A bit of headway
Title: A bit of headway
Author: slowroad
Rating: pg
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Summary: Arthur is entirely innocent and inexperienced in matters of the heart. Merlin decides to change that.
Warnings: None
Word Count: 394 words
Disclaimer:Merlin is owned by the BBC and Shine. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit is being made. Don't send us to the dungeons.
One of the first things I noticed about Arthur, once I got past the part where he's a prat and a spoilt brat, is the fact that he's lonely. He’s entirely innocent and inexperienced when it comes to matters of the heart. It was strange at first, to think that a prince, someone who'd grown up with every privilege, and is (loath as I was to admit it) ridiculously good looking, and has men and women, servants, and nobles alike, constantly trying to catch his eye...that he’s so entirely oblivious.
But then I got to know him, and I realised that the prattiness was just a front, and that he's anything but a spoilt brat. He may be a prince, but given the way his father treats him, always expecting him to be the best at everything, disappointed at the smallest failure, expecting him to face down dragons and all manner of other magical beasts, he's anything but spoilt.
He's always working so hard to be the best warrior that he can be, and to do the right thing by his people as far as he is able, that he doesn't take any thought for himself, and he doesn't relax enough to flirt with anyone, let alone open himself up long enough to let someone in. He may have taken someone to bed a time or two, but it’s not something he does often. It goes against his view of himself as a warrior and a future king, to be vulnerable in that way.
Well, I haven't made any such rules for myself. I can admit to my feelings. I can admit to needing Arthur in my life, wanting to see him, talk to him, touch him, protect him…
He may be a prince, but he's a man first. I've taken it upon myself to show him that he can let his guard down a little, that he can let me in, let me help him, hold him, and be there for him whether it's in the middle of a battle, or in the middle of the night...
Given that I'm in bed with him at the moment, and that he's wrapped himself around me and gone to sleep with a smile on his beautiful face, I'd say that I've made a bit of headway.