Title: Made For You (Chapter 1/?)
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Rating: PG-13 (will end up being NC-17)
Word Count: This part ~2400
Summary: The story of an up and coming band named Camelot.
Author's Note: This story is the product of a coloboration between myself and the FABULOUS i_slash_thee, whose livejournal can be found at http:/i_slash_.com/. All the art associated with this fic was made by my wonderful partner, I just write the story. Hopefully my half does all that gorgeous art justice. Go to i_slash_thee's journal and check out all the wonderful art!
"Merlin. Merlin. MERLIN!" On the third shout, Merlin finally tears his eyes away from the gorgeous blond drummer on stage to look at the source of the shouts.
"Hm?" he asks. Freya looks to see where Merlin had been staring and laughs at him, shaking her head.
"I was just going to ask how you liked the band but I see you're too busy eye-fucking the drummer to listen to the music," she snickers as the song ends.
Merlin blushes and shakes his head. "Shut up. I was listening. I like it," he protests. It's true; he really did enjoy the music. But he enjoys the drummer even more.
Freya giggles and nudges him as the band begins to pack up. "Aw. It looks like your beau is leaving already," she teases. A quick pinch to the arm makes her fall quiet, though her responding punch to his arm actually hurts.
"Thank you, everybody, for coming. I'm Morgana, we're Camelot and we'll be here for three more nights before we continue our tour. Shirts and CDs are on sale by the front," the lead singer, a stunningly beautiful black haired woman in a sleeveless tight black corseted top and a long black skirt, announces. Merlin notices most of the men in the club drooling over her in a manner similar to how he must have been with the drummer. The band files off stage and goes into the back.
"I think I'm going to buy a CD. Maybe see if I can get backstage and snag an autograph from them," Merlin says.
"Alright. I'll go buy us some drinks. If you make it backstage, see if you can get me the bassist's number. I've had a little thing for him since I discovered the band and you owe me for bringing you here," she tells him before walking over to the bar.
Having decided to buy a CD and a shirt after some consideration, Merlin casually makes his way to the backstage door. He tries it and grins when he finds it unlocked. There are a few people milling about but no one spares Merlin a second glance. The only band member standing around is the backup guitar and vocalist, a darker skinned girl with curly black hair drinking a bottle of water and chatting with some man.
Still trying to act as if he belongs, Merlin opens a random door and walks into an empty dressing room. As he shuts the door behind him, a beautiful black lacquered guitar with gold inlays on a stand catches his eye. Gold and silver swirls lightly adorn the surface, making it shimmer as if enchanted. Odd symbols are scattered across the neck and headstock. Unable to help himself, Merlin walks over to it and carefully picks it up. It's beautiful, he thinks. Merlin glances around to make sure the room is truly empty before he begins playing a soft melody. For a moment he forgets why he had even come back here and loses himself in the beautiful sounds emanating from the guitar.
Then, the door slams open. The drummer and the dark haired woman who played the guitar storm in. Merlin freezes with the guitar in hand, waiting to be yelled at and thrown out. Instead the two band members don't even notice him, too busy arguing.
"… if you think you're so great then go find a better band. This is a team without leaders. You're not in control so stop acting like you do!" the blond snaps.
The woman purses her blood red lips and narrows her eyes. "You certainly act like you are the one in charge Arthur. I am at least three times more talented than you are. No one would be able to replace me if I left. So choose your words carefully," she snarls. Merlin doesn't know this woman but already she scares the hell out of him.
The drummer, Arthur, doesn't seem at all intimidated by her. His eyes, (a beautiful shade of blue, Merlin can't help but note) harden. "Get the fuck out of here Nimueh," he spits harshly.
"You'll regret this Pendragon. Mark my words. This band will be nothing without me," she hisses before turning on her heels and storming out of the room.
Still visibly fuming, Arthur suddenly notices Merlin standing there, cradling the guitar like a weapon. "Who the hell are you? What are you doing here?"
Merlin just opens and closes his mouth like a fish, frantically trying to come up with something to say. Besides 'God you're hot' or 'Let's skip the names and get right on to the fucking'. "Um… Er… Well I'm Merlin and… My friend Freya brought me and I think… Um… I liked the band tonight," he stammers, hoping he isn't bright red at this point. "So what was that about?"
Arthur is momentarily distracted and scowls at the door Nimueh had left through. "Oh. Her. Nimueh's been acting like a royal bitch for quite some time and tonight… Oi! Wait. This isn't about her. This is about you being in a dressing room you're certainly not supposed to be in Merlin. And holding a guitar you're not supposed to be touching."
Merlin gulps and tries to put on an air of confidence. "So it seems you need a new guitarist," he says breezily, though his heart is hammering from a mixture of fear and arousal. He really shouldn't find Arthur's glare as much of a turn on as he does. Looking down at the guitar, he begins to play a complex, haunting melody he recently learned. He bites his lower lip in concentration. When he looks up, Arthur is staring at him with a mix of lingering irritation and something more friendly.
"I really should probably call security…" Arthur says until he's interrupted by the door. It slams open and in saunters the singer, Morgana.
"What's going on Arthur? I just saw Nimueh storm out, good riddance. But who was it that I heard playing the guitar? I know it can't be you because whoever they are they're good," she says. She furrows his eyebrows when she sees Merlin. "Wow. You already found a replacement? It would be nice if you ran these things with me first."
Merlin opens his mouth again but Arthur cuts him off. "He isn't a replacement. I came in here and found him standing here with the guitar. He still hasn't told me who exactly he is and why he's here. I think we have a thief or a stalker or something on our hands."
Morgana frowns, looking Merlin over carefully. Merlin keeps silent. Morgana is almost as intimidating as Nimueh. "Why are you back here?" she asked suspiciously.
"Already tried that. I think he's a bit slow," Arthur told her.
"I am not!" Merlin protested. He is seriously considering trying to make a dash until a familiar face enters the room.
"Oi! What's going on in here?" the brown haired bassist asks. He pauses when he sees Merlin and frowns slightly. "…Merlin?"
Merlin doesn't know how he missed his old friend on stage. He must have been really distracted by Arthur. He grins and nods. "Hey Will," he greets. Will darts forward and captures him in a rough hug. Merlin laughs and hugs him back.
"God it's been years! You and I need to catch up. How's Hunith?" Will asks excitedly as he pulls back. "You've barely changed aside from getting taller and… good God, are you actually thinner!"
Arthur is the one frowning now and Morgana has raised both eyebrows. "You know him?" Arthur asks.
"Oh yeah! Me and Merlin lived on the same street when we were young. We were thick as thieves in primary school until I moved away," Will explains.
"So is that why you're here?" Morgana asks. Merlin blushes a bit and shakes his head.
"Um… no actually. I had no idea you were in a band Will," he admits. "I came back here to get an autograph for my friend. But the guitar kind of distracted me and then that lady, Nimueh. Sorry."
"Well I'm sure everyone, the black haired witch excluded, would be willing to give autographs," Will assures him with a clap to the shoulder.
Merlin looks at Arthur who still has a dubious look on his face and then to Morgana who is staring at him with keen interest. "Seeing as you're not any sort of low life and a friend of Will's, how would you like to join the band? We need a new guitarist and I have to admit, you were good. Will, does Merlin have your recommendation?"
"Of course! The highest. He's a right fine bloke," Will assures her quickly, slinging an arm around Merlin's shoulders. Merlin smiles, he's always loved Will's tactile nature as it matched his. His head reels with the idea of being in a band. He loves the guitar, he always has, but he never imagined being good enough to be in an honest to God band. And a successful one at that, with an unbelievably sexy drummer to boot.
Morgana turns to him and raises one of her finely shaped eyebrows. "Well? What do you say? We have to hold an actual audition but you should come. You have a lot of talent. You'll have to play a bit more and everyone in the band has to agree first but from what I can tell, you have my approval. You're certainly an improvement over Nimueh even if you turn out to be scum," she says. It's obvious Nimueh wasn't well liked by her bandmates.
"Um… Okay. When are auditions?" he tentatively replies. He's shocked but pleased. It's flattering to be wanted and he has no attachments keeping him in any one place. He had worked on his degree until he ran out of money and had to drop out and try to save up. That's why he was living with Freya for the time being. She wouldn't mind him leaving for such an opportunity though, he knows her. The band would be a great way to make money too.
"We should make them two days from now, just before we continue our tour. Gwen and I can manage until then, though we'll have to cancel our last show so we have a day to practice with whoever replaces Nimueh. We'll hold them here at 9 A.M. First come first serve," Morgana says. "Until then, how about that autograph for your friend?" Merlin smiles. He likes Morgana more and more now that she seems to be warming up to him.
Arthur is still staring but he sticks his head out the door and calls, "Gwen! Come here!" The curly haired girl Merlin saw before bounces in and smiles kindly when she sees him. Her eyes sweep over him but Merlin thinks nothing of it. He also doesn't notice the flash of jealousy in Morgana's eyes.
"Who's this?" she asks but with none of the hostility Morgana and Arthur had exhibited. Merlin decides he likes her.
"Merlin. Nimueh left the band and he's interested in trying out to take her place. We're holding auditions in three days by the way," Morgana tells her.
"Oh. Wow. She picked a terrible time to quit but I can't say I'm upset. I'm Guinevere but you can call me Gwen," she introduces, shaking Merlin's hand.
"Here, let me get a poster and we'll sign it for your friend," Will suggests but Merlin grabs his arm.
"Hold on. Can I go get her? She'd be floored to meet you guys," Merlin asks. Will assures him that would be fine and Merlin dashes off to find Freya. He spots her sitting at the bar with two drinks in front of her. She beams when she sees him.
"Well you look very excited. Did you get the blond's number? And where's my autograph?" she asks.
Merlin laughs and shakes his head, realizing he's a little dizzy with excitement. "No! The guitarist, some total bitch named Nimueh, quit and they want me to come to auditions for a replacement. And, as it turns out, the bassist is Will, an old friend of mine. Come back with me and meet them. Get the autographs for yourself!" he explains hurriedly.
Freya blinks a couple times, surprised. "Wow. That's something that would only happen with you around Merlin. I swear you have the weirdest magical powers ever," she finally giggles. She downs her drink and Merlin takes a few quick swigs of his own.
"Let's go," Merlin says, taking Freya's hand and leading her back into the dressing room where the band is still waiting. Will has a poster and marker in hand. Freya grins and looks over at Merlin with a lascivious look when she catches sight of the bassist.
"This is Freya. Freya, that brown haired idiot checking you out is Will," Merlin introduces. Freya giggles again and extends her hand towards him.
"I am not… why would you think I'm checking her out!" Will sputters but reaches his hand out and shakes Freya's, a light blush staining his cheeks now. Merlin resists the urge to laugh.
Everyone signs the poster and Will hands it over to Freya. Merlin notices a mobile number scribbled below Will's signature. Freya's grin spreads even wider when she sees it and she no longer tries to refrain from gushing, praising the band and chatting avidly to each of them. They all quickly succumb to Freya's sweet, bubbly personality and chat back, particularly Will. Merlin hopes they get together. They would be a sweet couple.
Merlin finally has to nudge Freya and remind her that they both work tomorrow though thankfully it will be Friday. They say their goodbyes but Gwen grabs Merlin's sleeve on their way out of the club and hands him a folder.
"It's our music. Practice it. Morgana will probably want the tryouts to play some of it," she whispers to him. "I think you'd be a great addition to the band." Merlin thanks her and takes the folder and leaves. He drives them back to Freya's little flat.
"I am so glad I brought you," Freya tells him on the way there.
Merlin laughs and nods. "I am too."
~End of Chapter 1~