"How long can we look at each other down the barrel of a gun?"

"Welcome to Avalon's Coffee Shop! What can I get for you today?" Merlin plastered a smile across his face. He punched in the order and yelled it out to the other barista, Rowan, who was at the coffee machine. "That'll be $7.89. Thanks. Have a great day!"

Merlin turned around and dropped his smile. Collapsing against the counter, he shot a look at Rowan, who had an amused look on his face.

"I give up. How the everloving hell do you keep a smile on your face for that long. There were, like, over twenty people in the line and it's not even rush hour yet." Merlin groaned, rubbing his cheeks. Avalon usually has two rush hours, one in the morning, around 8:00, and one in the afternoon, right before his shift usually ends, around 2:00. That morning, Merlin had made the grave mistake of telling Rowan that he had the easy job since he always manages the cash register. How Merlin was wrong. He'd take making coffee a hundred times over smiling for hours at random strangers any day.

Rowan laughed. "Well, if you want me to take over now, just hand over the twenty and I'll spare you this afternoon's rush hour."

Merlin narrowed his eyes. He was a lot of things, but Merlin didn't quit. And he never backs down from a bet. He was also precariously on the edge of being broke and every penny counts. "Hell no. I can last a couple more hours."

"Great! Then turn around. A couple just came in." Rowan said, smirking.

Merlin shot him an overly sarcastic smile and whirled around, planting his hand on the counter. "Welcome to Avalon's Coffee Shop! What can I get for you today?"

Merlin was making a vanilla latte when the door swung open, letting in seven sweaty twenty-year-olds and a passed out woman. He had long abandoned the cash register after the fifth couple had waltzed in with their sunny smiles and arms wrapped around their waists and sickeningly loving gazes and—

Merlin clenched the coffee cup, cutting off his train of thought. He grabbed a lid and covered the cup, yelling out the name of the order. The group that just entered were all drenched in sweat and dressed as if they had lived in medieval times. They had an almost hopeful look in their eyes as they scanned the shop, looking for something. Or someone. There were only a few people in the line so Merlin pulled off his apron and told Rowan he was taking a small break. Slipping into the back room, he grabbed a soda from the vending machine and collapsed on the leather couch.

He had barely started drinking the soda when Rowan poked his head inside. "Hey, mate? Do you know an Arthur Pendragon?"

"I don't think so," Merlin replied.

"Ok. Some blondie out here is asking if I know a Merlin and that he has to talk to him. Something about how the shop's name is Avalon and it can't be a coincidence?"

When Merlin had first started the job, the shop was started and owned by some old guy Merlin honestly forgot the name of. He had named the shop after his wife, Carol. When he retired and gave the shop to Rowan, he insisted that the name be changed to signal the start of a new era. Merlin thought that it was a stupid idea but Rowan was over the moon and spent weeks researching for the perfect name. When the board had called up, Rowan still hadn't had a name and panicked, shoving the phone to Merlin, who happened to be over. Merlin had blurted the first thing that came to his mind. Avalon.

The moment the word had left his mouth, shivers went down his spine. It was the same feeling Merlin got whenever he went to the lake that was about half an hour away by road. Merlin had discovered a back path that ran through the forest behind the lake. It only took ten minutes at a slow jog to get there.

Merlin dropped his head against the back of the couch. "I don't know any Arthurs."

"Well, he wants to talk to you. He wouldn't give up so be a good mate and say hello, yeah?" Rowan winked. "He's also totally your type. Thank the gods I don't swing that way or I'd steal him all to myself."

Rowan left the door half open and Merlin could hear him telling the customer—Arthur Pendragon—that Merlin was coming. He pulled himself to his feet, taking a long gulp of the soda, wishing that it was alcohol, and made his way out.

It took all of Arthur's willpower not to bounce on his toes like a little boy. After hours of searching the town and asking people if they knew a Merlin, they had found this quaint shop called Avalon. It could not be a coincidence. Arthur knew that after several awkward conversations with strangers on the street, they called the lake, Lacus. Which in Arthur's opinion, was stupid because that meant it was called Lake Lake.

The man, Rowan, leaned over watching Arthur carefully. "Are you gay?"

Arthur blinked. "What?"

Rowan laughed. "Gay. Like you know, do you swing the other way?"

"I'm sorry. What?" Arthur repeated, leaning over the counter.

"Are you into guys? Males? People with dicks?"

Gwaine choked on his spit behind Arthur, dissolving into coughs. Elyan snorted and hit his back twice.

Arthur stared at Rowan. "Wait. That's a thing, now? It's not, like, frowned upon?"

"Dude, literally everyone I know is gay. Where have you been?" Rowan said.

Arthur rolled his eyes. "You do not want to know. Trust me. Now, where's Merlin?"

The back door swung open, revealing a man with dark hair curling around his ears. "Rowan. What the hell is wrong with you? You cannot just ask people if they're gay."

Rowan turned around, grinning. He pulled the man forward, facing Arthur again. "This is Merlin. He is gay."

Merlin slapped Rowan's hand away. "What the hell is the matter with you?" Merlin turned to Arthur. "Hey! I'm Merlin. You must be Arthur Pendragon?"

Arthur suddenly couldn't breathe. Merlin was clad in a dark red apron that read Avalon's Coffee Shop and black jeans. His cheekbones were as sharp as Arthur remembered them and his blue eyes were the same color as the Lake of Avalon under the morning sun. It was Merlin. Merlin.

Stay with me.

Arthur nearly started crying then and there. After what felt like years, he was with Merlin again. And god only knows how long Merlin's been waiting. Arthur loved his knights and Guinevere. He truly did but their loyalty was nothing compared to the amount of devotion Merlin had shown him. Through everything, all the decisions Arthur has made, right or wrong, Merlin was there. Encouraging him, supporting him, calling him out when he was wrong. Rowan's words came back to him. Are you into guys? Arthur wasn't stupid. He knew what Gwen and Lancelot had. He could still see the absolute devastation on Gwen's face when Lancelot had left. All four times. He knew that even if she was enchanted by Morgana, she still loved Lancelot. He would feel angry but he knew that wasn't fair when his entire heart wasn't given to Gwen either.

He reckons it started when Merlin had drunk poison for him. When he came running into the great hall pulling the cup from Arthurs grasp. When he looked right into Arthur's eyes and drank it all. Merlin, who had been nothing but insubordinate and rude, had chosen to drink wine he knew would kill him. When Arthur thought back, he realized that that day was the first time he'd trusted magic. The blue ball of light that had guided him out from the caves. Now, Arthur would bet everything that Merlin had something to with that because he can't go more than two hours without saving Arthur's life, even if Merlin was on the brink of death himself.

Arthur couldn't help cursing himself for chickening out and not saying what he truly felt before he died. But this was his second chance. He knew that if he told Gwen, she would be more than happy to leave him for Lancelot, no matter how bitter that made Arthur. But who was he to complain? Merlin, as far as Arthur knew, had never been with anyone. And according to Rowan, he was apparently into guys. And Arthur was too. He never wanted to admit to it, but he was. He didn't know what gay meant or any of the labels but Arthur knew one thing. He loved Merlin. And that was all that mattered. And now Merlin was here.

"Uh, mate? Are you alright?" Merlin's voice cut through his racing thoughts.

Arthur blinked, his hands immediately going to his face. He didn't realize he had started crying. "Merlin, you idiot."

Merlin's heart clenched. Something about the way this bloke stressed the first part of his name. That slight infliction of the letter sent something shivering down his spine. Rowan was right. This man was completely his type. He was tall and broad-shouldered. His jawline could probably cut glass and his clear blue eyes seemed far too knowledgeable and far too innocent for Merlin to handle. The only thing that stopped Merlin from flirting with him was the crying.

The moment he had seen Merlin, his gorgeous blue eyes filled up with tears and carved out his cheeks. The bloke- Arthur- rubbed his face aggressively.

Merlin arched an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

The women behind Arthur pulled him back. "Merlin! It's me, Gwen."

The woman was dressed in a dark purple dress that fell to the floor in waves of satin. Her dark curls were freshly dried and tumbling down her back. Even in her ragged state, Merlin thought she looked like royalty.

"I'm so sorry. My memory is terrible. Do I know you? Is your friend alright?" Merlin's eyes flicked back to Arthur who was now watching him with an unreadable expression. There was tension in his shoulders and jaw as if he was bracing himself for the worst. Merlin jerked back a little. Why could he read this man so well?

Arthur stumbled back, crashing into a man behind him. His jaw clenched hard and suddenly his face went blank. "No, I- I apologize. Have a nice day."

His voice was rough and before Merlin could get another word in, Arthur turned on his heel and left the shop, his head held high.

Arthur gasped out, trying to breathe but everything was moving too fast and just yesterday he was dying in Merlin's arms and now Merlin is in this new world with new people and new ways of doing things and he didn't remember.

Arthur couldn't breathe. Gwen's voice was nothing over the roar of his blood in his ears. Merlin forgot. Merlin forgot. Never in a million years did it cross his mind that Merlin just wouldn't remember them. It was Merlin. The most loyalist of them all and now Arthur was back after so long and Merlin had no idea who he was. The blank look in Merlin's eye had chilled Arthur to the bone. It was the same look Merlin had on after an execution or if Merlin was genuinely angry with Arthur. That look Merlin had whenever he acted as the perfect servant with the stiff bows and the 'my lords' and everything that Arthur hated when it came from Merlin.

Do I know you? It gave Arthur a sudden whiplash to the past. To the first time, Arthur had met Merlin. Back when Arthur was an arrogant fool and Merlin was nothing but a bumbling country boy who had the audacity to challenge the prince. And now, so many years later, hearing the same words from Merlin's mouth completely shattered Arthur's heart. And yet you called me 'friend.'

"Arthur."

Arthur jerked up, meeting Leon's eyes. Arthur didn't know when he had collapsed to the ground. Leon was crouched beside him. "Deep breathes. Come on. It's going to be okay."

Arthur sucked in a breath, trying to match Leons. After what felt like an eternity, his vision cleared. Arthur stumbled to his feet, gripping Leon's shoulder like it was his lifeline. He pushed himself away, not daring to let any more tears out. Shit. Shit. He was Arthur Pendragon, King of Camelot. He couldn't show weakness. Not now, not ever. He struggled to get his breathing under control and turned away.

Gwen caught his arm. "Don't walk away from us."

"I'm fine, Guinevere. I—"

Gwen forced him to face her, interrupting. "No, you're not. And it's okay. You're allowed to show emotions, Arthur. Quit holding yourself back."

"I'm not—"

"You are. I realize that you're father completely messed up your capacity for emotions but it is not a weakness to cry. Don't ever think that."

Arthur forced himself to meet her gaze. She stared back, eyes hard. She reached up hesitantly and brushed a finger against his cheek, catching his tears. "I'm scared, too. We all are. But we can get through this. This is Merlin. He's done so much for us and for Camelot. For you. Don't you think it's time to return the favor?"

-0-o-0-