So this is a Merlin/Arthur AU story with a hint of Gwen/Lance (possibly) :)
IMPORTANT UPDATE: I've changed the story so it's set in uni and not highschool – I recommended you at least skim through the first chapter again or things won't really follow up.
It was exactly two weeks, three days, four hours and twenty eight minutes ago that Arthur Pendragon received the phone call from his father. Two weeks, two days and two hours fifteen minutes ago that he saw the last of his leaving party streak by in a blur from the car window and finally, two weeks, eleven hours and two minutes ago that he strode into his first class at Camelot University or "Cam-U".
So where was he now, from two weeks, three days fours and twenty six minutes ago when he shattered the easy atmosphere of friends lazily nursing bottles of smuggled alcohol and making jibes at each other with his sudden news of transfer? Doing exactly what he was two weeks, three days four hours and twenty five minutes ago, except with the rest of the Camelot University football team as they watched the aptly-dressed "CU Dragon" cheerleaders run cheerfully onto the field.
To be completely honest, Arthur had always known that one day his father would move him back to Camelot, so there was no surprise there. That was where Pendragon manor was situated, where Morgana, his step-sister, lived and attended high school and now university, and more importantly in Uther's eyes, where the Pendragon Company Headquaters were located. What did come as a surprise was that they would organize his transfer months before then figure a days notice would be all he needed.
Was he pissed?
Yes.
Was he going to show it?
To Morgana maybe, but to his father?
No.
Because showing anything but strength and achievement to his father was something he had learnt a long time ago not to do.
So much to the disappointment of Morgana, Arthur had greeted his father with nothing more than a hand shake and a polite conversation before settling quietly into his new life without a fuss.
On his first day of university, he was admitted into the exclusive football team (much to the disappointment of the rest of the male population of Cam-U who had all attended the grueling try-outs and had failed to impress Gwaine, the team captain the same way Arthur had with little ease) and secured a place in the elite footballers only fraternity and had therefore, in Morgana's eyes, sold his soul to the devil and joined the evil league of the brainless.
Arthur had never understood his step-sister's hatred of all people popular, head-turning, and undeniably her. Upon coming to Camelot University, Arthur had laughed at the whole Morgana-ness of Morgana's unique position in the university. Courtesy of her stunning looks, impeccable fashion and her relation to Uther Pendragon and by extension, Uther Pendragons millions of dollars, Morgana floated in her own, natural popularity despite her dismissive and snappy comments about the cheerleaders and the footballers (aka. the biggest sorority and frat house) and the fact that her friends consisted of a selection of Cam-U's cast-outs. Her friends, the only two people she had deemed "fun" at the school, were Mordred, a child prodigy who had been accelerated three years ahead, and Morgause, a smoky-eyed literature student who had a fixation with crystals and spiritual connections. Needless to say, both were shielded from total annihilation by Morgana's unwanted status.
Arthur smiled in appreciation as Kay swapped out his near empty cup with a freshly filled one. These people weren't that bad. Well, not as bad as Morgana made them out to be anyway. Sure, some of them were really only at one of the most prestigious universities because of subtle "donations" to the school (although then there were the exceptions, like Gwaine and Lance who weren't straight-A students but were pretty damn close) but generally they were a nice to hang around, if not a little predictable and dull at times. But Arthur didn't care, he liked predictable and dull, it offered security and contentment.
"Check out the legs on Vivian," whistled Leon as the cheerleaders began their routine.
Arthur grinned, "Perv. Although if we're going to go there, keep your eye on Sophie, her skirt hikes up every time she moves her legs.
Faking an interest in girls was so second nature to him now that he barely felt the anxiety that others would figure out he was gay like he did in the earlier days. That was a secret only Morgana knew, and if it was in his power, would stay that way. To everyone else, he was straight Arthur Pendragon, not Arthur Pendragon who realised he really was gay after sleeping with one Sally Tumbleton who he only really went out with to ease his father's pestering.
As he watched the routine, Arthur wondered what all the commotion had been about. Sure, they weren't bad by any means, but they weren't anything exceptional. He supposed hot girls dancing in mini-skirts would excite the male side of Cam-U but he that still didn't account for all the small snippets of conversation he had heard whilst walking from class to class ("-wonder what it's going to be at half-time-" "-can't wait for half-time again-" "-to bring camera for half-time tomorrow-")
The crowd seemed equally as moved by the cheerleader's performance as he was and Arthur had began to wonder if there was perhaps a second part to the routine that included fireworks and a dancing monkey when a group of girls shouted out from the crowd,
"Merlin!"
Arthur turned around, "What the hell.."
Another group of people let out a cheer and before he could even register what was going on, the crowd burst into a collective chant of "Merlin! Merlin! Merlin!"
Arthur turned to Kay who was clapping his hands to the time of the chant, "What's happening?"
Kay laughed, "Yeh, someone should have probably explained before hand, because now this is going to be shit weird for you. Long story short, Merlin's the more entertaining half of half-time."
"So he's an act?"
Kay grinned, "Not officially, but he does come every half-time to cheer for us, Gwaine specifically though."
Arthur raised his eyebrows, "Weird..?"
"Don't let Gwaine hear you say that, you'll wake up with your hands bound in a desert far far away. I mean, he was pretty much immortal in High school and people here are starting to catch on to that. All the girls think he's the cutest thing ever and all the guys who have a problem with him just learn to shut-up. In the first year of High school, this guy made a big deal about Merlin being gay so Gwaine bashed him up, snuck into his room and exploded a paint bomb in there and then shaved off one of his eyebrows. Safe to say, no one bags out Merlin. Not that all of us are secretly hiding our hate either, I mean, he's a pretty cool guy, people come to half-time just to watch him and everyone on the team is kinda buddies with him anyway."
Before Arthur could say anything else, a gong sounded and the cheerleaders moved good-naturedly to the back, as if used to having to stop in the middle of their routines.
"Test your might.."
Arthur's ears perked, he recognised this song, but there was no way...
He turned excitedly over to Kay who was grinning like a mad-man, "Hey, is this-"
The next line of the song answered his question.
"MORTAL KOMBAT!"
On cue, a lithe figure sprang out from the darkness into the brightly-lit field, lip-synching the words rather comically.
Wasting no time, the raven-haired boy pointed towards the Cam-U football captain, head dramatically held up high and in profile, with only his eyes and small smirk cast towards the crowd.
Raising his other arm up, he formed a heart with his hands, revelling only in the quick burst of cheering for a moment before disappearing back into the darkness.
Right on the word "Fight", he came back, this time dressed in what resembled very closely the distinctive attire of the dean. In time with the beats, the figure did what would be described as impressive half dance half fight choreography, stopping only to turn and dramatically lipsync "Mortal Kombat" and to run back into the dark to change costumes in surprising quickness.
After a few costume changes, the raven-haired boy ran out in what seemed to be a mock replica of the opposing teams football jersey. The crowd cheered as the boy stumbled, reeling comically and rather realistically back from invisible punches and kicks before spinning and falling down as the song ended on a booming "finish him"
The field filled with a thunderous applause as the figure rose back up, saluting before disappearing back into the darkness.
Arthur felt himself join in on the applause, mouth agape in a disbelieving grin.
As the cheering died down, the team began to get ready for the game. Arthur was half-way on to putting on his helmet when he saw the skinny figure, now clad in his original clothing, jog up to their bench, waving a general "hi" the team before heading towards Gwaine.
Arthur couldn't help it. He stared.
One of his first thoughts when the performance started, he had to admit, was "good-looking". It was a fleeting thought, he was far away enough that he could barely notice any defining features. But now, the same person stood barely metres away, chattering to the team captain and all Arthur could do was notice.
He was incredibly skinny, a feature that was enhanced by his height. His hair was a mesmerising black, the type that looked natural and dark yet suggested nothing of gothic or emo. It was dishevelled from the rough pulling on and off of clothes and contrasted with the pale milkiness of his skin that stretched delicately across high cheekbones. His eyes were a mix of blue-green that held a slight hint of gold whenever he shifted slightly and was caught in the stadium lights. All in all, he looked as Arthur could only describe as magical.
Feeling himself grow hot, Arthur looked away, wiping his palms on his jersey and busying himself with inspecting his helmet for no apparent reason.
"Are you alright?" asked Kay from his right.
Arthur put his helmet down defensively, "Hm?"
"You look a little flushed mate, want to sub out? Valiant has been dying to play, he has a thing against the Dalton's quarterback."
Nodding, he sat down. He didn't think he'd be able to play properly with those eyes watching him.
As the second half of the game started and the two teams ran onto the field, Arthur was preoccupied by putting away his helmet when a figure sat down next to him on the bench.
"Hi."
Arthur mentally cursed himself for his sudden nervousness. If he blushed now, he would never forgive himself.
"Hey," he replied, pleased that at least his voice didn't falter, something he had mastered from talking to his father.
"I don't think we've met before, I'm Merlin."
"Arthur."
The boy smiled, Arthur's stomach flipped.
"You're new on the team right?"
"Yeh." Holy shit, was he not capable of anything more than one word answers? Where were his frankly exceptional social skills and his witty remarks? He was a Pendragon goddamit, he was a charmingly arrogant bastard and people liked him for it.
"Your performance was really good." He said suddenly, in desperation to say more than the three words he had said so far.
Merlin grinned, ducking his head in embarrassment, "Yeh?"
"Yeh, I am and always will be a Mortal Kombat fanboy." Arthur mentally cringed, though did a very good job of showing nothing but ease on his face. Great, now he sounded crazy.
To his relief, Merlin laughed, "I love Mortal Kombat. Sub-zero all the way."
"Oh come on, I can beat Sub-zero with my eyes closed if I use Scorpion."
"Prat,"
"Idiot." Replied Arthur without missing a beat.
"This calls for a duel," said Merlin, the corners of his mouth lifting up into a smile.
As Arthur began his reply, the sound of a phone interrupted their conversation.
Opening a text, Merlin frowned slightly before standing up.
"Sorry, I've got to go sit with my mum in the stands, she came all the way from Ealdor. I only really came down to say hi."
"Oh." Arthur's brow furrowed, "Alright, well, see you then?"
Merlin grinned, "course, we've got a showdown remember?"
Arthur watched his retreating back. He was screwed.