It took me a week to finally call him, and I only did it because I was sure he meant it when he said he'd come back. I also did it on one of my short breaks, so I'd have a good excuse to get off as quickly as possible. I was kind of hoping he wouldn't answer and told myself if he didn't by the third ring, I'd hang up.
Unfortunately, he picked up, "Pendragon, here."
I took a deep breath, and closed my eyes, "Hello."
"Merlin?" he immediately asked.
"That would be my name," I answered.
"You called," he laughed.
"Yeah, this is me, callin'."
"I'm glad you finally did."
"Yeah, ok. So about that date, are we really doing that? You weren't serious about that, right?"
"I'm extremely serious about it, Merlin. I'm free on Saturday? Sunday is ok too, it's my weekend off. Well I'll be on call, but still, tell me you're available."
"Saturday."
"Perfect, pick you up at your place? Say 7?"
"Ugh, fine."
"Good. How are you doing?"
"Fine. Workin'."
"Where do you work?"
"Why? So you can start showing up here too?" I snorted.
"Fine," he laughed, "I'll save the questions for the date. You're really ok, though?"
"Yeah. Gotta go, my break is over."
"Ok. I'll see you on Saturday, then."
"Alright," I said, "Be safe," hanging up before he could say anything else.
"Fuck," I said looking up. His voice was smooth on the phone, he sounded happy. Happy that I called. Weird. Oh so, weird.
I walked back in and saw Mordred stocking the shelves, "I might as well tell you now."
He looked up startled, "Tell me what?"
"Gonna be out this Saturday."
"Out? Your moving?"
"What? No, not yet, I meant I'll be going out."
"Oh… where to? Can I come?"
"It's be kind of awkward if you did."
He furrowed his brows at me, "Why would it be awkward?"
"It's kind of like, well it's not, but it kind of is…"
"You're rambling."
"A date, but not really."
He blinked in confusion, "What?"
"I only agreed because I thought it would be easier."
"You're not making any sense, Merlin, is it a date or not?" he said, his voice a bit shaky.
"It technically is, but I only agreed so he'd leave me alone."
His eyes went wide and his voice turned hard, "Is someone harassing you?"
"No," I frowned, "No, he's a cop," I kneeled down next to him and began whispering, "He saw me the night I was walking to your place and then we bumped into each other again and I told him I was 18, which is, as you know, a lie, and that I wasn't going to file a report or whatever and I thought if I said yes to the date, and then blew him off, he'd just drop it and leave me the hell alone, but I didn't want to keep it from you. I'm not looking for anything like that, s'mores. I thought you knew that."
"I guess that all makes sense," he looked away from me, "I thought you only said that to turn me down gently."
I leaned over and kissed his cheek, then press my forehead to his shoulder, "You're a special guy, Mordred, and if I could return your feelings I would. I hated hurting you then or now. I ain't wanna do that shit."
He reached his arm around my shoulder and gave me a gentle squeeze, "I know," then he smirked, "That's fifth time you dropped your accent around me."
"Shh," I whispered, "Someone might hear you, you jerk."
He snickered, "You are going to have to tell me why you do that eventually you know."
"I will," I looked around, "But not here," I stood up, "I best be gettin' back to work before Gaius sends a huntin' party after me."
He grinned, "Yeah, ok."
I walked away feeling a wave of guilt hit me, I mean it was only half a lie, but still, he was missing a bit of pertinent information. Like… how he kissed me and how I almost fell apart because of that kiss. And how I did have a crush on Mordred, but shot him down because he was too good for me, and how I also might be feeling some type of something towards a fucking cop, who was legally still too old for me anyway. I mean the guy had to be in his mid-twenties minimum, I had no business dating someone like him and he definitely didn't have any business being with some kid like me.
I groaned as I reached the register and dropped my head on the counter, wincing at my still sore face.
"You ok?" Catrina asked from behind me. Catrina was another employee of the Quik Stop we worked at, who mostly worked day shift, I've known her since I started working here, she handled most of my training. She was in her mid-thirties, short, curvy and moody as fuck, but she's awesome in her own away.
"Fine," I mumbled, "Tired."
"Liar, but I'll let it go for now."
I groaned, "I don't need an interrogation later."
"We'll have to agree to disagree on that one."
I straightened and turned to her, "Hey, Cat, why's my life suck?"
"Cause you're stubborn and refuse to accept help."
"I hate you."
"Mmhm, you're full of it," she said leaning over smacking my head lightly, "Assistant manager is opening up, Linda's quitin'. Night shift. A buck fifty more an hour."
"You applyin'?"
"Don't you be smart with me."
"I can't work night shift, yet."
"You get trained on day shift anyway for a few months."
"I've no experience."
"You're a shoe in and we both know it. Gaius is gonna pop out any day now and start droppin' hints for you to apply, and I expect you to do it, Merlin," she gave me a stern look, "I ain't playin' with you, you apply and you do it as soon as you can."
"I'll think about it."
"Don't play with me, child," she said crossing her arms.
"I'll apply, but I doubt it'll amount to nothin'. I ain't no manager."
"Shut up, you'll be good at it."
"I'll take your word for it."
"You're smarter than what you give yourself credit for."
"Sure," I nodded, "I'm also stupider than you give me credit for."
She rolled her eyes at me, "Stubborn."
"Yeah, whatever," I said turning to face the customer that just walked in, then blanching as soon as I saw who walked in. Fuckin hell.
"Hey, you're that kid," that fucking Percival cop said.
"What kid?" a now familiar voice behind him said.
"Mother fucker," I said under my breath.
"Merlin!" I flinched at the voice, watching Arthur step next to him.
"Well ain't this some lucky shit," I said, as Cat stepped up next to me, eyeing them up and saying, "How can we help you two, officers?"
"Grab me a sub and soda," Arthur told Percival, then stepped up to the counter, "And, yeah, this is some lucky shit," he said smiling at me, "Didn't know you worked here."
"Yeah, I'm aware," I mumbled.
"You two know each other?" Cat questioned.
"Hoping to," Arthur answered.
I rolled my eyes, "We gonna have ourselves a date this Saturday, Cat."
"You datin' now?" she smirked at me, "Maybe you ain't a lost cause after all."
"Quiet, you," I scowled at her, "That mouth of yours ain't helpin' me right now."
She laughed, "You respect your elders, boy."
"I will when I meet one," I smiled as I saw her eyes light up at the compliment.
"Why don't you take a break, Merlin? I'll cover for you," she grinned, "You can go on and flirt with your boyfriend for a bit."
"Ain't got no boyfriend," I frowned, "And I just got back from break, ain't need no other one."
"Are you sure?" Arthur chirped, "You look like you could use a break and some flirting while you're at it."
I turned to him, "You ain't funny."
"Just go on and git already, boy," she said shoving me away from the counter.
"Aw come on, Cat, don't encourage him," I whined.
"Don't you start arguing with me, Merlin," she huffed and gave me a hard shove, almost making me fall.
I straightened up and glared at her, "Hmph," I said and made my way around the counter, "I better not get into no shit with Gaius for this, Cat."
"You know he'd let you be even if he knew, you take your job way too seriously for your own good."
I turned back around and shrugged, "Gotta count your blessin's, Cat. This job's a blessin', I ain't gonna act a fool 'bout it and lose it."
She smiled, "You're too wise for someone your age."
I quirked a brow, "If you say so, Cat."
"I do, you be back in a bit."
"I will," I said turning back to Arthur, "Might as well go out back, detective."
"You can call me Arthur, you know?" he said following me as I started walking away.
"I'll keep that in mind, detective," I said turning into the employees only section and walking down the short corridor that led to the emergency exit out back and popping it open for him.
"Please tell you're not planning on calling me that on our date," he said shaking his head and following me out.
"I haven't decided yet," I shrugged, leaning against the wall, crossing my legs in front of myself.
"I guess that means I have some hope you won't," he sighed, leaning against the wall next to me, his shoulder brushing mine. I wasn't entirely sure what got into me at that moment, but I shifted without thinking, pressing my shoulder firmly against his. He gave me soft smile, "I'm starting to get the feeling you're warming up to me, Merlin."
"Don't push your luck, Arthur," I huffed.
He turned his head to me, grinning, "I can't help myself sometimes, I'm a cop, I push buttons for a living."
"Well you ain't gotta push mine all the time."
"I won't all the time," he agreed, "But one more time won't break you."
I arched a brow, "Excuse me?"
He smiled and leaned over, kissing me again. Hesitant, as if he knew I could scare away easily, and I was scared. I was terrified, because this couldn't be normal. What he was making me feel, could not be normal. His lips were soft against mine, the roughness of his 5 o'clock shadow against the hand I placed on his cheek making this all the more real. I leaned closer to him, pressing my lips decisively against him, part of me knew I should end this, but he felt too good to stop. My actions must've given him the reassurance he needed, seeing as he quickly stepped in front of me and had me pressed between him and the wall, my head tilted up to him, my left hand moving to his chest as he nibbled on my lip. I groaned into his mouth, wrapped my right leg around his and ground myself against his hardness. He deepened the kiss one hand next to my head on the wall, the other gripping my ass, pushing himself further into me. His tongue fighting for dominance with mine, my body molding more and more into his. Everything was too much and not enough.
Then the door shot open with a bang and I shoved him away in surprise. Gaius, in all his smirky glory, stood there with his arms against his chest.
"Huh," he said and I felt my face heat, looking down in shame.
"Hi, Boss," I grumbled breathlessly.
"Merlin, I've been looking for you, Cat said you were on a break," he said smoothly. Completely bypassing the awkwardness of the situation.
"Yup," I nodded, "Now I'm not."
"This behavior is inappropriate," I cringed at his words, any prayer that I had that he'd just forget about it going out the window.
"Yes, sir," I said quietly, keeping my eyes down.
"Especially for an assistant manager in training," he continued.
I looked up in surprise, "But that's-"
"Jobs been posted," I watched as his eyes twinkled in mischief and his smirk turned into a full grin, "And if you don't apply, I'm not going to be able to let this little thing go."
"What? Wait," I paused, bristling, "Are you blackmailing me into applying? That's-"
"Called compromising," he said interrupting me again, "I'll expect an application in by the end of your shift today," he looked at Arthur, "Have a nice day, officer," turned back around and left.
"Is this a joke?" I questioned out loud, still entirely startled by what had just happened, I looked at Arthur and saw him struggling to hold in his laughter. I narrowed my eyes at him, "This shit ain't funny, asshole."
He just grinned at me, placed a kiss on my forehead and whispered, "I'll see you Saturday," then just left, still chuckling.
I banged my head against the wall before heading back in. Seriously, what the hell? I took one look at Catrina and just busted out laughing, "I am never taking your advice again."
"What happened?" she asked.
"Nothin'," I said between breaths, "I don't even know."
She picked up a pen and some papers from the counter, "Gaius dropped this off for you." I took the application, shaking my head, "Of course, he did."
"Well get on it! Lunch rush will be startin' soon."
"Yes, ma'am," I said, scribbling down answers.
The rest of the day passed by like any normal day. I left work with Mordred, feeling even more guilty than usual with what had just happened earlier. There's no way I could continue living with him for too long, but I didn't have any options right now. Not until I went full time and I definitely, definitely had to break things off with Arthur, it had gone too far the way it is.
We ate, bullshitted, and then laid in bed together.
I twitched nervously when he inched near me and just watched me quietly for a few minutes.
"What?" I asked him.
"I was just wondering," he whispered.
"Yeah?"
"You really don't feel any attraction to me?"
"Mordred," I sighed, "You and I wouldn't work."
"You keep saying that," he shook his head, "But haven't you noticed how it's been since you moved in? We get along well, we laugh, play. You really don't think there's any chance we could try something?"
I turned away from him, "I'm not like you, Mordred. I'm not an open book, I don't trust people, and I don't do relationships."
"Is that why you don't think it would work? You don't think that maybe it's because we are different that it could work? And don't think I didn't notice how you avoided the first question."
"Why can't you let it go?"
"Because I can't just stop liking someone because I'm told to. Look at me, Merlin."
I looked at him and sighed, "I just think you and I make better friends and I really ain't lookin' for nothin' else, s'mores. I ain't riskin' what we got for somethin' that might break us apart."
He sighed and turned away from me, "Ok, Merlin. I'll respect that."
"Sorry, Mordred."
"It's fine," he mumbled.
It took me hours to fall asleep after that. I was hurting him and I hated myself for it. Fuck, I needed to move.
