A/N: Sorry guys, I'm in a bit of a rush and I feel so bad about this but I'll answer to your reviews very soon, I swear! And thank you so so so so much!

Merlin nearly has a heart attack when he finds Arthur in the kitchen, still in his pajamas, the following morning around ten o'clock. The man looks even hotter after waking up, which is unfair.

"There's coffee behind me." Arthur indicates, focused on reading the newspaper.

"Thanks." Merlin utters before taking the cup Arthur has seemingly left for him.

He then sits on a bar stool next to Arthur and drinks his coffee, losing himself in his thoughts. It feels like he can't get away from them lately. Morgana and Gwen had managed to get him to doubt his life choices. And it's bloody annoying.

Arthur snaps him out of his gloomy contemplations. "You can stay here for as long as you want to."

Merlin is surprised but grateful. "Thanks."

"I'll ask someone to get you some clothes."

"Why are you doing this?"

"I think you need some time away from your usual comfort zone. So I'm helping you."

"You want to fire me again?"

"No, I want you to figure out what you want now that Morgana and Gwen made you doubt your resolutions."

"I do not doubt anything. I'm just mad at them."

"Please, if you didn't doubt, you'd be back talking to them now."

"I finally got the proof Morgana's your rightful sister."

"Don't be grumpy; I'm being the nice guy here."

"Fine, I'll stay here for a while." Merlin yields.

"I knew you wouldn't resist the idea of my company." Arthur teases.

Merlin looks exasperated but he's actually charmed by Arthur's idea.

Merlin and Arthur spend their entire day doing nothing productive. They talk, play cards, watch a movie or two, play video games before ending their busy day with a marathon of silly reality shows on TV because it makes them feel really clever and it's funny.

Merlin has dodged every phone calls he has received by leaving his phone in the guest room upstairs and Arthur has cancelled on Mithian, telling her he needs to work, which is a lie –but he wouldn't be the first man to lie to his girlfriend, right?

"Are you planning on returning to work at some point?" Arthur asks after the last movie of their evening.

"I'm working from my computer." Merlin shrugs.

"But it's not the only thing your job consists of."

"I will return soon. I just don't want to face Morgana now, because I'm still really angry and I don't want to be mean to her."

"You are aware that they weren't doing it to upset you?"

"Trying to defend them again?"

Arthur sighs but there's a smile at the corner of his mouth. He leans back in the couch and turns his head towards Merlin.

"What happened to you, Merlin?"

"My friends suck." Merlin complains, staring at the ceiling.

"I wasn't talking about that."

"Precise your thoughts then."

"It costs to say it, but you're cleverer than you give yourself credits for. Why are you here now? You could have a great job, maybe even a family."

"I have all those things." Merlin retorts, his face closed to discussion.

Arthur insists anyway: "I'm just curious to know what made you abandon your dreams."

"I didn't abandon anything; there were never dreams in the first place."

Arthur shifts his position so that he is facing Merlin, his hands on his knees.

"You told me a while ago that you would talk about your mother if I told you about the snow globes. This is the moment when I ask you to pay your debt."

"You're annoying, you know that?" Merlin mutters.

Arthur chuckles: "You like it, don't deny it."

Merlin can't help but smile a little before he surrenders.

"My mother sent me in London because I wanted to be a scientist."

"A scientist?" Arthur sounds insultingly skeptical and Merlin throws a cushion at him.

"I was actually really skilled."

"Ok, I believe you." But Arthur is smirking smugly.

"I didn't have enough money. I had to drop out to work."

"You could have done both."

"I could have, but my mom lost the house. That's when I got involved with Cendred. I spent four years working for him. I used to send every penny I earned so that she could live decently."

"Where is she now?"

"Living with an old friend of the family, his name's Gaius. He takes care of her now but I still send some money to help."

"Why don't you go back to science now?"

"Gwaine and Rosie could use the money."

"So you're gonna help the others forever? You're gonna neglect your own happiness?"

"You don't think I tried? I drove Will away with all that. But that's pointless, I can't be selfish. That's kind of my curse." Merlin shrugs.

"Your curse?" Arthur wonders out loud.

"We all have a curse."

"I don't."

"Do you want to talk about your father?"

"Yeah, ok, I get it. I do." Arthur whispers. "Gwaine and Rosie won't resent you if you go on with your life. You've got to live for yourself Merlin, being selfish is only human."

"Coming from you, that's rich."

"I didn't say I was perfect but at least I love my job."

Merlin nods absentmindedly, still caught up in his past. Arthur lets him and gets up to go to the large windows to watch the illuminated city.

"I'm an idiot, aren't I?" Merlin eventually utters.

"I don't really think you're an idiot. But if you ask me again tomorrow, I'll deny everything."

"Gwen was right, I overreacted." Merlin moans.

"I'm pretty sure she isn't vindictive. Morgana could be, but she'll make an exception for you."

Merlin gets up to join Arthur to the window. They remain quiet for some time before Merlin breaks their comforting silence.

"Do you really love your job?"

"As a matter of facts, I do… And I can see it surprises you."

"I figured you were doing it for your father." Merlin shrugs.

"I'm doing it for myself. Contrary to Morgana who didn't have the patience, I began as an assistant in the lower offices. I climbed the ladder throughout the years. I've done it all by myself."

"Why did you do it?" Merlin sounds genuinely intrigued and that lights up Arthur's smile.

"To prove my point."

"Your point being?"

"I don't owe my position to my father."

"Yet you let him shout at you."

"I don't owe him my job but I still want him to be proud. That's why I work twice as much as everyone."

"You can't win."

"I can try."

"Who's the idiot now?" Merlin teases.

"I have high standards."

"You mean your father has high standards."

Arthur winces but has to recognize Merlin's right.

"Is it the reason why you're dating Mithian?" Merlin asks before he can think too much.

Arthur gasps audibly and stares at him with rounded eyes.

"She's nice and everything, but come on, there's no chemistry between you two." Merlin clarifies.

"That's my girlfriend you're talking about."

"I'm not insulting her. I'm just saying that a girl like that tends not to let a normal guy cold."

"Are you saying I'm not a normal guy?"

Merlin laughs. "I'm saying you're cold as ice."

"I don't need your advice when it comes to my love life, Merlin." Arthur groans, avoiding his gaze.

"I bet your father approves of her."

Arthur remains silent but Merlin can tell he's boiling with indignation.

"I won't tell anyone, you can be honest with me." Merlin vows, turning his back to the window.

He crosses his hands behind his back to lean against the window, looking at Arthur sideways. The latter sighs heavily before he surrenders:

"She's the daughter of one my father's collaborators." He confesses. "I met her at a business dinner several months ago. She was really nice –and even you can't deny she's pretty– she was bored, I was bored, and that got us talking."

Merlin offers him a grateful smile and Arthur sighs, leaning against the window next to Merlin.

"We're messed up alright, huh?" Merlin muses.

"We should be each other's shrink." Arthur jokes, cynical.

"I tell you what, we're gonna make a deal. I get rid of my curse and try to live for myself and you do the same with your own curse."

"Is this a way to tell me you want me to break up with Mithian?"

Merlin grins wildly and moves to face him.

"You can say that." He whispers mysteriously.

Arthur stares at him blankly, processing this new parameter and before he can think about it, his eyes are travelling on their own towards Merlin's smiling lips. He gulps and brings his eyes back to Merlin's.

"I'm going to bed now." He manages to utter before running away from the gap between Merlin and the window.

Merlin's smile only widens.

Merlin Emrys: Life changing decisions…

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When Morgana sees Merlin enters her office after more than a week without him, she gets up from her chair and clumsily walks towards him to close the gap between them and hug him with enough strength to strangle him.

"I'm glad to see you too." Merlin mocks, hugging her back.

"Don't let me go."

"That's sweet, but I was under the impression I had work to do."

"I meant it literally to be honest. I'm going to fall down if you let me go."

"Oh… Do you need help to get back to your chair?"

"That'd be nice, thank you Merlin." She laughs.

Once she's back behind her desk, he offers her the coffee he has brought for her and she thanks him with a wide smile.

"I don't want to leave London, I sincerely love this city." He declares.

"I'll find something that doesn't need you to move then."

"Thank you Morgana."

There's more than politeness in his eyes and she nods knowingly.

"That's what being friends means." She utters tentatively.

"If this is a way to check if we're friends, then yes, we never ceased to be."

"Good. Now, you have thousandth of photocopies to make. I suggest you start right now."

"You're evil." He grumbles upon seeing the pile waiting for him on his desk.

"I know." She smirks. "Good to have you back."

Arthur pays the bill and lightly puts what he hopes to be a comforting hand on Mithian's shoulder before leaving the café quietly. He feels guilty for making her suffer; he never wanted her to get hurt.

But ever since Merlin's comments on the absence of chemistry in their couple, Arthur hasn't found the strength to pretend anymore. It wasn't working, it never really did, and it's time to put an end to their puppet show. Their fathers would be the only ones to be really disappointed. And Arthur is getting tired of doing things for the sake of his father's perfect world.

That's step one in getting rid of his 'curse'.

He has struggled against Merlin's presence in his head for far too long and he is now aware that it's not that bad to let him in. Merlin fascinates and infuriates him at the same time, and it's nice because it's challenging. Everything was too neat before Merlin's arrival in his life. Arthur felt ashamed of far too many things he shouldn't be ashamed of in the first place.

Of course, Merlin hadn't done all that consciously. It had been a long process, little things that could have been nothing to anyone else. It has accelerated since Merlin has been staying in his flat. They spent all their time together and Arthur never got tired of it –even if sometimes, he does want to hit Merlin because he's truly maddening.

Besides, Arthur has finally accepted that he is attracted to Merlin. That doesn't mean he doesn't call him an idiot at times and that certainly doesn't mean they're gonna stop their banter anytime soon; they're both too fond of their disputes. But it does mean that Arthur has thought more than once about kissing Merlin. That part is still disconcerting though, and he's not really sure he wants to act on it. What he does know is that it wasn't fair to Mithian. He has waited more than he should have, really, but breaking up with someone is never easy –even more so if it's the last obstacle between you and someone you like more than you should.

Now that it's done, Arthur feels amazingly free.

It's late when Merlin comes back to Arthur's flat and he lets himself fall on the couch, knowing that Arthur won't be long to come home.

Arthur has invited him to extend his stay and Merlin is nearly ashamed to admit he didn't hesitate before he agreed. He loves living with Arthur. They drive each other mad most of the time with all their arguments and it's nearly domestic, but they also laugh a lot. They keep each other's company and it feels like they're never bored. They always have something to talk about and their silences are now perfectly comfortable.

The only problem is, Merlin is now convinced there's no way he's gonna see Arthur as a friend. He is forever banned from the friend zone. Even more so when his eyes fall on Merlin's lips and he becomes suddenly very self-conscious.

Maybe it's the effect of the whole 'lifting the curse' thing, but Merlin is more and more tempted to act upon his impulses. If he weren't so sure that Arthur would react badly, he would have already kissed the man.

Merlin's musings are interrupted by the doorbell. He frowns and goes to the door wondering who could possibly come at this hour. He's surprised to discover Mithian on the doorstep.

"Oh, Merlin."

"Mithian, hi."

It's useless to precise that they're both really ill-at-ease.

"Arthur's not here yet." Merlin states. "But you can wait inside."

"Thank you."

Merlin closes the door behind her and they both sit on a different couch, awkwardly silent.

"Can I offer you something to drink?" Merlin suggests.

"Has he realized it yet?" She cuts in, as if she has been battling with herself for some time before daring to say it out loud.

"Realized what?"

"I've heard Arthur talk about you since the very first time he met you so I figured since you're here…"

Merlin flushes. "Oh no, he's not…"

"Why don't we skip the part where we pretend we don't know he's crazy about you?"

"You're delusional."

"Am I?" She sighs.

Merlin would give anything to be miles away right now.

"I knew what I was getting myself into when we started dating. I didn't care, I wasn't interested. I was coming out of a messed-up story and all I wanted was to shut my father's mouth."

Merlin focusses on his hands, just like he does every time he's uncomfortable.

"But now I regret I wasn't more cautious…" She sounds like she's about to cry and Merlin feels helpless.

"You know, we barely know each other, I don't really know what to say…" He manages to utter.

"Of course, you're right, I'm sorry."

She composes herself again and gets up.

"Take care of him, Merlin. He's not as tough as he wants people to believe."

Merlin stares at her dumbfounded while she leaves the apartment without looking back.

"Weirdest conversation ever." He declares out loud.

He then resumes his position on the couch to ponder on what just happened.