Mordred was sulking. While not entirely unusual, the fact was rare enough to draw his neighbour's attention. Since it was game night, Arthur and his friends had indeed decided that going to the pub to enjoy the show with a fresh pint of ale would be a great idea. The blond had a gigantic flat screen TV in his penthouse, of course, and excellent beer in his fridge too, but getting pissed with total strangers while shouting together on rugby players represented at least half of the fun. Mordred on the other hand wasn't much of a rugby fan… and actually not a big fan of the crowd either, so he seldom went to the pub at all. The simple fact that he was not only there on its most crowded night, but on his own, without his idiot of a boyfriend – Merlin was so utterly useless Arthur still didn't know what went through his mind the day he hired the boy as a PA – made Arthur curious. So, at the very moment the Welsh team managed to get the ball out of the melee, granting themselves shouts of approval from Percy and Gwaine, the blond approached his downstairs neighbour with a friendly smile.
- Care for a drink, mate?
Mordred flashed him a half-surprised half-annoyed glance, which wasn't unexpected, given the fact they barely spoke together, settling for polite nods and the occasional chitchat about the weather when they came across each other in the lobby or the lift. Mordred seemed a decent enough bloke but since he was Merlin's boyfriend, Arthur thought it would be safer to keep a distance between them. It was embarrassing enough that he lived only a few flights of stairs atop his own PA…
- Yeah. If you want. Whatever… was the enthusiastic response of the younger guy.
Arthur managed to secure both of them a pint of beer before casually saying:
- It's unusual to meet you here. Especially without Merlin.
His remark earned him a snort of derision form Mordred.
- Well, Merlin is otherwise engaged at the moment, thanks to my delightful sister…
- I had no idea you had a sister. What's her name?
Even if the same thinking went through Arthur's mind, the question came from Gwaine's mouth. It was impressive to notice how the bloke had the instinct of a truffle hog when it came to women. Judging by his lecherous smile, what he really wanted to ask was how she would look without her clothes on. Lancelot, who had followed their bearded friend, gave Arthur a wry smile before sitting on the opposite side of the younger guy.
- Her name is Morgana, and she's currently trying to ruin my love life, commented Mordred before taking a gulp of his pint.
The tragic effect was slightly ruined by the fact he almost choked on it. Clearly he wasn't drinking beer very often. Trying to disguise his amusement behind a cough, Arthur asked:
- Why is that?
He wouldn't have been surprised to be asked minding his own business, but Mordred clearly had a lot on his plate because he stated in disgust:
- The Lady Morgana had a tiny rodent problem, and Sir Merlin decided now is the time to be chivalrous. Which is ok, I understand, she's my sister and all but… you know, Merlin never thought of the consequences it would have for us, not even once. And that's what makes me the angriest.
Mordred made no sense at all, except for the part where Merlin never thought of consequences. Being his boss, Arthur knew first-hand how stupidly rushed most of Merlin's decisions were. He sympathetically tapped the poor guy's shoulder but the beer he had all evening made him miscalculate his strength and almost throw Mordred out of his barstool. By chance, Percy, who joined them in the meantime, caught the boy before he fell.
- Care to explain? Asked Leon with an arched eyebrow.
Arthur realised that Elyan and him also sat with their little group. The fact that all his friends and neighbours preferred listening to Merlin's boyfriend rants about his sister than to watch a perfectly good rugby game clearly shew how drunk – or bored – they all were.
- Well, it's a little complicated said Mordred with a wince.
- Maybe it would help you to talk about it, suggested Percival with an encouraging smile.
Arthur knew the big guy well enough to be certain he was actually sincere. Himself was more curious about Merlin's predicament and if he could use the story to annoy his PA. Mordred stayed silent for a while before sighing.
- Actually, he said, it all started with Gwen losing her job.
- I know I'm a little drunk, commented Gwaine, so loud the entire pub was able to hear him, but I thought his sister's name was Morgana.
- It is, assured Mordred. Gwen is her childhood best friend.
- And what does she have to do with anything? Wondered Elyan, rolling his eyes.
- Told you, it's complicated.
- Don't interrupt him or we're never going to reach the end, intervened Arthur, disgruntled.
Since none of the others replied, Mordred pursued his story.
- So, Gwen lost her job and since she didn't have enough money to pay her rent, Morgana proposed that she moved in with her since she has a spare room in her flat.
- Which was truly generous of her, commented Leon with an appraising smile.
- Leon! Winced Arthur.
- Sorry. Go on, Mordred.
- Then, a few weeks after that, Mithian decided she would rather be a paediatrician than a heart surgeon and got cut off by her parents.
- His sister's name is still Morgana, right? Said Gwaine, while Lancelot asked, with a frown:
- But who is Mithian, then?
- Really, guys? Grunted Arthur.
- Mithian is another of Morgana's friends, and a member of the book club she and Merlin founded, explained Mordred with a shrug.
- Merlin is in a book club? Repeated Arthur with a huge grin.
That piece of information was pure gold. Merlin would never hear the end of it, Arthur would make sure of that. His interference earned him a few mocking glances from his friends and he shut his mouth with an apologetic look.
- So, what happened with Mithian? Asked Lancelot.
- Since she didn't have a roof over her head anymore, Morgana suggested that she shared Gwen's bedroom until she found a place of her own. And a few weeks after that…
- Let me guess: another friend slash member of the book club got kicked out of her home and your sister invited her too? Said a very ironic Elyan.
- I'd like to be in a book club, commented Percival with dreamy eyes. I could bring chocolate cakes and blueberry scones.
- You do realise you'd have to get through actual reading? Prompted Gwaine with a smug grin.
This time, Arthur didn't even bother to shut them up. The idea of Percival in a book club was a too hilarious one. Their friend was like a puppy of mass proportions, kind and generous, and a great pastry chef on top of that. But he could not read to save his own life. He was way too prone to distraction.
- Her name is Elena and she found her soon-to-be-husband in bed with one of her co-workers, confirmed Mordred with a grim look.
This time, all the men remained silent, feeling sympathetic for the poor girl, especially Arthur. Although he never caught Vivien red-handed, her moving in with a new boyfriend only a few hours after their breakup told him everything he needed to know.
- And the book club is meeting in your flat right now? Guessed Lancelot with an understanding smile.
- If it was only that, I would be the happiest man on earth, grimly countered Mordred. Remember I told you my sister had a tiny rodent problem ?
- Err… yes?
- Well, to be fair, the rodents are way tinier than the problem itself. There was an infestation in her whole building and all the tenants have been told to move out for a few weeks.
- Oh, said Lancelot while comprehension landed on him.
- "Oh" indeed.
- Are you saying there is actually a girl living on the flat next to mine? Asked Gwaine with a bright smile.
- Actually, I'm saying that four girls are living in the flat next to yours. Gwen, Mithian and Elena didn't have the chance to find a new place before the rodent infestation. Merlin said, and I quote, "the more the merrier".
Mordred expression went sour while Gwaine smile could lit up the entire neighbourhood for a few days. Arthur was in shock. Even though he would not let a damsel in distress – even less four of them – alone in the street, his building was a bachelor one. Guys only. All of his neighbours were his friends, at the exception of Merlin – officially, anyway – and they didn't care if he wanted to eat pizza two days in a row or not putting a shirt while taking out his garbage. He didn't want to watch his language to avoid dirty words or be judged if a girl he just met left his flat with the same dress she wore the evening before.
- Don't worry, Mordred, he said with a cold smile. Merlin is really naive if he believes he can invite whoever he wants to live on my property without asking permission first…
