Gaius was furious, to say the least. Merlin should have probably changed his hair color before walking into the flat, but he never actually realized his hair was blue. After a thorough tongue lashing, Freya turned his hair back to black.
"You two need to learn how to control yourselves!" Gaius said, sitting them on the couch.
"I controlled it at dinner." Merlin said, helpfully.
"And what was the situation?"
"Arthur was being a clotpole, talking without using the small brain he has." Gaius raised an eyebrow at Merlin's words. Freya suppressed a small smile.
"I see. Well did you feel it?"
"My magic? Yes I felt it. It was hot, like blood coursing through my veins. It wanted to reach out, but I kept it back. See I'm doing well!" He gave Gaius a dopey smile, who intern looked at Freya. Merlin didn't notice the silent exchange as he had stood and was retreating to his room. Freya gave Gaius a wink before darting after Merlin.
"Frey, I am possibly, more than slightly, drunk." Merlin groaned from the bed.
"Well you drank like a double scotch, and then we did all that magic. You're bound to be slightly tipsy." Freya giggled as he pulled her down on the bed.
"I miss this Frey. I miss our sibling time. When we get our own flat, we will have to do a lot more of this." Merlin grumbled into the pillow.
"Well we can, but only if you have the time between taking care of our lord prat." Freya laid next to him on her side, facing him.
"Why Frey? He's such a prat! He's so commanding with his stupid, pretty blue eyes and soft golden hair…" Merlin trailed off. Freya smiled as her brother began to snore.
"You have so much ahead of you Merls, and I hope you two realize what's right in front of you." Freya kissed his forehead before swinging herself from the bed, careful to set his alarm for 6:30 am before she left.
The next morning Merlin sprung from bed as his alarm blared. He was still in his clothes from the previous night and now had a pounding head ache. He flung his arm in the general direction of his alarm, and to his surprise, it shut off. He looked round to find his arm nowhere near his alarm, but gold sparks were coming from it.
"Crap," he muttered to himself. After a quick shower, he dressed and made the strongest pot of coffee he could. Freya stumbled out of her room at about 7:00, just as Merlin was pouring his coffee.
"How's the hangover," Freya smiled at him. He stuck his tongue out before taking a long drink. She poured herself a cup and stood next to him. "So what do you have today?"
"Absolutely nothing. I'm going to drive you to school and then I will probably go to the café I told you about. It's called the Dragon's Lair and half of it is a bookstore."
"Nerd."
"Please, you would love it," he smiled over his coffee. She bumped his side and sipped her mug. Freya was ready to go by 7:30 and they clambered into his car. The ride was short and Freya jumped out as soon as Merlin hit the brakes.
"Bye Merl! Pick me up?" He nodded and waved, watching her run up to a pretty girl with curly dark hair.
"Must be Gwen," he muttered before pulling away. He drove all the way back to the university and parked by Gaius's building. The short walk to the café was nice and brisk. As he passed the window, he saw Aithusa busy making coffee.
"Merlin!" She called as he came in.
"Hello Aithusa," He greeted cheerfully.
"Just couldn't stay away could you?"
"Oh definitely not! I only come for my dear Aithusa!" Merlin clutched his chest mockingly and fell to the side. Aithusa giggled and blushed deep red. He was at the counter as soon as he regained his vertical posture. "Large caramely, chocolaty, mocha thing. And that red is a nice color on you." Merlin heard the tinkle of the bell behind him, but didn't turn.
"So Merlin, ready or some quick, like 30-second training," Aithusa whispered as she took him money. Merlin noticed her eyes flick behind him and turned around, coming face to face with Arthur. Merlin sighed dejectedly.
"Yep let's do this." Merlin strode behind the counter, stowing his bag and jacket on a nearby table. He tied an apron around his waist and stood next to Aithusa. "Arthur Pendragon, what can I get you?"
"What no training needed?" Arthur was skeptical. Merlin's mouth twisted into a scowl and Arthur glanced at the floor. Okay, so maybe he should kiss up to Merlin, a lot, but Arthur wanted to see his skills. "Double shot, white chocolate latte with caramel." Merlin raised an eyebrow. "It's for Morgana I still owe her for yesterday. I'll have a chocolate mocha." Merlin nodded toward Aithusa to ring him up and began Morgana's latte. He twisted and whirled around the little kitchen area as if he had always been there. Machines hissed and foamed and he turned the right nobs at the right times, putting forth two 32 oz. coffees in minutes. Aithusa and Arthur were both stunned.
"Had coffee experience?" Aithusa squeaked.
"Oh yes! We lived in Aberdeen for about a year and a half. I worked in this little shop right on the coast. We were there the longest, maybe I can talk Frey into going back soon." Merlin smiled with the nostalgia.
"Hopefully not too soon, you are exactly what we need." Aithusa looked at Merlin with great respect. Merlin gave her his dopey smile in return. A flare of white hot jealousy flooded Arthur's chest. He shook his head, ground his teeth, and took his coffees.
"Thank you for the coffee, I will probably be back for my afternoon." Arthur said briskly. Merlin rolled his eyes at the stiff backside of lord prat.
"He actually seemed like he was trying to be polite." Aithusa commented as the bell tinkled, noting Arthur's departure.
"As he should have been, seeing that he was a right asshole about my sister." Merlin grumbled.
"When did all this happen?" Aithusa exclaimed. They were the only two in the shop, and Merlin couldn't help but trust the little bird.
"Last night. I met my sister for dinner and a drink. She's 17, but she half raised herself, so I believe she is mature enough to make her own decisions. Our residing Lord didn't like that she was 17, and decided to stick his nose where it didn't belong, attempting to give me and my parents a thorough lashing. I then pointed out he was a moron, as well as a royal git, by telling him my parents were dead. Which they are…" Merlin looked down at the coffee he had made. Muscle memory, his mother would have called it.
"Might I ask how long?"
"Almost six years. But anyway! I guess I don't really need training, unless you have any specialty drinks." Merlin gave Aithusa another goofy smile.
"Well I guess not! Since no one is here, let's work on your schedule." They sat down at the table Merlin had claimed and worked out a basic outline of a week. Merlin would occasionally rise to help a customer and get a feel for his surroundings and students. They eventually decided that he would work all day Tuesday, starting at 5:30 am till closing, Wednesdays, staring at 10:00 am ending at 2:30 pm, Thursdays at 3:00, and Saturday afternoons, when they got a rush. Aithusa assured Merlin the calls would usually be after 10:00, seeing as Arthur usually slept in after being at the pub on Friday.
"You sure know a lot about him," Merlin jibbed with a smile.
"How can you not! He boasts about each of his conquests with pride." Merlin laughed at her flustered expression. "It is not funny. It isn't easy making him a brew when all he talks about is how amazing he is." The afternoon passed with laughs and coffee. Aithusa eventually went back to work, telling Merlin he would start his new schedule tomorrow. Merlin laughed at her mock authority and decided to stroll through the bookshelves, where once again he found himself face to face with Arthur Pendragon.
