fic; jealously befits you, merlin
title; jealously befits you, Merlin
rating; r
word count; 1,874
characters/pairings: arthur/merlin, cedric
spoilers/warnings; 2x01 "The Curse of Cornelius Sigan", slash, sexual situations
disclaimer; i do not any of the characters, just borrowing them for fun times.
summary; Merlin continues to be jealous of Cedric, Arthur is amused.
a/n; written for paynesgrey 's prompt-merlin's clumsiness. I had this in mind for ages but once I started writing it it got waaaay out of hand and um, I ended up with this. ^^ I enjoyed writing it though and at any rate, I hope you like it! also; ho ho! first proper slash fic!
"There you are! What took you so long? I'm starving!" Arthur exclaimed as Merlin shut the chamber doors behind him, carefully balancing the dinner tray in his hand.
"I had a bit of an accident on my way." Merlin said sheepishly, setting the tray down on the table. Arthur rolled his eyes, not bothering to inquire after details. He really didn't care about the embarrassingly stupid positions Merlin sometimes put himself in. As long as he got his work done which he could barely do as it was, it was all Arthur cared about.
He sat down to his meal, stomach grumbling in anticipation but stopped when he saw the contents of the tray. "Merlin..." he said in a slow, controlled tone, "What do you call this?" he held up the single, soggy piece of bread on his plate and turned to glare at his manservant.
Merlin bit his lip, eyes fixed on the bread in Arthur's hand. "Dinner?" he said in high voice.
Arthur narrowed his eyes threateningly and Merlin immediately launched into an explanation of how he'd lost his balance while climbing the kitchen stairs and something about a rat in his path that had come out of nowhere and his soup bowl crashing over it and the water goblet falling onto his plate thus the soaking bread and it was all just a mess of words slurred out at the impossibly fast pace of Merlin's nervousness and Arthur could do little but bury his face in his hands and groan at his misfortune of having an idiot as a manservant.
There was a knock on his chamber doors at the moment and Merlin hurried to answer it, probably grateful to get as far away from the Prince as possible before Arthur's hunger and anger got the best of him.
"No, we wouldn't." Merlin's irritated voice came from the doorway. "I told you, Arthur is fine. I'm looking after him, he doesn't need two servants."
"Who is it, Merlin?" Arthur asked, making his way to the door. He had to shove Merlin aside because he was firmly blocking the doorway to see who the unexpected visitor was.
It was Cedric. The man bowed low when he saw Arthur and bless him, was that food in his hand? "Forgive the intrusion sire, I saw the accident that occurred with your dinner tray earlier this evening and thought you might wish for something more edible to eat." he held out the tray in his hand which was laden with fruits and a fresh bowl of soup and bread.
Arthur stared at him, "Well that was awfully kind of you."
Cedric bowed slightly, smiling tightly. "Anything to be of service to the prince, it continues to be an honor."
"Hear that, Merlin?" Arthur said, turning to the boy standing next to him. Merlin was glaring at Cedric. "Take the tray." he said curtly, turning away.
Merlin made a move to obey him but Cedric jerked away, "Perhaps sire, given the earlier events, it would be best if I were to take the tray inside myself. I wouldn't wish for Merlin to deprive you another dinner."
Arthur laughed, "Very well." he said. Cedric pushed past Merlin into the room, heading for the table. Merlin followed him with narrowed eyes, his jaw clenched in anger. Arthur found the expression amusing.
"Useful man, that Cedric..." he remarked later on while he was eating. Merlin, who was pouring him water made no reply and Arthur watched in amusement as the muscles in his jaw flexed. "Very hard to come by such devoted servants these days," he continued, relishing in the way Merlin's face darkened every second with anger and jealously.
"It was quite a throw today in the woods...he saved my life." Merlin turned his eyes on Arthur's face, blazing and hot and Arthur smiled, knowing how much his praise for Cedric was annoying him.
"Funny no one actually saw him throw the blow," Merlin remarked in a carefully casual voice but Arthur could hear the frustration behind it.
"What are you suggesting? You think he was lying?"
"I'm just saying...no one saw...there's no proof that he was the one who did it."
"Who was it then?"
"Could have been anyone," Merlin said, shrugging. "Might even have been me. You wouldn't have known, you're back was turned."
Arthur frowned up at him, "Merlin you can barely look the creature in the face, you expect me to believe that you actually killed it?"
"I have saved your life before," he pointed out, "Multiple times. You underestimate me."
Arthur grinned, "Jealously befits you, Merlin." he said and Merlin scowled. Arthur shook his head as he pushed his tray away and stood up, stomach blissfully satisfied, "If Cedric had lied, why would he request for a position in the royal household as a form of reward? That was remarkably selfless wasn't it? He could have just asked for a fat lot of gold instead."
"I wish I'd been given the option..." Merlin mumbled from behind him.
"What was that?" Arthur asked, rounding on him.
Merlin's ears turned pink at the tips, "Nothing."
"No, no, please." Arthur said, leaning against the table and fixing Merlin with a stern gaze, "Do repeat your words."
Merlin sighed and dumped the bowl of fruits onto the tray and looked up at him, "I said I would have liked the option of choosing anything I wanted as a reward for saving your royal backside. Instead, I got stuck as your manservant. Fat good a reward that is."
Arthur glared at him. "Perhaps I should consider replacing you with someone more willing to serve me."
"Oh you wouldn't do that."
"What makes you so sure?"
"You'd miss me too much." Merlin grinned suddenly, and it was so foolish and he wa's such an idiot but Arthur found himself smiling despite everything. He punched Merlin's shoulder lightly before turning away. Idiot that he was, Arthur did admit enjoying having him around. His life would be a much duller place if it wasn't for Merlin's constant displays of idiocy.
It was when he was pulling off his shirt to get ready for bed that he felt the sharp pain in his shoulders. He winced, shirt halfway up his arms. "Merlin," he called out, voice muffled from the cloth covering his face.
Merlin's fingers were on him seconds later, gently tugging the shirt over his head. "What's wrong?" he asked, face concerned.
Arthur rolled his shoulders experimentally and felt a dull ache in them. "I think I'm probably begging to feel the consequences of your stupidity."
Merlin looked offended. "What did I do?"
"The horse this morning," Arthur said, walking towards the bed. "I think I might have injured myself during the fall."
"And you're noticing the pain now?" Merlin asked, following behind him.
"No Merlin, I'm just making excuses so you'll give me a massage." Arthur snarled, slumping onto the bed. Honestly, he could be so dumb sometimes.
Merlin didn't reply and Arthur felt a jolt of surprise when a warm pair of hands placed themselves on his shoulders. "Merlin," Arthur frowned into his pillows, "What are you doing?"
"You said you wanted a massage." he said innocently like it was the most obvious thing in the world and Arthur was about to say something but Merlin's hands started kneading his shoulder blades gently and damn, his hands did feel good. They were rough from the work he did all day but had almost a girly delicate touch to them.
"Nrgh," Arthur moaned incoherently as Merlin's palm pressed against a painfully sore spot between his shoulder blades. Maybe the pain wasn't because of the fall at all and just from the stress of the days hunting trip. But Arthur wasn't about to admit that to Merlin.
"You know Merlin," Arthur said, drowsy with pleasure and sleep, "For someone who can barely walk straight without tripping over his own feet, you've got good hands." he arched into Merlin's touch unconsciously.
He could just see the pleased smiled on Merlin's face in his mind, "Oh you have no idea what these hands can do..."
The words sent a thrill through his body. Suddenly, he felt oddly hot. Merlin's hands went lower now, moving to the small part of his back and Arthur stiffened.
"Something wrong, sire?" Merlin asked with genuine curiosity making Arthur positive that he wasn't doing anything deliberately. But damn him, Merlin's hand was dangerously close to his hip and the warmth from his massaging hands was doing something entirely different to his insides.
Arthur shifted slightly, the friction from the movement was delicious. He tried to move again, subtly, but Merlin's hand ended up gripping his hip and god, he could feel the warmth from under the thin material of his breeches and now he was gone because he could feel the hardness of his arousal clearly under him and there was no way of getting rid of it with Merlin, stupid, stupid Merlin, rubbing his hands all over his bare back.
Arthur closed his eyes, trying not to focus too much on the sensations but it was of no use. The need for release only got more urgent with every press of Merlin's calloused hand. Without thinking, Arthur suddenly flipped over and Merlin's hand ended up on the waistband of his breeches.
He froze, staring down at Arthur nervously. His eyes flickered to the obvious bulge in Arthur's pants and then back to Arthur's face. Merlin swallowed, hand still exactly where it was, infuriatingly, frustratingly inches away from where Arthur wanted it to be and damn him for not understanding.
Arthur wrapped his fingers around Merlin's wrist and guided it lower. He could feel Merlin's pulse beating wildly under the pressure of his thumb. "Arthur..." he breathed, his eyes locked on his. He pressed his hand into his erection with the gentlest of pressures and Arthur gasped loudly, arching into the small touch.
Arthur opened his eyes and reached for Merlin, pulled him down by his neckerchief and crashing their lips together hungrily. Merlin stumbled a little before falling ungracefully on top of him and his clumsiness had never been more appealing because it meant that he now had his knee pressed up between Arthur's thighs and it was driving him mad.
Arthur tugged on Merlin's lower lip, impatient. Merlin seemed to get the hint and slid his hand under the cloth of Arthur's breeches and took him full in his hand. Arthur almost came then and there from the contact. "Merlin..." he panted, pressing biting kisses down the length of his neck. Merlin's hand worked in quite, precise movements and Arthur came apart within seconds.
Merlin withdrew his hand from Arthur's pants and smiled down at him as Arthur fought the sleepy bliss that was enveloping him slowly.
"I bet Cedric isn't half as good at this," Merlin said, grinning.
"I wouldn't know would I? I'm stuck with you."
"Yes you are," Merlin said, grin widening. He leaned down, probably in an attempt to kiss Arthur again but ended up instead falling abruptly and causing their foreheads to clash.
"MERLIN!"
"Sorry, my feet...got caught in the sheets." he hastily scrambled up to untangle himself.
Arthur just covered his face and groaned once more. "Oh Merlin, you helpless IDIOT!"
rating; r
word count; 1,874
characters/pairings: arthur/merlin, cedric
spoilers/warnings; 2x01 "The Curse of Cornelius Sigan", slash, sexual situations
disclaimer; i do not any of the characters, just borrowing them for fun times.
summary; Merlin continues to be jealous of Cedric, Arthur is amused.
a/n; written for paynesgrey 's prompt-merlin's clumsiness. I had this in mind for ages but once I started writing it it got waaaay out of hand and um, I ended up with this. ^^ I enjoyed writing it though and at any rate, I hope you like it! also; ho ho! first proper slash fic!
"There you are! What took you so long? I'm starving!" Arthur exclaimed as Merlin shut the chamber doors behind him, carefully balancing the dinner tray in his hand.
"I had a bit of an accident on my way." Merlin said sheepishly, setting the tray down on the table. Arthur rolled his eyes, not bothering to inquire after details. He really didn't care about the embarrassingly stupid positions Merlin sometimes put himself in. As long as he got his work done which he could barely do as it was, it was all Arthur cared about.
He sat down to his meal, stomach grumbling in anticipation but stopped when he saw the contents of the tray. "Merlin..." he said in a slow, controlled tone, "What do you call this?" he held up the single, soggy piece of bread on his plate and turned to glare at his manservant.
Merlin bit his lip, eyes fixed on the bread in Arthur's hand. "Dinner?" he said in high voice.
Arthur narrowed his eyes threateningly and Merlin immediately launched into an explanation of how he'd lost his balance while climbing the kitchen stairs and something about a rat in his path that had come out of nowhere and his soup bowl crashing over it and the water goblet falling onto his plate thus the soaking bread and it was all just a mess of words slurred out at the impossibly fast pace of Merlin's nervousness and Arthur could do little but bury his face in his hands and groan at his misfortune of having an idiot as a manservant.
There was a knock on his chamber doors at the moment and Merlin hurried to answer it, probably grateful to get as far away from the Prince as possible before Arthur's hunger and anger got the best of him.
"No, we wouldn't." Merlin's irritated voice came from the doorway. "I told you, Arthur is fine. I'm looking after him, he doesn't need two servants."
"Who is it, Merlin?" Arthur asked, making his way to the door. He had to shove Merlin aside because he was firmly blocking the doorway to see who the unexpected visitor was.
It was Cedric. The man bowed low when he saw Arthur and bless him, was that food in his hand? "Forgive the intrusion sire, I saw the accident that occurred with your dinner tray earlier this evening and thought you might wish for something more edible to eat." he held out the tray in his hand which was laden with fruits and a fresh bowl of soup and bread.
Arthur stared at him, "Well that was awfully kind of you."
Cedric bowed slightly, smiling tightly. "Anything to be of service to the prince, it continues to be an honor."
"Hear that, Merlin?" Arthur said, turning to the boy standing next to him. Merlin was glaring at Cedric. "Take the tray." he said curtly, turning away.
Merlin made a move to obey him but Cedric jerked away, "Perhaps sire, given the earlier events, it would be best if I were to take the tray inside myself. I wouldn't wish for Merlin to deprive you another dinner."
Arthur laughed, "Very well." he said. Cedric pushed past Merlin into the room, heading for the table. Merlin followed him with narrowed eyes, his jaw clenched in anger. Arthur found the expression amusing.
"Useful man, that Cedric..." he remarked later on while he was eating. Merlin, who was pouring him water made no reply and Arthur watched in amusement as the muscles in his jaw flexed. "Very hard to come by such devoted servants these days," he continued, relishing in the way Merlin's face darkened every second with anger and jealously.
"It was quite a throw today in the woods...he saved my life." Merlin turned his eyes on Arthur's face, blazing and hot and Arthur smiled, knowing how much his praise for Cedric was annoying him.
"Funny no one actually saw him throw the blow," Merlin remarked in a carefully casual voice but Arthur could hear the frustration behind it.
"What are you suggesting? You think he was lying?"
"I'm just saying...no one saw...there's no proof that he was the one who did it."
"Who was it then?"
"Could have been anyone," Merlin said, shrugging. "Might even have been me. You wouldn't have known, you're back was turned."
Arthur frowned up at him, "Merlin you can barely look the creature in the face, you expect me to believe that you actually killed it?"
"I have saved your life before," he pointed out, "Multiple times. You underestimate me."
Arthur grinned, "Jealously befits you, Merlin." he said and Merlin scowled. Arthur shook his head as he pushed his tray away and stood up, stomach blissfully satisfied, "If Cedric had lied, why would he request for a position in the royal household as a form of reward? That was remarkably selfless wasn't it? He could have just asked for a fat lot of gold instead."
"I wish I'd been given the option..." Merlin mumbled from behind him.
"What was that?" Arthur asked, rounding on him.
Merlin's ears turned pink at the tips, "Nothing."
"No, no, please." Arthur said, leaning against the table and fixing Merlin with a stern gaze, "Do repeat your words."
Merlin sighed and dumped the bowl of fruits onto the tray and looked up at him, "I said I would have liked the option of choosing anything I wanted as a reward for saving your royal backside. Instead, I got stuck as your manservant. Fat good a reward that is."
Arthur glared at him. "Perhaps I should consider replacing you with someone more willing to serve me."
"Oh you wouldn't do that."
"What makes you so sure?"
"You'd miss me too much." Merlin grinned suddenly, and it was so foolish and he wa's such an idiot but Arthur found himself smiling despite everything. He punched Merlin's shoulder lightly before turning away. Idiot that he was, Arthur did admit enjoying having him around. His life would be a much duller place if it wasn't for Merlin's constant displays of idiocy.
It was when he was pulling off his shirt to get ready for bed that he felt the sharp pain in his shoulders. He winced, shirt halfway up his arms. "Merlin," he called out, voice muffled from the cloth covering his face.
Merlin's fingers were on him seconds later, gently tugging the shirt over his head. "What's wrong?" he asked, face concerned.
Arthur rolled his shoulders experimentally and felt a dull ache in them. "I think I'm probably begging to feel the consequences of your stupidity."
Merlin looked offended. "What did I do?"
"The horse this morning," Arthur said, walking towards the bed. "I think I might have injured myself during the fall."
"And you're noticing the pain now?" Merlin asked, following behind him.
"No Merlin, I'm just making excuses so you'll give me a massage." Arthur snarled, slumping onto the bed. Honestly, he could be so dumb sometimes.
Merlin didn't reply and Arthur felt a jolt of surprise when a warm pair of hands placed themselves on his shoulders. "Merlin," Arthur frowned into his pillows, "What are you doing?"
"You said you wanted a massage." he said innocently like it was the most obvious thing in the world and Arthur was about to say something but Merlin's hands started kneading his shoulder blades gently and damn, his hands did feel good. They were rough from the work he did all day but had almost a girly delicate touch to them.
"Nrgh," Arthur moaned incoherently as Merlin's palm pressed against a painfully sore spot between his shoulder blades. Maybe the pain wasn't because of the fall at all and just from the stress of the days hunting trip. But Arthur wasn't about to admit that to Merlin.
"You know Merlin," Arthur said, drowsy with pleasure and sleep, "For someone who can barely walk straight without tripping over his own feet, you've got good hands." he arched into Merlin's touch unconsciously.
He could just see the pleased smiled on Merlin's face in his mind, "Oh you have no idea what these hands can do..."
The words sent a thrill through his body. Suddenly, he felt oddly hot. Merlin's hands went lower now, moving to the small part of his back and Arthur stiffened.
"Something wrong, sire?" Merlin asked with genuine curiosity making Arthur positive that he wasn't doing anything deliberately. But damn him, Merlin's hand was dangerously close to his hip and the warmth from his massaging hands was doing something entirely different to his insides.
Arthur shifted slightly, the friction from the movement was delicious. He tried to move again, subtly, but Merlin's hand ended up gripping his hip and god, he could feel the warmth from under the thin material of his breeches and now he was gone because he could feel the hardness of his arousal clearly under him and there was no way of getting rid of it with Merlin, stupid, stupid Merlin, rubbing his hands all over his bare back.
Arthur closed his eyes, trying not to focus too much on the sensations but it was of no use. The need for release only got more urgent with every press of Merlin's calloused hand. Without thinking, Arthur suddenly flipped over and Merlin's hand ended up on the waistband of his breeches.
He froze, staring down at Arthur nervously. His eyes flickered to the obvious bulge in Arthur's pants and then back to Arthur's face. Merlin swallowed, hand still exactly where it was, infuriatingly, frustratingly inches away from where Arthur wanted it to be and damn him for not understanding.
Arthur wrapped his fingers around Merlin's wrist and guided it lower. He could feel Merlin's pulse beating wildly under the pressure of his thumb. "Arthur..." he breathed, his eyes locked on his. He pressed his hand into his erection with the gentlest of pressures and Arthur gasped loudly, arching into the small touch.
Arthur opened his eyes and reached for Merlin, pulled him down by his neckerchief and crashing their lips together hungrily. Merlin stumbled a little before falling ungracefully on top of him and his clumsiness had never been more appealing because it meant that he now had his knee pressed up between Arthur's thighs and it was driving him mad.
Arthur tugged on Merlin's lower lip, impatient. Merlin seemed to get the hint and slid his hand under the cloth of Arthur's breeches and took him full in his hand. Arthur almost came then and there from the contact. "Merlin..." he panted, pressing biting kisses down the length of his neck. Merlin's hand worked in quite, precise movements and Arthur came apart within seconds.
Merlin withdrew his hand from Arthur's pants and smiled down at him as Arthur fought the sleepy bliss that was enveloping him slowly.
"I bet Cedric isn't half as good at this," Merlin said, grinning.
"I wouldn't know would I? I'm stuck with you."
"Yes you are," Merlin said, grin widening. He leaned down, probably in an attempt to kiss Arthur again but ended up instead falling abruptly and causing their foreheads to clash.
"MERLIN!"
"Sorry, my feet...got caught in the sheets." he hastily scrambled up to untangle himself.
Arthur just covered his face and groaned once more. "Oh Merlin, you helpless IDIOT!"