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.
Unborn Butterfly (Part 12: Temptation) by frostygossamer
A few days later, Merlin had been out for a morning jog, and he picked up their newspapers on his way back. His glance hit on an article bearing Uther Pendragon's name. He ran into their flat and glanced around.
"Arthur?" he called. "There's something in the FT about your dad", but Arthur wasn't in the living room, yet.
"Lazy bugger", Merlin thought. "Must be still lying in bed", and he barged straight into Arthur's bedroom waving his newspaper.
The sight he met with immediately burnt a hole in his brain. Rather than being in bed, Arthur was standing there in the middle of the room stark naked except for a pair of fancy hold-ups and high heels. Merlin nearly collapsed with shock. He mumbled an apology, and staggered into the living area, to fling himself down on the sofa, and fan himself with the paper.
Arthur was heard chuckling. He flung on a robe and followed Merlin out to the living room. Arthur was totally unfazed by being caught naked. Hell, he was a rugby player. He'd been using communal changing and bathing facilities for years.
"Merlin, you idiot", he chided, laughing. "Don't be a bloody drama queen. I've got nothing you haven't seen before."
"It's easy for you to say that", Merlin retorted, his fluttering heartbeat slowly returning to normal. "But you didn't just get an eyeful of something straight out of Cabaret Berlin!"
Arthur perched on the arm of the sofa and grabbed the Financial Times from him.
"What's this you were saying about my father?", he asked, thumbing through the pages.
"It's on page 6", Merlin replied. "It's something about euro financing."
Arthur was silent for a moment as he read the article.
"It says here that he's thinking of retiring!", he commented. "God, I thought the old bastard would never retire. I wonder what that's all about."
('o')
They were both sitting having breakfast together, when Merlin brought up the topic. The front page of the newspaper Arthur was skulking behind bore a story about some gay celeb and his partner attending a film premiere. It prompted Merlin to broach the subject he'd been thinking about for a while.
"You know it's been three years now since I moved in here?", he began. "It was only supposed to be temporary, wasn't it?"
Arthur's grip on his newspaper tightened slightly.
"I was wondering", Merlin continued, nervously. "Since I'm still here, whether we should, maybe, make it official?"
Arthur relaxed and peered at Merlin over his paper.
"You ARE talking about Civil Partnership, right? Not joint tenancy or something?", he demanded.
"Civil whatsit, yes", Merlin squeaked, wondering if he'd said the wrong thing. "I know we don't actually sleep together, but I don't think that's a prerequisite or anything. And it would make everything simpler, moneywise and whatnot."
Arthur carefully folded his newspaper and placed it beside his plate.
"If that was supposed to be some kind of proposal, it was a piss-poor effort, even for you, Merlin", he observed.
Merlin giggled. "But it's a good idea, don't you think?", he asked, nervously.
Arthur sighed. "Yes, Merlin, it's a great idea. In fact I've been thinking about bringing it up myself. And, yes, I'd be very happy to become Civil Partners with you."
Actually Arthur had had this idea floating around in his mind for almost six months. It was the best way he could think of to make sure that Merlin stuck around. It was that or electronic tagging.
Merlin's grin spread from ear to ear. "That's a 'yes'?"
"Yes, it's a 'yes'", Arthur confirmed, a smile playing around the corners of his mouth. "Idiot."
('o')
But the course of true bromance never did run smooth.
It had a slim waist and a pretty neckline, decorated with luscious fabric roses, a structured style that would flatter broad shoulders and a tightly cinched midriff, and the colour of the moire silk was a rich guava like a tropical sunset.
Arthur had been staring longingly at the image on his monitor all morning. He was seriously considering making it his new wallpaper. Then an attractive Dutch lady rep walked in to his office, keen to conduct some business with PDG. Her name was Elena Godwyn.
Arthur spent the day immured in his private office with Elena. She was engaging company, and she flirted with him mercilessly. Of course he was flattered.
They ate sandwiches at his desk, while poring over her merchandise, and she suggested that they should meet up that evening for dinner, to talk business further. And he said yes.
As Elena paused by Arthur's secretary's desk, to retrieve her coat on her way out, she pulled the visitor aside.
"You do know about his reputation, don't you?", she hissed.
"Reputation?", Elena asked, intrigued.
"Yes", the secretary whispered, behind her hand. "He's a, er, tranny? You know what that is?"
"Ooh", Elena replied, her eyes widening. "Yes, we have those in the Netherlands also."
"And he lives with a man."
"Oh", Elena was disappointed. "So he's a homosexual?"
"Well, no", the woman replied. "Apparently not entirely. He was engaged to some girl. But still..."
"Ah", Elena murmured, thoughtfully.
She liked a challenge.
('o')
When he arrived home that evening, Arthur got straight into the shower, and then he went to his bedroom, and began to get ready to go out. Merlin popped his head around the door.
"Thought we were going to get an Indian takeaway and watch a DVD tonight?", he said.
"Oh, no, sorry", Arthur replied, from inside his walk-in wardrobe.
Arthur's enormous wardrobe was lined along one side with gorgeous gowns. On the other side there was a section for Merlin's evening clothes, smart suits, fancy dress shirts and tie and hanky combos to match each one of Arthur's dresses. Arthur's own male attire was all tucked at one end.
"I've got a date", Arthur explained. "I'm meeting someone for dinner."
"A date?", Merlin mouthed blankly. "Arthur?" No reply.
His friend had obviously got lost in the admiration of his collection of couture again. Yards of coloured silk had that effect on Arthur these days. He could spend hours in that wardrobe.
Merlin tapped on the door. "A date?", he repeated.
"Yes", Arthur continued, emerging from the wardrobe with a suitable suit, and a nice shirt and tie. "I'm meeting this stunning Dutch woman I met at work today. She's a rep and she's in town for a couple of weeks."
He noticed Merlin's strange expression.
"It's business", he said. "So I can't bring you along, obviously."
Merlin wasn't sure it was that obvious but, hey, it wasn't his place to complain. He was only the flatmate.
Indian's for one then.
('o')
Arthur and Elena thoroughly enjoyed their meal and each other's company. They chatted about all sorts of things from finance to politics, to what books they liked, and what films they'd seen. Elena even mentioned what Arthur's secretary had told her about him. Arthur flushed.
"Oh, it's fine", she assured him. "This is no problem. My father, Mr. Godwyn, he was one outrageous thespian. His friends were people of every kind. In the Netherlands we are more open-minded about sex than you are here in England. Transvestites, bisexuals, transsexuals, ooph." She waved a dismissive hand.
"I'm not a bisexual", Arthur insisted. "And I'm not a transsexual either. Not all crossdressers want to become women. I like my body the way it is."
Elena purred. "Ooh, so do I", she murmured. "But your little friend...?"
"...Is just a friend", Arthur answered, feeling a little guilty referring to Merlin so offhandedly.
"A very good friend", he explained. "It's down to Merlin that I've never had to worry about 'passing', never had to worry about being 'read' by some loud-mouthed oik or giggling teenager. Merlin has given me his unfailing moral support. He watches my back. But he's just a friend."
Elena smiled warmly. "Then that is good", she said and took his hand in hers.
Eventually, when it had become really late, and the restaurant finally closed for the night, Arthur took Elena back to her hotel.
They laughed together in the foyer and, standing by the lifts, Elena kissed Arthur, quite unexpectedly.
"You could come up?", she whispered.
Arthur hesitated. It had been a long time since he had decided to remain celibate but, despite his taste for lace, Arthur was a red-blooded male. He still had the same hormones running through his veins. Some nights he missed the feel of a warm body beside him.
He was tempted, very tempted. But then he thought about Merlin at home wondering where he'd got himself to, staying out so late.
"Sorry", he said. "Not tonight."
Elena pouted. "Some other night maybe?", she asked as the lift doors opened.
"Maybe", Arthur replied. "Definitely, another night."
The lift doors closed, and he was left alone in the foyer. He went home. When he got back to their flat Merlin was in bed and fast asleep, with his door locked.
TBC
A/N: Has Arthur found his ideal woman? How's Merlin going to take that? More soon.
