I don't own Merlin sadly, it belongs to the BBC.
This is a request from Kenya1234 and is therefore dedicated to them. I want to thank them for giving me this chance to write this as I have really enjoyed writing it. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. :D
Summary: In return for helping Gwen, she introduces Merlin to the rest of the gang. While it is love at first sight for Merlin, Arthur is a closed shell. Can Merlin break down the wall Arthur has built around his heart and get into where Arthur is determined no one will ever get to?
This story is the longest I have ever done it has 38 chapters.
Warnings: Malexmale. Ygraine alive, Uther nice lol. AU.
I apologise in advance for any mistakes
That weekend when they had all met at the pub Will stuck to his word and brought Arthur a drink.
"There won't be any fighting tonight will there?" Geoffrey asked when he came to collect the empty glasses.
Merlin raised his pint along with Morgana raising her glass. "Best behaviour tonight Geoffrey, promise."
When Geoffrey nodded and walked away Merlin stood up. "Who wants another drink?" he asked, with only himself, Mordred, Arthur and Gwaine wanting a drink Merlin headed to the bar, Mordred following him to help his friend. "So, what's the reason for your happy mood?"
Merlin turned and smiled at his friend. "What do you mean?"
"Merlin for the last few months you have been happy, really happy. Any reason?"
"Yeah."
"What is it?"
"Business. It is picking up, really picking up."
"Just business then?"
"Yep." When the barman gave Merlin two of the four drinks he ordered Mordred picked them up, nodding to Merlin when he told them who they were for and walked back over to the table. Just as he was paying a bloke came and stood at the side of him where Mordred had been standing.
"What can I get ya good looking?"
Merlin laughed. "Thanks but no thanks, I have already ordered, and paid." he said, holding up the change the barman handed over.
"Aw now come on handsome, surely you'll let me buy you a drink?"
"No thank you, thank you for the offer though." Merlin smiled as he picked up the two remaining drinks and walked back to the table, handing one to Arthur and he took a sip of his pint.
"Who was that Merlin?" Morgana asked.
"I don't know, he just came up to me offering to buy me a drink."
"So he bought these?" Arthur asked.
Merlin turned to face the blond and smiled. "I turned him down."
"What?" came a unison of voices.
Merlin turned to face the others once more. "What? I am not interested."
"Why not?" Gwen asked. "He's gorgeous."
"He is?" Lancelot asked.
Gwen blushed. "Nothing on you though love." she said, getting laughs from everyone at the table, everyone except, Merlin noticed, Arthur. Risking it Merlin placed his arm under the table and on Arthur's thigh, giving the blond a reassuring squeeze.
Twenty minutes later Percival and Leon were playing pool, Gwaine was watching, Elyan and Elena had gone a machine in the pub that does quizzes, Morgana watching and helping and Lancelot had taken Gwen home, Mordred, Freya and Will going not long after, which left Arthur and Merlin at the table.
Merlin turned to talk to Arthur when Geoffrey came over with a drink. "Geoffrey?"
"You have an admirer lad; this is from that bloke at the bar." Merlin looked around Geoffrey and saw the bloke who flirted with him smiling. Merlin sighed. "Geoffrey do me a favour, take it back and tell him I said that no means no."
Geoffrey nodded. "Sure thing lad."
"You could have taken the drink Merlin." Arthur said once Geoffrey walked away.
"I don't want it Arthur. If I took it he would think I accept not only his drink but like what he likes to think of as flirting."
"He doesn't interest you?"
"Oh Arthur. I wish I could touch you and hold you right now. No he doesn't. I don't want him. Why would I even look twice at him when I have someone like you?"
Arthur smiled. "I want to hold you also."
Arthur finished his drink and placed his hands on his thighs as he stood up. "That's me off home."
Merlin looked up. "Really?"
"Yeah, get going home, fancy just sitting in bed and watching a DVD." Arthur raised his arm up and clapped Merlin on the back. "See you soon?"
"Of course," Merlin answered, smiling as he also stood.
Minutes after Arthur left the others came back to the table, Merlin's phone rang. "Hello?"
"Merlin can you come outside?" came Arthur's voice.
"What? Hang on a minute. I can hardly hear you." Merlin stood up. "Reception for your mobile in this pub is shit." he said, getting murmurs of agreement from others as he made his way outside. "Where are you?"
"Down the steps, turn right and around the corner."
Merlin put his phone back in his pocket and started to walk, he turned the corner and stopped when he saw Arthur there leaning against the wall, once Merlin was stood in front of Arthur the blond pulled him to him, wrapping his arms around his waist.
"Arthur you have nothing to worry about with that bloke or anyone else who flirts with me or buys me drinks. It is you I love Arthur. Now I have you nothing and no one is going to make me walk."
"It never stopped..."
Merlin moved his face forward and kissed Arthur slowly. "I am not him Arthur. I may not know exactly what happened but I do know what it is like to be with someone who gets your hopes up only to crush them after they have used you."
"Charlie?"
"No. Before Charlie there was another, he was my first, took me on dates, brought me things, I was nervous, never been with anyone sexually before. After two months I felt ready."
"What happened?"
"I woke up next morning to an empty bed, he left a note, said something like thanks for a good fuck. I haven't seen him since."
Not knowing what to say Arthur just pulled Merlin close to him kissing him on the side of his head behind his ear.
"Merlin?" came Morgana's voice.
Merlin pulled back. "Get home and in bed and enjoy your film. I'll see you soon." With a quick kiss Merlin stepped out with his mobile in hand. "Morgana, everything okay?"
"That is what I just come out here for. To see if you were alright."
"Yeah. It was just my granddad, he heard me singing earlier in the week and he knows I must have been happy to be singing like that. He wants to know the reason for my happy mood."
"What is the reason?"
"My business. It has really picked up, since I met all of you I got you all as new customers but I also got more."
"Well anyone who comes in my salon I point them in your direction."
Merlin walked over to Morgana and put his arm around her and kissed the side of her head. "So it is thanks to you my business is booming. I must make a note to make your Christmas present bigger." he said making Morgana laugh.
Arthur stood and watched as Merlin and his sister made their way inside, happy that if Merlin got along great with anyone he was pleased it was his sister.
When Arthur had got home he made himself something to eat, had a shower and got his DVD ready. He had just got in bed and was about to press play when a knock sounded on his door. Getting up he headed downstairs and opened the door to find Merlin stood there. "Merlin?"
"Hey. I haven't disturbed you watching your film have I?"
"No. I haven't even started to watch it yet. I cooked myself something and had a shower I just got settled and was about to press play."
"Sorry."
"That's alright. What did you come for?"
"Well I got thinking after you left, getting comfy in bed and watching a DVD. It has been years since I have done that and I was wondering... can I join you?"
Arthur smiled and opened his door more to invite Merlin in. "Of course you can."
Merlin smiled and walked in taking his shoes and coat off. Arthur locked up behind Merlin and walked upstairs, smiling when he looked over his shoulder to see if Merlin was following and saw that the brunet's eyes were glued to his arse that, he must admit, did look tight in the boxer briefs he was currently wearing.
When Arthur climbed into bed he frowned when Merlin sat in the chair not far from his bed. "Merlin are you comfy over there?"
"Yeah."
"Why? Your seats here." he said, patting the bed at the side of him.
"You alright with that?"
"Merlin after everything we have done I am sure its fine."
"I might fall asleep."
"Then make sure you strip down before you get in, sleeping in clothes can't be comfortable,"
Merlin smiled and stripped down to his boxer briefs before getting in next to Arthur who was laying on his side.
Arthur looked up at Merlin who was sitting with his back against the headboard. "Merlin who is closer to the telly?"
"Well as I am this side. Me."
"See how I am laying?"
Merlin looked down. "Yeah."
"And see how you are?"
Merlin looked. "Oh sorry, you can't see. Want to swap places?"
Arthur got up and threw the covers back, grabbing Merlin by his ankles. Arthur pulled hard making Merlin go from sitting up to laying down. Covering them both up again Arthur pressed play and got up close behind Merlin his arm going around him.
"Better?" Merlin asked.
Arthur smiled and kissed the bare shoulder. "Much."
The next morning the slamming of a car door woke Arthur up. He looked at the telly to find it playing away to itself, looking at the time he saw it had just gone ten in the morning. Shit!
He was normally up and dressed and at Morgana's by now, picking her up for them both to go to their parents. He looked down to see Merlin's head on his chest, arm across his stomach. He threw the covers back getting a moan from Merlin who tightened his hold.
"Arthur its cold."
"Sorry love." he said as he moved out of Merlin's hold and froze before standing, realising what he had just called Merlin. "Sorry," he added as he stood up and hurried to the window to look out and sure enough Morgana was by her car looking through her bag.
He turned to face Merlin to see the brunet just getting up, not being able to stop his eyes dropping to Merlin's tented boxer briefs, he shook his head. "Morgana is here, we always go to our parents on a Sunday and I have normally picked her up by now."
Merlin nodded. "Do you have a spare key?"
"Yeah why?"
"Leave it with me. I will wait until you have both gone and let myself out, you can pop by on Monday and pick it back up."
Arthur turned to face his bedroom door when he heard his front door open and close. "No." he said looking back at Merlin.
Merlin nodded. "Okay I will hide and sneak out back before you go."
"No."
Merlin frowned. "You want me to hide here until you come back?"
"Arthur where are you?" Morgana shouted.
Keeping his eyes on Merlin Arthur turned his head towards the door. "In my room, slept in." he answered.
"Are you decent?" she asked, her voice getting louder as she came up the stairs, closer to Arthur's room.
Merlin walked over to the bed and dropped to his knees.
"Merlin what are you doing?"
"Looking for somewhere to hide so she won't see me."
"For me?" Arthur asked.
"Yes." Merlin said as he looked under the bed for some room.
Arthur looked from the door to Merlin and in that second Arthur decided what he wanted to do, what he needed to do. He walked over to Merlin and took his hand, helping him up. "No Merlin. This is my sister, she has been with me through everything, I can't lie to her."
Before Merlin could answer the door opened. "Fancy sleeping in that isn't like yo-" Morgana stopped when she saw her brother stood there wearing just his boxer briefs holding Merlin's hand who was wearing just the same. "Arthur? Merlin?" she asked.
"Morgana." Merlin and Arthur said in unison.
Looking between the two Morgana gave a small smile. "Since when?"
"I guess you could say it started when I went with Merlin up to Scotland." Arthur answered.
Merlin looked between the siblings and cleared his throat. "Um Arthur can I use your shower?"
"Of course." Arthur smiled, not letting go of Merlin's hand until they couldn't hold each other anymore as Merlin had walked away.
What do you think?
Chapter Twenty Two up tomorrow :D
Review? x