Final/studies

All Merlin wanted to do was studying. Really. His exams were in less than two days now, and he still didn't know a thing. He really should have started to learn earlier, but as usual, he had been procrastinating until he realized he had less than 48 hours to learn a whole semester. And of course, he couldn't afford to have bad grades, as he wasn't sure he would be able to do much better next semester.

So he had willed himself to grab his books and settled at a table in the library, hoping he would be less tempted to do something else if he wasn't surrounded by a computer or anything that would much more fun to do than learning. And it had worked, until then. Until Merlin had noticed the blond man sitting about a table away from his, and staring at him with no shame. He didn't even flinch when Merlin caught him staring, and it had startled Merlin. He had first thought that the guy was maybe staring into space and not at him, but it soon became obvious that that was not the case.

And from then, it had become hell for Merlin. He couldn't even concentrate long enough to memorize anything, his thoughts always coming back at the other man. Why was he looking at him like that? Had Merlin something on his face or what?

Shaking his head, Merlin tried to focus on his work again, now was definitely not the time to keep fussing around, he needed to learn, and quick. But when he didn't manage to focus long enough, he got bored and stood up. In a few step he was in front of the blond, who looked up at him, still not flinching.

"Alright, what is it?" Merlin asked, eager to get it out. "Do I have something funny? Look, just tell me why you keep staring at me so it won't bother me anyway and I can go back to studying because I really need to work and I won't be able to until I know what's going on. So please just say it."

"I just think you're hot." The guy simply said, smiling, and completely unabashed.

"Okay, great, thank… Wait what?"

The blond shrugged, and Merlin fought the urge to roll his eyes.

"I said I think you're hot. And now I think you're cute, too. Name's Arthur" He said, and held his hand out to Merlin, who didn't move, appalled. Arthur rolled his eyes and took his hand back.

"Well then, when do you want us to go out?"

"Why do you assume I'd want to go out with you?"

"Well, I've seen myself in a mirror" Arthur said, grinning proudly and pointing out to his body, and Merlin was now completely appalled. That guy was a prat.

"Well, someone obviously has a very high opinion of themselves" he mumbled.

"Oh come on, don't tell me I'm not the most handsome man you've ever seen. I wouldn't believe you if said it anyway."

"You know, I'm not going to say no because of your look, I'm going to say no because you're an utter prat!" Merlin snapped, and Arthur chuckled. Merlin glared at him and walked away, back to his seat.

He was finally starting to learn something when he felt someone breathing near his ear. Frowning, he lifted his head and nearly jumped when he saw Arthur's face, mere inches from his own.

"What the hell do you want?"

"We obviously didn't started the right way" Arthur stated, playing with one of Merlin's pen and sitting next to him. "So I think we should start over."

"I don't want to start over, for God's sake, I just want to study" Merlin groaned.

"'Kay, so what about I help you studying?"

"Ah, Very funny" Merlin snorted but Arthur didn't seem to mind. Actually, he grabbed Merlin's book and skimmed through it.

"English literature, uh? So what do you think of Shakespeare's habit to set plays with unusual characters such as a black man in a different country, away from England?" Arthur asked, and Merlin's eyes widened comically.

"You know about English literature?" He croaked, dumbfounded.

"Yeah. My father liked to make sure I had more culture than the other students. So I know quite a lot about literature, and I'm still offering to help, if you'll take a coffee with me. After your exams, of course."

Merlin's mouth opened and closed, before he held his hand out.

"Deal. Name's Merlin, by the way."

Arthur smiled, and got up. "Well then, Merlin, let's go."

Merlin frowned. "Where? I thought you were supposed to help me."

"I am. But not here, we'll be more comfortable at home. Not to mention that all of my literature books are there. So move it, Merlin, we don't have all day!"

Merlin scowled at him but ultimately got up and followed Arthur out of the library. After all, he could do with a little help on literature, and all he had promised was a coffee. If he didn't like Arthur, he would be rid of him in about a week at most.

And if he ended up liking him, well, he wouldn't exactly mind either. Maybe coming to the library had been a good idea, after all.