Mordred could feel a knot in his stomach begin to form.
"Everything alright?" He asked rising with Merlin.
"Not exactly." He dismissed, looking unusually unsettled.
"You can trust me you know." Merlin stopped trifling with his bag for a moment before meeting Mordred's pleading gaze.
"I'd like that" he replied softly breaking the contact between them. "But I really can't bore you with the details."
"I don't think you're boring in the least. I'll give you a ride, you can fill me in."
"Are you sure?"
"Believe me, I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't." Mordred replied. Merlin accepted the offer and they were well on their way.
"So… where do I start?"
"Lets start with the person I'm driving you too"
"His names Arthur"
"Let me guess the prat?"
"Yes," Merlin giggled at that. "His royal ass is in need of my services"
"Please tell me you don't clean up after him"
"Would you prefer I lied?" Mordred shot him an incredulous look.
"Do you really?"
"Sometimes…"
"What? Why?!"
"It hadn't always been that way"
"Do tell then"
"It's a long story"
"I'll drive slow"
"Fine" he said resting his head against the head rest. As Merlin closed his eyes Mordred watched as he silently tried to organize his thoughts.
"I first met Arthur back in high school, I was his tutor. The guy was a real idiot back then, not that much has changed" he laughed. "Anyway once graduation rolled around I planned on coming to university here but didn't have the money and had to settle for community college back home while Arthur easily got in with his soccer scholarship and fathers influence." Mordred nodded for Merlin to go on. "However after the first year his father realized what a true dollop head his son was and made me a tempting proposition" Merlin seemed to pause for dramatic effect "he offered to pay my tuition if I agreed to take care of Arthur."
"And by that you mean being his man servant?" Merlin placed a hand over his face in embarrassment.
"It wasn't always like that! I mean… when I first started it was basic tutoring like before but then I started doing his homework and suddenly it morphed into me doing everything for him while he played high king on campus with his stupid frat brothers."
"Why don't you quit?"
"I need the money desperately and his father is willing to do anything for his son to look good so he sometimes even pays for my rent to continue this charade. Besides Arthur needs me"
"Does he?"
"Of course he does, he can barely dress himself" he laughed
"Besides I know Arthur may be a lot of things but deep down he's still the boy from back home, he still has a good heart."
"You seem pretty fond of him"
"Yea well he was my first"
"Wait WHAT?" Mordred cried nearly swerving into the car beside them.
"My friend! My first friend!" Merlin corrected hastily grabbing for the wheel.
"Sorry, sorry!" Merlin screamed as they regained control of the car. Mordred simply chuckled at his panicked appearance.
"Don't worry that was totally my fault" he admitted. They drove on in silence for a few moments as Mordred fought with himself to ask something that had been burning in his mind.
"Does he… does Arthur appreciate you?" Merlin grew still at this.
"I doubt it" he whispered.
"And yet you'll continue this? Without the respect or appreciation you clearly deserve?"
"Just as long as he's happy I have no reason to ask for anything else."
"That's admirable" Merlin looked up at that.
"What is?"
"The loyalty to your king"
"Do you have anyone?"
"Hmm?"
"Someone that you're loyal to"
"To some degree yes, or at least I was"
"Who"
"My girlfriend Morgana"
"Oh so you have a girlfriend? ...wait do you mean Morgana Pendragon?"
"Yea, why do you know her?"
"Yes we went to school together, we were closer then. But she changed once her and Arthur found out the truth."
"What truth?"
"You know, her being Arthurs sister"
"Seriously? How"
"They share the same father, though neither of them are pleased about it" Mordred sat quietly taking it all it.
"I had no idea… Morgana never mentioned this" he finally replied.
"Well she wouldn't, they act as if the other were dead."
"That's terrible"
"Yes but true."
"Why are they so at odds though?"
"It's not place to say, I'm surprised I told you this much as it is."
"Sorry for prying"
"I'm the one that can't keep my mouth shut" he smiled "no worries." As they got off the highway Merlin informed him that they had only a few minutes more before they arrived at Arthurs place however nothing could possibly prepare Mordred for what he would see in the next few moments.
As the drove up the long drive way Mordred was shocked to see Arthurs house was more of a mansion. They weren't even half way up the drive way when Mordred stopped the car and stared ahead at the variety of colorful vehicles parked along the way.
"Is your highness throwing a party?"
"What? Oh, no those are Arthur's." Merlin replied matter-of-factly.
"What? How!?"
"I told you his father was paying my tuition, how did you expect he'd treat his son?"
"So he's rich and spoiled" Mordred grumbled.
"But still a decent human being." Merlin chided.
"I'll just have to take your word for it huh" he replied.
"Suppose so" he added. "But I should probably get going before Arthur decides to call me again" he said as he reached for his bag in the back seat and grasped the door handle.
"Wait" mordred called as Merlin placed one foot on the pavement.
"Can we do this again?"
"Do what?"
"You know, hang out. I haven't had this much fun in awhile." He replied looking down at Merlins suddenly self-conscious.
"Yea definitely." He smiled. "Here" before he knew it Merlin had given him his phone and asked him to add his number. "There's a here party tomorrow night. I don't want to go but I don't have a choice, would you mind tagging along?"
"Not at all, could be fun."
"Great I'll text you the details later. Thanks for the ride" he beamed as he left the car and made his way to Arthurs kingly estate.