Close Call: Merlin/Arthur, R
Title: Close Call
Author: quarterwhore
Rating: R for ambiguous/implied character death.
Summary: Written for this kinkme_merlin prompt: Arthur/Merlin- Modern AU, Arthur is coming home from a business trip, but his plan[e] starts to crash, and he calls Merlin[...].
ANs:
-After several humorous fills I have no idea where this came from.
-I have done my very best to handle the issue of plane crashes and death with respect.
-Unbetaed, feel free to point out mistakes.
Merlin picks up on the second ring.
"Arthur!" he says happily. Merlin's voice is like an angel's in contrast to the noise of the plane and people screaming, panicking, praying. "Did you land early? You might make it in time for Morgana's party! How was your flight?"
Arthur's throat feels dry. "We haven't landed yet, Merlin."
Merlin sharply exhales, and the sound is loud and crackling in Arthur's phone. "What's going on? Something... is something wrong? Are you okay? What's that sound?"
"I don't have a lot of time," he says. "But I needed to call you and hear your voice before-" He feels the tears welling up in his eyes, and dammit, he has to stay calm, this is his last chance to make sure Merlin knows how he feels, and that it's going to be okay, and- "I love you so much, Merlin," Arthur chokes out, fighting to keep his breathing steady. "I need you to know that I love you and I always will, but I won't be coming home."
A moment goes by before Merlin speaks in a small, desperate voice. "Please tell me this is just some cruel, elaborate prank? Is this your way of breaking up with me?"
Arthur can't help but laugh weakly. "No," he says, "Of course not. I'm happy to be your boyfriend. Until the day I die." He feels the tears leaking out faster now. "It just looks like that day will come sooner than I'd hoped, is all."
"Oh god," Merlin says. "Oh god, no, nonono, Arthur, this can't- please, Arthur, I can't, oh god, no," he starts to cry. When Merlin cries, it's not quiet and dainty; it's full of loud sobs that wrack his entire body and hot, thick tears that slide down his face by way of those sharp cheekbones. And it breaks Arthur's heart to hear it.
"Shhh," he says gently, cradling the phone against his ear, as though Merlin could somehow feel the gentle touch. "It's going to be okay. You're so strong, and so wonderful, and you'll be alright-"
"Oh god, Arthur," Merlin sobs. "I," he chokes, running out of breath. "I love you too, you are everything to me, you know that? You mean so much to me, and I love you so damn much, this can't happen, godfuckingdammit!"
"It will all be okay," Arthur lies. "I just want you to know that I've never loved anybody in the world as much as I love you." That part is true. "And I want you to be happy. That's- that's all I want, okay?"
"Please don't go," Merlin begs. "I need you so much, I love you, please..."
The ground is getting closer with every second. "I'm sorry," he says. "I have to hang up now. I don't want you to hear this." Arthur closes his eyes briefly, imagining Merlin's face in front of him, warm and smiling. If he could have anything in the world right now (besides a functional plane with proper safety equipment and a half decent pilot he thinks bitterly) he'd like to see Merlin's face light up one more time.
"I love you so much, Merlin, never forget that." And he hears Merlin cry wait wait wait- Arthur- don't-- before he ends the call and turns off his cell phone.
Arthur sits in his seat, ignoring the wails and shrieks of his fellow passengers, ignoring the shaking and rattling of the crashing plane, and pictures Merlin's smiling face.
Author: quarterwhore
Rating: R for ambiguous/implied character death.
Summary: Written for this kinkme_merlin prompt: Arthur/Merlin- Modern AU, Arthur is coming home from a business trip, but his plan[e] starts to crash, and he calls Merlin[...].
ANs:
-After several humorous fills I have no idea where this came from.
-I have done my very best to handle the issue of plane crashes and death with respect.
-Unbetaed, feel free to point out mistakes.
Merlin picks up on the second ring.
"Arthur!" he says happily. Merlin's voice is like an angel's in contrast to the noise of the plane and people screaming, panicking, praying. "Did you land early? You might make it in time for Morgana's party! How was your flight?"
Arthur's throat feels dry. "We haven't landed yet, Merlin."
Merlin sharply exhales, and the sound is loud and crackling in Arthur's phone. "What's going on? Something... is something wrong? Are you okay? What's that sound?"
"I don't have a lot of time," he says. "But I needed to call you and hear your voice before-" He feels the tears welling up in his eyes, and dammit, he has to stay calm, this is his last chance to make sure Merlin knows how he feels, and that it's going to be okay, and- "I love you so much, Merlin," Arthur chokes out, fighting to keep his breathing steady. "I need you to know that I love you and I always will, but I won't be coming home."
A moment goes by before Merlin speaks in a small, desperate voice. "Please tell me this is just some cruel, elaborate prank? Is this your way of breaking up with me?"
Arthur can't help but laugh weakly. "No," he says, "Of course not. I'm happy to be your boyfriend. Until the day I die." He feels the tears leaking out faster now. "It just looks like that day will come sooner than I'd hoped, is all."
"Oh god," Merlin says. "Oh god, no, nonono, Arthur, this can't- please, Arthur, I can't, oh god, no," he starts to cry. When Merlin cries, it's not quiet and dainty; it's full of loud sobs that wrack his entire body and hot, thick tears that slide down his face by way of those sharp cheekbones. And it breaks Arthur's heart to hear it.
"Shhh," he says gently, cradling the phone against his ear, as though Merlin could somehow feel the gentle touch. "It's going to be okay. You're so strong, and so wonderful, and you'll be alright-"
"Oh god, Arthur," Merlin sobs. "I," he chokes, running out of breath. "I love you too, you are everything to me, you know that? You mean so much to me, and I love you so damn much, this can't happen, godfuckingdammit!"
"It will all be okay," Arthur lies. "I just want you to know that I've never loved anybody in the world as much as I love you." That part is true. "And I want you to be happy. That's- that's all I want, okay?"
"Please don't go," Merlin begs. "I need you so much, I love you, please..."
The ground is getting closer with every second. "I'm sorry," he says. "I have to hang up now. I don't want you to hear this." Arthur closes his eyes briefly, imagining Merlin's face in front of him, warm and smiling. If he could have anything in the world right now (besides a functional plane with proper safety equipment and a half decent pilot he thinks bitterly) he'd like to see Merlin's face light up one more time.
"I love you so much, Merlin, never forget that." And he hears Merlin cry wait wait wait- Arthur- don't-- before he ends the call and turns off his cell phone.
Arthur sits in his seat, ignoring the wails and shrieks of his fellow passengers, ignoring the shaking and rattling of the crashing plane, and pictures Merlin's smiling face.