Merlin AU; 'Remake the Current Stream' - Arthur/Merlin, PG-13 - Epilogue
It’s surprisingly sunny for August, Arthur thinks as he walks to work. While it is technically still summer, this is still England and summer does not usually last its three designated months.
Then again, this entire summer season has been anything but ordinary in general, so Arthur supposes there is no reason the weather shouldn’t follow that trend as well.
Today Arthur is not his usual self either, even though he's pretty sure the definition of what used to be considered his usual self has pretty much been turned upside-down and around a fair bit in the past month or two. Having a boyfriend will do that to you he supposes, especially one as remarkable as Merlin Emrys who has horrible habits like making tea that is far too weak and hogging the covers, but also does lovely things such as sending otter love stories to Arthur's email on grey Tuesdays (even if they are incredibly sad).
Not to mention the kissing and such. That is very, very nice too.
And today, Merlin graduates. And Arthur can't even be there because those sodding peccaries are arriving and Uther has insisted Arthur be present for their arrival to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Arthur thinks it's a load of rot; Leon is more than capable of supervising everything on his own and either way it's his darned pigs. But Uther had been adamant and so now, instead of being there to see Merlin get presented with a ridiculous hat and a scroll of paper and then have the possibility of snogging him senseless in a deserted classroom, Arthur is stuck with a far too excited Leon who is practically vibrating with joy.
Arthur feels that his surly attitude is more than warranted, thank you very much.
Leon is yapping on about the magnificently adorable fur patterns the future piglets will have and what names to give them and Arthur just wants to introduce his own head to the nearest tree-trunk multiple times. He should've just said no. Lance was right. It really was that simple. Or at least it should have been.
The animal transport truck backs up to the new enclosure and stops, engine turning off. Leon instantly loses all his giddiness and replaces it with an air of professionalism and authority that is the reason Arthur made him head of the elephant area to begin with. Leon shouts to Owain and Tristan who're positioned around enclosure in order to help supervise the arrival as well.
Arthur really doesn't see the necessity for him to be here. Four men to supervise the arrival of two peccaries. Ridiculous.
Then the back of the truck is opened and lowered and Leon jumps over the fence to the enclosure and climbs into the back, surveying the transport boxes. Arthur is busy alternating between looking at what Leon is doing and what time it is.
Right now, at this very moment, Merlin could be getting his hat, blushing and grinning like the complete dork he is, in the way that makes Arthur go a bit weak in the knees and Arthur is missing it.
Arthur kind of hates the peccaries already.
Leon whistles at him and Arthur looks up, seeing Leon give two thumbs up and signalling to Owain and Tristan to be ready. Arthur thinks it a frightful amount of hoohah to create for two tiny pigs.
It does prove to be rather anti-climatic when Leon opens the boxes and two brown, fuzzy miniature pigs (though admittedly cuter) tentatively trot out and ever so slowly make their way down the slide from the truck to the enclosure. The sniff around a bit and oink softly before rubbing their snouts in the dirt and start exploring their surroundings.
Leon is beaming like a proud father and Arthur can't help but smile a little, surliness forgotten for the moment.
They watch the pigs for a couple of minutes, but the animals seem to settling in just fine, and Arthur wonders if perhaps he's still got time break a few speed limits and get to the university to at least see Merlin in his graduation get-up.
That particular question is answered when a text message arrives a second later from Merlin, with the words, 'I'VE GRADUATED :-D'
Arthur smiles and replies, 'Congratulations :) xx'
Merlin's reply ticks in almost instantly, going, 'Meet us at the pub?' and Arthur looks over at Leon who's still looking at the pigs, completely besotted.
"Leon, you'll be all right with these then?" Arthur asks and just gets a lazy nod in return. "Right," Arthur says and walks off towards the staff building to collect his things and leave a note that he'll be out of his office for the rest of the day.
--
To say the pub is crowded is possibly the understatement of the year and Arthur actually stops dead in his tracks upon entering and seeing the sea of people there. He looks around, standing on the tip of his toes trying to single Merlin out, but it's kind of hard to single out one of the many dark-haired heads to be him.
"He's gone to the loo," a voice says next to him and Arthur turns to see Will standing next to him. "He'll be back in a bit."
"Right, thank you," Arthur says and tries not to fiddle too much as Will just looks at him. "Oh, congratulations by the way!" Arthur adds as he takes in the bright red robes Will are wearing.
"Thanks, mate," Will says and smiles and Arthur relaxes. That's the first time Will's used that word with him.
"Arthur!" Arthur turns around and sees Merlin grinning brightly, trying to push his way to the people-masses.
The graduation robes look far too large on his skinny frame and as soon as he's close enough, Arthur yanks him in by gripping him by the collar of them.
"Hey," Merlin says and grins and Arthur smiles stupidly in return.
"Hi," he says before pressing a soft kiss to Merlin's mouth, ignoring Will's muttering of "Oh gross, I need more beer for this."
"Nice outfit," Arthur mutters with a smirk when he pulls away again and Merlin laughs.
"This is nothing, you should see the hat."
"Yes, I really think I should," Arthur agrees and Merlin grimaces.
"No, wait, I take that back. You really shouldn't."
"I think I should," Arthur insists. "You know I won't relent till you give in," he adds and raises his eyebrows.
Merlin sighs. "Oh fine, come on then," he says and drags Arthur by the hand to one of the smaller booths.
There're already two people sitting there however, one Arthur recognises and another he doesn't. He pauses.
"Merlin! Who's this?" the stranger says, a middle aged woman with a kind smile and familiar blue eyes.
"Drat. Er, mum, this is... Arthur. Arthur, meet my mother," Merlin says and bites his lip. Arthur's pretty sure that was just the bottom of his stomach dropping out.
"Mrs. Emrys, a pleasure," he manages to get out, as well as extending a hand in greeting. Merlin's mother takes it instantly, her grip warm and surprisingly firm.
"Oh no, Hunith will do just fine," she tuts, smiling. Arthur returns the smile but is pretty sure he looks as panicked as he feels.
"Gaius, pleasure to see you again," Arthur says and nods at the man sitting next to Merlin's mother.
"Likewise, Arthur," Gaius says with a half-smile and Arthur feels incredibly awkward as the silence spreads out between them. Merlin thankfully seems to be sensing this and grabs something with what looks like feathers off the table with one hand and Arthur with the other.
"Right, gotta go get Arthur a drink, be right back!" he announces and drags Arthur off again.
"I'm so, so sorry," Merlin says when the reach the bar. "I didn't even think about the fact that my mum is here. I just, I was so happy to have finally graduated and I wanted you here to celebrate with me and I didn't think-"
"It's okay," Arthur interrupts and can't help but smile at Merlin's rambling. "I... was a little caught by surprise, yes. But... I'm happy to have met her."
Merlin looks at him. "Really?"
"Really," Arthur says, nodding. "Now, let's see that hat."
"Oh god," Merlin groans and glares at the feathery object in his hand. Arthur snatches it and pulls it on Merlin's head before he has a chance to protest.
"Well. That's..." Arthur starts and then has to bite his lip not to laugh. "That's something all right."
"It's horrendous," Merlin declares with a pout. "I can't believe it's been immortalised on my graduation picture of all things," he grumbles and Arthur laughs.
"I like it, it's got character. Just like you," he adds and gets a glare in return from Merlin.
"You did not just compare me to this atrocity. Just for that, I'm withdrawing bedroom privileges for tonight."
"Aw, come on now. Celebrating won't be as much fun if the bedroom's not involved," Arthur says and flicks the feathers in Merlin's hat.
"Just shows how little imagination you've got," Merlin says with a smirk and Arthur gasps.
"Merlin!"
"What?" Merlin grins and Arthur shakes his head.
"You still surprise me."
"I hope I always will," Merlin says softly and smiles and Arthur can't help but lean in to kiss him. It's sweet and tender and Arthur can feel Merlin smiling against his lips.
"You do realise my mum can see us from here, right?" Merlin mumbles against his mouth. Arthur all but jumps back.
"Shit."
"I don't think she minds. She's been very curious about you," Merlin says.
"I still don't think that's very appropriate of me, to start molesting in front of your mother the first time I meet her," Arthur mumbles and feels his face go red.
"That wasn't anywhere near molesting," Merlin says with a leer and Arthur rolls his eyes.
"Don't get any ideas," he says wryly.
"Spoilsport," Merlin grins and turns to the bar to flag down a bartender.
They fall into comfortable silence whilst waiting for the drinks and Arthur marvels a little at how much has actually happened within the last three months, how much in his life has changed, despite Arthur's attempt to prevent it. He looks at Merlin who smiles at him, still wearing the ridiculous hat with the feathers falling into his eyes and Arthur's chest feels tight and he has to admit that for once he is happy to have failed. Or, well, won, depending how you look at things. Perhaps he's won by having failed. Either way, the important thing is that it has all somehow worked out and left Arthur with something incredible and extraordinary.
It has also left him with a neighbour who smiles a frightening amount and rambles about the wonders of destiny and how they cannot be avoided and then congratulates Arthur. It's exceedingly strange, but Arthur just smiles and nods and ignores it for the most part. Merlin gets on disturbingly well with Mr. Kilgharrah and Arthur has decided to just not dwell on the whole thing too much and try to stop over-analysing everything and just live in the now.
And right now, Merlin is passing him a pint, saying, "Cheers to being done and starting real life!"
Arthur clinks his glass to Merlin's and drinks.
"So, what does real life entail?" Arthur asks and suddenly remembers that Merlin will have to find a job and such and it might mean him moving away. Arthur's stomach feels full of ice at the thought.
"You can stop worrying about long-distance relationships right now," Merlin says and holds up a hand when Arthur tries to protest. "I know that's what's going through your mind, and I'm telling you not to think about it."
Arthur stays quiet.
"Gaius has offered me a position within the university," Merlin says and grins broadly. Arthur is certain his heart actually skips a beat.
"He... what? Really?" Merlin nods. "Merlin, that's incredible!"
"It's not anything fancy, it's an assistant position which basically means I'll help him with paperwork and planning lessons and such, but it's a job and it's a step forward, so," Merlin says happily and Arthur puts his beer down to wrap Merlin in a hug.
"Oi, watch the beer," Merlin laughs and just about manages to put his pint glass down as well. Arthur just huffs in response.
"Sod the bloody beer," he says against the shell of Merlin's ear and takes a moment to appreciate the shiver that runs through Merlin at that action.
"I should've waited to tell you that until we were back at yours," Merlin says and draws back a little, shaking his head with a smile.
"I would've probably gone mad from speculation if you'd kept that from me," Arthur replies.
"Wouldn't want that," Merlin mumbles and wraps his arms around Arthur's neck.
"Definitely not," Arthur says softly and leans in.
"Sorry to interrupt this PDA fest you've got going on, but I just wanted to say goodbye," someone says dryly and Arthur turns to see Will standing there, one eyebrow raised.
"You're going?" Merlin asks and Will nods.
"Yeah, picking Morgana up for dinner," he says and for the first time since Arthur met him, Will actually looks nervous. Huh.
"I would give you the 'take care of my sister' spiel..." Arthur starts but Will just snorts.
"I think we're even here, don't you?" he says and nods in Merlin's direction.
"Yes, I suppose we are," Arthur agrees. Will just looks at him a moment before nodding, once.
"Right, I’ll be off then. Bye," he says and waves before making his way towards the door.
"She’ll be good for him," Merlin concludes and Arthur is tempted to agree, despite not knowing Will that well. "Guess everything is changing."
"Guess it is," Arthur agrees and looks back from the door to Merlin who searches his face.
"And you’re okay with that?" he asks.
"I suppose I’ll have to admit that I may have been wrong about change being a bad thing," Arthur admits.
"I’m glad you’ve come to that conclusion," Merlin says with a smile.
"So am I," Arthur says and takes advantage of being uninterrupted for now to give Merlin another kiss.
Yes, change is most definitely all right. As long Merlin remains constant in his life, Arthur is pretty sure he can go through anything and overcome whatever life decides to throw at him, and when he looks at Merlin’s happy flushed face, Arthur knows deep down that Merlin will always be there.
Whether it’s destiny or good fortune or simply luck, Arthur doesn’t know, and quite frankly, he doesn’t care, because it’s good. And ultimately, that’s all that matters.
FIN.