Part 6e. Mercival (The end, at last!)
Author: amarie_authiel
Title: Part 6e Mercival (5 times Merlin fell even deeper in love and 1 time he learned he was not the only one.)
Rating: R
Pairing/s: Merlin/Percival, past Percival/Mordred
Character/s: Merlin, Percival
Summary:
Warnings: Some hotness, nothing graphic (sorry)
Word Count: ~910
Prompt: No. 268 Argument
Author's Notes: Ok, I'm done! Man, this has been a troublesome tale. Glad I managed to finish without leaving it hanging till after summer.
Hope it hangs together. No beta, as usual.
Follow up to Four beddings and a funeral
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6a
Part 6b
Part 6c
Part 6d
With a sigh, Merlin leaned his back against the kitchen counter. He felt he was a lousy friend for having all these conflicting thoughts. His bags were packed for the holiday vacation and the clock on the wall counted mercilessly towards the last train home for the evening. He didn't want to leave without knowing Percival would be alright.
As if to highlight how poorly Merlin was doing as a comforting friend, it was Percival who came to him and asked him if he was alright. He had put the kittens away, Merlin presumed they were back with their overprotective mother. Percival fidgeted a bit with his hands as if he didn't quite know what to do with them now. Merlin could think of many uses, but none that should be voiced out loud.
“Shouldn't that be my line?” Merlin replied with a week smile, avoiding the question.
Percival shrugged.
“You are allowed to be sad, you know,” Merlin said as the silence stretched, “Even if I throw kittens at you to make you smile. You don't mind when I'm sad.”
“You've got good reason. I don't.”
Percival's voice seemed void of emotion. Merlin twisted his head and looked up at Percival.
“He matters to you.”
“He doesn't.”
“But he did.”
“Not anymore.”
“But-”
“Steroids, OK?!” Percy cried out and threw his arms in the air, making Merlin jump at the sudden outburst.
“We thought we were kings, but we were fucking idiots.”
Percival started pacing aand avoided eye contact, which was just as well because Merlin was stunned stupid. He had only meant to say that it was OK to be sad about a breakup. Percy and drugs just didn't add up, even with Mordred in the mix.
“This isn't roid rage, it's not.” Percival said, as if he felt he had to clarify that for some reason. “I quit long time ago... It never got a hold of me.”
Merlin nearly laughed at the absurdity of the first statement and nearly cried at the last. At last Percy looked at him, his eyes pleading to be believed and wild horses couldn't keep Merlin away. Merlin invaded his personal space and took those empty hands in his.
“I believe you, Perce, of course I believe you. I'm sorry I pushed you. I didn't mean to summon all your ghosts.”
Percy pulled a face, more like a grimace, but he didn't say anything. So Merlin pushed further, worried he'll never be this close again.
“So when you said Mordred 'went away', you meant...”
Percival draws his breath, resigned.
“Doing time. Rehab. Stuff like that. Just small stuff, but... It keeps adding up.”
Merlin nods.
“He is... even if he had been truthful this time, he's nothing but a reminder of all the things I don't want anymore, all the things I want to put behind me.”
Then another thought came to mind.
“Is this why you don't want to go home for Christmas? You're guilty by association.”
Percival sighed.
“I thought college would be my chance to move away and leave it behind me, but... here I am.”
Merlin thought briefly of another blond who had said something similar.
“There's a lot of that going around I hear... But you've got a nice flat, a job, decent friends -”
“I quit studying and work as a bouncer.” Percival interrupted surly.
“Oh come on, you're not that old cliche. You are Owain's golden boy. I bet he's hoping you'll take over the Tavern eventually.”
That did lure a small smile from Percival.
“So what kind of cliche am I then?” His eyes flickered to meet Merlin's. Their fingers had folded together and butterflies the size of bats were causing havoc on Merlin's insides.
“You are the big, strong man with the gentle heart. Who calls me in the middle of the night to save kittens.” Merlin couldn't help the fondness in his voice. He could feel Percival's breath when he spoke.
“And you came over in the dead of night to help me. And you stripped right there in my hallway.”
Again he looked to the ceiling as if he's looking for strength from above.
“You looked like sex,” He tells the ceiling. “You looked like lazy morning the day after roll over in bed and do it all again sex.” His head dipped down again. Merlin is feeling feverish, but holds his gaze. “And you had no idea,” Percival continues. “You just turned my world upside down and you had no idea.”
“Then Mordred shows up and I realize he's all wrong. I let him stay, thought I owed him that much. But it was nothing but argument and accusations. Then he had the audacity to compare himself to you...”
Merlin groaned.
“When he had his hands all over you... I wanted to say you were mine. I wanted to tear him to pieces. I would have been dead in two seconds, but it would have been worth it.”
Percival growled and then they are all hungry mouths and hands. Any thoughts about cats, trains and small town gossip vanished as Merlin excitedly let himself be mauled by his Percy-bear. There would be more talking later, and an awkward phone call to Merlin's mum about why he failed to arrive as expected. Arthur would be unbearably smug, but Merlin would have his Percy-bear and maybe, in the future, there would be a house with a porch, a yard and maybe even some grand children.
Epilogue/Bonus chapter.