"This feels weird," Arthur said, flinching as Merlin poked at his eyelids with a soft brush.
"Don't you do this all the time for modelling?" Merlin asked. He took a tight grip on Arthur's chin and turned Arthur's head side to side, admiring his work.
"It's usually a bit more… subtle." Arthur kissed Merlin's wrist before leaning away to grab a small mirror off of Merlin's dresser. He held it up slowly, trying to recognize himself. His face was a chaotic mess of red and yellow paint, with accents of glitter of all colours on his eyelids and cheekbones.
He looked strange and anonymous and absolutely ready for a night at the Unicorn.
"If you're still modelling when you come out, you should do a really provocative photo-shoot," Merlin said, running his glittery fingers through Arthur's hair. "With sequins and skirts and wigs."
Arthur set down the mirror and arched an eyebrow up at Merlin. "Wigs?"
"Well…" Merlin trailed off, blushing. "Not into drag, then?"
Arthur chuckled and leaned in for a quick kiss. "Can you really see me in a wig? Not to mention the other stuff."
"Sure." Merlin grinned cheekily. "You'd look fetching."
Arthur laughed. "Thanks, but that's not really the look I'm going for. It's not my style."
"Are you suggesting that it's my style?"
Arthur shrugged innocently. "Maybe."
"Hm. Well, I'll have you know that I look absolutely fabulous in wigs. And the 'other stuff,' as you so eloquently put it."
"See, that's what I'm saying. Maybe you should do the photo-shoot, instead of me."
"No, no. The world isn't ready for that."
"Am I ready for that?"
Merlin added a bit more glitter to Arthur's hair before responding. "Almost. We'll see how you feel after tonight."
Arthur licked his lips, tasting the fruity, glittery gloss that Merlin had liberally applied to them.
"You can still change your mind," Merlin said quietly.
Arthur shook his head, determined. "No. No, I want to go out with you. It - it'll be fine. No one will recognize me… and even if they do, Lance will be there, so…"
Arthur frowned down at Merlin's duvet and picked at one of the seams. Merlin covered Arthur's hand with one of his own.
"You're really lucky to have someone like him."
Arthur couldn't help but smile. "Yeah. I know. He's… I owe him a lot."
"Well, you can start by buying all of his drinks tonight." Merlin stood from the bed and held out his hands. "Ready?"
Arthur let Merlin pull him up. He laced their fingers together once he was standing and tugged Merlin close for a long kiss. "I'm ready."
-xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx-
Arthur pressed tightly against Merlin, grinding his erection into Merlin's backside and sliding his hands over the bulge in Merlin's jeans, as Merlin tried to unlock the door to his own flat. He felt slightly out of his mind with how much he wanted - needed - to get naked and get off with Merlin.
"Jesus, hold on," Merlin huffed, jiggling the key in the lock as Arthur started biting the back of his neck. "Damnit."
"Just let me fuck you in the hallway," Arthur moaned, rocking his hips against Merlin to get some more friction.
Merlin chuckled and then whooped in triumph as he finally got the door open. "My, you're impatient tonight." He flicked the light on and hung up his keys. "I have - oof!" Merlin grunted as Arthur pushed him back against the door, slamming it shut, and immediately pulled off his shirt.
"You're so fucking sexy when you're dancing," Arthur murmured against Merlin's neck, working to undo Merlin's fly. "Thought I was going to come in my jeans right there in front of everyone."
Merlin licked into Arthur's mouth and Arthur dug his fingers into Merlin's sides, trying to ground himself in reality as they kissed messily. He was tipsy from brightly-coloured cocktails and high off the adrenaline of his first visit to the Unicorn; he was horny and so desperate to get more of Merlin.
"I have -" Merlin tried to say, but Arthur cut him off with another bruising kiss as he pushed Merlin's jeans to the floor.
"Arthur, wait," Merlin managed, pushing at Arthur's chest. "I have to piss."
Arthur smirked and took a step back. "You'd better make it quick." He grabbed at Merlin arse, squeezing those round cheeks before letting Merlin push off the door.
Merlin stepped out of his jeans and smacked Arthur's arse as he headed towards the bathroom. Arthur went straight for Merlin's bedroom, shedding his clothes along the way. He spread out on Merlin's bed, stroking his cock with as light a touch as he could stand. He felt like he'd been on the edge of an orgasm for most of the night; Merlin hadn't held back at the club and they'd spent the whole time grinding to relentlessly pulsing music.
After a minute, Arthur had to drag his hand away from his cock to prevent himself from coming before Merlin joined him. He stared up at the ceiling, trying to get his breathing to even back out as his cock twitched, and drummed his fingers on his chest. All he wanted was for Merlin to hurry up so he could slam into that perfect, tight arse, even though at this point he doubted he'd last for more than a few frenzied thrusts.
Being out in public with Merlin like that had been the most intoxicating mixture of terrifying and exhilarating. He'd never felt so open and alivebefore and it had taken a while to figure out what to do with all that energy; eventually he'd focused everything on Merlin and the two of them had barely stepped off the dance floor after their first two drinks. No one had recognised him, no one had even given him a second glance despite his outlandish make-up because there were men there with much more outrageous costumes. The lights had been too low for even Lance to be noticed by more than a few people even though he'd barely had any sort of disguise.
Arthur let out a long sigh and rolled on his side to find something to distract himself. He flicked the latch on Merlin's side table, listening to the metal clinking against the wooden drawer and waiting.
He remembered his first introduction to the collection of sex toys in Merlin's side table, when Merlin had come home drunk and Arthur had read him a bedtime story. They hadn't used anything from the drawer yet besides condoms and lube, but Arthur sat up and yanked it open to inspect the options.
"Find anything good?" Merlin asked as he came in the room, naked, and kicked the door shut behind him.
Arthur pulled out a bright pink adjustable cock ring and tugged on the clasp slightly to test its size. "Is this clean?" he asked.
Merlin nodded, licking his lips. "I'll take one, too."
Arthur tossed Merlin a black adjustable one and watched as he opened the ring, slid it down to the base of his erection and then pulled on the clasp until his cock was twitching from the pressure.
"Need help?" Merlin teased when Arthur just stared at Merlin's cock without moving.
"No," Arthur muttered, snapping out of it and getting to his feet. He pushed the pink ring down to the base of his cock and then slipped his balls into the ring as well before closing it, gasping as his skin was pulled taut and everything seemed to pulse with heightened anticipation.
Merlin pushed Arthur back down on the bed and claimed his mouth in a hungry kiss. Arthur groaned and grabbed onto Merlin's arse immediately, rutting up against him and thrilling at the sudden full-body contact.
"Did you have a good time?" Merlin asked, propping himself up on an elbow and reaching down with his other hand to wrap his fingers around both their cocks. He stroked them quickly, panting against Arthur's jaw.
"Fucking fantastic," Arthur managed before losing himself in a long moan. Everything felt so good and the cock ring wasn't doing much to take the edge off.
Arthur let Merlin continue until he was teetering right on the edge and then he pushed Merlin away, whimpering slightly as his cock jerked.
Merlin sat up and scrubbed his hands over his face, smearing the last of his glitter.
"What do you want to do?" he asked, rubbing the underside of his cock with the pads of his fingers.
Arthur took a few deep breaths to regain control before sitting and tugging at Merlin's hips until he took the hint and got onto his hands and knees. Arthur shifted up behind Merlin, running his hands from Merlin's shoulders and down to the back of Merlin's thighs. He leaned down and dragged his tongue up Merlin's spine, causing Merlin to shudder underneath him.
"Condoms… lube in the drawer," Merlin breathed, lowering himself onto his elbows and letting his head hang down.
Arthur pressed his forehead to Merlin's back and reached around to give Merlin's cock a few quick strokes. Merlin groaned and pushed his hips forward into Arthur's grip. Arthur licked along Merlin's spine again, trying to focus on the smooth, hot skin in his hand and not the way his own cock was leaking precome, straining towards orgasm, ready to release all the tension that had built up over the course of the night.
"Come on," Merlin muttered, shifting his weight to one elbow so he could knock Arthur away from his cock with his other hand. "Are you going to fuck me or not?"
"Not," Arthur decided before pressing a kiss to every knob of Merlin's spine that he could reach, starting from between Merlin's shoulder blades and continuing until his chin was resting just above Merlin's arse.
"Can I…" He kneeled up and dragged two fingers down that enticing cleft until he could press them against the tight ring of muscle on display at the base. With his other hand, he traced the lines on the trunk of the large tree tattooed onto Merlin's right side.
Arthur stroked one finger up and down Merlin's hole until Merlin was keening and pressing back against him, trying to get him to do more. Arthur kept his pace steady and started stroking his own cock, working up his courage.
"Can I use my mouth?" he asked, pressing the tip of his finger just inside Merlin to make sure Merlin knew exactly what he was asking.
"God…" Merlin groaned and pressed his face into his pillows for a long moment. "You don't have to," he said quietly when he lifted his head. "I get very sweaty at the Unicorn. I toweled off a bit in the toilet, but, um…"
Arthur chuckled and leaned down on one hand so he could tease Merlin's balls with the other. "I don't mind," he admitted. "I really… please? If - if you want…"
Merlin huffed and nodded, moving quickly to lower his shoulders to the bed. Arthur backed up until he could lean down comfortably and then he bit into one of Merlin's cheeks.
"Hey!" Merlin wiggled his hips and reached back with one hand to push Arthur's face away.
Arthur grinned before moving back in and nosing down Merlin's arse until he could lick the sensitive skin just under Merlin's balls. Merlin started moaning immediately and Arthur pressed his face hard between Merlin's cheeks, loving that noise and craving more of it. He moved as slowly and teasingly as he could, wanting to drag this out as long as possible because the smell and the taste and the sound of Merlin was overwhelming and he knew he'd come as soon as he switched his focus to himself.
"Christ, Arthur," Merlin whined as Arthur finally swirled his tongue around those pale, puckered muscles. "Fuck," he gasped when Arthur pulled away for a brief moment, his arse tensing in protest at the loss of contact.
Arthur brushed a fingertip around Merlin's hole, smirking at the red and yellow face paint that had smeared onto it, and Merlin made a strangled noise, pressing his hips back.
"Is this good?" Arthur asked, leaning down again.
"God, fuck yes, don't stop," Merlin said, reaching for his cock and pulling on it roughly.
Arthur moaned and dove back in, abandoning any idea of taking this slowly. He wrapped a hand around his own cock and stroked himself quickly, ready and wanting to come with his face buried in Merlin's arse.
"That's really -" Merlin's voice was high-pitched and shaking, like he might be sobbing under Arthur's mouth. "Ahhh…"
As Arthur licked sloppily around Merlin's arse, Merlin seemed to lose all sense of the English language. His words became half-formed and unintelligible until he was just crying out, groaning, moaning, gasping, making uncontrolled noises that rendered Arthur completely unable to think. Arthur's cock was throbbing in his grip and the only reason he hadn't already come was the extra bit of pressure from the ring, holding him right on the edge, waiting for something to finally tip him over.
When Merlin's muscles began contracting against Arthur's tongue, his balls raising higher and closer to the black ring nestled tightly at the base of his cock, Arthur attempted to push his tongue inside Merlin and that was it for both of them. Merlin shouted and Arthur's mouth went slack as he jerked and came, groaning and barely registering the frantic clenching of Merlin's muscles against his lips as Merlin came with him.
Merlin collapsed onto the bed and Arthur slumped after him, panting against the small of his back and trying not to pass out from the way his head was spinning.
They stayed that way for a minute or two until Merlin let out a soft groan as he shifted to loosen and remove his cock ring. Arthur did the same but didn't move from his spot above Merlin, not caring that they were both sweating all over each other.
"You're," Merlin tried, his voice strained, "you're amazing."
Arthur managed a weak laugh, too exhausted for anything else. "That was… you're going to need to wash your duvet."
Merlin shook with silent laughter, reaching behind himself with a tired arm to ruffle Arthur's hair.
Arthur took a deep breath and slowly pushed himself up until he was sitting on the edge of the bed. Merlin snuggled up to his back and wrapped an arm around his middle, repeating the move he'd made on that same night when Arthur had read him a bedtime story. This time, instead of moving away, Arthur gave Merlin's hand a squeeze before lifting it up to press a kiss to Merlin's palm. Merlin curled his fingers around the spot Arthur had kissed and got up with a grunt to kiss Arthur's shoulder in return.
"Do you want to shower and come over to mine so we don't have to sleep on your gross bed?" Arthur asked, pulling Merlin's arms around his middle. Merlin was too warm and too sweaty but Arthur still didn't mind.
Merlin nipped at the back of Arthur's neck and Arthur shivered, tugging Merlin's arms tighter around him. As exhausted as he was, he didn't want to leave this moment; he wanted to stay wrapped in Merlin at the end of one of the most freeing nights of his life. He wanted to relive it over and over again, always with Merlin, always with Merlin's bright eyes and wide smile and dorky laugh and incredible glittery cheekbones. He wanted every piece of Merlin and the intensity of that craving was a little dizzying.
"I blame you entirely for how gross it is," Merlin muttered.
Arthur shrugged, too tired to even remember what he'd said to prompt that response.
Merlin hummed contentedly against Arthur's skin before slipping off the bed. "Okay. Shower and then back to yours. I'll make breakfast crêpes in the morning." He held out his hands and pulled Arthur up.
Arthur followed Merlin to the shower where they rinsed off, Merlin helping to scrub the red and yellow make-up that was still all over Arthur's face.
When they were clean, Merlin reached for Arthur's still-hard cock and gave it a few slow strokes.
"I don't need to come again," Arthur assured him, guiding Merlin's arms around his waist instead. "You just turn me on."
Merlin smiled, blushing, and pressed a kiss to Arthur's jaw. "Thank you for coming with me tonight."
"I'm coming with you every month from now on." Arthur leaned in for a kiss but had to pull away after a few seconds to yawn. "Is it bedtime yet?"
"Yes." Merlin switched off the water and got out of the shower to fetch towels.
After drying off, they decided to risk heading across the hall in only their towels rather than bother with their clothes. They made it inside Arthur's flat without running into any of their neighbours and fell quickly into Arthur's bed, tossing their towels on the floor.
Arthur turned onto his side as soon as he got under the sheets, barely staying conscious. Merlin snuggled up to him, pressing his damp chest to Arthur's back and wrapping an arm around Arthur's front.
"Told you I'd be the big spoon eventually," Merlin murmured.
Arthur tugged Merlin's arm tighter around his chest, smiling at the warmth, then closed his eyes and fell asleep.