A/N: Hey guys! I hope you're enjoying this story but please let me know what you think. I don't have a beta right now so I need some feedback. So please help me by rating and reviewing! Thanks!
Chapter 3: Two (men) are NOT better than one
"Arthur! What are you doing here? I thought this was your father's case." Leon's voice wavered as he said Arthur's name. Arthur stared at Leon, there were no words to describe the pain that he had felt when he had set his eyes on Leon's face. What was worse was that he seemed to be in some way involved with Sophia. What was the relation between those two?
"Would you have come if you'd known that it was to be me who was to represent Ms. Sidhe here?" Arthur really he hoped he said yes, he had so longed for the moment in which he could look upon Leon's beautiful features once more. There was something different about Leon today though. It was as if he was no longer as breathtakingly beautiful as he had once been. As a third voice entered their conversation, he realized why exactly this was.
"So, you two know each other?" Merlin was standing to Arthur's right and by his proximity it almost seemed like he wanted to throw Arthur behind him so that he could somehow protect him from Leon.
"We grew up together, didn't we Arthur?" A look of hurt passed over Arthur's features when Leon said this. Leon had never been able to fully commit himself to their relationship. This was why Arthur answered back spitefully, "Yes, we did, until you decided that a twenty year friendship was worth nothing and threw it down the drain when you left me after being together for such a long time. I mean we were dating, how could you do that to your boyfriend? No! How could you do that to me? We were supposed to be best mates!"
By this point in the conversation Arthur's carefully constructed cool exterior was crumbling and everyone in the room could see this. Arthur dabbed furiously at his eyes with his shirtsleeve while spinning in place to lock eyes with Merlin. "Do you think that you could take care of this? I need some time to think." With that said, Arthur was halfway out of the room before Leon sprinted forward and locked onto the crook of his elbow, turning him around so that they were face to face.
"I never meant to hurt you Arthur. I just wasn't ready to be honest to myself like you wanted me to be. Ever since then though I've been trying to open up more and I even found this amazing guy. His name is Gwaine and we've been together for close to a year. Let me tell you Arthur I've never felt as horrible as I did that day when I left. There are no words that could ever describe the love I felt for you back then. I still love you, but as a friend, I wanted to let you know, I never wanted to hurt you."
Arthur was openly sobbing now, with little hiccups interspersed with soft keening noises. He launched himself into Leon's arms and let himself be comforted by the strong arms that wrapped around his middle. He nuzzled against Leon's neck while reaching a hand into his shiny golden locks. Arthur pulled lightly and glanced up at Leon through tear-ridden eyes.
"You don't know how hard it's been for me ever since you left. My father has been putting more and more pressure on me and I just wish that you could have been there to help me through." Leon leaned down slightly and brushed his lips against Arthur's cheek and whispered "sorry" into his ear.
"Ahem, are you two ever going to explain what is going on. If you aren't could we please just get down to business because I really need to sort out my father's estate." Sophia was looking at them with a sort of devilish grin on her face and Arthur knew that she was happy that Arthur had finally gotten some closure.
Sophia and Arthur had become close friends in the months since they had first met, and Arthur knew that she would help him with anything. What Arthur didn't really understand was why he had come in to find Sophia in Leon's embrace. If Leon had said that he was in a relationship with another man, then why was he here comforting a woman.
"I am not going to go into details Sophia, but this is the Leon I had mentioned in one of our previous meetings."
"Wait, the Leon from the stories you told me was my cousin Leon?" Leon looked sheepishly at Merlin, unable to get in a word edgewise with the glares that Arthur and Sophia had been surreptitiously sending one another. Sophia paused before continuing her little speech as she opened and closed her mouth seemingly at a loss for words. Sophia then turned to look at Leon and a look of pure horror passed through her face.
"Oh my god! So then Leon was the guy you said was a god in bed. I asked for every detail and I was even aroused by your stories! This is so wrong, so gross! Why didn't you ever mention Leon's last name?"
Leon looked like he wanted to throw up but with an audible gulp was able to swallow the bile that was no doubt rising in his throat. Merlin kept shifting his gaze from Leon to Arthur, his expression going from one of confusion to one of confusion and happiness. Why was he happy, was it because he had discovered that Arthur was gay? Did he feel something for Arthur? Did he feel the same sort of electrifying connection between them? Arthur really hoped he did.
"Sophia I am really sorry, but I think that we should reschedule our meeting, more than half of it has already passed and we have a lot to do. I think I should go and clear my head before we begin something of such serious nature. I am tremendously sorry and I hope you do not mind, but I must be on my way."
With that Arthur was already out the door and headed towards the elevator. Leon made as if to follow him but the looks that both Merlin and Sophia sent him stopped him dead in his tracks. Maybe it would be better if they let Arthur go and take a walk so that he could clear his head, maybe that way Leon could clear everything up soon. Maybe he could even present Gwaine to Arthur, but with the way things had gone, Leon doubted he would ever get his best friend back.
