Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin
Merlin arrived late to Arthur's room, as usual. He stumbled in to see that Arthur had already been brought breakfast and offered the blond a rueful smile.
"You're late." Arthur said, eyeing Merlin over his goblet.
"You survived without me." Merlin quipped, moving about the room, tidying. He laid out clothes and fixed up the bed.
"And if I hadn't?" Arthur returned his focus to his breakfast. "Late night?" He changed the subject.
"You could say that." Merlin chuckled. "I was wondering if I could leave a bit early, maybe as you take dinner?"
"Why so you can catch up with a girl again? Honestly Merlin, you come in late and want to leave early. What do you want me to think?"
"What?" Merlin paused, hands hovering over the blankets, eyes on the wrinkled sheets.
"You don't have to tell me about her. Or him." Arthur stood and dabbed his mouth with a cloth. "Or why you're limping, but I expect you to do your job."
"Arthur-"
"I'm going on a hunt today, prepare my horse." And with that, Arthur swept out of the room. Merlin sighed, and finished what he was doing. When he was done he gathered the dishes, and took them to the kitchen before going to prepare Arthur's horse. He was surprised to see no others prepared for a ride, Arthur usually went hunting with other knights. The prince came out wearing the clothes Merlin had put out and didn't spare the boy a glace, just mounted his horse and steered it to the gate.
"Are you coming or is your arse too tender?" Arthur asked. Merlin frowned, wondering why Arthur was acting so cold. He quickly saddled a horse for himself and the two went off into the woods. They appeared to be more on a leisure ride than a hunt, and trotted along amiably.
"You can go at dinner." Arthur said, finally breaking the silence between them.
"Thank you." Merlin smiled, thinking this meant Arthur forgave him for whatever had been done to be perceived as such a slight.
"Just...be careful." Arthur sighed and pulled his horse to a stop by a little stream. He hopped down and went to let the beast drink. Merlin followed suit.
"Careful?" Merlin asked.
"You're...nevermind." Arthur huffed.
"I'm what?" Merlin frowned, assuming it was some kind of insult.
"You're small." Arthur huffed, shooting a glare at Merlin. "Anyone you chose to court is your business, but most men could easily overpower you."
"What are you talking about?" Merlin was once again at a loss.
"You're limping! Obviously I know what that means, I just want you to be more careful." Arthur snapped.
"Gaius moved a table and I wasn't looking so I ran into it. I have a brilliant bruise if you want to see it." Merlin tried to keep from laughing, had that been Arthur's worry this whole time?
"You don't have to hide it from me." Arthur sniffed haughtily. Merlin stared at him, openly grinning, and then rolled up the right leg of his pants to show Arthur a large purple bruise.
"Gaius can tell you, I knocked a whole stack of books down, he was terribly cross." Merlin laughed. Arthur huffed, and ran a hand through his hair, looking up at the sky. He was smiling softly, Merlin might even say he looked relieved.
"Merlin, you idiot." Arthur chuckled, and looked at the other.
"What had you so worried?" Merlin asked, smirking.
"Nothing." Arthur said a little too hastily as he turned his attention back to his horse.
"Jealousy, perhaps?" Merlin asked. Arthur shot him a warning glare. "You wanted to find out who I'd been seeing so you could chase them away, didn't you?"
"Don't be such a girl." Arthur huffed.
"All you had to do was ask." Arthur blushed deep red and looked at Merlin who was standing there grinning at him, taunting him. "Maybe you were so jealous you lured me out into the woods, unsuspecting, unprotected, so you could-" Arthur cut Merlin off, pushing their lips together. Merlin blinked in shock as Arthur kissed him. They parted, both silent, breathing hard, blushing.
"Shut up." Arthur's voice was soft, hoarse, he was looking anywhere but Merlin. Merlin, of course, grinned.
"Now who's the idiot?" Merlin asked, leaning in to return the kiss.