PS I love you, idiot
(BBC MERLIN) MERLIN/ARTHUR
Rating: PG13
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Fandom: Merlin
Word Count: 2163
Warnings: slash, fluffy bunny rabbits all in a row
Disclaimer: Yeah, no. I own nothing.
A/N: For the Kinkme_merlin prompt: Arthur/Merlin, for Arthur it was love at first sight. Which really just made him grumpier. Edited it now, too :D
-
For Arthur, it was love at first sight. Which really just made him grumpier. Not that Arthur was naturally cranky; he oozed patience and benevolence on most days. Arthur was the type of person who remained stoic in the face of little kittens tumbling over each other but secretly squealed on the inside. Besides, any idiot who fell in love with Merlin (with the exception of Arthur and really, any poor sod who harboured feelings more than slightly homicidal for Merlin deserved to be hanged) would be driven to drink or to an early grave. Or be as moody as a woman during that time of the month.
It was just. Well. Love made Arthur grumpy. It was a tight knot in his chest when Merlin did something horrible like being all appealing and what not, with his pale skin and big eyes and breathing. It was a sharp bite somewhere in his stomach when Merlin risked his life to save Arthur, the idiot, never knowing that Arthur would move mountains to keep him safe. Most of all, it was just really uncomfortable in his trousers most of the time.
Not to mention the fact that Merlin was hopelessly oblivious. When Arthur tactfully asked him if he would like a snog ('Your unbearable desire for me might lead you to do drastic things like kiss me - ') Merlin simply laughed it off and looked at Arthur as if he was the one soft in the head. That led to an afternoon in the stocks. Or the time Arthur hinted of something more than friendship between them ('Merlin, polish my boots, clean my armour, sharpen my sword, and for God's sake learn how to fold my clothes! Honestly, you'd be lost without me') which ended in a shouting match on how crazy they drove each other. It had not, unfortunately, led to the kind of snogging Arthur hoped it would. Merlin's daftness only served to make Arthur even more cantankerous, which notched up Merlin's own annoyance and incompetence, and made Arthur even crankier; it was a vicious cycle.
"Both of you are ridiculous," Morgana said one afternoon when Arthur turned to her for comfort - what had he been thinking? Morgana was as soothing as carpet burn. "You two are the most unmarried married couple ever," she added with a roll of her eyes.
"I know that," Arthur despaired. "But Merlin doesn't."
Morgana gave him a look that made Uther bend to her will. "Have you tried telling him?"
This time it was Arthur who gave her a look (one that has never worked on Merlin). "Of course I have," he said impatiently, punching the needle into the fabric. Morgana had forced him to help her sew these ridiculous things, saying it was cathartic, like stabbing a sword repeatedly at a straw dummy. It wasn't. "But Merlin is too thick. He doesn't understand things that most people do. He laughs in the face of my virility."
"As do I," Morgana said primly. "Also, you've gotten even grumpier, have you noticed? Poor Merlin has to cater to your silly whims and face your moods."
"I'm not grumpy," Arthur snapped and stuck the needle into his thumb. He cursed loudly and waved his hand about, scowling at Morgana. "This is not helping at all, Morgana."
Morgana rolled her eyes again and took out her silk kerchief, dabbing at Arthur's injury rougher than necessary. "You are such a child. A pinprick won't kill you. Be lucky Merlin isn’t here to witness this. Right, Gwen?"
Gwen hid her smile behind her sewing. "Yes, my lady."
Arthur glared at both of them and promptly left. Women were useless when it came to love. It was better if he listened to no one but himself; who better to give advice than the future King of Camelot?
He spotted Merlin across the courtyard talking to one of the newer chambermaids, a buxom girl named Charlotte; and then Merlin leaned in close to say something in her ear and Arthur swore the world blackened for a moment.
"Merlin!" he bellowed before realising he'd done so and approached the two with an intimidating air befitting the best knight of all of Albion. A bit of wind even ruffled his golden hair. The chambermaid glanced nervously at him and took a self-preserving step back. Merlin only lifted his chin in characteristic defiance.
"Sire?" Merlin asked helpfully and to anyone who knew him (such as Arthur), it was underlined with what do you want now, prat?
Arthur didn't exactly know what to say. Luckily, he was quick on his feet and jabbed his manservant in the chest without meaning to. He kept his surprise in check and said, "Have you mucked out the stables yet? If you're slacking on your duties, I'll be forced to send you to the stocks again. Maybe even make you clean the mess afterward."
The look Merlin gave him was a thing of beauty. It made Arthur's fingers tingle, his chest tighten, and really, all these silly emotions made him want to take them and drown them in the lake. What business did they have swelling in size to choke the breath in his lungs? And Morgana wondered why he was so irritable these days. Every wrong thing could be traced back to Merlin somehow.
Charlotte quickly dismissed herself with a curtsy and Merlin stared wistfully at her departing form. Arthur frowned. "Well?" he prompted, crossing his arms before he did something impulsive like smack Merlin in the head. Or use his ugly neckerchief to strangle him. Or anything to force Merlin to look his way, even if it left Arthur itching uncomfortably.
"You're an ass," Merlin hissed with real anger and spun on his heel, leaving Arthur standing there looking like an idiot and he hadn't even done anything wrong.
-
It was late in the evening and Merlin was nowhere to be found. Not that Arthur waited for him. He picked at the remnants of his cold dinner, delivered by a random chambermaid, and frowned. It was strange not having Merlin nearby. He was used to his manservant's irritating presence that his absence felt even more exasperating, like an idiot-shaped bruise on his chest.
There was a knock on the door and Arthur wasn't hoping it was his errant manservant who didn't know his place in court. "Enter," was said in an appropriately bored tone.
The door opened and Morgana swept in, her gown vibrant in the gloom of Arthur's chambers. Arthur tried his best to hide his disappointed expression, though he needn't have tried. Morgana always saw through him.
"You really bollixed everything," Morgana said by way of greeting, standing in front of Arthur.
"I don't know what you're saying," Arthur replied loftily, snatching his goblet and taking a deep drink.
Morgana eyed him with pity. "There are times when you do things that baffle me and then there are times when you're just being stupid. This is one of those times."
"Look, I really don't know what I did wrong," Arthur said in frustration and scowled into his cup. "What has Merlin told you?"
Morgana eyed him critically for a long while before she sighed and gave Arthur a pointed look. They engaged in wordless battle for a few moments before Arthur rolled his eyes and stood up, offering his seat to her with a sarcastic bow. Morgana primly sat down and picked a grape from Arthur's dinner.
"So, the great Arthur Pendragon has come to me for advice," said Morgana as she suckled obscenely on the fruit. "The heroic prince brought to his knees by a mere servant with unfortunate ears - "
"Get on with it, Morgana," Arthur snapped.
"Grumpy." She bit the grape cleanly in half. "Merlin wasn't flirting with Charlotte, you idiot. Do you think he even knows how? You don't even have the skill and you've lived in court all your life."
Arthur gave her a sceptical look. "Then what was he doing? And I am good at flirting. I've made many a lady swoon with my charm."
"Charlotte is from a village near Ealdor," Morgana explained slowly as if to an impossible child. "Merlin knew her as a child and was simply eager to have someone to complain about you without it being reported."
"He has Gwen for that," Arthur pointed out, still unconvinced.
Morgana picked up the knife, deftly twirling it between her fingers. "Someone who will agree with him, Arthur."
"Put that down before you hurt yourself." Arthur scowled. "I don't even know why you are telling me all this."
Morgana stood up and smoothed her skirts with one hand, the other holding the knife. She took a step towards Arthur who bravely held his ground. His hand did creep to the back of his trousers where he kept his own knife.
"Because, dearest stepbrother of mine," she said sweetly and delicately traced the tip of the knife on her pointer finger. "I'm tired of this ridiculous push and pull between the both of you. Do us all a favour and shag the man already so we can continue on with our lives. Contrary to what you might think, our lives don't revolve around your misguided romance with Merlin."
Arthur stared after her as she dropped the knife in his hands (nearly nicking him, the harpy) and went to the door.
"Wait, what do you mean by 'we'?" Arthur swallowed nervously. "Even - even my father?"
Morgana gave him a mysterious smile before slipping out of the room.
-
This was the most ridiculous thing he's ever done and Arthur was beginning to rethink his rash decision (mulled over the course of two hours) when he thought, bugger this, and picked up a pebble and threw it at Merlin's window.
There was a soft 'ow' before Merlin's face peered out the gap - hair a mess, eyes hooded, lips slack and looking so foolish that Arthur's heart thrummed in annoyance.
"Arthur?" Merlin whispered incredulously. "What the hell are you doing? It's...god, what time is it? I don't want to deal with your crankiness tonight, you prat."
"I am not cranky." He took a deep breath and said, "Merlin," and then paused, staring helplessly at Merlin's face.
Merlin scrubbed his face with a hand and gave Arthur a look (which worked all the damn time on Arthur). "Look, I'm tired and sleepy so just...go find someone else to bother. I'll send myself to the stocks in the morning. Goodnight - " Then his head popped out of view.
Already, Arthur felt the same prickly sensation that came with dealing with Merlin. Amazing - even when Arthur was trying to make things right between them.
"Merlin," he called calmly. "If you don't come out, I will personally make sure that you are on chamber pot duty for the rest of your life - "
Merlin's head poked out of the window. "Yes, sire?" he asked through gritted teeth.
The irritation remained but was joined by a sick, nervous feeling Arthur only felt when negotiating with his father about delicate matters. "Merlin." He cleared his throat and repeated, "Merlin."
"Yes?"
Arthur focused on the way his manservant's hair stuck up to one side and the slightly blurry gaze in his eyes, moonlight slanting over his face. He took a deep breath and:
"Roses are red, violets are blue, you're the worst servant ever but I, but I..." Arthur swallowed and forced himself to finish. "I've always loved you, idiot."
Merlin looked stunned, mouth hanging open unattractively.
Arthur cleared his throat once more. "Your turn, Merlin."
Merlin continued to gape at him in disbelief and Arthur hid his fists behind him, trying not to show just how anxious he was. "Merlin, speak."
"I..." The boy blinked and shook himself out of his astonishment. "That was...the worst thing I've ever heard. Honestly, Arthur. Roses are red, violets are blue?"
Indignation slowly crept across Arthur's face before he noticed the little grin dancing on Merlin's lips. His own curved reluctantly, then not so reluctantly, until he was positively beaming like an idiot (like a Merlin).
"I bet that poem will go down through the ages," Arthur told him arrogantly, coming closer to the window. "It is epic, Merlin."
"Whatever you say, sire," and then poked his reedy arms out of the window and clutched at Arthur's shoulders, drawing him close and pressing their lips together. Their teeth clacked and Arthur cursed, cupping Merlin's face and tilting it to the side. Their lips shifted some more before suddenly fitting, perfect and just perfect, Arthur's heart doing that swelling thing again, like a tidal wave he couldn't control even if he wanted to.
After a while they pulled apart, panting wetly into each other's mouths. Both were grinning idiotically at each other.
Arthur drew his thumb down a sharp cheekbone. "Merlin," he whispered. "Wipe down my armour tomorrow, will you? It's gotten rather rusty."
Rating: PG13
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Fandom: Merlin
Word Count: 2163
Warnings: slash, fluffy bunny rabbits all in a row
Disclaimer: Yeah, no. I own nothing.
A/N: For the Kinkme_merlin prompt: Arthur/Merlin, for Arthur it was love at first sight. Which really just made him grumpier. Edited it now, too :D
-
For Arthur, it was love at first sight. Which really just made him grumpier. Not that Arthur was naturally cranky; he oozed patience and benevolence on most days. Arthur was the type of person who remained stoic in the face of little kittens tumbling over each other but secretly squealed on the inside. Besides, any idiot who fell in love with Merlin (with the exception of Arthur and really, any poor sod who harboured feelings more than slightly homicidal for Merlin deserved to be hanged) would be driven to drink or to an early grave. Or be as moody as a woman during that time of the month.
It was just. Well. Love made Arthur grumpy. It was a tight knot in his chest when Merlin did something horrible like being all appealing and what not, with his pale skin and big eyes and breathing. It was a sharp bite somewhere in his stomach when Merlin risked his life to save Arthur, the idiot, never knowing that Arthur would move mountains to keep him safe. Most of all, it was just really uncomfortable in his trousers most of the time.
Not to mention the fact that Merlin was hopelessly oblivious. When Arthur tactfully asked him if he would like a snog ('Your unbearable desire for me might lead you to do drastic things like kiss me - ') Merlin simply laughed it off and looked at Arthur as if he was the one soft in the head. That led to an afternoon in the stocks. Or the time Arthur hinted of something more than friendship between them ('Merlin, polish my boots, clean my armour, sharpen my sword, and for God's sake learn how to fold my clothes! Honestly, you'd be lost without me') which ended in a shouting match on how crazy they drove each other. It had not, unfortunately, led to the kind of snogging Arthur hoped it would. Merlin's daftness only served to make Arthur even more cantankerous, which notched up Merlin's own annoyance and incompetence, and made Arthur even crankier; it was a vicious cycle.
"Both of you are ridiculous," Morgana said one afternoon when Arthur turned to her for comfort - what had he been thinking? Morgana was as soothing as carpet burn. "You two are the most unmarried married couple ever," she added with a roll of her eyes.
"I know that," Arthur despaired. "But Merlin doesn't."
Morgana gave him a look that made Uther bend to her will. "Have you tried telling him?"
This time it was Arthur who gave her a look (one that has never worked on Merlin). "Of course I have," he said impatiently, punching the needle into the fabric. Morgana had forced him to help her sew these ridiculous things, saying it was cathartic, like stabbing a sword repeatedly at a straw dummy. It wasn't. "But Merlin is too thick. He doesn't understand things that most people do. He laughs in the face of my virility."
"As do I," Morgana said primly. "Also, you've gotten even grumpier, have you noticed? Poor Merlin has to cater to your silly whims and face your moods."
"I'm not grumpy," Arthur snapped and stuck the needle into his thumb. He cursed loudly and waved his hand about, scowling at Morgana. "This is not helping at all, Morgana."
Morgana rolled her eyes again and took out her silk kerchief, dabbing at Arthur's injury rougher than necessary. "You are such a child. A pinprick won't kill you. Be lucky Merlin isn’t here to witness this. Right, Gwen?"
Gwen hid her smile behind her sewing. "Yes, my lady."
Arthur glared at both of them and promptly left. Women were useless when it came to love. It was better if he listened to no one but himself; who better to give advice than the future King of Camelot?
He spotted Merlin across the courtyard talking to one of the newer chambermaids, a buxom girl named Charlotte; and then Merlin leaned in close to say something in her ear and Arthur swore the world blackened for a moment.
"Merlin!" he bellowed before realising he'd done so and approached the two with an intimidating air befitting the best knight of all of Albion. A bit of wind even ruffled his golden hair. The chambermaid glanced nervously at him and took a self-preserving step back. Merlin only lifted his chin in characteristic defiance.
"Sire?" Merlin asked helpfully and to anyone who knew him (such as Arthur), it was underlined with what do you want now, prat?
Arthur didn't exactly know what to say. Luckily, he was quick on his feet and jabbed his manservant in the chest without meaning to. He kept his surprise in check and said, "Have you mucked out the stables yet? If you're slacking on your duties, I'll be forced to send you to the stocks again. Maybe even make you clean the mess afterward."
The look Merlin gave him was a thing of beauty. It made Arthur's fingers tingle, his chest tighten, and really, all these silly emotions made him want to take them and drown them in the lake. What business did they have swelling in size to choke the breath in his lungs? And Morgana wondered why he was so irritable these days. Every wrong thing could be traced back to Merlin somehow.
Charlotte quickly dismissed herself with a curtsy and Merlin stared wistfully at her departing form. Arthur frowned. "Well?" he prompted, crossing his arms before he did something impulsive like smack Merlin in the head. Or use his ugly neckerchief to strangle him. Or anything to force Merlin to look his way, even if it left Arthur itching uncomfortably.
"You're an ass," Merlin hissed with real anger and spun on his heel, leaving Arthur standing there looking like an idiot and he hadn't even done anything wrong.
-
It was late in the evening and Merlin was nowhere to be found. Not that Arthur waited for him. He picked at the remnants of his cold dinner, delivered by a random chambermaid, and frowned. It was strange not having Merlin nearby. He was used to his manservant's irritating presence that his absence felt even more exasperating, like an idiot-shaped bruise on his chest.
There was a knock on the door and Arthur wasn't hoping it was his errant manservant who didn't know his place in court. "Enter," was said in an appropriately bored tone.
The door opened and Morgana swept in, her gown vibrant in the gloom of Arthur's chambers. Arthur tried his best to hide his disappointed expression, though he needn't have tried. Morgana always saw through him.
"You really bollixed everything," Morgana said by way of greeting, standing in front of Arthur.
"I don't know what you're saying," Arthur replied loftily, snatching his goblet and taking a deep drink.
Morgana eyed him with pity. "There are times when you do things that baffle me and then there are times when you're just being stupid. This is one of those times."
"Look, I really don't know what I did wrong," Arthur said in frustration and scowled into his cup. "What has Merlin told you?"
Morgana eyed him critically for a long while before she sighed and gave Arthur a pointed look. They engaged in wordless battle for a few moments before Arthur rolled his eyes and stood up, offering his seat to her with a sarcastic bow. Morgana primly sat down and picked a grape from Arthur's dinner.
"So, the great Arthur Pendragon has come to me for advice," said Morgana as she suckled obscenely on the fruit. "The heroic prince brought to his knees by a mere servant with unfortunate ears - "
"Get on with it, Morgana," Arthur snapped.
"Grumpy." She bit the grape cleanly in half. "Merlin wasn't flirting with Charlotte, you idiot. Do you think he even knows how? You don't even have the skill and you've lived in court all your life."
Arthur gave her a sceptical look. "Then what was he doing? And I am good at flirting. I've made many a lady swoon with my charm."
"Charlotte is from a village near Ealdor," Morgana explained slowly as if to an impossible child. "Merlin knew her as a child and was simply eager to have someone to complain about you without it being reported."
"He has Gwen for that," Arthur pointed out, still unconvinced.
Morgana picked up the knife, deftly twirling it between her fingers. "Someone who will agree with him, Arthur."
"Put that down before you hurt yourself." Arthur scowled. "I don't even know why you are telling me all this."
Morgana stood up and smoothed her skirts with one hand, the other holding the knife. She took a step towards Arthur who bravely held his ground. His hand did creep to the back of his trousers where he kept his own knife.
"Because, dearest stepbrother of mine," she said sweetly and delicately traced the tip of the knife on her pointer finger. "I'm tired of this ridiculous push and pull between the both of you. Do us all a favour and shag the man already so we can continue on with our lives. Contrary to what you might think, our lives don't revolve around your misguided romance with Merlin."
Arthur stared after her as she dropped the knife in his hands (nearly nicking him, the harpy) and went to the door.
"Wait, what do you mean by 'we'?" Arthur swallowed nervously. "Even - even my father?"
Morgana gave him a mysterious smile before slipping out of the room.
-
This was the most ridiculous thing he's ever done and Arthur was beginning to rethink his rash decision (mulled over the course of two hours) when he thought, bugger this, and picked up a pebble and threw it at Merlin's window.
There was a soft 'ow' before Merlin's face peered out the gap - hair a mess, eyes hooded, lips slack and looking so foolish that Arthur's heart thrummed in annoyance.
"Arthur?" Merlin whispered incredulously. "What the hell are you doing? It's...god, what time is it? I don't want to deal with your crankiness tonight, you prat."
"I am not cranky." He took a deep breath and said, "Merlin," and then paused, staring helplessly at Merlin's face.
Merlin scrubbed his face with a hand and gave Arthur a look (which worked all the damn time on Arthur). "Look, I'm tired and sleepy so just...go find someone else to bother. I'll send myself to the stocks in the morning. Goodnight - " Then his head popped out of view.
Already, Arthur felt the same prickly sensation that came with dealing with Merlin. Amazing - even when Arthur was trying to make things right between them.
"Merlin," he called calmly. "If you don't come out, I will personally make sure that you are on chamber pot duty for the rest of your life - "
Merlin's head poked out of the window. "Yes, sire?" he asked through gritted teeth.
The irritation remained but was joined by a sick, nervous feeling Arthur only felt when negotiating with his father about delicate matters. "Merlin." He cleared his throat and repeated, "Merlin."
"Yes?"
Arthur focused on the way his manservant's hair stuck up to one side and the slightly blurry gaze in his eyes, moonlight slanting over his face. He took a deep breath and:
"Roses are red, violets are blue, you're the worst servant ever but I, but I..." Arthur swallowed and forced himself to finish. "I've always loved you, idiot."
Merlin looked stunned, mouth hanging open unattractively.
Arthur cleared his throat once more. "Your turn, Merlin."
Merlin continued to gape at him in disbelief and Arthur hid his fists behind him, trying not to show just how anxious he was. "Merlin, speak."
"I..." The boy blinked and shook himself out of his astonishment. "That was...the worst thing I've ever heard. Honestly, Arthur. Roses are red, violets are blue?"
Indignation slowly crept across Arthur's face before he noticed the little grin dancing on Merlin's lips. His own curved reluctantly, then not so reluctantly, until he was positively beaming like an idiot (like a Merlin).
"I bet that poem will go down through the ages," Arthur told him arrogantly, coming closer to the window. "It is epic, Merlin."
"Whatever you say, sire," and then poked his reedy arms out of the window and clutched at Arthur's shoulders, drawing him close and pressing their lips together. Their teeth clacked and Arthur cursed, cupping Merlin's face and tilting it to the side. Their lips shifted some more before suddenly fitting, perfect and just perfect, Arthur's heart doing that swelling thing again, like a tidal wave he couldn't control even if he wanted to.
After a while they pulled apart, panting wetly into each other's mouths. Both were grinning idiotically at each other.
Arthur drew his thumb down a sharp cheekbone. "Merlin," he whispered. "Wipe down my armour tomorrow, will you? It's gotten rather rusty."