Fic: Everything is Pumpkin-Flavoured, 1/2
Rating: R
Word Count: (4,490 total)
Warnings: none; established relationship
Summary: Merlin loves autumn. Arthur loves Merlin. A little fluffy Merthur for the autumn season.
Part 2
Read on AO3
Autumn had always been Merlin's favourite time of year. He loved the way the trees changed colour, and how that somehow made everything seem homier. He loved digging out his old scarves with the holes that he couldn't bring himself to throw away because his mum had knitted them for him. He especially loved the slight chill in the mornings that gave him an excuse to snuggle in close to Arthur (not that he was in any way opposed to the idea any other time of year). The season always gave Merlin a contented sensation, and this year was no exception.
"Merlin? Are you even listening to me?"
"'course I am," Merlin lied, tearing his gaze away from his window to listen to Gwen, who huffed disbelievingly over the phone. "Er…okay, no."
"Honestly, Merlin. You're helpless," Gwen teased, using one of Arthur's favourite insults. "I was talking about Gwaine's party. You and Arthur are going, aren't you?"
"Of course," Merlin answered enthusiastically. Every year since their first at uni, their friend Gwaine hosted a massive Halloween-themed party. Much like most of Gwaine's parties, it was more of an excuse to get pissed than anything, but Merlin didn't mind in the least. There were costumes, and music, and Arthur, and it was always a good time.
"Gwaine promises this year will be the biggest yet, in honour of his graduating in the spring," Gwen continued, sounding excited. "He even roped Elyan and Percival into helping with a haunted house."
Merlin whistled. "He's really going for it this year." Gwen laughed.
"Knowing Gwaine, he's probably hoping to scare some poor girl into his comforting arms. And then straight to his bed."
"Not that he needs to scare anybody into that," Merlin sniggered, and Gwen hummed in agreement.
"Still, should be fun. Have you and Arthur gotten your costumes yet?"
"Nope," Merlin replied, smiling slightly, imagining Arthur dressed in his usual Halloween costume as King Arthur, complete with a crown and cape he'd found ages ago and refused do away with. "Well, I haven't, anyway."
"You could do a themed costume," Gwen suggested brightly. "Arthur can keep his old one, and you could be-"
"Merlin?" Merlin guessed wryly, brows raised. "As in, King Arthur's mentor?" He could practically hear Gwen blush.
"Not that I'm calling you old, because you're not," she backtracked quickly. "And, well, Arthur isn't…I mean, you two are-"
"Not really into the 'themed costume' idea," Merlin interrupted, ending her babbling before it got underway with a smile. Gwen huffed again.
"What's wrong with themed costumes? Lance and I do one every year."
Merlin bit his tongue to keep from laughing. Lancelot, Gwen's boyfriend and Arthur's footie mate, was like Arthur in many ways. But while Lance was a hopeless romantic, preferring grand gestures and (rather adorable) public displays of affection, Arthur liked to keep things private (not that Merlin complained). And going to a party in corresponding outfits was, undoubtedly, much more Lance's style than Arthur's.
"There's nothing wrong with them," Merlin assured his friend. "Arthur and I are just…different."
Gwen sighed wistfully. "Fine. But you do need to get something. Gwaine's party is in two weeks."
"I will, I promise," Merlin replied, childish excitement at the prospect of costume shopping bubbling inside him. "When have I ever skipped out on Halloween?"
"Never," Gwen admitted, just as the sound of Merlin's door opening floated in from the hall.
"Exactly," Merlin said smugly. "I've got to go, though. I'll talk to you later?"
"All right. Tell Arthur I said hello," Gwen said in answer.
"Will do," he promised, ending the call just as Arthur's voice called out, "Merlin?"
"In the sitting room," he called back, tossing his phone in the general vicinity of the coffee table, where it joined the piles of textbooks that Merlin was supposedly studying. A moment later, Arthur appeared in the doorway, looking slightly windblown, holding a cup of coffee from Merlin's favourite café. Merlin eyed the container in his hand hopefully. "Is that for me?"
"Pumpkin-flavoured latte," Arthur responded. "And hello to you, too."
Merlin beamed at him, making grabby hands until Arthur handed him the drink, eyes rolling. Merlin ignored him, breathing in the heavenly scent of his latte.
"I love you," he said happily as Arthur plopped down beside him.
"I'm going to pretend you said that to me, and not an overpriced cup of coffee."
Merlin raised his eyes to the ceiling in mock exasperation. "Come here, then," he sighed, leaning over for a quick kiss, which Arthur willingly gave. Merlin smirked when he pulled away. "So demanding." Arthur shoved him lightly.
"What have you been up to?" he asked, gaze sweeping over the messy stacks of textbooks and assorted items on the table. "Not cleaning, I see." His eyes flicked up to the television, which Merlin had on, but muted. Arthur frowned. "Why are you watching a cooking show?"
"I'm learning how to make pumpkin-flavoured muffins," Merlin announced proudly, sipping from his latte. Arthur's frown deepened.
"But you don't bake," he pointed out. Merlin scoffed.
"That's why I'm learning."
Arthur laughed, letting his hand rest on Merlin's jean-clad legs. "You really are bizarre, Merlin."
"What's bizarre about pumpkin-flavoured muffins?" Merlin demanded, affronted. "It's October. Everything is pumpkin-flavoured." He lifted his latte to make a point, taking several sips.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're a bit obsessed with autumn?" Arthur inquired, smirking.
"Mmm. You do, every year," Merlin answered unashamedly, nose still buried in his cup, frowning when he found it empty. "And we all know I don't listen to you."
"True," Arthur agreed, looking forlorn. "You only listen to Gwen, not your poor, neglected boyfriend."
Merlin giggled, bending over to press a chaste kiss to Arthur's cheek. "You're anything but neglected, Arthur," he corrected, amused. "But that reminds me, Gwen called earlier. She wanted to know if we had our costumes for Gwaine's party." He paused, hiding a smirk, before adding, "She reckons we should get matching ones."
Arthur made a face, his hand stroking Merlin's leg. Merlin laughed, "I told her no."
"Thank God," Arthur mumbled, and Merlin laughed again.
"She's right, though. The party is in two weeks, we need to get our costumes. Maybe buy you something that you haven't worn for the past decade."
"Five years," Arthur corrected automatically, narrowing his eyes. "What's wrong with King Arthur? It's a classic!"
"It's boring," Merlin retorted bluntly. "Arthur, I've known you for years, and I've never seen you in another costume."
Arthur's face immediately broke into a smirk. "You want me to play dress up for you?" he asked silkily, leaning forward to nuzzle his nose along Merlin's neck. Merlin snorted, pushing him back gently.
"You wish," he teased, grinning at the wounded face Arthur pulled. Relenting, Merlin leaned in to place a quick kiss to Arthur's pouting lips, then a longer one. Arthur wrinkled his nose.
"You taste like that pitiful excuse for a coffee," he complained. Merlin rolled his eyes.
"Fine. No kissing for you." He smiled innocently at Arthur's horrified expression and made to slide away, but Arthur's grip on his legs tightened, pulling Merlin even closer.
"It's not that bad," Arthur amended hastily. "It's quite nice, actually. Please continue."
"Prat," Merlin mumbled affectionately, but leaned in, anyway, letting Arthur catch his lips in a kiss, his hands already snaking their way around his boyfriend's shoulders. Arthur sucked in Merlin's bottom lip, and Merlin hummed his approval. Arthur chuckled, shifting them so that Merlin was practically in his lap, and slid his hands into his shirt, rubbing his thumbs across Merlin's hips as his tongue licked its way into his mouth. Merlin's cock twitched in interest when Arthur's hands dropped to play along the waistband of his jeans, just barely brushing against his zipper.
Arthur's lips traced down Merlin's jaw, leaving a trail of warm kisses. He growled when he reached Merlin's scarf.
"I hate when you wear these stupid things," he grumbled, nosing the skin just above the offending garment.
"It was cold this morning," Merlin protested weakly. He could feel Arthur working at the tie of his scarf, attacking the newly exposed skin with his teeth and tongue as the fabric fell to the ground. Merlin let his head fall back to allow him more access, occasionally humming in satisfaction. His hands occupied themselves by stroking up and down Arthur's back, feeling the muscles bunch and shift as he moved against Merlin. A particularly forceful bite made Merlin gasp, and Arthur hastened to soothe the skin with his tongue, ghosting a kiss over Merlin's pulse before returning to his mouth.
Merlin's hands tangled in Arthur's hair, tugging the blonde closer none too gently. Arthur growled, and the sound went straight to Merlin's cock.
Breathing heavily, Merlin pulled away, nipping at Arthur's bottom lip playfully before murmuring, "Maybe we should move this to the bed."
"Yes, please," Arthur concurred, and then suddenly he was yanking Merlin to his feet, meshing their mouths together messily as they stumbled in the direction of their bedroom. Merlin nearly killed himself tripping over a chair leg, but Arthur just chuckled and pulled him closer, running his tongue over Merlin's teeth. Distantly, Merlin realized that they'd somehow made it to the bedroom, but he ignored this development in favor of Arthur tugging his shirt over his head, fingers greedily mapping out Merlin's stomach.
"Arthur," Merlin whined, hooking a finger through Arthur's belt loop and tugging, pressing himself bodily against his boyfriend. He could feel Arthur's erection pressing eagerly against his hip, and his own cock throbbed. Impatiently, Merlin pulled at Arthur's shirt, mewling in delight as Arthur's muscular torso was exposed, but only pausing for a moment to enjoy the view before reaching for the zip of Arthur's jeans.
"Someone's eager," Arthur grunted, kicking his pants aside.
"Is that a complaint?" Merlin murmured back, trailing his lips down Arthur's chest and stomach, stopping just before the tip of Arthur's erect cock, straining against his stomach. "Because I can stop."
"Don't you dare," Arthur barked, and Merlin chuckled. Arthur moaned when Merlin licked the tip of his cock teasingly, sliding his mouth over the shaft and then returning to Arthur's mouth. Arthur's tongue invaded Merlin's mouth mercilessly, his fingers deftly unbuckling Merlin's belt and sending his jeans and boxers to the floor. Merlin's cock bobbed freely, straining against the not-enough friction as Arthur pressed their bodies together, rolling his hips in small circles and making Merlin's head spin.
"Bed," Merlin demanded, and Arthur complied willingly, stepping back until his knees met the mattress and he fell, pulling Merlin with him. They landed awkwardly, with Merlin's knees smashing against Arthur's shins, but then they were kissing again, and Merlin no longer cared. Arthur's hands roamed his body-his back, his sides, his arse-setting Merlin's skin on fire wherever they touched. Merlin ground his erection against Arthur's. Arthur groaned, his own hips bucking, and rolled them over so that he had Merlin pinned beneath him. Merlin twined his arms around Arthur's waist, moaning shamelessly at the feeling of Arthur's body pressing against him.
"Love you like this," Arthur rumbled huskily into his boyfriend's neck.
"Arthur," was Merlin's only response, his cock positively aching. He reached over and scrambled to pick up the bottle of lube from their bedside table, pressing it eagerly into Arthur's waiting hand. Arthur poured it over his fingers, and then he was pressing inside Merlin, bending down to swallow Merlin's moan in a bruising kiss. Merlin's fingers gripped Arthur's hair roughly as Arthur's thrust into him, first one, then two. Merlin rolled his hips again, arching his back as flickers of pleasure warmed his belly. Arthur swore, burying his face in Merlin's neck and sucking, hard, just as he added a third finger. Merlin screwed his eyes shut, breathing heavily through his nose and gripping Arthur's arms bruisingly tight. A spark erupted in his belly when Arthur found his prostate, and he gasped.
"Fuck," he rasped, head thrown back, exposing his neck to Arthur's greedy mouth. "Jesus, Arthur." His boyfriend hummed against his throat, making Merlin's toes curl. His cock was rock-hard and leaking by now. Dazedly, Merlin gave it a few tugs, moaning as Arthur's fingers continued to thrust. "Fuck, not enough. Need you in me."
Arthur moaned into Merlin's skin. Quickly he sat up, and Merlin shivered when cold air rushed to replace his hot touch. Arthur stared down at him for a moment, pupils blown wide, his cock painfully hard. Merlin shifted his hips pointedly, and Arthur reached for the lube, dark eyes not leaving Merlin as he poured it over his cock. Swiftly he tossed the bottle aside and grabbed Merlin's thighs, wrapping them around his waist as he aligned himself. Merlin's hands scrabbled for purchase on Arthur's hips as Arthur thrust forward, feeling his groan of delight down to his toes. Arthur's head was bowed, the tips of his fringe brushing against Merlin's collarbone. He squeezed the blonde's hips, encouraging, rolling his hips to meet Arthur's slow thrust. Arthur exhaled shakily as he began to thrust in earnest, Merlin meeting him each time.
"Yes, Arthur," Merlin moaned, eyes tightly shut. "Oh God, yes."
Arthur's mouth rammed against Merlin's, and Merlin kissed him back, groaning filthily when he shifted, changing the angle.
"God, you look so fucking hot," Arthur breathed into his mouth. Merlin bit his lip in answer, a little harder than he'd meant to when Arthur's cock found his prostate.
"There, Arthur," he gasped. "Harder."
Arthur obeyed, snapping his hips and making Merlin gasp each time. His cock throbbed as it rubbed against their stomachs, but he didn't move to touch it. His hands were occupied pressing bruises into Arthur's hips while Arthur mouthed kisses along Merlin's jaw, his thrusts gradually growing more and more frantic. Merlin spread his legs wider, exhaling heavily as Arthur fucked him, warmth pooling in his stomach.
"So close," Arthur gasped, and then his hand was on Merlin's cock, and Merlin couldn't see straight. He threw his head back, gasping wordlessly at the ceiling as his legs squeezed around Arthur's hips, pressing the blonde even further inside. It only took a few tugs before Merlin was coming, back arched, Arthur's name falling from his lips. Arthur fucked him through his orgasm, managing a few more thrusts before he stilled, gasping, "Fuck, Merlin," before collapsing on top of him, panting.
Merlin let him stay there, too tired to care about the extra weight and trailing his fingers contentedly along the line of Arthur's spine. Arthur continued to brush light kisses along his collarbone, his breath warm against Merlin's skin.
"You're going to have to wear one of your stupid scarves for class tomorrow," he remarked, tracing a bite mark on Merlin's neck with the tip of his finger. "Unless you want people to see this." He rolled over, pulling free of Merlin, just as Merlin was beginning to feel uncomfortable, and reaching for a tissue to clean them up with.
"I always have to wear my scarves. Biter," Merlin accused without heat, stretching. He turned to burrow closer to Arthur, shivering a little as the chilly air met his sweaty skin. Arthur snorted, tossing the tissue into the bin with perfect aim.
"Funny how you only ever complain after you've finished moaning my name."
"Shut up," Merlin blushed, slapping Arthur's arm lightly. "Or I'll throw out that ridiculous King Arthur costume."
"You wouldn't," Arthur gasped, looking genuinely affronted. Merlin nodded solemnly.
"I would."
"You are a horrible boyfriend."
Merlin laughed. "It's for your own good," he insisted, "you're getting predictable, Arthur." Arthur shook his head sadly.
"Is this the thanks I get for giving you your ridiculous coffee and great sex? Because I'm not feeling the gratitude, Merlin."
"Prat," Merlin murmured, letting his eyes fall closed contentedly as he tangled their legs together. He tucked his nose into Arthur's neck, breathing in the familiar scent of sex and Arthur. He would have been content to stay there all night, if his stomach hadn't decided to choose that moment to rumble, loud and clear in the lazy silence. Arthur laughed.
"Shut up," Merlin mumbled, "I haven't eaten since lunch, and somebody decided to jump me before dinner."
"Again with the complaints," Arthur quipped with a shake of his head, laughing again when Merlin stomach gave another growl. He pressed a quick kiss to the top of Merlin's head before making to slide out of bed. "Come on, we'll get you some food."
"Can we have hot chocolate, too?" Merlin asked, perking up, allowing himself to be pulled off the bed. Arthur shook his head slightly, chuckling at his enthusiasm. Merlin threaded their fingers together, looking at him pleadingly, drawing a fond smile out of his boyfriend.
"We can have hot chocolate," Arthur relented, and Merlin crowed with childish victory.
[next part]