fanfiction: The Talented Mr. James-Morgan
Title: The Talented Mr. James-Morgan
Rated: PG
Summary: More fanfiction. This time, from the universe where Colin and I have been married since 2004.
Part Katie/Cast
Little do you know, Katie's actually got quite the keen sense of knowing things. See, we thought we were being brilliant by taking separate trains home or separate cars home or telling everyone we're headin' in two different directions for holiday. But no, none of that for Katie. She cornered the two of us when we got back to start the read through for series 3. We thought we were being clever by arriving at different times. Because Colin's a bit of a workaholic and deserves lie ins when we're not actually working. That's when she cornered me and really let me have it.
"You're sleeping together!" she sort of hissed.
No, not exactly, Katie.
Her brow furrowed. "You're...dating."
Again. Not exactly.
Then her eyes fell onto my hand. "You know, I don't think I've ever seen you without that other than when we're filming Merlin. How long've had that?"
"Since my partner and I's third year of having have had our civil ceremony, I think. It was all the rage in 2004 what with the whole partnerships bein' brand new." I grinned to myself. "He had been practically bouncing his way to sign the papers. Before the ink was even dry, he'd practically mauled me on the spot. It was actually quite amusing."
The door swung open to reveal Colin, who looked like he had literally rolled out of bed. Which, in all reality, he probably did. I grinned again. "Sorry, sorry." he mumbled. "Alarm clock didn't go off." Everyone else turned back to their scripts while Katie kept a steady gaze on me. I met his minuscule glare with a saccharine smile. That's when Katie gasped.
I sipped at my hot chocolate. Oh, I'm gettin' it later, all right. But it was worth it to see my darling husband so rumpled at work.
Part Angel/Cast
There's very few things that are truly frightening, if I'm honest: Meeting Colin's parents. My footie mates pilin' on me because they all 'wanted a mutiny against Arthur' (and yes, the 'Where's Merlin now?' chap was there. Unluckily for him, Merlin was nearby and had nearly called 999 because of this incident.) Meeting Colin's entire family and hoping they wouldn't burn me at the stake (which they didn't. His Gran thinks I'm quite charming, thank you very much.) And...
Angel's furious face when we've switched out her mail with someone else's.
Col and I were going over lines with my head in his lap and his fingers running through my hair. He calls be a sap for it and I really don't care because damn, but it feels good at the end of a day of fightin' monsters and knights. Uniting Albion or something like that. I think he secretly likes the fact that I'm practically a lap dog around him. He laughs and mocks my David Bowie voice right when Angel knocked furiously at the door. I gave a rather manly whimper when Colin pulled away to open the door.
"Bradley, this has got to stop. I think you're actually slipping up in your pranks." I was about to ask what the devil she meant when she threw down a stack of magazines and bills on the bed. "Really, Bradley. If you pick a pseudonym to prank me with, come up with something more interesting and original than Mr Bradley or Colin James-Morgan."
Colin laughed quietly and picked up my footie magazine and threw it over in my direction. "Yeah, Mr James-Morgan." he quipped.
Catching the publishing, I gave her a puzzled look. "Oh...right. Oops. Meant to switch your mail with Katie's not ours." Some strange indie magazine fell out the pile and I tossed it over to Colin. "There y'are, darling. Your emo porn."
"Oi, s'not emo porn. Y'wanna talk porn, it's those footie magazines."
"Don't be jealous of professional athletes, Colin. Not their faults for wanting to take their shirts off when they win." It really isn't. It's just an added bonus sometimes. Amidst our bickering, Angel stood stock still.
"You...you both...when did you?" she stammered through. Then her eyes fell on the circle around my thumb. Bless her, it's great seeing how things just click in other people. "Wait, I saw...but you weren't wearing that...what?"
"S'an anniversary present." Colin explained quietly. I smiled. "Three years of livin' in a flat eatin' ready meals. Pickin' at my food to ensure I don't die of an allergic reaction." Then Angel made a funny noise and left. I suspect she's off to write fanfiction about Merlin and Arthur having a handfasting or something. Colin slid back into position as my pillow for the night and tried to knock the footie mag out of my hands. "Oi, none of that. C'mon, we've got lines to learn."
I scoffed and tucked it aside to pick up my script. "Nag."
"Bully."
Part Richard and Tony/Cast
I sat down with my customary mug of hot chocolate (made to my perfection, even if it did take several tries. I should really look into bringing Colin's special vegan hot chocolate mix with me. Oh right, the story.) Richard and Tony were already there and it seemed as if they waiting for the technicians to cue up whatever episode we were commentating on. So the three of us were just lounging around, having a chat.
Richard was looking at my hand curiously. "You know, Bradley, I've never seen you without that ring on your finger. Is it just an accessory or..." He leaned forward to inspect the bit of silver, scrutinizing behind his glasses. "Huh, seems a bit worn in."
"Well, Richard, it symbolizes something." Why not give in? Everyone loves a good story and it's series three, for Christ's sake, I should be able to talk about my damn husband. And Colin never lets me sleep on the couch for that long anyway. Sort of. I'll get him something on the way home to soften the blow. "It stands for awkward kissing in the wings of a dank ol' theatre in the West End. Holding hands when it started to drizzle a bit." I could feel myself smiling stupidly at the fond memories. "Stands for braving out to some town called Armagh and poorly attempting to understand everyone just so I could say 'I love you.' And it stands for bein' there for one another no matter what happens."
My mobile happened to go off at this point. Richard and Tony exchanged looks and I could hear Tony's girlish giggle from my side. I couldn't help but smile when I read over the message.
"Also means I'm pickin' up some tofu when I get home today."
"Now, Bradders, you're not a vegetarian." Tony noted with a knowing look.
"I sneak steaks when he's not looking." I grinned. The episode started up and I relaxed on the couch with Tony and Richard, genuinely commentating on an episode I'd seen before this session.
Part The-Bit-Bradley-Doesn't-Like
By now, Tony, Richard, Angel, and Katie knew. Colin was not pleased with my telling them about it for the most part. He just shrugged and said that it was nobody's business what we do in our private time. All right, all right, I'll tone it down. Didn't need to spend more nights on the couch only to be awakened at some insane hour with a cuddlin' Colin trying to fit the both of us on a tiny couch.
Completely worth it.
One day, we happened to be filming in...I think Gloucester, don't quote me on that. Andreas prepped me on the fight scene. Sun was shining. Everything was going on just grand. (Obviously I've been married to this man a bit too long if I'm usin' phrases like 'Grand'.) I hopped about a bit, warming up and waiting for everyone to finish setting up the scene. Colin hopped alongside me, 'preparing' for a scene. Really, he was just keeping me company and making sure I didn't feel silly about jumping up and down on my own. We smiled at each other and everythin's just quite a bit of all right. Like when I first met him...
"Hi, I'm Colin." He had a very cute, shy, almost awkward smile.
"What?" I wasn't sure if I understood him correctly.
He seemed a little nervous and cleared his throat before trying again. "Er...Colin. Co-lin."
"Oh, sorry about that, mate. I'm Bradley. Bradley James." Instead of offering his hand, he offered his lips. Well. Colin Morgan's a bit of all right.
Then there was coming to work on Merlin. I remember holding him in bed while he spoke of how he got the callback to play Merlin. He told me I should audition as Arthur. But we had a deal, you see. We'd pretend to not know each other so that we both get into our roles on our own merit. See? We're brilliant. Well Colin is. I'm just in for the ride. We weren't really going to tell anyone until series 4 or 5. We had to keep the gay a secret. I think that's a tagline somewhere.
He laughed in his quiet, Colin way. I looked over. All right, Julian's giving me the call to come over and do the scene. I ruffled Colin's hair and jogged over. I don't really wear my ring for Merlin because it's a medieval show. Weddin' bands aren't really medieval. Not the kind I wear. Usually, I keep on Arthur's signet to make up for it. Sort of. It's also really nice and adds to the character.
Apparently, not everyone methodically prepares for scenes like Colin and I do. Because half way into Andreas' carefully plotted out routine, I hear this loud crack, some ringing in my ears and Colin screamin' bloody murder.
Part the World (The Final bit, I promise)
The funny thing about head injuries is that, unlike the time I pranged my head against Arthur's light fixture, this one managed to knock me out. But the funnier part was: I saw it happen! It was like one of those out of body experiences. Well I guess it was one if I was able to see it happen. Anyway, the last thing I actually heard was Colin screamin' bloody murder. Here's where the out of body experience began.
I wanted to put a hand to him, tell him to calm down, that I'm all right. I had to be, right? I was able to sit up and had a bit of a headache. But Colin wasn't paying attention to me. He was quite concerned about something on the ground. I turned to see...well...myself. With a rather nasty gash across the side of my head. And blood. Quite a bit of it. I turned to tell Colin that it wasn't me, that I'm fine and that...had to be a dummy or something. But the sight shocked me to the core. Colin was crying.
Now there's crying he does for Merlin, stage crying. Then there's crying over a good movie or book or performance. There's the crying he did when I turned up at his house and told him I loved him (in freezing hail, mind you!). When he and I became civil partners. Y'know, every anniversary, he's still surprised. He gets all teary eyed and does that cute little smile of his and says, 'Bradley' that I swear is just...ahem. None of that was the kind of crying he was doing at that moment. It's the sort of crying I never wanted to see.
His eyes were easily red rimmed, tears just pouring straight down his face, nose running, and he seemed to be saying very incoherent and not complete words and trying to hold onto me while trying to keep me from bleeding so much with his Merlin scarf. Richard had to pull him away from...me so that the professionals could take me away when they finally arrived. It didn't escape my attention that we were still in costume. Ladies and gentlemen, there's an Arthur with a particularly bad head injury and a Merlin cryin' over him. Had I been conscious and in my own body, I would've nudged at Colin and laughed about it. But as it were, I was bein' hauled away. I decided to follow Colin as I'm sure the chaps in the ambulance could take care of me.
Richard was able to to get Colin to change back into his own clothes and Angel nearly floored it to the hospital with Col just babbling in the front seat. I wanted to hug him, hold him. Tell him everything was going to be all right. That it wasn't so bad. That I was right here. The receptionist wouldn't let him up to see me. Wouldn't tell him anything about me. Col just looked an absolute mess at this point in time. His accent was so thick that I'm quite sure even Angel couldn't understand him. Keep in mind, Colin's a private chap. I got into hot water about telling everyone, remember? He's also not the sort to use his star status nor yell at people. But...
"No, you listen! Bradley James is my husband and I demand you let me see him! If you check his record, his name is listed as Bradley James-Morgan!"
I swear, you could hear a pin DROP in that entire waiting area.
When I opened my eyes and saw the inside of a hospital, I smiled. My beautiful, sweet Colin was curled up in a chair nearby. "C'lin..." Ugh, why did my voice sound scratchy? Oh right, I'd been out for a few days. I coughed and reached out to him, which was a bit difficult with the wires that were hooked up to me. "Col...Colin."
His eyes were still red. "Bradley..." he breathed. Immediately, he was checking the monitors like he knew what he was doing. And all of a sudden, he was crying again and he was holding me on the hospital bed as well. And he claims I'm the wife of this relationship. "Bradley, Bradley, Bradley, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. We'll tell everyone. No more hidin'. I'll wear a ring too. D'ya reckon I'd look good with a thumb ring too? You scared me. Don't scare me again."
"C'lin, I'm gonna pass out again if y'don't let go." I grunted. He loosened his grip a bit and I smiled at him before kissing him. God, that felt good. "I said I would be with you until the day I die. And I mean it. Rings or not. You've got me til the end of time." I held him close and just rubbed at his back and let him breathe. "But we'll get one for you too, if you'd like."
And...that's how Colin started wearing a thumb ring too. And if it suspiciously looks like a wedding band. Well.
38 is still a hilarious number.
Rated: PG
Summary: More fanfiction. This time, from the universe where Colin and I have been married since 2004.
Part Katie/Cast
Little do you know, Katie's actually got quite the keen sense of knowing things. See, we thought we were being brilliant by taking separate trains home or separate cars home or telling everyone we're headin' in two different directions for holiday. But no, none of that for Katie. She cornered the two of us when we got back to start the read through for series 3. We thought we were being clever by arriving at different times. Because Colin's a bit of a workaholic and deserves lie ins when we're not actually working. That's when she cornered me and really let me have it.
"You're sleeping together!" she sort of hissed.
No, not exactly, Katie.
Her brow furrowed. "You're...dating."
Again. Not exactly.
Then her eyes fell onto my hand. "You know, I don't think I've ever seen you without that other than when we're filming Merlin. How long've had that?"
"Since my partner and I's third year of having have had our civil ceremony, I think. It was all the rage in 2004 what with the whole partnerships bein' brand new." I grinned to myself. "He had been practically bouncing his way to sign the papers. Before the ink was even dry, he'd practically mauled me on the spot. It was actually quite amusing."
The door swung open to reveal Colin, who looked like he had literally rolled out of bed. Which, in all reality, he probably did. I grinned again. "Sorry, sorry." he mumbled. "Alarm clock didn't go off." Everyone else turned back to their scripts while Katie kept a steady gaze on me. I met his minuscule glare with a saccharine smile. That's when Katie gasped.
I sipped at my hot chocolate. Oh, I'm gettin' it later, all right. But it was worth it to see my darling husband so rumpled at work.
Part Angel/Cast
There's very few things that are truly frightening, if I'm honest: Meeting Colin's parents. My footie mates pilin' on me because they all 'wanted a mutiny against Arthur' (and yes, the 'Where's Merlin now?' chap was there. Unluckily for him, Merlin was nearby and had nearly called 999 because of this incident.) Meeting Colin's entire family and hoping they wouldn't burn me at the stake (which they didn't. His Gran thinks I'm quite charming, thank you very much.) And...
Angel's furious face when we've switched out her mail with someone else's.
Col and I were going over lines with my head in his lap and his fingers running through my hair. He calls be a sap for it and I really don't care because damn, but it feels good at the end of a day of fightin' monsters and knights. Uniting Albion or something like that. I think he secretly likes the fact that I'm practically a lap dog around him. He laughs and mocks my David Bowie voice right when Angel knocked furiously at the door. I gave a rather manly whimper when Colin pulled away to open the door.
"Bradley, this has got to stop. I think you're actually slipping up in your pranks." I was about to ask what the devil she meant when she threw down a stack of magazines and bills on the bed. "Really, Bradley. If you pick a pseudonym to prank me with, come up with something more interesting and original than Mr Bradley or Colin James-Morgan."
Colin laughed quietly and picked up my footie magazine and threw it over in my direction. "Yeah, Mr James-Morgan." he quipped.
Catching the publishing, I gave her a puzzled look. "Oh...right. Oops. Meant to switch your mail with Katie's not ours." Some strange indie magazine fell out the pile and I tossed it over to Colin. "There y'are, darling. Your emo porn."
"Oi, s'not emo porn. Y'wanna talk porn, it's those footie magazines."
"Don't be jealous of professional athletes, Colin. Not their faults for wanting to take their shirts off when they win." It really isn't. It's just an added bonus sometimes. Amidst our bickering, Angel stood stock still.
"You...you both...when did you?" she stammered through. Then her eyes fell on the circle around my thumb. Bless her, it's great seeing how things just click in other people. "Wait, I saw...but you weren't wearing that...what?"
"S'an anniversary present." Colin explained quietly. I smiled. "Three years of livin' in a flat eatin' ready meals. Pickin' at my food to ensure I don't die of an allergic reaction." Then Angel made a funny noise and left. I suspect she's off to write fanfiction about Merlin and Arthur having a handfasting or something. Colin slid back into position as my pillow for the night and tried to knock the footie mag out of my hands. "Oi, none of that. C'mon, we've got lines to learn."
I scoffed and tucked it aside to pick up my script. "Nag."
"Bully."
Part Richard and Tony/Cast
I sat down with my customary mug of hot chocolate (made to my perfection, even if it did take several tries. I should really look into bringing Colin's special vegan hot chocolate mix with me. Oh right, the story.) Richard and Tony were already there and it seemed as if they waiting for the technicians to cue up whatever episode we were commentating on. So the three of us were just lounging around, having a chat.
Richard was looking at my hand curiously. "You know, Bradley, I've never seen you without that ring on your finger. Is it just an accessory or..." He leaned forward to inspect the bit of silver, scrutinizing behind his glasses. "Huh, seems a bit worn in."
"Well, Richard, it symbolizes something." Why not give in? Everyone loves a good story and it's series three, for Christ's sake, I should be able to talk about my damn husband. And Colin never lets me sleep on the couch for that long anyway. Sort of. I'll get him something on the way home to soften the blow. "It stands for awkward kissing in the wings of a dank ol' theatre in the West End. Holding hands when it started to drizzle a bit." I could feel myself smiling stupidly at the fond memories. "Stands for braving out to some town called Armagh and poorly attempting to understand everyone just so I could say 'I love you.' And it stands for bein' there for one another no matter what happens."
My mobile happened to go off at this point. Richard and Tony exchanged looks and I could hear Tony's girlish giggle from my side. I couldn't help but smile when I read over the message.
"Also means I'm pickin' up some tofu when I get home today."
"Now, Bradders, you're not a vegetarian." Tony noted with a knowing look.
"I sneak steaks when he's not looking." I grinned. The episode started up and I relaxed on the couch with Tony and Richard, genuinely commentating on an episode I'd seen before this session.
Part The-Bit-Bradley-Doesn't-Like
By now, Tony, Richard, Angel, and Katie knew. Colin was not pleased with my telling them about it for the most part. He just shrugged and said that it was nobody's business what we do in our private time. All right, all right, I'll tone it down. Didn't need to spend more nights on the couch only to be awakened at some insane hour with a cuddlin' Colin trying to fit the both of us on a tiny couch.
Completely worth it.
One day, we happened to be filming in...I think Gloucester, don't quote me on that. Andreas prepped me on the fight scene. Sun was shining. Everything was going on just grand. (Obviously I've been married to this man a bit too long if I'm usin' phrases like 'Grand'.) I hopped about a bit, warming up and waiting for everyone to finish setting up the scene. Colin hopped alongside me, 'preparing' for a scene. Really, he was just keeping me company and making sure I didn't feel silly about jumping up and down on my own. We smiled at each other and everythin's just quite a bit of all right. Like when I first met him...
"Hi, I'm Colin." He had a very cute, shy, almost awkward smile.
"What?" I wasn't sure if I understood him correctly.
He seemed a little nervous and cleared his throat before trying again. "Er...Colin. Co-lin."
"Oh, sorry about that, mate. I'm Bradley. Bradley James." Instead of offering his hand, he offered his lips. Well. Colin Morgan's a bit of all right.
Then there was coming to work on Merlin. I remember holding him in bed while he spoke of how he got the callback to play Merlin. He told me I should audition as Arthur. But we had a deal, you see. We'd pretend to not know each other so that we both get into our roles on our own merit. See? We're brilliant. Well Colin is. I'm just in for the ride. We weren't really going to tell anyone until series 4 or 5. We had to keep the gay a secret. I think that's a tagline somewhere.
He laughed in his quiet, Colin way. I looked over. All right, Julian's giving me the call to come over and do the scene. I ruffled Colin's hair and jogged over. I don't really wear my ring for Merlin because it's a medieval show. Weddin' bands aren't really medieval. Not the kind I wear. Usually, I keep on Arthur's signet to make up for it. Sort of. It's also really nice and adds to the character.
Apparently, not everyone methodically prepares for scenes like Colin and I do. Because half way into Andreas' carefully plotted out routine, I hear this loud crack, some ringing in my ears and Colin screamin' bloody murder.
Part the World (The Final bit, I promise)
The funny thing about head injuries is that, unlike the time I pranged my head against Arthur's light fixture, this one managed to knock me out. But the funnier part was: I saw it happen! It was like one of those out of body experiences. Well I guess it was one if I was able to see it happen. Anyway, the last thing I actually heard was Colin screamin' bloody murder. Here's where the out of body experience began.
I wanted to put a hand to him, tell him to calm down, that I'm all right. I had to be, right? I was able to sit up and had a bit of a headache. But Colin wasn't paying attention to me. He was quite concerned about something on the ground. I turned to see...well...myself. With a rather nasty gash across the side of my head. And blood. Quite a bit of it. I turned to tell Colin that it wasn't me, that I'm fine and that...had to be a dummy or something. But the sight shocked me to the core. Colin was crying.
Now there's crying he does for Merlin, stage crying. Then there's crying over a good movie or book or performance. There's the crying he did when I turned up at his house and told him I loved him (in freezing hail, mind you!). When he and I became civil partners. Y'know, every anniversary, he's still surprised. He gets all teary eyed and does that cute little smile of his and says, 'Bradley' that I swear is just...ahem. None of that was the kind of crying he was doing at that moment. It's the sort of crying I never wanted to see.
His eyes were easily red rimmed, tears just pouring straight down his face, nose running, and he seemed to be saying very incoherent and not complete words and trying to hold onto me while trying to keep me from bleeding so much with his Merlin scarf. Richard had to pull him away from...me so that the professionals could take me away when they finally arrived. It didn't escape my attention that we were still in costume. Ladies and gentlemen, there's an Arthur with a particularly bad head injury and a Merlin cryin' over him. Had I been conscious and in my own body, I would've nudged at Colin and laughed about it. But as it were, I was bein' hauled away. I decided to follow Colin as I'm sure the chaps in the ambulance could take care of me.
Richard was able to to get Colin to change back into his own clothes and Angel nearly floored it to the hospital with Col just babbling in the front seat. I wanted to hug him, hold him. Tell him everything was going to be all right. That it wasn't so bad. That I was right here. The receptionist wouldn't let him up to see me. Wouldn't tell him anything about me. Col just looked an absolute mess at this point in time. His accent was so thick that I'm quite sure even Angel couldn't understand him. Keep in mind, Colin's a private chap. I got into hot water about telling everyone, remember? He's also not the sort to use his star status nor yell at people. But...
"No, you listen! Bradley James is my husband and I demand you let me see him! If you check his record, his name is listed as Bradley James-Morgan!"
I swear, you could hear a pin DROP in that entire waiting area.
When I opened my eyes and saw the inside of a hospital, I smiled. My beautiful, sweet Colin was curled up in a chair nearby. "C'lin..." Ugh, why did my voice sound scratchy? Oh right, I'd been out for a few days. I coughed and reached out to him, which was a bit difficult with the wires that were hooked up to me. "Col...Colin."
His eyes were still red. "Bradley..." he breathed. Immediately, he was checking the monitors like he knew what he was doing. And all of a sudden, he was crying again and he was holding me on the hospital bed as well. And he claims I'm the wife of this relationship. "Bradley, Bradley, Bradley, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. We'll tell everyone. No more hidin'. I'll wear a ring too. D'ya reckon I'd look good with a thumb ring too? You scared me. Don't scare me again."
"C'lin, I'm gonna pass out again if y'don't let go." I grunted. He loosened his grip a bit and I smiled at him before kissing him. God, that felt good. "I said I would be with you until the day I die. And I mean it. Rings or not. You've got me til the end of time." I held him close and just rubbed at his back and let him breathe. "But we'll get one for you too, if you'd like."
And...that's how Colin started wearing a thumb ring too. And if it suspiciously looks like a wedding band. Well.
38 is still a hilarious number.