Fic: Someone to fight for (1/?)
Title: Someone to fight for (1/?)
Rating: NC-17 (just to be on the safe side in future chapter, though nothing too big)
Pairing: Merthur, one-sided Lancelot/Arthur
Warning: Violence in future chapters
Summary: Modern AU. When Merlin and his friends return to the institute after the holidays, a new boy has arrived. A shy, misterious blond guy with hidden issues and an easy smile that drives Merlin crazy. Soon Lancelot will show his interest for him, but can Merlin step aside and let his best friend go for who could be the love of Merlin's life? And can Merlin help this boy with whatever seems to be killing him inside? SLASH Merthur, one-sided Lanceloot/Arthur
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this (except for the plot) and none of this has really happened (that I know off).
A/N: Ok, so here's my first 'Merlin' story! I've adapted it from a previous RPS I wrote a long time ago, so I hope it goes well. By the way, English is not my first language, I hope you don't have to find a lot of mistakes! ;) Enjoy!
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CHAPTER 1
The sun was shining brightly in the sky when Merlin made his way up the front steps of the institute for the first time that year. It was a really nice and warm day, considering it was September and he was in Camelot, and the last thing he felt like doing was shutting himself up in a building, much less in the institute. But well, what could he do? At least he got to see his friends again, as he had not been able to see them much while on summer, due to his job at the cafeteria.
Merlin smiled when he reached the top of the stairs and saw his three friends hanging around their usual spot. If he didn’t know better, he would have thought they hadn’t moved from there since July. They looked pretty much the same, a little more tanned if anything. Was it possible that Percival had grown a little more over the summer? He looked really tall!
All of them turned at once towards their friend to acknowledge his arrival, and a few hugs and smiles were exchanged before they started chatting to get up to date with each other.
“I can’t believe is September again already!” Gwaine complained, apparently not for the first time since he had arrived by the way both Lancelot and Percival rolled their eyes. “I need more holidays!”
“Will you stop whining?” Merlin told him, only half joking. “You have done absolutely nothing all summer! What about me, eh? I’ve been working on the cafeteria since we finished on July. It’s me who needs a holiday!”
“Stop it, please, Merlin, I’m getting exhausted just by listening to you!” Gwaine groaned, eliciting a chuckle from the other three. “Maybe we could play truant”
“On our first day?” Lancelot asked, bewildered. “Don’t count on me. I have to be serious this year if I want to reach University”
“Are you still thinking about that?” Gwaine asked. “I thought you wanted to be a musician”
“I do. But what if it doesn’t work out?”
“That’s the confidence you have in the band?” Percival asked, mockingly offended.
“You know what I think about the band, boys. I love it, but it’s like it isn’t complete, like something was missing...”
“Well, I suggest we head for our classroom while we look for that something” Merlin joked, not really in the mood to talk about the future and University, as he didn’t think he would be able to make it. “It’s almost time for the first class to begin”
“You practically arrive late, as usual, may I add, and now you’re rushing us? You haven’t changed one bit, I tell you!” Gwaine playfully groaned, earning himself a rap on the head from Merlin and a chuckle from the other two.
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When they arrived to their new classroom, and after greeting some of their old classmates who were already there, they found some free seats for them and sat down as they waited for the teacher.
“Look! There’s a new guy!” Percival alerted the others, and the other three turned their gazes around to look at the door and to the boy who, as Percival had said, was coming through it for the first time.
Merlin’s eyes got wide-eyed with amazement as he observed the blond-haired boy a few feet away from him. He didn’t thought he had ever seen a boy as handsome as that one. He was tall -probably as much as he was, though not as Percival, obviously!- and strong, and there was a warmth on his blue eyes that immediately made Merlin feel as if he knew him already. He had never believed in love at first sight, but the attraction he was feeling towards that mysterious boy, who was waiting near the door, probably for the teacher to come and introduce him, could not be ignored.
“Wow!” Merlin was pulled back from his own thoughts by Lancelot’s exclamation. “Did you see that guy? He sure is gorgeous!”
Merlin wanted to agree, but he found his tongue had lost his talking ability.
“Is he?” Gwaine asked. “I mean, yeah, sure, he is pretty. But he’s not my type”
“Isn’t he? No, we all know who your type is...” Lancelot responded knowingly, but Gwaine didn’t seem to catch the hint thrown by Lancelot. “Fine by me, though, I don’t want any competition when I try to get off with him” Lancelot explained. “And that goes for you two as well” Lancelot warned both Percival and Merlin. “I saw him first”
“Don’t worry” Percival answered. “I’m not interested in any flirting right now”
Everybody failed to notice how Merlin hadn’t said a word about the new boy and how he couldn’t take his eyes off of him, although now a slight expression of rage had settled on Merlin’s features. How could have been so slow? He had felt terribly attracted to the boy from second one, why hadn’t he said anything before Lancelot did? Lancelot was his best friend, he couldn’t go and try something with this guy if Lancelot had shown an interest about him before he did. Damn it.
“Do you guys mind if I invite him to sit with us?” Lancelot asked, already standing up to go and meet the guy.
“I guess not, but if he just happens to be and arsehole we’re holding you responsible” Gwaine answered, not that interested in the new boy as Lancelot -and Merlin- was.
“He would still be a gorgeous arsehole, so I’m taking the risk” Lancelot replied, and the others laughed -except for Merlin, who was still cursing his bad luck that the first time he had been that interested in a person, his best friend happened to be interested too. And quicker.
Lancelot had never been a shy person, so he resolutely directed himself to the door to introduce himself to the boy who had aroused so many emotions amongst two best friends.
“Hi” Lancelot greeted him, confidently.
“Hi” the boy answered, in a much shier way.
“My name is Lancelot” Lancelot went on, trying to sound friendly.
“I’m Arthur” the boy answered.
“You’re new here, aren’t you?” Lancelot asked, even as he obviously knew the answer to his own question.
“It seems like I am” Arthur answered with a smile.
“I know being the new guy sucks. Why don’t you come and sit with me and my friends?” Lancelot offered.
“Sure” Arthur answered, a bit overwhelmed with Lancelot’s openness, and he followed him towards a group of guys who were looking at them, and who seemed nice enough.
“Guys, this is Arthur” Lancelot introduced him, as if they were old friends.
“Hello, everyone” Arthur greeted them, kind of timidly.
“Arthur, this is Percival” Lancelot pointed at the biggest of them, who seemed to be very friendly, with his wide smile.
“Nice to meet you, Arthur” Percival offered, and Arthur smiled.
“This one who looks quite happy with himself is Gwaine” Lancelot continued, eliciting a chuckle from the others.
“Don’t mind him, he’s just jealous of me because I’m so much funnier than he is” Gwaine explained playfully, and Arthur decided he also seemed nice enough.
“And that one is my good friend Merlin” Lancelot introduced the last one of his friends, and Arthur’s eyes turned to the boy furthest away from him.
Arthur was left speechless for a second as he stared at the boy Lancelot had introduced as Merlin. He could tell he was very attractive -he had the most gorgeous eyes ever and soft dark hair that looked very sexy to Arthur-, but what impressed him the most was the feeling Arthur got when their gazes met. It was as if he already knew that boy, as if there was a familiarity in him that made Arthur feel at ease. He surely wanted to know more about that one.
“Why don’t you sit here with us? Boys, make room for him!” Lancelot ordered, trying to get them to move so Arthur could sit at his side.
“Oh no, please, don’t bother!” Arthur was quick to stop them. “I’ll just sit there with... Merlin, was it?” Arthur tried to feign a little indifference so as not to show how he was dying to get to know that guy better.
“Oh... ok” Lancelot said, obviously deceived, as he had to watch Arthur move away from him and go to sit next to Merlin. Well, it didn’t matter, he’d have plenty of other opportunities.
“Hi, Merlin” Arthur said warmly as he sat by his side, with a big smile that brightened his whole face, and Merlin found he could only reciprocate it.
“Hello, Arthur” Merlin answered, offering his hand for the other boy to shake it.
“Nice to meet you” Arthur offered, as kindly as before, and Merlin could almost feel his own shyness vanishing at that boy’s warmth.
“Nice to meet you too” Merlin agreed, trying to begin a conversation before he started blushing. “Does being the new one suck as much I think?” Merlin asked, mentally kicking himself for saying such a stupid thing, though Arthur didn’t seem to think it was so stupid.
“Well, let’s say it’s not funny” Arthur answered with a big smile. “Though you lot are making it so much easier. Lancelot was very kind to introduce himself to me that way”
Merlin sighed, feeling almost jealous about Arthur throwing compliments to someone who was not him, but then he remembered Lancelot was his best friend, and he was supposed to help him with Arthur.
“Yes, Lancelot is great, you’ll see”
“Well, you all seem nice enough” Arthur said, and Merlin could have sworn than when Arthur had said “you all” he really had meant “you”, and with “nice enough” he had meant “really nice”. Or at least that was what Merlin would have liked to hear, that was for sure. He really needed to change the subject before things got out of hand.
“You’ve been here long? I mean in Camelot?” Merlin asked.
“Err...” Arthur seemed to hesitate, uncomfortable with the question, and Merlin could have kicked his own shin at getting off to a bad start. “Not too long, about a month, maybe a little more. So how’s this place?” Arthur obviously tried to change the subject, and Merlin feigned not noticing.
“It’s not that bad, I guess” Merlin answered, shrugging his shoulders.
“I feel like I’m going to be okay here” Arthur said, and to Merlin it seemed like he was more thinking out loud this time than really talking to him.
“I hope so” Merlin answered, not knowing what else to say, and Arthur just smiled at him gratefully. Oh God, Merlin thought, that smile was going to be the death of him. Damn you, Lancelot!
Next chapter
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