Author's Note: Thank you for the cheer read Ali (after I requested a prompt from Drabbles for Dopamine)!
Arthur wasn't a particularly domestic person. But on this night, all he wanted was a cozy corner with the cat on his lap. It'd been far too chaotic a day. With too many messes to clean up.
So, as he eased the cat down onto his lap and prepared to recline in his oversized chair, he was content.
Until of course a curious sound began to pulsate from the floor above him.
He tolerated the noise for all of about thirty seconds before he shot up, sending the cat scrambling and decided to confront whomever was making that obnoxious sound.
The previous tenant had recently moved out of the unit upstairs. Surely whomever had taken their place could be reasoned with.
Arthur trudged his way up the flight of stairs to the above floor, locating the room that fell just above his own. A moment of listening confirmed that yes, in fact this was the same apartment from which the noise had been coming from. So, he knocked.
A tall, lanky dark-haired man greeted him with a cheerful smile and an apron tossed over his clothes.
"Hello," the stranger greeted.
Arthur must have been too caught up in staring because he'd forgotten his own manners.
He cleared his throat. "Hello, I, er, I'm your neighbor from downstairs," he started, still taken by the man's appearance.
"Oh! Nice to meet you, how can I help you? I'm Merlin!" Merlin responded.
"Well, Merlin there seemed to be some noise coming from your apartment. I was just wondering if you could do something about it," Arthur said as politely as he could.
"Sorry, that's probably my dancing," Merlin said with a shy laugh. "I'm a dancer and sometimes the urge just hits me while doing well, cooking," he pointed down to his apron, "or any such housework."
"Speaking of which, would you like some muffins to make up for the noise? I'm baking some for tomorrow," Merlin continued.
Arthur did a once over of the lanky man before him and thought that he wouldn't mind getting to know this baking, dancing, handsome gentleman.
"As long as that apron really does mean what it says," Arthur said with a sly smile.
Merlin looked down at his 'kiss the chef' apron and laughed. And Arthur thought he'd like to hear that sound again.
"As long as dinner's on you," Merlin said coyly.
"I think I can make that work," Arthur said, pleased.
And they both decided to trade in their apartment bound nights for a cozy corner at the local diner across the street.