Summary: Three years later Arthur is living in Wales, with Merlin. Arthur is 'out', and their relationship is still platonic. Then someone comes along who tests their friendship.
A/N: Warning: If you're a die-hard non-slasher then be aware that, although technically still bromance, the following chapters sail fairly close to the wind.
Unborn Butterfly (Part 11: Living) by frostygossamer
Arthur woke up from a deep restful sleep, and stretched lazily in his bed. He glanced at the clock on the bedside table. 9:30am. Well, it was Sunday morning. He slid his feet out of the covers and into his mules then, shrugging on a simple ivory silk kimono robe, he wandered into the open plan living room.
The flat belonged to PDG, and it had been acquired for him by his father, when he transferred him to Cardiff. Of course, Arthur had meant to turn it down and get his own place, but the views across Cardiff bay from this penthouse were so magnificent he had had to accept it.
Three years had passed since Uther Pendragon had banished his only son from the family home, following the very public DeGrance scandal, and the revelation of just how Arthur had come by the skinny on it. Arthur had fled to Wales with as much dignity as he could still muster, and with his only remaining friend, Merlin, in tow. Neither Pendragon had spoken to the other since.
The flat's living area was a large open space and, like the rest of the building, had been decorated by a famous interior designer. It had come to Arthur just as it was. The only thing of his own choosing, and which he had himself installed, was now sitting at the breakfast bar eating Coco Pops, while perusing the soap pages of the Radio Times, spread out on the counter.
Arthur walked up behind Merlin's seated figure, and slipped his arms around the younger man's waist.
Merlin knew that Arthur was a very physical person, much more physical than him. Ever since he had moved in with him, Arthur's excess energy had meant Merlin having to suffer a lot of hair pulling, back of the neck raspberries and unexpected rugby tackles.
After three years of platonic cohabitation, this had stepped down to considerably more tolerable hair ruffling, nape of the neck nuzzling and unexpected hugging. Merlin didn't object to any of that. He understood. It was just a big bloke letting off steam.
"You're up early?", Arthur said, smiling into the back of Merlin's neck.
Merlin's back straightened up against Arthur's chest, and he chuckled. "Going for a jog", he explained. "Want to come?"
"Noo", Arthur replied. "I have rugby practice after lunch."
Merlin grinned. "Oh yeah, I forgot. Then fine", he said, slipping out of Arthur's arms and off his high stool in one movement. "I'll meet up with you at Spoon's. That OK?"
Arthur nodded. Merlin got his iPod from his own bedroom, grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, and disappeared through the door. Arthur relaxed on the sofa and turned on Sunday morning telly. He was comfortable and so now was his celibate life with his dippy flatmate.
After that DeGrance business, when his father had decided he would exile him to Cardiff, to be the new Regional Manager for Wales, he had had to ask Merlin to move there with him. It had been a moment of sheer terror. What if Merlin had said no? What if he had been offended that he dared to ask him to do anything so 'gay'?
He knew he had had no right to ask Merlin, who was just a friend, albeit the best friend anyone could have in the whole world, to up stumps and follow him anywhere. It wasn't as if he was his boyfriend or anything. They were two straight guys, after all. The relief, when the idiot had said yes without any hesitation whatsoever, had made him almost hysterical.
The plan had been for Merlin to stay in Arthur's flashy two-bedroom flat until he found his own place, if he wanted his own place. But he was still there, and that had been three happy years ago. Now it was a pretty safe bet that Merlin wasn't going anywhere, and Arthur was very, very glad about that.
Close to noon, Arthur turned off the telly and went to take a shower. After the shower, he began to dress himself in something suitable for the rugby club. He pulled out a drawer, and fished around amongst the flimsy bits of silk and satin for one of the two pairs of Union Jack Y-fronts he owned.
They were the only masculine underwear Arthur now possessed, and he kept them for this purpose alone. The rest were padded bras, corsets, basques, lacy briefs, suspender belts and stockings for evening wear, or the more practical french knickers and camisoles that lay smoothly under his business suits.
Arthur eyed himself in the mirror with amusement. Strangely this was starting to feel more like 'dressing' than his everyday wear.
('o')
Moving to the principality had been a godsend really. It had given Arthur the chance for a totally fresh start. And he had meant to make the most of it. There would be no more lies, no more half truths. He wasn't going to hide what he really was anymore.
Not that he wanted to shove it in people's faces, but he wasn't going to be ashamed. Merlin was totally with him on that. The example of the Leon DeGrance train wreck had vividly shown them how secrets can ruin your life.
Merlin had encouraged Arthur to find a local rugby club to join. Arthur had loved to play rugby ever since public school, and Merlin loved to support him. Everyone at the new club knew about Arthur. Just enough that there would be no surprises. Although he never even underdressed at the club, just in case there was any awkwardness in the changing rooms.
When he had first turned up looking to join, they had held a practice session to see him in action. They were very impressed. Arthur could easily have been a professional.
Then he had let them know that, yes, he was Pendragon as in Pendragon DeGrance and, yes, he did know the chap at the centre of the scandal and, in fact, it was down to him that the scandal hit the papers and, no, he didn't need to hear any cracks about trannies because, actually, he was one. End of discussion. They could take that or leave it.
"Do you need a great new forward for this team or what?", he demanded.
And they did, so he was in. But suffice it to say that it wasn't the first club he had tried to join.
Meanwhile, at the office, Arthur now wore his hair in a neat ponytail. He had let his hair grow a bit longer so that he could fluff it up into a 'do'. No more wearing wigs. Arthur hated anything that made him feel fake.
His new secretary had suspected something, when she spotted the little carrier bag he returned from lunch with one day. He put it down on the desk between them. It contained a few pairs of fancy hold-up stockings.
"Before you start wondering, yes, they are for me", he said.
She raised an immaculate eyebrow and said nothing, but he suspected she added two and two and made five when Merlin picked him up to go for a drink that afternoon.
Arthur felt good about being open with people, expressing his identity as he wanted, he hoped people respected him for that. Being a good friend, Merlin did.
('o')
While Arthur was working hard at PDG(Wales), now renamed 'Pendragon Development Group', Merlin had enrolled at Cardiff Business School to finally finish his university degree. Arthur had encouraged him in this.
Arthur was conscious that Merlin felt that he had missed out on graduating, because of his father Balinor's sudden death and his mother's subsequent breakdown. Arthur felt that, if HE deserved to go for what he wanted in life, then so did Merlin.
Merlin divided his days between studying, taking care of the flat, and organizing Arthur's domestic life. He was learning to cook, and he didn't mind too much cleaning and tidying up after Arthur. It was the least he could do, seeing as Arthur was paying all the bills and effectively keeping him.
On Saturdays they went out dancing or dining, at one of the many TV-friendly venues around Cardiff. Sometimes also during the week, depending on Arthur's mood. On Sundays, if Arthur had a rugby game, Merlin gave him his enthusiastic support.
Merlin laughed when his mother, Hunith, talked about him being Arthur's 'little wifie', because he was, in all respects but one. Their relationship was strictly platonic. Despite the lingerie and heels, Arthur remained resolutely a metrosexual heterosexual.
TBC
A/N: Everything is blissful so far, but trouble is on the horizon. Next part soon.