A/N: Good evening, my lovelies! I was feeling quite in a writing mood after the brilliant episode yesterday and thought I might write the next chapter. It took a completely different turn than I expected it to, and I'm fervently apologizing for the sappy quote, but I just couldn't help myself.
So for now, I'm going to pack my bags to get back to school, and you have fun with a bit 'late night' Merthur. Enjoy!


A few seconds after 10 pm Merlin stumbled back into his room, the lights already switched off by Arthur. He motioned in the direction where he assumed his wardrobe, his eyes not yet acquainted to the darkness. He bumped into several objects on his way, and when he made it the wardrobe, he was very sure of some bruises already forming along his hipbones. A bit petulant he turned around, almost expecting Arthur to laugh as he hopped from place to place until he he was finally able to sink into his cushions and couldn't suppress a relieved exhalation. That was when Arthur snorted to show he wasn't already asleep; and Mr. Gaius popped his head into the room in his every evening round to make sure they were in bed, turned the lights out and wished them a good night.

Merlin sighed. He felt like for the most part he had had one of the most stressing days in his life, having driven several hours by train, asked his way to Camelot College and made more important acquaintances for his further school life than was probably healthy, but even so couldn't sleep nonetheless. Minutes passed. He possibly had tried everything already – changing his sleeping position but avoiding the one turned to Arthur, imagining baking his favourite cupcakes, counting prime numbers – and still wasn't able to make his way into the land of dreams. So finally he squeezed his eyes shut and turned on his right side, the one he was most comfortable with, but unfortunately the same he would have to see Arthur first thing if he was to open his eyes again. Which he promptly did as he heard a frustrated sigh and the shifting of blankets. So Arthur couldn't sleep as well.

"Did you know that it's harder to fall asleep in a location were not accustomed to or feel unsafe in?"

Merlin had closed his eyes again, making it easier to ignore it if he should be ignored. Which it seemed like.

Then: "What's that supposed to mean?"

Merlin peered out of his left eye to find Arthur turned to him and eyeing him suspiciously. He opened his eyes again and looked back into Arthur's eyes.

"It means that, if one is new to a place, like me, or feels unsafe in a place he might isn't new to due to an intruder, like you, one most probably has a hard time falling asleep because his unconsciousness won't relax so easily." He shut his eyes again.

"Hum.", Arthur said. It was quiet again after that, both of them listening to the respective other one breathing.

Normally, Merlin would have had a thousand questions: How life at Camelot College was. Which teachers the ones to get easy marks from were. Which unspoken rules there were to stick to. How the other ones were. Which societies brought the most fun. Even how the food tasted.

And normally, he would have just gone for it, annoying Arthur to no end, but somehow he just didn't found it in him to a) break the awkward silence again without a real conversation developing and b) he still wasn't sure if Arthur was the one he'd have liked to answer his questions. He should probably wait until he could get to Lance the other day.

Much to his surprise, it was Arthur who broke the silence after a while by clearing his throat:

"Merlin?"

"Hm?" He opened one eye again. Arthur was staring at the ceiling.

"Where do you come from?"

The question marks were all written over his face.

"Uhh... Great Britain, I guess?" Even in the dim light he could see Arthur rolling his eyes.

"I know, Merlin. I mean, which county, which city do you come from?"

"Oh, I don't think it will say you something, it's a small village a few hours up from Nottingham, Ealdor."

"Hm. Couldn't have told it by your accent." Pause again. "And why are you here?"

"My mom tried to get me in, because I said I wanted to be a doctor some time ago, and she thought I had the best opportunities in education and getting a proper place in uni here."

"So you wanna be a doctor?"

"No, I... I don't know. I mean, my mother sacrificed so much, I couldn't really tell her I'd rather study physics by the time I finally got the scholarship, could I?"

Arthur nodded, far from understanding, Merlin could tell.

"So, you're one of those science geeks then?"

"If you like to call it that."

Arthur shortly raised his eyebrows, then laughed a bit.

"Sleep well, Merlin, it's going to be a long day tomorrow."

And with that, he turned his back and made himself comfortable to sleep. Merlin closed his eyes as well and tried to fall asleep as well.

"Arthur?"

"Yes, Merlin?"

"Why the sudden interest?"

"Oh, I thought it might soothe my unconsciousness to know your not a psychopathic mass murderer."

"So chances are there is some reason in that brain of yours?"

Arthur nudged him with his foot under the sheets.

"Yes, Merlin, one can have that without wanting to follow some old deadhead like Newton in his life choices, I'll have you know."

Merlin bid back a comment that Newton originally had studied philosophy and he really really really had no intention whatsoever to do so, but instead said: "I'm looking forward to it.", which gained him another nudge with the foot.

Arthur turned around again, shook his head and said: "There's something about you Merlin... I can't quite put my finger on it."

With a last nod, he turned around again.

Merlin turned to his back and smiled. Arthur might be a prat, a rich pompous arse even, who was most likely to take full advantage of Merlin's mathematical knowledge from now on, but maybe, and just maybe, the next year wouldn't be as horrible as he had expected.