merlin her order. It was less of an order, and more of the feeling she wanted the drink to evoke. Merlin nodded along like he understood everything she was saying. To be fair, he probably did understand it. He was so smart…

“Alright, I have an idea,” Merlin said. “Give me a sec.”

Lance stepped back from the counter to wait on her drink. Merlin started working his magic, after he set Arthur’s Special Menu on the counter for Arthur. Arthur didn’t notice and continued what he was doing, aka watching Merlin.

“Did you want another drink, Arthur?” Merlin asked.

“No, I’m fine, thanks,” Arthur said. “I was just coming here to get Lance something.”

“What’d you do?”

“Ran into her in the hallway.”

“I told you you were going to be late.”

“If only someone hadn’t needed help getting the sugar down from the shelf…”

“I could’ve done it!”

“And gotten squashed in the process!”

“Don’t be a prat!”

“Then stop being a git!”

Merlin stopped working to glare at Arthur. Arthur was already glaring at Merlin so it worked out.

Lance cleared her throat.

Merlin went back to working. Arthur glanced over at Lance. She looked back and forth between Merlin and Arthur for a moment, and grinned. Arthur’s brain booted up enough to know he was in trouble, but by that time, Lance was talking.

“So Merlin,” she said. “You’re friends with Arthur?”

“Yeah,” Merlin said, with the most adorable smile.

“Would you say you’re close?”

“I’d like to think so, yes. Why? Are you considering it?”

“Being friends with Arthur? We already are.”

“Since when?!” Arthur said.

“Since I decided 30 seconds ago,” Lance said. “Keep up.”

Merlin laughed, which was the only reason Arthur didn’t huck something at Lance. That, and Morgana would never forgive him.

“I see I am in good company,” Merlin said.

“And I will never know peace again,” Arthur said.

“Shut up, you love it!”

Merlin turned his gaze towards Arthur, and Arthur’s retort died on his tongue. A few seconds later, Merlin looked away to finish Lance’s drink. He put the lid on the cup and passed it across the counter to Lance.

Lance picked it up, and then Arthur shooed her out the door.

“Thanks, Merlin,” Arthur said. “But we’d really better head back she thinks it’s the most amazing drink definitely add write down the recipe and I will text you if she has anymore notes BYE!”

Arthur shut the door and leaned against it so Lance couldn’t walk back inside. Lance stood on the street, staring at Arthur, and took a long sip of her drink.

“So you’re in love with – ” Lance said.

“I’m in love with Merlin,” Arthur said.

Lance nodded and took another drink.

“You should really —“ she started.

“— I should really tell him, yes, I know,” Arthur said.

Lance nodded again.

“How’s the — ?” Arthur asked.

“Best goddamn drink I’ve ever had,” Lance replied.

Arthur nodded.

Then they both turned and headed back towards the museum. Lance sipped on her drink as they walked. Arthur spent the time mentally kicking himself for being such an idiot in front of Merlin, and wondering how in the hell he’d ever be able to tell Merlin about his feelings if Arthur himself couldn’t even admit to it without a 5.10, mean spaniard bullying it out of him.

“Hey,” Lance said, in a tone so genuine it shocked Arthur out of his thoughts. “You’ll be okay. I promise.”

Arthur stopped walking. Lance did too, and faced him on the sidewalk.

“I know I was being pushy before,” she said. “And I apologize if that…scared you. This is hard. And big. You should do it on your own time, when you’re ready, and only when you’re comfortable. I just know, from my own experience, that it won’t ever be the same between the two of you again. So waiting because you’re trying to save something, it…it never works. There’s nothing to save. Your feelings change the relationship. And if he doesn’t feel the same then he doesn’t feel the same, but it’s already different. Pretending like it’s not only ruins what could be and what is.”

Arthur sighed.

“You are a lot less bitchy when you’re caffeinated,” he said.

Lance laughed.

“I told you!” she said.

Arthur kept walking, and Lance followed after him.

“Thanks,” Arthur said. “I…appreciate your perspective.”

“Happy to give it,” Lance asked. “And if you don’t want to be friends, I will fully understand.”

“No, you know too much, we’re friends now."

Notes:

My brothers (gn) in fandom...besties...look. Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii've gotta be honest with you. I hated show Lancelot.
Okay, hated is maybe a bit too strong. But they tried too hard with him. They tried too hard! And it always felt forced, and the entire cast had more chemistry with everyone else than with him, and I was way more in love with Gwaine (shocker! I know!)(it's really not; it's the most predictable thing on the planet) soooooooooooo I'm just gonna pull more from the "idea" of Lancelot than the actual character from the show. I will be using her as a foil to my Arthur because I think that's where she fits the best narratively. She is going to challenge him in a lot of interesting ways that none of the other cast currently can. Because of that, I almost tagged her as an OC, but ended up not because she is the Lancelot of this story and I wanted y'all to be able to track the knight additions.
I hope you like her! I like her a lot! She's got some growing to do, but so does everyone else, and I think the group could do with someone who is more unapologetically willing to speak her mind.
Sorry that was a lot! Thank you all so much for engaging with this fic. Your comments bring me so much joy! Kay love you byyyyyye

Chapter 23: Don't Lead with Shagging!

Notes:

Nothing screams of an update on Valentines quite like a round of gay panic for everyone!

Merlin moved behind Gwen as they worked on orders for the morning rush.

“Gwaine actually said that?” she said.

“Yes! Completely serious too! And then went on typing like he hadn’t just upended my entire life,” Merlin said. “Can you grab me a pair of danishes for this order, please?”

“Heard.”

Gwen snagged the pastries out of the case and put them in a bag. She pulled a trio of muffins a different order, bagged those, and then shut the case. Merlin put lids on all the finished drinks.

“So what’re you doing?” Gwen asked.

“Freaking out! I’m freaking out, Gwen!” Merlin said.

He called out the order names and grouped the items together for the waiting customers. Then he and Gwen started back in on the remaining few orders.

“I had a whole existential crisis about it already,” Merlin said. “And I – I don’t know how to bloody talk to the man anymore! Which is ridiculous! Because talking to Arthur is basically the easiest thing in the world and I want to do it all the time and he’s so pretty and I just –”

He cut himself off when Gwen called out the orders they’d just filled. She started cleaning the espresso machine and Merlin leaned against the back counter.

“Not to be that person,” Gwen said. “But I am that person so, um, Merlin, I’ve known since the beginning something was going on between you and Arthur.”

“It wasn’t though!” Merlin said. “It’s a new thing, I swear, or I would’ve told you.”

Gwen shot him a look over her shoulder.

“He walks you to and from work every single fucking day, Merlin,” Gwen said.

“Because he’s nice!” Merlin said.

“NO!” Gwen said. “IT’S BECAUSE HE’S BLOODY IN LOVE WITH YOU!”

“THANKS, NOW THE WHOLE CAFE KNOWS!”

“THEY ALREADY DID!”

Merlin put his head in his hands and groaned.

“What am I even supposed to say, Gwen?!” he said. “‘Hey, mate! I know we’ve been hanging out super casually for a while now, but turns out I’m madly in love with you, wanna shag? And consider your answer carefully because oh! by the way, I USED TO BE A WOMAN!’”

Gwen tossed the rag she was using over her shoulder and spun around to face Merlin.

“Don’t LEAD with shagging!” she said.

Merlin threw up his hands in frustration. Gwen turned back around and finished cleaning the espresso maker.

“You may want to workshop a little faster though,” Gwen said. “He’s coming.”

Merlin looked out over the cafe and saw Arthur come into view in the big bay window. Lance was with him, and the pair stood arguing in the street.

“Who’s that with him?” Gwen said, panic seeping into her voice.

“Oh, that’s Lance,” Merlin said. “I think they’re coworkers? I don’t really know, he brought her in the other night, and they left fairly quickly.”

Merlin glanced down at Gwen who was craning her neck to get a better look at Lance.

“Don’t you have a girlfriend?” Merlin asked.

“What? No,” Gwen said. “We broke up last week.”

“Wait, really? What happened?”

“She was sleeping with her ex.”

“Oh noooooo,” Merlin said.

“Yeah,” Gwen said. “It wasn’t super serious or anything. I was planning to end it anyways and then I found out. I thought I told you.”

Merlin shook his head.

“Damn, we really need to hang out more,” Gwen said.

“We really do,” he said.

“Next day off?”

“I had plans w –”

“– Arthur? If you’re not going to tell him, you should cancel and have a slumber party with me instead.”

“Your place? And I pick the movie?”

“Done.”

“Done.”

“Fantastic, now I’m going to go make an entrance for the gorgeous woman, I’ll be back!”

Gwen ducked into the back kitchen as Lance opened the front door. Arthur stepped in after her, and the pair moved towards the counter as they continued arguing.

“All I’m saying,” Arthur said. “Is that there are DOZENS of sapphic period films. There are loads! And I know this because Morgana forced me to watch them so she could critique the costuming…among other things. But where is that for blokes?! Where is the story of the torrid affair between the perpetual bachelors? Or the king falling in love with his servant? Huh?! It doesn’t exist!”

“Cálmate, Arthur, it has to exist somewhere!” Lance said.

“I’ve checked!”

“I will find it for you. Some artistic twink has definitely done something, I just have to find it. And lucky for you, I have no plans for the next few days.”

“Good luck,” Arthur said. “I got so sick of trying to find something I had to content myself with a Pride & Prejudice fanfiction where Darcy is secretly harboring feelings for his best friend Bingely.”

“But was it good, at least?” Lance asked.

Arthur sighed.

“It was…” he started and then trailed off.

Lance raised an eyebrow at him.

“Sort of,” Arthur said. “It was well written and I liked their dynamic and what the author did with the story, but it was so out of character from those two men to have happened. Their friendship is so platonic and straight.”

“Ah, vale,” Lance said.

Merlin put a lid on the drink he’d been working on. He passed it across the counter to Lance, who took it without even looking. She started drinking, and then stopped to turn her attention to Merlin.

“Oh! Hola, Merlin,” she said. “Sorry! We were in the middle of a…”

“Don’t even worry about it,” Merlin said. “I’m assuming you wanted the same thing as last time?”

She nodded her head. Merlin turned his attention to Arthur.

“Did you want anything this morning, Arthur?” Merlin asked.

The pair stared at each other. God, Arthur’s eyes were so pretty! Merlin wanted to stare into them forever.

“Oh dios mio…” Lance mumbled into her coffee cup.

Arthur shook his head.

“I’m good,” he said.

“Okay,” Merlin said.

The pair continued to stare at each other. Arthur’s eyes were definitely bluer in the morning light. And his hair was more golden. It had to be.

“Is your shift over?” Arthur asked.

“Yeah, I think so. If you’re ready to go?”

“If you want to…”

“Let me just get Gwen.”

Lance perked up.

“Gwen?” she said. “¿Quién es Gwen?”

“GWEN!” Merlin yelled.

Guinevere stepped out from the kitchen. Merlin broke eye contact to glance at her because Lance gasped. Gwen was not wearing the same clothes that she had started her shift with. She was wearing skinny jeans, and a white corset top cinched around her boobs underneath a cropped, pale pink cardigan. She’d changed out her earrings into gold hoops, redone her eyeliner so it could cut glass, and somehow done her hair so that it was down, not frizzy, and with curls that any sane human being would say were way too tight.

Merlin sighed.

Lance, after getting an eye full of Gwen, grabbed Arthur by the arm and spun him around. Merlin heard the entirety of their whispered council.

“Arthur,” Lance said. “Why the FUCK did you not tell me I would be meeting a beautiful woman today?!”

“I need you to remember who you are speaking to and rephrase that question,” Arthur said.

“I can’t meet her looking like this !”

“You can and you will because the longer you stand here talking to me, the more she’ll assume you’re not interested.”

“... Shit .”

Lance undid her braids, letting her dark, wavy hair fall around her face. Merlin clocked out and undid his apron as Lance stepped up to the counter space closest to where Gwen stood. Lance smiled at Gwen.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you here before,” Gwen said.

“Likewise,” Lance said. “I would’ve remembered.”

Lance held out her hand.

“I’m Lance,” she said.

Gwen placed her hand in Lance’s. “Guinevere. Though my friends call me Gwen.”

“¿Y tus amantes?” Lance said. “What if I don’t want to be friends? What do I call you then, Guinevere?”

Lance brought the back of Gwen’s hand up to her lips and pressed a soft kiss into her skin. Gwen blushed.

“Uh…” she said, smiling. “Well…I suppose…you could call my cell? Or skip that entirely and take me out tonight?”

“¿Por que no los dos?” Lance said, and pulled out her phone.

As the girls exchanged cell numbers, Merlin stepped out from behind the counter and walked over to Arthur. Arthur turned his attention towards him the second they were close.

“You know Gwen works the morning shift,” Merlin said.

“Do I?” Arthur said.

“You didn’t tell Lance on purpose.”

“You can’t prove that.”

Arthur smirked. Merlin’s heart fluttered.

Oh god… he wanted to wipe that smirk off of Arthur’s face so bad!

“If that were the case,” Arthur continued. “The 30 seconds of pure panic on Lance’s face would’ve been entirely worth it. Plus, I think they could actually be very sweet together.”

Merlin glanced over his shoulder at Gwen. She and Lance were leaning over the counter shamelessly flirting. He turned back to Arthur.

“But I admit nothing!” Arthur said. “Shall we?”

Arthur turned on his heel and exited Magical Brews. Merlin followed.

Notes:

Everyone is a chaotic mess and I love them all so much and I sincerely hope you all have had as much fun reading this chapter as I have had writing it

Also, just, Arthur being a little SHIT and Merlin having a PROBLEM with it is just...it's just....UGH I LOVE THEM, YOUR HONOR

Chapter 24: Be Brave

Notes:

I wrote this instead of cleaning my apartment
…
Totally worth it

Arthur put the phone up to his ear. The call rang once before Morgana picked up.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

She used her big sister voice. Arthur folded like a road map.

“I’m scared,” he said. “I’m in love with Merlin and I really want to tell him but I’m so scared that I’ll mess it up and lose him.”

“Oh…”

“I really don’t want to lose him, Morgana.”

“Okay,” she said. “Okay… take a deep breath.”

Arthur obeyed his big sister.

“Why do you think you’ll lose him?” Morgana asked.

“I don’t know how to love someone! I’ve dreamt about it, for basically my whole life, but I…I never thought I would meet someone like Merlin. And it’s not like I had any examples for what this would be like growing up! I don’t know what I’m doing!”

“Arthur, none of us do.”

“You do!”

“No, honey, no I don’t. I really don’t.”

There was a brief pause as both siblings lapsed into silence.

“I can still hear Uther’s voice in my thoughts,” Arthur said. “He’s been on a fucking loop in my head and I can’t seem to shut him up and I… What if he’s right, Morgana?”

“He’s not,” Morgana said. “I’m not certain of many things in this life, but I am certain of that.”

She paused.

“I believe in you,” Morgana said. “I believe you can do this, and that you’ll be better for having tried. You are who you choose to be, Arthur, not what he destined for you. And you promised me that you would be brave.”

“...I did promise that.”

“Everyone’s fucked up. You’re never going to be perfect. You’re never going to be fully ready for anything. Loving someone isn’t about any of that bullshit. It’s showing up. It’s trying. It’s choosing to do better for the people in your life. I know my brother, and he does all of those things. There is nobody in the world who preserves quite like you do, Arthur.”

Arthur considered his sister’s words for a moment.

“Thanks, Morgana,” he said. “I —“

His phone beeped; another call coming in. He glanced at his screen. It was Merlin.

“One sec, Morgana,” Arthur said. “Merlin’s calling. Do you mind if I?”

“Call me back if you need to,” she said. “I love you.”

“Love you too.”

“Be brave, Arthur.”

Morgana hung up. Arthur took a deep breath. Be brave. He could be brave. He answered the phone.

“Hey,” Merlin said. “Gwen cancelled on me. You busy?”

“Not particularly,” Arthur said.

“I left my cardigan at work yesterday. Would you maybe want to come get it with me and then grab dinner or something?”

“Can’t live without a cardigan for two days?”

“It’s my favorite!”

“You really are an old man… I’ll be over shortly.”

“See you soon.”

Arthur put his phone away and headed over to Merlin’s flat. He knocked on the door. Merlin answered, and the pair headed to Magical Brews.

Arthur spent the entire commute trying not to be too awkward. There were a couple of instances where his hand brushed against Merlin’s as they were walking so Arthur spent the last part of the trip with his hands in his jacket pockets.

“Sorry, I’m rambling,” Merlin said. “How’ve you been?”

“Tired, mostly,” Arthur said with a shrug. “I feel like I’ve done nothing but work and train and I am exhausted.”

Arthur glanced aside at Merlin. His soft, amber eyes studied Arthur with care. Arthur blushed and looked away.

“You have work tonight, right?” Merlin asked. “Do you want me to make you something? Since we’re here anyways.”

Arthur and Merlin both stopped walking as they were now outside Magical Brews. Merlin fished his keys out of his pocket.

“No, it’s alright,” Arthur said. “I can manage.”

“Damn, Arthur Pendragon turning down my coffee,” Merlin said. “Never thought I’d see the day.”

“Ha ha very funny.”

“No, I’m serious. Are you well?”

“I’m quite well, thank you very much.”

“I dunno. You look pale.”

“I do not!”

Merlin put the back of his hand to Arthur’s forehead, and gasped in mock horror.

“And a fever too!?” Merlin said. “This is so much more serious than I thought.”

Merlin was smirking and Arthur couldn’t help but laugh.

“I think…goodness, I think we may have to skip dinner altogether,” Merlin said. “Go straight into quarantine for you.”

“Quarantine?!?”

“Need to start a drip coffee stat,” Merlin said. “And and 200 milligrams of espresso.”

“That would KILL me, Merlin!”

“Eh, maybe, but then you wouldn’t be sick anymore.”

“I was never sick to begin with, you git.”

“Okay, fine, then you wouldn’t be tired .”

“You do realize how ridiculous you sound, Merlin?”

“No, actually, I don't and frankly I’m insulted you would ask me that.”

The pair stared at each other for a moment, and then Merlin broke down laughing. Arthur shook his head.

“God, I love you,” he said.

Merlin froze. Arthur froze too.

Shit. Fuck. Shit. Fuck. Shit. That…that was supposed to be an inside thought! Did he really just say that outloud?!? Oh god oh no fuck —

“Love you too,” Merlin said.

Arthur blinked and looked up at Merlin. His dark hair was all ruffled and hung down in a mess of curls across his forehead. His amber eyes were fixed on Arthur, and his lips were curved into a wry smirk.

Be brave, Arthur .

“No,” Arthur said. “Merlin, I’m… I’m in love with you.”

Merlin smiled, soft, gentle, perfect. He reached across and took Arthur’s hand in his.

“I’m in love with you too,” Merlin said.

Arthur blinked back tears.

“You are?” he said.

Merlin nodded.

“But I’m a prat!”

Merlin laughed. “Yes. But I like that. I like you — I love you, Arthur.”

Merlin reached up and brushed Arthur’s stray tears away. Arthur pressed the side of his cheek into Merlin’s palm. Merlin bent forward and rested his forehead against Arthur’s forehead. Arthur looks up at Merlin through half lidded eyes. His heart pounded in his chest.

“Can I kiss you?” Merlin whispered.

Arthur nodded.

Merlin leaned in. Arthur closed his eyes as their lips connected. His hands pinched Merlin’s hips.

It was the best kiss of Arthur’s life.

And it was Merlin.

Merlin was kissing him.

They both grinned like idiots when Merlin pulled away.

“So that was…um…” Merlin said.

“The most amazing thing ever,” Arthur said.

“Yeah… Yeah… ”

Merlin kissed him again. Harder this time. He pressed Arthur up against the side of the building. Arthur gasped as Merlin ran his fingers through Arthur’s hair.

“Can we be boyfriends?” Merlin asked when they stopped kissing.

“Buy me dinner first, Merlin,” Arthur said.

Merlin huffed. Arthur kissed him.

“Okay,” Merlin conceded. “Dinner first. But then boyfriends?”

Arthur laughed.

“Yes,” he said.

Merlin smiled and kissed Arthur again.

“This dinner we’re about to go on, right?” Merlin asked.

“Yes, I’m not fucking waiting any longer!” Arthur said.

“Okay good.”

Arthur kissed Merlin again. Merlin kissed him back.

“I should um….I should go get my cardigan,” Merlin said. “So we can um…”

“Right right,” Arthur said.

He let go of Merlin. Merlin took a step away, and then stepped right back. He kissed Arthur, hard.

“Don’t move,” he said.

Then Merlin scooped up his discarded keys from the sidewalk and ducked into the cafe.

Arthur took a second, a huge smile already forming on his face. He pumped his fist in celebration. Then Arthur got out his phone and texted Morgana.

Arthur: I was brave

Morgana: And?

Arthur: …I have a boyfriend

Chapter 25: Take You Apart

Notes:

Did ya miss me?

Merlin couldn’t stop smiling. Arthur was his boyfriend! Arthur was his boyfriend. He still couldn’t believe it.

Arthur kissed him when he showed up to walk Merlin to work. They held hands the whole way. They bickered about their plans for the week. Merlin couldn’t stop smiling.

Arthur held the door open for him when they got to Magical Brews. Merlin pulled Arthur in after himself, and the pair half-fell, half-stumbled into each other’s arms.

“God, I didn’t realize you were such a clutz, Arthur,” Merlin said.

“I am not!” Arthur said. “You’re the clutz!”

“Take that back!”

“Absolutely not. You’re the one with scrawny limbs.”

Merlin made an indignant face.

“You didn’t seem to have a problem when my scrawny limbs were holding you yesterday!” Merlin said.

“I don’t have a problem with them! I’m just saying, if one of us were to be the clutz…”

Merlin pried himself away from Arthur in an undignified manner and took up a fighting stance. Arthur looked over at his boyfriend with equal parts confusion and amusement.

“What is this?” Arthur said.

“We’re fighting,” Merlin said. “You’ve offended me.”

“You started it!”

“And now I will end it. Square up. Come on!”

Arthur gave his boyfriend a flat look.

“I’m not doing that,” he said.

“Why not? Scared to lose, prat?” Merlin taunted.

Arthur set his jaw and Merlin watched him take a deep breath in. However, the next second, Merlin lost his composure because Arthur grabbed both of his arms and pinned them behind his back. Arthur held Merlin against his chest, looking down the bridge of his nose at the scrawny man. Merlin wriggled, but Arthur tightened the hold. He was stuck.

Arthur bent his head down and placed his mouth in the shell of Merlin’s ear.

“I could take you apart with one blow,” he said.

Arthur picked his head back up and fixed his gaze down on Merlin again. His lips quirked into a self-satisfied smile, but his eyes dared Merlin to challenge him.

Merlin smirked.

“I could take you apart with less than that,” Merlin said.

Arthur’s eyes went wide. Merlin stood on his tippy-toes and kissed Arthur. Merlin felt his boyfriend fold beneath his lips.

Arthur’s hold fell apart as he moved his hands to pinch Merlin’s hips and surrendered himself to Merlin’s kiss.

When Merlin broke off the kiss, he heard Arthur sigh. Merlin chuckled to himself, patted Arthur on the cheek, and walked away.

Arthur needed a few seconds to compose himself before turning around to face Merlin again. By that time, Merlin was behind the counter, clocking in, and tying on his apron.

“That’s so unfair,” Arthur said.

Merlin laughed.

“Eh, maybe,” he said. “But what else is a scrawny guy to do?”

Arthur grumbled.

“I wouldn’t glower too loudly,” Merlin said. “Afterall, you liked it.”

Arthur glared at him.

“That’s not the point!” Arthur said.

“Speak for yourself!” Merlin said. “It’s the point I care about.”

Before Arthur could respond, Gaius’s voice cut in from the kitchen.

“Merlin?!” he said. “Arthur?! Is that you boys?! Would one of you come help me?”

“Coming, uncle!” Merlin said.

Merlin dashed back into the kitchen. He found Gaius balancing one too many muffin trays while also taking more out of the open oven.

“Uncle Gaius, what’re you doing?!” Merlin said.

“I thought I could get everything arranged before the new batch was done,” Gaius said, as if that explained everything. “The oven mits are over there. Would you be able to take these pans out?”

Merlin grabbed the gloves, shoved them on, and went to the open oven to retrieve the baked goods. Gaius headed up to the front with his somewhat balanced trays. After pulling the trays out of the oven, Merlin set them aside to cool. Then he closed and turned off the oven, and went back to the front of the shop.

Arthur was eating an apple crumb muffin that Gaius had given him as Gaius put the rest of the muffins in the display case.

“Ah, Merlin,” Gaius said when he saw his nephew again. “Did anything burn?”

“No, Uncle Gaius,” Merlin said. “I was able to save everything.”

“Good. Good. Excellent.”

Merlin went to one of the espresso machines, and made his boyfriend a drink to go with his muffin. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a caramel cinnamon latte. He passed it over the counter to Arthur when it was finished, and kissed him on the cheek when Arthur leaned over to grab it. Arthur blushed. Gaius smiled to himself as he watched their interactions.

Merlin went back over to the espresso maker and began crafting himself a drink.

“Sooooooo,” Arthur said to Merlin. “Morgana wants to have dinner with us.”

“What? Why? What did I do?” Merlin said.

Arthur laughed.

“Relax,” he said. “I think it’s because you asked me to be your boyfriend. And she’s my sister. So she’d like to have a relationship with you.”

“Oh okay. Is that normal? I don’t have any siblings. That’s normal, right?”

Arthur shrugged.

“Don’t ask me,” he said. “My life has never been normal.”

“Fair point.”

“We don’t have to set anything up right away. I just wanted to make you aware of it because there is only so much I can do to try to dissuade Morgana.”

Merlin finished the last few touches of his drink and took a sip. His brow furrowed. It’s not like he was afraid of Morgana. She was severe looking, but she was kind. Merlin knew that much from the little they’d interacted. But she was incredibly important to Arthur. What if he screwed up?

Merlin felt a hand on his shoulder and glanced up to find his uncle next to him.

“You should do it,” Gaius said. “I think it’ll turn out better than you could imagine. And it would be good for both of you.”

Merlin sighed. His uncle’s expression was gentle and kind. Merlin glanced over the counter at his boyfriend.

“We’re not changing this week’s off-day plans again,” Merlin said.

“Oh god no!” Arthur said. “I was thinking we could do end of the month or even next month. Morgana and I usually try to have a sibling, catch-up thing. I was going to suggest you just tag along for that.”

“That works,” Merlin said.

Arthur beamed. God, Merlin loved it when he smiled like that. The genuine one. The happy one.

Merlin glanced over at his uncle, and gave him silent thanks for the encouragement. Gaius didn’t say anything more. He just turned and gathered up his things for the day.

Merlin sipped on his drink and watched Arthur as he texted Morgana.

“Thank you,” Arthur said, glancing up at him. “I know she’s intense, but I’ll make sure she’s on her best behavior.”

“We’ll manage regardless,” Merlin said.

Arthur paused what he was doing to glance at Merlin.

“Promise?” Arthur said.

“Promise,” Merlin said.

Arthur smiled again, and went back to texting. Merlin got a few more sips of his drink before some customers walked through the door. He greeted them, then took and filled their orders. By the time he was finished up with all of those, Arthur was ready to head to his work. Merlin made Lance’s drink and passed it across the counter to Arthur.

“For Lance,” Merlin said. “You can tell her it was in case you ran late again.”

Arthur rolled his eyes.

“Thanks,” he said.

They both leaned over the counter to kiss goodbye.

“I’ll see you after work,” Arthur said.

“I’ll be here,” Merlin said.

Notes:

I can’t be the only one that desperately wanted them to just smooch after that whole little “I could take you apart” exchange so GUESS WHAT?! I MADE THEM SMOOCH

Sorry this update has taken a little longer. I was blocked and then dealing with life stuff and then blocked again. Hope you like it!!

Also also also yes, Gaius was being good uncle and comforting his nephew buuuuuuuuuuuuut his advice comes from some v specific lore stuff that I can’t wait to sharrrrrrrrre

Chapter 26: This Whole Time?!

Notes:

Someone attempted to jack my car (this is the 3rd time that has happened) and I wrote this to cope and not think about all the money Imma have to spend to get it drivable again

Arthur tossed Gwaine over his hip, followed him down to the mat, and pinned him. Gwaine struggled for a solid five count, doing his best to try to break Arthur’s grapple. Whenever it seemed like he might have gained leverage, Arthur just shifted his weight and that was enough to keep Gwaine pinned.

“ Bloody hell, ” Gwaine said.

He tapped out on the mat. Arthur chuckled and released him from the hold. They both sat back for a moment, catching their breath.

“When did you get so good, Pendragon?” Gwaine said.

“I’ve always been good,” Arthur said. “Maybe you’ve gotten worse, Knight .”

Gwaine took a deep breath, and looked up, searching the ceiling for a moment. Then he undid the straps on his gloves.

“Nah, that can’t be it,” he said.

Arthur laughed. He shoved Gwaine as he got up. Gwaine shoved him back. They both exited the ring, and went over to their gear. Arthur plucked off his gloves, and started to undo his hand wrappings. His phone went off. Arthur stopped what he was doing to glance at the notification. It was a text from Merlin. Arthur smiled to himself as he typed out a reply.

“And how is Merlin this afternoon?” Gwaine asked.

Arthur looked up from his phone at his friend.

“How’d you know it was Merlin?” Arthur asked.

Gwaine laughed, thinking the question rhetorical, and finished undoing his hand wraps. Arthur finished his response to Merlin, and sent the text. Arthur undid his hand wraps and put those, and his gloves, away in his gym bag. He grabbed his water bottle and took a few swigs before speaking again.

“Merlin and I…” Arthur said. “We, um… We kissed.”

Gwaine shot Arthur a puzzled glance.

“...Okay…?” Gwaine said.

“We’re boyfriends now,” Arthur said.

Gwaine stopped packing up his bag and turned to look at his friend.

“Sorry, now?” Gwaine asked. “You’re boyfriends now ?!”

“As of last week,” Arthur said.

“Last week?!”

“Yeah! We kissed, and now we’re boyfriends.”

“You haven’t been dating this whole time?!” Gwaine shouted.

“What?! No!”

“YOU HAVEN’T?!”

“NO!”

“THEN WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU DOING?!” Gwaine said.

Arthur’s confusion over his friend’s outburst morphed into indignation at his tone.

“The fuck do you mean what the fuck was I doing?!” Arthur said.

“I was under the impression that Merlin’s been your boyfriend this WHOLE TIME!” Gwaine said.

“What?!” Arthur said. “NO! What on earth gave you that notion?!”

“Oh! I don’t know! Maybe the way you two were bloody staring into each other's eyes and flirting right in front of me the day I MET Merlin. Or the fact that you were always smiling whenever you talked about him. SPEAKING OF TALKING, we went out once, ONCE, and though I don’t remember most of the night, I remember you COULDN’T FUCKING SHUT UP ABOUT HIM. OH! And then we fucking crashed at his flat while drunk. That couch wasn’t big enough for two people. You shared a bed with him. AND I WALKED IN ON A PILLOW FIGHT. THE FUCK ELSE WAS I SUPPOSED TO THINK, PENDRAGON?!?!”

“WELL WHEN YOU PUT IT LIKE THAT, IT SOUNDS A LITTLE SILLY!”

“IT’S A LOT SILLY!”

“WHY ARE YOU YELLING AT ME?”

“CAUSE I’M BLOODY UPSET!”

Gwaine paced in a small line in front of their bags. Arthur stood to the side and watched him.

“Here I was,” Gwaine said. “Thinking that my mate has found a great guy who he obviously loves and who loves him back and being absolutely thrilled about it, and it turns out that you weren’t even together! I gave you both advice! It was shit thinking back on it cause I thought you were both together! Had I known, I would’ve fucking yelled at you both to get your heads out of your bloody arses and shag!”

“Wait, Gwaine,” Arthur said. “Wh… That first bit? You were…?”

Gwaine sighed. He stopped pacing to face Arthur.

“Look, I know it’s sappy,” Gwaine said. “But I think you deserve all the good things in the world, Arthur. After everything you’ve been through, I… I’m so relieved that you’re happy. I know it’s not easy. I know it was hard fought. And when we met up that day in Magical Brews, I saw you smile at him, and I thought you’d finally found it. I knew you would be okay.”

“Gwaine…”

Arthur pulled his friend into a hug. They embraced. Gwaine slapped Arthur on the back a few times before they pulled away.

“Thanks, mate,” Arthur said.

“Course,” Gwaine said. “But this is bloody ridiculous. You’re an idiot, Pendragon. A right, proper, fucking idiot.”

Arthur laughed, and smirked at Gwaine.

“Don’t I know it…” Arthur said.

“Now go run off to your boyfriend,” Gwaine said. “Before I decide I need to fight you again.”

“I’ll tell Merlin you say hello.”

“Fucking hell…”

Gwaine headed off to the showers as Arthur packed up the rest of his things and headed for Merlin’s flat.

Notes:

Your honor, I love Gwaine.

Chapter 27: Stay Here

Notes:

Sorry for the extended absence and this shorter update. Life has decided to bully me recently and I gotta say, I’m not a fucking fan.

Merlin ran his fingers through Arthur’s hair. They were sitting on the couch, Arthur curled into Merlin’s side. Arthur’s arms were wrapped around his waist, and his face was buried in Merlin’s shoulder. Merlin closed his eyes as he placed a kiss on the top of Arthur’s head.

“Do you have to go?” Arthur murmured.

“Yes,” Merlin said. “Generally, when one is employed, they have to show up for their scheduled shifts.”

Arthur harrumphed.

“Stupid,” he said.

Merlin chuckled.

“Yeah,” he said. “If it makes you feel any better, I’d much rather stay here with you.

“No, that doesn’t make me feel better!” Arthur said. “You’re still going to leave.”

“Don’t be such a prat. I’ll come back.”

“But I’m going to be so bored without yooooou,” Arthur whined.

Merlin rolled his eyes.

“Don’t be such a baby,” he said.

“If I stop, will you stay?” Arthur asked, perking his head up to look at his boyfriend with pleading eyes.

“No,” Merlin said.

“Then I shall proceed to act how I see fit.”

Arthur laid his head back down on Merlin’s shoulder, tightened his grip on Merlin’s waist, and (for good measure) threw a leg over Merlin’s knee.

“You’re ridiculous,” Merlin said. “You could just enjoy your day off.”

This elicited a groan from Arthur.

“Don’t you have plans with Morgana?” Merlin said.

“So what if I do?” Arthur said.

“So shouldn’t you be looking forward to that?”

Arthur picked his head up again.

“Merlin,” he said. “While I appreciate the valiant effort you’re putting in right now, I feel I should inform you, it is a foolhardy quest because nothing is better in my eyes than time spent with you. You won’t be able to convince me otherwise, believe me.”

Arthur set his head back down. Merlin was glad he was looking away because Merlin’s face had turned red up to his ears. He kissed the top of Arthur’s head, and Arthur nuzzled against him.

“Oh!” Arthur said. “Speaking of people who see each other, is something wrong with Gwen & Lance?”

“Not that I’m aware of,” Merlin said. “Gwen hasn’t had any complaints.”

“Huh…”

“Why do you ask?”

“Lance was pretty upset the other day and kinda distracted and was glancing at her phone a bunch,” Arthur said. “I thought maybe they’d got in a fight or something.”

“I haven’t heard of anything like that,” Merlin said.

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Arthur said. “Never mind.”

Merlin could tell Arthur didn’t mean that though.

“If you’re worried about her, you can always just talk to Lance, Arthur,” Merlin said.

”Right, of course,” Arthur said. “That makes sense. You don’t think she’d think it’s weird, right?”

“Let me put it this way: if the roles were reversed, would Lance be hesitating the way you are?”

“Oh gods no!”

“Then no, I don’t think she’ll mind. Or if she does, call her a bloody hypocrite and move on.”

Arthur laughed.

“Okay,” he said. “Thanks.”

“Happy to help, my love,” Merlin said, and kissed the top of Arthur’s head.

The two cuddled for the rest of the afternoon, until Merlin left for work.

Chapter 28: You Cheeky ...

Notes:

So remember how Morgana has a new assistant??????

Arthur walked through the pub doors and surveyed his surroundings. There was a bit of an evening crowd, but not so many people that it felt oppressive. There was folk music playing from the speakers, and there was a fire burning in the hearth on the back wall. Arthur spied his sister, and made his way over to her table. They hugged and kissed each other on the cheek.

“Arthur,” Morgana said. “I’d like you to meet my assistant.”

Morgana motioned to the other man that was at the table. He was taller than Arthur by about a foot, with broad shoulders. His curly hair was cut short to frame his face, light brown, and unruly. He also had a respectable, trimmed beard. He wore a red, faded football t-shirt underneath a tan cardigan and dark jeans. A pair of bright, pale blue eyes looked out from behind dark rimmed glasses. 

Arthur smiled, and offered his hand. The man cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses, even though they were already perfect, before sharking Arthur’s hand.

“Nice to meet you…?” Arthur said.

“Leon,” the man said. “I’m Leon.”

“Then it’s nice to meet you, Leon.”

“You as well.”

A waiter stopped by their table, and the group ordered drinks.

“Leon is new to the city,” Morgana said.

“Oh really?” Arthur said. “Welcome. You’re gonna love it. Where are you staying?”

“My flat’s actually a few blocks from the Avalon,” Leon said. “Gardner Square, if you know where that is.”

“Yes! There’s a lovely corner shop, right? The one with the cat.”

“Frumpkin!” Leon said, smiling. “Sorry. Her name is Frumpkin.”

“That’s adorable. And Josie’s is over that way too, yeah?”

“Yeah, it is.”

“Great pub. Have you been?”

“Not yet, actually. I don’t get out much.”

“No worries no worries. Definitely recommend. My boyfriend and I actually went there on our first date.”

“Oh nice!” Leon said. “How long have you and your boyfriend been together?”

“We’re coming up on a month,” Arthur said, and couldn’t stop the smile that spread across his face. “But it feels like I’ve known him forever.”

“That’s sweet.”

“Yeah, he’s the best. He actually works at a coffee shop near the Avalon, that’s how we met, and you have to go there. Called Magical Brews.”

“I actually prefer tea,” Leon said.

“They have that too,” Arthur said. “I’m not as well versed with that selection though, so you’ll have to go in yourself to fully appraise their collection. It’s not too far out of the way of your commute, and if Morgana’s ever being particularly cranky, bringing her a London fog usually helps.”

Arthur smiled to himself at the good natured jab at his sister, and waited for her barbed comeback. However, when he was met with silence, Arthur glanced around and found his sister was no longer next to him. Arthur and Leon shared confused looks, but before they could become too alarmed, their waiter returned with their pints and handed Arthur a note.

“That’s from the lady who was with you,” the waiter said, and left the table.

Arthur unfolded the note:

Drinks are on me. Be nice! You both could use a new friend.

“That cheeky …” Arthur said, biting back further insult to his sister.

“Sorry?” Leon asked.

Arthur showed Leon the note.

“It appears we have been set up,” Arthur said.

“Oh,” Leon said. “Well…this is… Sorry, I’m not sure what to do in this situation. I agreed to come out because I respect Ms. Aislin and I know she was worried about me settling in and I don’t really like to do much else than work and study and now she abandoned me in a pub with a total stranger, no offense –”

“– none taken.”

“Iiiiiiiiiii…”

Leon took a deep breath. Arthur thought he looked like he might hurl. Arthur gave him a second to collect himself, and then clapped Leon on the shoulder.

“Mate,” he said. “As a long time survivor of Morgana’s bullshit, I promise you, we will get through this. First thing’s first, she’s buying. What’s your favorite liquor?”

Leon, who was now very confused, answered: “Uhhhhh, bourbon.”

“Good man. Excuse me, sir?” Arthur said. “What does your bourbon selection look like?”

Arthur then proceeded to order the highest price, top shelf bourbon the pub had on hand. Leon’s eyes bugged out of his head.

“Oh my god, I’m so fired,” Leon said.

“You are not!” Arthur said.

“She’s gonna fire me. She’s definitely going to fire me.”

Arthur put a hand on Leon’s shoulder again.

“Leon,” he said. “Leon! Look at me!”

Leon looked at Arthur, but his eyes were still huge.

“She’s not gonna fire you,” Arthur said. “I promise.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.”

“I think you scare me.”

“Oh yeah? Why’s that?”

“Because you’re not afraid of her.”

Arthur laughed.

“It’s hard to be afraid of someone when you know what they look like with buck teeth, braces, and bad acne,” Arthur said.

Leon laughed.

“I suppose that’s true,” he said.

“It’s alright, really,” Arthur said. “It’s just a little fun. We mess around with each other. Sibling stuff. It just means we care.”

“Most people have conversations.”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

The pair drank from their pints for a bit before the bottle of bourbon was brought to their table. When it arrived, Arthur poured them both a double, and passed one of the tumblers across to Leon.

“Shall we toast?” Arthur asked.

Leon thought for a moment, and then brought his glass up to click Arthur’s.

“To Morgana,” he said. “May she live to regret this.”

A wicked smile cut through Arthur’s features as they clinked glasses.

“Right, now,” Arthur said. “Next thing is to find something to do so we’re not just staring across at each other, and to cover the inevitable awkwardness I will exude at some point. I spy a billiards table over there. Fancy a game?”

“I’m shit at it.”

“Everyone is compared to me.”

Leon raised an eyebrow. Arthur stopped getting off his barstool to glance back at Leon.

“I sounded like a prick just now, didn’t I?” Arthur said.

Leon nodded. Arthur took a swig of his bourbon, grabbed the bottle, and walked off towards the billiards table. Leon followed.

Arthur racked up the balls, and Leon broke. They went a few turns in silence; Arthur trying very hard to not sweep the table in one go, Leon trying his best.

“So, Leon,” Arthur said. “Any family in the city?”

“No,” Leon said, concentrating on his shot. “Not that I know of anyways. They’re all in the country, where I grew up.”

“Ah. Boyfriend? Girlfriend? Partner?”

Leon shook his head. Arthur stepped around to attempt his shot. The cue ball went wide and hit the target ball from an offending angle so he missed the pocket.

“I’m single,” Leon said.

“Ah okay,” Arthur replied. “So what brought you to the city?”

“The Avalon. The collections are astounding. The history there, it’s incredible, really. It’s always been my dream to work there, and Ms. Aislin, she’s…well, for all her faults tonight, she’s a great mentor. I’ve learned so much from her already.”

Arthur smiled at Leon. He lined up his shot as Leon changed the conversation topic. The pair kept playing games and chatting until the bottle of bourbon was finished. At the end of the night, they exchanged numbers and Arthur threatened to drag Leon to a pub trivia night.

Notes:

I gave him glasses, a cardigan, and anxiety...as a treat.
Not, but seriously, I love Sir Leon & I hope you love this version of him too
In case anyone was wondering, Arthur does win all the billiards games they play. But Leon gives it good effort!

Chapter 29: Principled

Merlin leaned against Gwen’s kitchen counter and popped a few pieces of popcorn into his mouth as he watched his boyfriend pace in the vestibule. Gwen stood next to Merlin, also eating popcorn and watching Merlin’s boyfriend. Arthur paced back and forth, talking to his sister on the phone.

“So take it out of the therapy fund!” Arthur said. “...well, he’ll need it now!”

Merlin and Gwen glanced at each other, making a face. Just then, Lance walked through the door. She closed and locked the door behind her, shucking off her shoes, and took a second to look around. Then she crossed over into the kitchen to stand next to Gwen.

“Pérdon for the lateness,” Lance said, putting an arm around Gwen.

“No worries,” Merlin said.

Gwen kissed Lance and adjusted the popcorn bowl so Lance could reach. Lance, took a handful of popcorn, and then also turned to watch Arthur.

“Right,” Lance said. “¿qué estamos haciendo?”

“English, babe,” Gwen said.

“Oh fuck, what’re we doing?”

“We’re watching Arthur.”

“Claro que sí,” Lance said. “But why?”

Merlin ate some more popcorn.

“He’s fighting with his sister,” Merlin said.

“Arthur has a sister?” Lance said.

“Mhm,” Gwen said. “Morgana. She friend-trapped Arthur with her new assistant and in retaliation, he ordered a 10,000£ bottle of bourbon to Morgana’s card.”

“10,000?!”

“Kicker is, Leon, the assistant, is actually really sweet and he and Arthur are friends now, which is what Morgana wanted in the first place, but she’s still right pissed about it. Which I think is hilarious.”

Arthur’s voice cut through the conversation.

“You left us alone!” Arthur said. “AND SAID YOU WERE BUYING!”

“Oooh,” the eavesdropping trio said.

“HE HAS ANXIETY, MORGANA!” Arthur said.

“Poor Leon…” Gwen muttered.

“Look,” Arthur said. “This is all YOUR FAULT when you really think about it, so yes, I think it’s perfectly REASONABLE to pick up the tab THAT YOU ALREADY SAID YOU WERE GOING TO!”

Lance’s phone went off in their jacket pocket. She took it out to see what it was, sent the call to voicemail, and put the phone back in her pocket. Merlin noticed the tension in her expression, but didn’t say anything until the third time she declined a call. He turned away from his boyfriend to look at the two women.

“I have an idea,” Merlin said. “Why don’t we all shut our phones off for the movie? Keep Arthur from being pulled back into this mess, and it might be nice to be present with each other.”

“I’m game,” Gwen said. “That sounds nice.”

The besties looked at Lance. She fidgeted for a moment before answering.

“Can we set some sort of alarm so I’m not late for work?” Lance said.

“Course,” Gwen said.

“Then yeah. Let’s do it.”

Gwen had Merlin get a lidded container down from the top of the fridge. The trio all turned off their cell phones and put them in the Tupperware. Lance heaved a sigh of relief and Merlin noticed some of the tension ease on her face.

Arthur finished up his call and came into the kitchen. Gwen stuck out the phone container.

“Your cellular device, good sir,” Gwen said.

Arthur shot her a puzzled look.

“I beg your pardon?” he said.

Merlin snatched Arthur’s phone away.

“We’re turning off phones for the evening, prat,” Merlin said, powering down the device and throwing it in the container with everyone else’s. “You’ll get it back at the end of the night.”

Arthur seemed about to protest, but Merlin glanced at him and then shot a look over at Lance. Arthur didn’t know what connection his boyfriend had made, but decided not to question it. Gwen had Merlin put the phone container back on top of the fridge, and then she set a timer to go off when Lance needed to leave for work. After that, the four sat down in the living room and queued up the movie.

 

“I DON’T CARE IF HE REPENTED IN THE END!” Arthur said. “HE’S AN ASSHOLE!”

“HE WAS HEARTBROKEN!!!” Gwen shouted. “HE THOUGHT THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE CHEATED ON HIM!”

“SO HAVE A CONVERSATION! DON’T PUBLICLY HUMILIATE HER WHILE SHE’S DYING OF TUBERCULOSIS!”

Arthur and Gwen sat on opposite ends of the couch, shouting at each other. Merlin and Lance sat in the middle of the debate. They kept glancing at each other and smirking, every so often adding an unserious side comment to see how long they could keep their partners fighting. The credits finished rolling in the background and the TV cut back to the main menu.

“That would be as ludicrous as…” Arthur said. “As Merlin here, barging into my work and breaking display cases because he saw me hanging out with Gwaine.”

“¿Por qué?” Lance asked. “Who is this Gwaine and what would you be doing to make Merlin think you cheated?”

Merlin turned to Arthur and smirked at him.

“Yes, Arthur,” Merlin said. “What would you be doing?”

Arthur turned, looked at his boyfriend, and realized the shit he just stepped in.

“Uhhhhhhhhhh…” Arthur said. “Nothing. That woul – I mean, it was an example! It was an example!”

“All I’m saying,” Gwen said, taking the empty popcorn bowl and heading towards the kitchen. “Is that he’s upset, and that’s understandable –”

“ – Understandable?!” Arthur said. “How is that – She told him from the beginning she wasn’t going to fall in love!”

“And then proceeded to contradict that with every action she took!”

“I’d like to see how well you hold up if Ewan McGregor sang a love medley to your face!” Arthur shouted.

“I’D HOLD UP A LOT BETTER THAN YOU!” Gwen shot back.

Merlin and Lance stifled giggles on the couch.

“Ella tiene razón,” Lance said.

“Mhm,” Merlin agreed. “Sound logic.”

Arthur shot his boyfriend a look of betrayal.

“You don’t even speak Spanish!” Arthur said.

Merlin waved aside his qualm.

“Context clues,” Merlin said.

“And tone,” Lance added.

“Yes, yes,” Merlin agreed. “Tone is very important.”

Arthur sloughed back onto the couch.

“I hate you both,” he grumbled.

Merlin settled back into the couch next to his boyfriend, and put his arm around Arthur’s shoulder. Arthur thought about shirking out of his grip, but liked the cuddles too much to protest. Lance rolled her eyes. Gwen returned from the kitchen with the phone container right as the alarm they’d set for Lance went off. Arthur and Merlin grabbed their phones and decided to leave the girls to their goodbyes. A round of hugs were exchanged by all and Arthur and Merlin left Gwen’s flat.

Merlin grabbed Arthur’s hand as they walked towards Merlin’s flat. Arthur was still grouchy and grumbled to himself.

“Stupid movie,” he said. “The song’s weren’t even that good…”

“You don’t mean that,” Merlin said.

“No, I don’t! I didn’t actually know Ewan McGregor could sing like that and I’m a little upset about it, but come on! The guy was an asshole! She deserved so much better.”

“Not everyone is lucky enough to end up with someone like you, my love.”

Arthur paused.

“I can’t tell if that’s a compliment,” he said after a long moment. “Is it a compliment?”

“Yes,” Merlin answered.

Arthur looked confused, and Merlin smiled to himself as he watched Arthur puzzle it out in his brain. He couldn’t get ahead on his own apparently, because he just looked over at Merlin, blue eyes begging for an explanation.

“Not everyone in life is so principled as you, my love,” Merlin said. “Or as chivalrous. Or as good. Or as kind. A lot of things you do by default don’t even occur as a thought to most people. It’s one of the things that made me fall in love with you; watching your sincerity, and letting myself believe in it. Believe in you.”

Arthur dropped his eyes. They walked in silence for a few more paces before Merlin stopped. Arthur was still looking down. Merlin put a finger underneath his chin, and tilted Arthur’s face up towards his. Their eyes met, and Merlin saw the tears snaking down Arthur’s cheeks. Merlin stood there for a moment, looking on in silence. Letting his boyfriend know that he saw him.

“I –” Arthur said, his voice breaking. “I try… so hard …”

Merlin’s eyes softened, and he felt his own tears well up.

“I know, love,” he whispered. “I know…”

Merlin pulled Arthur into an embrace, and held him close. Until Arthur was ready to let go.

Notes:

They watched Moulin Rouge!, in case you wanted to know. I have a lot of opinions on that musical for no good reason cause I don't even like it that much.
Anyways, I love seeing all your comments, they give me life, and I hope you enjoyed the double date chaos :)

Chapter 30: Sorry About The Wait

Notes:

*takes a deep breath*
So after the ao3 curse tried to make me homeless (it didn’t succeed)(thanks to my bestie & my partner), I am back again! Hope you enjoy this chapter! As always, I love reading your comments

On his way out of work, Arthur stopped into his sister’s office. He said hello to Morgana and Leon, who were currently mid nerd rant about something Arthur couldn’t follow. They paused to catch a breath and say hello to him, but Arthur decided it was best not to linger. So he headed towards Magical Brews to collect his boyfriend.

His boyfriend. Merlin was his boyfriend.

That fact still made him smile.

When he arrived at the cafe, there was a line out the door. Puzzled, Arthur paused outside and craned his neck to see what all the commotion was for. He couldn’t make heads or tails of it. Everyone in line seemed in a jovial enough mood, circumstances notwithstanding, so Arthur figured it couldn’t be too serious. Still it was odd…

Arthur sidestepped the line and strode into the cafe. He tried to look like he belonged (and knew what he was doing). If anyone took issue with it, they kept it to themselves. Once inside, Arthur took stock of the situation. Merlin was behind the counter, darting back and forth between the espresso makers and the register. His expression was tense and frantic, and he looked a little bit like a chicken running around trying to find his head. Gwen was nowhere to be found. A majority of the patrons seemed to be waiting either for their drink to be made or their order to be taken. Arthur made his way towards the counter as Merlin sat down a finished order and called out a name.

It took Merlin a couple of seconds to register that his boyfriend was standing in front of him, but the moment that he did, a look of relief flashed in his amber eyes. He reached over and grabbed Arthur by the shirt collar.

“Wh oh okay, what in the blazes is going on?” Arthur asked.

“Gwen’s sick,” Merlin said. “ Help me !”

“Dearest, I would love to but you know what you do might as well be magic to me!”

“I just need you to work the register. Take orders. I swear the system is so easy even a prat can run it.”

Arthur was over the counter in the next second, tying on an apron, and posting up behind the register.

“Hi, welcome to Magical Brews,” Arthur said to the first set of customers. “Sorry about the wait. What fantastic concoction can we get started for you?”

Merlin took half a second to shoot his boyfriend a shocked look over how polished of a customer service voice Arthur just managed to pull out of his ass. Arthur looked back as equally shocked. The customers gave Arthur their orders and he punched them into the system without an issue. While they paid, Arthur bagged up their pastry, and set up the empty cups for their drinks at the back of the line Merlin was already working on. Then he greeted the next customer.

It didn’t take long for Merlin and Arthur to develop a rhythm, moving around each other like they’d been doing it their whole lives. Not that it should’ve surprised either of them. They were a team. In everything, it seemed. It would’ve been almost nice, if it hadn’t been so stressful.

Arthur spent most of his spare seconds marveling at his boyfriend. He had no idea how Merlin could work that fast and have each drink still come out perfect.

Most of the customers were understanding. A few regulars even recognized Arthur and congratulated him on joining the staff, to which Arthur didn’t have time to correct them before they moved off. The patrons that did gripe or try to raise a stink Arthur just refused to serve. He must have had a pretty menacing glare because they didn’t put up much of a fight when he put his foot down.

Gaius showed up a few hours later, and Arthur almost shouted with elation. The old man stepped behind the counter, shooed Merlin and Arthur out of the cafe, and took over any remaining work himself. The boyfriends made little argument, as they were both ready to drop over from exhaustion. They stumbled out of the cafe, onto the subway, and then into Arthur’s apartment (it was closer). Arthur stripped down to his boxers before falling into bed. By that time, Merlin was already snoring into his pillow. Arthur wrapped them both up in a blanket and then fell asleep.

He woke up several hours later to Merlin running his fingers through his hair as they cuddled. Arthur groaned into Merlin’s still t-shirted chest. Merlin chuckled, and kissed the crown of Arthur’s head.

“You must really love your job,” Arthur mumbled. “Because that was ludicrous.”

“Oh, did the prat have a hard time at his first food service post? Awwwww , poor baby,” Merlin said.

Arthur picked his head up.

“No need to be rude about it!” Arthur said. “I could’ve just left you there!”

“You wouldn’t.”

“No, I wouldn’t, but the mocking is making me wish I had!”

Merlin leaned forward and kissed Arthur.

“Thank you,” Merlin whispered into Arthur’s lips and kissed him again.

Arthur’s protestations died, and he snuggled back into Merlin. Merlin laughed to himself as he ran his fingers through Arthur’s hair.

“Prat…” Merlin muttered.

“Git,” Arthur murmured back.

Chapter 31: It’s Okay

Notes:

Happy Pride

The start of Merlin’s shift was uneventful. He had kissed his boyfriend goodbye, and settled in for a slow night. Arthur texted him periodically as they were finalizing plans to have dinner with Morgana. Well, more accurately, he was texting the group chat they had with the two of them and Morgana. That’s right, they had a group chat now.

Merlin had to admit the vampire sister seemed pretty welcoming, and it was amusing to see her banter with Arthur. Mostly because his boyfriend was so bad at it. Or maybe Morgana was just that good?

Arthur and Lance dropped in on their mid-shift break. Merlin knew something was off because they didn’t come in bickering. Merlin had his usual exchange with Arthur as he figured out what to make for his boyfriend. Lance waved hello to Merlin, but stayed quiet. When Merlin started making their drinks, Lance got a phone call. She excused herself over into a corner of the empty cafe to answer it.

Arthur and Merlin waited for a bit in silence out of respect. Lance was speaking entirely in Spanish so they couldn’t follow the conversation, and did their best to tune it out despite how loud she was getting.

Merlin leaned across the counter so he could whisper to Arthur.

“Is she okay?!” he asked.

“I don’t know!” Arthur said. “She says she’s fine, but she’s barely said three words to me all night. That’s weird. That’s weird!…right?”

“That’s really weird. Have you talked to her? Asked her what's been going on?”

“Not yet! I was kinda hoping she’d just spill her guts on the walk over, but I got nothing!”

“Okay, well, I’m worried now.”

“Me too!”

Lance’s sharp voice cut across the cafe as she yelled into the phone.

“— ¡Ay mamí! THIS ISN’T A PHASE IT’S MY LIFE!”

She hung up and jammed the phone back into her pocket. Merlin and Arthur both stared at her. She looked up and met their eyes.

Merlin knew the look in Lance’s eyes. Recognized the years of exhaustion and frustration and self-loathing that came from hiding yourself. Knew the terror and pain and joy from breaking your silence and choosing authenticity. Hell, Merlin knew that expression had stared back at him from the other side of the mirror so often he’d lost count.

The whole cafe was silent. Tears pooled in Lance’s eyes. The seconds felt like years.

Then Arthur spoke.

“Mom or dad?” he asked.

Lance sniffled. “My mother.”

Arthur nodded. A few more seconds of silence passed, and then he spoke again.

“It was my dad,” he said.

Lance looked shocked for a second as she stared at Arthur. And then Merlin saw her settle as she realized Arthur understood. Tears slipped down her cheeks.

“She’s never going to accept me…is she?” Lance asked.

“I don’t know,” Arthur said, his voice heavy. “But you’re not alone.”

Arthur walked over to Lance, and wrapped her up in a hug. Lance sobbed into his chest as he held her. Merlin set down the coffee he’d been making for Lance, and poured her a cup of tea instead.

The couple sat Lance down at a table, and then took up chairs on either side of her. Merlin gave her the tea. Arthur held one of her hands.

“I thought it would get better…” Lance said. “When I left. Pensé, pensé they would know I’m serious.”

“Let me guess,” Arthur said, with the tone of someone who already knew the answer. “They pushed harder?”

Lance nodded.

“Mamí’s been calling me non-stop,” she said. “I try to ignore it, but if I don’t pick up, she’ll just keep calling or leave these nasty voicemails and she sends me paragraphs on paragraphs of texts. I don’t know what to do anymore.”

Lance’s shoulders shook as she sobbed.

“I can’t change who I am,” she said. “I don’t want to change who I am. I love who I am. So why doesn’t she?! Pero ella es mí mamí… I’m her daughter . That shouldn’t change because I’m gay!”

Merlin felt a pang of grief listening to Lance. He understood what it was like to have people hate him for something so fundamentally out of his control. But he couldn’t imagine what it was like to have that person be his mom.

Merlin had lucked out in that regard. His mom had been his biggest supporter, even before he had come out to her properly. She’d been scared, sure, but so had Merlin. He was still afraid…

Merlin glanced over across the table at Arthur. He was talking to Lance in a hushed voice, hand clasped around hers.

“In case nobody’s told you this before,” Arthur said to Lance. “It’s okay. How you feel is okay. You’ll be okay. And you’re not alone. You’re not a freak or an abomination or whatever ludicrous bullocks your mother is saying. You’re perfect. I mean, you’re annoying as hell, but that goes without saying.”

Lance laughed through her tears at the dig. Merlin breathed a silent sigh of relief.

Arthur sat with Lance and shared his story with her. He talked about his dad. Some stuff Merlin knew. Some he didn’t. Every so often Arthur glanced across the table at Merlin, hesitation in his crystal blue eyes. Merlin would nod, and give him a reassuring smile, and Arthur would turn back to Lance.

Merlin’s heart rallied listening to Arthur. There was something so reassuring in the way he spoke. How he was so confident. How he was so safe. Merlin didn’t know how Arthur managed to pull it off, but he was proud of his boyfriend.

A pang of guilt shot through Merlin as he sat there watching them. Arthur was so patient and understanding and kind, despite Merlin knowing that he felt completely out of his depth in these moments. It made Merlin feel ashamed that he kept hiding himself from Arthur.

Why can’t I just tell him?

Merlin turned from his thoughts back to the conversation. Lance was calmer now, more relaxed. She sipped on the tea as Arthur made her laugh. The pair were back to their bickering ways, much to Merlin’s relief, and he could tell Arthur was grateful for that at least.

A short while later they decided they should head back to finish their shift. Arthur protested, but Lance insisted. She gave Merlin a hug before leaving, which he returned.

“Lance,” he said. “I’m glad you’re doing better, and I’m glad you were able to share. If you need anything, door’s always open.”

“Gracías, Merlin,” Lance said, with a grateful smile.

“Can I ask, though…have you told Gwen?”

Lance dropped her eyes. And shook her head.

“It’s your business, obviously,” Merlin said. “But…she…Gwen helps.”

Lance looked up and met Merlin’s eyes. He didn’t know how to tell her. How to explain the way Gwen’s fierce support of his transition had changed his life. Didn’t know how to explain the way his best friend had held his hand through it all, and never faltered once: on his pronouns, his name, his gender. Didn’t know how to say he knew she would fight anyone who hurt the people she’d chosen as her own.

“ Gwen helps ,” Merlin whispered, and dropped his eyes.

He didn’t see the way Lance’s expression softened. She hugged him again.

“Gracías, Merlin,” she whispered. “For everything.”

Merlin nodded and patted her on the back. He gave her another cup of tea, which she chuckled to herself about as she walked out the door.

Arthur followed after her.

Maybe it was the lack of espresso in Merlin’s system. Maybe it was the vulnerability that wrapped the cafe interior in its comforting cloak. Maybe he was just crazy because before Arthur was out the door, Merlin snatched his wrist and held on. Tight.

Arthur stopped in the open doorway, and glanced back at Merlin. Whatever thought or question or snarky comment at his delay died on Arthur’s lips when he saw the tears in Merlin’s eyes. He leaned around the corner and shouted down the street at Lance.

“Go on without me!” he said. “Merlin needs help with something!”

“I’m telling Jerry you stayed behind to makeout with your boyfriend!” Lance shouted back.

“Then I’ll tell him you’re the one that lost his favorite pen!”

The was a pause.

Then Lance’s voice echoed down the street: “Have fun being gay!”

Arthur turned, and stepped back inside the cafe. The door shut behind him. The bell twinkled and faded into silence. Merlin’s heart leapt into his throat.

Shit fuck shit this was a horrible id—

“I’m trans,” Merlin said.

Arthur blinked.

“I-I’m trans,” Merlin said, putting more confidence into the words. “I wasn’t born a man, but I am one.”

Merlin shut his eyes tight in fear. There were a few seconds of silence.

“Oh,” Arthur said. “Okay.”

Merlin opened one eye to look at Arthur. The blonde man was standing there, holding Merlin’s hand, and looking…confused?

“Was there something upsetting you?” Arthur asked. “You looked really scared.”

“Wh…”

Merlin blinked.

“I…I,” Merlin stammered. “I just told you I’m trans! You’re not upset?!”

“Why on earth would I be upset by that, Merlin?!” Arthur said.

“Because I lied to you!”

“When?!”

“I mean I didn’t….you didn’t…”

Arthur massaged his temples for a moment in frustration. Then he sighed and took Merlin’s face in both of his hands.

“Merlin, my love,” Arthur said. “I’m gay. I’m gay as the day is long. And I am so, completely, irrevocably in love with you. I know you’re a man, you git .”

Merlin considered this for a moment.

“That,” he said. “Fuck, I am a git.”

Arthur nodded. Merlin sighed.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

Arthur brought his face close to Merlin’s. They tested their foreheads against each other.

“Don’t apologize,” Arthur said. “And thank you for sharing that with me, but I promise, it changes absolutely nothing about how I feel. Granted, I will be doing some mental readjustments because in my head your cock was — never mind uninmportant I…”

Merlin laughed. Arthur kissed him.

“You never lied,” Arthur said. “You’re who you are. And who you are is wonderful. Being by your side makes me the luckiest bloke in the world, as far as I’m concerned.”

Arthur brushed the tears running down Merlin’s cheeks away.

“I feel the same way,” Merlin whispered.

Arthur kissed him again. It was so tender.

“Good,” he murmured into Merlin’s lips. “Now stop being such a git. I’ll always love you.”

Merlin smiled as he kissed his boyfriend. His arms snaked around Arthur’s waist and pull him in closer. Arthur fell into the embrace with the easy surrender of someone coming home.

Relief flooded Merlin’s system, and made his heart sing.

Arthur knew.

Arthur knew, and still loved him.

Notes:

This chapter is really special to me, and I hope it means something to y’all too. Don’t forget to be kind and love each other.

Next Chapter question: would y’all like to see a flashback of Arthur & Gwaine at college??? OR would you like Arthur & Merlin to have more convos post Merlin’s trans-coming out??? I will be doing the second one regardless of if it’s next chapter so I guess I’m mostly just wondering if y’all want the flashback. LMK in the comments!!

Life note: the writer’s curse struck me again and I am currently waylaid in bed w a busted ankle 😭😩

Chapter 32: So I’m Gay

Notes:

Sorry this took so long! Life has been more than a lil crazy & this is a heavier one. I hope you guys enjoy!

Arthur draped a blanket over his legs, and went back to cuddling his boyfriend. Merlin kissed the top of Arthur’s head, and settled into the couch where they both sprawled out. Merlin was studying some notes for a coffee thing Arthur hadn’t grasped. Arthur was scrolling idly on his phone waiting for Lance to text him back. He’d kept an eye on her over the past couple of weeks since her breakdown in the coffee shop. He just wanted her to be okay again, and she seemed to be on the mend, but Arthur was still worried.

Arthur felt Merlin’s finger running through his hair, an absent-minded gesture but a comforting one all the same. Arthur left out a happy sigh and closed his eyes. He was so grateful for Merlin. Grateful for this moment. Grateful to be here. His mind drifted back, thoughts turning to his life in the not-so-distant, distinctly less comforting past.

 

 

 

 

 

Arthur shoved his shoulder into the wooden door and the rusty hinges yielded. The door swung inward, and Arthur Pendragon stepped inside his dorm room for the first time. He noted, with mild amusement, that his luggage was already on one side of the room though Agravain couldn’t have been bothered to unpack it seemed. Which was good enough for Arthur. He didn’t want to make too big of a stink for whoever his roommate was, and a butler folding his laundry and packing into a chest of drawers was a bit excessive. The coordinated luggage set would have to suffice.

Arthur shoved aside one of the suitcases and flopped down onto the mattress. Of course, Agravain had had time to make the bed up when dropping off the luggage. From the distinct lack of lumps, Arthur also assumed that the butler had switched out the mattress as well. He sighed.

He stared at the yellowing plaster ceiling, and wondered what the next four years of his life would be like. Would people like him? Would Morgana be okay without him? Would he make his dad proud, finally? That last one was wishful thinking, Arthur knew that. But he could hope… He could try.

Just then the door flew open again and a disheveled young man stepped into the room. Arthur stood up to assess the newcomer and blinked into a pair of breathtaking brown eyes. The newcomer smiled. It was a nice smile. Arthur ignored the twist in his stomach.

“You must be the roommate,” the chap said, offering his hand. “I’m Gwaine.”

Arthur shook the offered hand.

“Arthur Pendragon,” he said.

“No shit? This should be good…”

The last bit was muttered under his breath as Gwaine spun around to the empty bed on the other side of the dinky dorm room. Arthur’s expression hardened.

“Pardon?” Arthur asked.

“Nothing,” Gwaine replied, flashing a careless smile over his shoulder.

“Do we have a problem?”

Gwaine laughed, and threw his singular duffle bag onto his bed.

“I dunno,” he said. “Depends on if you’re related to the twat capitalist. But I’m guessing by the matching luggage and the thousand pound sunglasses on your head that you are sooooooo maybe.”

Arthur rolled his eyes. He’d seen this before. Disgruntled people who fancied themselves “activists”, annoyed because they didn’t have money.

“Look, mate —“ Gwaine started.

“— I’m not your mate,” Arthur spat back out. “And if you take issue with my name, you take issue with me.”

Gwaine huffed, but didn’t push.

“Whatever,” he said. “We don’t have to be friends. Just stay on your side, I’ll stay on mine, and when the year ends, we’ll go our separate ways.”

“Sounds lovely.”

“Grand!”

Gwaine left in as much of a flurry as he entered, slamming the door behind him.

“Well that went great…” Arthur muttered to himself.

He glared at the door for a moment, and then started unpacking. He didn’t know why, but the luggage suddenly offended him & he wanted to get it out of sight as quickly as possible.

 

 

Classes were dull. There was no campus gym, unless you were in a sport, and Arthur wasn’t allowed to sport. His homework was already done, and unless he wanted to be the dweeb that worked on his term papers months before their due date (he didn’t), Arthur was left with few options. Thus the pubs became a regular haunt.

On this particular night, he was attending one called the “The Broken Stag” and by the time he walked in, the place was packed with drunk uni students. Arthur spotted Gwaine through the crowd and they shared a look of mutual disgust/disinterest though Arthur’s brain needed to point out the low rise cut on Gwaine’s jeans and how the navy blue shirt he was wearing rode up to reveal his abs whenever he took a drink. Arthur shook his head and ordered.

Alcohol. Alcohol would make everything better. Surely.

A few girls hit on him while he waited for his shots. Arthur turned them down, one after the other. His brain supplied all the necessary excuses as to why he didn’t feel what one is supposed to feel when an…attractive…girl is interested.

Oh, she’s too drunk, and I’m a gentleman. Can’t do anything with that. I’m just being chivalrous. Clearly she’s only talking to me to make that guy jealous. Can’t go for her, she’ll just break my heart. She’s too tall. I couldn’t have a tall wife, think of the photos! Red is not her color, but it’s my color and I wear it all of the time so she’d be washed out standing next to me when I’m wearing it and that gets rid of like 95% of my wardrobe and styling is so tedious to redo.

Arthur was just being reasonable. Really. It wasn’t concerning that he felt more when he looked at his roommate (who he still hates BTW!) than he did looking at these girls who were practically flinging themselves at his feet. Speaking of, where was Gwaine? Arthur glanced back to the place where Gwaine had been sitting but didn’t see him. Oh well, must have gotten lost on the —

A pair of large hands grabbed Arthur by the front of his shirt. Arthur’s attention locked onto the very burly, very tall athlete who was manhandling him. The guy was clearly plastered. And angry.

“WEre yOu jUST hitting oN My WOmaN?!” the guy yelled in Arthur’s face.

Arthur didn’t even know to what woman this belligerent twat was referring to, but it didn’t matter because Arthur already knew the answer. He wiped the man’s spit off his face before answering in a calm, cool tone.

“No,” Arthur said. “Now kindly remove your hands.”

“NOOoooO you’RE LyiNG. HE’S LYING!! I saw—I SaaawW you.”

“I highly doubt you’re seeing anything but double,” Arthur shot back, still composed. “I’ll say again, take your hands off of me.”

The drunk kid snickered.

“Or what?!” the guy said.

Arthur was about to respond, but then he heard a familiar voice cut through the bar chatter.

“I’d wager,” Gwaine said. “He’d do something like this.”

Gwaine swung on the drunk guy with a picture perfect right hook. The guy stumbled back, disoriented. Arthur took the opportunity to slip out of the hold with a quick block to the other man’s forearm. The athlete called to a couple of his buddies nearby. Arthur glanced sideways at Gwaine. His roommate was smiling like a loon, and he slipped into an easy fighting stance next to Arthur. Arthur didn’t bother to hide his smirk.

One of the guys charged at Arthur. He crouched with easy grace, checked the guy with his shoulder, and tossed him. The guy went flying over the bar and crashed into the wall. He didn’t get back up. Then Arthur glanced over at Gwaine. He was taking on two of the other grunts at the same time. Wanker. Arthur grabbed an empty beer bottle off the bar, and smashed it over one of the guy’s heads. Gwaine looked like he was about to say something, but then took a knee to the stomach.

Arthur stifled a laugh. He ducked out of the way of an incoming fist, and then executed a series of jabs to the attacker’s ribs. The drunk guy swung on him again. Arthur blocked. Then he kicked the man twice. Still, it wasn’t enough to stop the guy. The aggressor went in on Arthur again, this time trying to punch him in the stomach. Arthur blocked and waited for an opening. It came when one of the guy’s punches connected with Arthur’s elbow as he blocked it. The guy yelped in pain, grabbing his knuckles. Arthur took the opportunity to get the guy in a chokehold. It took Arthur all of about three seconds and the guy didn’t realize he was in trouble until it was too late. Arthur had him. The guy kept struggling so Arthur applied a bit more pressure.

He scanned his surroundings for more assailants, but Gwaine had dispatched the last of them. His roommate was downing a drink he’d gotten from…somewhere. When he saw Arthur with the hold, he smiled, walked up to the guy, and kicked him in the solar plexus. The guy crumpled and Arthur released him from the hold.

“Cheers,” Arthur said. “...mate.”

Gwaine’s smile widened. He threw an arm around Arthur’s shoulder with a laugh.

“What’s say we get out of this mess?” Gwaine said. “Before they, ya know, kick us out?”

“Sounds grand.”

The pair exited the pub in a hurry. After a few angry words at each other, they decided to head back to their dorm together. The night was chilly, full of anticipation for the coming winter. The campus was quiet.

“So where’d you learn to fight like that?” Gwaine asked. “And that hold? Mental.”

Arthur laughed.

“That was nothing,” he said. “It was just some drunk idiots. I wasn’t really trying.”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah, I… I do MMA. So –”

“– So that was a walk in the park for you?” Gwaine finished.

Arthur shrugged, and scratched the back of his head. Gwaine punched him in the arm. Arthur punched him back.

“What about you?” Arthur asked. “Where’d you learn to throw a punch?”

Gwaine snickered.

“Back alleys and pubs,” Gwaine said. “Found out very quickly getting punched was a side-effect of my life I would rather not have to live with.”

Arthur rolled his eyes. There was a lull in the conversation for a moment.

“Ya know,” Gwaine said. “You’re alright, Pendragon.”

Arthur shot Gwaine a sidelong glance, but the man seemed to be serious. Arthur’s icy exterior softened.

“Thanks,” Arthur said. “I suppose you aren’t horrible…”

“I shouldn’t have made a snap judgement about you,” Gwaine said. “Even if I don’t like your…?”

“Father,” Arthur supplied.

“Even if I don’t agree with your father, you aren’t him, and that was wrong of me. So I apologize.”

Arthur took the apology in silence. A nagging little thought in the back of his brain surfaced. Was Gwaine wrong? Wouldn’t Arthur have just defended his family? Doesn’t he always take his dad’s side? Wasn’t that what he was supposed to do? Wasn’t Arthur just like Uther? Or was trying to be?

Arthur sighed.

“Thank you,” he said. “Though…in a particular light…I suppose you weren’t entirely wrong to jump to the conclusions you did.”

Gwaine shrugged.

“I can respect a man who knows how to fight,” Gwaine said. “Though I may judge him on which side of the fight he stands on.”

Arthur nodded.

“Fair enough,” he said.

There was another lull in the conversation. Somewhere in the interim, Gwaine pulled out two beers, cracked them open, and handed one to Arthur. Arthur took it and they both drank. There was another beat and then Gwaine spoke up.

“Now that we’re drinking buddies,” he said. “I should confess something to you.”

Arthur’s heart skipped a beat.

“What’s that?” Arthur asked, doing his best to sound normal.

“Ya know the atrium? Knight Hall?” Gwaine said.

“Yeah…”

“Named after my great great great great great grandfather.”

Arthur almost spit out a sip of beer.

“You’re a fuckin legacy?!” he shouted.

Gwaine nodded, his face scrunched between mortification and laughter.

“You prick!” Arthur said, punching him. “You were sitting on that and got mad at me?!”

“LOOK!” Gwaine said. “It was a long time ago. We’re not like that anymore. No one really remembers.”

“There’s a building with your name on it!”

“But I didn’t do that! I didn’t even wanna be here!”

“So why are you?”

Gwaine got really quiet. Arthur didn’t think anything of it as they’d arrived back at their dorm room. Arthur unlocked the door and they both entered, kicking off their shoes and flopping onto their respective beds.

“My da died a few months ago,” Gwaine said. “Cancer. Before he passed he told me about a trust he’d set up for me. Said he wanted me to have more opportunities than he did. He, um, made me promise I’d give it a go here. So…”

“That’s nice,” Arthur said. “That he did that.”

Gwaine shrugged.

“I’d rather have my da,” he mumbled.

Arthur sat with that for the rest of the night. He couldn’t relate to his new friend’s sentiment.

 

Things were different after that. They were friends now. Arthur had a friend, who treated him like a normal person. Who wasn’t afraid to make fun of Arthur when he was being a dick. Who actually wanted Arthur around. They sat in classes together, got food, drank. They drank a bunch. It was nice.

So what if Arthur thought about Gwaine a ton?

So what if Arthur got a knot of jealousy in the pit of his stomach every time Gwaine left the pub or the party or the event with a girl on his arm?

It was fine. They were friends. And Arthur was…

Arthur was fine.

 

Everything changed that summer. The term was over. Arthur stepped outside into the sun after his last set of exams, and blinked away the bright light. Gwaine tackle hugged him from behind.

“Fuck that was brutal,” Gwaine groaned. “I don’t think I even retained half of the questions at the end there.”

“That’s what you get for drinking instead of sleeping last night,” Arthur snarked.

Arthur hesitated for a moment before tossing off Gwaine’s hug. His roommate didn’t seem to notice or care. They fell into step beside each other, and followed after a vague crowd making their way to the dining hall. Arthur kept glancing at Gwaine, a shy smile half playing on his lips, ignoring the subtle butterflies that began to twirl in his stomach.

“Ah don’t play like you did any better just cause you slept, Pendragon,” Gwaine said, shoving him.

Arthur shoved him back.

“I’m not!” he protested. “I’m better because I’m smarter, obviously.”

“Piss off!” Gwaine said, and pulled Arthur into a headlock.

Arthur’s yelp of surprise was strangled as Gwaine tightened the hold. It was more out of desperation for the hair he’d spent two hours working on this morning. Gwaine managed to ruin all of his hard work in the thirty seconds it took Arthur to get out of the headlock.

They were on the ground by that point, Gwaine having pulled him off the path into a grassy patch of the quad. Arthur kicked Gwaine in the ribs, rolled away, and got to his feet. Gwaine stood up and tossed aside his books. Arthur did the same. They took up fighting stances and began to circle each other. Though they were both smiling, Arthur’s eyes were focused. A fight was a fight, even if it was with a friend. Arthur couldn’t afford to not take it seriously.

He lost focus before either of them could throw a punch. A black SUV pulled up to the curb a stone’s throw behind the pair of roommates. Arthur saw it first when he happened to glance over Gwaine’s shoulder. He froze. Arthur felt his arms fall to his sides. All of a sudden the summer sun felt cold against his skin.

This wasn’t…

Agravaine wasn’t supposed to arrive for…

Arthur was…

“You alright?” he heard Gwaine ask, but it was far away.

Arthur blinked. He watched as Gwaine glanced between him and the dark SUV. Then back at Arthur. Then back at the street again.

The back window of the car rolled down, and Arthur straightened to attention. Uther Pendragon was many things. Intimidating was most of them. His eyes were ice blue, severe, haughty, unforgiving. His grey hair was brushed back from his face. His suit was perfect. And he was in the back seat.

Something was wrong.

Arthur felt his blood go cold. He tried to swallow, but it was useless.

“Get in,” Uther said.

Arthur lurched forward, without thought, face blank. He grabbed his discarded school supplies, and got into the SUV. He could hear Gwaine calling after him, but didn’t dare respond.

Something was very wrong.

 

Arthur returned to school in the fall grateful the chill air made his long sleeves inconspicuous. He was careful to avoid anyone he knew. The (sensationalized) story about Morgana leaving had been everywhere. He didn’t know who knew. He didn’t want their questions, or their pretend sympathy, or their poorly disguised attempts to gain a moment of proximity fame. He went straight to his new dorm room.

Arthur came up short as he opened the door. Gwaine Knight lay sprawled on one of the twin beds, his arms resting behind his head. His dark green shirt was loose, sleeves rolled up to the elbows. Arthur noticed, without meaning to, that he’d gained muscle over the summer. And his tan was still pleasantly tan.

An army of emotions crawled through Arthur as he saw his…as he saw Gwaine again. It was all he could do to keep them down. Gwaine flashed a smile.

“Arthur Pendragon,” he said. “As I live and breathe!”

“Knight…” Arthur muttered, and stepped over to his side of the room.

“That’s all you have to say?” Gwaine said. “After practically ignoring me all summer?”

Arthur winced. That hurt. Truth be told, Gwaine’s texts were the only reason he’d felt relatively okay all summer. But he hadn’t really had the energy to respond. Arthur cleared his throat and pretended to unpack so he didn’t have to look at Gwaine.

“I wasn’t ignoring you,” he said. “I was busy.”

“With your sister?” Gwaine asked.

The question hung like fog in the air. Arthur froze, his eyes locking onto a pair of black socks. The tops were folded in on themselves. The band on one of them was stretched out. The heel of one was a bit thread bare. He should probably toss out the whole pair.

He put the socks in a drawer, and moved on to a pair of underwear.

“Among other things, yes,” Arthur answered.

There was silence for a moment, but it didn’t feel good. Arthur could feel himself growing angry.

“What happened?” Gwaine asked.

Arthur’s fist closed around a stack of shirts. For a few sickening seconds his mind flashed back over the summer. It landed on the night she told him of her plan. Her skin already blotchy with pink and purple and yellow bruises. The blood stains on her pillow. Her split lip. The sound of her breathing through broken ribs.

He closed his eyes.

“She left,” Arthur whispered.

There was another pause.

“You alright?” Gwaine said.

Arthur wanted to scream. NO! NO I’M NOT! I’VE NEVER BEEN! I’M TRAPPED IN A HOUSE WITH A MONSTER! AND THE ONE PERSON I LOVE LEFT ME THERE!!! SHE LEFT ME THERE!!! WITH HIM!!!!!!

“I’m fine,” he muttered.

If Gwaine wasn’t convinced of Arthur’s performance, he didn’t let on. Arthur could tell the air between them had changed. And it was his fault. But it was just as well.

“I was about to head out to this pub,” Gwaine said. “Supposed to have some really good ales. Fancy a pint?”

“Pass,” Arthur said.

There was more silence.

“Well, there must’ve been some mix-up with the rooming assignments cause we’re stuck together again this year,” Gwaine said. “So I’ll see you around. Let me know if you need anything, alright, Pendragon?”

Arthur heard the door of his room open and close. He was alone.

Arthur unleashed his rage and trashed his side of the room.

He sat down in the wreckage and cried.

 

Arthur did eventually tell Gwaine what happened the night Morgana left. They were drinking in their dorm room. Arthur took his shirt off because he was getting warm. He’d forgotten about the bruises. His roommate wouldn’t let it go, and Arthur was too tired for excuses. The whole thing came out. He didn’t tell Gwaine everything about why he was so terrified. But he said enough.

Gwaine didn’t let him drink alone after that night.

 

It was almost Christmas. The first part of the term was ending. Exams loomed in the distance, and here he was, sitting on the dorm roof next to Gwaine, freezing his ass off as they passed a bottle of scotch between them. He would have to go home soon. Back to that horrible mansion with that horrible monster and he wouldn’t even have his sister. On Christmas.

Arthur took a long drink from the bottle and turned his attention back to Gwaine story. The moonlight and drifting snow made his eyes sparkle. His cheeks and his nose were all pink from the cold, and Arthur wondered how he could make even that look amazing. Arthur must have been gawking because Gwaine stopped mid sentence.

“What?” Gwaine said. “What?! Do I have something on my face?!”

Arthur shook his head and looked away. He was glad for the cold because he could feel his cheeks burning.

“It has to be something!” Gwaine said. “You were staring!”

Arthur sat silent.

“Is it my hair?! What?! Don’t play me like this, mate! It’s not funny! Why were you staring?!”

“I’m staring because you’re attractive, Knight,” Arthur said. “And I like you.”

Gwaine sobered in an instant. Arthur realized the words that had just come out of his mouth.

Fuck

Fuck fuck fuck FUCK

Arthur wanted to run. Arthur wanted to hide. Arthur wanted the mortification racing through his veins to burn him alive. But he was stuck. He felt stuck. His brain was stuck, his limbs were stuck, his tongue was stuck. He couldn’t think or move or profusely deny everything that had just come out of his mouth.

“You like me?” Gwaine said. “As more than just…”

His voice trailed off, and Arthur filled in the blank.

“Yeah,” Arthur managed to rasp out.

Gwaine took a second to consider a response. Arthur thought about leaning forward a bit further and falling off the roof.

“Thank you,” he said. “I don’t fancy blokes so unfortunately for you I don’t reciprocate, but I appreciate the compliment. And if it’s all the same to you, I am still your friend. That won’t change, as far as I am concerned.”

Arthur nodded and turned away. He grabbed the scotch and downed about a third of the bottle before coming up for air.

Was this how rejection was supposed to feel?

Arthur was resigned to it, if so. He knew Gwaine wasn’t gay. He’d known that from the start. It was fine. The tears in his eyes were for something else entirely.

“So I’m gay,” he said aloud.

Gwaine didn’t snap back with the expected witty retort of “no duh” He was quiet again for a long moment.

”Is that the first time you’ve told anyone?” Gwaine asked, his voice soft and kind.

Arthur nodded, and blinked back a few more tears.

“In case nobody’s told you this before,” Gwaine said. “It’s okay. You are okay. Who you are is okay. How you feel is okay. And you’re not alone. You’re not a freak. You're okay.”

Arthur broke down completely.

Gwaine held him.

When Arthur composed himself again, Gwaine let go. Arthur wiped his eyes.

“Thank you,” he said. “For everything.”

Gwaine nodded. They finished the rest of the bottle. When it got down to the last few swigs, Gwaine spoke up.

“You can’t go back to that house,” he said.

Arthur looked at him. Gwaine looked back, brown eyes intense and focused. Arthur knew his friend wasn’t messing with him.

“I don’t care where you go,” Gwaine said. “Or what you do, but as your friend I…I can’t let you go back to you dad. I can’t. I’ll kidnap you and lock you in the dorm basement if I have to, but please — please — you can’t go back to that house.”

Arthur felt something inside of him come alive.

“Okay,” he whispered. “I won’t.”

“Promise me,” Gwaine said.

“I promise.” 

And Arthur meant it.

 

 

 

 

 

Arthur’s phone went off, startling him out of his thoughts. He shifted against Merlin to pick it up and look at the notification. Text from Gwaine. He smiled to himself, opened the phone and typed out a reply.

“Gwaine wants to know if we’re free to get drinks with him tomorrow,” Arthur said to Merlin as he closed his phone again, and snuggled back into his boyfriend.

Merlin looked up from his notes to glance at Arthur.

“Really? He invited both of us?” Merlin asked.

“…Well, he invited me and I told him I’d only go if you came because I figured you wouldn’t be too apt to let us go out ‘unsupervised’ again after the last fiasco,” Arthur said. “So yes. I promise I won’t get carried away again. Plus, I was going to invite Leon and Lance to come with as well.”

“Oh alright, but only if I’m not the only one besides the pair of you,” Merlin said. “I don’t feel like being a stick in the mud all night.”

Arthur reached up and brought his boyfriend in for a kiss.

“You’re the best,” he said.

And he meant it.

Notes:

I promise the next chapter will be fun cozy bullshit cause they deserve it and also so do I. As always, I love reading you comments!!! They bring me so much joy :)

Chapter 33: Teasing

Merlin walked through the door of Magical Brews and pulled his boyfriend in after him. The bell above the door chimed as they entered, the small sound almost drowned out by Arthur’s laugh. The familiar scent of coffee and cinnamon rolled over Merlin and he sighed. Gaius called from the kitchen.

“Boys! Is that you?!” he asked

“Yes, Uncle!” Merlin called.

“Good! Come here! Both of you!”

The boyfriends exchanged bemused but curious glances and headed towards the kitchen. Arthur vaulted over the counter (show off!) while Merlin hung up his jacket and donned his apron before heading into the kitchen.

Uncle Gaius stood over a counter, chopping up cooked sheets of biscotti. Arthur already had one of the slender biscuits in his mouth, pale tan crumbs on his chin.

“Ah! Merlin! Try these,” Gaius said, pointing to a small plate that held two of the biscotti. “Tell me what you think. New recipe.”

Merlin did as he was told.

“Mmm,” Arthur said. “Gaius, this is amazing.”

Arthur took a second biscotti and ate it. Merlin took a reserved bite of his biscuit and munched on it thoughtfully.

“The crunch is very nice,” he said to his uncle. “The flavor is nice, delicate. I think it will pair well with the seasonal blends we’ve got coming up. But I honestly think it’d be better with a bit of chocolate.”

Gaius sighed.

“I was afraid you’d say that,” he said.

Don’t listen to him, Gaius,” Arthur said. “I think they’re perfect.”

Merlin shot his boyfriend an irritated look and shoved another biscotti in his mouth. Arthur sneered at him, but munched on the biscotti all the same.

“I happen to agree with you, Merlin,” Gaius said. “But I made these as an easy filler. Dipping them all would take too much time, I’m afraid.”

Merlin nodded.

“I’m sure they’ll be great regardless,” Merlin said. “Customers will love them.”

Gaius smiled at his nephew.

“Oh shit,” Arthur said, glancing at his phone. “I need to leave.”

“Already?” Merlin said.

“Yes, unfortunately. I need to head in early so I can talk to Morgana before she leaves. Leon scheduled me for an appointment with her and it’ll be hell if I’m late. Can you believe it?! An appointment? To talk to my sister. Outrageous.”

Merlin snickered.

“Would you mind very much making something to go?” Arthur asked his boyfriend.

Merlin was already heading for the espresso maker. He started in on crafted a drink by the time Arthur had walked back around into the main part of the cafe.

“Oh and I promised Lance I’d bring her drink!” Arthur said.

Merlin got another to-go cup and set it empty on the counter next to him as he worked on the first drink.

“Shall I make a London Fog for the vampire mistress as well while I’m at it?” Merlin asked, joking.

“Actually, yes, and something for Leon as well. He likes tea!”

Merlin laughed at his boyfriend’s obliviousness. He set two more cups down on the counter and flicked on the shoppe’s electric kettle as he put the finishing touches on Arthur’s drink.

“What do you take me for? A barista?” Merlin said. “How dare you make me work at my job!”

Arthur looked mortified.

“Oh god,” he said. “That’s a lot, isn’t it? Forget it. Drop the whole thing, it’s fine.”

“Arthur, love,” Merlin said.

He leaned over the counter, and grabbed Arthur by the shirt collar. Arthur sucked in his breath as Merlin drew him in close.

“Teasing,” Merlin said. “I was teasing.”

Arthur blinked.

“You’re fine,” he said. “Though, for future, just say everything you need from the start.”

“Right,” Arthur said. “Yup. Cool.”

His cheeks were bright red. Merlin smirked. He pulled Arthur in for a quick kiss and then let go. Instead of handing Arthur his drink, Merlin wrote “PRAT” next to a little heart on the side of the cup and put it in a drink carrier. Then he turned to make the three other drinks. Arthur didn’t take a breath until Merlin had turned his back on him. It took him a few minutes, but soon, all four drinks were labeled, in a carrier, and kissed his boyfriend goodbye.

Arthur lingered on the kiss for a little longer than usual.

”You’re magical,” Arthur said, half whispered into Merlin’s lips.

”I know,” Merlin said with a smug smile. “But appreciate me later, you’re late.”

Arthur groaned, but he kissed Merlin one last time, grabbed the drinks, and left. Merlin headed back into the kitchen and helped Gaius finish up the biscotti.