Author's Note: And the hate mail rolls in the for the last chapter...just kidding! Though as my girlfriend said, Arthur was "being a douche" (isn't she eloquent?) so let's see where we go with this chapter! There can be an epilogue after this, but that's it, Thanks for staying with me! If you want an epilogue or not, let me know
Chapter 10: Don't Go
It had felt like an eternity to Merlin, but it'd only been a week. A week of Arthur not barely returning his calls or texts, and on top of that he'd given him time off to finish his term papers. It was Tuesday morning and he'd finally get the chance to confront Arthur. Chewing on his lip thoughtfully, Merlin couldn't help but fidget nervously as he tried to drink his morning tea. Gwaine came up behind him, setting down his cup of coffee, both of their shifts starting in a few minutes.
"Have you seen him?" He asked, wrapping a comforting arm around his friend. Merlin, Gwen, Lancelot, Leon, Percival and himself had gone out for drinks the night before. Gwen and Merlin were both done with the term, and the boy had looked beat. After two pints he'd broken down, explaining to to the four of them how Arthur hadn't seen him all week and would barely talk to him. It had broken Gwaine's heart to see his friend like this especially since he and Arthur had been doing so well. Leon and Percival didn't know where their friend had been and Gwaine had half the mind to punch Arthur in the face the minute he walked into Camelot, his father be damned.
"Not yet, I figured I'd corner him in his office..."
"That'd usually be pretty kinky." Gwaine wriggled his eyebrows and Merlin gave him a half-hearted laugh, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. He was afraid of what Arthur might say, which was a new experience for him. Rejection was something he'd never feared from Arthur, and he could take any insult, but when he'd been so happy for the last month the idea of it all crashing down made his heart ache.
"Well why don't you go bring the Princess his tea and we'll talk at lunch."
"I'll meet you here." Ruffling his hair the man stepped away heading for the door,
"It's gonna be okay my friend."
"Gwaine?"
"Yeah Merlin?"
"Thanks."
"Any time." Winking he headed for his usual post as Merlin picked up Arthur's cup and headed for his office. He was nearly there when Uther turned the corner, looking at Merlin as he walked up to the young man, severe in his well tailored suit.
"Emrys."
"Sir?"
"I understand that you and my son have been carrying on a relationship." Merlin took a deep breath before he opened his mouth,
"Yes, that's true."
"Well I am happy to hear that it will be ending."
"What do you mean?" Eyebrows furrowed, Merlin frowned at the man in front of him who began to smirk,
"Arthur is going to New York next week. He'll be the head of operations at the Camelot branch in the States, and since he'll be leaving, there will be no need for you here."
"But."
"No buts Emrys. Arthur doesn't need you." With that Uther walked past him, gliding down the hall as Merlin fought to hold the tea cup in his hand still. His legs were stiff, but he willed them to move, faster and faster as he got closer to Arthur's office. It was beginning to make sense now, why Arthur had been so distant and he could only hope that he could talk to him, get him to change his mind. No wonder he had been so distant, he was taking what his father had to say to heart and it terrified Merlin. Opening the door he was greeted by an empty office, and he hurried to put the tea cup down, noticing that Arthur had left his jacket and briefcase by the door. Nearly running out of the office he headed down the hall, checking the conferences room as he went by. But he couldn't find his boyfriend in a single one. In desperation he flung open the stairwell door and headed for the lobby.
Arthur nodded to Gwaine, who glared at his back as he walked to the lift, getting in and heading back up to his office for some paperwork. He and Uther were going to have a talk. Checking his appearance one last time, Arthur took the folder of papers from his desk and headed down the hall to his father's office. Knocking twice there was a momentary pause until he heard the response,
"Come in." Opening the door Arthur closed it gently behind him and stood for a moment, looking at his father from across the room. Uther was smiling ever so slightly as he took a sip of tea and gestured for Arthur to take a seat. With an air of confidence the blonde haired man came over and set the file on the desk, sitting in the leather chair opposite of his father. It had taken him a week to sort out his feelings, one week of being alone, hurting and regretting his indecision and cowardice. But he was done now, and he was going to be settling the issue once and for all.
"I've been thinking about what you had to say Father, and there are things I find that I agree with." Uther smiled openly at this, nodding his head for Arthur to continue. "The company in New York was my project, I planned and executed the expansion and I have Leon functioning as the temporary CEO, should I decide to step in and take over the role."
"Arthur I'm glad you're starting to see things my way." It was Arthur's turn to smile.
"And seeing as the company has been a collaboration solely between Leon and myself, that branch, though an off shoot of Camelot, would be mine entirely if I so chose to sever my ties from Camelot here in London."
"Arthur, what are you going on about." But he didn't respond, instead he pulled out the paper work from his file folder, sliding it across the desk to Uther. "Arthur what is all of this?" He demanded as his son sat back with a smug expression.
"Those are the figures of how much of Camelot I have control over, and the expected financial outcomes if I were to withdraw. It seems to be rather detrimental from the figures I've pulled up. Also, included are list of the investors that would follow me in my endeavors in New York if I so chose to move." By the time Arthur had finished laying out his case for his father to see, Uther had turned bright red, sputtering with anger at what his son had accomplished. Arthur put his hands on the front of the desk, looking at his Father. Both he and Morgana loved their father no matter what his old fashioned sensibilities and ruthless ambition lead him to do. But he refused to let him dictate another aspect of his life, he'd had enough.
"I've finally come to understand the errors of my way with Merlin, Father."
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
By the time he'd made it to the bottom of the stares Merlin couldn't seem to quell the rising nausea in his stomach. Hurrying across the lobby Merlin ran up to Gwen,
"Have you seen Arthur?"
"Merlin what's wrong?"
"Gwen please have you seen Arthur?"
"He came through here probably five or ten minutes ago, got in the lift, but didn't stop in for his mail. What's wrong?" Concern was etched on her face, Merlin looked a mess.
"I, I've just got to talk to him." Turning he headed for the lift, pushing the small button impatiently as it finally came to the ground floor, opening its door for him to go in. His mind was spinning, if he could just talk to him he'd have time, Merlin thought, rushing out of the doors and towards Arthur's office. But when he heard his boyfriend's voice from Uther's office, all time seemed to stop.
"I've finally come to understand the error of my way with Merlin, Father."
It was as if those words were a wrecking ball to the foundations of his world, causing it to come crashing down around him as he stood there shell shocked. It had only taken a couple months for Merlin to go from hating Arthur to being hopelessly in love with him. And all of it had been a waste, and Merlin could barely make himself move back towards the lift. The doors closed and he stumbled back against the wall. All of this time, all of the effort and frustration was for naught and it burned deeply in the pit of his stomach as he stumbled out into the lobby towards the doors. Gwaine caught him, looking alarmed at his appearance,
"Merlin! What's happened?"
"He's leaving Gwaine."
"What?"
"He's leaving, he's going to New York."
"Arthur?"
"Uther told me, he's going to be the CEO for the new company, he's leaving without me and then Uther is going to fire me."
"He can't do that! Have you talked to Arthur, just, for gods sake just let me at him."
"He was in Uther's office, he, he said he'd realised the, the error of his ways." The last few words came out in a sob as Gwaine tried to pull him into his arms, but Merlin pushed back, nearly knocking over a few men who came in, looking perturbed at the disturbance.
"I, I can't be here." He pushed away and headed out the door as Gwaine tried to grab him,
"Merlin! It's pouring rain, Merlin! Come back!" But the man had disappeared down the street and Gwaine could do nothing but watching him run, his heart aching and anger spiking through his chest. Turning he stormed upstairs to find Arthur.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''
"What do you mean?" Uther said, rising from his seat as Arthur followed suit,
"I love him Father, and by denying him and letting you plant these ideas in my head I've failed him and I refuse to let that happen. You raised me to be a pompous brat and he knocked me down a few pegs and taught me to be a human being, and I've treated him like hell and I refuse to let you bully us. I love Merlin, and if you can't accept that then I'll leave, and you can deal with the consequences." Arthur gestured at the paperwork, "Now I'm going to find my boyfriend, and we're taking the day off." Turning on his heel he walked out of the office, flushed and proud.
Heading down the hall he collided into Gwaine, barely having time to recover before he was forced to duck a punch the man threw,
"How dare you, you cock sucking-"
"Gwaine!"
"Fucking piece of-"
"Gwaine stop! What are you talking about!" Arthur stumbled backwards, barely avoiding another blow,
"Merlin is what I'm talking about! New York, Arthur, how dare you do that to him."
"What about New York? Where's Merlin?" Gwaine scoffed,
"Like you don't know? You've been lying to us all, leading him on just to follow your father into a life of solitude and bitterness in New York!"
"I'm not going to New York!"
"Merlin just told me you were!"
"What? Gwaine what the hell is going on?"
"Merlin just ran out of here, into the pouring rain, sobbing that you were leaving him, that you'd realised the 'error of your ways' you fucking-"
"I'm not doing anything! Which way did he go?" Arthur looked panicked and Gwaine paused for a moment, before responding,
"To The Strand, and I swear Arthur Pendragon if you break his heart now I'll kill you." But Arthur didn't stand to listen to the end of the sentence as he tore off down the stairwell. He was out of the lobby and into the rain before Gwen could even finishing calling his name. It was raining hard, and he struggled not to lose his balance on the slick pavement. The morning business traffic was thick, and he struggled down the street, eliciting a great number of exclamations with his brusque manner,
"Hey!"
"Bloody hell Mate!"
"Watch where you're going!"
But once Arthur caught sight of Merlin's form ducking through the people ahead of him, it was all he had eyes for, his mind pressed him forward, Catch Merlin. Slipping on the tile of a store front he fell on his knee, grimacing as the contact jarred his figure. But while he was down he saw Merlin dart into the street, his heart jumping into his throat as a cab honked and swerved to miss him. Scrambling to his feet Arthur raced across the street, praying he could reach Merlin before he could disappear into Covent Garden or the bustle of the Underground. He was mere steps away from him now and with one last sprint of energy he snagged Merlin's shirt sleeve, now soaked through with rain.
"Let me go!" He cried as people around them looked, then hurried on quickly.
"No, I'm not letting go Merlin."
"Just leave me alone, please." Merlin pleaded, his tone distressed as Arthur dragged him back against him, his chest heaving against Merlin's back.
"No, it's all wrong Merlin."
"Of course it is!"
"It's not true! I'm not going anywhere."
"Uther told me Arthur! He told me what you're doing, that you're leaving and I'm going to be fired." Arthur felt sick at the revelation of what his father had done, and the pain that drenched Merlin's words.
"It's not true Merlin, I know you heard me talking but you didn't hear everything. I was wrong, I treated you badly Merlin and that's what I meant. That was my error, not cherishing you above my Father's stupid ambitions and ideals." Merlin paused, turning and looking up into Arthur's face as the rain flattened his hair to his forehead and rivulets of water ran down his face.
"What?"
"I'm not leaving, you and I aren't going anywhere. I turned him down, I told him if he threatened to make me leave I'd take the New York company and leave. I refuse to give you up, Merlin, I love you. I've always loved you and I was just too stupid to realise it. That's why I haven't talked to you, I was afraid this was all some great fluke."
"You idiot, why didn't you just tell me."
"Because I couldn't bring myself to talk to you, I just didn't -"
"Arthur?"
"What?"
"Shut up." Merlin tangled his hands in Arthur's blonde locks as he pressed his lips to his. Arthur wrapped his arms around Merlin, pulling the smaller man against his chest in a crushing embrace as the rain soaked their clothes through.
"You silly thing." Arthur whispered tenderly against Merlin's lips. People bustled by, staring at the two men who stood in the middle of the sidewalk in the pouring rain, kissing under the glow of Kilgharrah's Chinese Take-Away. Pulling away Merlin smiled shyly as Arthur ran a hand through his wet hair,
"Couldn't you have at least stormed into my office, and not out into the rain you idiot?"
But before he could answer Arthur had grabbed Merlins shirt front and pulled him in for another kiss.