"Shut up!"

"No, you shut up and pay attention!"

"Bite me!"

"Don't make me-"

"If you two girls would stop flirting, and drive the bloody damn car!" Gwaine yelled from the backseat. Arthur whipped his head around from the passenger seat and glared at Gwaine.

"We are not flirting!" he barked, Gwaine snickered. But it was at this point that Merlin floored it and they were all thrown back into their seats. Fighting against the urge, Arthur turned and watched as they zoomed down the empty street, Lance, Leon and Percy behind them in another car. "Yes, we're ahead!"

"I told you!" Merlin commented, eyes focusing on the road. Merlin took a tight turn to the right and eyed the road hungrily. Arthur just watched him for a moment. The tip of his tongue was peaking out between his tight-lipped lips and his eyes were downcast, dark looking. Arthur looked back at the road, and saw the upcoming red light blinking yellow. Merlin zoomed under it and turned left.

In no time at all, Merlin jerked to a stop in front of the coffee shop and Gwaine rejoiced in the backseat, letting out profanities and praise all at once. Merlin looked over at Arthur, eyes still dark, breath coming out in heavy huffs. He jumped forward and Arthur felt his stomach clench a little, but then unclench when Merlin only threw his arms around him and yelled in his ear.

"Told you I'd beat them!"

Merlin let him go and got out of the car, to join Gwaine, who had gotten out of the car without Arthur noticing. Arthur just stayed there for a second though, letting the energy run through him, he felt it pooling where the clenching had been early and suddenly felt very dangerous, like he should do something really stupid. He took a breath and forced the feeling away before getting out of the car as well, to go rub it in Lance's face that Arthur's car had won, and was clearly better for that reason alone.

They all went inside after that, everyone thinking it would be just such a great idea to get high at this point. All but Arthur that is, no matter how electric he was feeling right now. He just sat there and watched them like he always did, and sprayed fabreeze after they finished smoking.

He was putting the sprayer back in the cupboard under the sink when he heard the door to the shop opening. He knew Hunith wouldn't be home, she was out with Agravaine, and after Merlin's first explosion, hadn't brought him home since. He walked out of the kitchen door and saw it was only Merlin himself, carrying a tray of cupcakes. He smirked knowingly at Arthur and went into the living room.

Arthur followed.

When they walked in, Lance was already asleep. He always fell asleep relatively easily after smoking. He was a lightweight, Gwaine explained once. But Arthur really didn't think so.

They were dropping like flies, first it was Lance and then it was Leon. Percy fell asleep with a cupcake in his mouth and Gwaine stayed awake the longest, next to Merlin, that is, who was licking the foresting off a green cupcake next to Arthur. When Gwaine finally fell asleep, head resting against the coffee table, Arthur rolled his eyes and turned on the telly.

"Hand me a cupcake," he muttered, after a few minutes of them sitting there. Merlin leaned forward and picked up one with blue frosting. Arthur went to grab it, but Merlin held it out of his reach. "What the hell?"

Merlin didn't say anything, just pealed the paper from it and brought the cupcake to Arthur's lips. Arthur fixed him with an uncomfortable stare, but Merlin looked back with those dark eyes from before. And Arthur caved. He took a big bite of it, feeling Merlin's fingers against his lips and frosting get on his nose.

Arthur went to wipe it off, as Merlin pulled the cupcake away, but he was stopped, by Merlin. Arthur gave him another fixed look, this one made of confusion. Instead of cleaning it off, though, Merlin leaned forward and licked the frosting right off. It was all wet and very tongue-y. Arthur couldn't breathe for a second.

"Merlin," he said, in a voice he didn't recognize, and it was his voice after all, and that really didn't make sense at all. Merlin just looked at him with dilated eyes and Arthur felt that clench in his stomach again. "Merlin…" He said again, slower this time, a little more confused, because he didn't know what the hell was going on and Merlin was just looking at him. It was driving him crazy. "Uh-"

Gwaine let out a mighty snore then and Merlin got startled, looking over at him quickly before back at Arthur and the moment, whatever it had been, was gone, just like that. Arthur could feel it disappearing. Merlin smiled, kindly at him, and leaned forward, wrapping his arms around Arthur.

One thing about Merlin was, he was very affectionate when intoxicated.

XXX

Arthur woke up to an annoying tapping and something wet on his neck.

He opened his eyes to be met with Leon's face, that explained the tapping and with a quick look to his right, found Merlin nestled against the sofa and Arthur. That explained the wet, or drool, rather. He took in a breath and felt his back popping, sleeping on the floor was really not fun.

"Me and the lads are heading out," Leon explained, in a hushed voice. Arthur nodded his understanding. "Call ya later."

"Cool," Arthur muttered after him, watching as he walked away. Arthur's arm was asleep under Merlin's weight and when he tried to move it, Merlin only made slight hmmm noises and nuzzled closer. What was a guy to do? "Merlin!" He spoke, loud enough that it should wake him. Merlin whined and Arthur knew it had worked, thankfully. "I can't feel my bloody damn arm!"

He pulled it out and Merlin landed with a humph on the floor. Arthur shook his arm as he stood up and watched as Merlin curled up in the space Arthur had once been in.

"You're like a cat, you know that?" he asked and Merlin nodded, a sly smile on his lips , but he didn't bother opening his eyes, or even to move further than he already had. Arthur grabbed the blanket from the couch and laid it over Merlin, gently. "There you go, you wanker."

Arthur left Merlin there to sleep and headed to the bathroom to freshen up and then went to the kitchen to try and find something to eat. He looked through all of the cupboards and the fridge before settling on eating some cereal right out of the box. He stood there for a few minutes, shoving little circles that tasted like cardboard into his mouth. He was debating on actually getting a bowl and some milk when he heard the back door open. He set the cereal down and walked out to the hall to see Hunith coming through the door.

"Where have you been, young lady?" He said, loudly, but smiled playfully, to show her he was just kidding. She smiled at him but it was a bit forced more than anything. He frowned. "I was just kidding, I mean…you know, because parents always do that to-"

"I know, love," she said, she sounded rather sad. Arthur scrunched up his face in confusion and looked at her. "I bet you're probably hungry, I'll make you something," she said, after another second, before walking to the kitchen, which Arthur was standing in front of. When she got close enough she added, "Merlin still asleep?"

Arthur nodded and followed her. She looked around the kitchen as if she didn't remember where anything was at all, (and that was very, very strange for Hunith, so you could see Arthur's concern,) before she walked over to the fridge and blankly stared at the contents inside.

"What's the matter?" he finally asked. She looked over and acted like she just noticed Arthur was there.

"Oh, nothing…" she said, and Arthur was about to fight that answer, because it definitely looked like something. Until. "I had a fight with Agravaine is all…"

Now they were getting somewhere.

"What about?" he asked, sitting in one of the kitchen chairs, watching as she pulled a carton of eggs out. He didn't expect her to tell him, people were like that, he expected her to make something up or just brush it off as no big deal. But she didn't, she rushed over, eggs and all, and sat down next to him, heaving a great, sad sigh.

"For awhile now Agravaine has wanted to have dinner here and I keep telling him it's best if he didn't, because of Merlin and such, but he's insisting," she explained, pulling loose bits of hair, as she looked at Arthur for what might be some help.

"Say no, Merlin would flip," Arthur told her. "He hates Agravaine."

"I don't see why, if I like him, why can't Merlin give him a chance?"

Arthur shrugged, because he didn't know. Although he wouldn't give Agravaine a chance either. Hunith sighed again, sadly and a bit more frustrated now and got up, taking the eggs with her.

"Either way," she said, once the eggs started frying. "Agravaine says it's my fault, that I don't know how to properly control my child. That I've somehow failed as a mother because-"

"That's the problem with parents," Arthur cut in, making her turn and look back at him, almost like he was about to insult her too. He wasn't. "And adults, they think that parents can control their children like they're dogs or something. But they can't, "he explained. "Kids start getting a mind of their own at like ten and sometimes younger, I was a late bloomer, I got a mind of my own at twelve, but that's only because I wanted to please my mum. And Merlin wants to please you too, he loves you more than anyone. But he's not going to bend his will so Avragaine can get what he wants, Merlin is allowed his own opinion and choice, he's not a dog, he's sixteen years old."

"I know that," Hunith told him, but this time with a hint of a real smile. "I just wish someone would tell Agravaine this."

"I'll give him a call for you."

She laughed and served him some eggs.

XXX

"How about you, are you seeing anyone?" Hunith asked. They had been having a lovely conversation while Arthur ate his eggs, ranging from a number of different things and somehow to his mother, and her not dating anyone, to this.

"No," Arthur shrugged. "You think if I was, I'd be here so much?"

"Probably not," she laughed. "But how about fancying, do you fancy anyone?"

"No."

"No pretty girls at school?"

"I don't really pay attention to girls," he admitted, causally, because it was true and no big deal. He was busy a lot of the time, hanging out with his mates and helping in the shop. He didn't have time to look at girls. But it seemed Hunith thought he meant something else entirely.

"Oh…OH!" she was saying, making Arthur look over to her from his plate. Her mouth had formed an O and she was nodding. "Well, that's perfectly fine…does your mother know? Not that it's something that you can't tell. I mean, you can't tell, but you can tell people if you desire to. I think it's great, does Merlin know? I do hope you've told him, I had a gay best friend in school, you know."

"Gay?" Arthur asked, eyes widening. "I didn't mean…no, I'm not gay!" he nearly shouted. "I just meant I don't really look at girls," he tried to explain, which really wasn't helping at all. "I mean, I just…don't care about girls…right now. In the future I will. Lots of girls!"

Overall, he didn't sound convincing at all, and she didn't seem to think so either. "It's alright, dear, it doesn't matter to me either way."

Arthur fled.

He found himself back in the living room, shaking awake Merlin, he batted open his blue eyes and smiled up at Arthur. Arthur didn't have time for that, he wanted to blurt out 'Your mother thinks I'm gay,' that was the reason he came in here. But he just couldn't. He slumped on the couch while Merlin sat up and stretched.

"You smell like breakfast, I'm starving."

"Let's go somewhere today," Arthur suggested, before really considering the plan. He just didn't want to sit in the coffee shop for the next six hours thinking about how Hunith thought he was gay. He didn't have anything against being gay, or people who were gay. But he also knew what kind of treatment those people got in school, (not from him or his friends, but other heartless people,) and he really couldn't chance that getting around.

"Yeah," Merlin nodded, tuffs of hair sticking up places. He was smiling, though a bit sleepy. "Where to?"

"The shore."

"Okay. But first...breakfast!"

XXX

After Merlin's breakfast, the two gathered up their friends and piled, once again, into Arthur's car. It was a tight fit, as always, and Merlin's elbow was in Arthur's rib again, but he took it with a sort of grace. Because, at least he wasn't in the shop with Hunith's knowing eyes on him.

About an hour and a half later, they reached St. Mary's Bay. It was a bit chilly for a summer day; the wind blew hard against their faces. Not a soul was there, which seemed to suit Gwaine just fine. Who went running down to the water, he reminded Arthur of an excited dog for some reason. Lance and Gwen went walking off, holding hands, and Leon and Percy went to find a place to put on their trunks.

Merlin was the only one who stayed, leaning against the car next to Arthur.

"Don't tell me you're scared of the ocean, Merlin…"

"I'm not," Merlin shrugged. "I just thought I'd stay with you. Besides, they're mental, the water's probably freezing."

They watched as Gwaine chased after a small wave and started stomping in it. Merlin laughed.

"Want to walk with me?" Arthur offered. After all, he had suggested the beach so that he could take his mind off things. What better way to do that than a walk? Merlin grinned.

"Don't tell me you're scared of the water, Arthur," he teased. Which, made Arthur roll his eyes. He didn't bother to answer that and headed down the sandy bit of land. Merlin followed behind.

Up ahead a bit, Gwen and Lance were sitting on a bench, lips stuck together in what looked like a war. Arthur grimaced and looked back at Merlin.

"Sickening, isn't it?" Arthur asked, and Merlin shrugged. Which led Arthur to start thinking a little, which was exactly what he didn't want to be doing today. "Have you ever…?" He jerked toward the making out couple and pulled a face like he wasn't disgusted at the idea of Merlin kissing someone. Merlin smirked.

"Once…"

"Yeah?" Arthur encouraged him.

"It was Will…" Merlin was looking sad now, but Arthur couldn't quite mask his distaste. Merlin let out a sad little laugh, like he didn't quite mean it, but tried anyway. "I know you don't like him…"

"The feeling is very much mutual, and after the way he's treated you, can you blame me?"

Arthur had hated Will before, mostly as a side effect of hating Merlin. But now, Arthur saw how big of an asshole Will truly was and these days, Arthur would probably take a bullet for Merlin. Although, Arthur was starting to think that maybe taking a bullet for Merlin was going a bit too far…but yes, he probably would. He definitely would, he decided, looking upon Merlin's very sad, kicked puppy like face. Anyone who hurt Merlin needed to be punished. Maybe even Arthur himself, and without a doubt Will.

"I'm sorry," Arthur finally said. "I know it's because of me…"

"No," Merlin lied, smiling a little. "It's just that he thinks I'm a traitor or whatever…" Merlin took a breath. "And maybe I am, but I'd rather be friends with you. Our mums are happy and you're really not that bad…once you get passed the hard, pratty shell you've got."

"You still think I'm a prat?" Arthur asked, casually, grinning at Merlin's sad smile. It grew into a real, genuine smile and that's what Arthur had wanted.

"I'll always think you're a prat."

"Gee, thanks…"

"So, what about you, huh?" Merlin started again, wiggling his eyebrows. "Kissed anyone?"

Arthur rolled his eyes openly and headed over to a bench. Neither Gwen nor Lance had noticed them yet, and he doubted they would, they were rather busy at the moment. Merlin followed after him, looking eager. Probably waiting for a long list of people Arthur had kissed or a story about a fleeting fancy. He would get neither from Arthur though.

"Gwen," he said, finally, glancing over to the kissing couple once again. "She's the only person I've ever kissed."

"You kissed Gwen?" Merlin nearly shouted and Arthur had to fight the urge to cover his mouth. Merlin realized himself and when he spoke next, his voice was quieter. "You kissed Gwen?! When? Why? Does Lance know…?"

"It was before they started dating and I don't know if she ever told him," Arthur shrugged. "Probably not and I'm not going to." He looked toward Merlin now and he looked very invested. Arthur didn't get why, the story really wasn't very interesting. "I don't know why I kissed her, I just did, it was only one kiss and…it didn't really mean anything."

"Yeah," Merlin nodded. "It didn't mean anything when I kissed Will either." He sighed then, "I just wanted to see what it would be like. Maybe if I kissed someone I actually wanted to kiss…"

"Maybe…" Arthur agreed. He watched Merlin look very perplexed for a moment before opening his mouth again, but it was at that very moment, Arthur's phone went off. "It's probably mum…" Arthur said, pulling out his phone and looking at the screen. However, it was not his mother, it was someone he didn't expect a call from at all. His father.

His father never called him, only on his birthday or on Christmas. And the last Arthur checked, it was neither. Merlin must have noticed the wariness in Arthur because he stopped looking like a kicked puppy for the second time, and started to look worried too.

"Who is it?" he asked.

"It's my dad…"

"What does he want?"

"I don't know, I didn't answer the phone yet!"

"Well, answer it already!"

So, Arthur did.

Uther was never a man of very many words; he got to the point and got on with it. Phone conversations were never more than five minutes long and if they somehow got to six, Uther seemed very annoyed about this fact. Business savvy and very viscous, Arthur was glad he left with his mum when he did. He used to want to be just like his dad, but now he absolutely hated when someone said he was like the man at all.

"Arthur," he said pointedly into the phone, just as soon as Arthur had muttered out a hello. "I have been thinking Morgana and I should take a trip up there, how is next week for you?"

"Uh…" Arthur trailed off. This sounded awfully like a business agreement. Arthur wasn't quite sure he was able to make those decisions quite yet, so he muttered. "You better ask mum…"

"Rightly so, I will speak with your mother and get back to you."

The line went dead and Arthur hung up, slowly. Merlin was looking concerned. "What was that?"

"My dad wants to come visit."

"You were on the phone for like thirty seconds…"

"My dad talks fast."

XXX

Gwaine was like a dog, staying in the water all day and splashing around. Even though the water was cold, as Leon and Percy described plainly enough. But Gwaine still played all day. Now it was after midnight and they all sat in a tiny Inn. In a room Gwaine, Leon and Percy were sharing. Gwaine passed around beers no one knew from where he had found them, but they took them anyway. Arthur thought he might have stolen them.

Arthur was passed one and he popped it open, handing the bottle to Merlin. Merlin, who was already high as hell at this point, smiled and petted Arthur's knee, taking a long drink of the beer.

"He's like Sirius," Merlin said then, eyes wide as the bottle left his lips. "Gwaine's like Sirius."

"The star?" Gwen asked, from her spot on Lance's lap. Arthur figured those two would be leaving to go back to their own room soon, they wouldn't stop touching each other. And honestly, it was kind of gross.

"No, Sirius Black."

"Ohh!" Percy moaned, a fellow Harry fan. "Yeah, completely."

"Mhm," Merlin grinned, sloppily. "Arthur's like James."

"Why do I have to be James?" Arthur asked.

"Because you and him have so much in common," Merlin explained. "He used to be a bully and then he wasn't."

"Oh, thanks…"

"No, it's a good thing," Merlin assured. "Lance is Lupin and Gwen is Lily, I always sort of shipped that anyway."

"I think you have too much time on your hands," Arthur offered, taking Merlin's hand off his thigh, before someone noticed it there, besides Arthur, anyway.

"I'm offended, who's left but Peter at this point?" Leon asked.

"Frank Longbottom, and uhh…" Merlin's eyes looked a bit crossed suddenly and he yawned. "I'll get back to you on that."

"So, does that mean me and Lance are banging?" Gwaine asked, after a moment and after Arthur thought this conversation was over. "Because Merlin's talked about Lupin and Sirius… you know, banging."

"You stay away from my man!" Gwen retorted, tightening her hands around Lance's collar.

"You could be," Merlin shrugged. " I mean you bought Harry a Christmas present together…if that's not love…"

"That's cheepness, my godson deserves better!" Gwaine announced, loudly. "How could I do Harry like that?"

"You just spent twelve years in prison," Percy told him. "You don't have any money."

"Why do I feel like that's actually going to happen one day?" Leon asked, smirking over at Gwaine. "Just promise you'll plead guilty and take a lesser sentence."

"Can't promise that, mate," Gwaine shrugged. "I was framed!"

"Gwaine will be fine, just as long as he doesn't go near any curtains," Merlin assured, before yawning again and looking over to Arthur. "M'tired."

"Yeah, we should head to bed," Arthur said, standing up. He took the empty beer bottle from Merlin and threw it toward Gwaine. Who, caught it and binned it. "We have to drive all the way back home tomorrow morning."

"Nah, you do," Gwaine winked, before falling onto one of the beds. Arthur rolled his eyes and headed for the door, Merlin trailing behind. "Night, Potter!" Gwaine called after them. Arthur ignored him.

They went to their own room, on the trip there Merlin had nearly fallen over twice and Arthur was just happy to get there and key into the room before Merlin passed out on him. However, the relief was short lived, when they walked into the room and there was only one bed.

"What the hell?" Arthur yelled, Merlin ran into him from behind, as he stopped at the entrance, staring into the room. Merlin made a huff noise. "I think we got Lance and Gwen's room…"

"Does it matter?" Merlin asked. "I don't care, I want to sleep and it's not like we've never slept close to each other before…"

"I guess…" Arthur shrugged. He didn't really know why the fact that there was only one bed bothered him so much.

"Is this because I kissed Will?"

"What?" Arthur turned around, to see Merlin looking like a kicked puppy for the third time today. But now, he looked like a drunk and high kicked puppy and somehow that made things worse. "Course not, I don't care who you've kissed. If I didn't want to know, I wouldn't have asked."

"Good," Merlin smiled. Arthur nodded and headed into the bathroom. Truth be told, Arthur hadn't really thought about it much, it had been right before his dad had called and those thoughts were kind of lost after. But now, thinking about it. Merlin had kissed Will, so obviously that meant what? That Merlin was gay? Wasn't it the fact that Hunith thought Arthur was gay the reason he had brought them all up here in the first place? Maybe that was why Hunith wondered if Arthur had told Merlin yet…

And Arthur wondered why Merlin never told him this before now. Maybe he thought Arthur wouldn't like him anymore after, (it seemed that way,) or, maybe he never thought it was important enough information to share. And if he thought that then, so would Arthur. Really, why should Arthur care?

Returning to the main room, Arthur found Merlin already in the bed, tucked in like a little kitten. Merlin varied from kitten to puppy quite often. Arthur got into bed and within a second Merlin rolled and wiggled closer. He was a very affectionate drunk, Arthur already knew this. Even with the whole gay thing now, he wasn't going to let it bother him, it never had before. It wasn't really a shock that Merlin might be gay, maybe that was why Arthur hadn't reacted at all at first. And that was why he wasn't going to react now. After all, Arthur didn't care about gay people, he liked them even. He just wasn't one, that was all...

"Hmm…Arthur," Merlin said, in the quiet, and Arthur suddenly felt Merlin's very cold nose on his neck. "Arthur…"

"What?" he asked in return.

"Do you like me?"

"What…?"

"Do you like me?"

"Yeah, I like you," Arthur answered, and he felt Merlin's arms wrap around his middle. "Why?"

"I don't want to lose you, like I did Will." Arthur couldn't see him, it was dark in the room now, but he sounded so sad and Arthur felt his chest tighten. "I don't want to stop being your friend."

"You won't lose me or stop being my friend."

"You promise?"

"I promise," Arthur answered and felt as his mouth formed into a smile that he couldn't really fight off. He really wasn't sure he wanted to. Merlin hummed in his ear and fell quiet, leaching onto Arthur. Not that he really minded, not really. Arthur figured this would have probably happened even if they had two different beds. Merlin, after all, was very, (very,) affectionate when drunk.

XXX

"Did you add enough flour?"

"Yes…I added enough flour."

"Did you add too much?"

"No," Arthur retorted, annoyed. How many times have they had the same conversation?

"You had to've done something wrong..."

"I didn't think they tasted bad," Arthur told him, picking up one of the cookies he had made and waved it in Merlin's face.

"You're cookies are shit…I'm only being honest," Merlin shrugged, with a smirk on his lips. And a gleam of innocence in his eyes, that really, didn't belong there right now. Not when he was disrespecting Arthur's baking for the umpteenth time.

"Maybe it's because my teacher is shit?" Arthur fought back. "Ever think of that?"

"Yeah," Merlin nodded. "You're mum's pretty bad, better than you though…"

Arthur looked appalled, even though he knew Merlin was right. "I was talking about you!"

"Me?" Merlin grinned, as if Arthur was walking right into his trap, Arthur didn't like it. "Nah, I'm perfect."

"A perfect ass, maybe…"

"You think my ass is perfect?" Merlin gleamed. And, alright, maybe Arthur did walk into that one. But even if he did, he still growled anyway, and proceeded to try and shove his (somewhat dry and not at all brick like,) cookie into Merlin's mouth. "No.." Merlin struggled, trying to get away. "Don't make me eat the death cookie!"

Arthur had him pinned to the oven and he was going to get that cookie in his mouth. If not only to shut him up, but because it was fun. "Eat the damn cookie!" Arthur argued, fighting with Merlin's tight lips with the cookie edge. "OPEN UP!"

Hunith walked by as this was all going on. "Play nice, boys," she said, offhanded as she went. His mother seemed to have distracted him at least a bit, and Merlin's relentless efforts to deny eating Arthur's cookie faltered and Arthur shoved the ( only slightly burnt) thing right into his mouth.

"YOUSONOFA-" Merlin yelled around it, spitting it out and wiping his mouth on the back of his hand. Arthur stood there, pleased with himself. Until Merlin grabbed a few of the cookies off the tray and smirked at Arthur, eyes dark. That bit of innocence from early; gone.

"Merlin…" Arthur warned, because he had seen that look before. He knew exactly what Merlin was planning. The doors chimes rang and Arthur saw the only escape. "There's a costumer, go see what they want!"

"No…" Merlin said, slowly and with too much determination. "Your mums out there."

"Merl-" But that was all he could get out before he had crumbs of cookie all over his head, and shirt…and the floor. "MERLIN!" Merlin rubbed the crumbs into his scalp like shampoo, just to be a smartass, as he pulled back, grinning proudly.

"I'll get you back for this!" Arthur warned. If it were the last thing he would ever do, he would do it. However, it was at this point that his mother called him. He gave Merlin one more death glare, before walking away and heading to the front. It was only his mother, and she had seen the brunt of their little…disagreements plenty of times before. It was nothing for her now, to see cookie in his hair. She would probably just give him her disapproving glare and tell him to do something. Like always.

But this time, when he entered the front, it wasn't his mother standing there, staring at him like he had just ruined her life, but also his father and sister, too. Arthur stared at them all, hand going up to the touch the crumbles of cookie in his hair.

"Ygraine, you're working the boy much too hard, look at the state of him," his father said, smugly, grinning at Arthur. Which was something his father shouldn't do, he looked like a toad when he did.

Morgana on the other hand, looked much too pleased about the cookie in her brothers hair, she looked him up and down, like she might not know who he is anymore. And Arthur thought, that she probably, really didn't.

He wasn't close to them, he decided, whilst staring at them. He hadn't even called his father, as his mother had requested, to see when they would be arriving. To be honest, he didn't really want them here, this was his mother's and his, (and Merlin's and Hunith's) place, not theirs. He knew they both disapproved of it, so why bother coming?

"Nice to see you, father," he said, almost bitterly, before turning around and going right back into the kitchen.

XXX

Arthur didn't want to be doing this, he could think of so many other things that he would rather be doing. Like getting ran over by a bus. He parked his car and got out, heading for the fancy building and he felt himself calm for a second. Because he knew, just down the street Merlin was going through the same thing.

He walked inside and found that his father and sister were already sitting at a table, lit with candles and roses, Arthur thought that it was a rather disgusting sight to see. But he went along with it, walking toward them.

"You are late," his father commented, looking up at Arthur as if he might have just committed a crime, before looking down again. "I told you seven thirty."

"I had to drop off Merlin," Arthur told him, Merlin, poor Merlin, who was suffering through a dinner with his mother and Agravaine. Arthur would much rather be there with him than here, though, at least then they could be a team, and take down the bad guys together. Or, that's how Arthur saw it in his mind anyway.

"Since we've been here, you've spent more time carting that boy around than you have with us," his father complained. "Why doesn't the boy get his own form of transportation?"

"He can't afford it," Arthur shrugged. "He doesn't have a dad who gives him pity gifts."

This seemed to capture the attention of Uther, and Morgana, who were both previously looking at the menus, even as his father complained. They looked up, with matching raised eyebrows. Arthur noticed Morgana's smirk growing, but he ignored it.

"Well…" Uther said, slowly, like he was trying not to lose his temper. "You can always charge him fair in that case."

"Merlin's my friend, not a business agreement," Arthur shrugged, trying to take as many jabs as he could get. He didn't know where this sudden hate for this part of his family came from. Maybe it was years of his mother telling him he was just like this man, and he didn't want to be. Maybe it was that, finally, Arthur was seeing the man before him in his true light, he had all but abandoned Arthur, because he didn't fancy taking on a bum deal like a coffee shop. "Besides, Merlin's getting his license in a few weeks."

"You talk an awful lot about Merlin," Morgana said, suddenly, voice a sweet lie. Arthur almost forgot that they and been born the same day, they were nothing alike. His hair was light and hers dark. Eyes, blue and green that didn't mix well together. "Why is that?"

"He's my best mate?" Arthur offered, he didn't know why. All he knew was everyday there was Merlin, and he liked it that way. He didn't want to say that, so instead, he added. "He's kind of hard to shake off."

XXX

Arthur drove down the street again, he sighed, pleased to know that his father and sister would be leaving the following morning, and there would be no more unsettling afternoons or annoying dinners. If he didn't see them for another five years, that would be okay.

Passing the restaurant Merlin was having dinner at, Arthur grinned, seeing Merlin standing outside. He slammed on the breaks, causing the driver behind him to honk, loudly. He ignored them, pulling over and rolling down his window.

"How much?" he yelled out. Merlin looked confused for half a second, cuddling a silver swan in his hands, before his face screwed up in annoyance and he glared.

"Shut up, prat!" he yelled. "I'm not in the mood!"

"Get in the car!" Arthur yelled simply enough. Merlin looked like he was thinking about it, looking over his shoulder once, before running around the front of Arthur's car and slid into the passenger side. "That bad, huh?"

"I hate him, I hate all of them," Merlin whined. "If they weren't making out or feeding each other, your stupid uncle was giving me dirty looks and asking when I was going to move out!"

"Hey, he's not my uncle," Arthur defended. "And your mother is dating him, so…"

"Shut up, just don't…god," Merlin whined again. "They wanted us all to go back to the shop; they're probably going to get mad that I left."

"Or, they'll just go have sex," Arthur said, putting the car in drive and drove away from the curb. He wanted to be sick at his own words, yes, but that was nothing next to the noises Merlin was making now. "Alright, sorry…I mean they'll do whatever old people do that isn't sex…like cross word puzzles."

"I think you should stop talking," Merlin told him. "And then after that, you should kill me."

"Nah," Arthur said, taking a right, glancing over to Merlin, he was still cuddling the silver swan. "I have a better idea for you."

Merlin didn't ask questions, he probably knew where Arthur was going anyway. He kind of looked dead, Arthur was starting to get worried. Once they got there, Merlin just sat in the car, while Arthur got out. He headed up to the front door and was greeted by Gwaine's mother. He was allowed in and taken to Gwaine's room. Percy was there, in the room, sitting on the floor.

"Hey," Gwaine nodded, looking up from his video game only for a second, looking back before his man got killed. "What's up?"

"Merlin had a bad night," Arthur said, looking down at Percy, whom was bundled up in a white blanket. He looked like the abominable snowman.

"Top drawer," Gwaine said, offhanded, before yelling profanities at the screen when Percy's guy killed his. Arthur went over to the drawer, at least the one he thinks Gwaine meant and opened it. And sure enough, under some green stained socks, was what he was looking for. He headed for the door then. "Hey, Arthur…" He turned around to see Gwaine smirking at him. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Arthur didn't know what he meant, because Arthur didn't do this stuff, Gwaine knew that and why, too. He almost said something, but then Percy started laughing, high-pitched and unlike he normally did, so Arthur just figured they were both baked and walked out.

"Leaving so soon?" Gwaine's mother asked, as Arthur was going. He stopped and shrugged.

"I just had to pick something up," he said. And it wasn't a lie, it was only that she probably wouldn't like what he picked up. She didn't seem like she wanted to press anymore and he thanked god, and walked outside. Running toward the car, quickly. Merlin was still sitting there, looking half-dead. When he got back into the car and shut the door, it seemed to jerk him to life a little bit, but only just.

"I just don't know what she sees in him, you know?"

"I don't know," Arthur agreed, pulling the baggy out of his pocket and shoved it into Merlin's hands. "Where do you wanna go smoke it?" he asked, putting the car in drive. "We can go anywhere."

"Agravaine's grave," Merlin said.

"That'd mean we have to kill him and that seems like paper work to me," Arthur joked. "I'll ask Gwaine to, I bet he'll do it."

"That kind of scares me actually," Merlin said, and then added. "The park."

"Gwaine's a scary bloke," Arthur said, driving the car in the direction of the park.

Once they were there, Arthur parked them under some low hanging trees, by the small lake they had there. Merlin rolled down the window, only an inch, or two, and started feeling under the seat for the lighter they had hidden there. Once he found it, he took the joint from the baggy and brought it to his lips to light it. Arthur just watched.

"You know, Gwaine says people just cook that stuff in food, instead of smoking it," Arthur said, a bit factly. "Like cookies and candies, and stuff."

"I don't know," Merlin took a drag from the thing. "That seems like it takes the fun out of it."

"That's what I thought," Arthur shrugged, taking his eyes off of Merlin's lips to lean back in his seat and look out at the dark sky. The car was starting to smell, so he put his window down a bit too, careful to listen for any visitors they may have here. Like the police.

When Merlin was finally relaxed and giggling about nothing in particular, the thing was nearly gone and Arthur had to take it from his hands and wrap it back up. Because, like this, Merlin is pretty useless, and couldn't do these things on his own. He went and threw the baggy in the trash, before getting back into the car and was met with Merlin holding the silver swan again.

"What's in there?" Arthur asked, as he started the car. Merlin looked down at the swan, like he had just noticed it was there and laughed.

"I don't remember," he admitted. "OH!" he said, suddenly, as Arthur was baking out of the spot he had gotten them in. "It's chicken. I was taking it home for you."

"Thanks," Arthur said, driving down the road once again.

"Yeah," Merlin said. "But now I kinda want to eat it…"

Arthur laughed, "Go ahead."

Merlin opened the swan up and pulled out a piece of chicken, taking a bite and making mmm noises that bothered Arthur for some reason or another. And then he had a piece of chicken, that he was half sure had been in Merlin's mouth a second ago, in his face. He opened his mouth and Merlin shoved the chicken in. It tasted like lemons and garlic. Arthur swallowed it and looked over at Merlin to see him with chicken hanging out of his mouth and his eyes wide. Arthur couldn't help but laugh.

"Feeling better?"

Merlin nodded, throwing the once silver swan into the backseat and leaned closer to Arthur. "You're so nice to me." Arthur didn't know what to say to that, so he didn't say anything. Luckily, Merlin started talking again. "Will you stay with me tonight?"

"Don't I always?"

XXX

Merlin had dressed up for the dinner that night, more fancy than Arthur would ever try to be. He had worn a dress shirt and jeans that were a lot tighter than his usual wear. And right now, watching from Merlin's bed as the lad tried to struggle out of said tighter trousers, it was rather hilarious. Being high surely didn't help Merlin out and was probably most of the problem here. But either way, it was funny and Arthur wasn't about to help him even though he had asked twice.

The jeans were off finally, leaving Merlin in his boxers and the fancy shirt, that in the dark, looked more purple than maroon. He was staggering toward the bed now, all thought of changing lost on him after the struggle. Arthur moved over a bit, not worried about sharing a bed this time. This was home, this was their turf, and maybe that was it, the foreignness of it all, maybe that's what Arthur had been so freaked out about at the inn.

Merlin got into bed and curled up into the blankets, Arthur could feel his cold legs against the fabric of his jeans. Merlin's bed was pretty small, so there were pretty tight quarters. Not that Merlin ever seemed to mind that.

"You were laughing at me," he said, once he had turned into Arthur. Probably trying to suck up his heat. Arthur had been in the bed for quite a bit of time, with how long it took Merlin to get ready.

"Because it was funny…" he finally said, feeling Merlin's arms curl around him. He felt Merlin's cold nose on his neck and rolled his eyes at him. "You would've laughed too, if you saw yourself."

"You're mean," Merlin said, in a whisper that blew on Arthur's neck and made him move uncomfortably. "And a prat," he added, moving his cold nose to Arthur's jaw now, moving it there, up and down a little. "I don't like it."

"That's not my problem," Arthur retorted, letting one of his hands come to rest on Merlin's back. Merlin made a humming noise and trailed his nose back to Arthur's ear. It made Arthur gulp a bit and fidget in his spot.

"I'll make it your problem."

"How are you going to do that?" Arthur asked, feeling his insides tighten at Merlin's low voice. He had never heard Merlin talk like that before. He wasn't sure how he felt about it.

"I've been thinking of a few things."

"Really? Don't hurt yourself."

"See..." Merlin whispered. "That's what I mean. Prat!"

"You should do something about it then," Arthur muttered, his voice rough. Because something strange was happening again, like on the night when Merlin and Lance had been racing. Arthur didn't feel like he wanted to do something dangerous though, or maybe he did, he didn't know. All he knew, was that the air felt charged around him suddenly, and thin. Very thin.

"You want me to?" Merlin whispered. And Arthur didn't know what he was agreeing to, but he nodded all the same. Merlin pulled back from him, using his hands on the mattress as support, to lean over him. It was then that Arthur noticed some of the buttons on Merlin's dress shirt were open, exposing his yet-to-be hairy chest, and Arthur suddenly wondered what that bit of skin would taste like. And it scared him, quickened his heart rate and air was stuck in his throat. He let it out, painfully, looking up to Merlin's face, for what might be comfort. He didn't get any.

Merlin was staring at Arthur, his lips more like, in a way that he had done the chicken in the sliver swan. But this, oddly enough, didn't scare Arthur. His own eyes traveled down to Merlin's lips. They were wet and inviting, and Arthur thought that maybe it was alright. For a minute, kissing Merlin would be okay, and when tomorrow came, he wouldn't want to. Because the whole idea of kissing Merlin was mad, completely mad. But right now, he wanted to, and that was alright, he told himself. That didn't mean he was gay, and it didn't mean that he fancied Merlin. Because he wasn't and he didn't, but just this once, for a second…maybe it would be okay.

Merlin's lips were so close now, he could almost feel them, but then again, he couldn't. Not yet, and he wanted to, so very badly, so very suddenly. "Do you want me to, Arthur?" Merlin asked again, and he could feel the whisper on his lips, the heat from it. All he could do was moan from it, as an answer, deep, in his throat, it sounded more like a growl or a whimper, which he would be ashamed of later. But for now, he hoped it just sounded like a yes to Merlin. A yes. Yes, please, now. Right now!

But then there was nothing, nothing and nothing and then there was a noise, outside of the door. It sounded like a man, shouting down the hall. "Arthur's car is outside, they must be asleep!" It was Agravaine. And then, Merlin was pulling back from him, away, and laying down on his own, without even touching Arthur at all. Arthur felt empty suddenly, and foolish. But neither boy said anything at all, just laid there, until Agravaine walked away and Merlin let out a small breath.

"I'm sorry," he muttered, and then did the worst thing of all, and turned away from Arthur. Arthur didn't know why that upset him so much, and he also didn't know why he didn't tell Merlin it was okay. But he didn't.

And Arthur thought after a moment, and after Merlin's breathing had evened out, that maybe it wasn't okay after all.

(A/N: There will be a part 5, obviously, I didn't want there to be, but these things just drag on. You know. :) And also, I do not promote drugs of any kind or drinking, or underage drinking and nonsense such as my boys have done in this fanfic. But, yes, I wanted to write a story like this.)