Oh my god, I'm sorry guys! Been busy with assignments and examinations but I haven't forgotten the story! Final chapter should be up soon enough- big thank you to everyone who reviewed 3

Chapter 4

"Have you ever thought of just...leaving?" Arthur asks, clutching his coffee with both hands. He looks even more edible in a navy blue t-shirt that clings to body in all the right places. Merlin feels small in his grey hooded jacket, although it thankfully covers all his awkward, lanky limbs to his satisfaction. Arthur seems to be deep in thought and Merlin forces himself to stare down into hot chocolate.
"You'll have to be elaborate," he replies, silently telling himself off for the roughness in his voice.
"I mean like...leaving everything behind and going off on a trip to Europe with nothing but a bag of clothes and...a friend."
"You are going on a trip around Europe, aren't you? You're leaving in December with your father, his new wife- the Lady Catrina and your step-sister."
Arthur raises an eyebrow at Merlin, a smirk beginning to twist the corners of his mouth.
"What?" Merlin asks defensively as his cheeks color. "I can't help it if the BBC finds that information worth reporting."
Arthur laughs, but then his expression sours. "A trip around Europe with my family will be chaos. I'll have to face my father's disappointment in me and my sister and father in the same room. Also, Catrina's an absolute troll."
Merlin snorts into his drink, and Arthur looks at him contemplatively.
"I really would like to bring a friend with me," he says shyly, "someone who wouldn't just be taking advantage of the trip and would genuinely want to spend time with me?"
Merlin sips his coffee quietly for a few minutes and then his eyes widen comically.
"Wait...you're not...you don't mean to say...you're not talking about me!?"
"Well done, Sherlock," Arthur grins, but his eyes, avoiding Merlin's, belie his ease.
"I'd love to!" Merlin blurts out. "But you do understand that you're sort of mental right? How do you know I'm not secretly a drug dealer or paid assassin?" Merlin pauses, a scary thought fighting its way to his mouth. "Unless you're just taking the piss, and I'm a gullible idiot."
"No, no, I'm not, I really do want you to come with me. It would be such a relief to have someone to break the tension between all of us; we don't get along very well...and to the other part of question...I have to make a confession."
Arthur pauses and Merlin looks up at him curiously.
"Merlin Emrys, you're originally from a small village called Ealdor- which is on the outskirts of Beltane. You're mother is Hunith ; the local seamstress, and your father, Balinor, had to run away from home shortly after you were born because he was falsely accused of murder. You have a passion for English literature and love to read poetry. You won three writing competitions during your years of high school, and you're part of the national chess club. You refuse to be ashamed of the person you are and you don't let anyone get you down or mess with your head. You love the color blue because to you, it symbolises peace and simplicity instead of sadness; I know because I've read every story and article you've written in the local newspaper since you first started writing for it in our freshman year- all twenty-three of them."
Merlin's teaspoon drops to the floor and clatters loudly. He starts shaking angrily, his right hand clenching around his coffee cup on the table. Arthur covers it gently with his left hand and looks straight into Merlin's eyes and Merlin thinks that it really isn't fair that Arthur's eyes are that particular shade of blue.
"I've admired you from afar for that long, Merlin. At first, I tried to convince myself that any feelings I had for you were just passing fancies, but then I read your stories and I fell in love with each and every one of them. The more I found out about you, the less I figured you would give me the time of day if I asked you out. What I did figure out was that you were ridiculously loyal to your friends. When Gwyn asked Lance out, I was there. I was the one who suggested they go ice-skating; because I knew that you would be there. Call me a coward if you will, but it was worth it."
Merlin rips his hand away from below Arthur's and considers slapping him, but thinks better of it. He throws whatever is left of his money on the table, not bothering to wait for change, and stands abruptly, sending a dirty look Arthur's way before striding out of the coffee shop blinking rapidly and trying not to yield to the stinging in his eyes.
It was too good to last, he thinks, as he pauses around the corner of the coffee shop, taking deep breaths. Suddenly, there's a warm, soothing pressure on his shoulder and he wheels around, gritting his teeth together. Arthur's hand falls back down to his side and he smiles sadly.
"And you're so insecure about yourself that you don't realise how truly wonderful you really are; you think I'm just playing around with you because of some bet I made with my friends."
"So you admit it?" Merlin asks with his voice cracking.
Arthur shakes his head and leans forwards until he's so close that Merlin can see the freckles on his nose and feel the warmth of his breath. "Don't be afraid to give this a go, Merlin. Give me a chance. I promise I won't let you down."
Merlin closes his eyes. He feels Arthur squeeze his hand gently and he can hear Arthur walk away after he doesn't respond. He opens his eyes anyway, still hoping, and it feels like all the warmth leaves the air as he sees the area in front of him filled with only strangers.