Exceeding Expectations [Merlin/Arthur]
Title: Exceeding Expectations
Rating: PG-13
Author: digthewriter
Pairing/s: Merlin/Arthur
Character/s: Merlin, Arthur
Summary: Arthur is pleasantly surprised at how well his first date with Merlin is going.
Warnings: OMG, so much fluff
Word Count: 900
Prompt: "moonlight" for camelot_drabble
Author's Notes: Chapter FOUR for "The Casual Fling." READ Chapter: ONE, TWO, THREE (all written for CD prompts)
Arthur felt slightly buzzed after he and Merlin finished the second bottle of wine on their picnic date. He liked the fact that he could just stare at Merlin without it being awkward. He watched Merlin's jaw clench when he'd say something awkward and was embarrassed, and when Merlin would bite his lower lip, Arthur dreamt of tasting them.
"What about you?" Merlin asked. "What's new in the life of Arthur Pendragon?"
Arthur shrugged. "Not much. I work with my father in the family business."
"And what is that exactly?"
"Publishing," Arthur said, bland.
"Oh, that's right. You went to graduate school in the States for Literature, isn't it?"
Arthur's eyes widened slightly with surprise. "How did you know that?"
"I kept in touch with Morgana," Merlin said.
"Yeah. The two of you were rather close in uni. I was always so jealous of her." Arthur was horrified at the last revelation. He didn't mean to say it out loud. Blast the wine.
Merlin smiled but didn't retort. Arthur was glad. He wasn't sure how much more embarrassment he could have endured. "So does Gwaine still harbour that not-so-secret crush on her?" Merlin asked.
"Oh dear God!" Arthur groaned. "He won't shut up about how perfect he thinks she is, but he still won't ask her out. I mean, it's not like she stays single for long. She's always involved with some boyfriend, or other..."
"Yeah. She's sort of like the opposite of you in that sense," Merlin said.
"What do you mean?"
"You don't do relationships, and all Morgana does beside work is find a new boyfriend to settle down with."
"She just wants what her mother and her stepfather had," Arthur said. "They were happy and in love until the day they died, and I reckon that's just what she wants. Someone who looks at her in that fond way and makes her happy."
Merlin made a noncommittal grunt and Arthur reckoned they'd reached the awkward part of their first date.
"It's a lot," he said.
"What's a lot?" Merlin asked.
"To give your heart to someone constantly, and only to be disappointed over and over again."
"Is that why you don't do it?"
Arthur released a sigh. "I don't see the point. Everyone just disappoints you, eventually."
Merlin nodded and opened the box with the dessert. Arthur figured he'd made things weird again. They were supposed to be on a date, and even if it wasn't going to lead to sex, Arthur still wanted to get to know Merlin. He'd thought by the end of the month, if anything, he'd finally put his damned crush to rest and maybe make a new friend. With the way things were going, Merlin most likely would never want to see him again.
-
The dessert, just like the rest of the food, was out of this world.
"I swear, Merlin, it's like you have magic." Arthur couldn't get enough of the tiramisu. He wasn't a sweets person but Merlin really knew what he was doing with his cooking.
"Thanks," Merlin said, laughing. "I'm glad to know you like it so much."
"How are the job interviews going, by the way?" Arthur asked. "I'm shocked that some fancy new restaurant hasn't already scooped you up."
Merlin grinned at Arthur's compliment. "I've got a few offers, I have to give them my decision by the end of the day on Tuesday."
Arthur didn't ask what Merlin's decision was going to be. It was clear by the look on his face that Merlin was really gruelling over it and he didn't wish to add any pressure. Merlin seemed thankful, too, when Arthur didn't ask him more questions about it.
Arthur figured Merlin was just like him. He liked opening up in his own time.
After the picnic was over, they walked back to Merlin's car where Arthur helped him load up with the leftover picnic supplies.
It seemed as though the timing had been perfect. As soon as Arthur shut the door to the trunk of Merlin's car, it started to drizzle.
"Fantastic," Arthur said, sarcastically.
"Do you want me to give you a lift to your car?" Merlin asked and Arthur considered it. He'd parked his car on the other side of the park. He nodded and they quickly climbed into Merlin's Passat.
Merlin drove around the park and Arthur gave him instructions until they were pulled up next to Arthur's Jaguar.
"Nice," Merlin said, as he eyed Arthur's car from his window.
Arthur laughed. "I know it's flashy..." Arthur loved his car and even called the colour 'moonlight blue', but he hated having to explain himself to others. "...it really pisses my father off, so it has its advantages."
Merlin smiled at him and then suddenly looked uncertain.
"So, this was...nice," Merlin said and offered his hand to Arthur.
Arthur raised an eyebrow and looked at Merlin's hand. He shook his head and then before Merlin could say anything, grabbed him by the back of his neck, and pulled him in for a kiss. Much to his relief, Merlin kissed him back.
"I hope no-sex dates didn't mean no kissing," Arthur said when he let go of Merlin. Merlin's lower lip looked deliciously red. Arthur wanted to kiss him again.
Merlin frantically shook his head. "No. Kissing is definitely allowed."
"Good," said Arthur and kissed Merlin again. CHAPTER FIVE
Rating: PG-13
Author: digthewriter
Pairing/s: Merlin/Arthur
Character/s: Merlin, Arthur
Summary: Arthur is pleasantly surprised at how well his first date with Merlin is going.
Warnings: OMG, so much fluff
Word Count: 900
Prompt: "moonlight" for camelot_drabble
Author's Notes: Chapter FOUR for "The Casual Fling." READ Chapter: ONE, TWO, THREE (all written for CD prompts)
Arthur felt slightly buzzed after he and Merlin finished the second bottle of wine on their picnic date. He liked the fact that he could just stare at Merlin without it being awkward. He watched Merlin's jaw clench when he'd say something awkward and was embarrassed, and when Merlin would bite his lower lip, Arthur dreamt of tasting them.
"What about you?" Merlin asked. "What's new in the life of Arthur Pendragon?"
Arthur shrugged. "Not much. I work with my father in the family business."
"And what is that exactly?"
"Publishing," Arthur said, bland.
"Oh, that's right. You went to graduate school in the States for Literature, isn't it?"
Arthur's eyes widened slightly with surprise. "How did you know that?"
"I kept in touch with Morgana," Merlin said.
"Yeah. The two of you were rather close in uni. I was always so jealous of her." Arthur was horrified at the last revelation. He didn't mean to say it out loud. Blast the wine.
Merlin smiled but didn't retort. Arthur was glad. He wasn't sure how much more embarrassment he could have endured. "So does Gwaine still harbour that not-so-secret crush on her?" Merlin asked.
"Oh dear God!" Arthur groaned. "He won't shut up about how perfect he thinks she is, but he still won't ask her out. I mean, it's not like she stays single for long. She's always involved with some boyfriend, or other..."
"Yeah. She's sort of like the opposite of you in that sense," Merlin said.
"What do you mean?"
"You don't do relationships, and all Morgana does beside work is find a new boyfriend to settle down with."
"She just wants what her mother and her stepfather had," Arthur said. "They were happy and in love until the day they died, and I reckon that's just what she wants. Someone who looks at her in that fond way and makes her happy."
Merlin made a noncommittal grunt and Arthur reckoned they'd reached the awkward part of their first date.
"It's a lot," he said.
"What's a lot?" Merlin asked.
"To give your heart to someone constantly, and only to be disappointed over and over again."
"Is that why you don't do it?"
Arthur released a sigh. "I don't see the point. Everyone just disappoints you, eventually."
Merlin nodded and opened the box with the dessert. Arthur figured he'd made things weird again. They were supposed to be on a date, and even if it wasn't going to lead to sex, Arthur still wanted to get to know Merlin. He'd thought by the end of the month, if anything, he'd finally put his damned crush to rest and maybe make a new friend. With the way things were going, Merlin most likely would never want to see him again.
-
The dessert, just like the rest of the food, was out of this world.
"I swear, Merlin, it's like you have magic." Arthur couldn't get enough of the tiramisu. He wasn't a sweets person but Merlin really knew what he was doing with his cooking.
"Thanks," Merlin said, laughing. "I'm glad to know you like it so much."
"How are the job interviews going, by the way?" Arthur asked. "I'm shocked that some fancy new restaurant hasn't already scooped you up."
Merlin grinned at Arthur's compliment. "I've got a few offers, I have to give them my decision by the end of the day on Tuesday."
Arthur didn't ask what Merlin's decision was going to be. It was clear by the look on his face that Merlin was really gruelling over it and he didn't wish to add any pressure. Merlin seemed thankful, too, when Arthur didn't ask him more questions about it.
Arthur figured Merlin was just like him. He liked opening up in his own time.
After the picnic was over, they walked back to Merlin's car where Arthur helped him load up with the leftover picnic supplies.
It seemed as though the timing had been perfect. As soon as Arthur shut the door to the trunk of Merlin's car, it started to drizzle.
"Fantastic," Arthur said, sarcastically.
"Do you want me to give you a lift to your car?" Merlin asked and Arthur considered it. He'd parked his car on the other side of the park. He nodded and they quickly climbed into Merlin's Passat.
Merlin drove around the park and Arthur gave him instructions until they were pulled up next to Arthur's Jaguar.
"Nice," Merlin said, as he eyed Arthur's car from his window.
Arthur laughed. "I know it's flashy..." Arthur loved his car and even called the colour 'moonlight blue', but he hated having to explain himself to others. "...it really pisses my father off, so it has its advantages."
Merlin smiled at him and then suddenly looked uncertain.
"So, this was...nice," Merlin said and offered his hand to Arthur.
Arthur raised an eyebrow and looked at Merlin's hand. He shook his head and then before Merlin could say anything, grabbed him by the back of his neck, and pulled him in for a kiss. Much to his relief, Merlin kissed him back.
"I hope no-sex dates didn't mean no kissing," Arthur said when he let go of Merlin. Merlin's lower lip looked deliciously red. Arthur wanted to kiss him again.
Merlin frantically shook his head. "No. Kissing is definitely allowed."
"Good," said Arthur and kissed Merlin again. CHAPTER FIVE