A Question of Reincarnation

16 November : Hi everyone! As the title suggests, this fic is a tribute to Alaia Skyhawk's wonderful story, 'A Question of Motives'... This is also a birthday gift, which means this is a total surprise for her. Alaia, happy birthday, and I hope you don't mind I used your titles and some of your characters...

I am aware two more people were supposed to take a part in this. Shame on me though, I didn't remind them of the deadline. But if they read this : YOU CAN STILL TAKE A PART ! Just send me the OS by DocX, I will add them - though I won't be able to before next Tuesday afternoon. Don't wait too long though ; it's still supposed to be a birthday gift^^

This is also Modern Days (once again suggested by the title) so Merlin isn't Arthur's manservant. They are friends, though, and roommates.

This will include several OSs, I'll try to include every character set in A Question of Motives.

OS number 1 : When Merlin Brings a Pet Home...

When Arthur came back from his work at the police station, that evening, he immediately noticed something was wrong. It could have been because of the papers in a corner of the living room, or the bowl of milk in the kitchen; but what really gave him the idea was the little fur ball, curled on Merlin's lap and purring as loud as a car motor.

"Merlin..." he began, but the dark-haired man cut him off.

"Ah, Arthur! How was your day? Caught some criminals?" Merlin asked, too cheerfully to be honest.

"What is this, Merlin?" Arthur asked, obviously impervious to his friend's attempt to distract him.

"What are you talking about?"

Arthur's eyes became two small lines in front of Merlin's false innocence. He was starting to get annoyed, if not angry.

"That thing on your lap!"

"Oh, that!" Merlin looked down at the fur ball. "It's a kitten."

"A kitten." Arthur repeated flatly. "As in, a pet."

This wasn't a question, and his friend knew that perfectly well. They had set some rules, when they had decided to share a flat until the end of their respective studies. Among them figured that one: no pets.

"I know... But, you should have seen her! So miserable, shaking with cold and exhaustion in the snow... Do you have any idea how cold it is outside?"

"Yes, Merlin, I was there five minutes ago. But this is not the point. The point is, we set a rule when we took this flat three months ago. Actually, if I remember well, you were the one to set the rule. And this rule was, we don't bring a pet here."

"But Arthur, it's only 32 degrees out there! I can't put her in that cold! She'll die if I do that!" He held the kitten at arm's length, to emphasize his words. "You want something so cute to be left out to die?"

The blond-haired man winced inwardly. Merlin knew him too well; he was unable to harm animals gratuitously – Well, he did like to go hunting when he came back to his father's country house, but that was different.

Seeing he was about to give in, his dark-haired friend added tentatively, "I'll let you break the 'no girl' rule and invite Gwen over if I can keep Friou."

"Friou?" Arthur noticed. "You gave it a name?"

"Not it. Her," Merlin insisted. "Yes, her name is Friou. It means faith in Old English..." and it's Freya's nickname, he added mentally. Standing up, he pleaded, "Please, Arthur... look at how cute she is!"

As though wanting to give Arthur a best chance to look at her, the kitten then jumped into his arms from Merlin's, rubbing against his sweater while purring profusely. The blond-haired man had to admit, she was cute. All white, except for her ginger legs that made her look like she was wearing socks, and the black end of her tail. Sighing, he gave up, but held up a warning finger at Merlin.

"If I find a single cat hair on my things, or if I smell the slightest smell..."

"Nothing of that, I promise. For now she'll have to do that on the papers, but tomorrow I'll go and buy cat litter, cat treats, all that she needs."

"And I want to be allowed to invite Guinevere over whenever I want."

"Done, as long as you warn me if she intends to spend the night, 'cause then I'll go to Gwaine's... Wouldn't want to hear any funny business," he added with a sly grin.

Arthur didn't answer; Guinevere and him weren't anywhere near that point yet, but he definitely wasn't going to tell Merlin about that. Lost in his thoughts, he didn't realise he'd started to stroke Friou, until he caught himself scratching her ears. Noticing Merlin's grin, he scowled.

"Shut up, Merlin."

"Didn't say a word."

"Let's keep it that way."

Merlin didn't answer, but his grin grew bigger. Whether Arthur liked it or not, he'd won; Friou would be able to stay in the flat.