A/N: Chapter two - Enjoy!
Arthur entered the ballroom, following his father and with Ashley by his side, wearing a long dark red dress, open in the back and complementing her slim female features.
The ballroom at Buckingham palace was lined up and decorated for the annually harvest banquet. Long tables with gold and silverware stretched out on the red-carpet floor.
Arthur glanced up at the old thrones, behind the end table. This wasn't the first time he attended the banquet and the scene before him wasn't new, however something felt different this time.
He couldn't pin point what it was, but something about the thrones gave him a feeling of melancholy along with a sense of loss.
"Arthur?" Ashley asked concerned and gave his suit sleeve a small tuck, drawing his attention to her. Arthur took her hand in his and patted it, giving her a reassuring smile.
"It's nothing." He told her, "Just a bit tired." Ashley turned to stand in front of him and reached up.
"You really should let that case go." She said slowly and caressed his cheek, "It's wearing you out and I don't like it."
Arthur gave her a grateful smile and took her hand, giving it a small peck.
"I appreciate your concern, love." He said gently, "But it'll be fine."
"Mr. Prime minister!" The King, dressed in his formal uniform, came up to Arthur's father and shook his hand with a big smile. The minister returned the smile and handshake, like the old friend that the King was.
"Your Majesty, thank you for your continued hospitality." He replied and stepped aside, making room for Arthur and Ashley to present themselves.
"Ah, your brilliant son and his beautiful fiancé!" The king greeted and kissed Ashley's hand with a bow, before shaking Arthur's hand.
"Thanks for the compliments, your majesty." Arthur said and gave a small bow.
"And thank you, for keeping our city safe." The king replied, giving Arthur a smile, "I've heard a lot of great things about you, young Arthur. I am looking forward to work with you in politics."
"Thank you, your majesty." Arthur replied, feeling a small pang in the pit of his stomach at the mention of his future. Being the only son of a high ranked politician, Arthur knew that it was expected of him to follow his father and become a high ranked minister himself one day. A lot of people expected this of him and while he did have a long education, wide knowledge of politics and good leader skills, Arthur didn't feel like he would be able to carry such responsibility. He wasn't too thrilled about the thought of entering the world of politics.
Arthur breathed out a long sigh. He could still hear the buzzing of talking people, enjoying the ongoing banquet inside.
He had told Ashley he needed some fresh air and had left the ballroom. Arthur had never really enjoyed these gatherings or any of his father's parties for that matter. It was suffocating and he never felt lonelier and out of place than when at these parties. Rich people all putting up a front, trying to outsmart each other in a constant battle for power. Arthur didn't care much for it. Life seemed lonely and hard enough as it was, he didn't need to add on that.
Arthur inhaled the smoke from his lit cigarette and leaned his head back, closing his eyes, as he blew it out.
He normally wasn't one to smoke, however on occasions like this, when he was faced with the reality of his life, he had found that it gave a little relief. And relief he needed, if he had to get through a banquet night in one piece.
"Does the head of state know his son smoke?"
Arthur cursed aloud and threw his cigarette to the ground immediately.
"Or curse?" The voice behind him asked with a hint of amusement. Arthur turned and let out a surprised gasp, finding the Queen mother standing behind him with a knowing smile and glint in her eyes.
"Your Majesty!" Arthur exclaimed and bowed deeply, feeling his ears going hot with embarrassment. The Queen chuckled and waved at him.
"Please Arthur, no need to be so formal with me." She said and patted his shoulder, making him stand up straight, "I've known you since you were born." She reasoned, giving him a fond smile.
Arthur looked around, making sure no one else was around in the small court yard, making sure they were alone. He remembered his father telling him as a teen, that his closeness with the Queen mother was inappropriate and had since made sure they were alone, whenever they were informal.
Arthur's mother had been the daughter of one of the Queen's cousins. They had had a close relationship and with his father having a central role in politics as well, Arthur had been visiting the royal household, on several occasions, throughout his childhood. However, it had become less after his mother had died, when he was 13. But the lack of regular visits in the past 12 years, didn't seem to have lessen the Queen's fondness of him. She still liked to treat him as a grandson.
"Something is different." The Queen noted, as she gave Arthur a close look. He stared at her confused.
"About you." The Queen clarified and pushed a few strands of hair away from his eyes looking into them, "Your usual lonely brooding is somewhat... lacking. Did something happen? Something good?"
Arthur's mind immediately went to the young man he'd met during the raid, a couple of weeks ago and the dreams that had followed. Had he changed after that meeting?
Arthur remembered the fleeting sense of feeling complete and safe, for the short moment their eyes had locked.
A feeling of home.
Something which he had never felt before.
He remembered the dreams. How happy and content he had felt and how disappointed he had been, waking up to reality.
Arthur shook his head and looked down, trying to ignore the Queen's intense look and the hollowness inside him.
"I think it's about time I showed you something." She said quietly and looked around them, before taking a step closer to him, "There are things about your birth and life, which you should know, Arthur." She said in a careful whisper, looking straight at him, eyes serious, "Come to Balmoral next weekend, we can't talk freely here. There is eyes and ears everywhere in London and not all of them can be trusted..."
The Queen put a hand on his chest and looked up, meeting his eyes.
"Be careful with who you trust, Arthur." She pleaded and stood on her toes, kissing his forehead before giving him a gentle smile and turned away, heading back to her guests.
(...)
Morgan sat, leaned back and heavy in his couch, head resting against the wall.
Eyes closed and joint lit between fingers. Another and another day gone by.
Morgan breathed out and let his drug induced mind take him away.
He was flying high above ground on a giant winged beast. He screamed with excitement, as he held out his arms, feeling the wind blowing through his hair.
Next, he found himself in a familiar forest, sitting around a fire with five men, dressed in chainmail and long red capes with a yellow dragon on the back. He looked at their faces, heard their cheerful chatter and laughs. Morgan couldn't help a smile himself, at a content feeling, the feeling of belonging, he felt being with them.
He then realized he knew them.
Knew them well.
Their stories, their names...
Leon, Percival, Elyan, Gwaine and Arthur. Morgan rested his gaze on Arthur and felt his heart skip a beat, as the other man laughed along with the others from something Gwaine had said.
Morgan felt a warmth spread inside him, as he continued to watch and listen to the man with the dirty blonde hair and bright eyes. He was special.
The warmth and fuzziness Morgan felt watching him confirmed this.
Arthur had always been special.
Morgan opened his eyes slowly, feeling the drugs fading and his mind slowly waking up.
Back to reality.
Morgan felt the tears on his cold cheeks and dried them away with a stubborn sniff.
Waking up was always the hardest part.
After that meeting, the dreams had increased. Dreams of friendships, brotherhood, adventure, warmth, love and most of all a feeling of home.
Of belonging and of purpose.
All the things Morgan longed for, whenever he was awake.
Morgan thought back on the encounter, which had changed it all.
Arthur.
The man had not only looked exactly like the Arthur of his dreams, but he had given off the same feeling.
Morgan let out a long breath and drove a hand through thick raven hair.
Just who was he?
There was a small knock on the door, which made Morgan let out a small, annoyed groan. He trashed the remaining join in the ashtray and got up from the couch. He shuffled towards the door as another knock resounded in the small apartment.
"Coming, coming…" Morgan mumbled, as he reached the door.
Opening, Morgan let out a small surprised gasp, seeing who stood on the other side.
"So, you do live here. I wasn't completely sure." The blonde said and scratched the back of his head nervously. Morgan stared at him gob smacked, trying to figure out what the detective was doing at his door late at night.
"Are you here to arrest me?" Morgan then asked, finding that this had to be the only reason for the other man to be at his door. The blonde's eyes widened and he quickly shook his head.
"No, no not at all." He said hurriedly and pulled in his brown leather jacket, "Civil clothes." He explained and continued to point at himself, "I'm not here in for official matters."
Morgan crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe, giving the detective a apprehensive look.
"Then what are you doing here?" Morgan asked, trying to sound indifferent and ignoring the happy butterflies fluttering in his stomach at the close proximity of the other man.
"I'm…" The blonde began and looked down, once again his hand reaching the back of his head. The nervous and somewhat awkward gesture made Morgan crook a small smile unknowingly, however not unnoticed by the blonde as he looked up.
"Frankly, I don't know." He then said and stood up straight, "Ever since we first met, I-" He paused for a moment as if he was looking for the right words, "I don't really know how to say this, without it sounding weird."
"Well," Morgan said and looked down for a moment, shuffling his feet, "If it's any consolation, you being here is already weird, so it can only get better from here."
The blonde laughed at this and Morgan realized that he knew the sound. This warmhearted laugh wasn't unfamiliar to him.
"I'm Arthur," The blonde then said and held out his hand, surprising Morgan, "Arthur Pence."
"Morgan Emerson." Morgan replied and took Arthur's hand. It was only after a longer moment, that Morgan realized he had yet to let go of the others hand or look away from the blue eyes for that matter.
"This." Arthur then said in a low and hesitant voice, "It's this that I need to figure out. There's something about you and I-"
Morgan had never considered himself to be a very patient person and this might be the reason for his, sometimes rather spontaneous and not thought through actions. He would later blame the unexplainable longing and relief, the constant heart skipping and butterflies, whenever the other man was near, however in the moment, Morgan did it for the sole reason that he felt like it.
In a few quick movements, Morgan had pulled the detective inside, shut the door and slammed the bigger blonde against it and clashed their lips together.
Morgan was surprised at how easily he got lost in the kiss, as the other responded eagerly after another second. He had planned it to be something quick, something the to the detective off his case and out of his mind.
For it to make him feel warm, fuzzy and weak in the knees, for the kiss to grow deeper and more passionate, taking his breath away as hands sought naked skin, was the last thing he expected.
"So…" Morgan breathed, when they finally parted enough for him to speak, "This? What's the conclusion, Mr. Detective?" Arthur hummed, eyes closed and a small smile gracing his lips, still mere inches from Morgan.
"Can't say." He answered in a husky voice and opened his eyes, looking straight into Morgan's, "I'll need more evidence."
Morgan grinned, holding Arthur's eyes.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah…"
Arthur repeated and pushed Morgan into the nearest wall and pulled at his sweater before he closed the little distance between them for another kiss.
A/N: So, thoughts?
I know, I know. A kiss, this early? But the early established physical relationship is important for the development of their relationship and the story as a whole, so yeah... Don't worry, there'll be lots of drama coming your way ;)