Disclaimer: Merlin doesn't belong to me.

A/N: Another look into Merlin and Arthur's intimate relationship.

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Bonus Chapter 16: Arthur's Birthday Request

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Merlin wasn't feeling well. He'd been under the weather for the past few days and hadn't the energy to do much of anything besides teach at his school of magic. So when Arthur made an offensive request of him, Merlin wasn't feeling inclined to agree to it.

"Merlin, I wanted to ask you something." The king and his sorcerer were laying on their bed in the Arthur's chambers facing each other. It was late - their dinner dishes had long since been abandoned on the table. Merlin's eyes were beginning to close, the exhaustion setting in. He just wanted to sleep.

"Arthur, I'm too tired to do anything tonight," Merlin sounded regretful. "It's not a rejection, I'm just-"

"That wasn't the question," said Arthur, a bit put out. "I know you haven't been feeling well."

"Then what's your question?" Merlin asked. Hopefully it would be something simple, and then he could get some rest. Unfortunately, when it came to Arthur, hardly anything was simple.

"I wanted to ask you about your gift to me for my birthday," said Arthur.

"Oh," said Merlin. "What do you want?"

Arthur blushed a little. "I've um, got this fantasy where you wear a special, um, costume if you will. Then you dance around and act well… you know - sexy. Then I'll get to have my wicked way with you. How does that sound?"

Merlin's stomach clenched. The last thing he wanted to do right now was prance around in a skimpy outfit and act like a whore. Why would Arthur ask such a thing of him? He didn't understand.

"Why would you think that I'd ever agree to something so degrading as that?" Merlin glared at Arthur, whose face fell. Merlin felt bad for rejecting Arthur's idea, but he stood firm. "I'm sorry, Arthur. I just can't."

"What's the problem?" The king wanted to know. "I'm not asking you to do anything in public - even though I'd really enjoy that - because I'm respecting your wishes. We've done role play before, with you being my servant and I being your master. How is this any different?"

"It just is," Merlin said stubbornly.

"At least let me explain a little more about what I want," Arthur insisted.

"Fine," said Merlin, even though it was anything but. Arthur didn't notice the warning tone in his voice and charged on ahead.

"There was this one time when I visited a place of ill repute with some friends, and saw this male performer on the stage. He put on a show for us, and eventually stripped down to a gold encrusted, erm, undergarment. It was very revealing, showing off his, well, assets. Then he removed it and I'd never been so turned on in my life. But that was a long time ago, before I even knew you," Arthur hastily interjected, trying to head off Merlin's inevitable jealous scowl. It didn't work.

"You want me to wear a revealing undergarment just so you can take it off a few minutes later?" Merlin gaped at Arthur. "That makes no sense."

Arthur shrugged. "That's the fantasy. I shouldn't have to explain myself to you, Merlin."

"How would someone go about making something like that?" Merlin wondered, in spite of himself.

"Well, I'd have the tailor size you for it. Then he would make it. Not sure how, but as long as I'm satisfied with the finished product…" Arthur leered suggestively at Merlin.

"I'd have to be measured?" Merlin squeaked. "For an undergarment? I'd never be able to look the tailor in the eye again. Why would you make me undergo something like that?"

"Oh, come on, Merlin." Arthur rolled his eyes. "It wouldn't be that bad."

Merlin decided on taking a different approach. "How much would it cost to make something like that?"

"Why should that matter?" Arthur wondered, confusion written on his face. "You know we have plenty."

Merlin glared at Arthur yet again. How did he not get it? "I just can't justify spending our money on something so frivolous, when it could go to helping the people in the lower town, or funding for the magic school, or-"

Arthur cut him off. "It wouldn't be that expensive."

"You said it was going to have gold," Merlin reminded him. "That's going to be expensive."

"Merlin-" Arthur complained. "Just allow me this one indulgence - please. You know how much I hate my birthday. I was hoping that you'd help take my mind off of that for awhile."

Merlin was flooded with guilt. Every year, Arthur dreaded his birthday, as it was also the anniversary of his mother Ygraine's death. She had died giving birth to Arthur. The king still harbored some guilt of his own, as he had lived and his mother had not. Not to mention that this event was the catalyst for the Purge.

"I don't know," said Merlin. "Maybe this will give you some context as to why I'm feeling this way. I never told you about my friend Bronwyn in Ealdor, did I?"

Arthur shook his head. "No, but it sounds like I'm going to find out."

Merlin ignored him. "Her husband left her and she was left to raise two little ones on her own. She quickly ran out of money, and her only option was to get a job at a pub, where she danced for the men. Oftentimes, she'd allow a man to take her home as long as he paid well. She was forced to wear revealing costumes, adding to her humiliation."

"That's horrible," Arthur said quietly.

"Yes," Merlin agreed. "That is the reality of people who wear such things, Arthur. I will not allow you to turn me into your sex object."

Arthur frowned. "I would never think that of you, Merlin. You're the love of my life, remember? You're my equal in all things, my best friend, lover, and confidante. If I could, I'd make you my royal consort. You know this."

"Why couldn't you have started with that instead of launching straight away into your sexual fantasy?" Merlin complained.

"Why?" Arthur looked stumped.

"Because it would be nice to remind me that you value me as a person, before you ask me to do… that."

"Of course I value you as a person. Obviously." Arthur gave a little pout, when Merlin did not find adorable. "You already know that, Merlin. We're soul bonded. We trust each other. I just wanted to spice up our sex life a bit. I thought I could trust you with telling you about this fantasy but you keep shooting me down."

"I know," Merlin sighed. "I'm sorry. It's just a negative bias that I have. I want to make you happy, Arthur, but I just don't know if I'd be comfortable doing that. Right now I'm so tired I can barely keep my eyes open. Couldn't you have brought this up when I was feeling better?"

"Would that have really mattered?"

Merlin gave him a funny look. "Of course."

Arthur threw up his hands. "You're impossible. I never know what to say with you. I never know what's going to offend you. Do I have to be on my guard all the time, censoring what I say?"

"No!" Merlin vehemently answered. "Of course not. Arthur, right now you just have rotten timing. I can't imagine myself doing anything remotely sexual right now."

"I'm not asking you to! My birthday's not for three weeks!"

"I know," said Merlin. "Still."

"You are such a girl." Arthur knew it was wrong to say, but it was just habit to dole out some sort of insult when Merlin was annoying him.

"I see," said Merlin. He and Arthur had talked about this about a week ago, and Arthur had agreed never to insult him like that again.

"I'm sorry!" Arthur apologized, mortified. "It just slipped out. I didn't mean it."

Merlin decided to let that one go, too tired to start a fight. "It's forgotten," said the warlock. "I know I'm being a bit unreasonable."

"A bit, yeah," said Arthur. "But it's alright. I don't want to push you into doing something that makes you uncomfortable."

"Sometimes it's good to step out of one's comfort zone," said Merlin. "Arthur, let me think about it."

"Alright," Arthur conceded. Then he had an idea. "What if I was to procure said object? If I didn't have it made, if you didn't have to sit through a fitting…would that make a difference?"

"Of course," Merlin smiled. "What were you thinking of, perhaps asking Gwaine?"

Arthur's cheeks colored. "Well, he was the first one in mind that I thought would be able to help with this sort of thing."

Merlin shook with laughter. "I'd love to be a fly on the wall during that conversation."

Arthur gave Merlin a calculating look, ready to strategize. "What if I donated some of the money in the royal treasury to the people of the lower town on my birthday? As a gesture of goodwill?"

Merlin stared at him in surprise. "Don't you have to get that approved by-"

"I'm the king. I can do whatever I want," said Arthur, which wasn't completely true, but Merlin believed that in this case, Arthur could get away with it.

"Wow," Merlin said softly. "That's very generous of you."

"You know we need that money to pay for various necessary expenses, but I believe I can part with some of it," said Arthur. "I know that matters to you."

Merlin beamed at his king. "It does, a great deal. I… thank you. Even though I know you're trying to butter me up."

"How's that working?" Arthur asked, trying to keep the mood light.

"Pretty well," said Merlin. He grinned at his king. "You might have to do some more persuading, but I think I can make your fantasy happen."

"Really?" Arthur was flabbergasted, wondering what had led to Merlin changing his mind. "That's great!"

"Yeah." Merlin blushed. "I'm just not used to doing such things. I just can't fathom why you'd ever want to see me dressed like that. I'm nothing special to look at."

"That's not true!" Arthur protested. "You're ridiculously attractive! I tell you that all the time. I don't know how you don't see it."

"I guess I've just gotten so good at hiding that part of myself, much like I did with the magic," said Merlin. "I never wanted people to see me as vain, so I suppressed that part of myself as much as I could. You know how I feel about people judging others based on their looks."

Arthur shook his head. "You're more concerned about what's on the inside than what's on the outside. I know, Merlin. And I agree with you. But I like what's on the outside, too - very much. I want to savor that, hence the fantasy. You share that part of you with me, and me alone. Shouldn't I be allowed to enjoy every facet of you?"

"Yes, I suppose," Merlin mumbled.

"Don't you feel the same about me?"

"Yes," Merlin admitted.

Arthur grinned at him. "So it's settled."

But Merlin just had to ask. "If I'm not feeling up to it on your birthday, can we do it on another day?"

"Good lord, Merlin. How selfish do you think I am that I would ask you to-" Arthur paused mid sentence, realizing what he'd said. "Don't answer that."

Merlin chortled. "You're never selfish, my lord. Not at all."

Amused, Arthur flashed his knee-weakening smile at Merlin, who didn't melt a little inside. "Thank you, Merlin. For the first time in my life, I'm looking forward to my birthday."

"Good." Merlin reached out to Arthur for a hug, which was eagerly returned. "Now, if you don't mind, I really need to sleep."

"I know. I love you, Merlin," said the king, the sincerity coming across in his voice.

"I love you too," said the sorcerer with a yawn. Those three words made working through their challenges worth it.

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End Chapter 16

A/N: Comments? I'd love feedback on this.