Arthur winked and smirked at a passing serving girl. The pretty little thing blushed and resumed her walk, giggling to her friend as she did. Merlin rolled his eyes, and nearly tripped on a crate as he did. It was evening in the marketplace, and Arthur was forcing Merlin along with him on his errands. Arthur always insisted on picking up his own sword from the smithy, now. He said it was because he didn't want Merlin dropping it and ruining all the fine blacksmith's hard work.
Merlin suspected it was because he'd nearly impaled himself on it a couple weeks ago.
Arthur didn't miss Merlin's gesture of contempt and raised an eyebrow questioningly,
"What?" he asked. Merlin snorted and fell in step beside his king. He didn't like walking behind Arthur. He may not know about Merlin's magic, but Merlin did. He practically lived in Arthur's shadow. He didn't want it to be a literal thing.
"You just never leave them alone, that's all. It's like you feed off the admiration of the opposite sex," Merlin said. Arthur looked aghast, than scoffed and laughed, trying to think of some kind of a rebuttal. Merlin waited patiently. Finally, Arthur's brain caught up with him,
"Well, Merlin, I wouldn't expect you to understand. Your appeal to women is minimal, at best. You've never even kissed one, let alone flirted with one,"
Merlin didn't care that people were staring. He didn't care because he was so completely scandalized by what the prince had just said that he thought he had every right to be speaking at high volumes-because he was not yelling.
"I-I have too kissed a girl!" he blubbered. This outburst seemed to seal Arthur's opinion,
"Right," he sneered, "Merlin, I have not seen you once try to be charming around a female. I'm sorry, but I find it hard to believe that you've ever had much to do with the gentler sex, at all. It's in the blood you see. I, for example, could have my pick of anyone in the kingdom, because it comes naturally. You, however, would be hard pressed to find someone who would seal their lips with yours," his voice was teasing, even playful. But Merlin felt the anger building up inside of him. Who did Arthur think he was?! What made him think he could….he needed to be taught a lesson.
…..
Arthur jumped in surprise as a very un-Merlin like laugh of derision reached his ears,
"Oh, Arthur," he put one hand on the king's shoulder, his cerulean eyes twinkling in a way Arthur had never seen, "Watch and learn," he said. He then broke away from Arthur's gaze, and strode confidently into the nearby tavern. He looked taller, his shoulders broader, somehow. Arthur scoffed and folded his arms across his chest, leaning against the building behind him, and waiting.
He only had to wait around two minutes, before, to his unutterable disbelief, Merlin came back outside…with a girl. And….a beautiful one, too. The girl giggled at something Merlin said. Merlin had one arm around her waist, and he strode up to Arthur with a triumphant grin,
"Arthur, this is Lily," the girl smiled, and blushed. Though, not at Arthur.
Arthur had to fight to make sure his jaw didn't hit the dirt.
Merlin then did something that would leave Arthur a little pale and slightly insecure for the next week to come.
Merlin slipped one hand onto the small of Lily's back, and with a bend of his knees and a clever twist to his torso, he swung her around in a deep dip, one hand in her hair and the other supporting her just a couple feet above the ground. He planted a fierce, unhesitant kiss on her lips. Her waist rested on one of his knees, and her hands lay limp at her sides, her back arched gracefully and her hair dangled like a velvet curtain behind her. Merlin's arms were folded into her curves, his muscles flexed and lined where exposed. Lily's eyes, which were wide open, then closed in pleasure.
It only lasted a few seconds. But that was all it took. With a flourish, Merlin ended the kiss, and brought them both back up to a normal standing position. Slightly rumpled but looking surer than Arthur had ever seen him, Merlin turned to his prince and lifted one eyebrow. Lily looked like she would swoon.
"What's the matter, Arthur? Afraid of a little competition?"
Arthur couldn't quite bring himself to say he wasn't.
A/N: Okay, maybe a bit ridiculous, but this was fun for me to write. *Sigh* Hope you liked it!
