Disclaimer: Still don't own it.
Warning: Slash. Modern!Fic.
AN: I want to thank those that reviewed (Beizanten and bookwormqueen7, you two rock!), who alerted or faved this. I intended to update sooner, but things got in the way. Sorry about that.
Once again, any and all mistakes are completely my own.
Forever Yours
Chapter 2 – Father's son
Cooking a pasta-dish. How to clean wine-stains from your sofa. A bad looking movie. A song which has been played to death already. There was absolutely nothing on TV, but Merlin shouldn't have expected anything else at one in the afternoon. He was about to switch off the TV and throw aside the remote control when the final channel offered a short interview with Uther Pendragon, director of the CMI or 'Camelot Microsoft Industries'.
He didn't know why he decided to watch it, but he already regretted when hearing the first question posed. "What about your son," a blond woman with unnatural dark eyes asked, "Do you believe he is ready to take over the business?" She shoved her microphone back into Uther's already grumpy face.
Uther produced a faint, polite smile. "Arthur is a smart man, truly his father's son," he answered, "he has been trained to become my successor since his birth. He'll be well capable."
The reporter chuckled softly, "You're not planning on retiring yet?"
Annoyance crossed Uther's face. "Of course not," he explained, "I'm 57 years old. I still have some good years ahead. Many believe that Arthur should become director of the company already, but such thoughts are ridiculous. Yes, my son will be excellent at the job, but he is 28 years old which is very young to have so many burdens on his shoulders."
The blonde reporter nodded understandingly.
"Besides," Uther added, "he is not even married yet. When I was 28 years old, I had a beautiful and strong woman at my side and a daughter."
Merlin knew Uther spoke of Morgana, but he noticed how he avoided using her actual name. The entire affair with Vivienne had caused quiet the scandal in the past since Uther had already been married to Igraine for almost two years. However, Vivienne had died very young, leaving Uther with the consequences – Morgana – of their affair. It was only because Igraine had been pregnant with Arthur at the time that she had stayed with Uther for her son's sake. She had during childbirth, but no one spoke of that. It pained the Pendragon's too much.
Igraine had been a much beloved figure.
The reported continued, "Are you saying Arthur should get married before he can be your successor?"
Uther's lips twisted upwards into a grin, though a very fake one. "I am saying he should have someone at his side that supports him. Producing an heir is important as well, a son so that the business can remain in the family."
Merlin had seen and heard enough and switched of the TV. He threw aside the remote control and it landed forcefully on the other side of the couch. He was lucky it lay scattered with papers and books and the remote control skidded to a halt just before falling onto the floor. Arthur wouldn't have been pleased had Merlin broken the control.
He wasn't sure why he felt so angry, but hearing Uther's words made his blood run cold. He straightened his back and inhaled deeply, trying to steady himself. He wanted to forget the interview, but it had hit a nerve within him. It was proof that Arthur kept him hidden. They were practically living together for a year, but Uther still didn't know. Merlin felt strangely dirty. He was a secret, a feverishly kept one. Wasn't he important enough to Arthur. Didn't he want his father to know about their love?
Shaking away those thoughts, he focused back on his econimics-course. Finals were three weeks away and he needed to stay focused. Still, Uther's words lingered in the back of his head and by the time Arthur returned home, they were screaming at him. 'Producing an heir is important as well, a son so that the business can remain in the family.' Those had been Uther's words.
Arthur threw aside his bag and dropped his car keys into a bowl near the entrance of the flat. He darted towards Merlin who was seated on his favourite spot on the couch. He smiled and dropped down next to Merlin, "Hello, you."
Merlin's response was short, "Hi."
A look of confusion filled Arthur's eyes and his eyes narrowed. "Merlin?"
Not looking up from his book, Merlin remained silent.
"Merlin?" Arthur called for his attention again. "Is something wrong? Did I do something wrong again? If this is about the eating the cookies in bed last night while you were sleeping, then I'm-"
Merlin's head shot up and his eyes widened. "You ate cookies in bed last night?"
With wide eyes, Arthur pressed his lips together and shook his head. "No..." he said hesitantly, "because...you asked me not to." He conjured his most charming and devious smile.
A sigh of exasperation escaped Merlin's lips and he snapped shut his book. "You know I hate it when you do that," he said louder than intended. When he turned to look at Arthur, he found the man to appear strangely small.
"I love you?" Arthur said softly.
Normally, Merlin would acknowledge the words or smile at him, but this time he merely jumped up from the couch and began pacing up and down the flat. He crossed his arms before his chest and glared at Arthur. "Are you sure about that?" The words had left his lips before he could stop himself.
Arthur remained eerily quite. "What are you talking about?" he asked after a long moment of silence.
Not daring to look at Arthur to see his hurt expression, Merlin rubbed his hands over his face. He tried to make sense out of what he was thinking and feeling, but it was all very complicated. "I'm sorry," he sighed, "Arthur, I shouldn't have said that."
"Indeed," Arthur agreed bluntly, "you shouldn't have. I do love you, Merlin, that's the truth. Tell me what is really bothering you."
Slowly, Merlin turned around and observed how Arthur looked at him with confusion, pain and a little distrust. "I..." - Should he even make such a big deal out of this? - "I saw an interview with your father on TV. He spoke about how you're not married and don't have any children. Arthur, he doesn't even know the truth about you."
Arthur leaned back into the couch, his eyes falling away from Merlin. "So that is what this is about?" He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. "I've explained to you that my family isn't like yours. It's not all love and acceptance."
"This has nothing to do with my family," Merlin yelled while throwing his hands in the air, "this is about you not wanting your father to know about me. Are you ashamed that you love me?"
Arthur blinked rapidly. "You've never actually met my father, you can't possible understand what kind of a man he is."
Merlin nodded, fighting back his tears. "He's a tyrant," he said, his voice shaking, "he's a bully and he's a cold hearted bastard." He gazed straight into Arthur's eyes. "That's how you once described him. I don't care, Arthur, I just want you to be honest with yourself."
"You make it all sound very easy. However, my life isn't easy and you're one of the few things that actually feels right. Don't go screwing it up now!"
Merlin swallowed heavily. "Don't pin this on me," he breathed, "don't you dare say that this is something in my head. I have never asked you for anything, but I do want to be...acknowledged. You hide me and it must be so exiting to have a secret like this, but I can't do it anymore." A low sigh escaped his lips before he continued, "Arthur, I try to understand what kind of life you're living and I know it's a public one, but I'm not asking you to round up a dozen reporters and proclaim your love for me on the streets. I am merely asking you to tell your father."
Slowly, Arthur shook his head. His face was white, either with pain or anger. However, Merlin felt he had a point and if Arthur was too afraid to tell his father, then what kind of future did they have? He didn't want a boyfriend that was afraid to be with him outside the walls of this flat.
"I can't tell him," Arthur sighed, "I just can't. Not yet."
A sob broke through Merlin's closed lips. He wanted to stay strong, but tears escaped the corners of his eyes. "And I can't do this anymore," he whispered sadly, "I'm sorry, Arthur, but I want you to leave now."
Arthur rose from the couch and stepped forward, reaching out his hand to take Merlin's. "Merlin, please."
Merlin looked away from him and flinched back. "Leave," he repeated. A long moment passed where nothing happened and Merlin closed his eyes. He couldn't look at Arthur for the moment. Footsteps suddenly faded away and a door slammed shut.
When Merlin opened his eyes again, he found himself to be completely alone.
And then he cried.