Just deserts
Title: Just deserts
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur.
Rating: Pg
Word Count: 618
Spoilers: None
Warnings: None, although there are warnings on Line of Dance
Summary: A back-story snippet from the Line of Dance 'verse. The morning after the first time.
Author's note 1: This is for ningloreth, who asked how Arthur found out about Merlin's magic. It didn't turn out quite as I expected.
Author's note 2: My very great thanks to sparrow2000 for being my beta, best friend, sounding board, plot bunny wrangler and voice of calm common sense. Also, to DJ for (hopefully) catching the last few typos. If you spot any more that we all missed, feel free to let me know in comments.
Disclaimer: I write fan fic. All the characters from the Merlin series are the property of the BBC and Shine, etc. No infringement is intended and no profit is being made from this writing.
Series links - Line of Dance: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6
The Alibi - Gaius and Gwen, while the army is away.
Fall-out - Merlin and Gaius, when Merlin gets back
Trouble is as trouble does - A back-story snippet (best read after the main story.) Alwin watches Merlin approach. Set some time in season 1.
Just Deserts
Merlin used his elbow to work the door handle and pushed the door open with his shoulder, kicking it closed behind him with his heel. He walked over to the table and put down the tray. "Breakfast," he announced, looking over at the bed.
It was empty.
He turned towards the dresser and the screen that hid the wash stand. Arthur was leaning against the wall. He had even dressed himself.
"You're up," Merlin said. It was not the most intelligent of observations, but there was a measure of relief in it. A fully dressed Arthur would be easier to talk to than a half asleep one.
Pushing himself away from the wall, Arthur nodded at the tray. "That's where you've been?" he said. He wandered over and Merlin took an involuntary step backwards. Arthur paused. "Are you all right?" he asked.
"Yes! Yes, I'm fine. I'm more than fine."
Smiling, Arthur came closer and Merlin had nowhere to go, with the table behind him. Arthur reached out and drew the back of his finger down the side of Merlin's face, completing the gesture with a shove to the side of Merlin's chin with his knuckle. "That's all right, then," he said.
Merlin pulled his head back. "No," he said. "Wait."
Arthur's expression went blank. "Wait?" he asked.
After a moment, during which neither of them spoke, or even moved, Arthur very deliberately relaxed his stance and smiled. Merlin could read him well enough to know that it cost him to make the effort. "That's not what you were saying, last night."
Merlin felt the heat rise in his cheeks. "No, that's... I mean, I know... But there's something I need to... I mean..." He paused and took a deep breath. It didn't help. "I should have said something last night," he said, eventually.
Once again, Arthur's expression froze.
"No!" Merlin said, exasperated by his inability to say what needed to be said and by Arthur's inability to understand what he meant without him saying it. "That's not... I'm not saying 'no', but..." He trailed off and gazed at Arthur, biting at the side of his bottom lip.
Arthur backed away until he was standing squarely in the centre of the room. He folded his arms and waited.
The open space between them seemed immense and Merlin stepped forward to close it, but hesitated when he was still a couple of feet away. "Oh, fuck it," he muttered. Blurting out the words in such a rush that they ran together, he said, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, but I need to tell you now: I'm a sorcerer."
Arthur blinked once and Merlin mentally braced himself, but Arthur merely threw his hands up in the air. "Yes!" he exclaimed. It was unclear if he was expressing frustration, or vindication, until he added, "Finally, you tell me."
Merlin gaped at him. "You knew?"
That earned him a pitying smile. "Yes, Merlin," Arthur said, very slowly and very clearly, "I knew."
Merlin didn't see it coming. One moment he was staring at Arthur and beginning to allow himself to sag with relief. The next, Arthur swung his arm and punched him. Merlin reeled and fell.
Stepping forward and looming over him, Arthur said, "You lied to me. Don't do it again." Reaching down, he offered Merlin a hand and, when Merlin took it, pulled him to his feet.
Merlin gingerly touched his nose and cheek with his free hand. Satisfied that nothing was broken, he glared at Arthur. "Ow!" he said.
Arthur smirked and Merlin's glare became a scowl. "Wanker."
"Idiot," Arthur replied. "Let that be a lesson to you. Now come here and let me kiss it better."
End
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur.
Rating: Pg
Word Count: 618
Spoilers: None
Warnings: None, although there are warnings on Line of Dance
Summary: A back-story snippet from the Line of Dance 'verse. The morning after the first time.
Author's note 1: This is for ningloreth, who asked how Arthur found out about Merlin's magic. It didn't turn out quite as I expected.
Author's note 2: My very great thanks to sparrow2000 for being my beta, best friend, sounding board, plot bunny wrangler and voice of calm common sense. Also, to DJ for (hopefully) catching the last few typos. If you spot any more that we all missed, feel free to let me know in comments.
Disclaimer: I write fan fic. All the characters from the Merlin series are the property of the BBC and Shine, etc. No infringement is intended and no profit is being made from this writing.
Series links - Line of Dance: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6
The Alibi - Gaius and Gwen, while the army is away.
Fall-out - Merlin and Gaius, when Merlin gets back
Trouble is as trouble does - A back-story snippet (best read after the main story.) Alwin watches Merlin approach. Set some time in season 1.
Just Deserts
Merlin used his elbow to work the door handle and pushed the door open with his shoulder, kicking it closed behind him with his heel. He walked over to the table and put down the tray. "Breakfast," he announced, looking over at the bed.
It was empty.
He turned towards the dresser and the screen that hid the wash stand. Arthur was leaning against the wall. He had even dressed himself.
"You're up," Merlin said. It was not the most intelligent of observations, but there was a measure of relief in it. A fully dressed Arthur would be easier to talk to than a half asleep one.
Pushing himself away from the wall, Arthur nodded at the tray. "That's where you've been?" he said. He wandered over and Merlin took an involuntary step backwards. Arthur paused. "Are you all right?" he asked.
"Yes! Yes, I'm fine. I'm more than fine."
Smiling, Arthur came closer and Merlin had nowhere to go, with the table behind him. Arthur reached out and drew the back of his finger down the side of Merlin's face, completing the gesture with a shove to the side of Merlin's chin with his knuckle. "That's all right, then," he said.
Merlin pulled his head back. "No," he said. "Wait."
Arthur's expression went blank. "Wait?" he asked.
After a moment, during which neither of them spoke, or even moved, Arthur very deliberately relaxed his stance and smiled. Merlin could read him well enough to know that it cost him to make the effort. "That's not what you were saying, last night."
Merlin felt the heat rise in his cheeks. "No, that's... I mean, I know... But there's something I need to... I mean..." He paused and took a deep breath. It didn't help. "I should have said something last night," he said, eventually.
Once again, Arthur's expression froze.
"No!" Merlin said, exasperated by his inability to say what needed to be said and by Arthur's inability to understand what he meant without him saying it. "That's not... I'm not saying 'no', but..." He trailed off and gazed at Arthur, biting at the side of his bottom lip.
Arthur backed away until he was standing squarely in the centre of the room. He folded his arms and waited.
The open space between them seemed immense and Merlin stepped forward to close it, but hesitated when he was still a couple of feet away. "Oh, fuck it," he muttered. Blurting out the words in such a rush that they ran together, he said, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, but I need to tell you now: I'm a sorcerer."
Arthur blinked once and Merlin mentally braced himself, but Arthur merely threw his hands up in the air. "Yes!" he exclaimed. It was unclear if he was expressing frustration, or vindication, until he added, "Finally, you tell me."
Merlin gaped at him. "You knew?"
That earned him a pitying smile. "Yes, Merlin," Arthur said, very slowly and very clearly, "I knew."
Merlin didn't see it coming. One moment he was staring at Arthur and beginning to allow himself to sag with relief. The next, Arthur swung his arm and punched him. Merlin reeled and fell.
Stepping forward and looming over him, Arthur said, "You lied to me. Don't do it again." Reaching down, he offered Merlin a hand and, when Merlin took it, pulled him to his feet.
Merlin gingerly touched his nose and cheek with his free hand. Satisfied that nothing was broken, he glared at Arthur. "Ow!" he said.
Arthur smirked and Merlin's glare became a scowl. "Wanker."
"Idiot," Arthur replied. "Let that be a lesson to you. Now come here and let me kiss it better."
End