"Are you alright, sire?"

Arthur looked up at Leon from where he lay flat on the ground in the park clearing, "I'm fine." Arthur stood up brushing the dirt off of his sleeves. "Can we take a break?"

Leon frowned, but nodded.

Arthur walked with his sword over to where Merlin sat on the park bench reading. He leaned Excalibur against the bench and looked at Merlin. He wore a silvery-grey hoodie and reading glasses. His hair was slightly tussled and he read from a thick, official looking journal that had a picture of a brain on the front. Arthur sat down next to him, but Merlin didn't look up. "What are you reading?"

Merlin muttered, keeping his eye on the page, "Medical research."

"What's it about?"

"Synaptic prosthetic transmission."

"What?"

Merlin turned the page, "It's complicated."

Arthur looked over to where Leon was still practicing his form, sword in hand. A couple days after Leon had walked back in on Merlin and Arthur's life, he had insisted that Arthur continue his sword training. Merlin had grumbled and complained, but finally went and got Excalibur from where he had hidden it. Arthur had asked him, "Where was it this whole time?"

Merlin hesitated, "Um, under the bed …"

Arthur was sure it was not under the bed since he had definitely looked under the bed before and he would have noticed his legendary sword laying there. He gave Merlin a look.

Merlin continued, "That is, under the floorboards under the bed. In a lock box."

"Why?"

"Didn't want you getting any ideas about going off and saving the world."

Arthur took his sword from Merlin, "Well, I promise you it wasn't my idea."

Merlin smiled, "Yeah, I know."

Merlin had driven them all to the park where Arthur and he had gone walking a few days prior. They had found a secluded area, and Merlin put up a cloaking spell so no one would see two men randomly fighting with broadswords in the park.

Leon looked over at Arthur and Merlin on the bench, "Are you ready to continue, sire?"

Arthur sighed, "I'll be right there." He looked at Merlin, "Merlin, my love?"

Merlin looked up from his book then, "Hmm?"

"Could you walk to that little shop at the front of the park and buy me something to eat?"

Merlin started to reach for his bag, "If you're hungry I packed –"

Arthur cut him off, "Please, my love?"

Merlin narrowed his eyes and Arthur went for what he hoped was a charming smile.

Merlin gave an annoyed "hmph", knowing perfectly well that Arthur was purposefully trying to get rid of him, but he didn't try to argue. He put his book away and got up. Arthur stood and placed a kiss on Merlin's cheek before he could walk off, "Thank you, dear."

"Your welcome." He turned, and Arthur could hear a whispered, "Prat" as Merlin walked through the cloaking charm.

Arthur picked up his sword and returned to sparring with Leon. He was out of shape and Leon had greatly improved his fighting technique over 1500 years, so it really wasn't very fair odds. Leon was going easy on him, he could tell, and this for some reason annoyed him.

He blocked Leon's advance, "So, you and Merlin have spent a lot of time together."

He swung at Leon who retreated, "That would be a gross understatement, sire."

Leon came forward again and Arthur parried his advance, "You don't have to keep calling me 'sire', Leon. I'm not a king anymore." He swung and Leon blocked him.

"You are the Once and Future King, sire."

This statement annoyed Arthur and he swung left, catching Leon off guard. He successfully disarmed the former knight. "Do you yield?"

Leon replied, smiling, "I yield."

Arthur stuck his sword into the ground. They walked over to the park bench and sat down.

Arthur turned to Leon, "I want to know more about your and Merlin's time together."

Leon took a swig of water, "What do you want to know?"

Arthur knew what he wanted to ask. But it was an awkward question, and he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to know the answer. But if Leon was to become a regular part of his and Merlin's life, he felt he had to know. So, Arthur took a deep breath and asked, "Have you and Merlin ever been … more than friends?"

Arthur saw Leon trying to stifle a laugh and he wasn't at all sure what that meant.

Leon replied, "Well, sire, I won't lie to you. Merlin has from time to time shown interest. And in my loneliness, I have let him kiss me. But nothing has ever come of it. I have simply never seen men in that way." Leon paused, "But please, don't think anything of Merlin's advances towards me. He loves you entirely. He's made that quite clear through the centuries. He's only ever sought others as a distraction, I assure you."

Arthur stared a little absentmindedly at nothing, "Then … Merlin has always loved me?"

Leon responded sympathetically, "Of course, sire. Even in Camelot, I always believed … well, you gave me the impression … um, well, when I caught you learning poetry … and then it seemed so obvious. But Merlin's already told me that wasn't the case. I was rather surprised by that. Even before we knew about the prophecy, it seemed so clear you two belonged together."

Arthur rolled his eyes, "Poetry! Good gods! That idiot and his horrible cover-ups! It's a wonder we never found out about the magic."

"Are you two talking about me?" Merlin walked through the cloaking charm and towards the bench.

Arthur gave a flirtatious smile, "Just about what pretty blue eyes you have, my darling."

Merlin responded sarcastically, "Oh yes, I'm sure Leon has plenty to say about my pretty blue eyes."

Leon responded awkwardly, "Um, they're very … round."

Merlin continued with the sarcasm, "Always a charmer."

Leon responded a little more confidently, "And kind of scary when they glow gold."

Arthur agreed, "Yes, terrifying. But also, sexy."

He winked at Merlin who blushed prettily. "Shut up, you two. Come on, it's about time we headed back. I'll drop you off at the hotel, Leon."

Leon gave a friendly smile, "Thank you."

Merlin took Arthur's hand in his as they walked back towards the park entrance.

A/N: This story does have a plot, I promise.