I realised that the original chapter I was going to post jumped a step - so I had to slot something in and wrote this. There is a higher chance of mistakes as a result - if there is anything big let me know.

/ / / Badminton \ \ \

Merlin told himself this wasn't actually stalking as he sat near the athlete's entrance until he saw Arthur and his team walk into the building. He waited, not wanting to be too obvious, but before he could decide when to make contact, Gwaine was standing in front of him – a knowing look on his face.

"Hi," Merlin said, lifting an awkward hand and waving.

"What are you doing?" Arthur asked, looking at the empty seats around Merlin.

Merlin shrugged. "Was just thinking about badminton."

Arthur frowned.

"What?" Lancelot asked.

"Badminton," Merlin said, forging forward and going with it. "I was thinking about badminton."

"Why?" Leon asked.

"It's such an interesting sport," Merlin said, wanting to just sink into the ground.

"I've never actually watched it," Arthur said.

"You should," Lancelot told him, eyes intent on Merlin.

Arthur shook his head. "I have a video of our practise to watch."

"Nope," Gwaine said, beaming. "Badminton."

Arthur stared at Gwaine and Lancelot like they were insane.

"I was about to go and watch a match," Merlin said.

"Someone you know?" Arthur asked, turning his focus onto Merlin.

"Yeah," Merlin said, letting out a breath and trying to pull his…well, not cool, but maybe his…senses together so he didn't sound like a dollop head. "Philippines – Oliver, he's something of a computer whiz as well – we know each other through that actually. Then I found out he plays badminton and we have never actually met in person."

"So, you're thinking of going and watching him, and then meeting him?" Arthur said.

"Yeah," Merlin smiled, pulling together the last of his courage and standing up. "Wanna come?"

"Yes," Lancelot and Gwaine said together.

Merlin blinked at them slowly.

"Let's all go," Leon said.

Merlin realised that Arthur's teammates were actually helping him out. He wasn't sure if that meant they liked him or if they just felt really sorry for him. If it worked, he didn't care which one it was.

Arthur looked unsure for a few moments and then nodded. "I can watch the video after dinner I suppose."

Merlin beamed at him. "Great, let's go."

"Now?" Arthur asked.

Merlin took a moment to look down at his watch, as though he hadn't been waiting around like a creeper, and then nodded. "Yeah, just enough time to get there I think."

"Lunch?" Arthur asked.

"We'll get something there," Percival said.

The rowing team turned, a few of them frowning but following Gwaine, Lancelot, and Leon without question.

"You don't have to," Merlin said quietly when they were suddenly left alone.

"No, no," Arthur said, running a hand down the strap of his satchel. "Kilgharrah, our coach, said to relax this afternoon and this is good. I'm sure I'll actually relax with you. If I stay here my team will lock me in my rooms again."

"Again?"

Arthur shrugged. "They think I am obsessive and too focussed."

"You have to be focussed to become good enough to win a gold medal."

"I know," Arthur asked. "This is what I keep telling them."

"Arthur, Merlin, come on," Gwaine yelled.

Arthur nodded and turned to walk out of the building, Merlin falling in to step next to him.

"How did your practise go?" Merlin asked.

Arthur started telling him about it. Merlin really liked watching how passionate Arthur was about the topic and their conversation lasted them until long after they had arrived at the badminton and they had found seats.

"That's it," Leon said. "No more talk about rowing."

"I like hearing about it," Merlin said.

Gwaine patted his arm. "You're insane."

"Gwaine," Merlin started, shaking the other man off.

"Don't say it," Arthur whispered in his ear. "He'll just enjoy it too much."

Merlin turned his focus back to Arthur and stopped paying attention to the rest of the team. "That does seem like Gwaine."

Arthur nodded. "So, tell me about Oliver."

"He lives in the US," Merlin said. "Married to a lawyer – they have the cutest little daughter you have ever seen, seriously the last time he sent me a photo there were curly pigtails. Anyway, he and I get along quite well and we have a lot in common. I can't see Connor though – I thought he'd be here. Not that he knows who I am, but still."

"What does Connor look like?" Arthur asked, scanning the crowd.

"Dark, handsome, designer stubble type of guy," Merlin said. "Looks at Oliver like he literally hung up the moon and stars and then baked him the world's best cupcakes."

Arthur smiled. "That's a pretty specific description."

Merlin shrugged. "Ma and Ailsa describe that as the way Beast looks at Belle, or Li Shang looks at Mulan – it's the highest level of love."

The announcer's voice flooded into the room and Merlin turned to the courts – Oliver was announced and Merlin cheered for him. Arthur watched Merlin for a beat and then turned to the court.

"How does Badminton work?" Arthur asked.

"No idea," Merlin admitted. "I just love watching sport, almost all sport, and getting to know other athletes. How many people that you meet in life understand what it means to work towards something like the Olympics your whole life and then actually get there? And win, or lose, like the other people here. It's the best time to connect with other people like us, Arthur, and I love it."

"I've never thought about it like that."

Merlin smiled. "I love it all. Except golf and football – I just don't see the appeal of either."

Arthur groaned. "I hate having to play golf but my father does insist."

"I feel terrible for you," Merlin said.

Arthur laughed. "Very few people have ever said that to me."

Merlin shrugged. "I'm unique."

Arthur nodded. "You certainly are."

Merlin couldn't help but preen under Arthur's gaze at those words. Arthur and Merlin's eyes held for a few minutes and then, with a blush, Merlin turned back to the badminton.

"I'm sure between the two of us we can work out how this works," Merlin said, frowning at the game.

"Probably," Arthur agreed. And over the match, where Oliver won, they worked out the rules together.

/ / /