(no subject)
Title: Library, Part 3
Fandom: Merlin (pairing: Arthur/Merlin and Gwaine/Merlin)
Rating: PG
Summary: Merlin was only supposed to help show Arthur around the new school. He didn't sign up for detention and he most certainly did NOT sign up to fall in love.
Notes: Written for Lilybell's Fanfic Contest-A-Palooza on Tumblr. Inspired by the picture here
Saturday around eleven Merlin stood in front of his closet, looking at his clothes and feeling decidedly lost. Nothing fancy to speak of. Shirts and jeans and ratty shoes. Merlin groaned and flopped on his bed. This wasn’t supposed to be anything special. It was lunch with Arthur. Arthur of all people. Merlin wasn’t supposed to impress Arthur. It was lunch. A lunch that platonic friends have with each other. Platonic. No romance involved.
Merlin rolled over, eying his closet with anger. He wasn’t trying to impress Arthur romantically. He was trying to impress him the way a friend would impress another friend. No need for subtext. But if he dressed too nicely and Arthur didn’t dress up at all then Merlin would feel awkward, but if he was casual and Arthur was a little more than casual then it would be awkward still.
He walked back to the closet. He supposed, in his completely platonic need to impress Arthur, he could wear his black t-shirt he got from a Metallica concert with his skinny jeans. It was nice, not too nice and not too casual.
And Arthur might think he was a goth freak.
Red. Red was a good color. Red shirt, blue scarf, brown leather jacket over it all. That was doable. That was very doable. Merlin tossed the clothes on his bed before he could change his mind.
After a shower and a quick brush of his teeth Merlin walked to the school. Gwaine was supposed to be busy. He texted Merlin last night saying that he was helping out a guy in his English Lit class (Percy if Merlin remembered right) and that if Arthur tried anything funny to give him a call.
It was noon and Merlin knocked on the door.
Arthur opened it, his hair still damp. It looked like he had the same problem as Merlin, since clothes were flung all over the room, hanging off the bed and the lamp. He smiled when he saw Merlin, gave him a brief look over and started laughing.
“What?” Merlin looked down in case he forgot something like his trousers, “What’s wrong?”
“We match,” Arthur said.
Merlin looked up but instead of focusing on Arthur’s face he took in the rest of him. Sure enough, red shirt and blue jeans with a dark brown trench coat over it all.
“So we do,” Merlin smiled, “Lunch?”
“Yeah I’m starving,” Arthur stepped out of the room and locked the door behind him, “I heard that there’s a good deli down a block or two.”
“Sounds great.”
The two of them walked down the street side by side, talking and laughing without a care in the world. Occasionally Merlin would accidentally-on-purpose bump into him and Arthur would bump back. Their arms were centimeters apart and their hands brushed more than once. Merlin was glad for the cold. It was a good excuse for the blush on his cheeks.
The deli was quaint. A little hole-in-the-wall but it was warm and homey. The walls were orange and green, with white tables and cream colored floor. There was laughing and shouting and the radio played overhead. They ordered their food and sat down in a little corner booth, sipping on their soda.
“How are you and Gwaine?” Arthur asked, “He’s not happy about today.”
“No, he’s not,” Merlin agreed, “He’s just overprotective of me, you know?”
“Why is that?” Arthur leaned forward.
Merlin shrugged and Arthur sighed.
“It’s weird,” Arthur said, stirring the ice in his drink with his straw, “Morgana and I rarely talk but she never fails to tell me about her boyfriends. Leon tells me about his girlfriends, so why don’t you tell me about Gwaine?”
Merlin shrugged again, looking into his cup morosely.
“Look, I know we didn’t get off to well,” Arthur said, “And you have no right to tell me these things, but if you love him then why aren’t you bragging about it?”
Merlin thought. Why wasn’t he bragging about it? All the other guys who dared try something he was quick to mention Gwaine. Why not to Arthur?
Arthur. Arthur who made everything brighter. He made life sparkle. Perhaps Merlin hated him last week, but he hated him with a passion more than he cared for Gwaine. And now…
Now Merlin thought of Arthur before he went sleep.
Now Merlin wondered what Arthur would be doing that day.
Now Merlin sought out his eyes in class and smiled when they met.
Now Merlin felt. He wasn’t drifting around holding onto his friends. He was living. He felt on fire.
“I don’t know,” Merlin said, sounding a bit lost.
Thankfully their sandwiches arrived and Merlin bit into it eagerly, anything to keep his mind off Arthur. He never noticed exactly how gold Arthur’s hair was, or how blue his eyes. He never noticed the perfect shape of his face, his nose, his mouth. He never noticed the slightly off kilter teeth that showed when he smiled wide.
“Stop staring at me,” Arthur said around his food, “It’s freaking me out.”
“Was I staring?” Merlin brought his eyes back into focus, “Sorry.”
Arthur waved a hand, “No problem. I know it’s hard to not be mesmerized by such a handsome face.”
“You wish,” Merlin let out a huff of breathless laughter, “Did you want to do something after?”
“Movie?” Arthur raised an eyebrow.
“Something sweet or bloody?”
“Blood and guts.”
“Horror or action?”
“Horror.”
“Figures.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It just figures that Arthur Pendragon would love horror movies.”
“They’re good movies.”
“Yeah, good for proving what a man you are. Oh, and for getting girlfriends to hold you tighter.”
“Hard seeing as I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“Guess I’ll have to do.”
Merlin stopped. He had gotten so into the easy flow of their banter he didn’t realize the implications of what he was saying until it was too late. He thought time had stopped and any minute now it would go into fast forward and Arthur would leave and never come back and Merlin really shouldn’t feel so upset about it but he didn’t want to lose Arthur, not after all this.
“Do you do it with Gwaine?” Arthur said, poking at his soda and was Merlin imagining a hint of bitterness?
“Do what?”
“Cuddle during horror movies.”
“No, he’s not into horror.”
“Are you?” Arthur looked up.
“Very,” Merlin smirked.
Arthur gave that crooked smile that Merlin was becoming very fond of. Merlin’s heart went a flutter and he looked back into his drink again, fighting the heat in his cheeks.
~
Gwaine broke up with him the next day. He didn’t make a scene, in fact he took Merlin to ice cream when it happened.
“Merlin,” Gwaine said, “We need to talk.”
“About what?” Merlin asked, fishing out a gummy bear from his half melted ice cream.
“Us.”
Merlin’s spoon stopped halfway to his mouth.
“I don’t think it’s working anymore,” Gwaine said, “Ever since Arthur showed up -”
“You’re jealous?” Merlin said, “That’s it, isn’t it? You’re just jealous.”
“It’s more than that,” Gwaine leaned forward, “You’re so… into him.”
“I am not.”
“Maybe not in love, not yet, but you are into him. You spent all day with him yesterday. When was the last time we did that? Just you and me all day?”
“Easy, it was…” Merlin stopped. When was the last time it was just him and Gwaine? He couldn’t remember. All he could think about was Arthur and the time they spent together.
“I… don’t remember,” Merlin said honestly.
“Me neither,” Gwaine glanced at the table, fingers mindlessly tracing shapes, “I just think it best if we break it off. You’re going one way and I’m not. No point in trying if it’s not working, eh?”
“Gwaine,” Merlin started.
“Keep it,” Gwaine said, looking into Merlin’s eyes, “Just be happy, alright?”
“Yeah, you too.”
~
Of course on Monday during their library detention Arthur managed to wheedle the whole story from Merlin. All except that the break up happened because of Arthur.
“Geez,” Arthur sighed, leaning against a bookcase, “That’s rough.”
“I guess,” Merlin slid a book home, “He was right though. We weren’t spending a lot of time together. We just… hung out for a few hours every day. Or tried to. Guess it was inevitable.”
“…are you upset?”
Merlin thought for a moment, “No, not really. It’s still kind of a shock.”
“Hey, let’s go out after this,” Arthur said.
“What?”
“Let’s head to the mall, look around and have some dinner,” Arthur shrugged, “Get your mind off Gwaine, yeah?”
“Sure,” Merlin grinned, “Yeah, that sounds great.”
Merlin and Arthur went to the mall and walked around, just talking and eating some chips. They pointed out certain people and made up lives for them, weaving stories of widows and cheating husbands and a skulking child with her great aunt. Merlin told of the trouble that he and Will got into involving a tree and Old Man Simmons. Arthur talked about Catrina and how she was nothing but a gold digging troll. Merlin dragged Arthur around to his favorite stores. In one he found a necklace, leather cord with a red stone that looked like a claw.
“Why?” he said to Arthur, “Why is all the good stuff expensive?”
“It’s what makes it good, why?” Arthur looked at the necklace Merlin was holding, “Is that it? It’s not that pricey.”
“For me it is,” Merlin said, looking down on it longingly, “Oh well, another time maybe.”
“Merlin?”
Arthur and Merlin both turned.
“Gwen!” Merlin smiled.
Gwen, all dark skin and dark curls, engulfed Merlin in a hug, “It’s so good to see you! I haven’t seen you in ages. How have you been?”
“I’m great!” Merlin said, pulling back and taking a look at her, “How’s that new school working for you?”
“It’s okay,” she shrugged, “I finally met a decent guy! His name is Lance and -”
Gwen was interrupted by a cough behind Merlin. “Oh!” Merlin pulled Gwen to Arthur, “Gwen, this is Arthur. Arthur, Gwen. She and I went to elementary school together.”
“Nice to meet you,” Arthur said, holding his hand out.
“I know you,” Gwen said shaking his hand, “You’re Morgana’s brother, right?”
“Gwen, there you are! I thought you were lost… oh.”
Morgana stood next to Gwen, her skin was white and her hair fell in long black waves, “I see you found my brother and -”
“Merlin. My name is Merlin.”
“Merlin!” Morgana reached over and grabbed him, tugging him out of the store, “You and I need to have a talk.”
Merlin couldn’t do anything but let Morgana drag him out. Gwen and Arthur shrugged and turned to talk to each other. Once out of the store Morgana let go of her death grip and looked at him with fondness.
“You have no idea what you’re doing to my brother,” she said, “I have never seen him like this. He’s usually real quiet, reserved, you know? Doesn’t really open up to people, not really. He keeps himself wrapped up tight and you! You broke in! I don’t know how you did it really, but he’s so happy now, like he hasn’t a care in the world.”
“I don’t understand,” Merlin said, “I’ve known him for three weeks and we only started getting on this week…”
“I don’t know what you did but keep doing it,” Morgana’s face twisted until she was smirking wickedly, “I’ll tell you a secret too. Arthur’s bi. He doesn’t admit it, but I’ve some of the looks he gives to guys.”
“I don’t care,” Merlin lied, “Look, I just broke up with my boyfriend and Arthur is just helping me feel better.”
“Sure,” Morgana said.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Merlin looked back at Gwen and Arthur standing at the check-out counter.
“Of course not,” Morgana leaned back against the railing, “It’s not like you’re checking out my brother and it’s not like you’re smiling just thinking about him.”
“Shut up,” Merlin said, trying not to smile, “Seriously just… it’s never going to happen.”
“Because you don’t want it to? Or won’t let it?”
Merlin didn’t say anything. He looked at Arthur, picking up a plastic bag and tucking away his wallet. Gwen hid a smirk and followed him out.
“What’s that?” Merlin asked gesturing to the bag.
“Nothing important,” Arthur said, “Fancy on some dinner?”
“Love some,” Merlin smiled.
They said goodbye to Gwen and Morgana and sauntered over to the food court, Arthur swinging his bag around his wrist. They got Chinese and sat down in the corner, flipping their chopsticks and stealing each others chicken. They fought over the fortune cookies and almost spilled their sodas.
“My you two are quite the couple,” an old lady walked by.
“Oh no, we’re not,” they protested.
“Nonsense, I know love when I see it.”
Merlin and Arthur spluttered but the lady just smiled softly and tottered off. They glanced at each other, blushed, and looked down at their food.
“So what’s in the bag?” Merlin gestured, coughing.
“I already told you, it’s not important,” Arthur pulled it closer to him.
“If it’s not important then you can show me, right?”
“Not exactly how things work, Merlin.”
“Don’t care. I wanna see.”
Arthur groaned, “Don’t laugh.”
“I won’t,” Merlin promised.
Arthur opened the bag and pulled out a necklace. Not just any necklace, but the necklace Merlin had been admiring.
“It’s for you,” Arthur said, holding it out, “You really wanted it and when you said you couldn’t afford it…”
“Arthur,” Merlin took the necklace. He tore off the tag and pulled it over his head, “Thank you.”
“It was nothing,” Arthur turned back to his food.
Merlin reached out and put his hand on top of Arthur’s, “Thank you, I mean it.”
Arthur glanced up from beneath his lashes. He turned his hand over and tightened his fingers around Merlin’s.
Part 4
Fandom: Merlin (pairing: Arthur/Merlin and Gwaine/Merlin)
Rating: PG
Summary: Merlin was only supposed to help show Arthur around the new school. He didn't sign up for detention and he most certainly did NOT sign up to fall in love.
Notes: Written for Lilybell's Fanfic Contest-A-Palooza on Tumblr. Inspired by the picture here
Saturday around eleven Merlin stood in front of his closet, looking at his clothes and feeling decidedly lost. Nothing fancy to speak of. Shirts and jeans and ratty shoes. Merlin groaned and flopped on his bed. This wasn’t supposed to be anything special. It was lunch with Arthur. Arthur of all people. Merlin wasn’t supposed to impress Arthur. It was lunch. A lunch that platonic friends have with each other. Platonic. No romance involved.
Merlin rolled over, eying his closet with anger. He wasn’t trying to impress Arthur romantically. He was trying to impress him the way a friend would impress another friend. No need for subtext. But if he dressed too nicely and Arthur didn’t dress up at all then Merlin would feel awkward, but if he was casual and Arthur was a little more than casual then it would be awkward still.
He walked back to the closet. He supposed, in his completely platonic need to impress Arthur, he could wear his black t-shirt he got from a Metallica concert with his skinny jeans. It was nice, not too nice and not too casual.
And Arthur might think he was a goth freak.
Red. Red was a good color. Red shirt, blue scarf, brown leather jacket over it all. That was doable. That was very doable. Merlin tossed the clothes on his bed before he could change his mind.
After a shower and a quick brush of his teeth Merlin walked to the school. Gwaine was supposed to be busy. He texted Merlin last night saying that he was helping out a guy in his English Lit class (Percy if Merlin remembered right) and that if Arthur tried anything funny to give him a call.
It was noon and Merlin knocked on the door.
Arthur opened it, his hair still damp. It looked like he had the same problem as Merlin, since clothes were flung all over the room, hanging off the bed and the lamp. He smiled when he saw Merlin, gave him a brief look over and started laughing.
“What?” Merlin looked down in case he forgot something like his trousers, “What’s wrong?”
“We match,” Arthur said.
Merlin looked up but instead of focusing on Arthur’s face he took in the rest of him. Sure enough, red shirt and blue jeans with a dark brown trench coat over it all.
“So we do,” Merlin smiled, “Lunch?”
“Yeah I’m starving,” Arthur stepped out of the room and locked the door behind him, “I heard that there’s a good deli down a block or two.”
“Sounds great.”
The two of them walked down the street side by side, talking and laughing without a care in the world. Occasionally Merlin would accidentally-on-purpose bump into him and Arthur would bump back. Their arms were centimeters apart and their hands brushed more than once. Merlin was glad for the cold. It was a good excuse for the blush on his cheeks.
The deli was quaint. A little hole-in-the-wall but it was warm and homey. The walls were orange and green, with white tables and cream colored floor. There was laughing and shouting and the radio played overhead. They ordered their food and sat down in a little corner booth, sipping on their soda.
“How are you and Gwaine?” Arthur asked, “He’s not happy about today.”
“No, he’s not,” Merlin agreed, “He’s just overprotective of me, you know?”
“Why is that?” Arthur leaned forward.
Merlin shrugged and Arthur sighed.
“It’s weird,” Arthur said, stirring the ice in his drink with his straw, “Morgana and I rarely talk but she never fails to tell me about her boyfriends. Leon tells me about his girlfriends, so why don’t you tell me about Gwaine?”
Merlin shrugged again, looking into his cup morosely.
“Look, I know we didn’t get off to well,” Arthur said, “And you have no right to tell me these things, but if you love him then why aren’t you bragging about it?”
Merlin thought. Why wasn’t he bragging about it? All the other guys who dared try something he was quick to mention Gwaine. Why not to Arthur?
Arthur. Arthur who made everything brighter. He made life sparkle. Perhaps Merlin hated him last week, but he hated him with a passion more than he cared for Gwaine. And now…
Now Merlin thought of Arthur before he went sleep.
Now Merlin wondered what Arthur would be doing that day.
Now Merlin sought out his eyes in class and smiled when they met.
Now Merlin felt. He wasn’t drifting around holding onto his friends. He was living. He felt on fire.
“I don’t know,” Merlin said, sounding a bit lost.
Thankfully their sandwiches arrived and Merlin bit into it eagerly, anything to keep his mind off Arthur. He never noticed exactly how gold Arthur’s hair was, or how blue his eyes. He never noticed the perfect shape of his face, his nose, his mouth. He never noticed the slightly off kilter teeth that showed when he smiled wide.
“Stop staring at me,” Arthur said around his food, “It’s freaking me out.”
“Was I staring?” Merlin brought his eyes back into focus, “Sorry.”
Arthur waved a hand, “No problem. I know it’s hard to not be mesmerized by such a handsome face.”
“You wish,” Merlin let out a huff of breathless laughter, “Did you want to do something after?”
“Movie?” Arthur raised an eyebrow.
“Something sweet or bloody?”
“Blood and guts.”
“Horror or action?”
“Horror.”
“Figures.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It just figures that Arthur Pendragon would love horror movies.”
“They’re good movies.”
“Yeah, good for proving what a man you are. Oh, and for getting girlfriends to hold you tighter.”
“Hard seeing as I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“Guess I’ll have to do.”
Merlin stopped. He had gotten so into the easy flow of their banter he didn’t realize the implications of what he was saying until it was too late. He thought time had stopped and any minute now it would go into fast forward and Arthur would leave and never come back and Merlin really shouldn’t feel so upset about it but he didn’t want to lose Arthur, not after all this.
“Do you do it with Gwaine?” Arthur said, poking at his soda and was Merlin imagining a hint of bitterness?
“Do what?”
“Cuddle during horror movies.”
“No, he’s not into horror.”
“Are you?” Arthur looked up.
“Very,” Merlin smirked.
Arthur gave that crooked smile that Merlin was becoming very fond of. Merlin’s heart went a flutter and he looked back into his drink again, fighting the heat in his cheeks.
~
Gwaine broke up with him the next day. He didn’t make a scene, in fact he took Merlin to ice cream when it happened.
“Merlin,” Gwaine said, “We need to talk.”
“About what?” Merlin asked, fishing out a gummy bear from his half melted ice cream.
“Us.”
Merlin’s spoon stopped halfway to his mouth.
“I don’t think it’s working anymore,” Gwaine said, “Ever since Arthur showed up -”
“You’re jealous?” Merlin said, “That’s it, isn’t it? You’re just jealous.”
“It’s more than that,” Gwaine leaned forward, “You’re so… into him.”
“I am not.”
“Maybe not in love, not yet, but you are into him. You spent all day with him yesterday. When was the last time we did that? Just you and me all day?”
“Easy, it was…” Merlin stopped. When was the last time it was just him and Gwaine? He couldn’t remember. All he could think about was Arthur and the time they spent together.
“I… don’t remember,” Merlin said honestly.
“Me neither,” Gwaine glanced at the table, fingers mindlessly tracing shapes, “I just think it best if we break it off. You’re going one way and I’m not. No point in trying if it’s not working, eh?”
“Gwaine,” Merlin started.
“Keep it,” Gwaine said, looking into Merlin’s eyes, “Just be happy, alright?”
“Yeah, you too.”
~
Of course on Monday during their library detention Arthur managed to wheedle the whole story from Merlin. All except that the break up happened because of Arthur.
“Geez,” Arthur sighed, leaning against a bookcase, “That’s rough.”
“I guess,” Merlin slid a book home, “He was right though. We weren’t spending a lot of time together. We just… hung out for a few hours every day. Or tried to. Guess it was inevitable.”
“…are you upset?”
Merlin thought for a moment, “No, not really. It’s still kind of a shock.”
“Hey, let’s go out after this,” Arthur said.
“What?”
“Let’s head to the mall, look around and have some dinner,” Arthur shrugged, “Get your mind off Gwaine, yeah?”
“Sure,” Merlin grinned, “Yeah, that sounds great.”
Merlin and Arthur went to the mall and walked around, just talking and eating some chips. They pointed out certain people and made up lives for them, weaving stories of widows and cheating husbands and a skulking child with her great aunt. Merlin told of the trouble that he and Will got into involving a tree and Old Man Simmons. Arthur talked about Catrina and how she was nothing but a gold digging troll. Merlin dragged Arthur around to his favorite stores. In one he found a necklace, leather cord with a red stone that looked like a claw.
“Why?” he said to Arthur, “Why is all the good stuff expensive?”
“It’s what makes it good, why?” Arthur looked at the necklace Merlin was holding, “Is that it? It’s not that pricey.”
“For me it is,” Merlin said, looking down on it longingly, “Oh well, another time maybe.”
“Merlin?”
Arthur and Merlin both turned.
“Gwen!” Merlin smiled.
Gwen, all dark skin and dark curls, engulfed Merlin in a hug, “It’s so good to see you! I haven’t seen you in ages. How have you been?”
“I’m great!” Merlin said, pulling back and taking a look at her, “How’s that new school working for you?”
“It’s okay,” she shrugged, “I finally met a decent guy! His name is Lance and -”
Gwen was interrupted by a cough behind Merlin. “Oh!” Merlin pulled Gwen to Arthur, “Gwen, this is Arthur. Arthur, Gwen. She and I went to elementary school together.”
“Nice to meet you,” Arthur said, holding his hand out.
“I know you,” Gwen said shaking his hand, “You’re Morgana’s brother, right?”
“Gwen, there you are! I thought you were lost… oh.”
Morgana stood next to Gwen, her skin was white and her hair fell in long black waves, “I see you found my brother and -”
“Merlin. My name is Merlin.”
“Merlin!” Morgana reached over and grabbed him, tugging him out of the store, “You and I need to have a talk.”
Merlin couldn’t do anything but let Morgana drag him out. Gwen and Arthur shrugged and turned to talk to each other. Once out of the store Morgana let go of her death grip and looked at him with fondness.
“You have no idea what you’re doing to my brother,” she said, “I have never seen him like this. He’s usually real quiet, reserved, you know? Doesn’t really open up to people, not really. He keeps himself wrapped up tight and you! You broke in! I don’t know how you did it really, but he’s so happy now, like he hasn’t a care in the world.”
“I don’t understand,” Merlin said, “I’ve known him for three weeks and we only started getting on this week…”
“I don’t know what you did but keep doing it,” Morgana’s face twisted until she was smirking wickedly, “I’ll tell you a secret too. Arthur’s bi. He doesn’t admit it, but I’ve some of the looks he gives to guys.”
“I don’t care,” Merlin lied, “Look, I just broke up with my boyfriend and Arthur is just helping me feel better.”
“Sure,” Morgana said.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Merlin looked back at Gwen and Arthur standing at the check-out counter.
“Of course not,” Morgana leaned back against the railing, “It’s not like you’re checking out my brother and it’s not like you’re smiling just thinking about him.”
“Shut up,” Merlin said, trying not to smile, “Seriously just… it’s never going to happen.”
“Because you don’t want it to? Or won’t let it?”
Merlin didn’t say anything. He looked at Arthur, picking up a plastic bag and tucking away his wallet. Gwen hid a smirk and followed him out.
“What’s that?” Merlin asked gesturing to the bag.
“Nothing important,” Arthur said, “Fancy on some dinner?”
“Love some,” Merlin smiled.
They said goodbye to Gwen and Morgana and sauntered over to the food court, Arthur swinging his bag around his wrist. They got Chinese and sat down in the corner, flipping their chopsticks and stealing each others chicken. They fought over the fortune cookies and almost spilled their sodas.
“My you two are quite the couple,” an old lady walked by.
“Oh no, we’re not,” they protested.
“Nonsense, I know love when I see it.”
Merlin and Arthur spluttered but the lady just smiled softly and tottered off. They glanced at each other, blushed, and looked down at their food.
“So what’s in the bag?” Merlin gestured, coughing.
“I already told you, it’s not important,” Arthur pulled it closer to him.
“If it’s not important then you can show me, right?”
“Not exactly how things work, Merlin.”
“Don’t care. I wanna see.”
Arthur groaned, “Don’t laugh.”
“I won’t,” Merlin promised.
Arthur opened the bag and pulled out a necklace. Not just any necklace, but the necklace Merlin had been admiring.
“It’s for you,” Arthur said, holding it out, “You really wanted it and when you said you couldn’t afford it…”
“Arthur,” Merlin took the necklace. He tore off the tag and pulled it over his head, “Thank you.”
“It was nothing,” Arthur turned back to his food.
Merlin reached out and put his hand on top of Arthur’s, “Thank you, I mean it.”
Arthur glanced up from beneath his lashes. He turned his hand over and tightened his fingers around Merlin’s.
Part 4