Fic: Going Out Under the Radar
Title: Going Out Under the Radar
Author: mabonwitch
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: R
Wordcount: ~3000
Summary: Merlin kidnaps Arthur for a night out.
Content Notes: underage clubbing, groping, ridiculous store names
Author's Notes: Set in the In a Time of Magic 'verse, after Coming of Age
Merlin had never seen Arthur quite like this, hard-jawed and edgy. He didn't twitch, but Merlin had the unnerving sense that he would if he were a touch less tightly wound. It had been two days, and he still wouldn't tell Merlin what his father had said.
Merlin's gut clenches, thinking about it. He's not fond of Uther; hasn't been since he inadvertently walked in on Arthur crying when they were twelve. Uther demands too much and Merlin hated what it did to Arthur. He knew Arthur had rowed with his father over Merlin before. There was the don't associate with peasants fight, and the he must have ensorcelled you, I'll get him expelled fight, and the being friendly with sorcerers is bad politics fight, once Uther had accepted that Merlin really wasn't using magical wiles on Arthur. He didn't hear them, but Merlin knew there were other fights. He wished he knew if Arthur had just had a dad, I'm gay fight or a dad, I'm in love with a sorcerer fight, or both.
Mostly, he just wished Arthur would be okay again.
Beside him, Arthur sighed. "I wish I could get out of here." He said it quietly, trying to evade the notice of his ever-present guards. He looked like he was going to come out of his skin.
Merlin gnawed his lip. "Grounded?"
Arthur grunted. "I don't trust your judgment right now, Arthur. I think it's best if you stay at the palace for the duration of your break." His voice rises slightly toward the end of the mimicry, until he spat out 'break'.
Merlin winced. He reached over to touch Arthur's arm. Arthur didn't shake him off. He didn't relax either. Slowly, an idea blossomed in his mind. "You really want to go?"
Arthur looked over at him, puzzlement fading into anticipation. "Yes."
The desperation in Arthur's tone sealed it for Merlin. He bowed his head, preparing to cast.
"Wait," Arthur said. "I don't want them to think you-" He stood, pulling Merlin up. "Let's go for a walk, get near the North Gates. Then you can."
**
In the end, it was almost too easy. Merlin didn't precisely make them invisible. He more sort of- blurred them. People saw them without recognizing them. He also, as soon as they were out of the reach of Arthur's guards, made Arthur stop and let him shield him up to a faretheewell. Nothing was going to happen to Arthur, even if it did make him look rather pissy.
"I thought you said no one could recognise me?"
Merlin flailed. "You could get hit by a bus! There could be a drive-by shooting!"
Arthur's eyebrows shot up. "Just where are you planning on taking me, Merlin?"
Merlin pouted. "I didn't have a plan, exactly."
Arthur rolled his eyes, some of the tension he'd held already fading. "Right. Well, we're not just standing about on the outside of the castle gates, instead of the inside. Start walking."
Eventually, they caught a cab. Merlin paid, because Arthur was an idiot and didn't think of things like carrying around his wallet.
"Sorry," Arthur said, grimacing, "sorry, Merlin. I'll pay you back as soon as we get back."
And he would, Merlin knew. Arthur was better like that these days, more conscious that not everyone grew up rich. It was probably Lancelot's influence. Lancelot was a scholarship boy, like Merlin, but with twice the brains, no magic, and a sense of right that left his friends occasionally breathless. He'd earned a place with them when he'd gone head to head with Gwaine in an economics class, and proved he wasn't afraid to do the same with Arthur when presented with the opportunity.
Merlin huffed. "Good, because I don't think this is what my mum wants me spending my savings on."
Arthur ducked his head. "We're on High Street," he said, craning his head around.
Merlin shrugged. "Seemed like a logical place to start."
"Start what?"
Merlin grinned. He thought his idea was rather brilliant. "We're going to get you some normal-people clothes, Your Highness."
Arthur blinked at him for a moment, then his face lit up in slow motion. Merlin grinned and elbowed him.
"I thought you'd like that," he said. Satisfaction threaded his voice. "Not here, obviously, because there's no way I can afford anything. But I know how to get a few places from here."
Arthur clutched his arm. "Jeans? Something that hasn't been tailored to precisely what my publicist thinks is appropriate?"
Merlin shook him off and slung an arm over his shoulder, surprised how different that felt now that he and Arthur were…whatever. Involved, or something. It always felt good, being close to Arthur, but now it was warmer. He thought he might be blushing, actually, which was embarrassing.
"This way," he said.
Ten minutes later, Arthur twitched against his side. "Merlin, we've passed half a dozen stores with the kind of thing I want. Where the hell are you taking me?"
Merlin tugged Arthur along. "Just trust me." He saw Arthur's annoyance fade, to be replaced with a soft look that made Merlin tingle. Fortunately, they arrived before he did anything mortifying. "Here!"
Arthur pulled up, looking at the sign with distrust. "Dungeon of Delight?"
Merlin cracked up at the raised-brow, pursed-lip face Arthur pulled. "Yep. Come on!" He grabbed Arthur and dragged him inside before he could protest further. Once inside, he cut his glamour. "Hey, Morgause."
Morgause, whose eyes had come flying up when she sensed strong magic, relaxed marginally. "Merlin," she said. Merlin took her quick nod as the equivalent of a smile. "Who's your friend?"
Merlin smiled a put a finger alongside his nose and shrugged. Morgause rolled her eyes. "That sort of friend, huh?"
Merlin shrugged again. "It's not his fault he's been denied the sort of awesomeness you provide."
Morgause snorted. "You know where everything is," she said, and turned back to sorting through some silver rings and studs.
Merlin grabbed Arthur's arm again and ducked toward the back of the store. Once they were out of earshot, Arthur exploded.
"Merlin," he hissed. "What the hell was that? She's- she knows your- and her hair! She has no hair! And her nose is pierced!"
Merlin dissolved into laughter. Arthur's face was so thoroughly outraged, he couldn't help it. Merlin had met Morgause when he was eight, completely by accident. His magic had slipped, and his mother had been desperate to get them off the street when Morgause appeared from nowhere and led them to safety. Her store was a sort of magic users' safe haven. Merlin loved it.
He didn't answer Arthur, just turned and began browsing. "How about these?" He held up a pair of black jeans for inspection. "No, wait, this!" The silky red shirt slithered against his palms. Arthur's face was drawn in a frown, his shoulders stiff. "It's your colour," Merlin teased. And it was true; red really did suit Arthur.
Merlin sighed and set his finds down. He stepped closer. "Arthur, nothing bad is going to happen here." He tightened his magic around Arthur in a brief caress and watched some of the tension fade. "Promise. And I thought something a little outré is what you wanted?"
Finally, Arthur sighed, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. "Well, it certainly is that." Merlin followed his gaze to the wall of mirrors. Fantastic designs were etched around the edges, and some had words written in lipstick. Everything from the rather sweet "Beauty is within" to "Patriarchy sees you naked, so it doesn't matter what you wear" decorated them. The very last mirror was black and unadorned.
Merlin tucked his chin over Arthur's shoulder. Arthur stiffened. Merlin backed off. They still hadn't really talked about the boundaries of this new thing between them.
"I-" Arthur half-turned and grabbed Merlin's hand. "No, I didn't mean- come back?"
Merlin blinked at that. It was unexpectedly incoherent for Arthur. Once he'd parsed it, he smiled. Feeling unaccountably shy, he leaned back in. Arthur sighed as Merlin settled against him, pulling one of Merlin's arms around him. He turned his head to the side and nuzzled Merlin's cheek.
"It's just," Arthur said, eyes sad, "this is probably the only time we can, in public. I barely have you, and I feel like I'm already losing you."
Merlin forced himself not to tense. It wasn't like he hadn't thought over the ramifications of being with Arthur since his birthday. He dug his chin into Arthur's shoulder in retaliation.
"You don't 'barely have me'," he rebuked. He tightened his magic around Arthur again, a wordless reminder that he really, really wasn't going anywhere. Arthur was his, dammit. His magic had tied them as surely as two people could be tied.
Arthur coughed. "Uh, Merlin, could you stop, uh-"
Merlin let go of Arthur with his magic at once. "Sorry," he muttered.
Arthur coughed again. "No, it's just-" He huffed and twisted in Merlin's arms, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. "Maybe not something you should do in public?"
Merlin was so busy staring at the blush that covered Arthur's cheeks that it took a minute for the sense of that to penetrate. His eyes widened and he dropped his gaze down Arthur's body. Sure enough-
"Oh," he said. And now he could feel himself turning tomato red, too.
Arthur's smile was sheepish, but his eyes sparkled. "It's like having essence of Merlin rubbed all over your body."
He pulled away and started browsing through the racks. Merlin didn't really notice. He was still a little fixated on how Arthur got hard because of his magic. And Arthur had said not in public, which meant several very private images were now cavorting through Merlin's brain.
"What do you think about this?"
Merlin caught himself before blurting out that he thought using his magic as a sex toy was basically the best thing ever, and could they go somewhere private now please? Arthur held up a blue shirt for examination.
Merlin blinked. "Too plain. Get something you'd never be allowed! Otherwise, what's the point?"
Arthur laughed. "Those jeans are out, then. Someone might, conceivably, be convinced into letting me get something like that."
"If it's unique you're looking for.." Like a shadow, Morgause appeared. Silently, she offered a pair of trousers. They were black, too, but that was the only similarity. Merlin didn't think they were actually leather- the crowd DoD drew couldn't really afford leather- but it was a nice facsimile. A little stretchier. Lacing down the side.
Arthur reached out a hand to touch the material. After a moment, he seemed to come to a decision. "Not for me. Black's not really my colour. You'd look good in it, though, Merlin."
Morgause made a quietly thoughtful sound. She turned her intense gaze on Merlin. "I have it in your size," she said.
"Er." Merlin looked between them. "Uh, sure?"
He took the trousers Morgause handed him a moment later and retreated to the dressing room. The trousers were awkward to struggle into. He didn't want to unlace and re-lace the sides for real, so he just squirmed around a lot. Once Merlin was in the trousers, he checked himself out in the mirror. Huh. He almost had an arse in these. Aside from that, he couldn't really tell. He was still adjusting to having sexual impulses at all, so maybe it made sense that he couldn't judge sexiness. Or maybe it just felt weird to be looking at himself like that.
Shrugging, Merlin opened the door to the dressing room and emerged. The low murmur of conversation between Arthur and Morgause cut off. Arthur stared and okay, yes, right. Definitely sexy, then. Merlin tried not to squirm and willed his erection away. He looked at Morgause, who fixed him with her usual intense stare. Slowly, she cocked her head to the side and nodded in approval.
"Arthur?" Merlin's voice came out higher than he'd meant it to. It sounded nervous.
Arthur opened his mouth; closed it again. He blinked rapidly. Merlin tried to wait patiently. Instead of speaking, though, Arthur stalked forward and pushed Merlin back into the dressing room, closing the door behind him. He just heard Morgause snort before the door closed.
"No sex in the dressing rooms," Morgause called, sounding way too amused.
Merlin really wanted to answer, but he couldn't think through the way Arthur was kissing him. Merlin didn't think Arthur was aware of pinning Merlin's wrist to the dressing room door. He wondered about how hot he found that. Arthur bit his lip, the pressure sharp and exact. Merlin mostly stifled the sound he wanted to make.
Arthur's lips were red and swollen when he finally pulled back. "I'm buying you those trousers," he said.
Merlin gaped for a second before he felt a huge grin taking over his face. "You like them, huh?"
Arthur smirked. "Can you sneak us past the bouncer at a club? I think we should go dancing."
Merlin grimaced. "I don't really want a misuse of magic on my record." Magic used to commit a crime of any kind brought serious trouble in King Uther's Britain.
Arthur flinched and dropped his hand. "Shit, sorry Merlin. I wasn't thinking."
Merlin shrugged. It was what it was. "I bet Morgause would know somewhere we could go without getting carded," he offered.
Arthur looked at him carefully, probably trying to figure out if he was mad about the slip. Since Merlin really was okay, he let Arthur look. After a minute, Arthur relaxed. "Can we?"
Merlin quirked a smile at him. "Only if you wear something as revealing as these."
Arthur glanced down at Merlin's trousers. When he looked up, his eyes were gleaming. "You're on."
**
"People are staring."
Arthur smiled at him, loose and easy. "Mhmm. It's because you're so gorgeous."
Merlin fidgeted. He didn't know what to do with that, not with the compliment or with the staring. Arthur staring was fine, but he hadn't really factored other people in.
"It's weird," he finally opined. He could feel his shoulders hunching up defensively.
Arthur frowned. "Hey, no." He slipped one arm up around Merlin's shoulders. "Is it really bothering you?"
Merlin shrugged unhappily. He didn't want to ruin their date, but the staring was freaking him out. Arthur's face got all protective and he tugged Merlin into him until Merlin could bury his face in Arthur's shoulder. He let himself relax a moment. When he pulled back, everyone except some creeper at the bar was looking elsewhere. Merlin tilted his head a little and gave Arthur a questioning look. Arthur smiled a little. Merlin huffed and leaned in to kiss him. Like a reward for good behaviour, he figured.
Merlin lost track of the people around them for a little while. Between kissing and being close to Arthur, the awkwardness of dancing wore off. With Arthur's hands on him, he felt sexy instead of silly. And when he looked around, he saw a tough-looking guy with grey hair having firm words with Mr. Creepy. Merlin relaxed fully, enjoying himself.
It was maybe an hour later that he found himself fingering the red satin of Arthur's shirt, hands running up and down Arthur's side. He dropped his hands lower, resting on the trousers Arthur had picked out. They were a soft brown. Merlin didn't know what they were made out of, but they were very soft. Buttery. He stroked.
Arthur nuzzled his ear. "You've stopped dancing again."
Merlin looked up. "Sorry. Distracted."
Arthur ran a hand up Merlin's back and into his hair, dragging him into a kiss. "Want to go make out in a booth?"
Merlin felt himself blushing. He really, really did. He nodded and let Arthur lead him off the floor. They squished in tight together, and Arthur wasted no time diving into more kissing. Merlin wanted to drown in his mouth, in the electric snap that sizzled through him. He gasped as Arthur moved down, trailing his lips over Merlin's neck. The gentle scrape of teeth at his neck made Merlin bite his lip. He clenched his hands in Arthur's hair, silently begging him to do it again. He could feel Arthur's shaky breath against his skin.
"Fuck," Arthur said. He reared up and pushed Merlin's head back against the booth, claiming his mouth, and oh. Merlin whined and scrabbled at Arthur's back, wanting to tear his clothes off and get to skin. Every nerve in his body was telling him how incredibly good it would be to be pressed up against Arthur naked right now.
"We've got to get out of here." Arthur's eyes are dark. "Merlin, I can't-"
Merlin nodded frantically, already pushing Arthur to move out of the booth. They stumbled outside through a side door, hands tangled together. Merlin made it a few steps before Arthur pushed him face-first toward the outside wall of the club. Arthur pressed close behind him, one arm around Merlin's chest and the other tilting Merlin's face back for a kiss. The angle was weird, but it let Merlin feel a hint of Arthur's cock against his arse. The idea of it was so blazingly hot that Merlin pushed his hips back for more. Arthur broke the kiss with a low moan. They stayed like that for long moments, rocking against each other. Merlin was reaching the point where he needed to open his damn trousers already and get a hand on his dick.
"Arthur."
Arthur swore and stepped back. "What am I-?" Merlin couldn't help the bereft noise he made. The hands on his hips turning him around didn't really help. "Shh, no, Merlin, it's okay. Not like this. Not in an alley."
Merlin let the hands that came up to frame his face soothe some of the sting. Arthur stroked a thumb over his cheek. He looked so earnest; Merlin couldn't really get mad.
"I want all the parts of this. I don't want to rush."
Merlin narrowed his eyes. They'd see about that.
Arthur sighed and darted forward for another kiss. "We should probably go," he murmured against Merlin's lips.
**
Listening to Uther's rage-filled bellow through the study door, knowing it was his turn next, was bloody awful. Watching Arthur emerge, clear-eyed and calm, only to stop and brush a tender kiss over Merlin's lips, was worth it. Merlin knew he'd do it all again.
Author: mabonwitch
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: R
Wordcount: ~3000
Summary: Merlin kidnaps Arthur for a night out.
Content Notes: underage clubbing, groping, ridiculous store names
Author's Notes: Set in the In a Time of Magic 'verse, after Coming of Age
Merlin had never seen Arthur quite like this, hard-jawed and edgy. He didn't twitch, but Merlin had the unnerving sense that he would if he were a touch less tightly wound. It had been two days, and he still wouldn't tell Merlin what his father had said.
Merlin's gut clenches, thinking about it. He's not fond of Uther; hasn't been since he inadvertently walked in on Arthur crying when they were twelve. Uther demands too much and Merlin hated what it did to Arthur. He knew Arthur had rowed with his father over Merlin before. There was the don't associate with peasants fight, and the he must have ensorcelled you, I'll get him expelled fight, and the being friendly with sorcerers is bad politics fight, once Uther had accepted that Merlin really wasn't using magical wiles on Arthur. He didn't hear them, but Merlin knew there were other fights. He wished he knew if Arthur had just had a dad, I'm gay fight or a dad, I'm in love with a sorcerer fight, or both.
Mostly, he just wished Arthur would be okay again.
Beside him, Arthur sighed. "I wish I could get out of here." He said it quietly, trying to evade the notice of his ever-present guards. He looked like he was going to come out of his skin.
Merlin gnawed his lip. "Grounded?"
Arthur grunted. "I don't trust your judgment right now, Arthur. I think it's best if you stay at the palace for the duration of your break." His voice rises slightly toward the end of the mimicry, until he spat out 'break'.
Merlin winced. He reached over to touch Arthur's arm. Arthur didn't shake him off. He didn't relax either. Slowly, an idea blossomed in his mind. "You really want to go?"
Arthur looked over at him, puzzlement fading into anticipation. "Yes."
The desperation in Arthur's tone sealed it for Merlin. He bowed his head, preparing to cast.
"Wait," Arthur said. "I don't want them to think you-" He stood, pulling Merlin up. "Let's go for a walk, get near the North Gates. Then you can."
**
In the end, it was almost too easy. Merlin didn't precisely make them invisible. He more sort of- blurred them. People saw them without recognizing them. He also, as soon as they were out of the reach of Arthur's guards, made Arthur stop and let him shield him up to a faretheewell. Nothing was going to happen to Arthur, even if it did make him look rather pissy.
"I thought you said no one could recognise me?"
Merlin flailed. "You could get hit by a bus! There could be a drive-by shooting!"
Arthur's eyebrows shot up. "Just where are you planning on taking me, Merlin?"
Merlin pouted. "I didn't have a plan, exactly."
Arthur rolled his eyes, some of the tension he'd held already fading. "Right. Well, we're not just standing about on the outside of the castle gates, instead of the inside. Start walking."
Eventually, they caught a cab. Merlin paid, because Arthur was an idiot and didn't think of things like carrying around his wallet.
"Sorry," Arthur said, grimacing, "sorry, Merlin. I'll pay you back as soon as we get back."
And he would, Merlin knew. Arthur was better like that these days, more conscious that not everyone grew up rich. It was probably Lancelot's influence. Lancelot was a scholarship boy, like Merlin, but with twice the brains, no magic, and a sense of right that left his friends occasionally breathless. He'd earned a place with them when he'd gone head to head with Gwaine in an economics class, and proved he wasn't afraid to do the same with Arthur when presented with the opportunity.
Merlin huffed. "Good, because I don't think this is what my mum wants me spending my savings on."
Arthur ducked his head. "We're on High Street," he said, craning his head around.
Merlin shrugged. "Seemed like a logical place to start."
"Start what?"
Merlin grinned. He thought his idea was rather brilliant. "We're going to get you some normal-people clothes, Your Highness."
Arthur blinked at him for a moment, then his face lit up in slow motion. Merlin grinned and elbowed him.
"I thought you'd like that," he said. Satisfaction threaded his voice. "Not here, obviously, because there's no way I can afford anything. But I know how to get a few places from here."
Arthur clutched his arm. "Jeans? Something that hasn't been tailored to precisely what my publicist thinks is appropriate?"
Merlin shook him off and slung an arm over his shoulder, surprised how different that felt now that he and Arthur were…whatever. Involved, or something. It always felt good, being close to Arthur, but now it was warmer. He thought he might be blushing, actually, which was embarrassing.
"This way," he said.
Ten minutes later, Arthur twitched against his side. "Merlin, we've passed half a dozen stores with the kind of thing I want. Where the hell are you taking me?"
Merlin tugged Arthur along. "Just trust me." He saw Arthur's annoyance fade, to be replaced with a soft look that made Merlin tingle. Fortunately, they arrived before he did anything mortifying. "Here!"
Arthur pulled up, looking at the sign with distrust. "Dungeon of Delight?"
Merlin cracked up at the raised-brow, pursed-lip face Arthur pulled. "Yep. Come on!" He grabbed Arthur and dragged him inside before he could protest further. Once inside, he cut his glamour. "Hey, Morgause."
Morgause, whose eyes had come flying up when she sensed strong magic, relaxed marginally. "Merlin," she said. Merlin took her quick nod as the equivalent of a smile. "Who's your friend?"
Merlin smiled a put a finger alongside his nose and shrugged. Morgause rolled her eyes. "That sort of friend, huh?"
Merlin shrugged again. "It's not his fault he's been denied the sort of awesomeness you provide."
Morgause snorted. "You know where everything is," she said, and turned back to sorting through some silver rings and studs.
Merlin grabbed Arthur's arm again and ducked toward the back of the store. Once they were out of earshot, Arthur exploded.
"Merlin," he hissed. "What the hell was that? She's- she knows your- and her hair! She has no hair! And her nose is pierced!"
Merlin dissolved into laughter. Arthur's face was so thoroughly outraged, he couldn't help it. Merlin had met Morgause when he was eight, completely by accident. His magic had slipped, and his mother had been desperate to get them off the street when Morgause appeared from nowhere and led them to safety. Her store was a sort of magic users' safe haven. Merlin loved it.
He didn't answer Arthur, just turned and began browsing. "How about these?" He held up a pair of black jeans for inspection. "No, wait, this!" The silky red shirt slithered against his palms. Arthur's face was drawn in a frown, his shoulders stiff. "It's your colour," Merlin teased. And it was true; red really did suit Arthur.
Merlin sighed and set his finds down. He stepped closer. "Arthur, nothing bad is going to happen here." He tightened his magic around Arthur in a brief caress and watched some of the tension fade. "Promise. And I thought something a little outré is what you wanted?"
Finally, Arthur sighed, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. "Well, it certainly is that." Merlin followed his gaze to the wall of mirrors. Fantastic designs were etched around the edges, and some had words written in lipstick. Everything from the rather sweet "Beauty is within" to "Patriarchy sees you naked, so it doesn't matter what you wear" decorated them. The very last mirror was black and unadorned.
Merlin tucked his chin over Arthur's shoulder. Arthur stiffened. Merlin backed off. They still hadn't really talked about the boundaries of this new thing between them.
"I-" Arthur half-turned and grabbed Merlin's hand. "No, I didn't mean- come back?"
Merlin blinked at that. It was unexpectedly incoherent for Arthur. Once he'd parsed it, he smiled. Feeling unaccountably shy, he leaned back in. Arthur sighed as Merlin settled against him, pulling one of Merlin's arms around him. He turned his head to the side and nuzzled Merlin's cheek.
"It's just," Arthur said, eyes sad, "this is probably the only time we can, in public. I barely have you, and I feel like I'm already losing you."
Merlin forced himself not to tense. It wasn't like he hadn't thought over the ramifications of being with Arthur since his birthday. He dug his chin into Arthur's shoulder in retaliation.
"You don't 'barely have me'," he rebuked. He tightened his magic around Arthur again, a wordless reminder that he really, really wasn't going anywhere. Arthur was his, dammit. His magic had tied them as surely as two people could be tied.
Arthur coughed. "Uh, Merlin, could you stop, uh-"
Merlin let go of Arthur with his magic at once. "Sorry," he muttered.
Arthur coughed again. "No, it's just-" He huffed and twisted in Merlin's arms, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. "Maybe not something you should do in public?"
Merlin was so busy staring at the blush that covered Arthur's cheeks that it took a minute for the sense of that to penetrate. His eyes widened and he dropped his gaze down Arthur's body. Sure enough-
"Oh," he said. And now he could feel himself turning tomato red, too.
Arthur's smile was sheepish, but his eyes sparkled. "It's like having essence of Merlin rubbed all over your body."
He pulled away and started browsing through the racks. Merlin didn't really notice. He was still a little fixated on how Arthur got hard because of his magic. And Arthur had said not in public, which meant several very private images were now cavorting through Merlin's brain.
"What do you think about this?"
Merlin caught himself before blurting out that he thought using his magic as a sex toy was basically the best thing ever, and could they go somewhere private now please? Arthur held up a blue shirt for examination.
Merlin blinked. "Too plain. Get something you'd never be allowed! Otherwise, what's the point?"
Arthur laughed. "Those jeans are out, then. Someone might, conceivably, be convinced into letting me get something like that."
"If it's unique you're looking for.." Like a shadow, Morgause appeared. Silently, she offered a pair of trousers. They were black, too, but that was the only similarity. Merlin didn't think they were actually leather- the crowd DoD drew couldn't really afford leather- but it was a nice facsimile. A little stretchier. Lacing down the side.
Arthur reached out a hand to touch the material. After a moment, he seemed to come to a decision. "Not for me. Black's not really my colour. You'd look good in it, though, Merlin."
Morgause made a quietly thoughtful sound. She turned her intense gaze on Merlin. "I have it in your size," she said.
"Er." Merlin looked between them. "Uh, sure?"
He took the trousers Morgause handed him a moment later and retreated to the dressing room. The trousers were awkward to struggle into. He didn't want to unlace and re-lace the sides for real, so he just squirmed around a lot. Once Merlin was in the trousers, he checked himself out in the mirror. Huh. He almost had an arse in these. Aside from that, he couldn't really tell. He was still adjusting to having sexual impulses at all, so maybe it made sense that he couldn't judge sexiness. Or maybe it just felt weird to be looking at himself like that.
Shrugging, Merlin opened the door to the dressing room and emerged. The low murmur of conversation between Arthur and Morgause cut off. Arthur stared and okay, yes, right. Definitely sexy, then. Merlin tried not to squirm and willed his erection away. He looked at Morgause, who fixed him with her usual intense stare. Slowly, she cocked her head to the side and nodded in approval.
"Arthur?" Merlin's voice came out higher than he'd meant it to. It sounded nervous.
Arthur opened his mouth; closed it again. He blinked rapidly. Merlin tried to wait patiently. Instead of speaking, though, Arthur stalked forward and pushed Merlin back into the dressing room, closing the door behind him. He just heard Morgause snort before the door closed.
"No sex in the dressing rooms," Morgause called, sounding way too amused.
Merlin really wanted to answer, but he couldn't think through the way Arthur was kissing him. Merlin didn't think Arthur was aware of pinning Merlin's wrist to the dressing room door. He wondered about how hot he found that. Arthur bit his lip, the pressure sharp and exact. Merlin mostly stifled the sound he wanted to make.
Arthur's lips were red and swollen when he finally pulled back. "I'm buying you those trousers," he said.
Merlin gaped for a second before he felt a huge grin taking over his face. "You like them, huh?"
Arthur smirked. "Can you sneak us past the bouncer at a club? I think we should go dancing."
Merlin grimaced. "I don't really want a misuse of magic on my record." Magic used to commit a crime of any kind brought serious trouble in King Uther's Britain.
Arthur flinched and dropped his hand. "Shit, sorry Merlin. I wasn't thinking."
Merlin shrugged. It was what it was. "I bet Morgause would know somewhere we could go without getting carded," he offered.
Arthur looked at him carefully, probably trying to figure out if he was mad about the slip. Since Merlin really was okay, he let Arthur look. After a minute, Arthur relaxed. "Can we?"
Merlin quirked a smile at him. "Only if you wear something as revealing as these."
Arthur glanced down at Merlin's trousers. When he looked up, his eyes were gleaming. "You're on."
**
"People are staring."
Arthur smiled at him, loose and easy. "Mhmm. It's because you're so gorgeous."
Merlin fidgeted. He didn't know what to do with that, not with the compliment or with the staring. Arthur staring was fine, but he hadn't really factored other people in.
"It's weird," he finally opined. He could feel his shoulders hunching up defensively.
Arthur frowned. "Hey, no." He slipped one arm up around Merlin's shoulders. "Is it really bothering you?"
Merlin shrugged unhappily. He didn't want to ruin their date, but the staring was freaking him out. Arthur's face got all protective and he tugged Merlin into him until Merlin could bury his face in Arthur's shoulder. He let himself relax a moment. When he pulled back, everyone except some creeper at the bar was looking elsewhere. Merlin tilted his head a little and gave Arthur a questioning look. Arthur smiled a little. Merlin huffed and leaned in to kiss him. Like a reward for good behaviour, he figured.
Merlin lost track of the people around them for a little while. Between kissing and being close to Arthur, the awkwardness of dancing wore off. With Arthur's hands on him, he felt sexy instead of silly. And when he looked around, he saw a tough-looking guy with grey hair having firm words with Mr. Creepy. Merlin relaxed fully, enjoying himself.
It was maybe an hour later that he found himself fingering the red satin of Arthur's shirt, hands running up and down Arthur's side. He dropped his hands lower, resting on the trousers Arthur had picked out. They were a soft brown. Merlin didn't know what they were made out of, but they were very soft. Buttery. He stroked.
Arthur nuzzled his ear. "You've stopped dancing again."
Merlin looked up. "Sorry. Distracted."
Arthur ran a hand up Merlin's back and into his hair, dragging him into a kiss. "Want to go make out in a booth?"
Merlin felt himself blushing. He really, really did. He nodded and let Arthur lead him off the floor. They squished in tight together, and Arthur wasted no time diving into more kissing. Merlin wanted to drown in his mouth, in the electric snap that sizzled through him. He gasped as Arthur moved down, trailing his lips over Merlin's neck. The gentle scrape of teeth at his neck made Merlin bite his lip. He clenched his hands in Arthur's hair, silently begging him to do it again. He could feel Arthur's shaky breath against his skin.
"Fuck," Arthur said. He reared up and pushed Merlin's head back against the booth, claiming his mouth, and oh. Merlin whined and scrabbled at Arthur's back, wanting to tear his clothes off and get to skin. Every nerve in his body was telling him how incredibly good it would be to be pressed up against Arthur naked right now.
"We've got to get out of here." Arthur's eyes are dark. "Merlin, I can't-"
Merlin nodded frantically, already pushing Arthur to move out of the booth. They stumbled outside through a side door, hands tangled together. Merlin made it a few steps before Arthur pushed him face-first toward the outside wall of the club. Arthur pressed close behind him, one arm around Merlin's chest and the other tilting Merlin's face back for a kiss. The angle was weird, but it let Merlin feel a hint of Arthur's cock against his arse. The idea of it was so blazingly hot that Merlin pushed his hips back for more. Arthur broke the kiss with a low moan. They stayed like that for long moments, rocking against each other. Merlin was reaching the point where he needed to open his damn trousers already and get a hand on his dick.
"Arthur."
Arthur swore and stepped back. "What am I-?" Merlin couldn't help the bereft noise he made. The hands on his hips turning him around didn't really help. "Shh, no, Merlin, it's okay. Not like this. Not in an alley."
Merlin let the hands that came up to frame his face soothe some of the sting. Arthur stroked a thumb over his cheek. He looked so earnest; Merlin couldn't really get mad.
"I want all the parts of this. I don't want to rush."
Merlin narrowed his eyes. They'd see about that.
Arthur sighed and darted forward for another kiss. "We should probably go," he murmured against Merlin's lips.
**
Listening to Uther's rage-filled bellow through the study door, knowing it was his turn next, was bloody awful. Watching Arthur emerge, clear-eyed and calm, only to stop and brush a tender kiss over Merlin's lips, was worth it. Merlin knew he'd do it all again.