Kink Me! #4
Kink Me! #4 Closed to new prompts Welcome to Kink Me! Merlin #4!
Read the rules before you post anything. We freeze or screen anything that breaks the rules! Got a question? Ask the mods! So you want to post a fill?
Your attention to detail helps make our archiving possible, and also tells us you've read the rules.
- Click for rules on posting fills! ( Read more... )
It almost no time at all before it's coming up for Christmas. It brings a smile to Arthur's face every time he thinks about how different it will be from last year, when they were lucky to have an uncertain hour here and there.
He finishes his final class for the week. He's not in the best mood, having being ambushed by Morgana on his way out. Apparently Uther is still furious with him, mostly because his standing in the village has been, as she puts it permanently compromised.
He lets her rail at him until it doesn't look as if she's going to stop any time soon, and finally he has to walk away, biting down his own disappointment at how Uther will probably always think of him as a commodity. He wonders, as Morgana's voice follows him down the corridor, how long it will take for her to realise that for herself, and whether it will matter.
'What's up?' Merlin asks, who is waiting for him just outside the campus gates. 'You look like the world's about to end.'
'Nothing,' Arthur says out of habit, before he remembers that he doesn't have to do this anymore. 'Oh, just Morgana.'
They stop for a beer on the way back home and, after a little coaxing, he tells Merlin about it.
'Well, she can't be happy, can she?' Merlin says. 'After all, he didn't exactly welcome her with open arms after you went. She's probably hanging onto the hope that he'll acknowledge her as his.'
'Maybe,' says Arthur, and shudders at how fucked up that particular situation is. Uther will no more accept her for who she really is than he did Arthur. It might not matter now, but Arthur knows now that one day, it will. He wonders how far-reaching Morgana's anger will be when she realises that everything she's become or changed or given up for Uther Pendragon will have been for nothing.
They leave soon after that, and though Arthur tries not to brood about it too much, he can't quite get Uther, and the way he's behaved towards all of them, out of his mind.
'Fuck,' he says, as they reach the bus stop, shoulders touching, the beer high loosening his tongue a little. 'I'd never treat our children like that, no matter what.'
He goes quiet as he realises what he's just said: Our children. He panics. Maybe he's gone too far; maybe it's too much; maybe it's not what Merlin wants. He almost has to drag his eyes up off the pavement to face Merlin, fearing the worst.
Merlin's look of surprise gives way to affection which, in turn, rapidly transforms into a broad, delighted grin. 'Yeah,' he says, his eyes softening, as a flush creeps slowly across his face, 'let's never, ever do that.'
The flush is echoed by the burning warmth that spreads across Arthur's chest. He takes Merlin's hands, and pulls him forward to kiss him. It lasts long enough for the other people in the queue to offer unsolicited advice on where to get a room, and all the while, he can feel Merlin clinging to him just as tightly as he is holding him. For a few seconds which may, in reality, have been minutes, he presses his face against Merlin's neck and lets himself feel how truly lucky he is.
It's not until they pull apart that he remembers that this time, it was he who had taken Merlin's hands and kissed him. And he had done so without thinking about it. He looks up at Merlin shyly and sees the importance of what's just happened mirrored in his eyes. He's smiling at Arthur as always, but there's something protective and proud in his expression too.
'We've missed the bus,' Merlin says, blinking as he inclines his head towards the empty shelter. 'We could walk.'
'Why not?' says Arthur. 'You can tell me about your day.' He slips his arm into Merlin's and, just before they pick up speed, presses a quick, solitary kiss into his hair.
End
Reply
Awww, thank you. Merlin and Arthur will be fine, and will love and protect each other fiercely, and one day, will even adopt children of their own. *gets teary eyed thinking about it*
Very satisfying read!
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
I am going to take Arthur's insight to heart, about not seeking "success" that requires subjugation to one's will. That was particularly brilliant. This story has been tragic and horrific and chilling in turn. Thank you so much for this journey.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
I'm looking forward to a re=read now that this is complete. Thank you for taking such care with this. It was a real pleasure to watch this tale unfold.
Reply
Reply
And the ending, too - I really love the way you've described the way Arthur's life with Uther has left consequences Arthur didn't even think about; and I'm happy you've ended it with Arthur breaking through one of them. I love how life isn't perfect for any of them, but perfectly hopeful nonetheless.
I also really liked this line:
but he's not going to fall into the same trap of hating and letting himself be controlled by the very thing he hates
because it describes both Uther in the fic and Uther in canon so perfectly, and shows with Arthur will be the better man in both, too.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment