Pushing His Luck [Arthur/Merlin]
Title: Pushing his luck
Author: digthewriter
Rating: PG-13
Pairing/s: Arthur/Merlin
Character/s: Arthur, Merlin
Summary: Arthur continues to try to make Merlin understand about how he's changed.
Warnings: ModernAU. ANGST.
Word Count: 790
Prompt: "INTENT" for camelot_drabble
Author's Notes: Continuation of the "last chance" series. Unbetaed
1. a last chance
2. not leaving it to chance
3. chances are...
4. expectations
5. face to face
"Is it really that simple?" Merlin asked when Arthur turned to look at him again.
"What's that simple?"
"You just came here to apologise. You flew to Toronto, from London, to say that you're sorry?" Merlin's voice quavered a little bit and Arthur knew that he still felt...something. Even if it wasn't the same passion as they'd once shared but this was proof that Merlin didn't completely hate him.
Arthur shrugged. "You know me. Or at least you used to claim that you did. I'm still the same person. I am the reckless idiot who'd fly to another country without any other intentions except to tell you that I'm sorry. That I was stupid. That I-"
"The Arthur I claimed to know wouldn't have ever left Gwen," Merlin said.
"You're right. Maybe the Arthur you'd met before we hand our thing-"
"Our thing," Merlin said, chuckling as if he were in utter disbelief. "That's how you always treated it. How am I supposed to believe now..." Merlin turned around and sat on the bed. Maybe he was contemplating letting Arthur in, in his hotel room, in his heart.
"It was so much more than that. I loved you. Love you, but that's not the point." Arthur waved his hand in the air. "When I met you I was selfish but I was also under my father's grip. You changed that. You changed me. I know I just let you go and I went through the wedding, but there were two people at fault there."
Merlin looked up, clearly annoyed, when Arthur gestured for him to wait.
"Gwen and I were at fault. She didn't feel right marrying me, but she did out of obligation. I did it out of fear. When we both realised what a horrible mistake it'd been. When I told her the truth-she wasn't even upset. She forgave me for cheating on her. After everything, do you know what she said to me?"
Merlin shook his head.
"She said she felt sorry for me. That I had the best thing and I let it go. The woman was a total saint. I told her that I'd spend the rest of my life making it up to her. That I'd do anything. She could have anything she wanted in the divorce and she just told me to be happy."
Merlin was still quiet.
"You were the best thing I let go of, by the way. In case you were wondering." Arthur gave Merlin a shy smile. In the past, Arthur's smile was enough for Merlin to forgive him. He hoped that his luck would work this time, too.
Merlin shook his head. "You're still a prat."
"I know. You used to like that about me," Arthur said, nervously. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and just waited around for Merlin to do something.
"So, that's it?" Merlin said. "That's your intent. To apologise and leave?"
I never said anything about leaving. "Maybe dinner, too. Let me really make up for it."
Merlin looked hesitant.
"Apart from everything else, Merlin. We used to be friends, too," Arthur said. "Maybe just a friendly dinner. Let me catch up with you and your life. We can share some sushi and sake like we used to-"
"I don't eat sushi anymore," Merlin said, it was so quick, that Arthur couldn't help but feel guilty about it. Maybe Merlin stopped eating sushi after Arthur had left. He knew that every time he went to Shiori, he'd only just think of Merlin.
"Okay. Burgers, then."
"You hate hamburgers," Merlin said.
"Hated," Arthur said, stressing on the past tense. "I developed an appreciation for them after-you know-"
"Fine," Merlin said, sounding amused. "I found a place just around the corner recently and they're quite decent-"
"Let me guess, you made friends with everyone that works there."
Merlin shrugged. "It doesn't hurt to befriend people who feed you."
Arthur smiled, feeling relieved. Merlin hadn't completely kicked him out and they were going to get something to eat. Things were looking up. Even if they wouldn't get back into bed together, which was really an unrealistic hope, at least they were well on their way to being friends again.
Arthur was about to ask if Merlin wanted to go right then or wait for a while, when Merlin's mobile chimed. He looked at it, and frowned slightly.
"Trouble?" Arthur asked.
"It's Will," Merlin replied.
"Oh. Are you going to-"
"I'll just tell him I'm working. I can tell him about the burgers after we come back."
We come back. Arthur didn't miss that little detail, but kept his face impassive. He wasn't about to push his luck by letting Merlin see his true reaction. read the next part
Author: digthewriter
Rating: PG-13
Pairing/s: Arthur/Merlin
Character/s: Arthur, Merlin
Summary: Arthur continues to try to make Merlin understand about how he's changed.
Warnings: ModernAU. ANGST.
Word Count: 790
Prompt: "INTENT" for camelot_drabble
Author's Notes: Continuation of the "last chance" series. Unbetaed
1. a last chance
2. not leaving it to chance
3. chances are...
4. expectations
5. face to face
"Is it really that simple?" Merlin asked when Arthur turned to look at him again.
"What's that simple?"
"You just came here to apologise. You flew to Toronto, from London, to say that you're sorry?" Merlin's voice quavered a little bit and Arthur knew that he still felt...something. Even if it wasn't the same passion as they'd once shared but this was proof that Merlin didn't completely hate him.
Arthur shrugged. "You know me. Or at least you used to claim that you did. I'm still the same person. I am the reckless idiot who'd fly to another country without any other intentions except to tell you that I'm sorry. That I was stupid. That I-"
"The Arthur I claimed to know wouldn't have ever left Gwen," Merlin said.
"You're right. Maybe the Arthur you'd met before we hand our thing-"
"Our thing," Merlin said, chuckling as if he were in utter disbelief. "That's how you always treated it. How am I supposed to believe now..." Merlin turned around and sat on the bed. Maybe he was contemplating letting Arthur in, in his hotel room, in his heart.
"It was so much more than that. I loved you. Love you, but that's not the point." Arthur waved his hand in the air. "When I met you I was selfish but I was also under my father's grip. You changed that. You changed me. I know I just let you go and I went through the wedding, but there were two people at fault there."
Merlin looked up, clearly annoyed, when Arthur gestured for him to wait.
"Gwen and I were at fault. She didn't feel right marrying me, but she did out of obligation. I did it out of fear. When we both realised what a horrible mistake it'd been. When I told her the truth-she wasn't even upset. She forgave me for cheating on her. After everything, do you know what she said to me?"
Merlin shook his head.
"She said she felt sorry for me. That I had the best thing and I let it go. The woman was a total saint. I told her that I'd spend the rest of my life making it up to her. That I'd do anything. She could have anything she wanted in the divorce and she just told me to be happy."
Merlin was still quiet.
"You were the best thing I let go of, by the way. In case you were wondering." Arthur gave Merlin a shy smile. In the past, Arthur's smile was enough for Merlin to forgive him. He hoped that his luck would work this time, too.
Merlin shook his head. "You're still a prat."
"I know. You used to like that about me," Arthur said, nervously. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and just waited around for Merlin to do something.
"So, that's it?" Merlin said. "That's your intent. To apologise and leave?"
I never said anything about leaving. "Maybe dinner, too. Let me really make up for it."
Merlin looked hesitant.
"Apart from everything else, Merlin. We used to be friends, too," Arthur said. "Maybe just a friendly dinner. Let me catch up with you and your life. We can share some sushi and sake like we used to-"
"I don't eat sushi anymore," Merlin said, it was so quick, that Arthur couldn't help but feel guilty about it. Maybe Merlin stopped eating sushi after Arthur had left. He knew that every time he went to Shiori, he'd only just think of Merlin.
"Okay. Burgers, then."
"You hate hamburgers," Merlin said.
"Hated," Arthur said, stressing on the past tense. "I developed an appreciation for them after-you know-"
"Fine," Merlin said, sounding amused. "I found a place just around the corner recently and they're quite decent-"
"Let me guess, you made friends with everyone that works there."
Merlin shrugged. "It doesn't hurt to befriend people who feed you."
Arthur smiled, feeling relieved. Merlin hadn't completely kicked him out and they were going to get something to eat. Things were looking up. Even if they wouldn't get back into bed together, which was really an unrealistic hope, at least they were well on their way to being friends again.
Arthur was about to ask if Merlin wanted to go right then or wait for a while, when Merlin's mobile chimed. He looked at it, and frowned slightly.
"Trouble?" Arthur asked.
"It's Will," Merlin replied.
"Oh. Are you going to-"
"I'll just tell him I'm working. I can tell him about the burgers after we come back."
We come back. Arthur didn't miss that little detail, but kept his face impassive. He wasn't about to push his luck by letting Merlin see his true reaction. read the next part