Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the BBC show Merlin, the characters, plots, or actors/actresses.


It was two weeks before they ran into each other again, on a Saturday afternoon. Arthur was already on the underground when Merlin burst in, almost falling over before Arthur reached out a hand to grab his arm and steady him.

"Thanks," Merlin breathed as he tried to catch his breath.

Arthur pulled his hand back. "No problem, Merlin."

Merlin looked up and his eyes widened in surprise. "Arthur!" He ran a hand through his hair. "Didn't think I'd ever see you again." Merlin's cheeks flushed and somehow Arthur had the feeling that Merlin was about to start babbling so he cut him off before he could.

"How did your test go? Romantics, wasn't it?"

Merlin looked surprised that he remembered. "Yeah, it went pretty well, actually. Got a 94."

"Glad to hear it," Arthur said. He meant it, too.

"Thanks," Merlin replied, "me too. Hey, how's your sister doing? She with a new guy, yet?"

Arthur scowled. "Yeah, she's going out with one of my buddies. He also happens to work with us so I hope it doesn't go south anytime soon, if at all."

Merlin nodded knowingly. "I know that feeling. I had to avoid my favorite coffee shop for a while after the break-up." Arthur noticed he purposely didn't say who initiated the break-up or if it was over a guy or girl. Not that he cared about that; or did he? It didn't matter to him if Merlin was straight or gay, really, but Arthur knew he was lying to himself.

"Oh, yeah?" Finally, Arthur thought, a way to find out more about him. "Would I know the coffee shop?"

Merlin laughed. "I doubt it. It's small, just off campus so it's mostly university students in there."

"Hmm," was all Arthur said. I'm going to have to find out where Merlin goes to school if I want to run into him more than every two weeks.

The conversation died a little after that. Until Merlin noticed Arthur wasn't in a suit but jeans and a jacket with a duffel bag on the floor next to him and asked about it.

"I'm off today," Arthur said cheerfully. "Meeting some mates of mine for a game of football in the park." He studied Merlin for a moment then continued, "I'd ask you if you wanted to join us but somehow I don't think you're the sports type."

"Ha, yeah, no. I'm more of the cheer from the sidelines type. My mates probably would, though."

Arthur nodded. "So," he began hesitantly, "are you headed to class?"

"No. Work. I have class every other day."

In casual clothing? Where in the world would that be? "Where do you work?"

Merlin raised an eyebrow. "Full of questions today, aren't you?"

Arthur blushed, embarrassed. "I, well, um," he fumbled for words. "You're the first person to not be fake nice because of who I am and I wanted to know more about you." There, that didn't sound too stalker-ish or creepy.

"You get a lot of people who are fake nice?"

"Everybody wants something from me, so they all try to get in my good graces. It gets annoying after a while, trying to figure out who's a real friend and who just wants an interview or money. To have somebody not do that is…refreshing."

"My friends warned me about you, you know," Merlin said offhandedly. Arthur just raised an eyebrow and Merlin laughed nervously. "I-I mean, I got the whole history of the famous Pendragon family after I mentioned running into you a couple weeks ago."

Arthur said, "Please, don't believe everything you see on the telly or read in the tabloids. I'm actually a nice person, despite my family."

Merlin laughed again. "You've been nice to me, so I guess I won't hold what my friends told me against you."

The conductor spoke up then, announcing Arthur's stop. He reflected on the fact that this time it was him who had to leave first.

"So, I guess this is your stop?" Merlin assumed as the train slid to a stop and Arthur took a step towards the doors.

"Yeah, sorry," Arthur said, and he meant it. He really liked talking with Merlin. "It was nice seeing you again."

Merlin nodded. "Same here. Who knows? Maybe we'll run into each other again sometime."

Arthur said, "I'd like that." The train moved on and Arthur headed out of the station. It was only after he was in a taxi on the way to the park that he realized Merlin had never told him where he worked.


Author's Note: Sorry this one is shorter than the last one, but Arthur and Merlin are getting closer to having more than a few minutes together ;)