Merlin stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching as Arthur went up and down them six or seven times in a row, throwing things down them and nearly falling as he carried heavy bags. He did this every time he was supposed to return to Uni, he waited until late the night before he was supposed to leave to start packing, and then, had a secret internal crises, as he loaded up his little boy car.
"Thanks for the help," offered Arthur, as he passed him the ninth time, on his way outside. Merlin didn't say or do anything, just nodded and didn't help him get the door. Instead, Merlin walked into the sitting room, looking at the clock and seeing that it was after midnight and he should go to bed, but this was his own last weekend off, too. As he was starting school again on Monday. Merlin wasn't looking forward to school at all, he was honestly worried he would run into Gwen, and it was very likely he would, he wasn't very happy about that thought at all. He didn't really know what he would do when he did.
Arthur a few more trips, Arthur was finished with his car and he came into the sitting room, throwing himself down next to Merlin on the sofa. Merlin watched as he made sure he wasn't too close and Merlin didn't mention it. Lately, they were trying this thing where they distanced themselves from each other, but that didn't really work, as they had always been close anyway and it was also stupid. Also, not at all working and now Arthur would have to return to Uni and this time, more than any other time before, Merlin really didn't want him to go.
"I wish you didn't have to go back..." he offered, as he flipped through the channels on the telly, but there really wasn't anything on at 12:30 at night. Arthur looked over and shrugged.
"This is my last year of Uni, this is a big deal for me," said Arthur, almost offhanded, but Merlin knew it wasn't at all. "I'm going to get fucking scouted this season if it's the last God damn thing I do."
Arthur has been trying to 'get scouted' for as long as Merlin has known him, and so far, no minor teams were biting, and defiantly no premier teams. Merlin didn't know much about footie, or actually anything at all, but he pretended and nodded along as Arthur explained countless times. Arthur's whole goal in life was to be on a premier league team.
"I'm sure you will," offered Merlin, as support. Arthur was a good footie player, as far as Merlin knew anyway, he hadn't ever actually seen him play. And he doubted, that if he did, he would know if Arthur was actually good or not.
"You're going to come to my games, right?" asked Arthur then and Merlin looked over and shrugged. "I don't normally like when people I know are at my games, mostly my dad. As he likes to point out all of my flaws when I play...so I figure, he's going to come, as so many scouts will be at these games, and if I have to deal with him...I at least want you to be there."
Merlin, still looking at Arthur, nodded. "I guess..."
"Don't sound so happy about it..."
"Sorry," Merlin grinned. "Can Morgana come too, at least?"
"She won't want to, I've been trying to get her to for years," explained Arthur, with a roll of the eyes. "Besides, it's really only you I want there. I'll deal with my dad, because I have to. But if I had my choice..."
Merlin didn't say anything and looked away then. "Okay, maybe we can spend time together after."
"There are normally parties after," said Arthur then, as he lowered himself, deepening into the sofa more and more. Merlin pulled a disgusted face.
"Eh...no parties."
Arthur rolled his eyes and his head somehow ended up in Merlin's lap all of a sudden and Merlin thought so much for the 'staying away from each other' thing. Though, it did feel kind of like they had wasted the time they had had together this time on Arthur's break. Some of it they were at odds, because of the Gwen thing and some of it they were trying to avoid each other for stupid reasons. Merlin thought, the next time Arthur was off from school, they weren't going to waste it. If he could spend every second with Arthur on that break, he would be alright with that. That was kind of impossible, but a boy could dream...
They didn't go to sleep until very late, later even, than 12:30, and then Arthur had to get up very early, so he could make it to his Uni with good time and unpack his things and such, before his lessons started up again the next day. Merlin had deiced to get up too, to see Arthur off and he had kind of wanted it to be just him, but Uther was there as well. He had kept Arthur too long, whispering things in his ear like "Make sure you chat with the couch, make him start you...tell him I'll be there to see the games," as if this was threatening or interesting information. No one cared that Uther was going to be at the games. Uther spent so long rambling about rubbish, that the sun had already fully came up by the time Merlin and Arthur were alone together on the front lawn. Merlin had offered to carry the last of Arthur's bags out to the car and then waited there, hoping Arthur would get the hint and come outside alone. Which, he did.
Merlin didn't entirely know what he wanted to have happen here, or what even he wanted to say, he kind of just stared at Arthur with a goofy smile on his face and longing eyes, for far too long. It was Arthur who pulled him into a hug. It might look like an innocent hug, and it probably was, in all honesty. Arthur's left arm was wrapped around Merlin's shoulders, holding him there, which was normal. But it was his right hand, that sat gently at the bottom of Merlin's spine, and touched the skin just under Merlin's shirt just a little too softly. This threatened to send Merlin into some sort of hormonal episode. He didn't want Arthur to go, he really didn't, it was almost painful how much he wanted him to stay.
"Be good," Arthur whispered to him now, as he pulled back and Merlin looked at him, with a gleam that was not really a glare, but almost.
"I'm always good," retorted Merlin in return and Arthur grinned at him. "You be good."
"Mmm, I can't promise anything," said Arthur and now Merlin glared at him, a real one and Arthur's grin got bigger. "I'm joking. I'll be good, I promise."
And Merlin didn't exactly know what he had just made Arthur agree to, but he didn't ask either and instead, reached out and touched Arthur's hand. He didn't take it, should Uther or anyone else see. "Bye," he smiled, forgoing his moodiness for a second or two.
"Bye..." said Arthur slowly, and he didn't walk away, he didn't get in his car. He just continued to stand there, Merlin raised his eyebrows a little bit.
"Okay, bye!"
"Oh, I see...can't wait to be rid of me, I get it," retorted Arthur, but he was smirking and then Merlin was shoving him back, toward his car. "Wow...alright, I feel loved."
"Shut up," retorted Merlin now. "Leave, before I make you stay forever."
"I like the sound of that," said Arthur now, coyly, as he opened his car door. "What kind of perks would I get if I stay forever?"
"Goodbye, Arthur," said Merlin now, pointedly, as Arthur got into his car. Merlin turned back then, to walk inside.
"Goodbye, Love!" called Arthur and Merlin froze. This was the first time Arthur had ever called him an endearing name, or a romantic-ish name, Merlin whipped around, not sure how he felt about it. Arthur only winked at him, as he shut the door to his car.
"Don't wink at me!" yelled Merlin, as Arthur started the car. "I hate when you wink at me!"
Arthur laughed, as he put his car into reverse and backed out, smiling brightly at Merlin as he drove off.
(A/N: Not much of an ending I do admit, but as it wasn't supposed to be the ending and now it is, so it shall work. Sorry I made you all wait so long for this rubbish ending but I am far too busy anymore for anything enjoyable like writing. I would like to say thank you for reading this story, even if at times it was an entire shit show, I fully admit that, but one day I would like to write a sequel for it, I think changing it up a bit and furthering the story along to where I want it to go might be fun, but for now...and for the foreseeable future it has ended. Thanks again and I hope you enjoyed.)