"Hey babe," Arthur said, slipping an arm around his boyfriend's waist and squeezing their bodies tight together. Merlin giggled cutely.

"So, I'm your 'babe' now?"

Arthur his smiled in a flirtatious way. "Yep, you're my babe! You're my baby, and no one's ever gonna take you away!"

Merlin rolled his eyes. "Going a little over-board there, 'babe'?"

The blonde jokily acted very serious. "Over-board? Nope! Everyone wants you, but since you're my babe, they can't!"

Merlin released an amused breath through his nose. "So possessive."

"When it comes to you I am." Arthur's hand moved down to Merlin's hip, then too…

"Agth!" the raven sputtered. He looked at Arthur. "Did you just squeeze my ass?"

The blonde smiled smugly. "Guilty as charged."

"You do know what I have to do, don't you?" Merlin's voice was husky, low, and dangerous.

Arthur smiled seducingly back. "And I look forward to it."


Merlin did not come to school the next day, which was strange because he had perfect attendance ever since kindergarten. Arthur was worrying, much to his other friends' annoyance.

"What if he's sick?" Arthur's face was one big mess of concern. "What if he's coughing up blood? Dying? What type of boyfriend am I? I should be-"

"You should be shutting up," Gwen said through gritted teeth. They were concerned for Merlin too, but this was just overkill. "Merlin's probably fine."

"I bet he took my advice about skipping," Gwaine muttered as Percival affectionately whacked him in the back of the head.

"Great, you've corrupted him with ideas," said everyone's tallest friend. "First he skips school, next he's smoking on street corners and drinking booze, then the next thing you know he's dead in the streets-"

"Shut it!" Lancelot barked upon seeing Arthur's face. The Pendragon's eyes were wide and his expression horrified.

"He was only joking," Leon reassured him. Arthur shook his head.

"Arthur?" Elyan prodded him in the arm.

The blonde swallowed and kept quiet for the rest of the day. The next thing you know he's dead in the streets. Percival's joking words replayed through his head, over and over. What would he do if Merlin really was dead? He told the raven-haired boy once that that they were in this together; if one of them goes, the other goes as well. Had he really meant it? Arthur pondered this for a while. Would he kill himself if Merlin died? The answer was clear in less than a heartbeat.

Yes.

He would die if Merlin did. That boy had affected him ever since the day they met. Arthur couldn't survive without him. Hell, he wasn't even doing good one day without him. Rolling his eyes at this thought, the blonde walked out of the school, calling farewells to his friends, in the direction he thought Merlin's house was in.

Going by memory, Arthur was proud to say he found his where his boyfriend lived and only got lost once. The house looked the same as it had all those years ago, except there was a broken window in the front. Taking a breath, he knocked on the door and waited.

"Coming!" a lively but hoarse voice called. Merlin opened the door, clothed in pajamas and blanket wrapped around his shoulders. He smiled when he saw his boyfriend. "You look upset," he croaked.

"I look – ? Never mind. Merlin, are you okay?" The blonde hoped his voice didn't sound as shaky as he felt. Merlin really didn't look good.

"Fine," was the answer before the raven broke out in a body-racking cough attack.

"Merlin! What can I do? Do you need anything? Merlin-"

"Shut it, prat." The raven moaned and leaned against the door frame. "I don't feel so good."

"C'mon, you big idiot," said Arthur, steading his boyfriend with his arms. Merlin leaned into the embrace and allowed the blonde to lift him up. "Where's your room?"

"Hallway. Then door on the left." Merlin didn't sound so good.

Arthur carried the raven to where he indicated and kicked open the door. Merlin's room was quite bare, except for a small desk in the corner and a very large photo collage hanging on the wall.

"Arthur," Merlin mumbled, the blonde laying him on the bed. "Can you stay?"

Arthur nodded and slipped under the covers with him. With a satisfied sighed, Merlin curled in tight to him, head, as usual, over the blonde's heart. Arthur did not like how hot he felt.

"Is Cenred here?" Merlin hadn't exactly told his-step father about them yet.

Merlin moaned and shook his head, burying it further into Arthur. "Hasn't been for a few days."

"He left you here alone?"

"'M fourteen, Arthur. Can take care of myself…." Merlin fell asleep, leaving a questioning note in the air.

"Oh, Merlin," Arthur sighed, tracing his lips. Merlin was so perfect. So independent (when he wanted to be). And he could just melt Arthur with those big, blue eyes. They stayed there, cuddling, for a while

"Arthur," the boy breathed out in his sleep. A small smile was on his face. "Love you."

"Love you too, my little Merlin bird." The blonde hoped it was a right analogy. The boy he held was sweet and innocent like a bird. And a merlin was a bird, right? It seemed to fit, even if it sounded weird. It just felt right.

Then again, everything felt right with Merlin.


"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Arthur, it's been two weeks, I think I can go bowling."

"But you were so sick. I don't like seeing you like that."

"I'm fine, you over-protective prat."

"And I'm worried, you – you – beautiful idiot!"

Merlin pouted. "Thanks for making me feel guilty. I insult you, you then compliment me. That's not how it works!"

"Oh shut up," Arthur muttered before pressing his lips against Merlin's, appreciating the low hum he made in the back of his throat.

"Can we do that again?" the raven asked when they pulled away. Arthur rolled his eyes and went back tilted Merlin's head back up, leaning in.

"Love you, babe."

"Love you, too, prat."

Arthur huffed. "I call you babe, and you call me prat? Not very fair."

Merlin rolled his eyes. "You are a prat. My prat."

"Haven't I said something like that to you before?"

"Yeah, but you called me a perv."

The blonde shook his head. "Okay, I'm your prat and you're my perv? Happy?"

Merlin ponder this for a moment. "Nah. I think I should the Merlin to your Arthur."

Arthur had to smile like that. "Like those bedtimes stories Alice used to tell us? About the prince and his warlock?"

"Yep."

"Then I'm glad you're my warlock."

Merlin smiled, sighed, and pulled Arthur down the street again. They were going to be late, very late. Gwen did not like it when they were late. She became very scary and Merlin really didn't want to face that.

"Calm down, Gwen's not even going to be there," Arthur said quiet breezily, almost reading the raven's mind.

Merlin relaxed but turned to him. "How'd you know?"

The blonde's eyes suddenly had a mysterious look in them. "Because…..I know everything!" Merlin was not amused. "Okay, okay, she found out Lance likes her and Lance found out she like him. They're on a double date with Percy and Gwaine."

"Percy and Gwaine?"

"Yeah, they found out they like each other, too."

Merlin laughed. "Great, Elyan owes me five bucks now! I knew they were more than 'just friends!"'

Arthur shook his head. "Oh you…."

"So who is going to be there?" Bowling night had just started this year with the group of friends.

"Ummm…Leon and Elyan. They invited Morgana because Leon likes her." He pulled a disgusted face. "And then she invited this boy she likes, Mordred."

"Poor Leon."

"Couldn't have said it better. Now c'mon!"

They race to bowling alley, out of breath when they reach the doors. Grinning wildly, they walked hand in hand inside.

"Mer! Arthur! Over here!" Elyan called, wearing brightly colored shoes. One thing about bowling; the shoes were not attractive.

"Hey guys," Merlin said. Leon nodded and looked sulkily over to Morgana, who had a boy about her age making her laugh.

"Got you your shoes!" said Elyan, tossing the pairs at them and rushing off so he could take his turn. He really enjoyed bowling.

"Well, who is this gorgeous creature right here?" a voice asked as Merlin stood up from putting on his shoes. It was the boy Morgana had been talking with. He smiled. "I'm Mordred. What's your name, beautiful?"

Merlin stared like a deer in the headlights. "His name is Merlin," Arthur's voice growled. "And he's taken." The raven felt arms wrap around his waist.

Mordred looked them up and down. "Pity." He turned away.

Meanwhile, Morgana sat down next to Leon in an angry huff. "Look at them," she glared. "Mordred's flirting with him. Why are all the good looking ones gay?"

Leon's brain switched to stupid mode. "I'm not gay."

Morgana spared him a second glance. "But you are hardly good looking." She stood up and went to the ladies room. Leon slumped in his seat.

"Hey bud, what's up?" Elyan took Morgana's empty seat.

"I don't know. The girl of my dreams just rejected me."

"That's rough buddy." Elyan had meant to put a hand on his shoulder, he really did, but somehow it ended up intertwined with Leon's.

"Love hurts," Leon mumbled.

"I know," Elyan sighed. "Been in love for years and the person hardly seems to notice me. I know I have no chance with them, so I don't try. I even help them go for their crush."

Leon smiled sadly at his friend. "Who is it?"

Elyan shook his head. "Doesn't matter. They'll never like me. I mean, who could?"

"I could." The words were out of his mouth before Leon realized it. Shit, Elyan wasn't supposed to know that! This fling with Morgana was supposed to make him ignore the growing feelings he had been getting.

Instead of rejection, there was hope in the other boy's voice. "Really?"

Leon nodded. "Of course! You've been my best friend for years and, well, I think you're cute." He was blushing so hard.

Elyan smiled. "Great. Want to…..go outside for a minute?"

"Lead away, my Knight in Shining Armor."

Merlin chuckled as he watched the two go. It almost reminded him of his relationship with Arthur. Speaking of which, the prat had just come back from the bathroom and wrapped his arms around Merlin from behind. The raven giggled and leaned into it, feeling warm lips press on the back of his neck.

"MERLIN!" Upon hearing his name, Merlin looked up, finding a fuming Arthur striding towards him. Realization hit him. If Arthur was there…

"Get off!" he yelled at Mordred, breaking free. The other boy looked unperturbed, until Arthur's fist collided with his stomach. Then he doubled over as the blonde dragged Merlin away.

"What the hell, Merlin!?"

"Arthur I-"

"I don't want excuses! Why were that filthy bastard's hands all over you?! Why did it look like you were enjoying it?!"

"Ar-"

"You like him, don't you?!" Arthur seemed too far in a rage to be stopped. "DON'T YOU?!"

"Arthur-" Merlin weakly started again.

"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT, MERLIN! I loved you! Isn't that enough? Then you just leave me for a better looking guy? Merlin, I thought we had something!"

"Arthur…" Tears were rolling down the raven's cheeks, which only seemed to fuel the fire.

"Why don't you just go back in to your little Mordred! I'm sure he's waiting for you!" Arthur turned away in disgust. Merlin reached out a hand, barely grasping his shoulder. When Arthur turned around…..

Merlin gasped, hand going to his face. He stood frozen, to shocked to move.

Arthur, in turn, stared at his own hand, then to the raven, horrified. "Merlin…I didn't – I'm sorry."

Merlin looked at him one last time and bolted.


A/N: This chapter was a bitch to write. Still unsure of it. Blaaaaaaaarg! Sorry, it took so long to get up, but life got in the way. Oh, yeah, you probaby can guess what just happen in those last few sentences, right? Oh, Arthur...you're in trouble now! And Elyan/Leon...I always thought they'd make a nice couple, even if the way I put the together was weird. Eh. *shrugs*

And again, thanks to all the reviewers, who all are the reason why I'm not going to kill Merlin at the end of this fic. (Really, I was going to but then everyone wanted Cenred to die or something for beating Merlin so I was like "yeah, everyone will be pissed of I do that.") Virtual cookies to you!

:D