Hurt (fic) Part 4
It had been three weeks since Arthur had made his wager with Lachlan, Alexander, Ryan and Oswald, three weeks of gradually realising he had behaved like a prick, and that his friends fully expected him to keep on in the same vein, ad infinitum. Which meant, as long as he was friends with them, he would probably have to keep his relationship with Merlin secret. Which would be impossible, because nobody can keep a relationship a secret forever, and why would Merlin want to. Arthur was positive however, that if he was open about how he felt, that his long time friends would make it their business to inform Merlin, post-haste, of the exact nature of the wager he had struck.
As far as Arthur could tell, he was screwed. Merlin's off-hand comment had been far too close to the truth for Arthur, who felt like he was dancing on a precipice as it was, ready to fall into the chasm, having Merlin hate him, and also the friends he'd met through him, who he was starting to feel were warming to him. He particularly liked Gwaine and Morgana, and felt sick at the thought of being exposed not just to Merlin, but to them as well, as an asshole. 'Cos, really, what other word for it was there?
Which made it perfect that Lachlan and Alexander were right in his face, Lachlan jabbing him rather forcefully in his chest. "Arthur, you are a difficult man to get a hold of lately. I'm wondering whether you still even exist half the time, we don't see you except in class, and we live in the same college, for fuck's sake."
"Yeah, well, what do you want to do?" Arthur asked.
"Uh, have some mates to hang out with. I thought you were still one of them. Feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken!"
"All right, I'll repeat the question, what do you want to do? Pub? Movie? DVD night?"
"That's more like it, Arthur. My vote is the Pub."
Alexander nodded in approval, and Arthur shrugged, "Meet you there later then."
Arthur walked with Alexander and Lachlan to their local, which was a five minute walk away. After the first round, Arthur realised he hadn't seen Merlin at all that day, and so decided to send him a text.
Hey Merlin, out 2nite, c u 2morrow morning dining hall
About five minutes later, Arthur got a response.
Have a good one, c u tomorrow, Merlin.
Lachlan raised his eyebrows, attempting to look at Arthur's message. "A message from a secret lover, Arthur?"
Arthur scowled, "Uh, no, my Dad actually," he lied.
Alexander gestured toward a pretty blond girl sitting a few tables away.
"She's been watching you since we got here Arthur. Maybe you should go talk to her."
"Why don't you go talk to her, Alex, don't you get sick of living vicariously? Grow some, and go and chat her up yourself." Arthur was in no mood to be bullied into flirting with any girl, even though she was the type that Arthur would have only a few weeks earlier, picked up with nonchalant ease.
Alexander sneered, "Worried that Merlin might hear about your exploits and not take the bait after all, Arthur? Remember, you've only got a week left on our bet. I have a feeling that you haven't got the balls to get the job done."
Lachlan spat out, "What is with you these days, Pendragon? You don't hang out with us, at all, you spend all your time hanging out with that loser, Merlin, and his friends, who are all in their first year, you come to the pub with a face like a slapped bitch, with us, we're supposed to be your best mates, and you're acting like a total pillock."
Arthur hesitated for a few moments, blindsided, and uneasily said, "Take it easy mate, we're hanging out now, aren't we?"
"For the first time in weeks! We're just thinking, maybe you've decided you like your little gay buddy so much that you've decided to ditch us." Lachlan's resentment was palpable.
Alexander rounded on him, "We know your excuses, you're supposed to be seducing him, and that takes time, blah, blah, but maybe he's the one who's seducing you?"
"Fuck off, Alex, you don't even know the guy, we're friends now, okay."
His friends seemed none too pleased at this revelation, "Oh, so he's your friend now," sneered Alexander. His face was inches away from Arthur's as he threatened, "Wonder how much of a friend he'd think you are if we told him about your bet with us."
Arthur felt a bit dizzy, but hung onto the underside of the table to support himself, "Look, let's just forget about it, or okay, I'll admit it, I've lost the bet, okay?" He smiled widely, "I'll pay you guys out you know, I'm not gonna be a sore loser. Merlin's alright once you get to know him a bit, and I just don't want to continue with the bet."
Alexander leaned back a bit, reversing his aggressive crowding of Arthur. "Right, so you'll pay us out? Admit that, for once, you've struck out, and will actually hang out with your real friends again?"
"Sure, sure." Arthur nodded, almost insensible, desperate to not keep having this conversation, of being forced to admit what Merlin already, irrevocably meant to him now. He couldn't admit it to them, but maybe calling the bet off would at least take some of their attention off him and Merlin.
Lachlan punched Arthur's arm, "Well, I suppose we should be saying thanks, for the easiest cash I've ever made. Merlin must be one hell of a friend to make it worth your while to lose a grand for him, especially as you still have a week left?"
Arthur shifted uncomfortably, trying to get fixed in his head what story he was selling his mates, "It's just, I've got to know Merlin better, and Gwaine, and Morgana, and they're smart, and studying Law too, so I might end up working with them one day, and Lawyers have to be able to prove they are of good character and this would not look good, and I just don't want to do this shitty bet anymore." Arthur was rambling, but really, it was all valid, they would have to see that.
"Shit, Arthur, as if that wimp Merlin would make a complaint anyway," sneered Lachlan.
Alexander cut in, "Hey, if Arthur wants to give his cash away, I'm not gonna argue. Anyway, now the bet is off, you don't have to hang out with that loser anymore, you can hang out with us again."
Arthur just nodded, going numb with something that felt like misery.
Merlin saw Arthur the following morning in the dining hall, and he could tell just by the look on his face, that something was wrong. He loped up to Arthur immediately, and tried to meet his eyes, though Arthur kept edging his eyes away from making contact.
"You look a bit...upset? Is something wrong?"
"Yeah, um, actually my mates, I was at the Pub with them last night, and they had a bit of a go at me for how much time I've been spending around you."
"Oh." Merlin knew he was possibly on quicksand here, he knew that disapproval of the mates could often lead to relationship derailment, so he decided to tread softly. "Well, maybe they have a bit of a point. I mean, you have to have your own mates, don't you, you've been friends with Lachlan and Alexander forever, right?"
"Since the start of secondary school. We were a gang from day one. Never really felt like I needed any other mates till now." Arthur looked dejected.
"Well, now you're friends with me, and Gwaine, Morgana, Gwen and Freya. We all like you heaps, Arthur, you are a great, funny, warm-hearted guy, and I think your mates will get used to sharing you, hey. But, I guess, I mean, I don't want to take up all your time, I can understand that you want to hang with them to."
Arthur hummed noncommittally. "Look, Mer, maybe I'll see you tonight? I'll text you."
With that, Arthur smiled a sad smile at Merlin, and headed over to sit with Lachlan and Alexander, who Merlin now realised, were staring at him balefully.
Merlin suddenly felt a bit queasy, realising that maybe Arthur's friends were about to make life a whole lot more unpleasant. He could understand that Arthur would still want to keep his mates, and not become one of those guys who gets suffocated in a relationship, but he had bad vibes from Lachlan and Alexander, like they would possibly be the kind to be so possessive that anyone coming between them and Arthur would be seen by them as an invasion of their turf. Worse still, Merlin had more than an idea that Arthur would not tell them that their relationship was a sexual one, as they were probably threatened by it, judging by how they had mocked Merlin in Orientation Week. This was probably gonna worry him all day, but for now he had lectures to attend, and an afternoon shift at the Crown Theatre. He'd try to talk to Arthur tonight.
Merlin had been run off his feet during the shift at the Crown Theatre Cafe, there had been a lot of people there for dinner and drinks before the latest Andrew Lloyd Webber extravaganza was due to start. People were dressed up and conversing over coffee, glasses of champagne and plates of spinach & cream linguini or seafood risotto. Merlin was dressed in his brand new long sleeve shirt, slim cut trousers, and ankle boots, all black natch. It had been a bit of an investment, but he felt that if he presented the best image possible as a waiter, that his position would be that much more secure. He really, really needed this job.
Which is why, when some of the female customers began to flirt with him, he did his best to take it in his stride, pretend not to notice too much, and maintain a professional but friendly banter. Talking to some of the waitresses, he figured it was just an occupational hazard, as most of them were hit on, on a daily basis, by men old enough to be their father (or grandfather). So he kept at it, generally worked his butt off and breathed a sigh of relief when his shift finished at 8.00 p.m. He grabbed a sandwich, as would have missed dinner at Marquisette, and grabbed his phone to fire off a quick message to Arthur. He wanted to see him tonight.
Arthur, done at work, you around 2nite, Merlin.
On the bus, he got a return text:
In my room, be waiting 4 u, Arthur.
Merlin walked quickly to Marquisette's main door, his heart rate up from walking, from anticipation, from nervousness, from anxiety, from pure want. He climbed the steps to the second floor two at a time, and arrived at Arthur's door, breathless. He knocked, rat-a-tat-tat, and Arthur opened the door, leaning up against the door frame, in a red T-shirt and navy stripe boxers, looking crazy fuckable, and Merlin barged past him, and Arthur closed the door.
Merlin was on him, adding more messiness to Arthur's mussed up hair, running his fingers through it as Arthur kissed him desperately.
"Missed you, Mer," Arthur said huskily, sucking hungrily on Merlin's bottom lip, before curling his tongue fully around Merlin's.
Merlin didn't have the ability to answer at that moment, so just drew Arthur closer in with a rib-cracking embrace, feeling Arthur pressed into him down the length of their bodies. Arthur saw the tendons on Merlin's neck in high relief, and Arthur decided if he had been Michelangelo and Merlin his perfect muse, he would have sculpted a statue of him in this moment, and made him immortal.
Merlin did not stay as still as a statue however, but glided over Arthur and wound his arms and legs around him, constantly in motion, coming at Arthur in wave after wave of strokes, caresses and kisses, gripping at Arthur's suddenly slackened arms and wrapping himself in them like a blanket. Arthur cradled his head into Merlin's shoulder and received Merlin's drawn out kissing, his tongue being rolled around by Merlin's, clinging onto Merlin's shoulder blades through his crisp shirt. He pulled at the fabric, meeting resistance in the form of a tightly strapped belt at Merlin's waist, and moaned into Merlin's mouth. Merlin chuckled, and let go of Arthur to unstrap his belt, and undo his button-up fly. Arthur slid his hands under the now loosened shirt, rubbing Merlin's back, feeling the smooth skin and contours, delineating each vertebrae of his spine.
Merlin undid the buttons of his shirt, and shrugged out of it, Arthurs hands not leaving his body for even a second. Merlin felt the anxiety of the last two days slowly seeping away, as they regarded each other, almost calmly, before continuing their interrupted kiss. They moved, by mutual, unspoken agreement to Arthur's bed, where Merlin collapsed at full stretch, before sitting up again to unlace his boots, and wriggle out of the rest of his work clothes. Merlin pulled Arthur to him, dragging his T-shirt off him, and bumped his face against Arthur's awkwardly, which made them both laugh.
"Merlin, don't break my face."
"I'd never do that, it's too beautiful to be roughed up."
Merlin smiled at Arthur adoringly. He placed both his hands on the side of Arthur's face, and mouthed soft kisses on his cheeks, forehead and nose. Arthur clutched at Merlin's waist, and pulled him in closer, so that Merlin was sitting in his lap, and launched his tongue into Merlin's mouth in earnest, holding his arms so that Merlin couldn't retreat without wresting away from Arthur.
Arthur pushed Merlin back onto the bed, and Merlin shivered in excitement at the feeling that if he had wanted to push back, maybe Arthur could have overpowered him. Merlin had no desire to retreat, but was turned on by the fact that Arthur was apparently just that little bit stronger than him, and could take control of him like that. He jutted his face upwards, inviting Arthur to ravish his neck. Arthur seized the opportunity to graze marks on both sides of Merlin's neck, leaving purplish circles just below his ears, and above his collar-bones. Merlin squirmed underneath Arthur's hot mouth and tongue, his firm, muscled torso now pinning Merlin to Arthur's bed. Merlin used his legs, which were relatively free, to gently but insistently rub against Arthur's cock, which Merlin could feel was hard. Merlin was himself achingly hard, his own cock receiving some friction as he sneakily rutted against Arthur while Arthur was distracted by his mission to cover Merlin in love bites.
However, Arthur caught on immediately and used his hips to pin Merlin fully, while drawing up on his arms to look at Merlin. He smirked as Merlin continued to try to rut against him, though his movement was now restricted.
Merlin was getting just a little bit frustrated, and tried for an assertive tone, "Arthur, I get it, you're a big, powerful, tough guy, I'm the weedy weed, can we please just get on with the fucking now?"
Arthur hooted, "Such sweet seduction, my lovely love."
Merlin grinned, "You don't deserve seduction, you dolt, you're just playing me now, aren't you?"
"Not playing you, playing with you, sweetie!"
"Don't you "sweetie" me, you think I can't hold my own against you Arthur, but you're wrong." At which point, Merlin exerted all his strength and managed to wriggle out from underneath Arthur, and take a crazy lunge to land on top of him. Arthur just laughed at Merlin's exuberance, finding it more of a turn on than a telling off. Merlin quieted a little as Arthur remained calmly underneath Merlin, not trying to regain the upper hand. As far as Arthur was concerned, he didn't really care who was on top.
Now it was Merlin's turn to lavish attention on Arthur, and he proceeded to nibble some love bites near Arthur's nipples, which made him cry out. Merlin, spurred on, scrabbled to pull Arthur's boxers off, and flung them across the other end of the room.
He breathed into Arthur's ear, "Why don't you let me take care of you, this time?"
Arthur smiled against the side of Merlin's face, and patted his bum in encouragement. Merlin took this as a yes, so grabbed a condom for himself, and after slopping lube out of a tube with a rather unsexy squelch, used his fingers to slide into Arthur's tight hole.
Arthur moaned in appreciation, the sensation of being filled new to him, and he wanted it more. It was uncomfortable, but Merlin was moving very slowly in and out, aware from the expression on Arthur's face that this was not the time to rush. Merlin lovingly, tenderly moved from one to two fingers, all the time intently watching Arthur's face to gauge his reaction. Arthur had closed his eyes, and his breathing had become shallow, as he felt Merlin drawing in and out of him. When Merlin withdrew his fingers, Arthur tried to calm his ragged breathing, and gave Merlin a small nod.
Merlin gently breached Arthur, not wanting his first time at receiving penetration from a man to be upsetting or abrupt, so with as much self control as he could muster, he made his first movements inside Arthur as steady and unhurried as he could manage. Arthur was beautiful beneath him, vulnerable with his muscles in his arms and abdomen flexing as Merlin fucked into him. Arthur's breath caught in the middle of his throat, his gaze feverish as he beheld Merlin above him, his arms and chest tense as he controlled his movements with the deliberate grace of a gymnast on the rings.
"Oh, Mer, that is so good," panted Arthur. "You're so good, amazing, gorgeous." Arthur couldn't hold back the occasional sob, feeling Merlin's hard cock taking him, sating an urge he never even realised he had, feeling as though there was no space inside him that Merlin hadn't filled. Arthur grasped his own cock, and began teasing himself along the length and at the slit with the same rhythm as Merlin set. Arthur had never felt this intensity before, the combined pleasure of fucking himself while Merlin pounded his cock into him. Arthur lived a contradiction, as he tried to delay his orgasm whilst at the same time he rocked in unison with Merlin, not wanting to lose their recurring motion until they came. Merlin was still not moving as fast or hard as he wanted to, but Arthur now groaned at Merlin, urging him to go at it harder. It was like a incantation being spoken, and a flare of magic released into them both as Merlin pushed into Arthur with abandon, Arthur coming with a stuttered cry and Merlin thrusting for a few more moments until he came and felt his body become weightless and his vision like static on a broken television. His heart was still pounding as he collapsed into Arthur's arms, who hugged him tight.
They were a sweaty, trembling tangle of limbs, and Merlin's knees literally felt weak and he dared not try to move from the bed. Arthur just held Merlin, and felt grateful that he had met this beautiful, sometimes audacious, compassionate and loving boy.