[Fic] Subconscious | Merlin, Arthur/Merlin | NC17
Title: Subconscious
Series: Merlin (BBC)
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: R/NC17
Length: 3263
Notes: Set post-season 1, with very brief spoilers for several episodes.
It was not, frankly, how Merlin generally spent his time in Arthur's chamber.
His hands grabbed at the sheets, twisting them, and he tried desperately not to shift away from the hot, nearly unbearable sensations. The prince had his hips in a grip that was impossible to break - damn, nearly impossible to move - and Arthur's head was bent over him, his mouth and his tongue on his cock. It felt like nothing else, Merlin thought; it was pleasure, but pleasure so keen it started to border on pain, pleasure so sharp it nearly made him panic. "Arthur," he hissed.
"In the name of all that's holy, Merlin," Arthur snapped as he released Merlin and lifted his head. "Hold still. This is supposed to feel good."
Merlin's face flushed a dull red, and he averted his eyes. "And how would you know?" he asked sharply, before his voice subsided into another moan as Arthur bent his head and delicately licked the length of his cock, sending fingers of fire soaring through him. "Does the prince of Camelot do this kind of thing often?"
Arthur lifted his head again and raised an eyebrow, smirking. "I am not entirely without experience," he said, "unlike some people. Now lay back, shut up, and enjoy yourself."
Arthur was at it again before Merlin had time to retort - hell, time even to think - and his head tossed against the mattress and his hips lifted in Arthur's hands as he groaned aloud. "Arthur," he managed. "Arthur. God."
"Not quite," Arthur murmured slyly as he released Merlin's cock to whisper against his skin. "But I think you're finally getting the hang of this, Merlin...Merlin...Merlin...
MERLIN."
Merlin's eyes snapped open, and it took a moment to focus, to recognize the face leaning over him, squinting in concern.
"Gah," he said. "Er, I mean...Gaius. What's wrong?"
"You were calling out in your sleep," Gaius said evenly. "I heard you all the way out in the main chamber." He paused. "I heard Prince Arthur's name several times."
Merlin felt his face flood with color, but thankfully Gaius didn't really seem to notice; he was looking off into the middle distance, contemplating something.
Merlin rubbed a hand over his face. "What is it?"
"The last time you called Arthur's name in your sleep," Gaius said slowly, "was when he was dealing with Nimueh at the caves."
"Oh," Merlin said. "Well, uh, I doubt he's in danger now. I put him to bed hours ago."
"Nonetheless," Gaius said. "Check anyway. For my peace of mind."
Merlin grumbled as he got up and threw on clothes, smoothing down his hair as he shut the door behind him and trudged down the stairs to the prince's chamber. "Stupid bloody dreams," he muttered. "What the hell was that, anyway? Ridiculous. Like I'd want Arthur to do that to me - like anybody would want Arthur doing that to them. Idiotic."
He was quiet when he reached the door, however, and pushed it gently open.
Arthur had forgotten to pull the tapestry back over the window - again, Merlin thought - and so the room was lit with the faint glow of moonlight. Arthur slept, Merlin noted as he edged closer, and peered at the prince from around one over the posts. Arthur looked peaceful that way, with his blond hair falling over his brow and his expression wiped free of either smirks of those damn surly looks Merlin got at least twice daily. Like this, Merlin thought, he guessed he could see what the girls all saw in him.
Merlin blinked at his thoughts and shook his head. Only when he was asleep though, he told himself. When he was awake again, he'd be exactly the same as he always was - annoying, prattish, a pain in the ass of a destiny. Guaranteed.
Gaius was still awake when Merlin came back into their chamber few minutes later. "He's fine," Merlin said. "He was sleeping."
"Ah," Gaius said. "Good then." He smiled. "I'll go back to bed then," he said. "So should you. You need your sleep."
Merlin nodded. "I'll see you in the morning," he said as he climbed into his room.
He slipped back under the covers and folded his arms behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling. Somehow, he thought, he doubted he'd be doing much more sleeping that night.
*
Arthur whirled on him the third time he dropped his sword to the floor. "Merlin," he said. "What in the hell is wrong with you today? Not even you are this clumsy."
Merlin swallowed as he bent down to pick up the sword - again. "Er, nothing," he said, and flushed a bit at Arthur's superciliously lifted eyebrows. "I mean, I didn't get much sleep last night," he said in a rush. "That's all."
"You live with the bloody court physician," Arthur said as he buckled on his sword himself - Merlin clearly was not to be trusted this morning. "Have him give you the draught Morgana gets all the time, for God's sake."
Merlin tipped his head to the side. He wasn't the only one a bit...off this morning, he mused. "Is there something wrong?" he asked. "You seem a bit...more surly than usual, if I may say so."
"As if anything I do ever stops you from saying exactly what you want," Arthur said. "No, nothing is wrong, Merlin. Simply the effects of dealing with gross incompetence this early in the morning."
Merlin looked extremely skeptical, and Arthur twitched.
"Very well," he said, "I had strange dreams last night. And now I have to see my father." He swept an irritated glance around the room. "See that this is cleaned for once, will you? I don't particularly wish to return to a pigsty. Again."
"Of course, Arthur," Merlin said.
His expression sobered. Strange dreams, he thought. It seemed like too much of a coincidence to him.
*
"Are you planning to actually eat any of that?" Gaius asked in an overtly patient tone of voice that told Merlin that it was not, in fact, the first time he had asked.
"Er, sorry," Merlin said. "I'm a bit preoccupied."
Gaius raised his eyebrow. "I see," he said. "Over Arthur, I presume."
Merlin pinned Gaius with a suspicious look and then shrugged. "Well, yes," he said. "I was wondering," he said, "is it possible for two people to dream the same thing?"
Gaius leaned back. "It's not something that's entirely unheard of," he said, "but it's not common, either. Why?"
"I, uh, I had a weird dream last night," Merlin said. He could feel the tips of his ears turning red. "And Arthur mentioned he'd had strange dreams himself. I was wondering if they were, well...related."
Gaius narrowed his eyes in concern. "Was Arthur in danger in your dream last night? Or Camelot?"
"Er, no," Merlin said. "I can't say that sort of disaster was iminent."
"Ah." The concern melted away and Gaius merely looked very, very amused now. Merlin could feel himself start to get even redder. "I think it's highly unlikely that you'd be sharing dreams of a more personal nature, but with you, Merlin, anything is possible."
"Gee," Merlin said. "Thanks." He gulped down some of his tea.
"The only way to ascertain this for certain, of course," Gaius continued smoothly, "is to ask Arthur about his dream yourself."
Tea was spewed across the table. "Ask Arthur?" Merlin choked out. "Have you gone completely bloody mad?"
Gaius's lips twitched and he shrugged. "It's the only way, if you want to know." He glanced up as the bells tolled. "There's the bell for vespers," he said. "Arthur will be expecting his dinner." He smiled. "It would be most logical to ask him then."
"Not bloody likely," Merlin said as he got up from the table and headed out. "I can only imagine what he'd do to me if I tried."
*
Nonetheless, Merlin found himself actually contemplating asking while he watched Arthur eat his evening meal. The positive, he thought, was that he would know, and the negative was that...well, he'd know. And so would Arthur. Still, it was killing him. It might be a relief.
And if it was true, he and Arthur would probably be anything but relieved, Merlin thought. No, best to keep this to himself.
"Merlin," Arthur said. "Is there some reason you've been eying me like I was some species of poisonous serpent?"
"Er," Merlin said. "No."
Arthur smirked. "Right. Why don't you just spit it out?"
"Spit it out?"
"Whatever you've been wanting to ask me since you came in here." Arthur raised his eyebrows. "You didn't really think I was so oblivious that I wouldn't notice, did you?"
Actually, Merlin thought, given the number of times that he'd used magic right under Arthur's nose, and the prince hadn't had the foggiest clue...yeah, he didn't think he'd notice. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Merlin," Arthur said.
"Arthur," Merlin replied, and the prince rolled his eyes.
"Well, either tell me, or get out of here. You're driving me up a wall."
"Er...well," Merlin said, and he gulped. "I was wondering about your dream last night."
Arthur raised his eyebrows sardonically, but Merlin saw that his cheeks were tinged pink. "Why on earth were you wondering about that."
"I sometimes think it helps to discuss strange dreams," Merlin offered. That was the biggest pile of bullshit he'd ever tried to sell in his life, he thought, and he'd had some doozies, especially since meeting his royal assiness.
"I," Arthur said haughtily, "do not."
Merlin shrugged. "Fine," he said. He paused, and then spoke again. "I had a weird dream myself, last night."
"I suppose you're going to feel that it's necessary to share it with me," Arthur said. He swirled his wine lazily in his glass and smirked at Merlin.
He wasn't, Merlin would think later. He'd decided emphatically, a few minutes earlier, that mentioning anything specific about his dream to Arthur was an extremely, horrifyingly, colossally bad idea. But he just couldn't stop himself. It was the smirk. Also, the supercilious tone.
Likely, he was a complete idiot, as well.
Merlin leaned against the doorjamb and smirked right back, folding his arms across his chest. "I dreamed," he said, "that I was in your chamber last night. On your bed."
Arthur twitched, Merlin saw, but otherwise seemed composed. "How interesting for you."
"And you were sucking me off," Merlin finished. He picked the most flippant words he could think of to describe it, even though they didn't come anywhere near describing the actual experience in the dream.
"I was what?" The horrified tone was slightly gratifying, Merlin thought.
"Sucking me off," Merlin said. "Er, my cock."
"I am aware of what it means," Arthur gritted out, and Merlin belatedly noticed that Arthur's face had gone from faintly red to stark white. "Get out of here, Merlin."
"Arthur..."
"Now." And that was a tone that even Merlin didn't disobey. He was out in a flash, the door opening and slamming shut again behind him. But he didn't leave - he had to know - so he merely leaned against the door and strained to hear.
First there was a faint clink as Arthur slammed his goblet down on the table, and then the tell-tale scrape of his chair as he got up. Then the ring of his bootheels against the stone floor as Arthur got up to lean against the window. And finally, Merlin heard Arthur speak.
"How the hell," Arthur said. "It's impossible."
Merlin's hands fisted at his sides. Well, he thought as he moved away from the door and up the stairs, he had satisfaction now, but it wasn't exactly comfortable.
*
Arthur blew out a long breath and pushed his hands through his short hair as he leaned his elbows on his windowsill. He'd gotten used to a lot from Merlin, he thought. Perpetual tardiness, klutziness that rivaled anyone in Camelot, and enough magic that it was a wonder that Merlin hadn't found himself tied to a stake at least once since arriving.
This dream thing though, he thought, was something different. Especially that kind. Arthur could still remember the details as clearly as he did when he first woke up - Merlin's husky moans, his own laughter, Merlin's hands in his hair as he arched up into Arthur's mouth...it was more intense than anything he'd ever experienced before, whether awake or in dreams.
Arthur pressed his hand against the glass and stared down into the nearly empty courtyard. Merlin was...well, not quite handsome, but compelling, with his messy mop of black hair and strangely piercing gray-blue eyes. He was too tall, Arthur thought, and definitely too skinny. The prince drew in a deep breath. But despite that, he thought, his lips curving into a smile, he wanted him. "Maybe," Arthur said to the empty room as he moved away from the window and slouched into his chair again, "that dream wasn't such a bad thing after all."
That didn't mean Merlin was going to get off easy, though, Arthur thought as he poured himself another glass of wine and sat drinking it as he stared into the fire. Oh no, definitely not. Arthur's smile widened.
He was getting some ideas already.
*
Merlin was not late for his duties the next morning, but it did take him approximately fifteen minutes to work up the courage to knock, so the result was the same.
"Enter," Arthur said, and then, "Finally. I was beginning to wonder if I was going to have to dress myself. Again."
"Sorry," Merlin said. This was not, he thought, the demeanor he expected Arthur to be in this morning. "Training this morning?"
"No," Arthur said. "Get me my hunting leathers. And pack a bag with enough food for two days."
"Sure," Merlin said. Relief was making him polite when he wouldn't have been. "How many knights will be going?" he asked, and Arthur smiled.
"None, Merlin," he said. "Just you and me." His grin turned a little too wolfish for Merlin's sense of comfort. "Any problems with that?"
Merlin gulped. "None at all, sire."
"Excellent."
*
The sun was beginning to set before Arthur signaled Merlin to stop. "We'll sleep here tonight, I think," he said. "Make up a campfire and lay out the blankets."
Merlin rolled his eyes. "Of course, sire," he said. "Just out of curiosity, are there any plans to actually do any hunting while we're out here?"
Arthur raised his eyebrows. "I'll bring down a stag to keep my father from asking questions," he said, "but it's hardly the main event. Come now, Merlin," he said, grinning, "you didn't really think you were off the hook, did you?"
"I hoped," Merlin said glumly.
"Then I'll be disappointing you," Arthur replied.
*
In the end, it was Merlin himself that finally brought it up.
Arthur had disappeared into the wood, and returned a bit later with two hares in tow, which he naturally tossed at Merlin to clean and cook - just as well, Merlin thought, because charred rabbit wasn't a delicacy he particularly enjoyed, personally - and then after, they just sat together, staring into the embers of the fire. It was enough to drive him nuts.
"Are you even going to say anything?" Merlin finally blurted out, and Arthur smirked at him.
"Eventually," he said, "but I was having so much fun watching you suffer."
Merlin made a face at him. "Then every day of your life must be a riot. Seriously, though," he continued after a pause. "You're driving me starkers here. Just do whatever you're going to do, and get it over with."
Arthur's expression was amused in the firelight. "Not yet," he said. He gazed into the fire for a moment before speaking again. "The dream thing," he said slowly, and Merlin stiffened. "Do you think it's related to your magic?"
"Erm," Merlin said, blinking rather owlishly. "My magic?"
"Yes," Arthur said. "You know - that thing you've used to make snakes come out of shields, lead me out of caves, and to save your village."
"Also used it for saving you from being drowned in a lake and to trip you up in the market the second time we met." He smiled slightly in rememberance, and then his eyes popped wide. "Fuck, you know."
Arthur rolled his eyes. "Of course I know," he said. "Did you think I was an idiot?"
Merlin considered this. "Frankly?" he said. "Yes." He ducked as Arthur tossed a piece of bread at his head. "When did you figure it out?"
Arthur shrugged. "Gradually," he said. "Certain things that happen around you don't have any other explanation." He paused. "Have we...shared dreams before?"
"I don't think so," Merlin said. His face was red in the faint light. "And, uh, definitely not dreams like that."
Arthur smirked and leaned forward. "And have you had dreams like that about me before?"
"No," Merlin said. "Definitely not."
Arthur leaned even closer. "So you don't think of me that way."
Merlin's eyes widened and he leaned back, bracing his weight on his hands. "No," he said. "Arthur?"
"Hmm?"
"What are you doing?"
Arthur flashed a grin. "And you thought I was stupid?" he said, and then his mouth was on Merlin's, somehow firm and soft at the same time, and his hands cupped Merlin's thin shoulders, pushing at them until he was lying flat and Arthur was leaning over him.
What he intended to do, Merlin thought, was lie still and do nothing. Then Arthur would be at least mildly embarrassed - and Merlin had to admit he'd enjoy that - and they could stare into the fire in silence before going to bed, and everything would be back to normal in the morning. It didn't work out that way, because Merlin kissed Arthur back.
He tangled his fingers in the cool strands of Arthur's blond hair, tugging him closer, and he opened his mouth, first niping at Arthur's lower lip, and then sliding his tongue in to tangle with the other boy's. The kiss went from hard and rough, to teasing and gentle and back again, until Merlin couldn't think anything, he could only feel and want more.
Then Arthur leaned back, and he smirked despite the fact that he was panting for his breath the same way Merlin was. "So you don't think of me that way?" he said again.
Merlin narrowed his eyes, and two spots of embarrassed color flushed his cheeks. "Shut up, Arthur."
Arthur laughed, and rolled off Merlin to lie back on his bedroll. "We'll return to Camelot in the morning," he announced.
"Good to know," Merlin grumbled.
"I have plans."
Merlin just groaned, and rolled over on his stomach. That, he suspected, was not quite so good to know. Knowing Arthur, he was going to do everything he could to keep Merlin off his guard. Everytime he went into Arthur's chambers, he could pretty much guarantee that Arthur was going to do something, and with it being Arthur, he could also guarantee that the something was going to be embarrassing, uncomfortable, and pretty much entirely out of Merlin's realm of experience.
Merlin sighed, and turned his head to the side to look at Arthur. The prince had his arms folded behind his head and was staring up at the night sky, a slight smile quirking his lips. Merlin smiled in response.
Then again, he thought, he might enjoy it.
Series: Merlin (BBC)
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: R/NC17
Length: 3263
Notes: Set post-season 1, with very brief spoilers for several episodes.
It was not, frankly, how Merlin generally spent his time in Arthur's chamber.
His hands grabbed at the sheets, twisting them, and he tried desperately not to shift away from the hot, nearly unbearable sensations. The prince had his hips in a grip that was impossible to break - damn, nearly impossible to move - and Arthur's head was bent over him, his mouth and his tongue on his cock. It felt like nothing else, Merlin thought; it was pleasure, but pleasure so keen it started to border on pain, pleasure so sharp it nearly made him panic. "Arthur," he hissed.
"In the name of all that's holy, Merlin," Arthur snapped as he released Merlin and lifted his head. "Hold still. This is supposed to feel good."
Merlin's face flushed a dull red, and he averted his eyes. "And how would you know?" he asked sharply, before his voice subsided into another moan as Arthur bent his head and delicately licked the length of his cock, sending fingers of fire soaring through him. "Does the prince of Camelot do this kind of thing often?"
Arthur lifted his head again and raised an eyebrow, smirking. "I am not entirely without experience," he said, "unlike some people. Now lay back, shut up, and enjoy yourself."
Arthur was at it again before Merlin had time to retort - hell, time even to think - and his head tossed against the mattress and his hips lifted in Arthur's hands as he groaned aloud. "Arthur," he managed. "Arthur. God."
"Not quite," Arthur murmured slyly as he released Merlin's cock to whisper against his skin. "But I think you're finally getting the hang of this, Merlin...Merlin...Merlin...
MERLIN."
Merlin's eyes snapped open, and it took a moment to focus, to recognize the face leaning over him, squinting in concern.
"Gah," he said. "Er, I mean...Gaius. What's wrong?"
"You were calling out in your sleep," Gaius said evenly. "I heard you all the way out in the main chamber." He paused. "I heard Prince Arthur's name several times."
Merlin felt his face flood with color, but thankfully Gaius didn't really seem to notice; he was looking off into the middle distance, contemplating something.
Merlin rubbed a hand over his face. "What is it?"
"The last time you called Arthur's name in your sleep," Gaius said slowly, "was when he was dealing with Nimueh at the caves."
"Oh," Merlin said. "Well, uh, I doubt he's in danger now. I put him to bed hours ago."
"Nonetheless," Gaius said. "Check anyway. For my peace of mind."
Merlin grumbled as he got up and threw on clothes, smoothing down his hair as he shut the door behind him and trudged down the stairs to the prince's chamber. "Stupid bloody dreams," he muttered. "What the hell was that, anyway? Ridiculous. Like I'd want Arthur to do that to me - like anybody would want Arthur doing that to them. Idiotic."
He was quiet when he reached the door, however, and pushed it gently open.
Arthur had forgotten to pull the tapestry back over the window - again, Merlin thought - and so the room was lit with the faint glow of moonlight. Arthur slept, Merlin noted as he edged closer, and peered at the prince from around one over the posts. Arthur looked peaceful that way, with his blond hair falling over his brow and his expression wiped free of either smirks of those damn surly looks Merlin got at least twice daily. Like this, Merlin thought, he guessed he could see what the girls all saw in him.
Merlin blinked at his thoughts and shook his head. Only when he was asleep though, he told himself. When he was awake again, he'd be exactly the same as he always was - annoying, prattish, a pain in the ass of a destiny. Guaranteed.
Gaius was still awake when Merlin came back into their chamber few minutes later. "He's fine," Merlin said. "He was sleeping."
"Ah," Gaius said. "Good then." He smiled. "I'll go back to bed then," he said. "So should you. You need your sleep."
Merlin nodded. "I'll see you in the morning," he said as he climbed into his room.
He slipped back under the covers and folded his arms behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling. Somehow, he thought, he doubted he'd be doing much more sleeping that night.
*
Arthur whirled on him the third time he dropped his sword to the floor. "Merlin," he said. "What in the hell is wrong with you today? Not even you are this clumsy."
Merlin swallowed as he bent down to pick up the sword - again. "Er, nothing," he said, and flushed a bit at Arthur's superciliously lifted eyebrows. "I mean, I didn't get much sleep last night," he said in a rush. "That's all."
"You live with the bloody court physician," Arthur said as he buckled on his sword himself - Merlin clearly was not to be trusted this morning. "Have him give you the draught Morgana gets all the time, for God's sake."
Merlin tipped his head to the side. He wasn't the only one a bit...off this morning, he mused. "Is there something wrong?" he asked. "You seem a bit...more surly than usual, if I may say so."
"As if anything I do ever stops you from saying exactly what you want," Arthur said. "No, nothing is wrong, Merlin. Simply the effects of dealing with gross incompetence this early in the morning."
Merlin looked extremely skeptical, and Arthur twitched.
"Very well," he said, "I had strange dreams last night. And now I have to see my father." He swept an irritated glance around the room. "See that this is cleaned for once, will you? I don't particularly wish to return to a pigsty. Again."
"Of course, Arthur," Merlin said.
His expression sobered. Strange dreams, he thought. It seemed like too much of a coincidence to him.
*
"Are you planning to actually eat any of that?" Gaius asked in an overtly patient tone of voice that told Merlin that it was not, in fact, the first time he had asked.
"Er, sorry," Merlin said. "I'm a bit preoccupied."
Gaius raised his eyebrow. "I see," he said. "Over Arthur, I presume."
Merlin pinned Gaius with a suspicious look and then shrugged. "Well, yes," he said. "I was wondering," he said, "is it possible for two people to dream the same thing?"
Gaius leaned back. "It's not something that's entirely unheard of," he said, "but it's not common, either. Why?"
"I, uh, I had a weird dream last night," Merlin said. He could feel the tips of his ears turning red. "And Arthur mentioned he'd had strange dreams himself. I was wondering if they were, well...related."
Gaius narrowed his eyes in concern. "Was Arthur in danger in your dream last night? Or Camelot?"
"Er, no," Merlin said. "I can't say that sort of disaster was iminent."
"Ah." The concern melted away and Gaius merely looked very, very amused now. Merlin could feel himself start to get even redder. "I think it's highly unlikely that you'd be sharing dreams of a more personal nature, but with you, Merlin, anything is possible."
"Gee," Merlin said. "Thanks." He gulped down some of his tea.
"The only way to ascertain this for certain, of course," Gaius continued smoothly, "is to ask Arthur about his dream yourself."
Tea was spewed across the table. "Ask Arthur?" Merlin choked out. "Have you gone completely bloody mad?"
Gaius's lips twitched and he shrugged. "It's the only way, if you want to know." He glanced up as the bells tolled. "There's the bell for vespers," he said. "Arthur will be expecting his dinner." He smiled. "It would be most logical to ask him then."
"Not bloody likely," Merlin said as he got up from the table and headed out. "I can only imagine what he'd do to me if I tried."
*
Nonetheless, Merlin found himself actually contemplating asking while he watched Arthur eat his evening meal. The positive, he thought, was that he would know, and the negative was that...well, he'd know. And so would Arthur. Still, it was killing him. It might be a relief.
And if it was true, he and Arthur would probably be anything but relieved, Merlin thought. No, best to keep this to himself.
"Merlin," Arthur said. "Is there some reason you've been eying me like I was some species of poisonous serpent?"
"Er," Merlin said. "No."
Arthur smirked. "Right. Why don't you just spit it out?"
"Spit it out?"
"Whatever you've been wanting to ask me since you came in here." Arthur raised his eyebrows. "You didn't really think I was so oblivious that I wouldn't notice, did you?"
Actually, Merlin thought, given the number of times that he'd used magic right under Arthur's nose, and the prince hadn't had the foggiest clue...yeah, he didn't think he'd notice. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Merlin," Arthur said.
"Arthur," Merlin replied, and the prince rolled his eyes.
"Well, either tell me, or get out of here. You're driving me up a wall."
"Er...well," Merlin said, and he gulped. "I was wondering about your dream last night."
Arthur raised his eyebrows sardonically, but Merlin saw that his cheeks were tinged pink. "Why on earth were you wondering about that."
"I sometimes think it helps to discuss strange dreams," Merlin offered. That was the biggest pile of bullshit he'd ever tried to sell in his life, he thought, and he'd had some doozies, especially since meeting his royal assiness.
"I," Arthur said haughtily, "do not."
Merlin shrugged. "Fine," he said. He paused, and then spoke again. "I had a weird dream myself, last night."
"I suppose you're going to feel that it's necessary to share it with me," Arthur said. He swirled his wine lazily in his glass and smirked at Merlin.
He wasn't, Merlin would think later. He'd decided emphatically, a few minutes earlier, that mentioning anything specific about his dream to Arthur was an extremely, horrifyingly, colossally bad idea. But he just couldn't stop himself. It was the smirk. Also, the supercilious tone.
Likely, he was a complete idiot, as well.
Merlin leaned against the doorjamb and smirked right back, folding his arms across his chest. "I dreamed," he said, "that I was in your chamber last night. On your bed."
Arthur twitched, Merlin saw, but otherwise seemed composed. "How interesting for you."
"And you were sucking me off," Merlin finished. He picked the most flippant words he could think of to describe it, even though they didn't come anywhere near describing the actual experience in the dream.
"I was what?" The horrified tone was slightly gratifying, Merlin thought.
"Sucking me off," Merlin said. "Er, my cock."
"I am aware of what it means," Arthur gritted out, and Merlin belatedly noticed that Arthur's face had gone from faintly red to stark white. "Get out of here, Merlin."
"Arthur..."
"Now." And that was a tone that even Merlin didn't disobey. He was out in a flash, the door opening and slamming shut again behind him. But he didn't leave - he had to know - so he merely leaned against the door and strained to hear.
First there was a faint clink as Arthur slammed his goblet down on the table, and then the tell-tale scrape of his chair as he got up. Then the ring of his bootheels against the stone floor as Arthur got up to lean against the window. And finally, Merlin heard Arthur speak.
"How the hell," Arthur said. "It's impossible."
Merlin's hands fisted at his sides. Well, he thought as he moved away from the door and up the stairs, he had satisfaction now, but it wasn't exactly comfortable.
*
Arthur blew out a long breath and pushed his hands through his short hair as he leaned his elbows on his windowsill. He'd gotten used to a lot from Merlin, he thought. Perpetual tardiness, klutziness that rivaled anyone in Camelot, and enough magic that it was a wonder that Merlin hadn't found himself tied to a stake at least once since arriving.
This dream thing though, he thought, was something different. Especially that kind. Arthur could still remember the details as clearly as he did when he first woke up - Merlin's husky moans, his own laughter, Merlin's hands in his hair as he arched up into Arthur's mouth...it was more intense than anything he'd ever experienced before, whether awake or in dreams.
Arthur pressed his hand against the glass and stared down into the nearly empty courtyard. Merlin was...well, not quite handsome, but compelling, with his messy mop of black hair and strangely piercing gray-blue eyes. He was too tall, Arthur thought, and definitely too skinny. The prince drew in a deep breath. But despite that, he thought, his lips curving into a smile, he wanted him. "Maybe," Arthur said to the empty room as he moved away from the window and slouched into his chair again, "that dream wasn't such a bad thing after all."
That didn't mean Merlin was going to get off easy, though, Arthur thought as he poured himself another glass of wine and sat drinking it as he stared into the fire. Oh no, definitely not. Arthur's smile widened.
He was getting some ideas already.
*
Merlin was not late for his duties the next morning, but it did take him approximately fifteen minutes to work up the courage to knock, so the result was the same.
"Enter," Arthur said, and then, "Finally. I was beginning to wonder if I was going to have to dress myself. Again."
"Sorry," Merlin said. This was not, he thought, the demeanor he expected Arthur to be in this morning. "Training this morning?"
"No," Arthur said. "Get me my hunting leathers. And pack a bag with enough food for two days."
"Sure," Merlin said. Relief was making him polite when he wouldn't have been. "How many knights will be going?" he asked, and Arthur smiled.
"None, Merlin," he said. "Just you and me." His grin turned a little too wolfish for Merlin's sense of comfort. "Any problems with that?"
Merlin gulped. "None at all, sire."
"Excellent."
*
The sun was beginning to set before Arthur signaled Merlin to stop. "We'll sleep here tonight, I think," he said. "Make up a campfire and lay out the blankets."
Merlin rolled his eyes. "Of course, sire," he said. "Just out of curiosity, are there any plans to actually do any hunting while we're out here?"
Arthur raised his eyebrows. "I'll bring down a stag to keep my father from asking questions," he said, "but it's hardly the main event. Come now, Merlin," he said, grinning, "you didn't really think you were off the hook, did you?"
"I hoped," Merlin said glumly.
"Then I'll be disappointing you," Arthur replied.
*
In the end, it was Merlin himself that finally brought it up.
Arthur had disappeared into the wood, and returned a bit later with two hares in tow, which he naturally tossed at Merlin to clean and cook - just as well, Merlin thought, because charred rabbit wasn't a delicacy he particularly enjoyed, personally - and then after, they just sat together, staring into the embers of the fire. It was enough to drive him nuts.
"Are you even going to say anything?" Merlin finally blurted out, and Arthur smirked at him.
"Eventually," he said, "but I was having so much fun watching you suffer."
Merlin made a face at him. "Then every day of your life must be a riot. Seriously, though," he continued after a pause. "You're driving me starkers here. Just do whatever you're going to do, and get it over with."
Arthur's expression was amused in the firelight. "Not yet," he said. He gazed into the fire for a moment before speaking again. "The dream thing," he said slowly, and Merlin stiffened. "Do you think it's related to your magic?"
"Erm," Merlin said, blinking rather owlishly. "My magic?"
"Yes," Arthur said. "You know - that thing you've used to make snakes come out of shields, lead me out of caves, and to save your village."
"Also used it for saving you from being drowned in a lake and to trip you up in the market the second time we met." He smiled slightly in rememberance, and then his eyes popped wide. "Fuck, you know."
Arthur rolled his eyes. "Of course I know," he said. "Did you think I was an idiot?"
Merlin considered this. "Frankly?" he said. "Yes." He ducked as Arthur tossed a piece of bread at his head. "When did you figure it out?"
Arthur shrugged. "Gradually," he said. "Certain things that happen around you don't have any other explanation." He paused. "Have we...shared dreams before?"
"I don't think so," Merlin said. His face was red in the faint light. "And, uh, definitely not dreams like that."
Arthur smirked and leaned forward. "And have you had dreams like that about me before?"
"No," Merlin said. "Definitely not."
Arthur leaned even closer. "So you don't think of me that way."
Merlin's eyes widened and he leaned back, bracing his weight on his hands. "No," he said. "Arthur?"
"Hmm?"
"What are you doing?"
Arthur flashed a grin. "And you thought I was stupid?" he said, and then his mouth was on Merlin's, somehow firm and soft at the same time, and his hands cupped Merlin's thin shoulders, pushing at them until he was lying flat and Arthur was leaning over him.
What he intended to do, Merlin thought, was lie still and do nothing. Then Arthur would be at least mildly embarrassed - and Merlin had to admit he'd enjoy that - and they could stare into the fire in silence before going to bed, and everything would be back to normal in the morning. It didn't work out that way, because Merlin kissed Arthur back.
He tangled his fingers in the cool strands of Arthur's blond hair, tugging him closer, and he opened his mouth, first niping at Arthur's lower lip, and then sliding his tongue in to tangle with the other boy's. The kiss went from hard and rough, to teasing and gentle and back again, until Merlin couldn't think anything, he could only feel and want more.
Then Arthur leaned back, and he smirked despite the fact that he was panting for his breath the same way Merlin was. "So you don't think of me that way?" he said again.
Merlin narrowed his eyes, and two spots of embarrassed color flushed his cheeks. "Shut up, Arthur."
Arthur laughed, and rolled off Merlin to lie back on his bedroll. "We'll return to Camelot in the morning," he announced.
"Good to know," Merlin grumbled.
"I have plans."
Merlin just groaned, and rolled over on his stomach. That, he suspected, was not quite so good to know. Knowing Arthur, he was going to do everything he could to keep Merlin off his guard. Everytime he went into Arthur's chambers, he could pretty much guarantee that Arthur was going to do something, and with it being Arthur, he could also guarantee that the something was going to be embarrassing, uncomfortable, and pretty much entirely out of Merlin's realm of experience.
Merlin sighed, and turned his head to the side to look at Arthur. The prince had his arms folded behind his head and was staring up at the night sky, a slight smile quirking his lips. Merlin smiled in response.
Then again, he thought, he might enjoy it.