As soon as Merlin was out of sight, Arthur was on his feet. The kiss. It was only a kiss. Oh hell, what am I kidding, he thought to himself. It was one hell of a kiss. Arthur had felt something akin to electricity blazing through his veins. It was something completely new and utterly amazing. By the time he pushed through the crowd, Merlin and the girls had disappeared. A long low whistle sounded behind him.
"Now that was not something I expected." Morgana stood behind him with a shocked expression on her face.
"Uh huh," Arthur was also shocked. That had happened. With Merlin. And he loved it.
"What are you going to do?"
"Forget about it. He will. He was drunk, and god knows I am. There is still a possibility I'll wake up and this will be a dream." Arthur replied. He shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged.
"You don't seem drunk now?" Morgana asked.
"That kind of thing really puts one in quite the alert state. I'm going to turn in. Don't have too much fun."
"Actually I met someone. He's a beauty. I dare say I might go on a date with him." Morgana smiled wide and gave him a wink. Well life just got extremely interesting, Morgana thought as she watched her love-struck brother walk away.
The next morning, Merlin woke with a pounding headache. He laid in bed trying to figure out what had happened the night before. He stumbled from his room toward the kitchen, where he could smell a pot of coffee brewing.
Freya and Gwen were sitting on the kitchen floor, both nursing coffee. Gwen was giggling quietly as Freya held her head and moaned. Merlin grunted his agreement, and joined them on the floor with his own cup. Freya and Gwen glanced at each other and smiled.
"What?" Merlin asked. Gwen giggled again.
"Well Merls, what do you remember about late night?" Freya probed. Merlin shrugged.
"Honestly, the last thing I remember was Morgana making me dance." Merlin saw flashes of on the night, things getting fuzzier and fuzzier.
"Oh, I see," Freya grinned. Merlin gave her a hard look. "You don't happen to remember shoving your tongue down someone's throat?" Merlin opened his mouth, then closed it, several times, before turning a violent shade of pink.
"Whose throat?" He squeaked. Freya just smirked and took a drink. Realization dawned on Merlin. "Oh god no."
"Oh yes," Gaius confirmed, walking into the kitchen. "And from what your dear sister tells me, it was quite a kiss." He smirked and poured himself a cup.
"I didn't." Merlin looked to Gwen for confirmation. She nodded. "Why?"
"Oh I don't know because you're extremely attracted to him?" Freya said sarcastically.
"Because he said you had pretty eyes," Gwen corrected, and then giggled. "You told us all about it on the way home." Merlin looked at his coffee and frowned.
"I don't believe you. He wouldn't." Merlin bemoaned.
"Oh yes he did! You gave him a 'reward' for not being a 'clotpole,' and then you winked at him." Freya half cried. Merlin hissed at the noise.
"Don't you two have to be at school or something?!" He hissed.
"Nah we called in ill." Freya grinned.
"The both of you?" Merlin asked skeptically. Gwen nodded with a smile on his face. Merlin snorted. A soft knock came from the front door.
"Come in!" Freya called.
"That could have been a serial killer, what's wrong with you," Merlin hissed as Aithusa walked into the kitchen.
"Nope just me!" She grinned cheerily. "I wanted to see how you were?"
"I have a hangover." Merlin groaned. Aithusa giggled.
"That's what happens when you go drinking with Arthur Pendragon."
"That's not all he did with Arthur Pendragon." Gwen giggled. Merlin turned a pretty shade of pink again.
"Merls, I think your ears are turning pink. It's just a kiss love. You've kissed Gwaine." Freya smirked.
"Oh!" Aithusa squeeled, she sunk to the floor next to Merlin. "Who kissed who?"
"Merlin initiated, and when he left, poor Arthur looked like a lost puppy." Gwen giggled.
"It was because Arthur told him he had pretty eyes." Freya grinned. Aithusa smiled widely. Merlin groaned into his mug.
"We are done talking about this. Aithusa dear, do you need me to come in today?"
"Oh no, but do you think you will be able to tomorrow, about 9?" Aithusa leaned against Merlin's side.
"Yes I think so. Arthur doesn't come in Saturdays does he?"
"Well it depends on whether he goes out Friday or not." Merlin groaned. Aithusa patted his head sympathetically and stood.
"Maybe he won't remember, do you?" Merlin perked up brightly. "There you go! See you tomorrow. Feel better both of you. Nice to meet you Gwen!" Aithusa was out of the apartment with a swish of her silvery hair.
"Merlin, Kilgharrah called, he wants you in his office by noon!" Gaius called. Merlin laid on the floor with a groan, seeing that it was already 11.
Arthur's alarm rang at promptly 8 o'clock. He slammed it with his fist in hopes of turning it off. It ended up flying off the nightstand and hitting the floor with a thud, but the ringing did stop. He rolled onto his back with a groan and stretched. He thought back to the night before. Morgana meeting a guy. The sudden appearance of Gwaine, and Merlin. The kiss. Jesus the kiss, he thought. He sat up and looked around the room. It was strangely empty. There wasn't another human being in the room, which was very unusual, but after that damn kiss he couldn't. He got dress quickly, taking more time to comb his hair, god forbid if Merlin was working today he had to look somewhat decent, not that it mattered, he had to go to football tryouts first.
He tried to troll into the shop casually after tryouts, giving no inclination of who he was looking for. The silver haired girl was leaning against the counter with a smile on her face. He quickly glanced around the shop.
"He's not here." She said brightly. Arthur let out a small sigh of relief and the girl giggled. He gave her his best glare but she only laughed harder. "I'm Aithusa, its nice to finally meet you Arthur Pendragon." She smirked.
"I'll have my usual." Arthur growled. Aithusa smiled.
"He'll be in tomorrow at 9." She said as she brewed the coffee. Arthur grunted. "What are you gonna do?" Arthur sighed and sagged against the counter.
"I have no idea. How the hell do you know?"
"I stopped by their place this morning to see how Merlin was. Freya and Gwen told me." Aithusa slid the coffee across the counter with a soft smile. "Ya know you really aren't that bad Pendragon. I think if you just go for it, things might work out for the better." Arthur grunted, but didn't reply. He handed over a five dollar bill before taking his coffee and sauntering out. As soon as the door closed behind him, Arthur saw Merlin. He was sprinting across campus with his bag and a neckerchief in hand. He couldn't help the smile that came to his lips.
Merlin on the other hand was late. It was almost twelve and he still couldn't find Kilgharrah's office. As he ran across campus, he thought he saw the flash of blonde preceding Arthur, but when he turned, it was gone. He found the office soon after that and leaned over panting. He heard a low laugh and looked up to see Kilgharrah leaning against the door frame.
"Come in young warlock!" Kilgharrah waved him into his office and gestured to the seat across from the desk. "I am hoping these sessions will let me get a hint about your power and help it grow. Today I just want you to do a little bit of basic things, seeing as you are still weak." They spent an hour levitating pencils and washing dishes. Merlin was beat by the time they were done. "You did wonderful young warlock. I hope to see you next Friday." Kilgharrah looked back at his paperwork, thoroughly dismissing Merlin. He stood and carried himself out of the office. He didn't make it very far before he ran into someone, literally. He felt someone grab him and stop his fall.
"Merlin!" Lance yelled happily. He pulls Merlin back to a vertical position and smiles.
"Thanks for catching my fall." Lance laughed.
"No, it's my fault. How about you join me for lunch?" He offered. Merlin happily agreed and they soon found themselves outside a campus café. "I love it here. It was always my dream to attend Camelot. I have tried out for the football team and am an official true Knight of Camelot."
"Good for you Lance!" Merlin said with a smile.
"I had to impress the Prince just to get a tryout." Lance explained.
"I can only assume you're talking about Arthur." Merlin snorted.
"One of the only reasons I got one is because I happened to mention you." Merlin's eyebrows shot up in surprise and he quickly took a drink to hide his blush. Lance chuckled.
"You saw?" Merlin asked quietly.
"Dude, I think everyone saw." Lance laughed.
"Fuck!" Merlin threw his head back and groaned. "It would be fine, if I could actually remember it." Lance chuckled. "Wait, if he thinks that giving you a tryout makes up for spilling my coffee on me, he has another thing coming."
"You really don't remember?"
"Not at all. Freya and Gwen had to tell me."
"Gwen seems nice." Lance said nonchalantly. Merlin raised an eyebrow.
"She's a sweetheart. She's also single as far as I know." Lance grinned.
"So is Arthur." Merlin sputtered, but didn't say anything. "The first game is against the Gryphons on Friday. Your friend Gwaine is on the team too. You and Freya should come."
"Maybe we'll bring Gwen." Merlin grinned. Lancelot smiled and took a bite of the food that had just come. They chatted aimlessly the rest of lunch and left with smiles.
