Arthur was watching a movie lying on their couch, covered in one of their blankets. With the extra energy the good mood had given him, Merlin felt like squeezing Arthur in the middle, nuzzling to his stomach and telling he loved him over and over again, but he settled on sitting next to the couch on the floor and leaning to the said furniture about where Arthur's stomach was.
"Chocolate?" Merlin asked nonchalantly and handed Arthur the mint chocolate. Arthur took it happily and it was almost like the Arthur Merlin knew, but quite soon Arthur focused on the movie and Merlin felt a bit neglected because Arthur didn't even ask how his day had been or how Lance was doing. It didn't matter for long though, because Merlin still had energy to stay positive. The movie held little interest for him, so he started to observe every move Arthur made instead. Maybe he didn't look that tired anymore? Or maybe if Merlin looked at his face long enough, he could understand what was going on inside of it?
"Umm… have a chocolate?" Arthur sounded like Merlin was the one who was acting weird and offered Merlin a piece. He was holding the chocolate in a way that told Merlin that Arthur was expecting him to place his own hand underneath so Arthur could drop the chocolate. That was the way Merlin usually wanted things to be handed to him, but he rarely made Arthur hand anything to him like that. And even when he did, it was because of force of habit more than anything else. For some reason Arthur's gesture annoyed him enough to leave his hands where they were folded on top of his knees and leaned forward instead.
Merlin bit softly into the chocolate his lips brushing Arthur's fingers lightly and when Merlin returned to his original position, feeling a bit pleased of himself and the delicious combination of chocolate and mint, Arthur's hand was still hovering in between them and his mouth was slightly open. 'Interesting…' Merlin thought and he felt a small blush colour his cheeks. This reaction was very encouraging and Merlin dropped his gaze to Arthur's hand again. Could he kiss Arthur's fingers? Or should he get closer to Arthur so they could cuddle? But Merlin wanted something a bit more than just a hug right now so maybe he should go in for a kiss?
But while Merlin was thinking if he had enough confidence to try and take things forward himself, Arthur cleared his throat and put his hands under the pillow he was leaning on. "We have been home alone before you know… I won't do anything, so don't worry." Arthur said sounding aggrieved. Merlin snapped his eyes to look at Arthur's face that was again turned towards the tv.
"I know that." Merlin's tone came out as somewhat grumpy. This definitely had not been what he had intended and it felt almost insulting that after he had never thought Arthur would break his trust, after he had told him as much and after he had actually wanted quite a many things that definitely didn't involved Arthur telling him that he 'won't do anything' Arthur still didn't get it.
Arthur didn't even pretend that he was interested of the movie anymore and Merlin knew he had his undivided attention now, but he waited to see what Arthur would do next. "I didn't mean to upset you…" Arthur said carefully. Too carefully and that was annoying in a way Merlin had not thought he could even get annoyed. He wasn't one of the girlfriends who at times showed up in conversations or to watch matches or waited for their boyfriends by the door of the gym and at times made impossible requests and made a fight out of things that made no sense or seemed so stupidly small that Merlin had questioned their and their boyfriend's intelligence more than once. Merlin so wouldn't lower himself to their level, there had to be at least one good side to dating a boy, so he took a deep breath said slowly "I'm not upset" keeping his tone neutral. He would talk about this with Arthur and make him see his point like intelligent human beings did.
"That's great…" Arthur said not relaxing the slightest. Merlin could just blink at him for a while. How long had they known watch others again? If Arthur didn't get this much, how earth was he supposed to make Arthur see this how he saw it? Or should he just repeat what he had already said? At least that would be safe, right? Merlin again felt a fleeting touch of fear that he could screw this all up, but as he kept looking at Arthur's worried expression, he knew he couldn't continue like this either. There had been a time he had thought he would be happy with anything Arthur would give to him. That if Arthur wouldn't hate him that would be enough, that if he stayed by his side that would be all he could ever hope for, but now it seemed things were not that simple.
Merlin wanted Arthur, all of him. He wanted to feel the same connection they had as friends when they were alone in their dimly lighted room on a saturday evening too. He wanted to be able to understand Arthur and feel that he was understood even with things he felt shameful and didn't share with anyone else. He wanted to make that worried look go for once and for all. He wanted their relationship function like Lance's and Gwen's did. Maybe he was being greedy, but maybe aim for the best for both of them, would be worth the risk.
"I- " Merlin started but his throat felt dry so he closed his mouth and swallowed. Arthur had a wrinkle in between his brows now. Merlin took a deep breath, he wouldn't let Arthur look like that. "Sometimes… I feel… that I'm the only one who- I mean you never do anything. And I know you won't. You tell that to me often enough. Do you even want to do anything I wonder..." He started very carefully, but towards the end Merlin felt like the words were just falling out of his mouth and he heard his tone turn almost whiney. The moment he realised that he snapped his mouth shut. How was he different here from for example Lee's girlfriend who had made a fuss because Lee hadn't noticed she had pierced her ears?
Merlin rubbed his eyes and was ready to tell Arthur to forget about it and tell him he's sorry for complaining, but before he could, he heard Arthur mumble under his breath "Oh Merlin…" like he had just found this situation as frustrating as Merlin did and the next second Arthur had gently cupped Merlin's face with the same hand he had offered the chocolate with. Merlin could tell, Arthur's fingers felt a bit sticky when he turned Merlin's face softly to look at him again.
"Love, sit with me please." Arthur said with the most soft tone Merlin had ever hear him use and he stood up only to sit down next to Arthur who moved to sitting position himself to make room for Merlin. He then covered them both with the blanket and took Merlin in his arms so that Merlin was leaning to his shoulder. It was such a good place to be and Merlin closed his eyes for a moment just to enjoy it more. Arthur kissed the top of his head and his fingers found their way to the nape of Merlin's neck.
"Never think that I wouldn't want everything with you." Arthur whispered next to Merlin's ear and a pleasant shiver ran through Merlin's whole being. "You are not the only one. I- I have been hoping that maybe we could- what do you want to do?" Arthur continued and Merlin wished he could see Arthur's face. It was beyond obvious that he had something in mind, but he didn't want to scare Merlin and that had to stop. Merlin wasn't scared of Arthur.
"For you to stop being so damn considerate all the time. I'm not made of glass you know." He said firmly and pulled back just enough to see Arthur's expression. Arthur looked at him like he could as well be and Merlin gave him a pointed look. Arthur now looked uneasy and he turned to look away even if he didn't let go of Merlin.
It took a while before Arthur said, sounding uncommonly unsure, "It's just, what if I go too far?". Merlin studied Arthur's face again. He was serious and this much cautiousness Merlin could appreciate, it was better this way actually. It was better to be cautious because Merlin knew he had limits. Some of them hit him in the face like a brick wall suddenly, like one day when Arthur and wanted to point something at him and he had tucked Merlin's hood lightly and said 'look!', but for a moment there Merlin had honestly thought he was being strangled and it had taken almost fifteen minutes of Arthur rubbing his back and speaking to him with a low, calming tone for the ghosts of Uther's hand to leave his neck. Some things he just couldn't do, like touching himself 'there' and he seriously doubted it would be much better if Arthur tried.
Merlin sighed, mostly because he would have given quite a lot to be able to say that there was no such thing as too far if it was Arthur, but also because, as he had already said, he was a bit fed up to this level of tip toeing around him. "What if we make a deal: I'll tell you if you go too far." He said knowing that this would be the best he could offer now.
Arthur looked at Merlin first very seriously, but then a smile started to tug first one side of his mouth and then the other. "Would it really be that easy?" He asked his tone full of smile. "Yes." Merlin answered shortly and he couldn't help but smile too. Arthur grinned at him widely and clomped him into a tight embrace. That felt right, so very right and Merlin hugged Arthur back feeling that he had done the right thing by speaking his mind. Maybe being Arthur's boyfriend wasn't entirely different from being Arthur's friend after all. 'I thought that it made you my best friend… Maybe you still are, in a way.' Arthur's words echoed in Merlin's mind and he wondered briefly why he hadn't got this all four days ago.
"Would you lie down with me for a while." Arthur didn't wait for answer and started to lean back taking Merlin with him. Merlin wanted to comment on how lying next to each other's was actually the one thing they did every night, but when he found himself from a position where Arthur was lying on the couch under him, smiling at Merlin, his cheeks light pink, Merlin had nothing to say anymore. His body started to heat up and he recognised now almost familiar feeling of his jeans tightening in certain areas, but even if he still felt a spike of shame and a feeling he knew was an echo from the past, it was easy to forget them for now when Arthur lifted his chin to kiss Merlin with a slow passion. The kiss promised continuation and erased the doubt that Arthur couldn't find him attractive from Merlin's mind. For now at least.
Merlin adjusted his position careful not to break the kiss, but he wanted to get his legs to the couch too and preferably without Arthur noticing his now very visible (at least Merlin felt it was) erection. Arthur followed his movements and soon they were fully lying on the couch on their side, Merlin keeping his legs just enough bend so Arthur couldn't press against him fully and Arthur didn't. He kept hugging Merlin close and he kept his upper body so that Merlin was partially on top of him still. Merlin wasn't sure if it was because Arthur was still feeling tired and wanted to lean to his pillow, or if he wanted to give Merlin the feeling that he was in control. Or maybe Arthur just liked it this way?
That didn't really matter and it mattered even less when Merlin felt Arthur's hands slide on his back and finally tug the hem of his shirt. Merlin opened his eyes lazily and looked at Arthur's now open eyes with half lidded anticipation. Oh yes, this was definitely what he wanted and when Arthur pressed his forehead briefly against Merlin's and didn't ask something along the lines 'is this ok?', but just tugged Merlin's shirt from his jeans and slid his hand to feel Merlin's back, Merlin knew Arthur had understood. He moaned softly and buried his head to Arthur's neck. He pressed himself against Arthur's body completely forgetting his lower state until the pressure against Arthur's tight caused a feeling Merlin had completely forgotten even existed.
Arthur didn't stop, if anything he slid his other hand under Merlin's shirt and kissed Merlin's neck. Either Arthur hadn't noticed or he didn't mind and with both Merlin could be happy so he relaxed and let himself grow hotter with the pressure and slight friction Arthur's hip provided to his arousal and on a moment's impulse he opened his mouth and whispered hotly to Arthur ear "Open the damn buttons already…".
Arthur snapped his head to look at him and for a second Merlin thought he had said too much, but when he looked at Arthur's eyes, they were heavy and somehow darker in a way Merlin had never seen them before, but he liked immensely. He did the only logical thing and kissed Arthur with all he got. It took only a moment to feel Arthur's hands first slowly press to his chest and then gently push him on his side so Arthur could have access to the buttons.
It was exactly as satisfying as Merlin had thought it would be to feel Arthur open one button at a time, but he hadn't even dreamed how good the little things, like feeling Arthur's fingers brush against his chest and towards his stomach or the cool air that came after Arthur's hand had moved lower or how confident the way Arthur breathed small shallow breaths at times made him feel.
When his shirt was completely open, Merlin hugged Arthur closer and sneaked his hands under Arthur's t-shirt. Arthur pressed him against his chest. It was such a tight embrace and Merlin felt Arthur's warm body through just one thin layer of fabric so clearly it was almost too much, but at the same time too little. Arthur's hold was strong and Merlin was quite sure that if Arthur really tried, he could prevent him from moving anywhere, but still the embrace felt safe and Merlin nuzzled as close to Arthur's chest as he could and relaxed.
Time became slow and Merlin crew so comfortable with the position that he wasn't sure if he had any will to even make out anymore. Arthur held still and Merlin had time to wonder if Arthur was actually stilling the moment so he wouldn't need to hear Merlin tell him to stop. So he wouldn't go 'too far' as he had been afraid of and Merlin found himself thinking how far the line exactly was. Not here at least, no way, but where was it now? If this had happened back in Uther's house, even in this very same couch, Merlin now knew, he would have panicked and royally. But now… what would be the next step from here? They both without a shirt? Merlin could live with that, but then… what was next? They both without clothes? That… did sound a bit much at the moment.
Arthur interrupted his thinking by taking a deep breath and taking enough space between them to look at Merlin. His eyes travelled slowly from Merlin's waist to his chest and he gently caressed Merlin's side with his thumb while looking at the bare skin with a fond smile on his lips. Arthur had told many times how he liked the way Merlin looked or that he was beautiful or such things and Merlin had felt good to hear it all, but now, he felt it. He felt cherished and loved and even a bit beautiful. When Arthur looked at him like that, he didn't feel like hiding, but more like showing more to Arthur, just for Arthur.
"I love you." Merlin said with a quiet voice that seemed louder than the movie that was still playing forgotten in the background. Arthur looked at him and a wide smile rewarded Merlin even more than the small kiss Arthur gave him after saying that he too loved Merlin. Arthur looked happy and alive and nothing like he had the past few days or even most of the autumn. Oh how much was it possible to feel for someone? Surely not much more than this, Merlin thought as he smiled back to Arthur and leaned to rest his forehead against Arthur's chest. Could he ask Arthur to take his shirt off also? But then he would move and Merlin didn't want to move.
Arthur continued to caress Merlin's waist and lower back for a while until they heard the front door close. Hunith was home and it wouldn't take long for her to come up and knock their door to ask if they were hungry. Merlin rose his head and looked at Arthur's eyes, but he still didn't feel like moving. It didn't matter if his mother would be just behind their door or not, this was where he wanted to be and besides, his mother never opened their door without permission. That was the reason why their room felt so safe, Merlin just realised. That's why he could sleep against Arthur's naked chest every night without problem even if he still struggled to even sit too close to Arthur even in their living room not to even mention school. Because his mother acted like this was their space and she need a permission to enter, it had become their space and the door that had no lock in it could have been a vault door and the only key with Merlin and it wouldn't feel as safe as it did now. Had he told his mother that he loved her today? Or this week? He should do that more often.
"Mother will want to feed us more soup soon…" Merlin said with some humour not letting Arthur go or moving away himself. Arthur smiled at him amused and didn't move either. "I might have asked her to make me soup." He said sounding a bit too proud of that. "So it's thanks to you that the only thing I have been able to chew in this house lately has been breakfast? And that's only because I have been making it." Merlin said trying to sound annoyed, but it was really hard when Arthur kept grinning at him like that. "I happen to like soups." He said and Merlin rolled his eyes. "No you don't." He stated, he had seen Arthur complain enough times at school whenever they served soup that he would starve before the end of the day if he couldn't get some 'real food' might have been the term. Arthur just grinned at him even more widely.
There was a soft knock on their door that was followed by Hunith's voice asking if they were hungry, she could start making dinner now. "Sounds great!" Merlin just yelled so his mother would hear him and he didn't need to move at least for twenty minutes. As he had trusted his mother would do, she replied that she will call them when the food is ready and walked downstairs without opening the door. Merlin focused back on Arthur and smiled softly. Arthur answered the smile and Merlin realised that the way Arthur had looked at him, the way Arthur had convinced him that he was beautiful in Arthur's eyes, that look was the same he looked at Arthur and the same look Lance had on his face when he looked at Gwen. What had been the doubt for? It felt almost silly now and Merlin decided he would have to learn to be like this more. To speak his mind not fearing that Arthur might get angry at him. He had never been afraid to do that as friends, when there were others present and that was how it was supposed to be. Because this was who they were. Even like this, hugging Arthur close, Arthur's hand in his open shirt and his erection just settling down with the relaxed and still atmosphere, this was still who they were.
Arthur seemed to get distracted while Merlin got lost to his thoughts and his gaze started to wander again. Merlin enjoyed the quiet caress and kept exploring his new revelations until Arthur looked at his eyes like confirming something and then let his hand slid from under Merlin's shirt to his hip. The skin that had been warmed by Arthur's hand felt uncomfortably cold for a second, but when Arthur let his thump follow the edge of Merlin's jeans pocket, Merlin felt all of his skin heat. Was it possible to blush with the whole body? If yes, that was what had just happened.
Arthur's thump kept caressing the edge of the pocket and when he seemed to be sure Merlin wouldn't tell him to stop even with his eyes, Arthur let his gaze drop to where his hand was. Merlin felt a fleeting panic of the realisation that at least now Arthur would notice his arousal that was back with full force, but when Arthur didn't show any signs of being bothered, Merlin breathed again. The first breath came out forced and somewhat ragged and Arthur immediately stilled and looked at Merlin worry written all over his face.
Merlin shook his head and hugged Arthur closer. He felt a thin layer of cold sweat cool his heated skin, but it had nothing to do with what Arthur was doing. It was again the snake that bit into one of his many insecurities, but if something, this make out session with Arthur should have taught him that the only way to get rid of them was to let himself be and do things he wanted with Arthur and see with his own eyes which of his insecurities were real and which were not. It would need all the courage he had in him and he found himself fearing the moments where he would find some of his insecurities or fears true, but this, what he had now with Arthur compared to an hour ago, was well worth it.
"Please, continue." Merlin breathed to Arthur's chest and first hesitantly, then more naturally when Merlin relaxed again, Arthur continued to move his thumb back and forth over his hipbone. At some point Arthur even slipped just the tip of his thumb inside Merlin's pocket and the feeling of Arthur caressing such an intimate place through thin fabric was almost intoxicating. Merlin wanted to do something similar to Arthur, so he also lifted his arm from hugging Arthur's back and slid it clumsily (or that was how he felt) to Arthur's waist and then to his hips. They way Arthur breathed out didn't leave much room for doubt. This was what Arthur wanted too.
"Umm, we have to go to eat soon…" Merlin said slowly, but knowing that if Arthur didn't move, he wouldn't either. His hand felt like it was tingling and the knowledge that his fingers were actually resting on Arthur's hips covered with just pyjama pants and that he could so very easily move his hand to feel Arthur's bottom. Oh, how much he would like to do that, but he didn't dare. It was not a line they had crossed yet. Maybe that could be the next step? That Merlin could do…
"Soon." Arthur replied and didn't move either. Merlin tried to mimic the movement Arthur made even if there were no pocket in Arthur's pants and Arthur closed his eyes softly. With that gesture Merlin found his chance to satisfy his curiosity and he glanced downwards, or at least he planned to just take a peek, but when he saw Arthur's length through his thin pyjama pants, Merlin couldn't think and much less move his gaze.
It was like a wave of arousal and gratefulness and relief that washed over Merlin. That Arthur was also like this… that he wasn't the only one here liberated Merlin from a lot of shame he had still been carrying around his very own home and he just then realised how much he had wanted to see Arthur too feel like this. It was so different compared to what he had gone through, this arousal was for him, it could bring him as much pleasure as Uther had bought him pain. It wasn't there to hurt and mock him, but to tell him that Arthur felt the same as Merlin. He too wanted Merlin and that was what Merlin had needed to know.
It was too soon when Hunith called them to eat and Merlin almost yelled that 'not yet, ten minutes!' Like he had when he had been a child and too caught up with whatever stupidity they had been planning with Will.
Arthur however stood up and pulled Merlin with him. The dinner was not soup, but potatoes and meat stew and Merlin acted like he had won a competition of something just to annoy Arthur even if he wouldn't have minded having soup for dinner after he had stuffed himself full of pasta with Lance. Arthur kicked him under the table to get Merlin 'to stop gloating'. Hunith told them to behave while eating, but she wasn't too serious. Merlin asked her how Susan was (Hunith had been at Susan's to hear what she had missed last week) and replied that he would when Hunith delivered him a message from Susan who asked if Merlin would like to watch over Aida when she and her husband would go to a date next friday evening.
It was a very nice evening and when Arthur opened his pyjama buttons when they went to sleep and gave him a long kiss before falling asleep against his shoulder, Merlin felt that something had clicked to its right place tonight. It had been a long day and he was tired, but he still laid there listening Arthur's breathing and thinking everything he and Arthur had done today so he wouldn't forget any of it. His last thought before he fell to sleep was how confident and good he felt even if his shirt was open and Arthur's elbow was right next to his crotch where it had moved after Arthur had fallen asleep.
He had spent so much time and energy to feel anxious of his own body and now… he was still anxious at times and he still found his body dirty and used, but somehow, it wasn't the same anymore. Shame wasn't something he felt all the time anymore. Mostly he didn't focus on his body like that and at times, there were these small moments when Merlin could mirror the way Arthur or his friends saw him and even enjoy himself.
When Merlin woke up in the morning, Arthur was sleeping on his back, his limbs spread and half of his blanket hanging outside of the bed. "You are cute." Merlin blurted out the first thought that hit his morning fuzzy brain and Arthur's face morphed to something close to a disturbed look before he opened his eyes. "I'm boiling, I'm wearing a pair of pants I have had longer than I have known you and your mother uses way too much garlic when she cooks. You have a weird taste." he said and Merlin just laughed. Maybe he could be Arthur's boyfriend in mornings too.
A/N Yes! This chapter is finaly over and posted... I wanted it to be just one chapter where Merlin basically wakes up on friday, we see his worry and meeting with Freya and lunch with Lance + all that makes him have this conversation/ make out session with Arthur :3 But well, the next chapter is almost ready and so I would hope to get it out in three days.
The next chapter was supposed to be the last, but I do have some sketches for at least two more chapters, so if I get some encouragement and there are readers who would like to read more, I'll be happy to write them. So remember to review if you want continuation to this story now because I will make some changes to the next chapter if I don't need to tie everything up as an ending.
Thank you!
Angel Dove1 ch 44 Oh thank you so much for your kind words and concern! Noro-virus is a nasty little thing, and extremely contagious, so I had to stay in quaranteen for five days at hospital... that's why I'm so much behind everything, but now I'm feeling much better :) Yep, Uther's shadow is still very much present even if his sorry ass is in prison. We can only hope he's not having good time there... And that is so true, no-one in his family has been saved from emotional scars. Well said. As you also said, Arthur has never had much free time and it is very sad. In his age, there should be tons of stuff to do, but for him it's just so very hard to give himself a permission to relax... he feels it has to be earned. But we have Merlin, let's see what he will do to help Arthur ;) I really wanted to use that very easy trust Merlin and Freya had in the show. Merlin told her about his magic even if they barely knew and that was something that was punished by death... So I wanted to make Merlin have her as someone he felt trust very easily. I'm glad you liked it :) Ah, Arthur in tight jeans... that would definitely be a sight to see... Ahem, I mean Merlin would definitely enjoy seeing that one... For some reason, I can't open the review you send to me, I can only see it in my e-mail and that is cut off here because of the lenght... So I can just hope it will appear for me to read fully soon or I'll have to contact whoever is in charge in ff. Still great review like always, I really enjoy your reviews so thank you again, I hope you enjoyed this merthur moment :)
ch 45 Thanks! I'm quite pleased with myself because of the essey too :) Yep, burnout... I have had one myself and that was not pretty. Arthur is younger and he doesn't live alone (wich at least for me made it all harder) so he will get back to his feet quickly, let's see what happens in the next chapter ;) (I do say this a lot, don't I?) Finaly I had an opportunity to write merlin and Lance together. They were so nice in the show... Also it's good that Merlin is widening the social group he can tell things. Ha! Lance really is not that much older, but when I first wrote that he returned the compliment, it felt wrong. Like if I was him, I would have felt greepy telling my former student how he was handsome or cute while dating someone from his glass... Better to joke and get the message accros than seem like I have it for teenagers... *shudders* I have pupils at that age... *shudders again*. Haha! Now I want to see Arthur going '...' and running to his car in just pyjama pnats and t-shirt demanding to know where Merlin is... :D he would make such a scene if he was a jealous type! ... I have to admit that I was thinking a lollipop for a while there, but that wouldn't have worked for this chapter :P Hmm... A kiss could be sweet... Alright, now I see Merlin and Arthur way into future and how Merlin would have promised something sweet for Arthur and complitely forgotten it and when Arthur asks for it, Merlin would be like 'damn, I forgot that one' and then he kisses Arthur. "Was that sweet enough?" he would ask innocently and Arthur would just be like "Uh..." and Merlin would flash him a grin and Arthur would be left standing and thinking if he had been tricked or not... :D Aida is going to stay in their life and Merlin sure finds her therapeutic and he's so in love with the little monster, I have a soft spot for young men who like spending time with kids ;P Thank you again for your kind words, I promise I will not sacrifice my life for this fic, but I seriously want to keep my deadlines in this too. I hope to see you again, reading your comments really bring me joy!
Greedy Reader Hi! Nice to see you too! I can tell you battling against noro-virus took a bit more than past few days, but yep, I'm healthy and using most of my free time behind a computer screen again :) Again, beautiful analysis for Arthur's situation, he really tried to do too much and when his routine was broken, he lost the plot. But he will get back on track soon :) He is young and strong after all. Your example also sounds very much realistic, I can imagine that happening. I have had one burn out and that was not just being tired, it was like my body was a mess. My heart would beat like crazy if I as much as rose to a sitting position and I was so cold all the time... if I wasn't standing, then I was hot like hell. Yep, Merln is now benefitting not just Arthur but himself. he is getting further away from the picture Uther had painted for him and learning to live in the world that is made of Arthur and Hunith and some very good friends. That is great and when he can help Arthur, he also builds more self confidense. And te PE teacher... he is lazy and also, if you are interested, he's older and has some strong points and ideals that are now old fashioned. Those ideas clash with Arthur's methods and when the team is so strongly behind Arthur and the former teacher (Lance), he saw it easier to just let Arthur do as he wills. what about his basic work, like attendance list and reservations? Well, he worked in the last school for over ten years and there he didn't need to make field reservations so he kind of forgot them until that cheerleader incident and after that Merlin almost hissed at him if he came even close to his own office during practices and he decided it was alright to let the kid do it if he so wanted and attendance? Who would be missing if not for a reason? Everyone in the team already knows if someone is sick at this point of day, so he only reacts if the team would wonder where someone was because 'he had been in school the whole day'. Otherwise, why bother? He doesn't get why it would be important to remember afterwards who was pressent and who wasnt. i too don't like that kind of teachers, just to make sure :P Hope you liked the merthur bot of this three part chapter and hopefully see you soon again ;)