Merlinfic: The Bus Stop 16/??
Author: destiny_chicken
Title The Door Is Closed
Rating: PG-13
Pairing/s: Arthur/Merlin
Character/s: Arthur, Merlin, Will
Summary: Arthur and Merlin's second date starts out well, but they are interrupted.
Warnings: None
Word Count: 1375 this chapter
Author's Notes Thank you to inspired_being for beta'ing my story.
Arthur slowly stepped up the third flight of stairs, supporting his bad knee with the cane. It wasn't easy, but less difficult than crutches would have been. He checked his watch. He was only five minutes late. He stopped in front of the door with the '3A' on it and brushed his fringe to the side. He rapped on the door, but there was no immediate response. He knocked again, and heard a muffled 'Coming.'
Merlin opened the door and stood there a bit breathless. "Arthur. You're here."
"Obviously."
"Come in. Dinner's almost ready. Would you like some wine?"
"That sounds great. Do you need any help in the kitchen?" Arthur offered.
"No, rest your knee in the living room. It's over there." After Arthur seated himself on the couch, he took a look around. It was a small flat, with miss-matched but functional furniture. There were only a few personal touches: a photograph of a woman Arthur presumed was Merlin's mother and another of Merlin with his arms locked with a young man. Arthur wondered who he was.
Merlin brought the bottle of red wine to Arthur along with a corkscrew and two glasses. Arthur opened the wine and poured the two glasses. "To beginnings," he toasted.
They clinked glasses and Merlin said, "That's a cryptic toast. Beginning of what--it could be almost anything."
"So you want me to be more explicit? Okay, how about, 'To the beginning of our relationship'?" Arthur raised his glass again along with his eyebrow.
"That's something I'd gladly toast to," Merlin replied, raising his own glass and taking a sip. "Let's get to the table. Dinner's ready."
~~~
The vegetable lasagna was tasty and Arthur had a second helping. "That was delicious. I never thought you to be a good cook, but you are," Arthur praised Merlin.
"I have many talents you don't know about," Merlin replied with a smile.
As they moved back to the living room, Merlin asked, "Do you want to play 'Dragons of Avalon'? I seem to recall you challenged me to try to beat you or would you rather watch a DVD?"
"A movie--how about one of The Lord of the Rings movies you are so enthralled with? I figure it is the least I can do since you came to watch my football match," Arthur offered.
Merlin's face broke out in a huge grin and he scrambled to load the DVD into the player. "You'll really like this, I'm sure. This is the first of the trilogy, unless of course, unless you count 'The Hobbit,' which would make it four, but they're coming out with another Hobbit movie at Christmas, which would be the fifth one..." Merlin voice trailed off as he realized Arthur was chuckling. "What's so funny?"
"You're just so enthusiastic, that's all."
Merlin lowered the lights in the living room as Arthur settled into the couch. Arthur opened his arms and motioned for Merlin to come sit within his embrace. "C'mere, you idiot," he said with affection.
"Prat," Merlin responded but sat down beside Arthur and Arthur's arms enveloped him, his head resting on Arthur’s chest.
~~~
Bright, happy scenes of The Shire were giving way to a darker atmosphere in the movie, but Arthur wasn't noticing as he nuzzled at Merlin's neck. Merlin protested, "Arthur, are you paying attention?"
"Of course I am paying attention...to your neck and jaw and ears...your beautifully big ears," Arthur answered as he kissed his way from neck to ear. He licked at the shell of the ear and Merlin squirmed.
"That tickles. And you're missing the movie."
"I'll watch it some other time," Arthur muttered into Merlin's cheek.
"Oh hell, I've seen it a gazillion times," Merlin exclaimed as he turned into Arthur's embrace and they sought out each other’s lips. Merlin clung to Arthur's broad shoulders then moved one hand to run through Arthur's blond hair, pulling him in tighter. Arthur sucked on Merlin's lower lip, with his tongue probing for entrance. It was gladly granted by Merlin's mouth and the two tongues twisted around each other.
Merlin and Arthur adjusted their position so they were mostly lying on the couch, Merlin on top of Arthur. Arthur ran his hands up and down Merlin's back. He pulled Merlin's shirt up, seeking skin. He broke off from the kiss for air and muttered, "...Need you... want you..." He returned to sucking at Merlin's jaw, relishing the rough feel of his stubble. He adjusted their positions a bit so he could access Merlin's neck. Arthur tugged at Merlin's shirt collar with irritation, pulling it and the shirt away from Merlin's shoulder. A purpling bruise was forming where Arthur had sucked at the junction of Merlin's neck and shoulder.
Merlin, who had been tugging fiercely on Arthur's hair to pull him closer, suddenly sat upright. Arthur blinked in surprise and asked, "Is something wrong?"
Merlin blushed. "No, nothing's wrong. I was just going to unbutton my shirt before you ripped the buttons off." He added with a small smile, "This is one of my favourite shirts."
"By all means, just take it off," Arthur demanded, his eyes raking Merlin's torso as it was revealed. Merlin proved to have wiry muscles on his lean frame. There was a smattering of dark chest hair that contrasted starkly against the pale ivory skin.
Arthur moved to pull Merlin closer again, but Merlin stiff-armed him. "No, you too. I want to see you," Merlin said shyly.
"Alright," Arthur replied as he pulled his shirt off over his head. He shone golden with his tanned skin and fine blond hair. His muscles were well-defined from his broad shoulders to his flat abdomen. While Arthur was aware he was considered good-looking, Merlin's open mouth and his darkened staring eyes made him feel self-conscious. "What's the matter?" Arthur asked as he looked down at himself.
"Nothing. You're just gorgeous, that's all," Merlin responded. Arthur's neck and face took on a rosy glow as he blushed from the raw admiration in Merlin's look and voice.
"You're pretty special yourself. C'mere." Arthur lay back on the couch and pulled Merlin back into his arms. They locked lips.
Suddenly, the door flew open and Will blustered his way in. Startled, Arthur and Merlin broke apart immediately. "Merlin, what are you doing?" Will indignantly demanded. "Is this your boss who's been harassing you?"
Merlin, his lips red from the kissing, could only stammer in surprise, "Wha-what?"
Will stepped forward into the living room to confront Arthur, who was now standing beside the couch. "I don't know what you think you're doing, buster, but stay away from my boyfriend!" With that statement, Will unleashed a right hook to Arthur's face the same time that Merlin squealed, "Boyfriend?"
Arthur, stunned from the blow, could only shake his head to clear it as he tried to staunch the blood pouring from his nose with his hands. He was shocked to realize Merlin already had a boyfriend, and an angry one at that. This explained the photo of the young man with his arm locked with Merlin’s.
The flow of blood was slowing when Merlin returned from the kitchen with a damp towel and a bag of frozen peas which he plopped on Arthur's nose. "Watch it, I think it's broken," Arthur cautioned.
"Arthur, don't listen to him. Will's just my flatmate. He's drunk and jealous." Merlin tried to explain but Arthur's expression looked dubious from what Merlin could see around the frozen vegetables.
"He doesn't look drunk," Arthur observed. "If he's just your flatmate, how come you never mentioned him before?"
Will possessively draped an arm over Merlin's shoulder and Merlin shoved it off, "No, Will. Honest, Arthur, Will is just a good friend from back home who needed a place to stay."
Arthur struggled to put his shirt back on then said, "I'm going now." He gathered his cane and started for the door.
Merlin could hardly believe this was happening. "No, Arthur, please stay." Arthur didn't stop. Merlin shouted after him through the open doorway, "Why don't you believe me? You're going to take his word over mine?" Now Merlin was angry and he stubbornly didn't follow Arthur out the door, closing it instead.