chapter7

"Sometimes I wish I could run away." He whispered.

Merlin looked to his left and stared at Arthur. After their practically failed date last night, Arthur decided it'd be best for them to finish the next day, during day time where no one could be bothered without someone else seeing.

The two boys lay next to each other on the warm, green grass in the park closer to Merlin's building. Their bodies lay opposite ways, but their heads still lay next toi each other, so when Merlin looked at Arthur, he saw the blond upside down.

"Why would you want to run away? You have everything." He said with a small smile.

Arthur turned to his left so he was staring Merlin in the eye. He shook his head sadly. "I don't have everything, Merlin." He looked back up at the bright blue sky. "Sure I have money and... a big house, but I still feel lonely. I don't have a family like you do. I mean there's my father but, he's ut most night working an I don't have any siblings, so... my nights are spent alone."

Merlin blinked as he stared at the blonds features from where he lay. "You're not alone, Arthur.'

Arthur turned back to Merlin and the burnet smiled. "What am I here for? If you run way, then I'll be alone again."

Arthur smiled.

Merlin turned on his side so his whole body faced Arthur and he smiled back. He reached out and brushed the soft, blond hair back. "If you ever feel alone Arthur, I'm here."

Arthur smiled still and gently shook his head. "This can't be happening."

Merlin frowned. "What?"

Arthur turned the same way Merlin was so they faced each other. "You, Merlin are the most...perfect boy I have ever met."

Merlin gave a small breathy laugh.

"I'm serious!"

Merlin shook his head. "Me? Perfect?" He pushed himself up so he was sitting on the grass. Arthur frowned suddenly when he saw Merlin's smile gone. The blond sat up too.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

Merlin shook his head. "Your words are...too kind, Arthur. If anyone is too good to be real, it'd be you, not me."

Arthur only stared.

Merlin looked at Arthur. "You are the first person... besides my family, who talks to me like I'm somebody, makes me feel special, like you actually want me for me."

"I do." Arthur said back.

"That's what confuses me." Merlin whispered with worried eyes. He cleared his throat. "Everyone at school makes me feel like an outcast, including a few teachers."

Arthur's brows narrowed. "What?" He said low.

Merlin nodded. "Mr. Sanders... he kicked me out of class when I finished my test an hour before everyone else. He said...he called me a smart ass."

Arthur's brows narrowed more. "You didn't tell anybody?"

Merlin shook his head. "It'll only cause more problems for my parents. They already have so much on their mind, I don't want them to worry about me too."

Arthur laughed. "Merlin, they already worry about you."

The other boy stared confused.

Arthur smiled. "Your sister... Morgana? She somehow got my number last night and was very..." He cleared his throat. "Descriptive about what she'd do if I tried something with you."

Merlin chuckled. "What?"

Arthur nodded. "She was scary." The blond breathed.

Merlin laughed. "That's my sister." They shared another laugh, then Merlin sighed low. "Yeah. She doesn't like any of the boys I bring home ever since... you know..." He took another deep breath. "She thinks every boy is going to try to throw themselves on me."

Arthur licked his lips and nodded once more, then leaned in closer to Merlin. "You know, I would never do what those other boys did, right? I would never try to force myself on you. I would never-"

He was silenced when there were suddenly soft lips on his. His eyes fluttered shut. He reached out and grabbed the back of Merlin's head and pulled him closer. He inhaled the scented kiss that was Merlin. The smell of baby shampoo and fresh soap. Arthur uselessly tried to pull Merlin closer and thrust his tongue into the boy's mouth. He hummed at the taste of the strawberry's the boy's had shared earlier. Arthur gnawed and nibbled at Merlin's pale pink lips then slowly pulled away.

Merlin exhaled a deep breath. "I know." He whispered.

Arthur blinked suddenly confused. "...What?"

"I know that you would never hurt me." Merlin said just as low. "So you don't have to try to convince me."

Arthur gulped then licked his lips. "Ok." He breathed.

Merlin smiled again. "Why don't you come to dinner tonight? My mother is off work for today, you can meet her too." The boy offered.

Arthur suddenly felt dizzy. "...Um..."

Merlin nodded. "You won't have to be worried about being alone tonight." He said low.

The blond gulped again. "Uh... when you put it that way." He smiled and nodded.

Merlin nudged him. "Come on, my family doesn't bite..." He frowned. "Except maybe Morgana, but I'll keep an eye on her."

Arthur laughed. "Ok, ok. I'll be there."

"Really?"

Arthur nodded.

Merlin nodded back. "Good." He said low.

Arthur licked his lips. "How old is your sister?"

"16."

Arthur suddenly frowned. "You're twins?" He asked surprised.

Merlin nodded. "Yeah. Some people don't see it, but..."

"I see it." Arthur said, then he reached out and pulled Merlin's glasses off his nose.

Merlin blinked rapidly then squinted. "I can't see a thing." He laughed.

Arthur laughed then pulled the glasses back on his own nose. "Wow." He pulled the glasses off then pushed them back on Merlin's nose. "Those are strong. Why don't you wear the contacts she gave you?"

Merlin pushed the glasses up his nose and shook his head. "They're too uncomfortable. I like my glasses."

Arthur laughed. "You are such a nerd."

Merlin looked at him with raised brows.

The blond leaned back on his elbows. "And I mean that in the most awesome, adorable way."

Merlin smiled and lay sideways so he was laying on Arthur's shoulder.

XOXOXOXO

He watched from a distance with narrowed brows. The sight sickened his stomach. Arthur was so close to the boy. This boy, he would bring down the Pendragon name. He would have to do something. What did Arthur see in the skinny boy anyway? Why would his son shame their name all for a boy who probably couldn't find his own backside most of the time?

He was going to have to get rid of this boy, one way or the other.

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