Mordred's Guide to Picking a Favorite Uncle
Author: Shadowspun
Title: Mordred's Guide to Picking a Favorite Uncle
Rating: G
Pairings: Leon/Morgana, Merlin/Gwaine
Characters: Leon, Morgana, Mordred, Merlin, Gwaine
Summary: Morgana and Leon ask Gwaine and Merlin to babysit while they go on a date.
Warnings: Cavities ahead.
Word Count: 552
Prompt: 489, Makeover
A/N: Didn't think I'd revisit this AU, but it just seemed to fit.
The key turning quietly in the lock should have attracted the attention of the youngest resident of the home. Mordred had the ears of a bat. Instead of the pounding of little feet on the hardwood floor as he ran to tackle his mother and his ‘Dino’, Morgana heard Mordred’s giggles. Leon glanced over at his fiancee, his eyebrows lifting. They both tiptoed toward the living room after they quietly hung up their coats and toed off their shoes.
Morgana’s hand came up to cover her mouth and contain her own giggles as she watched Merlin guide Mordred’s hands as he plaited Gwaine’s long hair in a French braid. Merlin had obviously been the recipient of Mordred’s attempts at carrying out a makeover. The bright red lipstick had a jagged and dramatic climb up his cheek, making him look a little like a low-rent Joker.
Leon broke first, bending over as he laughed at the sight.
“Mommy! Dino! Look at me!” Mordred dropped the strand of hair he had been crossing over clumsily and streaked into Morgana’s legs.
Morgana grinned. “You look amazing, sweetheart.” It was true. He obviously hadn’t done his own make-up.
Gwaine turned toward them and Leon shook his head as he saw the purple eyeshadow the man was wearing on his face. “Love it, Gwaine. Merlin, the lipstick suits you.”
“What about me, Dino?” Mordred switched his loyalties and glommed onto his future stepfather, stepping onto his feet.
He grabbed Mordred’s hands and stomped around with the boy pretending to be his dinosaur. “You are the most beautiful boy in the world. I love it.”
While Leon did his thing with Mordred, Morgana asked the others, “Whose idea?”
Gwaine chuckled. “Mordred’s. We watched Drag Race and he wanted to try it on us.”
Merlin shrugged. “We just couldn’t tell him no.”
Morgana held her hand out to help Gwaine stand, “Well, I think it was brilliant. Thank you for babysitting him. I have some make-up remover wipes you can use.”
Merlin chuckled. “We have make-up remover at home. Gwaine is not a stranger to make-up.” He glanced at his boyfriend. “Maybe a stranger to purple, though. Why did you have that?”
“I dressed as the Evil Queen for Halloween the year Mordred was born. He was an inappropriately-named Sleepy. Gwen was Snow White and we conned Arthur into dressing like Grumpy."
"Not Prince Charming?"
Morgana smirked. "Gwen told him straight out that she didn't need a prince to ride to her rescue. When he pouted, she told him he should be Grumpy and that's what stuck."
Gwaine stretched, "I want to see the pics."
"I'll find them next time we all get together." She broke off when her son clamped on her leg again, grinning up at her, his cheeks flushed. "Did you have fun tonight, sweetie?"
Mordred nodded excitedly. "I liked it. Can we do it again?" He turned his adorable puppy gaze onto his babysitters, who just shrugged and chuckled.
"We'll bring some child-friendly make-up next time we babysit. We'll have another makeover then, okay?" Gwaine winked at the boy when he practically quivered in excitement.
"Maybe we'll even bring hair and nail stuff, too,” Merlin added, solidifying Gwaine and Merlin as the current favorite uncles. At least until Arthur found out and took his crown back.