Some weeks down the literal road, Merlin asked him why he said yes to Merlin's offer. Arthur won't have an answer.

Not because he hadn't thought about it—he has. All the time. It lurked at the edges of his mind and skittered like a newborn colt across his consciousness. Sometimes when it was the most inconvenient. Usually so, in fact. But he sometimes thought he had an answer when they sit, knocking elbows under the stars while a camp fire gave them their only source of heat. But then it was gone again when Merlin rambled on at length about something Arthur had never bothered to think about. Like what Edison must have been thinking when he decided to create a light bulb? Or, what's the point of music anyway—it's great, don't get me wrong, but why do we have it? And, what if we all lived under the sea and had gills to filter the air to our lungs.

That was why it was a week later that Arthur answers, "You caught me at the absolute perfect moment, Merlin; everything was going wrong in my life. You gave me a way out." And it was the best he had.

"Must have been a pretty shit time of your life."

Arthur laughed, surprised the sound came out. "It was. Are we stopping for gas soon?" He stretched his legs out, pushing the s eat back.

"Can we afford it?"

"What do you mean?" Arthur looked at him sharply.

Merlin laughed. "Just kidding. We'll be fine. You'll tell me all about it eventually?"

Arthur shrugged. "Not much to tell. My father pressuring me to go to medical school. My grades aren't good enough, my girl friend broke up with me senior year, I realise I hate my major. My sister tells my dad she's gay. My best friend announces he's engaged to the only ex-girlfriend I even really cared about and... And I just needed to get away."

"So you just agree to come with me on my tour of the country that will last who-knows-how-long? You're crazier than I thought!" Merlin cried, flipping on his blinker as they approached a gas station.

"Hey," Arthur laughed. "You invited me."

"I know. And look what a mistake that turned out to be," the slighter man retorted, though his lips curled upwards and his eyes sparkled.

"Go get gas, idiot. Then let's find a place to park and sleep.

It was the pattern.

They finally stay in a motel when they reach Ohio. Merlin paid. Arthur sauntered after him as they make their way up the dirty stairs to number 27.

"You know," Merlin said in a distracted way as he attempted to work the key. "You probably ought to get some other clothes. You know. For variety."

Arthur blinked. He'd actually been thinking the same thing, having not had a chance to really pack anything at all when they'd left. He'd had his wallet, mobile, credit cards, and some cash. And his iPod.

"You have cash?"

"Some. Why?"

Merlin squinted at him and pushed the door open. "We'll run by a Goodwill for some stuff tomorrow."

"What?"

"You have a problem with Goodwill?"

"I've..." Arthur felt himself flush, embarrassed for the first time by his background with money. "I've never shopped at a Goodwill before."

"Well then!" Merlin grinned widely. "Let this be the experience of your life!"

Arthur sighed and shook his head, following Merlin in. "One bed?"

Merlin looked at him, dropping his bag by the foot. "Yeah. Problem?"

"I don't know what—"

"Oh relax, Arthur. I'm not after your virtue," the other said with a roll of his eyes.

"That's not—" Arthur blustered, feeling himself go red. Again.

"It was cheaper. Relax. I'll sleep on the floor if you care so much."

"I don't... I just..."
"Used to your fancy hotels?"

"Oh lay off, you idiot." Arthur plopped himself in the seventies fabric clad chair next to the door and watched as Merlin moved around the room. "Right. So... we ordering take-out?"

"Yeah. Probably." Merlin tossed a phone book at him. "Call whatever you like. Here's some cash. I'm showering." He dropped the bills on the table and then closed himself in the bathroom.

Arthur sighed, contemplating how he never would have pictured himself in some semi-seedy motel with a guy he barely knew, ordering take-out. Flipping idly through the pages, he found a place that delivered Italian. The white noise hissing of water in the shower eased the shutting of his eyes as Arthur drowsed until the rap at the door startled him out of sleep. "Yeah, hello," he said as he opened the door.

"Arthur?"

"Yeah, that's me. Here. How much was it again?"

"20.58."

"Here. Keep the change," Arthur took the paper bags and handed the man 25, closing the door.

"Ah, food here?" Merlin poked his head out of the bathroom, hair a mass of dripping wildness that made Arthur laugh. "Stoppit. What did you get?"

"Italian. Hope you like breadsticks."

"Did you get extras? I might not leave you any..."

Arthur laughed. "You'd better. Or else I'll smother you in your sleep."

"Go shower. I'll save you some." Merlin padded out, towel around his trim waist.

Arthur shook his head and stepped into the humid bathroom to take his turn in the shower.

They stayed at the motel for three days, Merlin claiming wanting a break from driving. So they wandered around town, Merlin showing him what a Goodwill looked like and finding him new clothes. Then finally shrugged his things into the car and said they should get going. So Arthur settled into the passenger seat, letting his arm hang out the window while Merlin plugged in his beat up iPod to let the weird Indie tunes roll out of the stereo. They rolled with the hills as they crossed Ohio into Indiana. Halfway through Indiana, Merlin claimed a want for the stars overhead as he sighted a rest stop.

"What do you say? Sleep outside? Make a camp fire?" Merlin flicked his eyes at Arthur and then back at the road. "We could get some—no I'm pretty sure there are marshmallows in the back somewhere and we could eat 'em hot and gooey right off the sticks. It'd be great!"

Arthur just stared. "You're crazy, mate."

Merlin just laughed. "So that's a yes?"

"Won't it be a bit chilly?"

"Hence the fire! We're so doing this."

Merlin pulled in to a spot and took Arthur's hand, leading him into the wooded area until they couldn't be seen and the smoke wouldn't cause problems. Handing Arthur a sleeping bag, Merlin started the fire and got out the marshmallows.

The stars came out slowly, the fire at first too hot, then just right as they sat on a log dragged near in front of the flame. Marshmallows made the ends of their sticks gooey, and they laughed for a while until it was time for quiet.

When they come together, they weren't even drunk. Though that would have been easier to explain. Merlin had been sitting next to him at the fire. Got up. Pissed somewhere close enough for Arthur to hear and then came back to sit closer than before. Arthur had cracked some joke that made Merlin laugh, a little breathless. And then he'd leaned in to press a kiss to the corner of Arthur's mouth. Their eyes met—had Merlin's always been so blue?

Then Arthur returned the favour. They pulled back and faced the fire before Merlin tackled him, landing Arthur on his back behind the log, kissing and kissing until they weren't.

Then they were back sitting on the log further than before, Merlin yawning until his jaw cracked.

They, of course, do not talk about it the next morning. Or for some days after that.

"—lin!"

"Wha?" He jolted awake, whacking his head on the window. "Why've we stopped?"

Arthur clicked on the light overhead. "Um."

"What's wrong?"

Arthur's gaze slid from his as he pushed the door open and got out of the car.

"Arthur?" Merlin felt fully awake now as he exited the car also. "What's wrong?"

"We um... may be out of gas."

Merlin stared stupidly.

"In fact I'm pretty sure we're out of gas," Arthur repeated, shoulders hunched.

"So you're telling me we've broken down. In the middle of nowhere," Merlin said slowly, trying to wrap his head around the idea.

"Yes," Arthur hissed angrily. "And then I couldn't find your mobile—"

"I don't have one," Merlin interrupted flatly. His fists bunched and unbunched as he looked around at the wide expanse of Illinois cornfields, lit only by the moon and stars.

Gaping, Arthur yelped unattractively, "You don't have a mobile?"

"It's not like I have anyone to call," he snapped. "Pay phones still exist you know, if I do need to make a call. And we call it a 'cell phone' here you stupid faux Brit!"
"Everyone has a 'cell phone!'" Arthur yelled.

"Well not me! Where's yours? Huh, hot shot!"

By the pale light, Merlin could make out that Arthur was flushed even as he spun away, shoulders still unnaturally drawn. "I lost it, okay! Three weeks ago. Or it was stolen. But it's gone now so it doesn't matter..."

Merlin scowled at his feet before kicking the tire. "What did you let her get so low for!"

"I thought there'd be a station up ahead! You usually take care of these things! I didn't realise—look, it was just a mistake, okay! I'm sorry! It looks like we'll be sleeping on the side of the road under the stars. It's not like we haven't done it before! I'm sorry!"

"Whatever..." Merlin sighed, dragging a hand over his face. "We may as well sleep and figure it out in the morning."

"Go ahead and take the back seat," Arthur muttered.

"It's your turn."

"Yeah, well, I screwed up, so go ahead, okay!"

"Fine, fine." Merlin tucked himself under his hoodie and bunched a pile of clothes into a pillow tossing his real pillow to Arthur who was curling himself into the passenger seat. "It'll be fine. This has happened to me before."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Don't worry about it. Good night."

"Good night, Merlin."

They were lucky, it turned out that they had a supply of snacks in the car, because a vehicle didn't pass them until around three the next day. They turned the car on battery, sparingly, Merlin insisted, because they didn't need a run-down battery as well as no gas. So they waited. Playing word games. Mad Libs that Merlin pulled out from under the back seat like magic. Hide and seek in the corn until they heard the sound of an engine and bolted back to the road with panting hearts only to realise they were wrong.

Eventually, after three days that seemed like an eternity, a car passed and the person had a cell that they could phone for a tow-truck. Once they were full up on gas, they were on their way again, cruising across Iowa towards the great planes and then the Rockies. They didn't go far before Arthur moaned about having a proper shower, so Merlin pulled over at the next motel with a laudromat and paid for a room.

"Finally," Arthur groaned. "A real bed!"

"Had enough of the moon and the stars?" Merlin drawled as he stripped to his boxers.

"Woah! Whoa, mate! What are you doing?"

"Stripping to get in the shower."

"Um. No! I'm showering first."

"Oh, I'm sorry; I didn't hear dibs!" Merlin grinned and sprinted into the bathroom to evade Arthur's mad lunge. Slamming the door, he shouted through it, "Go get a couple of pops from the vending machine. And Cheez-its!" He grinned as he heard Arthur's frustrated groan, then helped himself to the tepid, hard water. Finishing shortly, Merlin towelled his hair and then flopped on the bed while waiting for Arthur to return.

Arthur found a naked Merlin on the bed, tried very hard to avoid the skin the other man was showing, the important bits covered not-so-carefully by a towel. Muttering, he set the food down and put the change on the bedside table before taking a refreshing shower. Letting the steam out of the bathroom, he frowned at Merlin who was apparently still asleep on the bed. The only bed. Pulling his pants on, however, he edged into the little space there was and heaved a sigh. He was just drifting off when he twitched from the sudden contact at his ribs.

"You know," Merlin's drowsy voice cut through the silence. "I stopped because you were pretty?"

"What?" Arthur leaned up on his elbows. Merlin was staring up at him hungrily, eyes darkened and hooded. Arthur licked his lips. And then suddenly found himself pressed into the sheets, Merlin's tongue sweeping across the seam of his lips, hips—naked hips—grinding down on his.

Arthur groaned.

Merlin slid his hands into Arthur's hair, kissing along his jaw before nipping and sucking the lobe of his ear into his mouth.

"Shit—Merlin—!"

"Ever since that first time!" Merlin gasped, sliding his hands over Arthur's biceps and chest, tweaking a nipple on the way by. "Do you..."

"Hell yes I want it!" Arthur said lowly.

Merlin nodded a bit manically, rocking his hips again to make them both groan. Then he slid down Arthur's body, pressing a filthy kiss to his navel before copying it on the head of his cock.

"Shit shit shi, Merlin!" He tangled his fingers in the other man's dark hair and bit his lip to keep from shouting.

Merlin hummed around him, offering his fingers to Arthur's mouth, who eagerly imitated Merlin's movements. Merlin moaned.

Then his fingers slid down Arthur's body between his legs and Arthur couldn't breathe. He was vaguely aware of his harsh voice streaming forth with senseless adulations, promises, and praises that didn't even make sense. But Merlin's slim fingers were working him open and he couldn't breathe.

"Come on, Arthur..." Merlin crooned when he pulled off to take a break.

"Merlin, Merlin come on! Merlin, I'm so close! I need...! I need!"

"You want me in you?"

"Shit yes!" Arthur fisted a hand in the sheets, one gripping Merlin's shoulder so hard it should have hurt. "Mer—hng! Ah, shit, Merlin, god!"

Merlin groaned long and low behind his ear as he exhaled. Rolling his hips up and into Arthur.

"Yes! Yes yes yes yesyesyesyesyes," Arthur panted, arching his back into the pressure.

"I've wanted...so long... You were so gorgeous... Angry..."

"Shit, Merlin—angry? You wanted me because I looked angry?"

"No you twat," Merlin grunted, eyes screwing up even as his head sagged forward.

Capturing his lips, Arthur thrust his hips up. "Harder... Come on... Harder, Merlin...!"

Merlin cried out as he thrust harder, gripping Arthur's prick and giving a long pull. Arthur bucked as Merlin hit his prostrate and Merlin's lips descended to swallow the scream ripped from Arthur.

Shuddering through the aftershocks, Arthur gripped Merlin's hips as he thrust twice more and then followed him over the edge, shuddering on top of Arthur's body. "That was..."

"Amazing? Mind-blowing? Fucking fantastic?"

"Well. Yeah, one of those works..." Arthur breathed, flopping a hand over his face.

Breathing hot against his neck, Merlin grinned. "That's what I thought."

"And you're too confident..."

"So that's to say that we're to do it again sometime soon?"

Arthur took a deep breath. "Erm. Yes. I think. After I finish with my sexuality crisis."

"Oh. Have you not done this before?" Merlin pushed himself up on his elbows, staring down at Arthur, a bit horrified.

"No. no, it's fine. It's... It's really not too shocking. Ever since you... You know. Kissed me."

"Arthur! Kissing and sex is a huge difference! Why didn't you say anything!"

Arthur laughed. "I told you I wanted it, didn't I don't freak out about it. I don't regret it."

"You're sure."

"Yes. Yes, I'm sure."

"So... Oh shit. You mentioned a girlfriend, didn't you."

"Merlin. I said it was fine." Arthur reached up and gripped the other man's face. "I would have said 'no,' if I didn't want it. Now lie down and let's bask in this afterglow."

Merlin laughed and then snuggled down against Arthur. "Fine by me."

"Aaand that does mean that we can do it again. Later," Arthur promised.

Nodding against his chest, they fell asleep like that until room service knocked and tried to get in to make the bed.

"We should get moving," Merlin said, as he stretched into the sun streaming through the window.

"Ugh. I need a shower."

Merlin turned and looked at him, a grin spreading his lips. "Sounds like a great idea. If I join you, we'll waste less water."

"Did you seriously just use that line on me?"

Arching an eyebrow and dropping his boxers on the floor, Merlin beckoned and stepped into the bathroom.

Arthur hesitated and then followed for an enjoyable bout of shower sex. Then they were back on the road again towards Nebraska.

By the time they reached Wyoming, Merlin knew all about Arthur's screwed up family, how his father had unreasonable expectations, his ex-girlfriend married his best mate, his best friend had wanted to have him as his best man in the wedding, intimate details of his sister's sordid sex life (which Merlin very much did not need to know), Arthur's overly passionate love for history and war eras, Arthur's fondness for fast cars and using flirtatious means of getting out of speeding tickets (Merlin had to pull over, in stitches, from those stories), Arthur explaining into the ground how much he never knew he was gay and maybe he wasn't gay at all—maybe he was bisexual because he still really liked Gwen, didn't he? And he'd always been kind of jealous of his friend Gwaine's hair, but maybe it had really just been attraction, but in the end it didn't really matter, because every time they stopped for the night, Arthur really, really loved Merlin's cock. And didn't hesitate to tell him so.

It wasn't until they were almost to the Wyoming-Utah border that Arthur maybe realised that he was pretty fond of the guy the cock was attached to as well.

It wasn't until they crossed the border that Arthur realised he didn't know much about Merlin at all.

"I mean... Do you have family? Don't they miss you? Why don't you talk to them? And," Arthur stretched his legs up onto the dashboard, "why do you always drive?"

"Did people back east ever have a problem shutting you up?"

"Not generally. But when you're two people confined to a car, mate, there's no one else to talk to. But seriously."

"Can you drive stick?"

"I think I've learned how quite well, thank you very much."

Merlin laughed. "You shit. That's not what I mean, and I think you know that."

Arthur grinned at him. "Right. Stick shift. That would be a 'no,' but between here and Pennsylvania, I should think there had been plenty of opportunity to teach me."

Merlin only shook his head.

"So what about my other questions? Where's your family? What's your life story? Come on. You've heard all the details of my life. What about yours? Any brothers or sisters?" He looked over at Merlin, whose eyes were carefully on the road. "Where did you start your trip?"

"I started in Florida. Oh look! Here's a Wendy's. You hungry?"

"Wow. That's not even subtle, Merlin."

"What? Well. I'm hungry. You want anything? I'm paying?"

"You're always paying, Merlin. And now you're trying to distract me. But how do you have all this money. Where does it come from? You never go to a bank. You don't have a debit card. You don't have a cell phone. I've never seen you drop letters or postcards in the mail, so you're not writing anyone. What's your story?"

Merlin smiled at him. "You want to fuck me tonight?"

Arthur blinked. "Okay. That's distracting. I might be distracted. I hate you."

"See how quick you can make me moan your name."

Gritting his teeth, he smiled at the lady who took Merlin's money at the Wendy's drive through. "I hate you so much."

"I got you a burger."

"Brilliant."

And it was. Later that evening. When Arthur was pressing Merlin's form into the mattress, stretched out along his back. Breathing stupid words into his neck that didn't make sense. And Merlin just sighed, trembling beneath him, letting Arthur cling to him like he was the only thing that was keeping him tethered to the ground.

"I'll tell you," Merlin whispered as Arthur was drifting off. "Just not yet. I'm not ready yet..."

When Arthur woke the next morning, he was pressed up against Merlin's back, arms wrapped around him like he was holding a stuffed animal. Inhaling into the nape of his neck, he smiled and kept his eyes shut, despite the morning sun streaming in through the cheap drapes.

"Morning..." Merlin mumbled.

"How long you been up?" Arthur said, clearing his throat.

"I dunno. Now let me go. You're a furnace."

Arthur pulled back, hurt, but as soon as he rolled over, Merlin had him pinned, and kissed him breathless before rolling out of the bed.

"Get dressed. Let's get on the road. We've got a ways to go yet."

"Where are we going, Merlin?" Arthur asked as he rolled over.

"Arthur, we've been on the road for months and you've never asked?"

He made an effort to shrug. "I guess I didn't think about it. It didn't really matter. I didn't care?"

Merlin laughed as he struggled into his shirt. "We're going to the end."

"That sounds ominous."

"Until we can't drive anymore. That would be the end, right?"

"That would...be the end," Arthur agreed, as he eased out of the bed. "I guess."

Merlin grinned and stuffed his things into his bag before strolling out the door. "Come along, Arthur!"