"So," Arthur said loudly, projecting far more than was needed. "Merlin." His smirk was firmly in place. He didn't know why, but today was just one of those days where he felt like he needed to order his manservant around and irritate him to make it through. He watched the annoyance set in over the other's features as he realized what mood he was in. That raised the corners of the king's mouth only higher. "Why don't you get your useless self over here and shine my boots. You're doing twice as much work today so this is no time to be slacking off."
"Do you even know the meaning of the word useless?!" He was exasperated already.
This was becoming a common question of Merlin's lately. Arthur knew his friend wasn't useless, in fact, he was more the opposite. But he obviously couldn't tell him that. "Of course I do, Merlin. Don't be such an idiot. Come over here. My boots can't shine themselves you know."
Merlin gave him dark look, like an 'I know something you don't' look. But it was gone too quickly for the king to take much notice in it. "Right away, sire," he spat as he came to do the task.
"Is that any way to speak to your king?" Wrong wording. This was Merlin he was talking to.
"It is when your king's a royal prat."
Arthur took the boot Merlin had grabbed and threw at his head.
"Ow! Arthur!"
He grinned in triumph.
"Clotpole!" He yelled, throwing the boot back Arthur's way. But Arthur ducked easily. Angered, Merlin got up to retrieved it, but tripped and fell.
"Merlin, how you continue to survive never ceases to amaze me."
"How you continue to be a prat never cease to amaze me!"
