Leaving The Past In The Past
Author: digthewriter
Title: Leaving the past in the past
Rating: PG
Pairing/s: Merlin/Arthur
Character/s: Merlin, Arthur
Summary: Arthur can't believe his luck.
Warnings: MODERN AU
Word Count: ~800
Prompt: "Pick Up Lines" for camelot_drabble
Author's Notes: This is part two of the BLIND DATE story: All too familiar. PART ONE HERE
Coming to terms with the fact that his assistant had set him up with his ex-husband, Arthur took in a deep breath. He finished the last of his coffee, left a few extra coins on the table, and stood up. Avoiding any to all eye-contact with Merlin, Arthur grabbed his coat from behind his chair, and made his way to the door.
Should he have told Merlin that this was all a misunderstanding? Probably. But it also required for Arthur to talk to Merlin again and the way Merlin had reacted to him, seeing him there, was too much to handle. He'd just have Gwen text him and let him know. If he didn't see Merlin again, it'd be best.
He didn't even know how in the bloody hell could Gwen have met Merlin, and let alone, become friends with him. Gwen had recently started working at Pendragon Industries and was new in town. Where could they have met?
Of course, he wanted to know. But, he wasn't going to ask. Merlin was his past, and he'd stay in the past. Arthur did not want to know what Merlin got up to, what clubs he visited, and what company he kept that he'd been acquainted with Gwen. The last thing he wanted was to learn about what ridiculous and over the top pick up lines Merlin used in clubs to get dates. It was no wonder he needed to be set up.
It was just bad luck, it was with Arthur.
There were plenty of gay people in Camelot, and Arthur couldn't believe his luck. What were the chances--
His mobile rang. It was Gwen.
"Hello?" Arthur said, picking up after the second ring.
"Arthur? Why did you leave--"
"Gwen, do you know who you set me up with? Do you know who Emrys is?"
"I know, he just told me."
"He knew?" Arthur asked, unbelievably shocked.
"No, of course not. I told you both the same thing, I wasn't going to tell you the other person's name or any description until you were face-to-face. He didn't know your name was Arthur Pendrago--"
"So can you blame me that I left? Gwen, he's my ex-husband!"
"Arthur, I didn't even know you were once married."
"Well. Yeah." Arthur shook his head and then pinched the bridge of his nose. He could feel a headache creeping up. "Listen, Gwen. I've gotta--"
"I can't believe you just got up and left," Gwen said, cutting him off, and sounding agitated.
"What was I supposed to do?"
"Tell him who you were, at least."
"Gwen--"
"Arthur, it's common courtesy. Okay, so I didn't know you were married, and yes, I know--what are the chances that I meet this great gay bloke and think he's perfect for you only to find out he's your ex. I mean, you were married. One can see why the two of you got along."
"We didn't get along, Gwen."
"You know, at least he told me he used to be married."
Arthur paused for a second. So Merlin told Gwen about him? He wondered just how much. He wondered if it were all bad things or did he throw in some good stuff too. Surely, it wasn't all bad. They had dated for two years before getting married and staying married for another two--
"Arthur, are you there?"
"What did he say?"
"About what?" she asked.
Arthur shrugged, as if she could see him. "When you just told him my name."
Gwen took a deep sigh. "He called me after waiting a few minutes, since I'd already told him you were there. He said he didn't see anyone that he felt an instant connection with, and then I described him to you. He sounded a bit surprised. I mean, pleasantly surprised, like it was a joke but not a mean joke. Anyway, he said that you'd already left and then I called you immediately."
"Well. Good try, Gwen, but what can you do? I'll see you in the office--"
"Arthur, you need to go back to him and apologise."
"Apologise? For what?"
"For leaving."
"Gwen, I don't think it's a good idea, and I'm sure he understands why. He would have done the same."
"Would he have?" Gwen asked, she sounded so sure of herself, that Arthur doubted his decision.
The Merlin that he knew wouldn't have just got up and left. He would have approached Arthur, made a bit of small talk because he was awkward like that and explain the situation. Then he would have offered to buy Arthur another cup of coffee, because he was kind like that.
"Well, I'm not him."
"Arthur, you should go back. I bet he's still waiting there."
"No, Gwen. I'm sure he's already left. I'll see you later, all right?" And without a warning, Arthur disconnected the call and continued walking away from Avalon Coffee House.
READ NEXT PART
Title: Leaving the past in the past
Rating: PG
Pairing/s: Merlin/Arthur
Character/s: Merlin, Arthur
Summary: Arthur can't believe his luck.
Warnings: MODERN AU
Word Count: ~800
Prompt: "Pick Up Lines" for camelot_drabble
Author's Notes: This is part two of the BLIND DATE story: All too familiar. PART ONE HERE
Coming to terms with the fact that his assistant had set him up with his ex-husband, Arthur took in a deep breath. He finished the last of his coffee, left a few extra coins on the table, and stood up. Avoiding any to all eye-contact with Merlin, Arthur grabbed his coat from behind his chair, and made his way to the door.
Should he have told Merlin that this was all a misunderstanding? Probably. But it also required for Arthur to talk to Merlin again and the way Merlin had reacted to him, seeing him there, was too much to handle. He'd just have Gwen text him and let him know. If he didn't see Merlin again, it'd be best.
He didn't even know how in the bloody hell could Gwen have met Merlin, and let alone, become friends with him. Gwen had recently started working at Pendragon Industries and was new in town. Where could they have met?
Of course, he wanted to know. But, he wasn't going to ask. Merlin was his past, and he'd stay in the past. Arthur did not want to know what Merlin got up to, what clubs he visited, and what company he kept that he'd been acquainted with Gwen. The last thing he wanted was to learn about what ridiculous and over the top pick up lines Merlin used in clubs to get dates. It was no wonder he needed to be set up.
It was just bad luck, it was with Arthur.
There were plenty of gay people in Camelot, and Arthur couldn't believe his luck. What were the chances--
His mobile rang. It was Gwen.
"Hello?" Arthur said, picking up after the second ring.
"Arthur? Why did you leave--"
"Gwen, do you know who you set me up with? Do you know who Emrys is?"
"I know, he just told me."
"He knew?" Arthur asked, unbelievably shocked.
"No, of course not. I told you both the same thing, I wasn't going to tell you the other person's name or any description until you were face-to-face. He didn't know your name was Arthur Pendrago--"
"So can you blame me that I left? Gwen, he's my ex-husband!"
"Arthur, I didn't even know you were once married."
"Well. Yeah." Arthur shook his head and then pinched the bridge of his nose. He could feel a headache creeping up. "Listen, Gwen. I've gotta--"
"I can't believe you just got up and left," Gwen said, cutting him off, and sounding agitated.
"What was I supposed to do?"
"Tell him who you were, at least."
"Gwen--"
"Arthur, it's common courtesy. Okay, so I didn't know you were married, and yes, I know--what are the chances that I meet this great gay bloke and think he's perfect for you only to find out he's your ex. I mean, you were married. One can see why the two of you got along."
"We didn't get along, Gwen."
"You know, at least he told me he used to be married."
Arthur paused for a second. So Merlin told Gwen about him? He wondered just how much. He wondered if it were all bad things or did he throw in some good stuff too. Surely, it wasn't all bad. They had dated for two years before getting married and staying married for another two--
"Arthur, are you there?"
"What did he say?"
"About what?" she asked.
Arthur shrugged, as if she could see him. "When you just told him my name."
Gwen took a deep sigh. "He called me after waiting a few minutes, since I'd already told him you were there. He said he didn't see anyone that he felt an instant connection with, and then I described him to you. He sounded a bit surprised. I mean, pleasantly surprised, like it was a joke but not a mean joke. Anyway, he said that you'd already left and then I called you immediately."
"Well. Good try, Gwen, but what can you do? I'll see you in the office--"
"Arthur, you need to go back to him and apologise."
"Apologise? For what?"
"For leaving."
"Gwen, I don't think it's a good idea, and I'm sure he understands why. He would have done the same."
"Would he have?" Gwen asked, she sounded so sure of herself, that Arthur doubted his decision.
The Merlin that he knew wouldn't have just got up and left. He would have approached Arthur, made a bit of small talk because he was awkward like that and explain the situation. Then he would have offered to buy Arthur another cup of coffee, because he was kind like that.
"Well, I'm not him."
"Arthur, you should go back. I bet he's still waiting there."
"No, Gwen. I'm sure he's already left. I'll see you later, all right?" And without a warning, Arthur disconnected the call and continued walking away from Avalon Coffee House.
READ NEXT PART