Fic: Turning Circle
Title: Turning Circle
Pairing: Colin Morgan/Bradley James (Merlin RPS)
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1500
Disclaimer: Fiction = not real. No slander intended.
Author’s Notes: Written for bradleycolin's RPS challenge #1. I chose prompt #6 which was simply the picture to the right (photo source, by mutepablo). The resulting fic is pretty much shameless fluff, including a shameless use of the word fuckersnaps (I do it for you, Merlin fandom). Thank you to my beta, the gorgeous sajee. Cross-posted to bradleycolin and merlinrpf. Comments and feedback are, as always, much appreciated.
Summary: It had been a week since Colin saw Bradley. It might not seem
like much, but after months on end living out of each other’s pockets, a week felt like a long time.
It had been a week since Colin saw Bradley. It might not seem like much, but after months on end living out of each other’s pockets, a week felt like a long time.
A week ago they were under the bright studio lights of a daytime chat show. For once, Colin was glad of the make up. He could feel himself getting too hot, going red. He could feel Bradley next to him, the space between him and Bradley, the casual brush of contact when that gap was closed. Colin laughed too much, and afterwards, fell into a moody silence. He let the week sprawl between them without phone calls or text messages or meeting up at that quiet pub they liked. But when Bradley sent him a message - My place, dinner, tomorrow night. Your presence is required, Colin Morgan. Don’t make me slap you. - Colin called him back straight away.
“Do you want me to bring anything?”
“No. Just yourself.”
“Wine perhaps?” Colin prompted. He heard Bradley exhale into the mouthpiece.
“Colin.”
“OK, alright,” said Colin and he was about to ask what time to come by, but Bradley had already hung up. Colin had to call him back to get the address.
He’d never been to Bradley’s flat before. It was nice, small but light and airy, nicer than he’d imagined. He sat on the couch while Bradley was in the kitchen. He looked at Bradley’s DVD collection. There were two layers of discs - he could see a Buffy box set poking out from behind Rob Roy and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead - he wondered if that was deliberate. But then Bradley never cared about being subtle. Bradley didn’t do subtle.
Bradley came back from the kitchen holding a tray. “Tea?” he said.
“What?” said Colin. He’d been expecting beer.
“Would you like some tea?” asked Bradley slowly, placing the tray carefully on the coffee table. There was a teapot, some cups on saucers, a small jug of milk, even a sugar bowl. They were a matching set, a floral pattern that was delicate and pretty. Colin stared at them.
Bradley held up the teapot, looking at Colin with raised eyebrows.
“Um,” said Colin. “Yes, thanks.”
Bradley poured the tea, offered milk and sugar, while Colin restrained himself from making comment about the tea set.
“Hold on,” said Bradley. “I forgot something.” He dashed into the kitchen and came back a moment later holding a small (matching) plate with some biscuits on it.
“What are these?” asked Colin.
“Fuckersnaps,” said Bradley.
Colin stared at Bradley’s face and Bradley stared back. “Want one?” prompted Bradley.
“Sure,” said Colin. He began laughing - he couldn’t help it. For a moment, Bradley just stared at him, then he jiggled the plate at Colin and laughed too.
“Fuck,” said Colin. “What other surprises have you got here?”
Bradley was sipping his tea, a biscuit resting on the saucer. He looked at Colin over the top of his teacup. “Wouldn’t you like to know,” he said.
And Colin had to admit: Bradley made a good pot of tea.
Beer came later, with a surprisingly delicious stir-fry of fresh ingredients that Bradley made while Colin leant against the kitchen bench and watched.
“You know I’m a vegetarian, right?” Colin said.
“Yes,” said Bradley, not looking up from the wok.
“Because that’s oyster sauce you’re using,” Colin said. Bradley handed the bottle over to him and resumed cooking. Colin read the bottle. It was vegetarian imitation oyster sauce.
“It tastes alright, actually,” Bradley said.
“Really?” said Colin, looking at him, grinning and amazed.
“Yep,” said Bradley. He turned the heat down and fixed his eyes on Colin. He crossed the kitchen and, pressing his hands to either side of Colin’s face, purposefully kissed him, his tongue swiping across Colin’s lips. Then he broke away, his hand momentarily covering Colin’s hand around the bottle and his eyes locked onto Colin’s.
“I need that,” Bradley said in a low voice. He took the oyster sauce from Colin and, smiling, went back to the stove.
“Right,” said Colin, surprised. He watched Bradley’s face in profile. He didn’t look any different. It was still Bradley. It wasn’t Bradley with an evil look on his face like he’d just gone through with a dare or some part of an elaborate prank. It wasn’t Bradley who had suddenly gone completely insane. It was just Bradley, cooking a dinner that used vegetarian oyster sauce, for Colin, who happened to be a vegetarian.
“Right,” said Bradley, as he began serving the food into bowls. “How hungry are you?”
They were back on the couch, watching Gael Garcia Bernal wander around in the nude in The Science of Sleep, when Colin finally realised that perhaps he was actually on a date. With Bradley James.
“Bradley?” he said.
“Mmm?” replied Bradley.
“Is this a date?” he asked, surprising himself with his own bluntness.
“Er,” said Bradley, suddenly looking guilty. “Um. Er. No?” He kept his eyes fixed on the screen.
“Bradley,” said Colin.
“Oh, this is a good bit,” said Bradley excitedly, pointing at the screen. He shot Colin a small sheepish look.
After a moment of silence, Bradley said, “So, would you like some coffee?”
“This is a date! I knew it!” cried Colin excitedly.
“Oh god,” groaned Bradley.
“It is! Oh man,” said Colin. “Are you trying to seduce me?”
“Um, no,” said Bradley. “So what if I am?”
Colin laughed. “So how’s it working for you?”
“I don’t know yet,” said Bradley. “You seem to be fairly unresponsive to Gael Garcia Bernal’s naked bum, which is a bit of a worry, frankly.”
Colin laughed again. “Should I be worried you’ll put drugs in my coffee?”
“Ah,” said Bradley. “No. I hadn’t thought of that.” He laughed, but furrowed his brow. “Nah. Consent is sexy. For me, anyway. I’m not into, well-”
“Ah,” said Colin. They fell silent again.
“OK,” said Colin, after a moment.
“Sorry, what?” said Bradley.
“Yes,” said Colin. He put his hand on Bradley’s shoulder and looked into his face. “Yes,” he told him again, purposefully.
Bradley looked back at him. Colin raised his eyebrows, just a fraction, and gave a very small nod. Bradley inhaled and held his breath. “Right,” he murmured, under his breath. But he suddenly looked terrified and didn’t move.
“Oh fine,” sighed Colin and leant forward to kiss Bradley. It was surprisingly easy. His lips against Bradley’s, the slight brush of stubble when Bradley kissed him back, a breath exhaled onto wet lips, hands in each other’s hair. It felt right.
Bradley was kissing Colin’s neck, his hands fiddling with the bottom hem of his t-shirt and fingers brushing against Colin’s bare skin, which made Colin shiver. Bradley pulled away suddenly and looked at Colin. “Do you actually want that coffee?” he asked. “And do you want to watch the end of the movie?” He regarded Colin with a serious expression.
“Er, do you?” said Colin.
“God, no,” said Bradley, a little too quickly.
Colin smiled. “Me neither.”
“Well, thank fuck for that,” Bradley laughed.
Colin looked at him, smiling. “So,” he asked. “How’s the date going for you then?”
“Pretty well, I think,” said Bradley. He pressed his weight against Colin’s crotch. “And you?” he asked in an innocent voice.
“Oh,” said Colin, adjusting to the sensation. “Well,” he replied eventually. “The dolt who was kissing me seems to have stopped kissing me.”
Bradley smiled and kissed him. They knocked teeth.
“And,” said Colin, into Bradley’s mouth. “I have yet to see the bedroom.”
Bradley hummed into Colin’s mouth. “That could be arranged,” he murmured. He dragged his teeth over Colin’s lips and tugged with his hands on Colin’s t-shirt. Colin pressed his body into Bradley’s, distractedly wondering why they hadn’t started doing this sooner.
The morning light was all soft-edges and warmth. Bradley was facing Colin, his eyes closed, his face clear and peaceful. For a long moment, Colin just lay there, looking at him and not moving. Then he touched his fingertips gently to Bradley’s temple, caressing down his cheekbone to his jaw. Bradley shifted and Colin pulled his hand up. Bradley’s eyes blinked open, then closed again. He dragged his hands out from under the covers and reached for Colin’s hand. He pulled it to his face, pressing it to his mouth and kissing Colin’s palm. Colin watched. Eventually Bradley opened his eyes, squinting and smiling at Colin.
“Good morning,” said Colin, softly.
“Good morning,” said Bradley. His voice was croaky. He was still holding onto Colin’s hand.
Eventually, they sat up. The room was a mess. Colin was sure it hadn’t been that way the night before, but he hadn’t exactly been concentrating on the room. Bradley’s bed-hair - going everywhere and caught golden in the light - made Colin laugh.
“What?” said Bradley.
“Nothing,” replied Colin. “Just you.”
Bradley pretended to look affronted. Colin smiled and tried to memorise the moment - the room, the light, and Bradley - their first morning.