MERLIN:
Merlin had known he was gay by the age of sixteen, but living in a small village in rural Wales, he had decided to keep it to himself. Oh his mother had known, but then he told her everything. By the time he'd finished college his two best friends knew, but then they were almost brothers anyway and it made no difference to them. When he had started University his mum had been so proud. He had decided in his first month at university to come out. After all he was in a city, surely now he didn't need to hide who he was.
That had been a mistake; several of the other students had made his life hell. All through his university years he had only gone out with two men, and then only briefly. He wanted to keep the sexual side of a relationship until he had found the person he wanted to settle down with. That hadn't gone down well, when on a first date, the one of his dates had tried to force him to have anal sex and he had fought him off. In retaliation the man had started to spread all sorts of rumours about him, including the fact that he had HIV. After that Merlin had lots of friends but refused to go out on dates. He had enjoyed going out with his friends, and he knew some of them would remain friends for life. Especially Freya, a girl who he had helped, when she was a subject of bullying. On the whole he was a popular student, he had gained in confidence from the young country boy he had started out as, and became known for his sharp wit and no nonsense approach to life.
He threw himself into his studies and came out with a first in business studies. Then he had started to look for work. That proved more difficult than he thought it was going to be. Jobs were hard to come by, but he had applied for everything he could find. It was his childhood friend who told him about a job, for a Fashion Magazine publisher in London. So he had sent in his CV and to his surprise at twenty two had got his first job. Today was his first day as PA to an assistant editor. Not what he had envisaged when setting out, but it was a job with potential, and at least he had his foot in the door.
Will worked for the same company as a graphic artist, so it had been perfect for them both. Merlin had moved in with his childhood friend, who had a spare room as he had recently fallen out with his previous flat mate. This morning he had made Will get up early, so they had plenty of time to get to the office block. So much so that they had got of the tube a stop early, and were walking across the park. Merlin was very much a country boy at heart, where Will had taken to city life and thought it a waste of effort to walk when he could have stayed on the tube for another stop.
"Stop moaning Will, the fresh air will wake you up." Merlin grinned at his friend.
"Just because it's your first day you make me get up early and walk! I think I'm going to hate having you as a flat mate." Will growled he was not a morning person. "Just think I could have got a bird to move in."
"But you did silly. Don't forget I'm a Merlin." This earned Merlin a slap round the head.
"A proper bird with tits, idiot. Why did I even tell you about this job?" Will shook his head.
"Because you have been on at me for the past year to make sure I got a job in London."
With their banter the two men were soon outside the office block of the publishing house.
"Come on Merl, time to start earning you living."
ARTHUR:
Arthur was the only son of Uther Pendragon, Conservative Member of Parliament for Wimbledon. Although Arthur had a sister, his father expected his son to carry the family name with pride, and had put pressure on his son to be the best at everything all his life. Uther's wife had died when the children were very young and it had made him a hard and bitter man.
Arthur had started to rebel when he reached eighteen; he refused to follow his father into politics and instead chose to study law. He wanted to work in criminal justice and it had resulted in several epic arguments. In the end Uther had relented and allowed his son to take law at university, it was after all a good degree and the boy could still become an MP at a later stage. But once Arthur had finished university he passed his Aptitude test secured a place on a Bar Professional Training course.
It was at his stage that he had his next major disagreement with his father; he had at last plucked up enough courage to tell his father he was gay. This hadn't gone down well at all. In fact his father refused to believe it, saying it was a 'stage' Arthur would grow out of. In the end Arthur had just walked out and got on with his life. He had a very large inheritance from his mother so used some of it to buy himself a Penthouse flat. From then on he lived the life he wanted to live, and saw his father once a week, when he went with his sister to Uther's house for Dinner. His father still tried to set him up with 'suitable' girlfriends, daughters of friends and colleagues but Arthur largely ignored him.
He had decided on the two year part time course so he could work in a law firm to gain practical experience. He also felt at the time that at twenty four he needed to start some sort of paid work. It was hard work, but well worth it and a year later he was just about to start his second year and on track to be a barrester. He was glad to be doing his practical experience in the firm where his best friend had a job. Leon was three years older than him but they had known each other for years. It was Leon and his sister Morgana that had encouraged him to come out to his father, and then get on with his life.
On the day Merlin started his new job Arthur and Leon were also in the park having a coffee from the small café before starting work. Arthur looked out the window as Merlin and Will walked past. Arthur gaze followed the pair. Arthur and Leon knew Will as two men went out on Friday nights with a group of friends, which included Morgana and a couple of people from her office including Will.
"Now I know you're not looking eyeing up Will, who's the other bloke?" Leon asked him.
"No Will's straight and far too mouthy; I don't know how he keeps his job. I don't know the other one, but he's got a nice arse." Arthur kept looking. "I think I'll ask Will about his friend on Friday."
"Aren't you seeing someone at the moment?" Leon asked, not remembering the name. Arthur didn't seem to keep his dates about for long.
"No we broke up, so free and looking." Arthur grinned. "I'm too young to settle down, just because Morgana's got you all tied up don't try to do the same to me." Arthur said to his friend.
"One day you'll be caught my friend. That is if you can find anyone who can put up with your imposable temperament. Anyway we'd best be getting to work." With that the two friends headed in the opposite direction that Will and Merlin.
Merlin's first day went well; Jonathon his boss seemed a nice guy and introduced him to quite a few of the staff including the owner and CEO Morgana Knight. Merlin thought she was scary, and was thankful he wasn't working with her each day. When Merlin joined Will at lunch and told him he'd met the big boss Will had laughed.
"She's ok, just don't upset her and you'll be alright. She gets through PA's like sweets. Mind you she's not so bad outside work. I go to a pub with her and several others some Fridays nights and she's good fun. Now her brother's the scary one. You got to come with us sometime. I don't go every week but when I do you can come."
Friday soon came around and as it was Merlin's first weekend in London Will kept his promise and took Merlin to the pub where the crowd met up. He said it would be good for Merlin to meet the boss outside work. He told Merlin he had first joined the group when he walked into the pub and they saw him there offered him a drink. Merlin spent ages getting ready; he couldn't make up his mind what to wear. In the end he settled on a pair of black skinny jeans and a black shirt his mum had brought him for Christmas. Will looked at his friend as he finally emerged for his bedroom.
"Well you should pull with those jeans, if I liked men I'd have a go."
Merlin slapped his friend round the head. "Leave off; I'm not looking to pull. I leave that to you. If you bring someone back keep the noise down."
The two friends set off to The Dragon Lair to meet up with the others. As Merlin followed Will into the bar he soon spotted his boss Morgana and to his surprise Gwaine his other childhood friend was there.
"You didn't tell me Gwaine came! I haven't seen him for ages." Merlin put up his hand and waved at his friend. He hadn't seen him since he got to London and had been hoping to catch up with him.
"Yes, he's Arthur's friend, I think Gwaine is his personal trainer at the gym." Will told him.
Gwaine left the table and hugged Merlin and pushed him away to look at his properly "You're looking good Merlin, great to see you, I didn't know you'd be coming tonight I was going to catch up at the weekend. I promised your Mum I'd keep an eye on you."
"She shouldn't worry I'm doing that." Will objected.
"I think that was what she was worried about." Gwaine pulled Merlin towards the table. "Guys this is my best mate Merlin, Merlin this is Morgana and her hubby Leon, Percy, Gwen and Lance, oh and I suppose I should introduce you to Arthur, hot shot lawyer and Morgana's brother."
"Hi Guys" Merlin said as Gwaine pushed him into a seat.
"I already know Merlin He started work for me at the beginning of the week. Mind you if I'd know he was friends with Will I might have thought twice." Morgana took the sting out of the comment by grinning at Will.
Merlin noticed Arthur was looking at him and smiled back. Arthur was way out of his league but just the type he liked, hot and blonde. It wasn't long before they were all chatting away as if they'd known Merlin all his life. He had a great time. Merlin went up to the bar and got a round in, on the way back to the table he tripped and nearly fell only to be caught by Arthur. Some of the beer spilt on Arthur shirt and down his trousers.
"Ops, sorry about that." Merlin went red.
"Are you always this clumsy?" Arthur asked a sarcastic tone to his voice.
"No not always." Merlin replied
"Oh yes he is" Gwaine and Will said together "He's got two left feet and that's when he's sober, just don't get him drunk." Gwaine finished.
"That's not fair! I'm not that bad."
"You'd better not be that's an expensive shirt and trousers you've ruined." Arthur muttered.
"I'll get them cleaned and if they stain I'll buy you new ones." Merlin quickly offered. Why oh why did it have to be his bosses' brother.
"I don't expect she's paying you enough, or if she is she shouldn't be." Arthur was clearly not impressed.
At that Merlin saw red he'd apologised and offered to have the clothes cleaned what more did the prat want. "Well you shouldn't wear such ridiculously expensive clothes to a pub. What prat does that?"
"He's got you there brother dear. Don't worry Merlin, he can afford it just ignore him, my brother has no manners." Morgana laughed.
"I'll have you know I have very good manners, I just expect to be able to go out without getting the whole bar over my clothes." Arthur stated.
"Well excuse me, I hardly think two small splashes is the whole bar." Merlin stormed off in a temper.
Gwaine got up to follow him "You know Arthur you can be a dick sometimes, Merlin's a good guy, I've never heard him get so upset." Gwaine left the table to find Merlin.
"He's right you know Arthur, Merlin's only been with us a week and everyone speaks very highly of him. If he comes back I suggest you apologise to him."
Leon decided to speak up "And to think you were ogling his ass this morning in the park."
"He was what!" Morgana looked at her husband.
"Oh they walked passed this morning and Arthur mentioned Merlin's ass. Mind you we didn't know who he was then." Leon grinned at his friend. "I don't think you got off on the right foot there."
Arthur went slightly pink "He might have a nice ass but his month is as big as Will's"
"I object to that, anyway Gwaine's right everyone likes Merlin. And me and Gwaine look out for him so watch your mouth." With that Will went off to find the other two.