Destined (1/1)
Title: Destined
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Genre: weird (that should totally be a genre)/AUish/future!fic
Rating: R
Words: 2788
Progress: 1/1 (Complete)
Warning: Stalker!Merlin...-_-;; yup.
Summary: AJ Pendragon's real name is Arthur Jaromir Pendragon. But one calls him Arthur, except for his old man, and that one weird guy. Marlin, Merlin, whatever his name is. "Your name is Arthur Pendragon and you're destined to be with me."
Note: I have no idea where this came from. It's me taking a break from my exams, written in the wee hours of the morning. So...yeah. It's just weird. Stalker!Merlin just wouldn't leave me alone! See? I told you he was a stalker...
--
AJ Pendragon is having a shitty day. It's really shitty. First off, he conveniently forgets that his flatmate Percy has asked to borrow the car so he can impress a girl. AJ Pendragon has no girl, at least, not now, so out of goodwill he lets Percy borrow his car. So AJ has to go ride the bus like any other starving college student. He feels out of place at the bus stop, and no one has told him that it was going to rain today.
And goddamnit, It's cold. And the bus is late. And AJ's out here by the bus stop all by his lonesome. He wants to kill something, anything.
Then he has to meet that guy, and his life goes straight down a spiral to hell.
The guy looks nice enough at first, there's nothing really special about him. He's carrying two cups of hot Starbuck's coffee, and AJ really wants one. The guy is pale. Like he's never been outside, ever. The guy also has a coat and a scarf, and AJ wants those too.
"Aren't you cold?"
Well, way to be observant, wise guy. AJ crosses his arms, "Well, obviously."
"Do you want some coffee?"
Do I! But AJ remembers that this guy is a complete stranger. "It's okay."
"Seriously. It's fine. The girl messed up my drink, so I got a free one." The guy holds out a cup, steaming and inviting, "Take it."
AJ relents. He finds that he is holding a cup of Caramel Cappuccino, the best thing ever, since sliced bread.
Before he can turn and thank the guy, the guy is gone.
--
The next time he meets the guy again, he's in the library, having yet another shitty day. His research paper is due in less than sixteen hours, and AJ really doesn't want to sift through twenty books to find what he needs.
"If you'd like, you can use these. You're researching the Spanish War, aren't you?"
It's that guy. From the bus stop.
This time though, the guy is wearing a t-shirt, and tight jeans that AJ can sort of appreciate. He's holding books with multi-colored post-it notes stuck to the pages. Yes, AJ is researching the Spanish War for a stupid history class he doesn't need. But this is starting to get a wee bit creepy. "...Yeah."
"I just handed in a thesis for the same thing. Here."
AJ stares after him, dumbfounded. He goes home that night and realizes that the guy has categorized the information by colored post-it notes. It takes him only an hour to finish and he even has time to watch football with Percy and his new girlfriend.
--
The third time he meets the guy. AJ is drunk--not roaring drunk, but certainly gone enough to make bad decisions. His frat has reserved the Student Union for the night, and even though alcohol is not allowed, The Higher Powers that be serve it anyway. He sees the guy sitting at a table by himself, reading a book. No one reads at a book at a frat party. He pokes Percy.
"Who the hell is that?"
"I think his name is Marlin."
"...Like from Finding Nemo?"
"...I guess."
"Why's he here?"
"He's a honorary member. Go ask Gary."
Gary (Gawaine to adults, Gaw-Gaw to his insufferable girlfriend) is clear acros the room. Marlin's table is so much closer. So AJ drags himself over.
"Hey."
"Hello, Arthur."
AJ winces. His real name is Arthur Jaromir Pendragon, but no one calls him that except his old man...whom he hasn't spoken to for a year. Going by his initials is so much easier.
"My name is AJ."
"No it isn't." The guy--Marlin, looks up from his book, "Your name is Arthur."
"Your name is Marlin."
"Merlin."
"Whatever." AJ, for whatever reason, decides it's a good idea lean across the table and stare at Marlin, or Merlin or whatever really close.
"Your name is Arthur Pendragon, you're destined to be with me."
Merlin leans in two inches and kisses him. It's wet and it's sloppy and it feels good.
--
But the next day, it's all over the entire campus that AJ is...you know, gay with Merlin. Marlin. But he can't even remember anything after the kiss and he is pretty sure he ends up leaving with Percy and his girlfriend.
"Yeah...you left with me and Izzy." Percy says, between bites of hot dog and gulps of coke, "But man, why'd you let him do that?"
At least Percy believes in him. "...I dunno. I was drunk."
"Not that drunk."
AJ purses his lips. "Fuck, I don't know." He glances down at the thick text book in his lap, "Don't bug me about that now, I've got to memorize this entire chapter in the next five minutes."
And Merlin chooses that opportune moment to walk up to AJ's table and drop off a study guide. It's three pages of bullet points that take thirty seconds to remember. Merlin just smiles at him. Walks away.
Creep.
"...What the hell?" Says Percy.
AJ is really getting tired of this. "Don't even ask."
He aces the test.
--
AJ does some more investigating on this Merlin. He finds that Merlin is Merlin Emrys, he's a sophomore, and staying at Ealdor Hall. Room 35. He knocks on the door and Merlin opens it with a wide smile.
"Arthur, how nice to see you. Come in."
"No." AJ says, "For the last time, don't call me that. No one calls me that."
"Except for me."
"I hate Arthur." AJ says petulantly.
"But it's your name."
"Trust me, if your name was Arthur Jaromir, you'd want to be AJ." AJ says, feeling very annoyed and slightly freaked out. "What the fuck are you doing and why are you doing this to me?"
Merlin just looks at him, his smile slips a little. "You really don't remember."
"Well, obviously." AJ crosses his arms, "I don't even know you. You might have a little love affair with me or whatever in your head. But please just keep it in your head."
"But you do know me." Merlin reaches out, touches him. "Arthur Pendragon always knows me."
Um. AJ doesn't know if there are other Arthur Pendragons running around, but he is sure as hell that he doesn't know Merlin. Doesn't want to either. "Look," Maybe Merlin's one of those idiots who got what they wanted by just being plain creepy. "Is this whole charade going on just so you can get me to fuck you? Cause, you know, I'll do it once if you promise not to tell the whole campus."
"You don't get it." Merlin takes his hand away, "This isn't about fucking."
"Oh, it's not? Enlighten me, Sherlock."
"I'm in love with you. It's my destiny to be in love with you. Even though in some lives you don't love me." Merlin's smile is a sad one now, "But you and I, we're still destined, you belong to me."
AJ can't take this. He won't take this, he doesn't have to take this. He doesn't understand how Merlin's declaration of 'love' can make his blood rise. He doesn't want to hear Merlin go on about strange things like destinies and lives. So he presses Merlin against the wall and shoves his knee between the other guy's legs.
"I belong to no one. Not you. Not anyone." AJ bites at Merlin's earlobes, not bothering to be gentle. "Shut up."
"Arthur, please..." Merlin for the first time since AJ's known him, sounds beautifully helpless, "Not like this...I don't want it like this."
AJ's vision is blurry, but Merlin's nails are digging into his back. "Don't you want me?"
"Not like this..."
AJ steps back. His head hurts, a part of him registers that from their little tryst, Merlin is hard. Hard for AJ.
"Tomorrow, I'm filing a restraining order against you." AJ says, and he hates it that his voice isn't completely steady. "Stay away from me."
--
After going to court, AJ feels a lot better. The judge serves Merlin his restraining order, and makes him promise that he will not come within two hundred feet of AJ Pendragon. If he breaks it, Merlin will be fined, and AJ feels secure. Merlin can't afford to break the order, it's not like he has the money to pay the fines.
AJ also thinks that Merlin Emrys looks very put together in a gray suit complete with a black tie, but promptly slaps himself.
--
He doesn't tell Percy, but AJ is freaked out when a box of dark chocolates arrive on his doorstep, along with research notes for the paper due next week on Latin Culture. Creepy as hell.
--
And Thursday, when AJ is planning a big date with Catherine, he realizes that he doesn't have any condoms.
He opens the door and finds a box of fruit-flavored condoms and a bottle of lotion.
It gets creepier.
--
And when he's drunk and sore the next morning, in a strange bed in a hotel room, AJ is shocked to find a maid standing outside his door at seven in the morning, holding out a bottle of painkillers and a box of a half dozen donuts smeared with raspberry jam.
"A nice boy dropped them off." She says.
--
AJ spots Merlin at a table by himself in the library, with nothing but a pile of books and a cup of coffee keeping him company. Seriously, doesn't Merlin have any friends? Well, maybe not, since he was so freaking creepy. After a moment's hesitation, AJ stalks over to Merlin's table and jerks the book that Merlin is reading out of his hands.
Merlin is at once surprised, and pleased. "...Arthur, you're going to break the restraining order." He says calmly, "Give me back my book."
"It doesn't count if I approach you." AJ snaps, he flips through the book that Merlin's reading. It's actually one of the books on Arthur's very long Russian Lit class that he hasn't read yet. "What part of 'stay two hundred feet away from me' don't you understand?"
"I have been staying away from you." Merlin blinks at him as he reaches for his coffee.
"You--"
Merlin stands up, "Here." He thrusts a pile of papers into AJ's hands, "The notes for your Russian Lit class. If you'll excuse me." He walks away.
"Wait, Merlin--"
Merlin turns. "Yes, Arthur?"
"I...uh." AJ is struck by this really weird impulse to thank him. But hell, people being stalked do not thank their stalkers. He is determined to keep to that, "...Never mind."
--
AJ goes to bed dreaming about Catherine's tits. He knows something is wrong, however, when those dreams take a drastic turn and he dreams about Merlin. Merlin naked in his doorway, stroking himself while he watches AJ's eyes. Merlin moaning breathlessly beneath him. Arthur, oh Arthur.
AJ almost doesn't hate his name now. Merlin's bare legs press urgently against the small of AJ's back.
Please, please, please...I'm so close.
AJ follows, like a sheep to slaughter. He jerks his hips hard. His mouth finds Merlin's and kisses him, swallowing sobs of joy.
--And then AJ wakes up.
He wakes up absolutely horrified to find his sheets wet with come, and Merlin standing quietly by his bed. Dressed. But the fact of the matter is, that Merlin is there by his bed...and after the dream he just woke up from, AJ is not sure what to think. He finally decides on the obvious.
"Merlin, what the fuck are you doing here?"
"You called me."
"I did not!" AJ bunches the sheets up to hide himself as much as possible. For the first time in his life, he feels helpless.
"You had a dream."
AJ shivers. "So?"
"It was...about me, wasn't it?" Merlin's fingers dance gleefully over the stained sheets.
AJ suddenly doesn't remember how to breathe.
"You're starting to remember, Arthur."
"...I have no idea what you're talking about." Just hearing Arthur like that, makes AJ want to come all over again. It doesn't make any sense.
Merlin strokes his face, fingers slightly damp. "Please remember. Remember me, Arthur. Arthur. Arthur."
"Stop saying my name like that." Because if Merlin keeps going, than AJ can't--he'll want to press Merlin into the mattress and do unspeakable things.Unthinkable things.
Merlin crawls up his naked body like a cat. "Please."
Fuck it. Fuck it to hell. AJ grabs the back of Merlin's head and kisses him so hard that he draws blood.
There is a flash of brilliant gold.
Arthur remembers.
--
"It doesn't seem fair."
Arthur mumbles into the warm crook of Merlin's neck.
"...Of course it isn't." Merlin placidly wounds a strand of gold hair around his fingers.
"Why do you sound so calm about this?"
"Because great kings live, again, and again. And it is my destiny to follow you."
--
"Hey, AJ!"
It's Percy's voice on the other side of that door, and Arthur can't bring himself to care. Merlin's stirs quietly beside him, and Arthur wraps his arms tighter around him. "Stay, it's all right."
"Fucking AJ, you're going to be late for lecture!"
Merlin snuggles next to him, "...You've got a dependable alarm clock."
"Yeah, shame that Percy has no off button." Arthur grazes his lips against Merlin's forehead. "He'll go away after a while." To Percy, he yells out, "Not going to lecture today!"
"Professor Wilson's a bitch about attendance, remember?"
("With a built-in conscience." Merlin remarks.)
("Shut up, Merlin.")
"Like I give a shit."
"I need your car today. Coming in."
"Fine." Arthur gropes for his keys and he is all poised to throw them at Percy when he realizes that he and Merlin are still very much naked in bed together.
Percy's jaw practically shatters.
"Oh. Um. What the fuck?" His friend immediately drops his gaze, "Totally did not need to see that first thing in the morning..."
Arthur throws the keys at him, "Just get out."
--
"No matter how many lives you get through, you're still a royal prat." Merlin says later, when they are both dressed. Sort of. Arthur has his boxers half on and Merlin is wearing Arthur's t-shirt.
"And after so many lives, you're still an insufferable idiot." Arthur shoots back, as he tosses Merlin a can of beer.
"Guilty as charged." Merlin's grin is so wide that Arthur thinks that his face could split. He raises the can, "To the rest of our lives."
Cliche. But true. Arthur drinks to that, and knows that it's just going to be pretty fucking fantastic.
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Genre: weird (that should totally be a genre)/AUish/future!fic
Rating: R
Words: 2788
Progress: 1/1 (Complete)
Warning: Stalker!Merlin...-_-;; yup.
Summary: AJ Pendragon's real name is Arthur Jaromir Pendragon. But one calls him Arthur, except for his old man, and that one weird guy. Marlin, Merlin, whatever his name is. "Your name is Arthur Pendragon and you're destined to be with me."
Note: I have no idea where this came from. It's me taking a break from my exams, written in the wee hours of the morning. So...yeah. It's just weird. Stalker!Merlin just wouldn't leave me alone! See? I told you he was a stalker...
--
AJ Pendragon is having a shitty day. It's really shitty. First off, he conveniently forgets that his flatmate Percy has asked to borrow the car so he can impress a girl. AJ Pendragon has no girl, at least, not now, so out of goodwill he lets Percy borrow his car. So AJ has to go ride the bus like any other starving college student. He feels out of place at the bus stop, and no one has told him that it was going to rain today.
And goddamnit, It's cold. And the bus is late. And AJ's out here by the bus stop all by his lonesome. He wants to kill something, anything.
Then he has to meet that guy, and his life goes straight down a spiral to hell.
The guy looks nice enough at first, there's nothing really special about him. He's carrying two cups of hot Starbuck's coffee, and AJ really wants one. The guy is pale. Like he's never been outside, ever. The guy also has a coat and a scarf, and AJ wants those too.
"Aren't you cold?"
Well, way to be observant, wise guy. AJ crosses his arms, "Well, obviously."
"Do you want some coffee?"
Do I! But AJ remembers that this guy is a complete stranger. "It's okay."
"Seriously. It's fine. The girl messed up my drink, so I got a free one." The guy holds out a cup, steaming and inviting, "Take it."
AJ relents. He finds that he is holding a cup of Caramel Cappuccino, the best thing ever, since sliced bread.
Before he can turn and thank the guy, the guy is gone.
--
The next time he meets the guy again, he's in the library, having yet another shitty day. His research paper is due in less than sixteen hours, and AJ really doesn't want to sift through twenty books to find what he needs.
"If you'd like, you can use these. You're researching the Spanish War, aren't you?"
It's that guy. From the bus stop.
This time though, the guy is wearing a t-shirt, and tight jeans that AJ can sort of appreciate. He's holding books with multi-colored post-it notes stuck to the pages. Yes, AJ is researching the Spanish War for a stupid history class he doesn't need. But this is starting to get a wee bit creepy. "...Yeah."
"I just handed in a thesis for the same thing. Here."
AJ stares after him, dumbfounded. He goes home that night and realizes that the guy has categorized the information by colored post-it notes. It takes him only an hour to finish and he even has time to watch football with Percy and his new girlfriend.
--
The third time he meets the guy. AJ is drunk--not roaring drunk, but certainly gone enough to make bad decisions. His frat has reserved the Student Union for the night, and even though alcohol is not allowed, The Higher Powers that be serve it anyway. He sees the guy sitting at a table by himself, reading a book. No one reads at a book at a frat party. He pokes Percy.
"Who the hell is that?"
"I think his name is Marlin."
"...Like from Finding Nemo?"
"...I guess."
"Why's he here?"
"He's a honorary member. Go ask Gary."
Gary (Gawaine to adults, Gaw-Gaw to his insufferable girlfriend) is clear acros the room. Marlin's table is so much closer. So AJ drags himself over.
"Hey."
"Hello, Arthur."
AJ winces. His real name is Arthur Jaromir Pendragon, but no one calls him that except his old man...whom he hasn't spoken to for a year. Going by his initials is so much easier.
"My name is AJ."
"No it isn't." The guy--Marlin, looks up from his book, "Your name is Arthur."
"Your name is Marlin."
"Merlin."
"Whatever." AJ, for whatever reason, decides it's a good idea lean across the table and stare at Marlin, or Merlin or whatever really close.
"Your name is Arthur Pendragon, you're destined to be with me."
Merlin leans in two inches and kisses him. It's wet and it's sloppy and it feels good.
--
But the next day, it's all over the entire campus that AJ is...you know, gay with Merlin. Marlin. But he can't even remember anything after the kiss and he is pretty sure he ends up leaving with Percy and his girlfriend.
"Yeah...you left with me and Izzy." Percy says, between bites of hot dog and gulps of coke, "But man, why'd you let him do that?"
At least Percy believes in him. "...I dunno. I was drunk."
"Not that drunk."
AJ purses his lips. "Fuck, I don't know." He glances down at the thick text book in his lap, "Don't bug me about that now, I've got to memorize this entire chapter in the next five minutes."
And Merlin chooses that opportune moment to walk up to AJ's table and drop off a study guide. It's three pages of bullet points that take thirty seconds to remember. Merlin just smiles at him. Walks away.
Creep.
"...What the hell?" Says Percy.
AJ is really getting tired of this. "Don't even ask."
He aces the test.
--
AJ does some more investigating on this Merlin. He finds that Merlin is Merlin Emrys, he's a sophomore, and staying at Ealdor Hall. Room 35. He knocks on the door and Merlin opens it with a wide smile.
"Arthur, how nice to see you. Come in."
"No." AJ says, "For the last time, don't call me that. No one calls me that."
"Except for me."
"I hate Arthur." AJ says petulantly.
"But it's your name."
"Trust me, if your name was Arthur Jaromir, you'd want to be AJ." AJ says, feeling very annoyed and slightly freaked out. "What the fuck are you doing and why are you doing this to me?"
Merlin just looks at him, his smile slips a little. "You really don't remember."
"Well, obviously." AJ crosses his arms, "I don't even know you. You might have a little love affair with me or whatever in your head. But please just keep it in your head."
"But you do know me." Merlin reaches out, touches him. "Arthur Pendragon always knows me."
Um. AJ doesn't know if there are other Arthur Pendragons running around, but he is sure as hell that he doesn't know Merlin. Doesn't want to either. "Look," Maybe Merlin's one of those idiots who got what they wanted by just being plain creepy. "Is this whole charade going on just so you can get me to fuck you? Cause, you know, I'll do it once if you promise not to tell the whole campus."
"You don't get it." Merlin takes his hand away, "This isn't about fucking."
"Oh, it's not? Enlighten me, Sherlock."
"I'm in love with you. It's my destiny to be in love with you. Even though in some lives you don't love me." Merlin's smile is a sad one now, "But you and I, we're still destined, you belong to me."
AJ can't take this. He won't take this, he doesn't have to take this. He doesn't understand how Merlin's declaration of 'love' can make his blood rise. He doesn't want to hear Merlin go on about strange things like destinies and lives. So he presses Merlin against the wall and shoves his knee between the other guy's legs.
"I belong to no one. Not you. Not anyone." AJ bites at Merlin's earlobes, not bothering to be gentle. "Shut up."
"Arthur, please..." Merlin for the first time since AJ's known him, sounds beautifully helpless, "Not like this...I don't want it like this."
AJ's vision is blurry, but Merlin's nails are digging into his back. "Don't you want me?"
"Not like this..."
AJ steps back. His head hurts, a part of him registers that from their little tryst, Merlin is hard. Hard for AJ.
"Tomorrow, I'm filing a restraining order against you." AJ says, and he hates it that his voice isn't completely steady. "Stay away from me."
--
After going to court, AJ feels a lot better. The judge serves Merlin his restraining order, and makes him promise that he will not come within two hundred feet of AJ Pendragon. If he breaks it, Merlin will be fined, and AJ feels secure. Merlin can't afford to break the order, it's not like he has the money to pay the fines.
AJ also thinks that Merlin Emrys looks very put together in a gray suit complete with a black tie, but promptly slaps himself.
--
He doesn't tell Percy, but AJ is freaked out when a box of dark chocolates arrive on his doorstep, along with research notes for the paper due next week on Latin Culture. Creepy as hell.
--
And Thursday, when AJ is planning a big date with Catherine, he realizes that he doesn't have any condoms.
He opens the door and finds a box of fruit-flavored condoms and a bottle of lotion.
It gets creepier.
--
And when he's drunk and sore the next morning, in a strange bed in a hotel room, AJ is shocked to find a maid standing outside his door at seven in the morning, holding out a bottle of painkillers and a box of a half dozen donuts smeared with raspberry jam.
"A nice boy dropped them off." She says.
--
AJ spots Merlin at a table by himself in the library, with nothing but a pile of books and a cup of coffee keeping him company. Seriously, doesn't Merlin have any friends? Well, maybe not, since he was so freaking creepy. After a moment's hesitation, AJ stalks over to Merlin's table and jerks the book that Merlin is reading out of his hands.
Merlin is at once surprised, and pleased. "...Arthur, you're going to break the restraining order." He says calmly, "Give me back my book."
"It doesn't count if I approach you." AJ snaps, he flips through the book that Merlin's reading. It's actually one of the books on Arthur's very long Russian Lit class that he hasn't read yet. "What part of 'stay two hundred feet away from me' don't you understand?"
"I have been staying away from you." Merlin blinks at him as he reaches for his coffee.
"You--"
Merlin stands up, "Here." He thrusts a pile of papers into AJ's hands, "The notes for your Russian Lit class. If you'll excuse me." He walks away.
"Wait, Merlin--"
Merlin turns. "Yes, Arthur?"
"I...uh." AJ is struck by this really weird impulse to thank him. But hell, people being stalked do not thank their stalkers. He is determined to keep to that, "...Never mind."
--
AJ goes to bed dreaming about Catherine's tits. He knows something is wrong, however, when those dreams take a drastic turn and he dreams about Merlin. Merlin naked in his doorway, stroking himself while he watches AJ's eyes. Merlin moaning breathlessly beneath him. Arthur, oh Arthur.
AJ almost doesn't hate his name now. Merlin's bare legs press urgently against the small of AJ's back.
Please, please, please...I'm so close.
AJ follows, like a sheep to slaughter. He jerks his hips hard. His mouth finds Merlin's and kisses him, swallowing sobs of joy.
--And then AJ wakes up.
He wakes up absolutely horrified to find his sheets wet with come, and Merlin standing quietly by his bed. Dressed. But the fact of the matter is, that Merlin is there by his bed...and after the dream he just woke up from, AJ is not sure what to think. He finally decides on the obvious.
"Merlin, what the fuck are you doing here?"
"You called me."
"I did not!" AJ bunches the sheets up to hide himself as much as possible. For the first time in his life, he feels helpless.
"You had a dream."
AJ shivers. "So?"
"It was...about me, wasn't it?" Merlin's fingers dance gleefully over the stained sheets.
AJ suddenly doesn't remember how to breathe.
"You're starting to remember, Arthur."
"...I have no idea what you're talking about." Just hearing Arthur like that, makes AJ want to come all over again. It doesn't make any sense.
Merlin strokes his face, fingers slightly damp. "Please remember. Remember me, Arthur. Arthur. Arthur."
"Stop saying my name like that." Because if Merlin keeps going, than AJ can't--he'll want to press Merlin into the mattress and do unspeakable things.Unthinkable things.
Merlin crawls up his naked body like a cat. "Please."
Fuck it. Fuck it to hell. AJ grabs the back of Merlin's head and kisses him so hard that he draws blood.
There is a flash of brilliant gold.
Arthur remembers.
--
"It doesn't seem fair."
Arthur mumbles into the warm crook of Merlin's neck.
"...Of course it isn't." Merlin placidly wounds a strand of gold hair around his fingers.
"Why do you sound so calm about this?"
"Because great kings live, again, and again. And it is my destiny to follow you."
--
"Hey, AJ!"
It's Percy's voice on the other side of that door, and Arthur can't bring himself to care. Merlin's stirs quietly beside him, and Arthur wraps his arms tighter around him. "Stay, it's all right."
"Fucking AJ, you're going to be late for lecture!"
Merlin snuggles next to him, "...You've got a dependable alarm clock."
"Yeah, shame that Percy has no off button." Arthur grazes his lips against Merlin's forehead. "He'll go away after a while." To Percy, he yells out, "Not going to lecture today!"
"Professor Wilson's a bitch about attendance, remember?"
("With a built-in conscience." Merlin remarks.)
("Shut up, Merlin.")
"Like I give a shit."
"I need your car today. Coming in."
"Fine." Arthur gropes for his keys and he is all poised to throw them at Percy when he realizes that he and Merlin are still very much naked in bed together.
Percy's jaw practically shatters.
"Oh. Um. What the fuck?" His friend immediately drops his gaze, "Totally did not need to see that first thing in the morning..."
Arthur throws the keys at him, "Just get out."
--
"No matter how many lives you get through, you're still a royal prat." Merlin says later, when they are both dressed. Sort of. Arthur has his boxers half on and Merlin is wearing Arthur's t-shirt.
"And after so many lives, you're still an insufferable idiot." Arthur shoots back, as he tosses Merlin a can of beer.
"Guilty as charged." Merlin's grin is so wide that Arthur thinks that his face could split. He raises the can, "To the rest of our lives."
Cliche. But true. Arthur drinks to that, and knows that it's just going to be pretty fucking fantastic.