"And he gives me all this spiel about rushing into things. I mean it was him who wanted to go for this marriage thing, when I said it was better to wait, and he even said he'd give me money to get independent again, find my own place, like some kind of alimony."
Gwen said nothing, listening to Merlin as he ranted, and sketched at the same time. It was quite tempting to stop the pencil from moving but it was nothing more than stress relief, and Merlin knew he was stressed, he had brought the sketch pad with him to the pub for this drink. He knew he was going to need it. Gwen took a breath and held tightly to her glass to stop her from snatching the pencil and she carefully avoided the gaze of the man who had been trying to catch her eye for the last half hour.
It wasn't lost on her that Merlin was frantically drawing the man's tall, blond friend. Merlin's type, big and strong.
"And now Cenred announces he's in love with this woman and what the hell am I supposed to make of that?"
"At least he's being honest, and if he's going to do this, at least he's trying to be honourable about it," Gwen said, adding a character trait which was another one that Merlin liked. But not on Cenred at this current moment in time. His hand continued sketching, putting in the scenery without Merlin so much as looking at what he was doing. He could have taken art up professionally if he had really had the inclination, but he couldn't honestly view it as a proper job. Merlin doubted he would be half as good if he treated it as such.
"You're not meant to say things like that. You're supposed to be hating him, and threatening to break in and cut up his suits and… boil his bunny rabbit!"
"Well I can't, plus he doesn't own a rabbit, and you'd disapprove of me boiling an innocent animal even if he did," Gwen said.
"He staring at you again," Merlin said, as he glanced up and his hand continued to sketch furiously.
"He can stare all he likes. Although, he seems familiar. Anyway, we're not talking about me."
"You haven't had a date for months."
"I don't need a man to be complete," Gwen said snottily. Merlin looked at her and glared.
"Unlike me then."
"Now I know you don't mean that. You are a perfect person on your own, and you loved Cenred, I know that, but if he's unhappy, then he will make you unhappy because if he doesn't leave, he'll make you do it instead, and he's not like that."
"You've been watching daytime television again," Merlin snapped.
"That doesn't stop me being right. You can always bunk in with me when you move out, if you want."
"I've been looking at flats the last couple of days," Merlin said.
"You probably don't want to be on your own."
"Not while I'm going through my divorce." Merlin practically bit the word in half as he spoke. Gwen reached out and patted his hand, un-offended by her friend's snappy behaviour. It was to be expected.
"Look, I'll just go to the loo, and we'll get another drink and I'll come up with some horrible things to say about Cenred."
Merlin didn't look up as she wandered off, he just carried on drawing until someone sat next to him. By the movement and colour out of the corner of his eyes, he knew it wasn't Gwen. Merlin looked up and gasped as he looked at the blond man who he had been drawing. He peered at the sketch with interest.
"You're good, or am I just over flattering myself," he asked, inclining his head to regard the picture carefully. Then he looked up at Merlin and held out his hand. "I'm Arthur by the way."
"I'm Merlin," Merlin said, returning the handshake and frowning. "I'm here with my friend." Not wanting to sound rude, but unfortunately that was how it came out. Arthur didn't look the least bit concerned.
"Yes, I know. But my friend over there wants to talk to her, and feels bad dragging her away from you while you are upset and more than likely she will refuse to talk to him in favour of you, unless you are attended to. So, I came over here to talk to you so Lance can talk to your friend, and neither of them can feel guilty over your abandonment."
"You mean you're the babysitter."
"I guess, although you're not a baby and you can tell me to sod off if you like," Arthur said amiably. Merlin looked at him and then at Lance and Gwen. Gwen waved, a question in her eyes. Merlin waved back, smiled and indicated she could carry on if she wanted to. She clearly wanted to; she turned back to Lance without a second's pause.
"It would be mean to ruin her chances," Merlin mused.
"Yes, probably, but you're not doing. If she gives Lance her number he'll try again later. Don't worry too much."
"What about you? Don't you have anyone?"
"No, and I'm not looking. I'm recovering from having my heart ripped out, so no. Not interested in you, or your friend, or anyone here. I just haven't lost my feelings enough to prevent other people from getting together. I refuse to be bitter and twisted."
"That should be made into a cocktail," a new voice announced. Arthur looked up, so did Merlin, but his hand still kept moving on the sketch.
"Hi, Gwaine. Not as late as usual," Arthur said, glancing at his watch. Gwaine stuck his tongue out. "Merlin, this is Gwaine. Gwaine, this is Merlin, we're being nice to him so Lancelot can chat up his friend Gwen."
"Friend Gwen and Lance are... oh, over there. Your round Pendragon?"
"No, you're late, therefore your round, I'll have a pint, Merlin will have…"
"Cider."
"Lance usual, ask what Gwen wants. Vodka and coke isn't it?"
Merlin nodded and Gwaine wandered off.
"Look ignore him and anything personal he says. He's got the tact of a sledgehammer, when wielded by Shreck."
Merlin smiled.
"That's better," Arthur said.
"What is?" Merlin demanded.
"I made you smile, so it can't be all bad. So, why is Gwen cheering you up then?"
"I don't think she is," Merlin said, but he proceeded to tell Arthur about Cenred and his partner's insistence on a civil partnership even though it seemed pointless to Merlin, particularly when two years later Cenred confessed to an affair and wanted to leave Merlin for the woman in question. Gwaine joined them during the rant, and sat on Merlin's other side, listening and watching the frantic sketching as Merlin shaded the background against Arthur's portrait.
Merlin fell silent after ranting, his face a little flushed with embarrassment.
"Arthur here will tell you that you get over it. At least you got to the wedding, the day before it Sophia fucked off on him."
"Thank you Gwaine," Arthur snarled, rolling his eyes and swigging his drink. Gwaine grinned and settled back, leaning on Merlin.
"So, at the risk of sounding very politically incorrect," he said. "Is your husband mentally retarded?"
"That is very politically incorrect," Arthur confirmed.
"What?" Merlin asked, staring at Gwaine in shock.
"Well, I mean, this husband of yours is coming home to this little bundle of you, and he thinks of going elsewhere. There's something not right in his brain, quite frankly I wouldn't let you leave the bed."
Merlin felt himself flush, heat bursting out of his cheeks. Gwaine grinned, Arthur scowled at him.
"Gwaine, leave off."
"Certainly not if he's on the market."
"I don't think I am just yet," Merlin said.
"I have patience," Gwaine said, Arthur snorted into his drink and then coughed.
"No, you don't, you throw a hissy fit if the internet doesn't open immediately, and don't get me started about you waiting for buses."
"Those situations are completely different," Gwaine announced loftily. Arthur snorted.
"Really?"
"Yes, I think in the case of Merlin I can display infinite patience, because the reward would be worth it."
"What has Merlin done to deserve that punishment?" Arthur asked. He glanced down at Merlin who was turning his head from one to the other like he was watching a tennis match, his eyes wide with surprise.
"I did tell you to ignore him," Arthur reiterated to Merlin, who managed a slight smile. Then he turned as Lance and Gwen returned to the table. Lance put Gwen down on the remaining stool and went off to cadge another.
"Are you all right?" Gwen asked him.
Merlin blinked, he was firmly ensconced between Arthur and Gwaine, who were still batting insults at each other in a casual fashion.
"Yes, I think so."