"You two know that fighting is prohibited on school grounds" lectured the principal as he glared at Merlin who was holding tissues to his bloody nose and at Arthur who was holding a ice pack to his bruised and slightly swollen cheek "and since detentions and suspensions have been doing nothing to deter you from your fights your parents and I have found a special punishment for you two" he continued as Merlin groaned and Arthur rolled his eyes. The principal continued ignoring the boys protests "During this summer you two will have to go to a camp together for two weeks where you will share a cabin, do activities together etc. The only time you two may be a part is during meals where you can sit with people of your choosing. There will be one adult who will check on you through out the day" Arthur spoke up first
" I have to spend two weeks of MY summer with this idiot!?" Said Arthur angrily jabbing a finger at Merlin
"Or you can be expelled" reasoned the principal. Merlin sat with his arms crossed and grumbled about not wanting to share a cabin with a prat.
"Do you have something to share ?" Asked the principal. Merlin shook his head.
" Good you two are dismissed" said the principal shooing them out of his office. Arthur glared at Merlin as they walked out.
"This is all your fault you know" said Arthur
"My fault!?" Said Merlin angrily "you threw the first punch!"
"You called me a prat!" Arthur shot back
"You were being one" countered Merlin
"I can not spend my summer with you" shouted Arthur
"I'm not overly excited about this either but I'm sucking it up" said Merlin
Arthur just glared at him and walked away
One week into summer
Uther dropped off a very grumpy looking Arthur and Morgana who wanted to go to "spend time with her brother" or at least that's what she said. Arthur was sure it was just so she could come and torment him. Arthur's mood did lighten a bit when he saw that some of his friends were also one the bus. He quickly got on the bus but stopped when the bus driver started to talk to him
"what's your name?"
"Arthur" Arthur responded
"You are supposed to sit right behind me with Merlin" the driver instructed. Arthur groaned but took his seat. Three minutes before the bus was supposed to leave Merlin ran onto the bus. After telling the bus driver his name and begrudgingly takes his seat next to Arthur and put his headphones in his ears. Arthur glared at him when he sat down but Merlin ignored him and started to to quietly humming to whatever song was playing. Arthur recognized it as Cable Car by The Fray.
"At least his music taste doesn't suck" thought Arthur
Arthur watched as Merlin pulled out a sketchbook and continued putting details on the outline of the dragon. Arthur tried to get a better view but Merlin blocked his view with his shoulder and threw Arthur a glare.
"I don't want to add you criticizing my drawings to the list of things that you do that make me mad" said Merlin
"You have a list?" Asked Arthur. Merlin rolled his eyes.
"Yeah it's under my bed want me to fetch it when we get back?" Asked Merlin sarcastically. Arthur decided it was best just to stay quiet this time and went back to humming a different song Arthur didn't recognize. After about 20 minutes Merlin started to feel sleepy and not after long he started to nod off and his head hit Arthur's shoulders. Arthur was suprised at the sudden weight that hit his shoulder. He looked down and saw a head of raven hair he contimplates waking Merlin up but he reasoned Merlin was quieter when he was asleep. Or at least that's what Arthur told himself. At one point Morgana looked over at Merlin sleeping on Arthur's shoulder and smirks at Arthur.
"Awwwwwwwww did Merlin fall asleep on your shoulder" cooed Morgana
"Shut up Morgana" snapped Arthur
"But it's so cute!" Said Morgana. Arthur looked shocked.
"In no way is this cute the only reason I'm allowing this is because he's quiet when he's asleep" argued Arthur
"Suuuure keep telling yourself that" said Morgana smirking
"It's true!" Declared Arthur. Morgana just shook her head and turned back to her book. Arthur just looked at Merlin
"You're making my life difficult even though you are asleep" whispered Arthur "how is that even possible?"
Merlin just muttered quietly in his sleep. About 20 minutes later they pulled into the parking lot of the camp. Arthur jostled his shoulder to wake Merlin up. Merlin head shot up and looked around blinking.
"Wha-what" said Merlin blinking and looking around sleepily
"Come on you dweeb were here. You slept on my shoulder the whole way here" said Arthur
"Oh right" said Merlin as he got off the bus. Merlin's hair was sticking up in some spots from where his head was on Arthur's shoulder and Arthur had the sudden urge to smooth down Merlin's hair but instead he just hit Merlin up side the head.
"Ow!" Exclaimed Merlin "what was that for?" Merlin rubbed where Arthur had hit him
"Sleeping on my shoulder " said Arthur cooley
"You could have woken me up or moved my head you didn't need so smack me!" Exclaimed Merlin. Arthur just shrugged and walked over to one of the counselor that were leading kids to their cabins and Merlin quickly followed him.
"Hi I'm Annie what's your names?" She asked
"Arthur and Merlin" Arthur answered quickly
"Ok you two will be in cabin 8 together. Your bags are already in your cabin your parents sent them via mail. Phones and iPods are only allowed in the cabin. Schedules for all activities are in your cabin you two need to come to two of the 5 activities every day. When you have free time you must stay in the camp or cabin you can do any of the other activities set up that are open all the time such as arts and crafts, outdoor games, canoeing or swimming. Your private counselor will be Gauis and he will make sure that you two will be together at all time" she explained "and here is your cabin enjoy!" She finished with a smile. Arthur snorted and Merlin smiled and thanked her before they walked inside. The cabin had two beds with plenty of between them and a bathroom. Merlin flopped on his bed. Arthur stares at at the schedule on the wall. Suddenly there was a knock on the door and a old man walked in and looked at the two of them
"I take it you are Merlin and Arthur" said the man
"Yes sir" replied Merlin
"Please call me Gauis" said the man "I'm here to make sure you two stick together for and make sure you don't kill each other. I will wake you up in the morning, you will check in with me before going any where and I will check on you during activities"
Merlin groaned and buried his head in the pillow and Arthur banged his head on the wall. Gauis raised an eyebrow at the two of them.
"I will leave you two to it than. I'm in the cabin right next to you" said Gauis as he walked out.
"I can't believe that we have to share a cabin. Do you snore? I bet you snore" said Merlin
"I don't snore!" said Arthur
"Suuure you don't" said Merlin
"How long will be in jail if I kill you? asked Arthur
"Well because its premeditated murder you be in ja-" started Merlin
"Stop" interrupted Arthur "I don't really want to know. Why do you know this any way?"
Merlin just shrugged and put his headphones back in his ears and started to hum Goodnight,Goodnight. Arthur laid on his bed and started to text Gwaine.
Hey
Hey how's camp going for you?
So far it's ok. It would be better if Merlin wasn't here. He fell asleep on my shoulder on the bus!
Why are you complaining? I wouldn't mind if he fell asleep on my shoulder.
Wait do you have a crush on him?!
Dude you know that I like Percy. I'm just saying Merlin is a total cutie and a really talented artist. Not to mention pretty smart
He's not cute
I know you don't like him but even you have admit he's cute
Nope not doing it
Fine fine fine
A bell rang in the distance
I got to go get Merlin away from his phone
I will see you at dinner then
Arthur looked over at Merlin who was still laying on his bed drawing with headphones in. Arthur came over and yanked a headphone out of his ear.
"Oi!" Shouted Merlin
"It's time for lunch" said Arthur
Merlin packed up and they followed the rest kids to the lunch area. Merlin automatically went to go sit with Morgana and Gwen while Arthur sat with Lance, Gwaine, Percy, Elyan and Leon. Food and plates were already set out on the tables. Arthur sat down and started putting food on his plate.
"So who is everyone rooming with?" Asked Arthur
"Percy and I are sharing" said a very smug Gwaine
"Leon and I are sharing" said Lance
"I have to share with my sister" said Elyan slightly annoyed. Arthur reached over and patted his shoulder
"At least you don't have to share with Merlin" said Arthur
"Hey Merlin isn't that bad" said Elyan
"Your supposed to be on my side" teased Arthur
"You know I always have your back unless it comes to Merlin Gwen would kill me if I had anything to with your and Merlin's little battle. And I would prefer not to have my sister mad at me" said Elyan
"Ok that's understandable" agreed Arthur
"We should all meet up at outdoor games after breakfast tomorrow" said Gwaine
"Would love to but I have to stick with Merlin or else I get in trouble" said Arthur
"So bring him with you we like him well enough" said Percy
"I'll ask him but no promises" agreed Arthur
"Good enough" said Gwaine
"Im sure Merlin will be cool with it. Merlin is pretty cool about this sort of stuff" said Lance
"Why is Merlin friends with all of you?" Asked Arthur
Gwaine started making a list "Because we didn't shove him in a locker and we don't tease him endlessly and we don't get into fights and-"
"Alright alright I get it no need to continue" interrupted Arthur. They all continued their meals
At Merlin's table
"Soooooo how's Arthur?" Asked Gwen
"A prat" answered Merlin
"Will you two ever get along?" Sighed Gwen
"Nope" said Merlin cheerfully
"Who would want to get along with him?" Asked Morgana
"His friends seem to get along with him and they seem decent" said Gwen
"You only say that because you have a crush Lance" teased Morgana. Gwen turned bright red and Merlin laughed
"Gwen is right they are all pretty pleasant Gwaine's a bit odd and a huge flirt but he's nice" agreed Merlin. Morgana rolled her eyes.
"What ever. I think they are a bunch of hooligans" said Morgana.
This made both Gwen and Merlin laugh as they all finished their dinner.
"Well we should all head back to our cabins good luck with Arthur love" said Morgana as she walked. Slowly all campers headed back to their cabin. Merlin automatically put his headphones back in when they got back to their cabin.
"What is with you and your headphones?" Asked Arthur before Merlin could put both in.
"If I can't hear you then the urge to punch you will lessen" said Merlin before he put the other headphone in. Arthur rolled his eyes again. Arthur laid on his bed and shut his eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep. Arthur was woke up in the middle of the night by a small whimpering coming from Merlin bed. Arthur looked over at Merlin and watched him toss and turn.
He must be having a nightmare thought Arthur. Suddenly memories of him having nightmares and Morgana softly petting his hair and calming him down.
I will never get to sleep with this thought Arthur or at least that was the excuse he came up with for getting out of bed, kneeling by Merlin's bed and started petting his hair. Merlin started to quiet down and stopped moving. Arthur's eyes lingered on Merlin's face.
He looks so peaceful when he's not all worked up about something I said. And maybe Gwaine was right he is kinda of cute thought Arthur wait what did I just think that Merlin is cute? What the hell is going on?
Arthur shook his head and went back to his bed and soon fell back asleep.