Duckling 1/1
Sometimes, Arthur really hated the fact that Merlin had such a soft spot for animals in the need of help. It was a common occurrence for Arthur to get a phone call on his way back from work, with a breathless Merlin explaining that he’d be late home because a pregnant horse was having difficulties giving birth and needed help, or something like that.
It also wasn’t unusual for Arthur to come home from work to find Merlin sat on the living room or kitchen floor, hand feeding a bird with a broken wing, or an orphaned lamb, or something else so vulnerable and pathetic looking.
So he really shouldn’t have been surprised to come home one Friday evening after an excruciatingly long day at work to find Merlin sat next to a crate of chirping, fluffy yellow chicks, trying desperately to hand feed them. Merlin looked up when he heard him come in through the door, eyes shining with relief.
“Thank God, Arthur. Give me a hand, would you?” As if on cue, all the chicks attempted a bid for freedom, chirping loudly. Faking an enthusiastic smile, Arthur ran very quickly up the stairs, claiming the need to change out of his suit. Taking as long as possible in an attempt to get out of playing vet, he sighed.
Being in a relationship with a vet, Arthur decided, was exhausting.
*****
Two hour of struggling to feed ten hungry chicks later, Arthur had stupidly offered to settle them down for the night, while Merlin made them both a cup of well-earnt tea. As he placing one of the bigger chicks in the box for the third time, Arthur came across something odd. Scooping the tiny bird out of the crate and carefully holding it in his hands, Arthur frowned. He squinted at it for a few moments, checking it briefly against another chick.
“Merlin,” He called over his shoulder. “Are you sure this is a chick?”
“Of course it’s a chick!”
“Clearly your years at veterinary school were a waste, Merlin.” Arthur turned, as a disgruntled Merlin threw a tea-towel at his head. “Look.” He watched as Merlin inspected in the bird in the dim light, waiting for the penny to drop. He didn’t have to wait long. With a gasp, Merlin cried,
“It’s a duckling!”
“And you call yourself a vet.”
*****
“Well, no, Sophia, I didn’t realise until Arthur pointed it out a moment ago! Where could it have come from?”
Arthur listened carefully as Merlin spoke to the head nurse at the veterinary surgery, cradling the duckling in a small towel, gently stroking it’s head. Ever since he’d discovered it, much to Merlin’s amusement, Arthur had been strangely smitten with the small creature. He’d spent the past half hour clutching it gently to his chest, away from the other birds, despite Merlin’s warnings about not getting too attached.
He’d also completely ignored Merlin’s order of “Do not name it under any circumstances”, and gone ahead and christened him Excalibur. It was a huge name for a tiny bird, but Arthur figured he’d grow into it sooner or later
“He’s been very helpful, actually. Already got attached to the duckling. It’s quite adorable really.” Arthur frowned as he heard the conversation switch to be about him. “No, he won’t put it down. Literally. He’s holding it right now.” Merlin plonked down next to him on the sofa. “Alright, I’ll see you on Monday. Bye.” Putting the phone down on the arm of the sofa, Merlin ran his fingers absently through Arthur’s hair. “How is it?”
“He is fine.” Arthur looked down at the sleeping duckling adoringly.
“How do you know it’s a boy?”
“I don’t. But Excalibur is a bit of an odd name for a girl, don’t you think?”
Merlin frowned, brushing Arthur’s hair away from his face, much like a concerned would do. “Arthur...”
“I know, I know - I wasn’t supposed to name him, or get attached, and I know you told me to leave him in the box with the others, but he looked so lonely... I bet you they rejected him.” He ran a gentle finger over the duckling’s head, watching it protectively.
“I’m sure they didn’t, Arthur.”
“Oh, you’d be surprised - Children are horrible.”
At the extremely solemn expression on his Arthur’s face, Merlin laughed, ruffling Arthur’s hair. “You’re so cute when you’re serious.” He stood up, and ignoring Arthur’s protests, gently took the duckling from his arms, and placed it in the crate with the other bird.
“Come on, Arthur. Time for bed.” Taking his hand, he pulled him off the sofa and attempted to lead him upstairs. “He’ll still be there in two hours when we have to feed him again.”
“Just lemme check-“
“He’ll be fine, Arthur. Come on.” Unwillingly, Arthur let himself be lead up the stairs and into their bedroom.
Laying in bed ten minutes later, Arthur stared at the ceiling, thoughts on the welfare of Excalibur. His concentration switched elsewhere when Merlin snuggled in close to him, one arm lazily lain across his stomach.
“You know, you’d be an excellent father.”
“You think so?” Surprised, but secretly pleased, Arthur laced his fingers with Merlin’s.
“Mmhmm.” Merlin replied, sleepily burying his nose in Arthur’s shoulder.
Smiling, Arthur closed his eyes.
*****
What barely felt like minutes later, Arthur was jolted away by the shrill bleeping of the alarm. Slapping his hand around wildly in an attempt to shut it up, Arthur cursed when he smacked his knuckles into the edge of his bedside table.
Rubbing his sore hand, Arthur sat up slowly. Momentarily confused as to why Merlin was not sprawled out next to him, taking up the majority of the bed with his long limbs, Arthur let his eyes flicker around the room until they fell on the clock. He paused for a second, before throwing back the covers and leaping out the bed.
A very sleepy looking Merlin peered over a mug of coffee at him as he crashed down the stairs, hair ruffled by sleep, wearing only his boxers.
“Why didn’t you wake me? It’s 6AM! What about the chicks!”
“Good morning, Arthur.” A blonde head popped up above the sofa, grinning widely. The pretty young woman waved briefly before turning her attention back to the squawking chick in her lap. “Sleep well?” She gestured vaguely at his state of undress.
“Uhh... yes thanks.” Turning quickly to a smirking Merlin for an explanation, Arthur grabbed what he hoped was his hoodie off the back of the sofa. He was relieved to find that it was the one he bought Merlin for Christmas, and swiftly pulled it over his head.
“You remember Sophia, right Arthur? She volunteered herself to help me feed them. I figured you needed the sleep.” Face infuriatingly satisfied, Merlin held his hands out to Arthur, offering him the over-excited duckling. “I saved him for you.”
All lingering annoyance very quickly ebbed away as Arthur took Excalibur from him gently, smiling as Merlin leant in for a kiss.
“Thanks.”
*****
Merlin really shouldn’t have got Arthur to drive him to the veterinary surgery the following evening.
When Merlin had told him the surgery had found a proper foster family for the young birds, he felt like the worst boyfriend in the world. Arthur had looked so devastated, Merlin really thought he was going to cry. Which wasn’t like Arthur at all.
They’d spent the entire journey there in silence, and Arthur had refused to go inside with him to hand them over to the nurses.
“Don’t you want to say goodbye?” Holding the crate to his chest, Merlin frowned, watching Arthur carefully, expression concerned. Arthur was sat very straight in the driver’s seat, hands on the steering wheel, eyes forward.
“No.”
“Okay... I won’t be long...” Leaning through the window, Merlin brushed Arthur’s hair away from his face and gently kissed his forehead. “See you in a mo.” Walking slowly so as not to jostle the chicks, Merlin joined Sophia inside.
*****
Ten minutes later, Arthur momentarily looked up to see Merlin walking toward the car, carrying a crate. His heart leapt for a second, before he remembered he’d dug the box out of the garage - Merlin was merely bringing it home.
He let out a sigh and started up the car. Merlin’s door closed quietly. Confused as to why Merlin wasn’t putting on his seatbelt, Arthur looked over, only to find Merlin watching him carefully, holding out the box to him.
“What am I supposed to do with that? I’m driving.”
“Just take it.”
Frowning, Arthur took the box and looked inside. Merlin looked on adoringly as Arthur’s face lit up.
“Excalibur! How did you...”
“The foster family only had room for the chicks, and didn’t have a pond for him, so I pulled some strings, and he is officially yours!” With a small ‘mmf’, Merlin’s breath was knocked out of him as Arthur flung his arms around his neck, the box wedged in between. Excalibur gave an indignant squawk as he was jostled around.
“You’re welcome, love.”
It also wasn’t unusual for Arthur to come home from work to find Merlin sat on the living room or kitchen floor, hand feeding a bird with a broken wing, or an orphaned lamb, or something else so vulnerable and pathetic looking.
So he really shouldn’t have been surprised to come home one Friday evening after an excruciatingly long day at work to find Merlin sat next to a crate of chirping, fluffy yellow chicks, trying desperately to hand feed them. Merlin looked up when he heard him come in through the door, eyes shining with relief.
“Thank God, Arthur. Give me a hand, would you?” As if on cue, all the chicks attempted a bid for freedom, chirping loudly. Faking an enthusiastic smile, Arthur ran very quickly up the stairs, claiming the need to change out of his suit. Taking as long as possible in an attempt to get out of playing vet, he sighed.
Being in a relationship with a vet, Arthur decided, was exhausting.
*****
Two hour of struggling to feed ten hungry chicks later, Arthur had stupidly offered to settle them down for the night, while Merlin made them both a cup of well-earnt tea. As he placing one of the bigger chicks in the box for the third time, Arthur came across something odd. Scooping the tiny bird out of the crate and carefully holding it in his hands, Arthur frowned. He squinted at it for a few moments, checking it briefly against another chick.
“Merlin,” He called over his shoulder. “Are you sure this is a chick?”
“Of course it’s a chick!”
“Clearly your years at veterinary school were a waste, Merlin.” Arthur turned, as a disgruntled Merlin threw a tea-towel at his head. “Look.” He watched as Merlin inspected in the bird in the dim light, waiting for the penny to drop. He didn’t have to wait long. With a gasp, Merlin cried,
“It’s a duckling!”
“And you call yourself a vet.”
*****
“Well, no, Sophia, I didn’t realise until Arthur pointed it out a moment ago! Where could it have come from?”
Arthur listened carefully as Merlin spoke to the head nurse at the veterinary surgery, cradling the duckling in a small towel, gently stroking it’s head. Ever since he’d discovered it, much to Merlin’s amusement, Arthur had been strangely smitten with the small creature. He’d spent the past half hour clutching it gently to his chest, away from the other birds, despite Merlin’s warnings about not getting too attached.
He’d also completely ignored Merlin’s order of “Do not name it under any circumstances”, and gone ahead and christened him Excalibur. It was a huge name for a tiny bird, but Arthur figured he’d grow into it sooner or later
“He’s been very helpful, actually. Already got attached to the duckling. It’s quite adorable really.” Arthur frowned as he heard the conversation switch to be about him. “No, he won’t put it down. Literally. He’s holding it right now.” Merlin plonked down next to him on the sofa. “Alright, I’ll see you on Monday. Bye.” Putting the phone down on the arm of the sofa, Merlin ran his fingers absently through Arthur’s hair. “How is it?”
“He is fine.” Arthur looked down at the sleeping duckling adoringly.
“How do you know it’s a boy?”
“I don’t. But Excalibur is a bit of an odd name for a girl, don’t you think?”
Merlin frowned, brushing Arthur’s hair away from his face, much like a concerned would do. “Arthur...”
“I know, I know - I wasn’t supposed to name him, or get attached, and I know you told me to leave him in the box with the others, but he looked so lonely... I bet you they rejected him.” He ran a gentle finger over the duckling’s head, watching it protectively.
“I’m sure they didn’t, Arthur.”
“Oh, you’d be surprised - Children are horrible.”
At the extremely solemn expression on his Arthur’s face, Merlin laughed, ruffling Arthur’s hair. “You’re so cute when you’re serious.” He stood up, and ignoring Arthur’s protests, gently took the duckling from his arms, and placed it in the crate with the other bird.
“Come on, Arthur. Time for bed.” Taking his hand, he pulled him off the sofa and attempted to lead him upstairs. “He’ll still be there in two hours when we have to feed him again.”
“Just lemme check-“
“He’ll be fine, Arthur. Come on.” Unwillingly, Arthur let himself be lead up the stairs and into their bedroom.
Laying in bed ten minutes later, Arthur stared at the ceiling, thoughts on the welfare of Excalibur. His concentration switched elsewhere when Merlin snuggled in close to him, one arm lazily lain across his stomach.
“You know, you’d be an excellent father.”
“You think so?” Surprised, but secretly pleased, Arthur laced his fingers with Merlin’s.
“Mmhmm.” Merlin replied, sleepily burying his nose in Arthur’s shoulder.
Smiling, Arthur closed his eyes.
*****
What barely felt like minutes later, Arthur was jolted away by the shrill bleeping of the alarm. Slapping his hand around wildly in an attempt to shut it up, Arthur cursed when he smacked his knuckles into the edge of his bedside table.
Rubbing his sore hand, Arthur sat up slowly. Momentarily confused as to why Merlin was not sprawled out next to him, taking up the majority of the bed with his long limbs, Arthur let his eyes flicker around the room until they fell on the clock. He paused for a second, before throwing back the covers and leaping out the bed.
A very sleepy looking Merlin peered over a mug of coffee at him as he crashed down the stairs, hair ruffled by sleep, wearing only his boxers.
“Why didn’t you wake me? It’s 6AM! What about the chicks!”
“Good morning, Arthur.” A blonde head popped up above the sofa, grinning widely. The pretty young woman waved briefly before turning her attention back to the squawking chick in her lap. “Sleep well?” She gestured vaguely at his state of undress.
“Uhh... yes thanks.” Turning quickly to a smirking Merlin for an explanation, Arthur grabbed what he hoped was his hoodie off the back of the sofa. He was relieved to find that it was the one he bought Merlin for Christmas, and swiftly pulled it over his head.
“You remember Sophia, right Arthur? She volunteered herself to help me feed them. I figured you needed the sleep.” Face infuriatingly satisfied, Merlin held his hands out to Arthur, offering him the over-excited duckling. “I saved him for you.”
All lingering annoyance very quickly ebbed away as Arthur took Excalibur from him gently, smiling as Merlin leant in for a kiss.
“Thanks.”
*****
Merlin really shouldn’t have got Arthur to drive him to the veterinary surgery the following evening.
When Merlin had told him the surgery had found a proper foster family for the young birds, he felt like the worst boyfriend in the world. Arthur had looked so devastated, Merlin really thought he was going to cry. Which wasn’t like Arthur at all.
They’d spent the entire journey there in silence, and Arthur had refused to go inside with him to hand them over to the nurses.
“Don’t you want to say goodbye?” Holding the crate to his chest, Merlin frowned, watching Arthur carefully, expression concerned. Arthur was sat very straight in the driver’s seat, hands on the steering wheel, eyes forward.
“No.”
“Okay... I won’t be long...” Leaning through the window, Merlin brushed Arthur’s hair away from his face and gently kissed his forehead. “See you in a mo.” Walking slowly so as not to jostle the chicks, Merlin joined Sophia inside.
*****
Ten minutes later, Arthur momentarily looked up to see Merlin walking toward the car, carrying a crate. His heart leapt for a second, before he remembered he’d dug the box out of the garage - Merlin was merely bringing it home.
He let out a sigh and started up the car. Merlin’s door closed quietly. Confused as to why Merlin wasn’t putting on his seatbelt, Arthur looked over, only to find Merlin watching him carefully, holding out the box to him.
“What am I supposed to do with that? I’m driving.”
“Just take it.”
Frowning, Arthur took the box and looked inside. Merlin looked on adoringly as Arthur’s face lit up.
“Excalibur! How did you...”
“The foster family only had room for the chicks, and didn’t have a pond for him, so I pulled some strings, and he is officially yours!” With a small ‘mmf’, Merlin’s breath was knocked out of him as Arthur flung his arms around his neck, the box wedged in between. Excalibur gave an indignant squawk as he was jostled around.
“You’re welcome, love.”