Hello ! So here we are, this is Day 1 and the prompt was "First Impression/Meeting".

The setting is a Modern AU.

Enjoy !

First impression/meeting

Merlin filled the coffee cup, turned around and bypassed the counter to serve it to Gwaine, one of his regular customers and most of all one of his best friends. Since Gaius had fallen sick, Merlin had to take care of the shop all by himself, and he was more than grateful for his customers to be so patient and nice to him. It had now been two weeks since he started serving on his own, and he had yet to meet an impatient or annoying one.

As he made his way to Gwaine, he heard the door open, but didn't give it much attention. People were always coming in and out, and he knew almost all of them, which meant they were always waiting for him to finish with the people he was serving, as they knew he would spend time talking with them too. Merlin was actually quite proud that the shop had become a convivial one, where people came not only to get a coffee but to have a chat. He put the cup on the table in front of Gwaine, who smiled broadly at him, and he smiled back.

"Hello Gwaine, how are you doing? Or rather should I say who are you doing at the moment? "He grinned, and Gwaine snorted.

"How insensitive of you, Merls. You make me feel like I have no heart." Gwaine pretended to sulk and put a hand above his chest. "But, if you must know, no one. Though I wouldn't mind having a second round with this friend of mine who works in a coffee shop, you might know him."

Gwaine gave him a cheeky grin and Merlin shook his head, holding a laugh.

"Nope. That's never happening again, Gwaine, and you know it!"

As Gwaine was about to answer, someone cleared his throat in Merlin's ear, making him jump. He turned around right away to face a blond man that he was sure he had never seen here before. He would definitely remember such a hot guy.

"Uhm… Yes, what can I do for you?" He asked, trying a smile.

"Oh, I don't know, how about a coffee? Or maybe I should go elsewhere, if you're too busy talking to actually do your stupid job! It's not that hard to make a coffee!"

Merlin could practically feel Gwaine getting up behind him, but he was not going to have his friend defend him. No matter how hot that man was, he was an absolute prat, and Merlin would not get insulted in his own shop –even though it was technically his Uncle Gaius's shop.

"Well, yes, I think you should. This is a place where people come to have a talk and drink a coffee. I f what you want is to have yours done in two seconds, and people bowing at you just because you're handsome, then yes, get to another shop! Thank you and goodbye." Merlin said coldly, glaring at him even harder when the prat started to smile.

"Should I understand you think I'm handsome?" He asked, leaning against Gwaine's table.

"No", Merlin huffed. "You should understand I think you're a prat."

"I'm pretty sure you said the word handsome" The prat insisted, and Merlin rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, whatever you want. Now excuse me, I have actual clients to serve."

Merlin went to bypass him, but the prat grabbed his arm, forcing him to look at him again.

"I thought you said this was a place to have a chat."

"I did."

"Then what ? I can't have my chat?"

"No. Next time you try to talk to someone, you should try not to insult them".

Merlin freed his arm, took a glance at Gwaine to tell him to let it go, and went back behind his counter. He sighed, and swore he would never wonder when he would meet an annoying client again. Whoever the man was, he obviously thought himself better than anyone, and Merlin couldn't stand this kind of people. He prepared a few more coffees, served them to the clients sitting at the counter, and barely spilled one of the cups when he realized the prat was now sitting across Gwaine, and that they were both talking and smiling. Narrowing his eyes at his friend's betrayal, he was on them in two steps.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" He barked at the prat.

"Uh… Talking?"

"You don't get to insult me and talk to my friends in my shop."

"Alright, Merlin, look…" The prat started to say, and Merlin's eyes widened.

"How on earth do you know my name?" He abruptly turned to Gwaine in realization. "You told him my name? Right, now you can be sure I'm never sleeping with you again!"

Gwaine looked like he wanted to answer, but the prat got up instead and placed himself in front of Merlin, blocking his view of Gwaine.

"Look, it's not his fault, he's not the one who told me your name. I asked someone else."

"Why did you even want to know it? So you can make even more fun of me?"

"That wouldn't be very nice, especially since my name's Arthur." The prat –Arthur –said with a little smile.

"I don't care what your name is."

"Right. Listen, I… Actually I came here to see you. My sister, Morgana, is a regular and she basically tells me every day how much I should meet you, because she thinks we would get on, so I thought I might actually give it a try. I, uh…" He grabbed a card from his pocket and handed it to Merlin. "Here's my number. Call me if… If you want to."

Arthur was about to leave when Merlin realized something and grabbed his arm to keep him from leaving.

"Wait! So you basically bawled me out for not getting you a coffee when you didn't even want one?"

"Uh…" Arthur looked abashed, and Merlin crossed his arms. "Yes? Alright, I'm sorry, I just didn't know how to talk to you."

"Oh… And I guess "hello" didn't come to your mind?" Merlin snapped, even though he was starting to be more amused than annoyed by Arthur's behavior. Not to mention that Morgana had actually told him about her brother over a thousand times as well, she just never mentioned that he was looking like an actual Greek God, though she did say he could be annoying. Besides, if what she said was anything to go by, she strongly believed he and Arthur could work. But Merlin didn't want to make it easy for the prat for all that.

" Uhm, well, I… Of course it did, Merlin, but it was just a bit too easy. I'm a man for challenge." Arthur said as convinced and convincing as possible.

"Yeah, sure. Well then, maybe I'll call you, but I suggest you don't hold your breath waiting for it." He said with a sarcastic smile, and pushed Arthur to the door.

"Why did you say that?" Gwaine asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know what you mean" Merlin muttered.

"You will call him, and we both know it."

"You don't know that."

"Yes I do. And honestly Merlin, you're a fool if you don't."

"Excuse me? Haven't you heard how he talked to me?"

"He's a asshole, yeah. But do you know why he insulted you?"

"Because he's a sufficient prat?" Merlin shrugged.

"Nope. Because he heard me say I wanted another chance with you, and it's the only thing he found to get your attention. I think he's quite serious about wanting to try it out with you" Gwaine smiled, and Merlin scowled at him.

"Oh yeah? And he told you all that while you were flirting?"

"Well yes, actually. I love you Merls, but you and I would never work as a relationship. You and Arthur, on the other hand… I think you should give it a try."

"Oh my God, you sound like Morgana!" Merlin rolled his eyes and left Gwaine's table to take care of his customers, but he did put Arthur's card in his jacket's pocket, to be sure he wouldn't forget it.

Maybe he should really try. And if Arthur broke his heart, then he could kill both Gwaine and Morgana. He would win on every side.