[fanfic] In Which Bran and His Extended Family Spy on His Father's Proposal (Merlin/Arthur)
Title: In Which Bran and His Extended Family Spy on His Father's Proposal
Rating: PG (haha lowest rating I've ever had)
Word Count: 2341 words
Warnings/Spoilers: Um. Cheesiness and fluff. Outsider POV. Modern!AU.
Summary: One afternoon, Bran’s father comes home and says, “We’re going to New York.”
Notes: Also known as the fic I wrote to celebrate New York legalizing gay marriage. It's technically the sequel to the "someone like you" fic I'm still in the middle of writing, but this one can stand alone.
Beta'd by: inallbutwords_x . Any mistakes found are mine.
One afternoon, Bran’s father comes home and says, “We’re going to New York.”
“I’m sorry, where?” Merlin asks. Bran trails after Merlin out of the kitchen, where he’d been watching as Merlin cooked.
Dad rolls his eyes and says, “New York, Merlin. I’m sure you’ve heard of it. Big city, big green lady with a torch, big green park, the Empire State Building. Ringing a bell?”
Merlin huffs and smacks his father’s arm before giving him that familiar crooked smile of his.
“Of course I know. I’m just saying, why? What brought this up?”
“Nothing,” Dad says. He gives Merlin a quick peck on his cheek. “It’s summer, and we haven’t made any plans yet. I’m tired of work, and we could use a change of scenery.” He goes over to Bran and ruffles his hair. “Hey, kid. Have fun today?”
“Yep!” Bran answers before Merlin teases, “Since when is Arthur Pendragon ever tired of work?” He slips an arm around Dad’s waist and leans against him.
Bran is used to these displays nowadays. In fact, he was the one who told them to please stop acting like robots he doesn’t care if they’re gay they’re so obviously in love with each other. Unfortunately, that’s what made them act like lovesick teenagers around him.
Bran gives his father a smile before tugging on his hand.
“Are we really going to New York?” he asks. Aunt Morgana and Uncle Leon had taken Mordred there last year during winter break, and his cousin had returned bright-eyed and smiling for once, whispering to Bran everything that was exciting to see in the Big Apple. Though Bran really wants to see the city during Christmas, just going there isn’t that bad either.
“Well, we were, but it looks like Merlin doesn’t want to,” Dad replies. Bran doesn’t even get the chance to pout before Merlin bumps his shoulder against Dad’s.
“Oi, I never said that!” he protests.
“Then, we’re going?”
His father grins and answers, “Of course! I’ve already bought the plane tickets. Now, what’s for dinner?” His father drags Merlin back into the kitchen, and Bran grabs the closest phone, itching to tell Mordred the news.
- - + - -
Of course, once Aunt Morgana hears that his father is taking him and Merlin to New York, she decides her family should go as well.
“I can’t even remember the last time we went on a family trip together, Arthur!” Aunt Morgana exclaims, and his father glares and grumbles at her. Because whatever Aunt Morgana wants, she gets, and for once, his father doesn’t try to argue with her. Merlin just beams at her, saying the more people the better.
- - + - -
Bran finds out why they’re going to New York and why his father gave in so easily the day Merlin’s too busy to take care of Bran and his father has to drop him off at Aunt Morgana’s house.
He and Mordred had only just turned on the TV when Aunt Morgana shrieks, and the two of them run back into the foyer in time to see her throw her arms around his father’s neck. His father gets that funny constipated look on his face, the one Merlin teases him about because he doesn’t know how to deal with surprise hugs and just plain old emotions-when they aren’t from Merlin.
“I knew it! I bloody knew it!” Aunt Morgana proclaims before pulling away. “Have you gotten the ring yet? What about dinner reservations? Where are you planning to ask him?”
“I bought the ring already-a while ago,” Dad says, rubbing the back of his neck. “I haven’t gotten much further than that.”
“Then I’m going to help you,” Aunt Morgana says. “After everything you’ve put him through, he deserves a nice proposal.”
Bran and Mordred exchange looks before retreating to the living room.
“Looks like your dad’s finally marrying Emrys,” his cousin remarks. Bran doesn’t understand why Mordred always calls Merlin by his last name-something about it sounding cooler; Merlin just smiles and takes it in stride.
“Yeah, finally,” Bran says, rolling his eyes. But inside, he’s feeling lighter than air, because Merlin’s finally going to be his dad.
- - + - -
When his father gets around to asking Bran about the proposal, Bran just replies, “Merlin practically is my second dad. Just ask him already.” After scowling at him, his father swears him into secrecy.
- - + - -
A week later, they’re on the plane to New York. The six of them-Bran, his father, Merlin, Mordred, Aunt Morgana and Uncle Leon-all sitting in large and comfortable first class seats. Bran’s almost bouncing out of his seat for the first hour of flight.
He’s never been across the Atlantic before. Mum hadn’t cared too much about travelling and hadn’t liked it when they spent money excessively. Even if Dad has tons of money to spend. As a result, the farthest place Bran has ever been to is Madrid, when he tagged along on one of his father’s business trips. Merlin, however, doesn’t care so much about the money. Though he gives Dad that look sometimes when he thinks he’s spending too much money, and just that one look is enough to get Bran’s father to see reason. But Merlin told Bran that he likes travelling and did travel a lot-for ten years even-and says he doesn’t mind travelling comfortably for once.
“I can’t wait!” Bran says for maybe the hundredth time. Mordred rolls his eyes, but Merlin just smiles fondly at him before wiggling into a comfortable position and putting his head on Dad’s shoulder. Dad hums and runs a hand through Merlin’s hair, and it’s Bran’s turn to roll his eyes, because really. They should have gotten married ages ago.
- - + - -
Bran loves New York, and they spend the first few days in the city sightseeing-something Mordred and his family hadn’t gotten to do much of from the winter snowfalls last year. They see the Statue of Liberty, where he races Mordred up to the top. They stroll through Central Park, where the adults act all mushy and walk hand in hand with their respective partners. They stop in Times Square, where Bran stares at all the flashing lights and colours until he’s sure he’s about to go blind. They even visit the MoMA, which makes Merlin light up as if Christmas came early even though he’s visited the museum before.
Then, one night, his father convinces Merlin to go out and have a nice dinner, just the two of them while Aunt Morgana and Uncle Leon looked after Bran and Mordred. They dress up in suits, much to Merlin’s reluctance, and after some fussing over Bran and some fussing from Morgana, they finally leave for the restaurant his father booked a whole week ago.
The moment Dad and Merlin are gone, Aunt Morgana hops to her feet and, already wearing a fancy dress, starts manhandling the rest of them into nice clothes.
“Where are we going?” Mordred asks. Bran and his cousin watch as Aunt Morgana fusses over Uncle Leon’s tie and hair.
“Morgana, shouldn’t we just let Arthur do this alone? Give him and Merlin privacy and all?” Uncle Leon asks, but with one look from Aunt Morgana, he sighs and throws up his hands. “All right. And we’re taking the kids with us?” He looks over at Bran and Mordred, who are sprawled on one of the beds. Aunt Morgana gives then an assessing look. Mordred sits up under her scrutiny, and Bran can’t help but huff a laugh at how obvious a mummy’s boy Mordred is.
“I’m sure they can behave themselves like proper adults,” she says. “Besides, Arthur needs as much support as he can get.”
- - + - -
Thirty minutes later, they’re being seated at a table in the fanciest restaurant Bran has ever been in, with high vaulted ceilings, sparkly chandeliers and spotless table linen and utensils. A half-wall lined with pots of elegantly fake plants stood, along with several feet of empty floor space, between their table and his father and Merlin’s table. Dad and Merlin are already eating and talking with each other. Bran wants to groan and duck his head under the table at the embarrassingly mushy way they’re looking at each other even when they are making jokes about Batman and Superman of all things. They didn’t do it so much around Bran, because he always makes fun of them for it, but in public? Really?
Uncle Leon clears his throat before saying, “I suppose now we wait?”
“Yes, and eat, of course. We’re at a restaurant after all. No need to starve ourselves,” Aunt Morgana says, plucking up a menu. “We’ll let them be for now. I don’t think I can stand watching them make cow-eyes at each other for more than five minutes.”
Without asking for their opinions, she orders food of all of them in a matter of seconds and hands the menu back to the waiter. Bran’s fine with it, because she’s apparently ordered him a fancy version of a steak, remarking on how his tastes are probably similar to his father’s.
- - + - -
“He’s about to ask!” Aunt Morgana hisses twenty minutes later, drawing their attention away from their plates. Bran presses himself against the half-wall and peers through the fake shrubbery just in time to see his father walk around the table to Merlin’s side. He takes Merlin’s hands and drops down onto one knee. Around them the background chatter and tinkling of utensils stop, and all eyes are on them. Merlin looks like a deer caught in headlights, glancing around at the onlookers before fixing his eyes back on Bran’s father.
“Merlin, it’s been two years now,” he begins, “and-”
“Arthur, are you-”
“Please just let me finished, Merlin. I don’t know if I can work up the nerve to say it all over again.” He pauses and takes a deep breath. Before Merlin can interrupt again, he says, “Twelve years ago, I made the biggest mistake of my life-well, actually I got Bran from that mistake, and he’s my son, and he’s important to me-but what I mean is, I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have let my father dictate my life. I never should have left you, and I never should have let you walk away. And then, two years ago, you came walking back into my life just as it was falling apart. When Gwen left, you were there to pick up all the pieces and to take care of me and Bran, even though you didn’t have to, not after what I did. You made me the happiest man in the world when you agreed to give me a second chance. And I just-I love you, Merlin. I love you, and...when you came back, I realized that I’ve always loved you. Even those years with Gwen, I still loved you most of all. I never stopped thinking about you, or wondering where you were and what you were doing. And maybe it’s too soon, but we’ve been living together for a year now, and every day I’m with you, I fall in love with you all over again. So I just have to ask-” He pulls a small velvet box out of his pocket and opens it to reveal the unmistakable glint of a ring. “-Merlin Emrys, will you do me the honour of becoming my husband?”
Bran realizes that he’s holding his breath-it seems as if everyone is holding their breath, waiting for Merlin to answer. He just knows Merlin will say yes, but at the same time, Merlin has always been unpredictable at absolutely the worst times. So he waits as Merlin stares down at his father and his father stares back up at Merlin.
Minutes pass, and still Merlin doesn’t say anything.
His father looks crestfallen. “O-of course, I understand if it’s too soon. I can wait. I just-”
“No, no, that’s not it!” Merlin exclaims, cupping his father’s face with both his hands before he can turn his head away. “I just-I’m just surprised, that’s all. You never said anything about this, Arthur, not even when gay marriage was legalized here a month ago.”
“I wanted to surprise you. I bought the ring that day though. I just couldn’t figure out the perfect way to propose. It seems I failed miserably anyways,” his father grumbles, turning his head from Merlin’s grasp. Merlin’s expression just melts from surprise to that look he gets in front of puppies and kittens-and Bran’s father. He firmly holds Dad’s head again.
“Arthur, look at me. Please,” Merlin says, and eventually, his father looks back up at Merlin. “I’ve told you already, I forgave for you years ago. Maybe we just weren’t ready back then.”
“...and now?”
“And now we are.” He bends down and gives Dad a quick kiss. Dad looks at him with a growing smile. “I love you too, you prat. Since day one-all right, more like day two because day one you were an utter prat-since day two, I’ve always loved you. Of course, I’ll marry you.”
And then the two of them are snogging each other within an inch of their lives, and Aunt Morgana is giving Uncle Leon a disturbingly predatory look. Uncle Leon gives her a shaky grin before grabbing hold of Bran and Mordred and pulling them away from the sight.
“Time to go, kids. Let’s give them some privacy,” he says as Aunt Morgana saunters off to pay the check.
As the four of them leave, Bran glances back into the restaurant. Dad and Merlin are still kissing. He rolls his eyes. The next few weeks at home are going to be insufferable.
Rating: PG (haha lowest rating I've ever had)
Word Count: 2341 words
Warnings/Spoilers: Um. Cheesiness and fluff. Outsider POV. Modern!AU.
Summary: One afternoon, Bran’s father comes home and says, “We’re going to New York.”
Notes: Also known as the fic I wrote to celebrate New York legalizing gay marriage. It's technically the sequel to the "someone like you" fic I'm still in the middle of writing, but this one can stand alone.
Beta'd by: inallbutwords_x . Any mistakes found are mine.
One afternoon, Bran’s father comes home and says, “We’re going to New York.”
“I’m sorry, where?” Merlin asks. Bran trails after Merlin out of the kitchen, where he’d been watching as Merlin cooked.
Dad rolls his eyes and says, “New York, Merlin. I’m sure you’ve heard of it. Big city, big green lady with a torch, big green park, the Empire State Building. Ringing a bell?”
Merlin huffs and smacks his father’s arm before giving him that familiar crooked smile of his.
“Of course I know. I’m just saying, why? What brought this up?”
“Nothing,” Dad says. He gives Merlin a quick peck on his cheek. “It’s summer, and we haven’t made any plans yet. I’m tired of work, and we could use a change of scenery.” He goes over to Bran and ruffles his hair. “Hey, kid. Have fun today?”
“Yep!” Bran answers before Merlin teases, “Since when is Arthur Pendragon ever tired of work?” He slips an arm around Dad’s waist and leans against him.
Bran is used to these displays nowadays. In fact, he was the one who told them to please stop acting like robots he doesn’t care if they’re gay they’re so obviously in love with each other. Unfortunately, that’s what made them act like lovesick teenagers around him.
Bran gives his father a smile before tugging on his hand.
“Are we really going to New York?” he asks. Aunt Morgana and Uncle Leon had taken Mordred there last year during winter break, and his cousin had returned bright-eyed and smiling for once, whispering to Bran everything that was exciting to see in the Big Apple. Though Bran really wants to see the city during Christmas, just going there isn’t that bad either.
“Well, we were, but it looks like Merlin doesn’t want to,” Dad replies. Bran doesn’t even get the chance to pout before Merlin bumps his shoulder against Dad’s.
“Oi, I never said that!” he protests.
“Then, we’re going?”
His father grins and answers, “Of course! I’ve already bought the plane tickets. Now, what’s for dinner?” His father drags Merlin back into the kitchen, and Bran grabs the closest phone, itching to tell Mordred the news.
- - + - -
Of course, once Aunt Morgana hears that his father is taking him and Merlin to New York, she decides her family should go as well.
“I can’t even remember the last time we went on a family trip together, Arthur!” Aunt Morgana exclaims, and his father glares and grumbles at her. Because whatever Aunt Morgana wants, she gets, and for once, his father doesn’t try to argue with her. Merlin just beams at her, saying the more people the better.
- - + - -
Bran finds out why they’re going to New York and why his father gave in so easily the day Merlin’s too busy to take care of Bran and his father has to drop him off at Aunt Morgana’s house.
He and Mordred had only just turned on the TV when Aunt Morgana shrieks, and the two of them run back into the foyer in time to see her throw her arms around his father’s neck. His father gets that funny constipated look on his face, the one Merlin teases him about because he doesn’t know how to deal with surprise hugs and just plain old emotions-when they aren’t from Merlin.
“I knew it! I bloody knew it!” Aunt Morgana proclaims before pulling away. “Have you gotten the ring yet? What about dinner reservations? Where are you planning to ask him?”
“I bought the ring already-a while ago,” Dad says, rubbing the back of his neck. “I haven’t gotten much further than that.”
“Then I’m going to help you,” Aunt Morgana says. “After everything you’ve put him through, he deserves a nice proposal.”
Bran and Mordred exchange looks before retreating to the living room.
“Looks like your dad’s finally marrying Emrys,” his cousin remarks. Bran doesn’t understand why Mordred always calls Merlin by his last name-something about it sounding cooler; Merlin just smiles and takes it in stride.
“Yeah, finally,” Bran says, rolling his eyes. But inside, he’s feeling lighter than air, because Merlin’s finally going to be his dad.
- - + - -
When his father gets around to asking Bran about the proposal, Bran just replies, “Merlin practically is my second dad. Just ask him already.” After scowling at him, his father swears him into secrecy.
- - + - -
A week later, they’re on the plane to New York. The six of them-Bran, his father, Merlin, Mordred, Aunt Morgana and Uncle Leon-all sitting in large and comfortable first class seats. Bran’s almost bouncing out of his seat for the first hour of flight.
He’s never been across the Atlantic before. Mum hadn’t cared too much about travelling and hadn’t liked it when they spent money excessively. Even if Dad has tons of money to spend. As a result, the farthest place Bran has ever been to is Madrid, when he tagged along on one of his father’s business trips. Merlin, however, doesn’t care so much about the money. Though he gives Dad that look sometimes when he thinks he’s spending too much money, and just that one look is enough to get Bran’s father to see reason. But Merlin told Bran that he likes travelling and did travel a lot-for ten years even-and says he doesn’t mind travelling comfortably for once.
“I can’t wait!” Bran says for maybe the hundredth time. Mordred rolls his eyes, but Merlin just smiles fondly at him before wiggling into a comfortable position and putting his head on Dad’s shoulder. Dad hums and runs a hand through Merlin’s hair, and it’s Bran’s turn to roll his eyes, because really. They should have gotten married ages ago.
- - + - -
Bran loves New York, and they spend the first few days in the city sightseeing-something Mordred and his family hadn’t gotten to do much of from the winter snowfalls last year. They see the Statue of Liberty, where he races Mordred up to the top. They stroll through Central Park, where the adults act all mushy and walk hand in hand with their respective partners. They stop in Times Square, where Bran stares at all the flashing lights and colours until he’s sure he’s about to go blind. They even visit the MoMA, which makes Merlin light up as if Christmas came early even though he’s visited the museum before.
Then, one night, his father convinces Merlin to go out and have a nice dinner, just the two of them while Aunt Morgana and Uncle Leon looked after Bran and Mordred. They dress up in suits, much to Merlin’s reluctance, and after some fussing over Bran and some fussing from Morgana, they finally leave for the restaurant his father booked a whole week ago.
The moment Dad and Merlin are gone, Aunt Morgana hops to her feet and, already wearing a fancy dress, starts manhandling the rest of them into nice clothes.
“Where are we going?” Mordred asks. Bran and his cousin watch as Aunt Morgana fusses over Uncle Leon’s tie and hair.
“Morgana, shouldn’t we just let Arthur do this alone? Give him and Merlin privacy and all?” Uncle Leon asks, but with one look from Aunt Morgana, he sighs and throws up his hands. “All right. And we’re taking the kids with us?” He looks over at Bran and Mordred, who are sprawled on one of the beds. Aunt Morgana gives then an assessing look. Mordred sits up under her scrutiny, and Bran can’t help but huff a laugh at how obvious a mummy’s boy Mordred is.
“I’m sure they can behave themselves like proper adults,” she says. “Besides, Arthur needs as much support as he can get.”
- - + - -
Thirty minutes later, they’re being seated at a table in the fanciest restaurant Bran has ever been in, with high vaulted ceilings, sparkly chandeliers and spotless table linen and utensils. A half-wall lined with pots of elegantly fake plants stood, along with several feet of empty floor space, between their table and his father and Merlin’s table. Dad and Merlin are already eating and talking with each other. Bran wants to groan and duck his head under the table at the embarrassingly mushy way they’re looking at each other even when they are making jokes about Batman and Superman of all things. They didn’t do it so much around Bran, because he always makes fun of them for it, but in public? Really?
Uncle Leon clears his throat before saying, “I suppose now we wait?”
“Yes, and eat, of course. We’re at a restaurant after all. No need to starve ourselves,” Aunt Morgana says, plucking up a menu. “We’ll let them be for now. I don’t think I can stand watching them make cow-eyes at each other for more than five minutes.”
Without asking for their opinions, she orders food of all of them in a matter of seconds and hands the menu back to the waiter. Bran’s fine with it, because she’s apparently ordered him a fancy version of a steak, remarking on how his tastes are probably similar to his father’s.
- - + - -
“He’s about to ask!” Aunt Morgana hisses twenty minutes later, drawing their attention away from their plates. Bran presses himself against the half-wall and peers through the fake shrubbery just in time to see his father walk around the table to Merlin’s side. He takes Merlin’s hands and drops down onto one knee. Around them the background chatter and tinkling of utensils stop, and all eyes are on them. Merlin looks like a deer caught in headlights, glancing around at the onlookers before fixing his eyes back on Bran’s father.
“Merlin, it’s been two years now,” he begins, “and-”
“Arthur, are you-”
“Please just let me finished, Merlin. I don’t know if I can work up the nerve to say it all over again.” He pauses and takes a deep breath. Before Merlin can interrupt again, he says, “Twelve years ago, I made the biggest mistake of my life-well, actually I got Bran from that mistake, and he’s my son, and he’s important to me-but what I mean is, I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have let my father dictate my life. I never should have left you, and I never should have let you walk away. And then, two years ago, you came walking back into my life just as it was falling apart. When Gwen left, you were there to pick up all the pieces and to take care of me and Bran, even though you didn’t have to, not after what I did. You made me the happiest man in the world when you agreed to give me a second chance. And I just-I love you, Merlin. I love you, and...when you came back, I realized that I’ve always loved you. Even those years with Gwen, I still loved you most of all. I never stopped thinking about you, or wondering where you were and what you were doing. And maybe it’s too soon, but we’ve been living together for a year now, and every day I’m with you, I fall in love with you all over again. So I just have to ask-” He pulls a small velvet box out of his pocket and opens it to reveal the unmistakable glint of a ring. “-Merlin Emrys, will you do me the honour of becoming my husband?”
Bran realizes that he’s holding his breath-it seems as if everyone is holding their breath, waiting for Merlin to answer. He just knows Merlin will say yes, but at the same time, Merlin has always been unpredictable at absolutely the worst times. So he waits as Merlin stares down at his father and his father stares back up at Merlin.
Minutes pass, and still Merlin doesn’t say anything.
His father looks crestfallen. “O-of course, I understand if it’s too soon. I can wait. I just-”
“No, no, that’s not it!” Merlin exclaims, cupping his father’s face with both his hands before he can turn his head away. “I just-I’m just surprised, that’s all. You never said anything about this, Arthur, not even when gay marriage was legalized here a month ago.”
“I wanted to surprise you. I bought the ring that day though. I just couldn’t figure out the perfect way to propose. It seems I failed miserably anyways,” his father grumbles, turning his head from Merlin’s grasp. Merlin’s expression just melts from surprise to that look he gets in front of puppies and kittens-and Bran’s father. He firmly holds Dad’s head again.
“Arthur, look at me. Please,” Merlin says, and eventually, his father looks back up at Merlin. “I’ve told you already, I forgave for you years ago. Maybe we just weren’t ready back then.”
“...and now?”
“And now we are.” He bends down and gives Dad a quick kiss. Dad looks at him with a growing smile. “I love you too, you prat. Since day one-all right, more like day two because day one you were an utter prat-since day two, I’ve always loved you. Of course, I’ll marry you.”
And then the two of them are snogging each other within an inch of their lives, and Aunt Morgana is giving Uncle Leon a disturbingly predatory look. Uncle Leon gives her a shaky grin before grabbing hold of Bran and Mordred and pulling them away from the sight.
“Time to go, kids. Let’s give them some privacy,” he says as Aunt Morgana saunters off to pay the check.
As the four of them leave, Bran glances back into the restaurant. Dad and Merlin are still kissing. He rolls his eyes. The next few weeks at home are going to be insufferable.