"Ah! Boil you damn kettle!"
"Merlin! The kettle will boil once it's ready. Never underestimate the kettle!"
"Damn you Gwen!"
Merlin's flat was quite large, and Merlin alone wasn't able to pay the bills, meaning he needed a flat share. Merlin's flat mates was Gwen, a young independent woman, who worked in a nursery and Freya, who was a manager of a fashion store. Their next-door neighbour Will was often considered a flat mate due to the amount of times he was over.
It was six in the morning, and Freya had already got the grill on to prepare the toast for everyone. Merlin was in charge of drinks, Will was to wash up and Gwen was to dry up. They had a rota, in the form of a chart, hanging on the fridge.
Merlin was munching on his toast, adding a lump of butter to soften the next piece when Gwen spoke from across the table.
"Need a lift Merlin?"
"Isn't the nursery the other side of town though?"
"Yes, but I pass the high school on my way, so why not?"
"Fine, let me finish my toast and tea though."
"Cool. Be ready in 15 minutes."
Gwen was the only one out of the four that could drive, inspite of that she was the oldest. Freya could easily catch the no.22 into town, and Will could catch the no.18 to work, where Merlin helped out on Saturdays.
Merlin grabbed his box of items as well as his rucksack and followed Gwen out of the door. Over the weekend, Freya and Gwen went with Merlin to find him some new suits and shirts with ties, and some decent but affordable shoes. Freya's motto was professional but fashionable, something that fitted to Merlin. So today would be complete black without tie, but professional enough for his job.
Arriving there, he already had held of his ID card, which opened the main doors. In reach attached to the house keys, containing his key to the office. Merlin already knew that he'd be sharing the office with the current history teacher, but who that person was still remained a question.
Dropping the box down, Merlin slid the key into place and unlocked the door. Inside contained two desks, both completely cluttered with files and papers. There was a coffee machine to the end of the room, and posters about historical artefacts and propaganda filled the walls. Wondering where to begin, there was someone else the other side of the door.
The key rattled a little as the other noticed the door was already open, and pushed their way through. Merlin's back was turned to the figure, and when this figure – through voice, male – began his scroll of commands, Merlin turned to the figure.
"Eh, excuse me junior, if you wish to see me then knock."
Merlin turned around to see a tall, young, blond man facing him, not in the happiest of moods. Then again, it was Monday.
"Ah, you must be the current history teacher."
"Look, I don't care if you're a new sixth former. No special treatment. It goes the same for you as well as the others. Please wait outside."
"Look my friend. If you shut up and stop being such an arse then I'd be able to explain."
"Do you realise I can have you expelled?"
"I'm serious."
"Who are you?"
"I'm Merlin. I'm the new history teacher, so colleague, not pupil."
The blond male stood still, completely speechless, eventually finding some words to add.
"You, are a teacher?"
"Yes. Problem?"
"You look bloody seventeen, never mind twenty-something."
"Twenty-two to be exact. So, I've introduced myself, how about you?"
"Erm, well… I'm Arthur. I'm twenty-five next month, and I've worked here for three years."
"Right. So who's the other dude who works here then?"
"Sorry?"
Merlin eyed the desks, pointing his forefinger to both desks, the surfaces completely buried with papers and files. "Well, there's two desks, both are cluttered."
Arthur realised the mess from last summer and began to shuffle about. "Oh, I didn't realise we were having an extra member on board, so I was using both, but the desk by the window remains mine."
"Fine."
Arthur, from his body language, tensed about having a new member. For three years, this office had been his sanctuary, and now sharing with someone, he felt uncomfortable about having another member around him.
Arthur never had a class until 11am, and Merlin's first class was at 10am. Even though it was only seven, Merlin would start being his babbling self, as both started up their laptops and began working.
"So what is Avalon like?"
"Like every other high school. Mixed-gender, sixth-form, decent GCSE and A-Level results."
"What's your favourite period of history?"
"None of your business."
"It was just a question!"
"Will you shut up? Gods, you never stop talking. It's Monday morning for crying out loud! Ah, thankfully we have milk. Need a coffee."
Merlin eyed the coffee machine and gave a smug face. "You call that coffee?"
Arthur eyed Merlin with curiosity. "Yes, something that has caffeine in. Warm to the lips, soothes you."
"Meh, that's dishwater!"
Arthur huffed in his office chair and through his arms up. "You haven't even tried it!"
"I don't need to."
"Fine, whatever. I still need a drink though."
"How long is the lunch break?"
"An hour, why?"
"I know of this place where they sell half-decent coffee, okay, that was a lie. It's actually decent coffee. Maybe we could go there?"
"You've known me 10 minutes and you're already asking me out on a date?" Not that Arthur didn't mind though, there were some features of Merlin that were rather illuminating, such as his cheekbones, eyes, fashion sense… he could go on.
"Not a date you goon! A… work outing."
"Practically a date then since there's two of us."
"Well, bring more if you want."
Arthur halted Merlin, who was finding comfort in the other office chair. "No! No, the two of us is fine."
Arthur's hesitancy brought a smile to Merlin's lips. "Good."
"Can you excuse me a moment? I just need a talk with the headmaster."
"Of course. I'll just unpack the rest of my items on the desk."
"Just shove the rest of my stuff on my desk. I'll sort it out when I get back."
Arthur closed the door behind him and went straight for his father, who was the headmaster. Knocking on the door, came the simple word of enter. "Ah, Arthur. Nice to see that you're in earlier than usual."
"Why is my office now for two?"
"Oh, you've met Merlin then? Nice lad he is. Smart as well."
"Nice, he won't shut up! He's already giving me a headache and I've known him 15 minutes. He doesn't even look like a teacher!"
"What do you mean?"
"He looks 17. I mistook him for a sixth-former this morning, until he told me he was staff and showed me his ID. When were you going to tell me I had a colleague in my department?"
"I told you last summer, and I emailed you."
"Dad, you know I hardly ever read the emails through the school email."
"Well, maybe you should start." Uther let out a long sigh and then continued. "Give him a month and see what you think of him. If he's a pain, then we'll find another office for him."
"Eugh! Fine."
Arthur surrendered and returned back to the office. Merlin was an arse, but a stunning arse. Entering again, Arthur ignored Merlin's presence and began to clear the clutter, as Merlin finished filling his desk with pens, his glasses case, laptop, as well as a photo frame with a young couple on the image, enjoying a summer holiday.
Starting up the laptop, Merlin would click on Firefox to reach the school website, but couldn't receive a signal. No network. Pity.
"Arthur? What's the password to log in to the staff network?"
"Didn't they tell you?"
"Nope!"
"Stupid father! It's Lionheart, no spaces."
"Cheers! Wait… father?" Merlin swung himself to face Arthur, who had his arse on show, tight black trousers hugging it. A pretty arse, Merlin would notice.
Arthur continued sorting out papers without turning. "Yes, father. We have the same surname."
"Oh sorry, thought it was just a coincidence that it was the same. Actually, I'm lying. I didn't know your last name at all."
"You know now. When's your first class?"
"After morning break, why?"
"Because you're annoying and I might actually get some work done."
"Clot pole!"
At a quarter-to-ten, Merlin grabbed his essentials and left the office with Arthur still left in there. Arthur eased himself into his chair again, producing a cup of dishwater coffee and leaving it on the desk to cool. Bored with himself and needing to relax before Merlin soon arrived back, Arthur checked his Facebook.
Arthur scrolled down his timeline, checked his notifications and was about to close the tab, when Gwaine began to message him.
G: Haha! You've met Merlin then?
A: What?
G: Have you met Merlin?
A: Yes, he's an idiot. He doesn't even look twenty. Wait, how do you know?
G: He's written a status about you. I know it's you because he's your colleague.
A: Type it out.
M: Oh bloody hell! First day of actually being in work and my colleague is a right prat! He doesn't even know I'm now employed here!
2 likes
7 comments
A: Who's liked his status?
G: Some dude named Will, and your ex apparently
A: Sophia?
G: No, Gwen.
A: How does she know Merlin?
G: I'm not physic Arthur! Why don't you ask him?
A: What about comments?
G: - types out comments –
Gwen: He can't be that bad. I've known Arthur for years and he's an amazing guy once you get to know him
Merlin: Damn you Gwen!
Will: You're only saying that because he's gorgeous.
Merlin: And how would you know? You don't even swing that way. I should know that.
Will: You always find someone gorgeous when you whine about him or her
Gwen: It's true Merlin
Merlin: Damn you both!
A: So, he finds me amazing?
G: Well, I don't know, but yeah okay, he always does that, so maybe. I think you should give him a go.
A: What are you saying Gwaine?
G: Well, if you like him… What isn't there to like? Anyway, if you find him attractive, then maybe you should get him whilst you can.
G: Do you like him? I mean, really like him?
A: I don't know
G: Yes then. Look Arthur, it's been two years since Gwen ditched you for Lance
A: Don't remind me, I'm not fully over that.
G: And you haven't had anyone else since. If you like him then go for it.
A: How do I even know if he has a girlfriend?
G: Well, you won't quite yet, but if he talks about someone that much, then ask him. He'll probably tell you at some point. Who knows, he might actually like you.
A: Anyway, got to go. Ciao!
G: Make him feel wanted. Show him some swag and who knows, maybe he'll polish your sword sometime soon.
A: Piss off Gwaine!
Oh bloody hell, Arthur thought. If this is what work is like in two hours of being there with Merlin, what is a month or even more going to be like?