10 Chapters in three days? I am good…
I forgot to mention the names of the (more main) characters, this will become important:
Merlin: 19, Arthur: 21, Gwaine: 20, Percival: 20, Leon: 25, Lancelot: 22
So, yesh, Merlin is the youngest out of all of them, and I made it that way because it gave the 'Knights' a reason to look after him, and it would explain how they seemed to comfort him more than Arthur.
Arthur sighed, adjusting his suit when he stopped the car. He turned to Gwaine, who was wearing the same apparel. They both exchanged glances, then both sunk into the car seats, relaxing for the first time in hours.
The 24-year-old blond chuckled and pulled his tie loose. "God, I'm glad that's over."
A year and a half ago, Arthur had taken over his father as CEO of the Pendragon Insurance Company. He and Gwaine decided to arrange a meeting of both of their companies to begin working with each other. The weapons industry Gwaine ran was already beginning to flourish because of the join. Arthur was only too happy to help his friend's company out.
"Yeah…" Gwaine replied. "I fancy getting out of here for a while. Why not take a drive?"
Arthur smirked and turned to his friend, then silently undid his seatbelt and got out of the car. He wasn't surprised to see Gwaine grinned at him over the top of the car.
They swapped places, both putting the seatbelts back on, before Gwaine started up.
"Ready?"
Arthur laughed, "Ready." He agreed.
Gwaine immediately sped off. Having been CEO of a company for over four years, he still was the mischievous, excitable, slightly immature and happy-go-lucky person he had always been, and will always be.
Gwaine drove for about 45 minutes, to the edge of the city. During the drive, he and Arthur chatted about stuff, and Arthur ended up getting made to text Percival for Gwaine.
"How's it going between you and Perce, by the way"
Gwaine took one hand off the steering wheel to scratch his stubbly chin, the light flashing off the gold wedding ring on his finger. Arthur smiled, of course he did that on purpose.
"It's going amazing, actually. We finally have been able to find an adoption agency that let's gay couples adopt. We searched for ages. I mean, gay marriage was legalized years ago, you'd think the adoption fuckers would at least let gay married couples adopt but noooooo." Gwaine gripped the steering wheel harder, glaring ahead of him. He suddenly glanced over at Arthur and grinned happily, "But we've finally found one. I think it helped that we both have high paying jobs. We go and look at the kids on Thursday"
Arthur chuckled, "Well, a huge congratulations. I'll have to meet him or her right away, you know"
"Oh, I know!" Gwaine grinned, "We'd love a little girl. I mean, there are so many guys around. Not that I'm complaining, but it'll be nice to have a girl in the family…"
Arthur smiled at his friend and turned towards the road again.
They soon arrived at a small, sweet estate on the edge of the city. It was quite cute, and probably the only place you could pretend you were in a village for miles. Gwaine stopped the car on the pavement, grinning cheekily at Arthur.
The 24-year-old rolled his eyes and got out. "If I get clamped. I'm blaming you entirely."
Gwaine laughed, locking the car, "Alright, alright…"
They walked around the estate for a while, looking in the windows of shops, laughing at the side comments Gwaine kept muttering.
Eventually, they happened upon a small, cute café, which was open.
Gwaine looked up at the shop, then to Arthur, "Fancy a coffee? I'll pay. It's the least I can do for what you did for our companies today."
Arthur patted Gwaine on the back and nodded, "You don't have to pay me back, but a coffee would be nice. All I've had today is that disgusting office coffee." He wrinkled his nose as he lead the way into the shop.
Gwaine checked his phone as they walked through the tables towards the counter, where the attendant was busy in the back through the doorway to the kitchen.
"Hey," Gwaine said as they both looked up at the choice list, "How have you and Elena been doing?"
Arthur looked away from the drinks board to look down at his wallet in his hand. "Over. And with Rachel? Over again. I've not been in a proper relationship since…"
Gwaine sighed and nodded, "I know, mate. We all miss him."
"It's been three years, Gwaine" Arthur turned to his friend "I've looked for him everywhere. He left and left no clue to where he went. I've tried his parent's, he hasn't even been there…I really broke him, didn't I?"
Gwaine nodded, "Yeah." He guiltily agreed.
"I just wish I can find him again. I-…I miss him so much, Gwaine."
At that moment the waiter came out from the back. He wiped his hands on the apron on his slim waist and rolled up his sleeves without focusing on the two men in front of him.
"Afternoon Gentlemen, what can I get you?" He looked up, freezing.
Arthur was about to answer when Gwaine nudged and he looked up, finally looking at the waitor.
The blond gasped.
"Merlin?!"
Dun dun duuuuuunnnn! :D