An Ordinary Life (Merlin 2/8)
Arthur stretched as he woke up, the move aborted by the weight that was half over him. "Need the toilet," he mumbled at the interrogative noise he heard, then slipped out of the bed, pausing when he realized he wasn't sure just where the toilet was.
"Oi, Rhys, directions?" he hissed, half-turning as he scratched the back of his neck.
There was an incoherent mumble, muffled by the pillow that Merlin's face was buried in, and an arm waved, somehow managing to cover a complete circle.
"And that helps how?" Arthur sighed, squinting as he made out more details in the near dark and took a few careful steps forward, not wanting to bark his shins on anything. "This is complete shite," he muttered as he finally found a wall and felt his way along it until he felt a door knob and eased it open. Waving a hand into the space, he felt the brush of fabric against his hand and sighed.
"All right, closet. Next?" Stifling a yelp when he stubbed his toe on what he thought was a dresser, he glowered in the direction of the bed - or so he hoped. "You are so giving me a blow job for this!"
There was more grumbling, and Merlin finally raised his head, peering around blearily. "What the hell are you doing over there?" he mumbled, reaching over and switching on the bedside light, though he'd come within a hair of creating a ball of witchlight to illuminate the room.
"Trying not to kill myself," Arthur growled. "You live in a bloody maze! I could have been killed trying to find the damn toilet!"
Merlin stared at him and pointed at the door almost directly across the room from Arthur. "You might want to try the bathroom."
"Thank you so much for the succinct directions," Arthur snorted as he crossed in front of the bed and vanished into the indicated room.
Merlin stopped with his head halfway back to the pillow, wide eyes fixed on the space where Arthur had disappeared. A moment later he was across the room and staring at Arthur's back, licking his lips.
Arthur turned and looked at him strangely. "What? Was there some other toilet I was supposed to use?"
Merlin moved around so he was looking at Arthur's back again, and a finger came out to trace a line in the tattoo of a wide-bladed sword with a plain, leather-wrapped hilt. "That is really hot."
"Ahh." Arthur grinned at the reaction. "I got that to drive my mum insane."
"I don't know about your mum, but I think it might drive me insane."
"It's supposed to be Excalibur," Arthur chuckled. "My mother's a fanatic for ye olde tales of Camelot--want to guess who she named me after?" He rolled his eyes as he added the last.
Merlin choked back a laugh he thought might have come out hysterical. "Well, if you want a real laugh, Rhys is short for my middle name Emrys. My mum named me Merlin."
Arthur burst into laughter at that, leaning on the doorjamb for support. "Oh, that's rich; my mum would love to meet yours, but what a name to grow up with!"
"Why do you think I go by Rhys?" Merlin asked wryly. "I preferred not to listen to the jokes. And I wish our mothers could meet, but mine died a long time ago."
"I'm sorry about that." Arthur straightened at that. "You must have been young."
"Thanks. And yeah, I was. But like I said, it was a long time ago, and I have a lot of good memories of her."
"That's a good thing then." Arthur leaned against the door frame again and smiled slowly. "So, it's morning; we're both up... Breakfast?"
Merlin looked him over. "What exactly are you in the mood for?"
"Food? Coffee? Both?"
"Well, hell." Merlin grinned. "Fine, I'll feed you first. Want to borrow some track pants or a bathrobe? The kitchen's downstairs."
"Track pants would be super; I'm not really the bathrobe type."
Merlin snickered. "A brocade smoking jacket?" he suggested before beating a rapid retreat to retrieve the requested garment.
"So that explains where your money comes from; you're Hugh Hefner's great-grandson!" Arthur laughed as he followed, enjoying the sight of Merlin's bare ass as he crossed the room to the large dresser.
The track pants landed on Arthur's head, accompanied by Merlin's laughter. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm rich because I'm Merlin the Magician and have had fifteen centuries to accumulate wealth." He smirked at Arthur before getting one of the soft cotton garments for himself as well.
"If you're Merlin the Magician, where's your pointed hat and sparkly robe?" Arthur snickered as he pulled the stretchy grey pants on and walked over to the other man, staying out of punching range.
Merlin glared at him. "The only person who ever tried to get me to wear something like that was another blonde prat I used to know. Give me a minute to add the arsenic to your coffee, won't you."
"You're the one who brought it up!" Arthur laughed, slinging his arm around Merlin's waist as they left the bedroom and started down the stairs. As opposed to the night before, he actually looked around him, letting out a low whistle at what he saw. "Bloody hell, being Hugh Hefner's great-grandson has its perks."
"Prat." Merlin shook his head. "Keep it up and I won't make you breakfast. Or I'll make you wear a Playboy Bunny uniform."
"Ooo, I'm so scared." Arthur took a seat on one of the chairs at the island in the center of the kitchen and watched as Merlin set up a complicated looking coffee maker.
"You should be. You really don't have the legs for fishnets." Merlin tossed him a grin once he had the coffee started and then went to rummage in the fridge. "Any preferences?"
"Food?" Arthur said, sounding rather pathetic. "Danishes? Bagels? Eggs and sausages?"
As the requests grew steadily more complex, Merlin straightened up and turned to look at him with eyebrows raised. "If you ask for eggs benedict, you're going to be the one making them."
"I can try," Arthur grinned, "but we'd both end up in hospital, so I wouldn't recommend it."
Merlin shook his head and chuckled. "Pour the coffee, and I'll make breakfast," he instructed, drawing sausages and eggs out of the icebox and setting them on the counter next to the stovetop. "Am I hoping for too much to think you might be able to put the toast on?"
"It depends on how complicated your toaster is," Arthur observed as he stood and began to open the dark oak cupboards, looking for coffee mugs.
Merlin stared at him, an egg in either hand. "Put the bread in the slots on top and push the lever down. Think you can manage that?" he asked dryly.
Arthur's response was to raise two fingers at him without turning from his search of the cabinetry, making Merlin laugh and turn his attention back to the fry pan. "Right, I'll let you know when to put the toast on then," he said. "How do you like your eggs?" he asked, poised to crack the eggs into the pan until he remembered Arthur might prefer them scrambled.
"Over easy," the other man called back before making a triumphant sound as he finally found the mugs and pulled two off the shelf to pour both of them their coffee, setting Merlin's on the granite counter next to the stove then turning and pulling a loaf of bread out of the breadbox. "So who cleans this place?"
Merlin shrugged. "I do the basic stuff, and I have someone come in once a week to give it a good going over. Thanks," he added, gesturing with the cup before taking a mouthful.
"Must be nice," Arthur grinned before drinking as well. "Hrmm, good lay, good coffee, you're two to the positive, Rhys."
"Does that mean you're planning to keep me?" Merlin asked dryly, expertly flipping the eggs. "Best put the toast on now."
"That depends, are your inoculations up to date?" Arthur asked as he pulled four slices of bread from the packaging and slid them into the toaster. "Dark or light?"
"Midway," Merlin replied, taking a moment to admire the way the soft cotton clung to Arthur's ass.
Arthur nodded and left the slide where it was before pushing the lever to drop the bread into the toaster. "Butter or margarine?" he asked, carrying his coffee over to the refrigerator and looking inside.
"Oh butter, definitely. It tastes so much better, don't you think?" Merlin replied, sliding their breakfast onto plates and carrying them to the small table in the sunny alcove at one end of the kitchen.
"Definitely," Arthur agreed, grabbing the coffee carafe and bringing it over to refill both their mugs before taking a seat across from Merlin.
Merlin eyed him across the table, though that didn't slow down his own consumption of his breakfast. The previous night had left him hungry. "So," he said slowly, "am I right that you wouldn't be adverse to continuing this?" He gestured vaguely.
Arthur's answer was somewhat garbled by his mouthful of food, and when Merlin looked at him strangely, he swallowed and tried again. "You mean this as something other than a one off?"
Merlin nodded. "We seem to get along well, and I thought last night was fun."
Arthur started to speak then seemed to be seriously considering Merlin's words, and he slowly nodded. "Yeah, it was; so we see where it goes from here?"
A wide grin split Merlin's face. "Brilliant! Eat up then; you're going to need your energy."
"Why am I thinking where it's going to go from here is back to bed?" Arthur didn't sound upset at all by the prospect.
"Oh good, you're smart as well as pretty."
"While that fact remains to be seen about you," Arthur smirked, making Merlin pull a face and threaten to throw something at him before laughing.
"I decided to bring you home with me, didn't I?"
"Hrmm, good point, so we're both smart and pretty; it'll take us far."
Merlin laughed. "At least as far as the bedroom."
***
"Give me your mobile," Arthur said, holding out his hand later that day after they had finally showered and he had gotten dressed in the clothes he'd been wearing the night before.
Merlin blinked at him. "You don't have one of your own?"
"Just give it to me, you idiot," Arthur laughed.
"Nice," Merlin snorted, shaking his head as he retrieved the phone and handed it over.
"Or don't you want my number?" Arthur asked as he flipped to the contacts page and entered his own information before handing it and his own mobile back to Merlin.
As he was programming his own number into Arthur's phone, Merlin asked, "So is it ten or forty-two?"
"Forty-two of course," Arthur snorted. "I mean, really, what a question."
Merlin laughed. "I should have known, oh great once and future king."
"Watch it, or I will get you that pointy hat," Arthur mock threatened as he took his mobile back and stuffed it into his pocket.
"Will you put me in handcuffs at the same time?" Merlin wanted to know.
"Fur-lined ones," Arthur promised with a wink and a leer.
"Oh goody, sounds like fun," Merlin said, clapping his hands together and batting his eyelashes at him, causing Arthur to back up a step.
"Okay, that was terrifying."
"I'm a man of many talents."
"So I've seen." Arthur stepped forward at that and hooked two fingers into the waistband of Merlin's track pants, pulling him in for a kiss. "And if I don't get going, I'm going to see them again."
"Call me when you have some free time. I'm usually pretty flexible." Merlin looped his arms around Arthur's waist, not wanting to let go but knowing he had to.
"Oh really?" Arthur grinned before growing serious. "I will. I never expected this from last night, but I like you, Rhys."
An almost shy smile curved Merlin's lips. "I like you too." Backing away from the emotion neither of them was ready for, he added, "With names like Arthur and Merlin, how could we not?"
"Though wasn't Merlin something like Gandalf years while Arthur was a hot stud?" Arthur chuckled, kissing Merlin a final time before stepping back away from him.
"At least Merlin wasn't a prat!"
"How do you know?"
Merlin smirked. "I told you, I really am Merlin, so who better?"
"You look damn good for your age, oh mighty wizard," Arthur snickered. "Do you moisturize?"
Merlin rolled his eyes. "Oh, go home and become educated before I give in to temptation and turn you into a toad."
"Rather hard to shag a toad, isn't it?" Arthur asked before darting for the door and the private elevator to avoid Merlin's comeback.
***
Merlin had restrained himself for two entire days, reminding himself that Arthur had responsibilities in this lifetime, and he didn't belong to Merlin, at least not yet, but finally he needed to hear the other man's voice, needed to assure himself that it hadn't all been a dream on his part. He called Arthur, hoping he wasn't in a class.
"Hullo?" The other man sounded out of breath.
"Arthur?" Merlin asked tentatively, wondering if he'd interrupted something he shouldn't. It wasn't as if they were exclusive after a single night.
There was a second's silence before Arthur responded. "Rhys! Sorry, just got in from practice, and I'm a bit fagged. How're you?"
"Mmm, happy now that I'm imagining you all hot and sweaty," Merlin purred.
"More like bruised and aching," Arthur laughed. "I'd suggest you coming over to rub liniment on me, but I've got class in half an hour."
"Well, hell, it's not fair to tease a bloke like that," Merlin chuckled. "Are you free for dinner?"
"I think I can be talked into that. Are you going to bring me flowers as well?"
"I'll see if I can gather some nettles for you."
"Oh, now that's cold," Arthur laughed, "or painful. When and where? I need to go hop in the shower then go listen to a boring lecture on macroeconomics."
Merlin considered what he knew of the area around the university Arthur was attending and then suggested a pub that had been around for literally ages. "Is seven good for you? And would you care to bring a change of clothes?"
"As long as you get me out of the door by seven come morning."
"I own an alarm clock," Merlin assured him, smiling widely now as he contemplated twelve hours of Arthur.
"Solves that problem then. Need to run; see you at seven then; oh, and Rhys? Glad you called." Arthur's smile was evident in his voice.
"Me too," Merlin said by way of farewell before disconnecting the call.
***
Merlin looked up the instant Arthur walked into the pub that evening, the part of them that was connected letting him know Arthur was close. He smiled broadly and waved to catch Arthur's attention, the blonde raising his hand in acknowledgement though his grin was somewhat pained as it pulled at the swollen skin under his left eye.
"Good thing you got here early," he commented as he reached the table, "this place is always packed."
Merlin surveyed him with interest. "You look like I should have ordered a raw steak to drape over your face."
"Caught an elbow in the scrum," Arthur chuckled, ordering an ale when the waitress came over. "I can still see, so it's not too bad."
"And you don't appear crippled, so you'll still be of some use to me," Merlin mused, grinning.
"So glad my future employment as a rent-boy is ensured."
"You are pretty versatile," Merlin decided, "I suppose I can keep you."
Arthur's ale arrived, and he chuckled as he lifted the glass, toasting Merlin with it. "Then here's to being versatile."
"I'll happily drink to that," Merlin agreed, suiting action to words before setting his glass back down. "I may have to get you to sign documents about your games though; I'd hate to have people think I was battering you."
Arthur looked down at himself then over at the much leaner man sitting across from him and bit back a snicker. "Not sure if they'd ever believe that one; good thing you aren't the one with the bruises."
"Prat," Merlin replied without heat. "I'll have you know I've had a lot of self-defense training."
"What? Are you some kind of black belt or something?"
Merlin nodded. "Fencing too. A friend insisted," he added with a sad smile.
"Is this the same friend that hunted?" Arthur asked curiously.
"Actually, yes. He was determined that I be able to take care of myself to his satisfaction in any situation."
"You make it sound as if you were growing up in a war zone or something," Arthur observed before taking a drink.
"It seemed that way at times. But he just had a very strongly developed sense of responsibility and a protective streak a mile wide."
"Did something happen to him? I mean, it's all right if you don't want to talk about it, but you talk about him in the past tense..."
"He died a long time ago," Merlin said before taking a long swallow of his ale. "Sorry, I don't mean to talk about him too much."
"You haven't; it's just obvious from your expression when you do that he meant a lot to you." The waitress appeared again and they both ordered.
"I've always had good taste in men," Merlin assured Arthur once the waitress was gone, saluting him briefly with his drink.
Arthur returned the salute and leaned back in his chair, downing the rest of his glass. "So, what have you been doing the past few days?"
"The weather's been good, so I've been enjoying it, taking my motorbike out into the countryside, with a good book and a box lunch."
"That's it?" Arthur asked after staring at him for a moment. "Sorry, I'm just not used to hearing of anyone who can just do nothing whenever they want."
Merlin grinned. "It's lovely being filthy rich."
"But don't you ever _want_ to do something?" Arthur asked curiously
Of course he did, but Merlin didn't really think there was any way to explain the work and play cycles of fifteen hundred years. "Of course, and I do have a degree. But right now, I just want to enjoy myself for a while."
"Can't blame you a bit for that," Arthur nodded. "And did I hear you say that you had a motorcycle?"
"It's my favorite way to travel. I hate being sealed up in a metal box, although I do have cars for when I need them." Merlin leaned back as the waitress brought their meals, and he immediately dug into his shepherd's pie, making happy noises at the first bite.
Arthur grinned at Merlin's reaction to the meal before digging into his own steak and kidney pie, waiting until they were about both halfway through their meal before taking a break. "All right, I have to ask, how many cars does that plural include?"
Merlin grinned briefly. "It varies. I buy new ones that appeal to me and sell off older ones that I've grown bored with. I think I have about seven or eight right now."
"Christ," Arthur whistled, shaking his head. "Do you drive them when the weather comes in?"
A quick nod didn't interrupt Merlin's continued enjoyment of his dinner. After swallowing, he elaborated, "I used the bikes and convertibles in good weather and the others in rainy weather or winter."
"Mmm, lucky sod," Arthur sighed, his eyes going half-closed in imagination.
"Want to drive some?" Merlin offered easily.
"Fuck yeah!" Arthur exclaimed before looking sheepish. "I didn't say that just to get you to offer."
Merlin chuckled. "Trust me, I have very good radar for people who are just after my money. You're about as far from that kind as humanly possible."
"Know me that well, do you?"
"Oh, I think I know you pretty well." Merlin chuckled suddenly. "Even if I don't know your last name."
"Pembroke, planning on telling me yours now?" Arthur asked.
"We did skip a few things, didn't we?" Merlin said wryly. "Mine's Lloyd. Pleased to meet you," he added, offering Arthur his hand.
"Pleasure to meet you," Arthur grinned, his fingertips sliding over Merlin's palm after they shook hands. "So, are we having dessert here or back at your place?"
"I thought we'd do both," Merlin replied, his fingers curling up to catch and hold Arthur's. "Unless you have some objection?"
"To two of my favorite things? Never."
"I've made it to your top two? I'm flattered... or were you talking about sex in general?" Merlin asked with a hint of a chuckle.
"For right now, it's the latter," Arthur said as he finished his ale. "After all, we've only known each other a few days."
"Well damn, and here I thought I'd made such a spectacular impression for a moment there." Merlin grinned, making it clear that he hadn't expected anything else.
Arthur rolled his eyes, wincing when the move pulled at the swollen flesh under the right one. "Oh yes, I'm that much of a push-over."
"I like pushing you over," Merlin smirked.
"Oh, into that kind of thing, are you?"
"I'm into anything that feels good and we both enjoy."
"Oh, I think we can come up with something," Arthur began before a pair of hands slipped over his eyes, making him wince.
"Guess who," a feminine voice laughed in his ear.