A/N: Okay, this is turning into a series of fluffy one shots. I'm going mad writing essays, so of course I need to write more M/M fluff to keep calm. If there are any other scenes you want to see from this point in their relationship, let me know! :)


Morgana glances through the window of the coffee shop. No customers seems to be inside, but Merlin is seated in one of the armchairs near the door, piles of books on the table before him and laptop open and precariously balanced on top them as he speedily types on the phone in his hand.

Morgana's mobile dings just as she pushes through the door and enters, barely holding back a smile.
"Hello!"

Merlin looks up, beaming, and Morgana feels nerves bubble up through her. She knows she's acting like a love-struck teenager, but she can't help the feeling when Merlin looks at her.

"It's about time you made it!"

"I was stuck on the end of an essay. The prof wanted us to take a psychoanalytical approach for a change and ugh." She makes a face and rolls her eyes as thoughts of Freud and Oedipus run through her mind.

Merlin cringes, and Morgana makes a positive note of his reaction. How many men had she met who loved psychoanalytic theory?

Making a show of looking around the shop, she asks, "Quiet night?"

Merlin nods. "There were quite a few students earlier, but they've all gone home."

"Well it is almost two in the morning."

"Says she who spends her nights in the library."

"That isn't fair. I'm starting to spend more of them here."

Merlin grins. "I can't say that I disapprove."

Morgana smirks. "Well. I can't say that I do, either."

"Can I get you anything?" Merlin asks, smile growing and standing to walk towards the counter.

"Hot chocolate? Please?"

Merlin mock gasps. "No coffee?"

Morgana shrugs. "I don't need to get anymore work done tonight."

Merlin deflates, even as the smile stays fixed on his face. "Should I make it in a takeaway cup, then?"

Morgana cocks her head to the side. "Not unless you want me to go?"

"No!" Merlin's eyes shoot back up to hers. Morgana grins and feels the nerves flutter as Merlin begins to blush. "I didn't mean to sound so…" He trails off and shrugs. "Of course if you want to go, then…"

"I don't want to go," she insists, shaking her head, grin still fixed to her face.

"Okay then." He picks up a mug and holds it up to her before proceeding to make the drink.

"What are you working on then?"

"Bibliography," Merlin says, making a face.

"Ugh. Always fun." She sympathizes. Bibliographies always drive her up the fall, mindlessly tedious as they are to compile and format.

"Always. I actually lost track and started looking at manuscript illuminations."

Morgana bursts out laughing.

"What?! They're hilarious."

"I know! I just never thought I'd hear of anyone else doing that for fun."

Merlin looks up, beaming at her. He keeps her gaze, and she feels her own smile spreading even further across her face, fully aware of how much she wants to go behind the counter and kiss him until neither of them can breathe.

Before she has the chance to even seriously consider putting her desires into motion, the whirring of the milk steamer intensifies and Merlin yelps as scalding hot milk boils over the edge of the container and onto his hand.

Morgana jumps into action, blushing that she'd inadvertently caused the accident by dragging his attention away from his task. She marches behind the counter, thoughts of kisses out of mind, and leads him to the sink before he has time to react. She turns the dial of the faucet to its coldest setting and gently holds his hand under it.

"I'm so sorry," she breathes as Merlin cocks his head to the side and looks at her in confusion.

"Why are you apologizing? You didn't do anything?"

She raises one pointed eyebrow, and both of her and Merlin's blushes return.

"It was my fault," he insists.

Morgana shakes her head, examining the bright red, burnt skin of his hand. "I might have something for this upstairs."

"Don't worry. There's balm and bandages in the back."

Morgana grins. "Of course Gaius is well-equipped for this sort of thing."

Merlin chuckles. "He has to be. I can be quite clumsy."

Morgana smiles and follows him to the back room. "Let me?" she asks as he reaches for a bandage.

She gently wraps it around his hand and feels her cheeks warming up as Merlin watches her. "There."

"Thank you," he says, voice suddenly much lower.

"Anytime."

She smiles up at him and moves just a bit closer as he does the same. Their eyes lock, and she feels it's finally going to happen. They're finally going to kiss and have to confront whatever it is that's happening between them, but just as her eyes flutter shut and she feels Merlin's breath on her cheek, the bell attached to the front door of the shop jangles. Dazed, they move apart.

"I should –" Merlin trails off and gestures towards the door, looking just as apologetic as he sounds.

Morgana nods, and watching him step out of the room, leans against the wall and sighs.