He rarely won against Merlin lately, but this afternoon Arthur found himself easily outplaying him. After the third time Merlin's character died, Arthur, suspicious of what was distracting him, watched him out of the corner of his eye. Merlin's attention was divided between the screen and, Arthur now saw, a young couple across the room. Their pose mirrored his and Merlin's: they sat close together, and although their eyes were fixed on their game, occasionally one would glance at the other and smile, or in between rounds the girl would stroke the boy's hair with evident fondness, and the boy would kiss her cheek. It was easy for them, Arthur thought with jealousy, without the complications he faced with Merlin. Their affection for each other was so normal it was almost invisible to everyone in the room, but if he touched Merlin they'd draw curious looks, even if people didn't intend to be hostile. Only Arthur would be aware of the greatest obstacle of all. The girl traced the outline of the boy's ear and pulled on the lobe playfully, and Arthur heart clenched. He longed for that freedom with someone, with Merlin.
He must've been staring at them longer than he'd thought, because the tables had turned, and now it was Merlin who was eyeing him with interest. Arthur flushed; he hadn't meant to ogle the young couple, and he hoped his desire for the what they shared wasn't visible on his face. He threw a quick grin at Merlin to ease the tension in his chest.
"Another round?"
Merlin didn't pick up the controls. Instead, just as the girl had with her boyfriend, Merlin ran his finger along the edge of Arthur's ear and tugged at the lobe. Although it felt almost too good when Merlin touched him, Arthur grabbed Merlin's hand, returned it to his lap, and patted it once so Merlin would understand he didn't have to do this kind of thing. Arthur didn't expect Merlin to understand the challenges of… whatever this was, especially when it came to being together in public.
Merlin shook his head in disagreement and grabbed the material of Arthur's t-shirt. It was the first time Merlin had disobeyed him, and although it wasn't unwelcome, it confused Arthur nonetheless. Merlin kissed his cheek with soft lips, leaving behind a warm spark. It was getting difficult to resist, especially when Merlin's face lingered so near. A quick glance around assured him no one was watching, so Arthur turned and caught Merlin's lips between his, and once the kiss had begun, it was impossible to stop, and all of Arthur's worries faded to the back of his mind as the kiss grew deeper. It was good, really good - so good Arthur knew without a doubt Merlin felt the same as he did. When they finally broke apart Arthur was breathless but exhilarated at what they'd done, and in public. Merlin smiled back at him and threaded their fingers together.
Later that night they went to bed early almost by mutual agreement. Arthur took his shirt off before crawling in, and Merlin imitated him. He drew Merlin onto his chest, enjoying for the first time the warm sensation of Merlin's bare skin against his own, and he wrapped Merlin's arm securely around his waist. He trailed his fingers along Merlin's back, up past the cold metal of the control panel and into Merlin's soft hair, and nudged Merlin's face with his. The sound of their breathing was all he could hear. Merlin pressed his lips to Arthur's chin and Arthur tentatively kissed the corner of Merlin's eye.
"Do you like me?" Arthur thought he knew the answer, but he wanted to be certain, and besides, every confirmation Merlin gave was a precious reassurance that he could carefully store away against the doubts that crept into his mind when they weren't tangled in each other's arms.
He must've been staring at them longer than he'd thought, because the tables had turned, and now it was Merlin who was eyeing him with interest. Arthur flushed; he hadn't meant to ogle the young couple, and he hoped his desire for the what they shared wasn't visible on his face. He threw a quick grin at Merlin to ease the tension in his chest.
"Another round?"
Merlin didn't pick up the controls. Instead, just as the girl had with her boyfriend, Merlin ran his finger along the edge of Arthur's ear and tugged at the lobe. Although it felt almost too good when Merlin touched him, Arthur grabbed Merlin's hand, returned it to his lap, and patted it once so Merlin would understand he didn't have to do this kind of thing. Arthur didn't expect Merlin to understand the challenges of… whatever this was, especially when it came to being together in public.
Merlin shook his head in disagreement and grabbed the material of Arthur's t-shirt. It was the first time Merlin had disobeyed him, and although it wasn't unwelcome, it confused Arthur nonetheless. Merlin kissed his cheek with soft lips, leaving behind a warm spark. It was getting difficult to resist, especially when Merlin's face lingered so near. A quick glance around assured him no one was watching, so Arthur turned and caught Merlin's lips between his, and once the kiss had begun, it was impossible to stop, and all of Arthur's worries faded to the back of his mind as the kiss grew deeper. It was good, really good - so good Arthur knew without a doubt Merlin felt the same as he did. When they finally broke apart Arthur was breathless but exhilarated at what they'd done, and in public. Merlin smiled back at him and threaded their fingers together.
Later that night they went to bed early almost by mutual agreement. Arthur took his shirt off before crawling in, and Merlin imitated him. He drew Merlin onto his chest, enjoying for the first time the warm sensation of Merlin's bare skin against his own, and he wrapped Merlin's arm securely around his waist. He trailed his fingers along Merlin's back, up past the cold metal of the control panel and into Merlin's soft hair, and nudged Merlin's face with his. The sound of their breathing was all he could hear. Merlin pressed his lips to Arthur's chin and Arthur tentatively kissed the corner of Merlin's eye.
"Do you like me?" Arthur thought he knew the answer, but he wanted to be certain, and besides, every confirmation Merlin gave was a precious reassurance that he could carefully store away against the doubts that crept into his mind when they weren't tangled in each other's arms.
Merlin hugged him tighter.
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