Disclaimer: Don't own Merlin...or Arthur, or the show. If I did... well...
A/N Damn all the slashy Merlin/Arthur fics out there, I feel like none of my stories are good enough (possibly something to do with my lack of romance and kiss scene writing abilities....) But here we go again, yes the taste of midnight has now turned into a series of unrelated one-shot Merthur stories..... Why do I always seem to write romance very early in the morning/late at night?!? I have no beta-reader, so bear with me. And feel free to point out any mistakes...
Set just after episode 2 series 2 so minor spoilers.
Through Midnight Eyes.
Merlin stared on through midnight eyes, as deep a blue as the cloudless sky above, almost black from the anger that filled him, velvet black like midnight.
He turned away from Arthur, this was worse than normal, Arthur had practically fired him for some other idiotic servant who had turned out to be a thief...and possessed. Since then Arthur had been being more of a prat then usual, and Merlin was certain there was something going on between the prince and Gwen.
He was not jealous. Merlin would never under any circumstances be jealous of anyone who remotely attracted Arthur's attention, because Arthur was a prat. Although right now Merlin could think of quite a few stronger insults he wanted to throw at Arthur.
"I quit." Merlin hadn't expected to say those words. Not now, not ever...but then he doubted Arthur would care that much, and he was pretty sure the only reason Arthur kept him around was because he couldn't be bothered to train another manservant.
"What?" Arthur looked up, a look of shock etched into his face, he didn't realise what he had been saying was actually hurting Merlin's feelings, they tended to throw insults at each other, not in a nasty way anymore, well not usually , and certainly not right now.
"I quit." Merlin's glare could cut through diamond. "I can't put up with it any more. You're a stuck up prat who doesn't care about anyone but yourself! Not one bit. It's like you don't even know other people have feelings too!"
To Arthur it seemed that recently everyone was giving him lectures, first Gwen, now Merlin, although this argument wouldn't end up in a kiss, obviously. Had that thought really actually passed through his mind? Arthur Stood up, moving away from the small fire he had lit, its flames causing a dancing orange glow to flicker over his and Merlin's face, the crackle of the fire a back drop to their words.
"Merlin what on earth are you going on about, you're not quitting, don't be an idiot." He sighed. "What's bought this on?"
Arthur was more worried then he would care to admit, Merlin was his best friend, and it hurt Arthur to see his manservant so upset, although he still wasn't sure why Merlin was upset. It also hurt that Merlin wanted to leave in the first place, that hurt a lot.
"You know that already!!" Merlin's shout was a bit louder than he expected. Merlin wasn't really sure why the events of the past few days had been so painful.
"Merlin, is this because of Gwen? Has she said something to you? I know you like her..." Arthur suddenly looked quite pale, like a kid who had been caught kissing someone else's girlfriend behind the bicycle sheds at school.
"I don't like Gwen! I like you!" The thought train currently going through Merlin's head consisted of one four letter word repeating itself a lot. Arthur looked shocked, but then pulled himself together presuming Merlin meant it in a totally non-romantic way.
"Merlin everyone likes me...I know I'm your only friend, but honestly this is going a bit far, even for an idiot of your standards." The prince raised one eyebrow slightly.
Merlin decided he had already thrown himself in at the deep end so there was no point in stopping. He was like a plane with broken wings plummeting towards the ground. There was no stopping him.
"You know that's not what I mean Arthur!" Merlin growled in frustration. "I more then like you! I love you, and I know it's wrong but I can't help how I feel!"
Everything seemed to freeze, holding its breath, the breeze blowing through the trees, the rustling of leaves in the wind, the scurrying of animals hunting and foraging in the undergrowth, everything seemed to disappear in those few seconds.
Arthurs blue eyes seemed to burrow into Merlin's soul, a million different emotions flashing through the prince's eyes, a million different response through his head. Merlin looked away, unable to stand the princes intense gaze any longer.
"Merlin..." The prince said softly, a deep sadness hidden in the word , Arthur's hand brushed lightly across the sorcerers face, turning Merlin to look at him, Merlin still couldn't look into Arthurs eyes, so instead focused on the way the princes hair glittered in the firelight.
"I...you should have said, you really should have said." The prince tilted his head, this time it was he who looked away. "I-I love you too, but you have to understand, I'm a prince Merlin, I have to get married, rule a kingdom, nothing could happen between us, and if it did....It wouldn't last long..."
Merlin couldn't think of what to say for a few seconds. Arthur had just said he loved him, and Merlin honestly hadn't been expecting it, he had been expecting icy rage and possibly being sentenced to death and being beheaded.
"Oh..." They stood like that for a little while, in silence, neither sure what to say, or where to go from there.
In the end t was Merlin who made the decision.
"Arthur." He looked into the princes eyes. "I don't care if you're the crown prince of Camelot or the future king, I love you and...We have to take what we can get while we can right? Cherish it while it lasts."
Arthur didn't answer, instead he pulled Merlin close and pressed his lips softly against the sorcerers, The kiss was quick, but for Merlin it seemed to last forever, and then Arthurs lips where gone, and the prince was smiling at his manservant fondly.
"I suppose we do."
The End!
Yes I know, its set in a forest, it ends with a kiss, its strikingly similar to the other one, but i don't care, for something written at 2.00 in the morning it's going to be pretty bad XD (Although personally i thought it was ok...not amazing, but readable at least XD)
