Time's Up, Chapter 4 Part 2
Chapter 4 Part 1
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Part 2
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Merlin wasn’t surprised when a cab drove them from Heathrow straight to Arthur. Still hungover after the previous night, he produced a wide yawn and leaned into the door of the car. He was seriously sleep-deprived. The night before was epic. Even Gwaine looked rumpled, although he made fun of their primary school party at first.
No wonder, Sophia was always a firecracker who generated a hundred ideas an hour.
“Did you get shitfaced yesterday?” Arthur asked, disgruntled, as soon as they stepped through the door.
“I’d like to see how you’d look,” Gwaine snapped mildly. Arthur huffed. Gwaine handed him the tablet. “The information is all here. Merlin, as you can see, as well. Now, piss off, I’m going home to pass out. And tomorrow’s my day off,” they heard from the stairs.
“Until three in the afternoon,” Arthur responded loudly, but Merlin could bet Gwaine didn’t hear him. Or decided not to.
“Why are you standing there? Come in already.” Arthur yawned.
Probably, he should’ve gone home. Slide under the blanket and not crawl out of his room for at least a couple of days. Picturing the torture of driving home, even if in a cab, Merlin groaned inwardly and couldn’t find any valid reasons to refuse Arthur’s invitation.
This time the living room didn’t look as impeccable. There was an opened bottle of whiskey on the table, and next to it a half-finished box with pizza, empty packets of crisps laid on top of the plastic bag. A bunch of pillows, several TV remotes, two phones, a notebook and a blanket were thrown in a pile on a wide couch.
“Too bad Gwaine didn’t stay. He’d see you weren’t exactly abstaining last night,” Merlin teased him, climbing into a huge chair and tucking his feet under him. Bliss.
“Go on, tell me how it went,” Arthur said, ignoring Merlin’s last remark.
“It was brilliant. Seriously, the best.” Merlin stretched, feeling content, glanced at the whisky bottle and grimaced. “Do you have anything else?”
“See the bar?”
Merlin nodded.
“Whatever you find there is yours,” Arthur allowed charitably, splashing half-a-finger of whisky into his glass. “If you want, order another pizza, or anything else you want.”
“Wow, that’s how big boss Arthur Pendragon celebrates his evenings alone,” Merlin drawled and ducked away from a cushion that was thrown at him. “Well, where do I start?”
The story didn’t turn out to be long, but was very emotional. Gesticulating wildly, Merlin described Will’s reactions, and later, laughing hysterically, talked in detail about the last night’s party. The most important news was-Will invited Merlin to his birthday party, which he was going to celebrate both in Paris and in London.
“So, everything is just brilliant,” Merlin summed up. “Fuck me if I know why I didn’t call him before.”
“Because you were a blithering tweaker, too hung up on his own megalomania and hurt?” Arthur offered.
“Very funny.” Merlin stuck out his tongue and poured himself more wine. “And now, according to you, I’m smart and clean?”
“Doubtful about smart-” Arthur smirked at Merlin’s frowning face. “Okay, okay, I’m joking. Fine, looks like we solved a problem with your mate. Cheers to me.” Arthur’s eyes fluttered closed as he relaxed. He startled, grimacing, when his phone started ringing. Without looking at the screen, he sent the call to the voice-mail and checked the bottom of his glass with longing. “How about your love life?”
“What about my love life?” Merlin immediately went on alert.
“I’m asking about its nonexistence.”
“I am perfectly fine,” Merlin said and put the glass back on the table. “You know what, I have to go.”
“There we go again.” Arthur rolled his eyes in annoyance. “I thought we were past this.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking ab-” Merlin shut up, turning grim. “It wasn’t in our agreement to dissect my private life. You’ve already done enough digging into the depths of my short, young existence.”
“And as you probably have noticed, done it pretty well, don’t you think?” Arthur smiled innocently, arching his eyebrows a little.
“No matter. I’d probably have called Will myself, sooner or later,” Merlin lied, not convincing anyone.
“For never was a story of more woe: your lying face is being your worst foe.” Arthur declared solemnly.
“William Shakespeare is a lowly peasant compared to your almighty talents,” Merlin mocked-and broke off under a long, piercing stare of Arthur’s blue eyes. “What?”
“When are you going to drop the act? Just pretend we are simply talking,” Arthur suggested in a tired voice.
“Talking? Constantly pulling information out of me-that’s what it is!”
“Ask me any question. I’ll answer.”
Merlin startled for a moment. But it didn’t look like Arthur was joking. Well, that was fair. It shouldn’t be Merlin taking the rap all the time and sharing his deepest secrets.
“What’s going on between you and Vivian?” he asked quickly.
Arthur smirked knowingly. “I wish I knew. Although, we are having a unique opportunity to find out right here and now.” Still smirking, Arthur pulled out his phone as it began ringing again and turned to let Merlin see the screen.
The display showed the picture of a pretty blonde, who’d been Arthur’s girlfriend for the past two and a half years. At least according to the tabloids. Not that Merlin read them, but he had to know everything possible about his enemy (at the moment all their encounters had been ending in moral abasement of Merlin, so it was hard to call Arthur his friend.)
“Hello, Viv.”
There was silence. Possibly because Vivian charged on a tirade without any further delay. Arthur rubbed his forehead, listening to the hysterical screaming coming through the receiver but wasn’t interrupting her. Merlin sat quietly, holding his breath. Wow! Too bad he wasn’t a reporter. Looked like the perfect couple Arthur and Vivian, who were considered one of the most beautiful couples out there, wasn’t that perfect after all.
“Yes. No. No. I’m tired.” Arthur’s voice sounded monotonous and impersonal. He never spoke to Merlin that way-mechanically, like a robot. “Yes, I deliberately wasn’t picking up. I’m tired, I told you. Yes, of you, as well. Didn’t we decide this already yesterday? I’ll send all your things with the courier; it’s no bother at all. Yes, it would be very nice of you to please accept this farewell present from me. Brilliant. I wish you the very best. You, too. Of course.”
“And? That’s it?” Merlin cautiously broke the silence, heavy in the air after an emotional call, from now, apparently, Arthur’s ex-girlfriend.
“As you can see.” Arthur dropped the phone on the floor next to the sofa and reached for the bottle. “Let’s celebrate my newly found freedom!”
“But why? I thought you were going to marry.” Merlin obediently clinked his glass with Arthur’s.
“A year ago we were. Six month ago I started realising that this relationship wouldn’t end well. And once again, I was right. Hooray! Ha. Ha. Ha,” Arthur drawled sadly, emptying his glass in two gulps. “This is brilliant. No matter what they say, Vivian has a good taste in whisky. What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m still confused,” Merlin admitted honestly, and hastily finished his drink when Arthur picked up the bottle to fill it up for him again.
“Ugh. Here it is, since you’re so slow. I spend every day, all day long, on the phone, talk to people, have meetings, often travel for business. I’m like a hamster in a spinning wheel. And the last thing I want when I come home is to hear about shopping or to go clubbing. Don’t get me wrong, I like to get wild and have fun once in a while, but not every bloody day. I want to have a home-cooked meal for dinner, instead of a take out, take a shower, have sex and get a good sleep. And not rush off to another party after barely having a snack, just to show our faces in front of British bohemia. Because I’d end up sleep-deprived, unable to focus during my morning meetings and in the evening I’d still be nagged to death for not having been respectful enough to some Mrs Smith at the party. Is it more clear now?”
“Wow,” Merlin breathed out. “I didn’t expect you to be that honest. I was sure you loved those social events, banquets, and all that.”
“Within reasonable limits. Ideally not beyond charity events or business dinners. Vivian, by the way, couldn’t stand them. What a relief for her-she no longer has to hide a yawn when I talk about stocks or trading options.”
“Then, congratulations on being free from such complicated relationship. It’s for the best for both of you.” Merlin chewed on his bottom lip, looking for the right words. He’d never had a serious relationship. He’d never even lived with someone. He just wasn’t ready to share his life and hobbies with someone else. And, to be honest, no one cared about his passion for biochemistry. “Also, I doubt you’d stay single for long. I’m sure the most beautiful girls will get in line as soon as they learn you’re available again.”
“Possibly.” Arthur shrugged. “My turn. Tell me about your last relationship.”
“Um, do you mean sex, or a relationship for real?”
“Is there a difference for you?” Arthur choked on a laugh and reached out for a piece of cold pizza. “Tell me about both.”
The wine created a pleasant buzz in his head, and the whole atmosphere, despite the earlier unpleasant call, helped to open him up for more talk. And after such unexpected honesty from Arthur it would be stupid to play evasive. They were both mature people, right?
“Well, if you are not a homophobe-” Merlin narrowed his eyes; Arthur looked at him expectantly. “I sleep with boys and girls, when I feel like it. I have no problem finding someone for, say, a few quick shags. With regard to relationships-there was something like that six months ago. But we broke up since all Alice wanted was money. And I don’t like it when people use me so openly.”
“Naturally. No one likes that. Well, all the pieces of the puzzle are starting to fit into a place. You went on a binge after the breakup.”
“Something like that.” Merling slowly rolled the glass between his fingers. “So, does it mean you’re not bothered that I shag blokes?”
“Why would it bother me?” Arthur was surprised.
“Okay. Then why did you kiss me back? Just please no bullshit about ‘why would I refuse’.”
Arthur laughed, and Merlin huffed in response.
Who could even imagine a month ago that Arthur and he would sit so comfortably together and talk? Talk about their personal life? Could he ever imagine they’d be flirting with each other? Merlin was definitely flirting. Bloody hell, he was flirting like mad and even if he tried to stop-it was too late. Besides, he didn’t want to stop.
“So-why?”
“At first I was surprised, and then I liked it,” Arthur admitted honestly, staring into his eyes. Merlin swallowed hard. His mouth went dry. Looked like Arthur was challenging him again.
“Why don’t we do it again, then?” His words came out in a rasp-drawn out, lazy.
Arthur tilted his head to the side and leaned in a little. It was clearly an invitation. Merlin placed his glass on the table and moved to the sofa. Most likely, he was going to regret this tomorrow; wouldn’t even want to think about it, but for now...
“Come here, Emrys.” Arthur smiled smugly, pulling Merling closer. “Just don’t expect me to give up my arse to you.”
Merlin didn’t get a chance to object.
Chapter 5
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Part 2
...
Merlin wasn’t surprised when a cab drove them from Heathrow straight to Arthur. Still hungover after the previous night, he produced a wide yawn and leaned into the door of the car. He was seriously sleep-deprived. The night before was epic. Even Gwaine looked rumpled, although he made fun of their primary school party at first.
No wonder, Sophia was always a firecracker who generated a hundred ideas an hour.
“Did you get shitfaced yesterday?” Arthur asked, disgruntled, as soon as they stepped through the door.
“I’d like to see how you’d look,” Gwaine snapped mildly. Arthur huffed. Gwaine handed him the tablet. “The information is all here. Merlin, as you can see, as well. Now, piss off, I’m going home to pass out. And tomorrow’s my day off,” they heard from the stairs.
“Until three in the afternoon,” Arthur responded loudly, but Merlin could bet Gwaine didn’t hear him. Or decided not to.
“Why are you standing there? Come in already.” Arthur yawned.
Probably, he should’ve gone home. Slide under the blanket and not crawl out of his room for at least a couple of days. Picturing the torture of driving home, even if in a cab, Merlin groaned inwardly and couldn’t find any valid reasons to refuse Arthur’s invitation.
This time the living room didn’t look as impeccable. There was an opened bottle of whiskey on the table, and next to it a half-finished box with pizza, empty packets of crisps laid on top of the plastic bag. A bunch of pillows, several TV remotes, two phones, a notebook and a blanket were thrown in a pile on a wide couch.
“Too bad Gwaine didn’t stay. He’d see you weren’t exactly abstaining last night,” Merlin teased him, climbing into a huge chair and tucking his feet under him. Bliss.
“Go on, tell me how it went,” Arthur said, ignoring Merlin’s last remark.
“It was brilliant. Seriously, the best.” Merlin stretched, feeling content, glanced at the whisky bottle and grimaced. “Do you have anything else?”
“See the bar?”
Merlin nodded.
“Whatever you find there is yours,” Arthur allowed charitably, splashing half-a-finger of whisky into his glass. “If you want, order another pizza, or anything else you want.”
“Wow, that’s how big boss Arthur Pendragon celebrates his evenings alone,” Merlin drawled and ducked away from a cushion that was thrown at him. “Well, where do I start?”
The story didn’t turn out to be long, but was very emotional. Gesticulating wildly, Merlin described Will’s reactions, and later, laughing hysterically, talked in detail about the last night’s party. The most important news was-Will invited Merlin to his birthday party, which he was going to celebrate both in Paris and in London.
“So, everything is just brilliant,” Merlin summed up. “Fuck me if I know why I didn’t call him before.”
“Because you were a blithering tweaker, too hung up on his own megalomania and hurt?” Arthur offered.
“Very funny.” Merlin stuck out his tongue and poured himself more wine. “And now, according to you, I’m smart and clean?”
“Doubtful about smart-” Arthur smirked at Merlin’s frowning face. “Okay, okay, I’m joking. Fine, looks like we solved a problem with your mate. Cheers to me.” Arthur’s eyes fluttered closed as he relaxed. He startled, grimacing, when his phone started ringing. Without looking at the screen, he sent the call to the voice-mail and checked the bottom of his glass with longing. “How about your love life?”
“What about my love life?” Merlin immediately went on alert.
“I’m asking about its nonexistence.”
“I am perfectly fine,” Merlin said and put the glass back on the table. “You know what, I have to go.”
“There we go again.” Arthur rolled his eyes in annoyance. “I thought we were past this.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking ab-” Merlin shut up, turning grim. “It wasn’t in our agreement to dissect my private life. You’ve already done enough digging into the depths of my short, young existence.”
“And as you probably have noticed, done it pretty well, don’t you think?” Arthur smiled innocently, arching his eyebrows a little.
“No matter. I’d probably have called Will myself, sooner or later,” Merlin lied, not convincing anyone.
“For never was a story of more woe: your lying face is being your worst foe.” Arthur declared solemnly.
“William Shakespeare is a lowly peasant compared to your almighty talents,” Merlin mocked-and broke off under a long, piercing stare of Arthur’s blue eyes. “What?”
“When are you going to drop the act? Just pretend we are simply talking,” Arthur suggested in a tired voice.
“Talking? Constantly pulling information out of me-that’s what it is!”
“Ask me any question. I’ll answer.”
Merlin startled for a moment. But it didn’t look like Arthur was joking. Well, that was fair. It shouldn’t be Merlin taking the rap all the time and sharing his deepest secrets.
“What’s going on between you and Vivian?” he asked quickly.
Arthur smirked knowingly. “I wish I knew. Although, we are having a unique opportunity to find out right here and now.” Still smirking, Arthur pulled out his phone as it began ringing again and turned to let Merlin see the screen.
The display showed the picture of a pretty blonde, who’d been Arthur’s girlfriend for the past two and a half years. At least according to the tabloids. Not that Merlin read them, but he had to know everything possible about his enemy (at the moment all their encounters had been ending in moral abasement of Merlin, so it was hard to call Arthur his friend.)
“Hello, Viv.”
There was silence. Possibly because Vivian charged on a tirade without any further delay. Arthur rubbed his forehead, listening to the hysterical screaming coming through the receiver but wasn’t interrupting her. Merlin sat quietly, holding his breath. Wow! Too bad he wasn’t a reporter. Looked like the perfect couple Arthur and Vivian, who were considered one of the most beautiful couples out there, wasn’t that perfect after all.
“Yes. No. No. I’m tired.” Arthur’s voice sounded monotonous and impersonal. He never spoke to Merlin that way-mechanically, like a robot. “Yes, I deliberately wasn’t picking up. I’m tired, I told you. Yes, of you, as well. Didn’t we decide this already yesterday? I’ll send all your things with the courier; it’s no bother at all. Yes, it would be very nice of you to please accept this farewell present from me. Brilliant. I wish you the very best. You, too. Of course.”
“And? That’s it?” Merlin cautiously broke the silence, heavy in the air after an emotional call, from now, apparently, Arthur’s ex-girlfriend.
“As you can see.” Arthur dropped the phone on the floor next to the sofa and reached for the bottle. “Let’s celebrate my newly found freedom!”
“But why? I thought you were going to marry.” Merlin obediently clinked his glass with Arthur’s.
“A year ago we were. Six month ago I started realising that this relationship wouldn’t end well. And once again, I was right. Hooray! Ha. Ha. Ha,” Arthur drawled sadly, emptying his glass in two gulps. “This is brilliant. No matter what they say, Vivian has a good taste in whisky. What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m still confused,” Merlin admitted honestly, and hastily finished his drink when Arthur picked up the bottle to fill it up for him again.
“Ugh. Here it is, since you’re so slow. I spend every day, all day long, on the phone, talk to people, have meetings, often travel for business. I’m like a hamster in a spinning wheel. And the last thing I want when I come home is to hear about shopping or to go clubbing. Don’t get me wrong, I like to get wild and have fun once in a while, but not every bloody day. I want to have a home-cooked meal for dinner, instead of a take out, take a shower, have sex and get a good sleep. And not rush off to another party after barely having a snack, just to show our faces in front of British bohemia. Because I’d end up sleep-deprived, unable to focus during my morning meetings and in the evening I’d still be nagged to death for not having been respectful enough to some Mrs Smith at the party. Is it more clear now?”
“Wow,” Merlin breathed out. “I didn’t expect you to be that honest. I was sure you loved those social events, banquets, and all that.”
“Within reasonable limits. Ideally not beyond charity events or business dinners. Vivian, by the way, couldn’t stand them. What a relief for her-she no longer has to hide a yawn when I talk about stocks or trading options.”
“Then, congratulations on being free from such complicated relationship. It’s for the best for both of you.” Merlin chewed on his bottom lip, looking for the right words. He’d never had a serious relationship. He’d never even lived with someone. He just wasn’t ready to share his life and hobbies with someone else. And, to be honest, no one cared about his passion for biochemistry. “Also, I doubt you’d stay single for long. I’m sure the most beautiful girls will get in line as soon as they learn you’re available again.”
“Possibly.” Arthur shrugged. “My turn. Tell me about your last relationship.”
“Um, do you mean sex, or a relationship for real?”
“Is there a difference for you?” Arthur choked on a laugh and reached out for a piece of cold pizza. “Tell me about both.”
The wine created a pleasant buzz in his head, and the whole atmosphere, despite the earlier unpleasant call, helped to open him up for more talk. And after such unexpected honesty from Arthur it would be stupid to play evasive. They were both mature people, right?
“Well, if you are not a homophobe-” Merlin narrowed his eyes; Arthur looked at him expectantly. “I sleep with boys and girls, when I feel like it. I have no problem finding someone for, say, a few quick shags. With regard to relationships-there was something like that six months ago. But we broke up since all Alice wanted was money. And I don’t like it when people use me so openly.”
“Naturally. No one likes that. Well, all the pieces of the puzzle are starting to fit into a place. You went on a binge after the breakup.”
“Something like that.” Merling slowly rolled the glass between his fingers. “So, does it mean you’re not bothered that I shag blokes?”
“Why would it bother me?” Arthur was surprised.
“Okay. Then why did you kiss me back? Just please no bullshit about ‘why would I refuse’.”
Arthur laughed, and Merlin huffed in response.
Who could even imagine a month ago that Arthur and he would sit so comfortably together and talk? Talk about their personal life? Could he ever imagine they’d be flirting with each other? Merlin was definitely flirting. Bloody hell, he was flirting like mad and even if he tried to stop-it was too late. Besides, he didn’t want to stop.
“So-why?”
“At first I was surprised, and then I liked it,” Arthur admitted honestly, staring into his eyes. Merlin swallowed hard. His mouth went dry. Looked like Arthur was challenging him again.
“Why don’t we do it again, then?” His words came out in a rasp-drawn out, lazy.
Arthur tilted his head to the side and leaned in a little. It was clearly an invitation. Merlin placed his glass on the table and moved to the sofa. Most likely, he was going to regret this tomorrow; wouldn’t even want to think about it, but for now...
“Come here, Emrys.” Arthur smiled smugly, pulling Merling closer. “Just don’t expect me to give up my arse to you.”
Merlin didn’t get a chance to object.
Chapter 5