The morning of Christmas Day was nice and quiet. Gaius came to eat as he had promised and they had good time. Merlin was relaxed and to Arthur it seemed that even if last night hadn't been perfect, his boyfriend was now well. Merlin even took a hold Arthur's hand while they were sitting next to each others in the living room couch after lunch. The life was good.
Hunith smiled at them fondly when she saw this and while Gaius said nothing, Arthur saw him look at them amused. It was one thing to hear your close ones to tell you dating someone of the same sex was alright and another when they really showed their acceptance by acting normally around you when seeing it with their own eyes. Arthur could imagine them acting the same if instead of Merlin he had a girlfriend whose hand he was holding. It was truly marvelous.
It was only after Gaius had left when Arthur first looked at his phone. Merin had just curled himself to living room couch with a book when Arthur came almost running down. Morgana had called him back. Actually she had called yesterday about when they had been drinking their eggnog. Morgana had never called back and Arthur ranted on how it was possible he had missed the call while Merlin tried to think if he should tell it was great or if he should point out that it was just normal for someone to call back if they hadn't answered two calls in a row. Of course he went with the first opinion, but when Arthur returned to their room to make the call, Merlin wondered if he should talk with Arthur about his relationship with his sister. It couldn't be good if it stayed like this for much longer.
Arthur's hand felt sweaty when he pushed the button to call Morgana back. He hoped Morgana would answer. Why hadn't he noticed before? He could have still called back in the evening and if he had just taken his phone when he had changed his clothes yesterday… But he had no more time to think of that when Morgana actually did answer.
"Arthur, is everything alright?" Was the greeting he got and for a moment there Arthur was at loss of what to say. "Um, yes, everything's alright… why?" He asked feeling confused and surprised how his sister sounded. Like she had been worried.
"Oh! That's good… It's just, you called twice yesterday..." Morgana sounded a bit awkward and Arthur got even more confused. Alright they hadn't called to each others in years much less because of a holiday, but surely Morgana had guessed why he had tried to call on Christmas eve?
"Umm, I just called to wish you merry Christmas." he said honestly and hoped Morgana wouldn't think he had bothered her for no reason. "Last time you called twice you were sick." Morgana sounded like she was defending herself and now Arthur started to feel a bit happy. Morgana had been worried of him…
"Actually I called you before I got sick, I wanted to ask an advice..." He confessed hoping to get to a bit more personal topics with Morgana unlike most of the times they had talked.
There was a short pause, but when Morgana spoke, she sounded surprised, but pleased too "An advice? For what?" Arthur smiled a bit, but then regretted he couldn't remember what exactly he had wanted to ask at the time. "I think I got it already..." He said trying to think of something else to ask or say.
"Oh." Morgana almost sounded disappointed before she seemingly collected herself and said with a tone Arthur had called 'high and mighty' when they had been children "Well, it that is so, then good. I guess we will talk again later." but Arthur wasn't ready to end this call so he said louder than he had planned "Morgana! I- um, how is your Christmas so far?" that came out sounding a bit desperate and 'lame', as Morgana would have told him when she had been already a big girl of ten years and Arthur had still been just an five years old kid.
"I have attended a party with my friends. Nothing special." Morgana answered not kindly, but at least she answered. "Do you have snow there? We only have a thin layer, but it's supposed to snow more tomorrow." Arthur tried neutral topics even if that really wasn't what he wanted to talk with his sister, but even a little was better than nothing he supposed.
"It all melts here, I live in the central and the sea is too near. It's warmer here anyway." Morgana answered neutrally and Arthur relaxed a little. "You used to like snow." He said and when Morgana answered "I still do" without a pause, Arthur smiled. He suddenly remembered how he had wanted to ask about his mother.
"Morgana, how was mother when you were sick? Did she stay home with you?" He said without thinking and he felt his eyes widen. Had he really just blurted that out? Talking with Morgana was stressful as it was and Arthur had no idea of what to expect, so when Morgana spoke again after a pause so long Arthur had already checked if Morgana had hung up, and didn't sound like she would eat him as breakfast if she ever got her hands on him, Arthur almost missed the answer, he was that relieved.
"… She did. The last time I was sick I had chicken pox and she couldn't come to the same room because she was due… I… remember that I thought you were in the way because normally she would sing me to get me to sleep and we would watch cartoons in master bedroom and… she made me hot milk." She sounded quiet, somehow fragile and Arthur felt the same kind of protective instinct he felt towards Merlin when he sounded like that.
"You don't drink milk..." was what he could answer to that. Morgana had always hated milk. "Not after you were born." Morgana answered, but there was no resentment, it was just a fact. She sounded sad. "I never knew..." he said with regret. "I never told you." Morgana answered sounding distant and Arthur got a feeling that they needed to talk. Not about the milk obviously and not like this on the phone, but face to face, like he had done with Merlin.
"I have Christmas holidays until eighth of january..." he said and waited. Was that enough? Would Morgana invite him to visit her? Or maybe she could come and visit them? He would like to show Morgana how he lived nowadays and maybe impress her a bit with his football trophies and Merlin… he wanted to show Morgana how incredible Merlin was and how well he was doing.
"My university starts a week later..." Morgana answered sounding like she didn't get the way Arthur was moving from a subject to another. "Would you like to visit us someday then? I'm sure Hunith would welcome you any time." he said really meaning it, but it seemed to be a mistake.
"That is great. But I have no time to travel around. Actually, I'm a bit busy right now, so I will expect to hear from you on New Year's." she said with a voice turned to ice and every intention of ending the call. Great, just great.
"I'm not busy, so if it would be better, I could drive there." Arthur tried to save the situation and he waited patiently, his heart pounding in his ears until Morgana answered "I'll think about if. I'll call you if I have the time for you."
It was mean and her tone wasn't pleasant, but Arthur breathed out in relief. Maybe there was a chance after all. "Thank you. Have a nice holiday, sis." He said softly feeling the old way of addressing Morgana roll comfortably in his mouth. "...Merry Christmas, Arthur." Morgana answered before hanging up.
Arthur smiled at the phone. Morgana had never called him anything else than Arthur, only in the court she had called him 'brother' and maybe few times at phone and that had always sounded like an insult. And Morgana had almost demanded a call in New years, so maybe he would have a chance to make her feel like it would be nice to meet him.
After the Christmas day they had few days just to relax at home, in theory anyway. Arthur had so many invitations to go to do or visit something or other from practically every member of his team and in the end Merlin practically forced him to pick one and go. Going to try inside beach volley with seven others including Jordan, Oliver and Elyan had been fun and the hall filled with sand and walls painted with palm trees and sea and all that had been great fun. Having a coke while Oliver and Elyan bought long island ice teas and the others whatever from a 'beach bar' that also had sand floor was also fun, but getting home and finding Merlin sobbing hysterically from their closet had not been.
A friends of Hunith had lost her dog to pancreatic cancer and Hunith had gotten so very emotional about it that Arthur had actually asked Merlin if her parents had died because of cancer to which Merlin had told him that no, her grandmother had gotten a sepsis and she had seeked help too late while his grandfather had never gotten over it and it hadn't even been an year before he 'got into an accident' as his mother said, but that he wasn't sure if that was really true.
Lee had sended a message to Merlin asking for suggestions for a present for New Year's for Sonja because apparently he had blown it at Christmas. Merlin had practically thrown his arms in the air and asked from Arthur how the hell he should know? When Merlin had (after muttering and pacing around) sended a message, asked Sonja's number and started to talk to her about recipes with an overly cheerful tone, Arthur decided it was the time to get out of there.
Running could help him just so much and in the end he found himself from Gaius' living room drinking tea. Gaius was happy to converse about future and recent news and what he had read from the book Gwaine had given him and it had been truly nice. It was clear to Arthur that Gaius wasn't his friend, he was too old and wise to be that, he was more like something Arthur still couldn't find the word for, but with Gaius he didn't feel the need to stand tall and be the one to think everything in advance. He could just be and talk about what he found interesting and Gaius would listen and give him advice and decide for him when it was time to go. That gave Arthur strength and a feeling that he had other places he could love than home. It wasn't that he had gotten fed up of his home, but the change of environment was refreshing once in awhile.
The day before Merlin's birthday Gwen came to help Merlin with decorations. Arthur stayed out of it because the two of them seemed to have a lot of fun. If Arthur had felt momentarily lonely watching a movie Lee had lent to him in their room, it was worth it hundred times when Merlin and Gwen came to drag him to see what they had done to the living room with a set of matching smiles on their faces.
Arthur had seen many decorations in rented party spaces and in houses before, but the way Merlin and Gwen had moved every furniture against walls, put paper lanterns stuffed with fairy lights around the room and moved everything that could even possibly break out of the way made the small room surprisingly spacey and Arthur immediately started to look forward of filling it with friends. He had to hug the both of them and he promised to 'hire' Gwen to decorate whatever party he would have in the future too earning a kick from Merlin. He couldn't wait tomorrow to come.
The morning of the New Year's Eve was cold and there was more snow falling from the sky. Hunith had woken up early to cook and she seemed much better. Merlin started by checking the guest list (yes, he had made a guest list) and that everything from emptied entrance to a sign in a nearby tree to point at their door was ready. He took it to himself to answer all the texts that asked where a car could be parked and what time it was again and Arthur could just watch amazed how concentrated his boyfriend could get. He was happy and somehow in between everything, he had gotten the rest he had needed. He just hadn't realised it before the first guests had gotten in and started to compliment the food and the decor. He knew that at least half of it was politeness that he too had been hammered to be, most of the football team had seen much more money and professionalism thrown to arrange a party, but it didn't matter. Arthur was proud of his home.
This was going to be great, Arthur had never been able to invite this many friends over and now that he looked at their small living room, it felt just silly. Not even sad, silly.
"Will just called, he's in the bus." Merlin commented when he passed Arthur and Arthur nodded. This was the comment one thousand and ten about Will in the last few days. If Arthur had started to feel that his holiday had actually been great so far, this was the one thing Arthur was really getting tired of hearing about.
Merlin had started by telling him about random things he and Will had done ages ago, then he had moved to being worried of what he could do here with Will and finally to how would Will see him now and what he should tell him. It had taken one extremely long rant of where Will should sleep and if he should be let into their room at all to make Arthur finally snap that if Merlin's friend, who didn't sound stupid, was going to spend two nights under their roof, he was most probably going to notice they shared a bed.
Merlin had fallen silent on that and Arthur had immediately started to reassure him that it would be alright and he could sleep downstairs, hell, he could even go and buy them a second bed if Merlin wanted, but at that point Merlin had sat down next to him and sighed in defeat.
"No… When you asked me if I wanted to be your boyfriend it felt… like the best thing that could ever happen in my life. If I keep hiding that from my friends, it's pointless." he had said and Arthur had felt a pang of guilt in his heart. That was very true, but still… he hadn't told most of his friends. Merlin's friends knew and Elyan knew, even if no-one had told him, he had just assumed and he had let Arthur know once they had went to a mall to browse some movies and games. But his team… Arthur wanted to tell them, but how? Really how did one tell that they were dating someone everyone thought was their brother? Especially if the said 'brother' would probably freak out if he as much as suggested it.
"Just... could you just keep you pyjama on while he's here?" Merin's question had brought Arthur back to the present. "Love, I'm not usually naked in the presence of people I hardly know." he had to laugh at how hesitant Merlin sounded and when Merlin had first sighed in relieve and then looked at him sheepishly, Arthur had forgotten what he had been thinking. He loved his idiot so much.
The majority of the quest were already in, when Merlin's phone rang. It was Will and he was wandering nearby trying to find the right place. Merlin took his jacket and told Gwen who happened to be nearby that he would go find his friend. Gwen nodded at him and Merlin left. It was cold and windy outside and Merlin hoped Will wouldn't be far away. "So what do you see?" He asked from Will on the phone and Will tried to describe where he was.
"Oh, there is someone walking to this direction, I'll ask them." He suddenly said and Merlin waited patiently hearing muffled sounds from the phone before Will's voice focused again "Hey! What are the odds? These two are going there too!" Merlin quickly checked his mental list on who wasn't still at his home and would walk.
"Is one of them very tall and the other look like he has cotton for brains?" Merlin asked and Will laughed at him. "Funny you would say cotton… Fits the description." Merlin smiled. He had missed Will. "Ok, I'll go back home, Percy and Gwaine will take you there." He said before hanging up. He ran to his home and he didn't have to wait five minutes before the doorbell rang.
Gwaine flung himself at Merlin the moment he opened the door. "Seventeen, huh? Great age, great age, I barely remember living it." He said patting Merlin to his back with one hand and waving to Arthur with the other. Many turned their head at Gwaine's not-so-quiet voice and kept staring. Merlin realised that maybe it wasn't that common to have friends ten years older than yourself. Percy followed Gwaine inside pushing his friend to side so he and Will could enter. Percy just shook Merlin's hand and smiled at him a little wishing him happy birthday. Percy was carrying a large plastic back and when Merlin looked at it questioningly, Percy told him they were some fireworks for the midnight
"Don't worry, I won't let Gwaine near them before we are outside." he assured "Hey! I haven't lit anything on fire for years now!" Gwaine protested making some of the guests laugh nervously. Merlin could hear Pellinor telling how that was just Gwaine. He seemed a bit pleased of the attention he got from that piece of knowledge.
"Percival?" came a question from behind Merlin and when he turned he saw Lance and soon Percy's face lit "Lancelot!" he beamed and they hugged in a very manly way with all the hitting on each other's back and all. Merlin was extremely happy that he had gotten enough sense to step out of their way.
"We played in the same basketball team in high school!" Lance explained to Merlin who looked at Percy. He could have said something about amazing confidences, but when he saw how Percy's head was almost hitting the lamp in their entrance, he just settled for saying "Basketball… Of course you did." and Percy grinned at him. Merlin really started to feel that Percy was a friend too, he could honestly tell that he liked his character. He motioned them towards the kitchen to take some food and then he concentrated on Will who was looking at him seriously.
"So this is how you city people live… " he said seriously with a blank face and they stared each others for a while before both of them burst into a laugh. "Good to see you, Will." Merlin finally said and hugged Will. Will returned it in a very familiar and natural way. "So you decided to be late them?" Merlin commented to him when Will was taking his jacket off. "Says the jackass who suddenly called me just a month ago after not bothering to even answer his phone for over half a year." Merlin's smile faltered a little. He had of course had his reasons not to talk to Will. He kind of thought he owned an explanation, but he really wasn't ready to do that now.
Will seemed to notice that he had flattened to mood so he hooked Merlin's neck with his arm and knuckled his head. "Idiot! Let go of me!" Merlin tried to sound annoyed, but he couldn't stop laughing at the same time. "It really is you, Will, you have grown so much…" Will let go of Merlin when he saw Hunith coming out of the kitchen and he beamed at her. "Nice to see you too Hunith, congratulations for your new job and home!" Hunith smiled at him pleased. Will had always been one to look at the recent good stuff and not the past misfortune and it made Hunith feel like home when Will, who clearly did know about her divorce (even if not the reasons behind it) acted like all that had happened was good.
"Thank you, Will. Please, make yourself like home and take something to eat. I'll get out of this crowds hair soon, but we will see soon enough. There is lot to catch up." Will nodded and thanked her for hospitality and again put his arm around Merlin's neck grinning. "I'll make this guy here make me feel like home, he owes me." Merlin just grinned at him back. He was so happy to see Will again.
"Merlin! Come help me with filling these!" Arthur yelled from the living room pointing at some empty bowls. "Just a second Arthur, I'm just-" Merlin tried but Arthur cut his speech "Now, Merlin!"
Merlin sighed and rolled his eyes to Will and left him to stand in the entrance. Will looked at him go puzzled and then looked at Hunith for answers. "So that's Arthur?" He asked and Hunith nodded smiling a little mysteriously. "Yes, I'm sure you will get along." Will wasn't so sure about that.
Arthur wasn't annoyed when Merlin hugged his long time friend. He wasn't so annoyed when Will knuckled Merlin's head but his temper ran out when Merlin just let Will's hand stay on his shoulders. Arthur had been working for months to even sit next to Merlin without him blushing or getting uneasy, especially in presence of others, and even if he knew there was no reason to be jealous, he was just that. He practically threw the rest of some honey roasted nuts Hunith had made on surprised looking Gwaine's plate and made Merlin come with him. He hoped he could calm down or the next two days would be torture.
For his ultimate relief, Arthur soon noticed that his worry had been for nothing. Will seemed to be a nice lad and while to Arthur he was from a world so far of his and he really didn't have much to say to him, his and Merlin's interaction was highly entertaining on its own countryish way. He heard Merlin use words he had never heard him use before and soon the duo was the centre of the attention. Many of Arthur's friends commented how it was weird or fun or whatever to see Merlin's old friend with him and Arthur knew where they were coming from. It was rare to see Merlin this carefree. Most of his teammates thought Merlin didn't like people in generally or that he was not social by nature or that he prefered to hang out with girls and Arthur had let it be like that. But here he was, really having fun and surrounded by friends most of them had never even heard of. Arthur really enjoyed showing this side of Merlin to his team mates.
At some point Hunith came back downstairs cutting some of the noise down immediately. She didn't seem to mind about the mess or the noise though. She had some old looking balls made of leather in her hands and she smiled in an amused way.
"Merlin, Will! Do you still remember these?" She asked and threw the balls at Merlin one at a time and to everybody's surprise, Merlin caught them all in a way that almost seemed a habit. Will looked like a sun and he made a motion that Merlin seemed to understand. There were four balls and Merlin threw two of them to Will who caught them in the same manner. They looked each others in the eye and at the same unsaid mark they started throwing the balls first just the two by themselves and then in a steady rhythm they started to throw the balls back and forth in between them. They also took some steps back so they had more space in between them. Everyone cheered at them and Merlin started to do harder tricks. Will would throw him the balls so Merlin juggled two balls with his one hand and just one ball at a time back to Will. Then he moved to jugged with three and finally four balls himself in which point Arthur felt his world expand. His clumsy Merlin who couldn't even catch a football and hated to be in the centre of attention was doing that with four tiny, handmade balls!
Merlin noticed his staring and Arthur could have sworn that he winked at him. He could just continue to stare when Merlin moved so that nobody was behind him slowly and Will made a movement that told Arthur that they were up to something and suddenly Merlin caught all the four balls and his hands briefly disappeared behind his back and when he bought them back, they were empty. He spun around and there was no way he had them in his pockets.
Everyone cheered and Hunith clapped at them. Merlin motioned them to look at Will who took the balls seemingly from his pockets and started to do his round. He juggled the balls two in both of his hands and then three and then four in one hand. They made a steady loop and at one point Merlin pushed his hand through that loop and people cheered. Finally they juggled the balls in between them with one hand behind their back and caught the balls, each two, with one hand and bowed. Arthur clapped with the rest of them. Even if he was a bit jealous of the time Merlin had obviously spend with Will, he felt that he was the happiest in the room. He was so proud of Merlin. He just wished that he had also known Merlin when they had been children.
When the midnight was just twenty minutes away, Gwaine announced that they had fireworks and that he knew an excellent location in the park they could go and fire them. This made the crowd try and leave all at once which made a chaos in the entrance. This gave Arthur an opportunity to ask Merlin to come with him to get something from upstairs. Will's eyes followed Merlin and Arthur to upstairs but he chose not to do anything about it. Gwen nudged him and asked him something about his and Merlin's past and Will calmly started to talk with this pretty girl who seemed to be very good friends with Merlin.
"So what did you need me for?" Merlin asked too happy and hyped up to notice any ulterior motives Arthur obviously had. Arthur rolled his eyes at him and just pulled him closer. "I just wanted to kiss you…" He said and did just that. Merlin froze for just a second. He was a bit too conscious of the noise coming from downstairs and the fact that they had to go soon, but he soon melted to Arthur's kiss. It was warm and full of love. For a moment it was just them in the whole world for Merlin.
When Arthur pulled back, Merlin could just smile at him with hazed eyes. Arthur pressed Merlin to his chest and he wished they had more time. "Let's go out together after your friend has left." Arthur told to Merlin's neck and Merlin lifted his face curiously "Why so sudden? Are you jealous?" It was meant to be a joke but when Arthur blushed, Merlin's smile faltered.
"Seriously. You are kidding me." He said with a dry tone and Arthur turned even more red. "It's not that I don't trust you… It's just how well you get along… I kind of lost my nerve when you hugged him so easily…" It wasn't easy for Arthur. He had made so much effort not to touch Merlin too much, always thinking what he could and couldn't do and when and where and how much and now there was someone who was just… hugging and being loud and inconsiderate and Merlin was ok with that.
Merlin kissed behind Arthur's ear with a smile. "And it's all thanks to you that I don't collapse to a snivelling pile of mess every time someone comes near me. And besides, I have acted like that with Will since we were like five, so thanks to you, I have no reason to change it now." Merlin's words made Arthur cheer up and he kind of saw the whole evening in a new light. So he had done the right thing… That was something he had been wanting to hear for a long time.
Arthur kissed Merlin once more before grabbing a bag next to his table and Merlin grabbed them jackets from a pile they had emptied their entrance before making their way downstairs fast. Most of them were already out, only Percy lingered motioning them to hurry as the midnight was getting nearer. They hurried their shoes and jackets on and jogged after the rest of their guests. They made it to the place Gwaine had been talking about just five minutes before midnight and Gwaine hurried to place some of the fireworks to the ground.
Will was still talking with Gwen and so Merlin made his way to join them Arthur not far behind them. They joined the conversation about how different it was in the countryside Merlin siding with Will and Arthur being the one most city oriented. Soon Gwaine announced that he needed someone brave enough to help him to light the fireworks and Arthur volunteered. Percy also went with him feeling the responsibilities of an adult and Jordan and Will alongside with some others who were interested made their way to the fireworks. Gwaine organised turns surprisingly well and soon everybody knew what they were supposed to do. Merlin just watched amazed how many there were here celebrating New Year with him.
"And let's not forget why we are here! Happy birthday Merlin!" Gwaine howled and everyone echoed him making Merlin feel truly moved. After a count down every one lit their firework and Merlin watched with awe how they lit the night sky among others and he felt like he belonged. This was something he had wanted and longed and he had had it, had he noticed it or not. Of course he didn't know if these people would still celebrate his birthday like this if he told them he was gay, but this still gave him hope that someday there would be a day when he would have people surrounding him who knew and still cared for him. And besides, these people were here now, and that was what mattered right now.
At some point Arthur let Will take his place and made his way to stand besides Merlin, looking at the lights in the sky. Merlin enjoyed feeling him just stand besides him. "Here. Happy birthday." Arthur said not looking at Merlin and passed him a small package. Merlin looked at it curiously and wondered if it was ok to open it here. He glanced at Arthur and when he didn't move or say anything he opened it.
It was a small photo album with pictures of them together. Merlin guessed his mother had taken them. Most of it was still empty but when Merlin flipped the pages, something fell from between them and when he caught it, it turned out to be necklace made of silver. It had a simple design so it would fit with almost anything. Just a simple chain with nice feel to it.
Merlin smiled at it and opened the lock. His fingers were too stiff to close it again so Arthur helped him with it. Merlin liked the new weight on his neck and he felt that Arthur was now with him all the time. It kind of felt light like Arthur's kisses on his neck "Gwen! Can you take a picture?" Arthur yelled at Gwen who was standing just few feet from them, pretending of being engaged with looking at the fireworks.
Gwen nodded immediately and took Arthur's phone to take a picture. Arthur wrapped his arm around Merlin's shoulders and smiled happily at the camera. Merlin also smiled and when he was sure no-one else than Gwen was looking, he placed a small kiss on Arthur's cheek. He heard the phone make a shutter sound and he was more happy about it than disturbed. He felt like he was finally beating Uther. He couldn't ruin his happy moments anymore. Someday he hoped he wouldn't even remember him.
Gwen grinned at them like never before. She hadn't seen them do anything that would suggest that they were more than very close friends before and she was happy that she had witnessed that. She was happy for Merlin. She checked the picture and then sent it to her phone before passing Arthur's phone back. "Now I have some blackmail material on the two of you." she declared grinning and Merlin blushed darkly while Arthur just smiled like he was living the most happy day of his life.
Many of their guests had to leave soon after midnight. Few lingered and some who had trouble going home this late either got a ride from someone or stayed for the night. Hunith did her best to make beds for them, but some still had to sleep on the floor and in the end Merlin and Arthur had only one blanket and one pillow on their bed. Will would sleep on their couch with a couch pillow and a sleeping bag he had brought with him. Jordan was one of those who had to stay and Merlin gave him his sleeping bag. He and Hunith both had one and for some reason Jordan was one of Merlin's favourites. Elyan had claimed to be too tired to go home (their empty home where Lance had promised to give Gwen and him a lift) so he was sleeping on the living rooms couch after he had told Merlin to note how amazing brother he was. The couch's back cushions were laid in the floor occupied by Bedivere, who was complaining how Elyan was snoring by the time Hunith found him Arthur's old blanket. Arthur found this all nice. He had never really had this kind of experiences. His father had never allowed things like sleepovers in their house. Seeing Arthur's childish glee, Merlin was even more happy that he had dared to invite everyone over.
Will was so tired from all the traveling and fuzz that he fell asleep immediately on the couch in Merlin's and Arthur's room that he didn't even questioning how two guys were supposed to sleep in a same bed with just one blanket. Merlin dressed like he normally did for night and he was pleased to see Arthur in full pyjama like he had promised. It actually looked a bit weird on him (it was actually Merlin's), but Merlin thought that it looked good on Arthur (like everything did).
Arthur turned their blanket around so they could both sleep under it without being near. Even if Merlin didn't particularly like that, he was relieved that Arthur had an idea to look at least a bit more normal. He curled into a ball so he could stay warm and he was a bit jealous of Arthur who could stay warm half of his body outside of the blanket. Arthur moved a bit towards centre and Merlin wanted to get closer to his body heat, but he was too aware of Will being in the same room so he stayed put, just next to the edge of the bed.
Arthur must have noticed this because he kissed Merlin on his forehead before turning to his side, his back towards Merlin. Merlin stayed awake for some time just wishing he could hug Arthur but eventually he also fell asleep.
In the morning Merlin almost died from a heart attack when Will shook him awake with a grin on his face. Merlin wasn't sure what exactly was different but something in the way Will shook him awake was different from Arthur's and that alone made Merlin's unconscious mind stop and make him wake with fright. Luckily Will didn't seem to notice. Merlin rose up feeling cold, shaken and weak. He shivered and Will told him that he should get something warm on and come to have breakfast with him. Arthur had already gone so Merlin saw no reason not to go downstairs, but it still took awhile.
His mother was already making pancakes for the rest of the crew and everybody seemed happy. Arthur was happily chatting with Elyan and Merlin found himself smiling. Arthur noticed him soon and he motioned him to sit besides him. He had saved Merlin a seat, so Merlin did just that and moved his chair even closer to Arthur's making room for Will to sit next to him. There was something weird in Will's gaze, but whatever it was, Merlin couldn't address it now so he pretended not to notice.
After the breakfast all but Will had to go. They were cheerful if not a bit tired and they wished Merlin happy birthday again and made plans to see during Christmas holidays. Merlin was just as happy as he had been yesterday but also a bit relieved to be left alone with Arthur and Will. He felt that he needed time alone with them.
Merlin was on alert for the whole day. He was sure that Will would ask him something awkward at any given time, but in the end, the day passed and they had just had normal fun and goofed around. They had even practiced a new juggler trick in the garden and Merlin had almost let himself feel that if Will wouldn't ask anything about his and Arthur's relationship, it would be better for all of them.
However, Wills opportunity arrived when Arthur left for a jog before dinner. Merlin had been trying to learn how to juggle two balls with his right hand (for some reason he could only do it with his left hand while Will could do both) when Arthur had gotten bored and told them he would go to jog. Merlin had just hmmh-ed while concentrating on the balls.
When Will heard the front door close and saw Arthur jog to the direction of the park they had visited yesterday, he finally became serious. "Merlin, what's going on here?" He asked causing Merlin to drop the balls he had managed to keep in the air for almost ten turns. He wanted to make some excuse or pretend that nothing was going on, but in the end he couldn't. Not for Will.
"Quite a lot." He finally said in a quiet voice while collecting the fallen balls. "So start from the beginning. Or from what is going on with you and Arthur." Merlin dropped the balls again and he was sure that didn't help his case. "Wha- what do you mean?" He asked knowing full well what. Will rolled his eyes sarcastically "I know that much that you are supposed to be brothers through marriage. I remember you telling how you didn't get along and I remember you getting obsessed about his moods, but what's with you only having one bed and disappearing together when you think nobody's looking?" Merlin sat down and leaned to his bed with a huff. Will was being too smart and Merlin had nothing to say for his defence. Will just knew him too well.
"I like him." He said. There was nothing else to say and nothing else to discus and Merlin knew Will got full well what he meant. Will blinked once and then he let himself fall to the floor with a sigh. "Should have guessed." He murmured and Merlin looked at him half curious and half scared. "I guess you are dating and Hunith knows about it too. Otherwise you wouldn't have just one bed." He said almost sounding bored and he didn't look at Merlin and Merlin couldn't look at him. "Yeah…" he answered. He had no point in lying.
Will surprised Merlin by laughing out loud. "I knew there was something different about you all along. That was actually the feature I liked about you the most." Will said laughing. Merlin dared to relax a bit and Will continued "I just hope that Arthur is not that much of a prat you have made him sound like." Merlin blushed at that and mumbled "He has his moments…" Will turned his head to look at him grinning. "Obviously. He wouldn't be good enough for you otherwise." Merlin blushed even deeper and Will decided it was time to have some fun on Merlin's behalf. "But you know, not all are as understanding and noble as I am. You should be more careful with disappearing in the middle of your parties. Not everyone is as stupid as those footballers are." Merlin laughed at that. He knew Wills tone and he was relieved that Will was on his side. He didn't hate him, he was still Merlin's friend.
Will continued to tease Merlin and his ways and Merlin relaxed more and more with time. In the end they joked as if nothing had happened. "…and then there was Khristy. What's wrong with her?" Will asked teasingly. "She was rude. How can anyone like someone who tells people that her father's sheep were perfect and everybody else's just looked like sheep?" Will laughed at that holding his sides. Merlin grinned at him laughing with him until Will calmed down. "What about me then? What's wrong with me so you had to have a rich city boy?" His tone was so teasing Merlin didn't even feel ashamed he just rolled his eyes "What's so good about you? Or would you want me to like you?" He teased back making Will kick him across the floor. "In your dreams faggot. And I have many good qualities. I'm understanding and handsome and funny and I have great timing." Merlin laughed so hard that his ribs hurt "Like the time you pushed me out of a tree and I almost flattened old man Simons?" "Like he would have looked any worse than he already did after that!" Will howled and they both laughed hysterically.
After their laughter had finally calmed down, Will decided to ask a serious question. "Merlin, what has happened to you? I know it's not just you being gay with your half brother, there is something else." Merlin's smile disappeared and he looked at his hands while trying to make up something to tell to Will. "And don't give me any of 'I have grown up' or 'we just haven't see each other for a long time' bullshit. There is something different about you." Will looked Merlin in a way that Merlin had seen only once. When Will had told him how his father had died.
Merlin sighed. He pulled his legs against his chest and said "I lost my virginity." With anyone else that Will he wouldn't have used this choice of words but somehow at the moment he felt that was the source of his problems and so he said it. Will threw his hands in the air frustrated "And here I was trying to be serious for once. If I had wanted a status of your and Arthur's sexlife, I would have asked that, thank you very much."
Merlin buried his head to his knees. Of course Will got frustrated. They had agreed a long time ago that they were the only intelligent beings in their village and that they could only talk about serious stuff with each others. Few years back Will would have understood immediately what Merlin was trying to tell him, but of course this wasn't the same as telling how he had lost his favourite toy or even how he would miss Will when he was going to move.
"I wish…" Merlin said quietly making Will stop his ranting. Merlin was serious and he knew it now. There was a moment of confused silence and Merlin tried to find words for his situation. He had told the whole story many times now but it had been many months and he didn't want to do it again. Especially not for Will.
Merlin rose up slowly and made his way to his and Arthur's desk. It should be there somewhere… He soon found what he had been looking for from one of the drawers. A newspaper article Gwen had shown him the day school had started. For some reason he had saved it. "Here." he said and handed the article to a confused Will and sat to the bed. He wanted to disappear but could do nothing more that to sit on the edge of the bed and think blank as Will read on.
It took for a while for Will to understand but when he did, he looked ill. "That was the man Hunith married….?" Merlin just nodded not even looking if Will saw it. Will folded the article like it had been and buried his face to his hands breathing deeply "Jesus. Merlin, why didn't you say anything? And besides how can you be with his son after that? Didn't he know?" Merlin sighed. These were the question he was sure he would have to answer many times in his life and he was fed up with them already.
"Arthur is not like his father." That was the first thing he wanted to make his friend understand. "And no, he didn't know. I tried my best not to let anyone know." Will looked at him like he had something wrong with his head and Merlin felt a sudden spike of anger. It was not like anyone could understand how it had been for him!
"You imagine someone who was supposed to be a part of your family sticking their dick to your mouth. Who would you tell?" Merlin's eyes glittered and his expression had turned angry. Will had to look down and he felt guilty for asking. He understood. Merlin had been the only one he had been able to tell how much his father's death had affected him and that was entirely a different scale. He actually should have felt grateful that Merlin was telling this to him now. He looked at his best friend and felt that whatever was said right now, would break what they had had and then either mend it all together or make them fall apart. Like when Merlin had listened him crying for hours that one night they had spent in one of his mother's barns. Before that Merlin had been his friend and after that, his best friend.
"You are right. I wouldn't have told anybody either." Will said and Merlin's anger melted away. This was the first time anyone had told him they would have done the same. It made him feel better in a way he didn't know he had been even hurting. "But seriously, this is some sick stuff. How can you even be gay after this?" Will continued, there were no filters on and he just said what came to his mind.
The question felt absurd to Merlin. He had never even thought it that way but in a way he could see the logic behind the question. Maybe if he hadn't known he was gay before it all happened, maybe he would now be scared that Uther had turned him to one?
"It's not like I can do anything about it… Imagine if I was a girl. Would you ask me this then? If I had turned lesbian because I was raped?" Merlin said feeling that it was how it was. He had wanted to change his sexuality for such a long time, but now… he knew that even Uther raping him hadn't been able to change it. And he was glad of that.
Will flinched at the word 'raped' but Merlin could see his brain turn "No… you are right. I guess I'm not being too tactful." Merlin grinned at him "Since when is that news?" Will glared at him. "I'm trying my best here!" Merlin smiled at him but said then with a more serious tone "Yeah I know. I appreciate it. Thank you for not hating me." Will looked at him a bit confused and then grinned again. They had managed to do it again, and without crying this time. "Of course I won't. Who would be my best friend then?"
Merlin felt warm inside and he smiled warmly at Will who looked at him skeptically. "But no going mushy on me. I can handle you being gay as long as you keep that in mind." Merlin rolled his eyes and threw his hands in the air. "You are the worst. If you have forgotten already, I have a boyfriend." Will covered his ears and yelled desperately "I don't want to hear! Please spare me from the details." Merlin grinned at that and made a tube of his hands and started to tease Will "And at night time we gay people…"
He couldn't get any further when Will grabbed his ankle and pulled him down from the bed. Merlin hit his head on the floor mildly but that didn't stop him from laughing "I'll make you stop making fun of me you-" Will laughed at him while holding his ankle when Arthur chose to open the door. There was a moment of confused silence before Merlin and Will looked at each others and started to laugh hysterically.
"I don't even want to know…" Arthur muttered and stepped over Merlin to get some fresh clothes from their closet. Will and Merlin just laughed even harder. Arthur stepped over Merlin once more with new clothes in his hand. A droplet of cold water hit Merlin's chest then. He just now noticed that Arthur was dripping wet. After one glance from out of the window, he saw that it was raining. He felt a bit concern towards Arthur. "Aren't you cold? Do you need something?" He asked turning to his stomach so he could see Arthur better. (Will was still holding his ankle) "Nah, I'll be fine. I'll just take a shower." Arthur said not even bothering to turn around.
"Your boyfriend is pretty stubborn, you know…" Will commented (still holding Merlin's ankle) making Arthur spin around at the same time he was opening the door causing him to hit himself with the said door. "… and graceful too." Will continued making Merlin snicker. Arthur just looked at them like they were the strangest thing he had ever seen in his life. "Don't look so surprised there mr. Pendragon. Merlin here cannot keep secrets from me." Will said looking proud with himself. Arthur looked at Merlin who just shrugged his shoulders and back to Will who was still holding Merlin's ankle. "I don't get you…" He said before turning back to the bathroom and closing the door making them both laugh hard.
At the dinner Hunith served a stew that made both Merlin and Will look like the Christmas was back and Arthur couldn't say he shared the hype. Sure Hunith's cookings were excellent, but that was exaggerating. Will chatted happily to Hunith and Merlin but Arthur soon noticed that he was keeping a bit distance to him. It wasn't that surprising. After all he didn't know Will very well and Merlin and Hunith were his old neighbours. Arthur soon lost interest in listening what had happened to someone or the other back in their old home and he wondered if Merlin missed it. If he should have offered to take Merlin there ages ago.
"…But nothing sure isn't as interesting as what has happened to Merlin here, I have to make up some kind of cover story before I get back, I possibly can't tell them how instead of you, Merlin is the one with a city boyfriend." Will told Hunith with good humour and apparently Hunith didn't mind but smiled at him fondly. Arthur's interest was also caught just in time to hear Hunith say "Really you are something Will. To be honest I always thought that you two would hit it off someday…" There was tease in Hunith's voice, she had surely meant nothing by it, but Arthur failed to see the humour.
Merlin looked at Will seemingly disturbed and Will answered his gaze. Merlin looked back to Hunith "Why…" he asked with a skeptical, disturbed voice and distaste all over his face. Hunith laughed at him and Will looked at her a plea in his eyes "Please, don't say stuff like that. I have to sleep in the same room with them tonight and I'd like to get home alive!" He whined pointing at Arthur who looked like there was a dark cloud hanging on top of his head.
Merlin put his arm around Arthur's shoulder and shook him a bit "Come on, mother doesn't mean it." Will covered his eyes dramatically and cried out "Please, spare my innocent eyes! I'm trying to eat here!" Merlin just laughed and when Will removed his hands from his face, he kissed Arthur's cheek making Arthur blush and Will cover his eyes again. Hunith just giggled and smiled at the whole scene. She had missed Will and the life he and Merlin brought to her house every time she saw them. She was glad that Merlin had gotten the courage to tell him the truth and she hoped their friendship would last. When they had still lived in the village, Hunith had wondered if Merlin liked Will that way. She had been aware that her son was homosexual after all and there was just something different in the way that Merlin and Will interacted, but it turned out she had been wrong. There was still that something different in between them but it was clearly not love. Or at least not a romantic kind. Hunith was glad that Merlin had such good friends to take care of him.
The rest of the meal Merlin and Will recalled some old stories of their childhood making even Arthur laugh. After a story of how they had moved a scarecrow next to someone's window as a revenge, Arthur found himself almost falling from his chair. "You are seriously weird you know?" He asked Will who grinned at him seemingly pleased. "No, you got it all wrong. Merlin is the weird one, I'm the annoying one." He said and Arthur rolled his eyes. "Then I'm sorry for your village. I can barely handle one Merlin and if you are more annoying than him…" Will put his arms in front of him as a defence "Don't say 'handle'!" making Arthur blush and Merlin kick his friend from under the table. "Ouch! Is that a way to treat your guests?" Will complained. "Shut up, Will." Merlin just said with humour in his voice. It was weird how calm Merlin was today. It was clearly because of Will, but still, it was unusual that he could feel so comfortable when Arthur was the one ending up blushing. It was a nice change.
After dinner they watched some movie Will sitting in between Merlin and Arthur 'to keep them civil' as he said and Merlin didn't mind. He was happy. They also played some scrabble (for Arthur's agony) and Arthur learned from where Merlin's interesting words had their origin. In the end it was fun for him just to watch what they would come up with and how they tried to justify their words. It was way past midnight when Hunith finally came to tell them in her nightgown that it was time to go to sleep. They all changed to their pyjamas and went to their bed (or couch) then, but they didn't sleep. Somehow the discussion turned to girls and especially to Gwen
"I mean she is really beautiful and nice too… Please tell me she's not dating anybody." Will said sounding hopeful to Merlin who just answered to him bluntly "She's dating somebody." Will groaned and said "Of course. And you are her friend and you just let that happen? Wait, alright you have the pretty boy over there, but still…" Arthur looked at him disturbed at his comment "A what?!" Merlin had to press his face against his pillow in order not to laugh out loud. Arthur looked at him shocked. "Is that any way to treat me?" He asked sounding insulted which made Merlin laugh even harder. Just to make fun of Will Merlin told him that he went to swim every week with Gwen. Will seemed to forget that he was supposed to make Arthur's life a misery for a moment and his eyes light up "How does she look in a swimming suit?" he asked way too eager and Arthur groaned. He had heard similar comments from his football mates too much to last a lifetime. He just couldn't get what was so interesting.
Merlin seemed to think for a while before answering "She has a light blue swimming suit…?" Will looked like there was no hope in his friend "I mean does she have a nice body? How are her boobs?" He used a tone like he was talking to a five year old and Merlin made a face like he was thinking really hard "I guess she has them." He finally answered making Arthur grin and Will groan. "I suppose I should have expected this from a couple of gays…" he sighed in defeat. Arthur suddenly felt a need to correct Merlin's friend "I'm not gay. Merlin is." This made Will look at him confused. Merlin just smiled a bit to Arthur. It was rare for Arthur to talk about his sexuality and that he was now mentioning the subject with Will present… that was really a huge thing and Merlin was glad to see Arthur trusted Will this much, but he didn't want Will to see that he didn't really know either. Hell, he hoped Arthur wouldn't see how curious he was to hear what he had to say.
Will looked at them even more confused "But I thought… what are you then?" To Merlin this didn't seem insulting, He had known Will so long that he knew for certain that he didn't mean anything by it and that he just wasn't the best with his choice of words, but Arthur seemed to be put of with the word 'what'. He hadn't really talked about this with anyone else than Merlin really and it wasn't too easy for him.
"He means that how come we are together if you are not gay. Just answer him. I'll keep translating." Merlin said calmly making Arthur look a bit more relaxed "Hey! What do you mean 'translating'?" Will asked him with a fake hurt in his voice. "It means translate idiot-prat-idiot. We will need that if you two are going to talk without a fight." Will grinned at him and Arthur sighed
"I could be bi, but I never have had much interest in anyone else than Merlin." Will looked at him amazed. He had never thought that there was something in between like this. "So in other words, while Merlin here has hard time telling if someone has boobs, you notice them, but you don't really care?" Arthur had to laugh at this simplified explanation and Merlin face palmed himself. "You are taking care of the translating yourself I see…"
In the end they ended up comparing what features they liked in people, but when Arthur kept first describing Merlin and then just simply answering 'Merlin' Will eventually groaned in defeat "I can't take this fluffiness anymore… I promise I'll never talk to you about girls if you just make him stop…" Will obviously directed his words to Merlin who laughed at him. At this point Hunith came back to tell them that seriously, it was time to sleep. It was almost three o'clock in the morning.
After that they shut the last source of light in the room and settled to sleep. Merlin kept his distance to Arthur and now that they both had their blankets, it felt much easier. Arthur slid his hand under Merlin's blanket and took his hand in his. Merlin smiled at him fondly not sure if Arthur could see it or not. He was about to lean to Arthur to give him a small good night kiss when Will commented from the couch "Behave. Some of us don't have pretty blondes next to them on daily basis. Some of us are stuck in a village with girls who are either rude or look like trolls. Now sleep."
Merlin looked at Arthur and could barely see his eyes, but he was also looking at Merlin too. "In one day from a 'rich kid' to a 'pretty blonde' That's something." Merlin said to Arthur who punched him playfully on the side. "And no domestic violence. Honestly Merlin, you have a weird taste." Will's voice seemed to be more sleepy that it had been just a moment ago. "I can kiss you good night also, if that helps you." Merlin suggested with a stupid grin on his face.
Arthur tighten his grip on Merlin's hand and Will sat up with a fright. "You! Keep away from me or I will tell Gwen you didn't know if she has boobs or not!" Merlin laughed at him and snuggled to Arthur's side. "Good night Will." He said and Will settled down mumbling something about best friends being a pain in the metaphorical ass.
Arthur smiled at Merlin's hair. He felt so good that Merlin's friend was accepting them like this. He certainly knew why Merlin had missed Will and he hoped they could meet him more often. He fell asleep soon after, holding Merlin's hand and listening Merlin breath against his shoulder.
It was not yet morning when Merlin woke up from a bad dream. He was breathing hard and covered in sweat. He glanced at Arthur who was still sleeping peacefully his back turned to him.
Merlin slowly calmed his breath and stood up with shaky legs. He had seen a dream where Uther had come to their house and there had been no-one at home and Merlin had nowhere to run to. He hated those dreams that involved Uther and their new home the most. The other dreams were kind of in the past or too absurd to be real, but these dreams always made him fear that Uther could really come here…
Merlin shivered and made his way to downstairs. He would have gone to the closet just to collect himself but he couldn't with Will sleeping so close so he went to kitchen instead and made himself a cup of tea. He turned from the counter to sit on the table when he saw Will standing in the doorway. He jumped and almost half of his tea spilled over.
"Christ, Will! You trying to give me a heart attack?" He asked him whispering. Will just looked at him and moved past him to pour himself a cup of tea also. "You had a bad dream?" He asked and Merlin felt ashamed that he had woken Will up. "Yeah…" He replied. Will nodded and asked "You have them often?" Merlin shook his head "Not that often anymore…" Will nodded at that too "I still have them. Not very often, but sometimes. I wonder if they will ever end." He said quietly and Merlin again felt like Will really understood. He also had something he didn't want to remember and even if it was more well known tragedy, he had gone through the same kind of flood of miss placed questions and pity and grief mixed together. It was different but similar enough to understand what was really going on.
"Arthur didn't seem to wake up…" Will said a slight accusation in his voice and Merlin snapped his gaze to his friend. He really wanted to make Will understand how much Arthur did for him every day.
"He wakes up if I panic and he tells me I can wake him up anytime. But I don't want him to worry." Will looked at Merlin in the eye. "Then he must be doing something right. I'll keep that in mind from now on." He said and took a sip of his tea. To Merlin this meant a world. Will didn't trust rich city-people (who had their very own countryside stereotype) because of what had happened to his father and to accept Arthur not just as a human being, but as Merlin's boyfriend, was somewhat a huge thing for him and Merlin knew it. "Thank you…" He said softly really meaning it.
Will shocked on his tea "What's with you thanking me all the time today… No need. Awkward. Stop it." Merlin grinned at him. They drank their teas and headed back upstairs careful not to make any noise. Arthur was sitting in their bed reading a book with the night lamp on when they opened the door. He glanced at them briefly and then turned the light off putting his book down and turning to his side.
Merlin shrugged his shoulders and Will thought that he had given too little credit for Arthur. He was clearly there for Merlin. In a silent supporting way, ready to be there if Merlin needed him. Will couldn't imagine how many nights Arthur had waited awake if Merlin needed him and it finally sunk in what Arthur had meant when he had told that he only was interested in Merlin. 'Maybe that is what they call true love…?' Will felt a bit sappy thinking that and he shrugged it off before he fell asleep again.
Will had to leave early the next day. Arthur offered to drive him to buss station which gave him time to have breakfast with them in peace. Merlin was happy that Will and Arthur seemed to get along now and sad that Will had to go so soon. He asked if Will could visit again soon and Will also invited Merlin (and the blonde if he had to come) to visit him, which Arthur replied that they could drive there some weekend with his car and Will made comment of how handy it was that Merlin had a chauffeur making Arthur tell him that he would give up on being polite right now.
At some point Merlin also asked if Will knew what he was going to do when his high school was over, to which Will replied that he wasn't sure. His high school didn't exactly give him much to go to a wider world and he had no idea what else he could do than to continue helping his mother with her farm. "It's not like I have many talents." He said and Merlin stayed serious for once "That's not true. You could think of moving here also. There are many things you could do." Will looked skeptical but to their both surprise Arthur told Will that he himself was going to be a police and that Will should think of all the non academic professions out there. Will gave him an almost a smile and promised to think about it.
Arthur felt a bit awkward driving Will alone, he had no idea what he should talk about or say to Merlin's friend who was uncomfortably quiet now that Merlin wasn't around. Merlin would have liked to come too, but Will had told him it was alright and Arthur had been very happy to second him. He was quite sure Will too had seen how tired Merlin was.
"Hey, you will take good care of Merlin right?" Will asked at some point making Arthur almost miss his turn. "Mmm, yeah, I intend to…" He said hesitantly not sure which direction this conversation was going. "I mean it must not be easy for the two of you." Will continued not looking at Arthur who was actually glad of that. "No. I suppose it's not. But I don't mind." Will now looked at Arthur curiously. "But if you are bi, wouldn't it be easier to get a girlfriend?" He asked mostly to make sure Arthur really liked Merlin and partly out of curiosity.
Arthur frowned "It's not about how easy it is. I love Merlin and that's what is important." Arthur's annoyed tone made Will raise his eyebrows. When Arthur didn't seem to change his posture Will sighed "Alright. I get it. You love him and he loves you I suppose, and I shouldn't worry. I'll just have to take Merlin's word that you are actually a good guy." Arthur glanced at Will when he had to stop to a traffic light. He was looking at Arthur way more serious than Arthur had seen him for the last two days. It was a bit unnerving.
"Now you get it… How else I would have survived Merlin until now?" He said making Will grin again. "I don't know, he is nice looking bloke isn't he?" Will was just teasing Arthur and he had no idea if Merlin was handsome or not in general point of view but Arthur's reaction was priceless. He blushed and almost choked on something and he had to cough for awhile in the next traffic lights. He looked at Will like he had done something really offensive to him while Will laughed like mad at his seriousness
"It's not like I think that…! I have to tell Merlin how much you appreciate him! This is priceless!" He laughed and Arthur was glad when he could drop Will out of his car and tell him good riddance and never come back (even if he didn't mean it.)
Will just waved at him and headed to the bus. He made a mental note to save all of his allowance and buy a new bus ticket as soon as possible. It had been boring without Merlin back home and now he even had a funny sidekick to tease.
A/N I really liked Will in the show. More than I should have taking to account that he was only in one episode. It was clear what they did with him. He was the best friend form Merlin's old life and they were close in order to make an impact when he died. That... shouldn't have left that strong impression on me. But it did and I think I'm not the only one. In just few lines he really made it clear how close he had been with Merlin and who he was. So, obviously wanted to include him in my story. I have to say, that the scene with Merlin telling Will what had happened was one of my personal favorites. I'm so thrilled that I had a chance to publish it :)
I saved for him what nobody else has been able to tell to Merlin, that he would have done the same. Even Gaius asked why Merlin hadn't told him. Arthur felt almost betrayed for a while and Hunith just wished she had known, that Merlin had told her before it even begun. Gwen also... her first reaction would have been to go to police because of her mother. But Will really understood. In that way he and Merlin are very much alike and it's no surprise. They have grown up like brothers. And this is actually one of my themes in this story: what makes a brother? Or a family? Or a lover? What is it, that makes us feel beyond ties of blood and what it is that makes us feel for those ties of blood? I find this subject very interesting.
If you have any thought on the subject, would be very interested on hearing them :)
Oh! And who else also liked the scene (in the tv-show) where Merlin jugglers with the eggs and Arthur looks like the world makes no sense anymore? :D
My ranting aside, mersan123 and Angel Dove1, you are the best! Thank you for your reviews, I was very happy to have those and you really motivated me to finnish this chapter a bit earlier I had hoped for. I hope you enjoyed the new chapter! :)
mersan123 Hi! Awesome you love Christmas too! It's the best. I just dont really like the pre-fuss of comercials and carols in every store and the plastic stuff... but the eve and the day spend with family... I just love it more and more every year. Gwaine? Cheeky? Nooo... never... (sarcastic voice involved) :D He so was! I loved the word 'cheeky' you used, have to use it somewhere... As we saw in this chapter, Morgana hadn't actually ignored Arthur, but we are still quite a long way from her to be the sister Arthur needs her to be, we will get back to that later ;) And just awesome you liked Vivian, I kind of enjoy her character too and I have somany ideas for her... I'm just not sure which ones to use. Merlin is moving forward, slowly, but steadily and there are people who believe and support him, so he will be alright in the end :) Always thrilled to see a review from you, so lets keep on making each other's days, shall we? ;)
Angel Dove1 Halloween is geart too. I like the energy and the costumes and the darkish themes, but Christmas is still the best. Not the material side with comersials and plastic stuff and carols that start to play in every corner starting from october, but the celebration itself... I just love the time spend with my family and close ones. Ah, your fabourites! I so love those! Percy and Gwaine... Percy doesn't understand what makes them seem like a couple and even if Gwaine does, he will so not do anything about that :D And he what else was he supposed to give to Merlin than something emberassing? And Arthur's gift... I found that project and I just had to add it to my story. It was actually why Merlin got the scar in the first place. (I seem to have many of these moments that are in the story for a reason that is not even explained really... at least this one got explained now ;) (actually Arthur buying that gift card was actually supposed to be in the last chapter :P )) And lastly, I'm so glad you like the thought of Arthur becoming a police officer, he would make the world a better place for sure. And about the merthur scene... you gave me such a compliment! I wanted to write about the insecurities of that age + the trauma they both have, but also how they both really want to get closer and have urges like any teenagers, how those kind of situations are not in anyway logical or predictable or anything really. And the semen... yep, I made such a thing of it that i think at this point even I have a new view of semen... So no glancing over, not possible for me...And lastly, if Merlin had tucked that blanket to cover Arthur's head, it would have definitely been him to get the light... Arthur would have pushed him off the bed in order to escape the balnket of Hell. :D Seriously, even I don't know what happened with that one, so you tell me ;)