And now for something completely different.

[prideofcamelot]

There's nothing to discuss. [Gathering a fistful of bedsheets, Arthur draws the covers up to his waist.]

My father had a good point. We may have --throw my belt over that chair, will you-- may have saved the city, but half the market got leveled in the process.

[He wiggles down a bit, getting comfortable as he continues.] That kind of victory

Comments

[tiercelet]

[Merlin floats the belt easily over to the chair, not moving from his perch on the bed. Instead, he reaches over, smoothing Arthur's pillow and absently rearranging it for him.]

We got it in the end. [The thought of Uther's severe reprimands makes Merlin frown.] Your father shouldn't be blaming you for this--you did your best to protect the city.

.../covertly sneaks in edits

[prideofcamelot]

We got it, [he agrees, leaning forward slightly to permit Merlin's pillow-fluffing] but it wasn't enough.

[The regretful silence that follows is punctuated only by the sounds of shifting fabric and air puffing free from Arthur's pillow as he lays back onto it. Once on his back, he raises a hand to flap a tired gesture in the air.]

Candle, [he mumbles, voice humorously muffled by the tangle of blankets and pillows around him;]

/noms your edits

[tiercelet]

Hmmmm. [Instead of replying to the demand, Merlin eyes the candles providing the room's light. All it takes is a smooth gesture of his hand, and a flash of gold in his eyes, to extinguish most of them, leaving only the bedside flame alight.]

Anything else, sire? [Without waiting for a reply, Merlin leans over Arthur, pulling the blanket to the side to properly kiss him.]

#married

[prideofcamelot]

[The magical maneuver and kiss cause a corner of Arthur's mouth to tug up in a small smile. Feeling a little brighter, he takes advantage of Merlin's proximity to curl his fingers in the fabric of his shirt and tug him close for another sleepy kiss.]

Stay with me. [A few beats of silence.] ...And a back rub wouldn't be unappreciated, either, if you think you can manage it.

#honeymoon...and sneaky edits

[tiercelet]

[Merlin returns the kiss readily, hands cupping Arthur's jaw and lazily stroking through the blonde hair.] You don't need to ask me to stay, Arthur. [Chuckling as he presses a fond kiss to the corner of Arthur's mouth, Merlin simply continues rearranging the pillows around them.]

Here. [His fingertips sweep over Arthur's warm skin as he considers the idea that's been lingering at the back of his mind for some time now.] Let me take care of you.

Om nom edits 8d

[prideofcamelot]

[For once Arthur doesn't immediately reply, instead settling himself more comfortably atop the bedspread. He stretches out under Merlin's hands, smiling wryly up at the other man.]

If this is a back rub, it's unorthodox, [he quips, eyes closed.]

om nom nom~

[tiercelet]

[At that moment, Merlin's thumb oh so accidentally flicks over a nipple, and then he's shifting back again, fighting down a grin.]

Good thing I never said anything about a back rub, then.

[The kiss that follows is gentle, but short. Merlin lets his lips linger against Arthur's as he murmurs.] Do you trust me?

[prideofcamelot]

[He follows the short kiss with another, his hands falling on Merlin's hips before the other man can shift away again.]

Always. [Enough not to ask further, although a small amount of curiosity does thump at Merlin through their bond.]

[tiercelet]

[Warmth blooms in him in response to Arthur's admission, and Merlin's certain Arthur can feel the edges of it. Suppressing his amusement at Arthur's curiosity, Merlin draws Arthur's hands away from his hips and binds them securely to the headboard with the threads of his magic.]

Let me take care of you. [Merlin whispers this into Arthur's ear. Then, he slowly, carefully kisses his way down Arthur's neck and chest. On the way, he allows his tongue to dip briefly, mischievously into Arthur's navel before continuing on. He finally stops at Arthur's left hip, pressing a light kiss to the skin as he hooks his fingers in the hem of the prince's sleep-pants and begins tugging them down.]

[prideofcamelot]

[Arthur's eyes blink open again as the binding magic sets in. The surprise of losing his hands isn't necessarily a welcome one --in moments like these he likes to be able to touch and hold Merlin as he pleases-- but in the interest of trust he doesn't move or try to tug free.]

You aren't seriously thinking of keeping me like this the entire time, are you?

[But all further disagreement soon ebbs curiously away as the trail of warm kisses pepper further and further down. He shifts slightly as he's disrobed, a short sigh falling from his lips.]

[tiercelet]

[Trust Arthur to ruin the moment. Merlin doesn't roll his eyes, but it's a very, very close call. Instead, he nips at Arthur's warm skin before glancing up.]

The point of this is to let you relax, Dollop-head. [His exasperation changes into something gentler a beat later.] Just...let me do this for you.

[With that, he presses a soft kiss to Arthur's hip and shifts his attention lower. As he takes Arthur in hand and licks a slow path up the length, Merlin hopes this will chase away his partner's doubts.]

He exists to ruin sexy moments, Merlin. Ask Gwaine how.

[prideofcamelot]

[It works well enough-- For a moment Arthur looks like he's going to launch into the usual denial of his needing hugs, bubble baths, or any relaxation whatsoever, but the words cut off in a short hiss before they leave him.]

/pout

[tiercelet]

[Merlin briefly allows himself a spike of victory before he brushes it aside, along with the thought "oh good, it worked." It wouldn't do to have Arthur feeling that through the bond and changing his mind.

Holding Arthur's hips down with one hand and cupping Arthur's balls loosely in the other, repeating the motion several times. Then, pursing his lips slightly around the tip of Arthur's cock, he begins to suck gently.]

/lacks porny icons XD

[prideofcamelot]

[Merlin has a certain talent for this --although he might be hard pressed to get Arthur to admit it-- and as is such it doesn't take long until the prince is hard and straining in the warlock's hands, against his lips. Arthur groans lowly, letting his head fall back against the soft pillows and sheets as a wave of heat ripples through him.]

Mmm, Merlin...

/does too :|a

[tiercelet]

[Catching the murmur and the tail end of Arthur's building arousal, Merlin feels another rush of affection for the man. The hand splayed across Arthur's hip, keeping him from moving, curls slightly, the thumb tracing patterns across skin.]

Arthur. [The name is spoken fondly through the bond even as Merlin answers by taking in as much of Arthur as he can, not letting up on the suction when he hums in response.]

[prideofcamelot]

[As quickly as the insidious little urge to push further into the sudden wet heat surfaces, Arthur reels it back in, the effort somewhat helped by the sudden voice in his head. The single word brings with it a renewed sense of the intimacy of the moment: Like this Merlin wasn't just touching his flesh, but he was in his mind, reverberating through him--

And this is what does it. Arthur closes his eyes, finally, finally seeming to relax, and lose himself in the moment for the first time that evening.]