Merlin had been right. Morgause instilled fear of God in the hearts of all men.
Arthur wakes up to soft bed and instantly wanted to go back to sleep, before getting distracted by the mess of black hair resting on the pillow next to his, Merlin's features achingly soft and vulnerable in sleep. He yearned to reach out and run his fingers through the mop of hair, to trace the sharp cheekbones and the eyelids, and the red, red, lips. He tore his gaze away when Merlin shuffled a little, and went about his morning ablutions.
No matter how much of a bond girl Merlin complains to be, Arthur isn't going to take advantage. Not unless it is completely mutual.
They have breakfast in a giant dining hall… Merlin sitting bleary eyed while Arthur supplies him with coffee, one cup after another, trying to coax him into eating something solid, 'you are going to give yourself stomach cancer like this idiot, I read about it in a journal,' and the said idiot is still sleepy enough to be unable to manage more than a glare his way, and making grabby hands for coffee that Arthur is holding up.
Merlin is definitely not a morning person. Arthur wishes he didn't find it awfully endearing.
After the third cup of coffee, the coder suddenly blinks and it's like a light turns on, and he glances around with awareness.
"Hello Merlin. Nice to have you back." Arthur teases.
"Shut up."
"Ah. Still not completely here yet. That response was weak."
"Not everyone is like sun."
"Whatever is that supposed to mean?"
"Bright and golden and up at the crack of dawn. I should shut up." Merlin hides himself behind the cup he is still holding and Arthur grins.
"Ah. It's okay to find me attractive Merlin. I work on this."
"Clot pole. Don't you have a lady to seduce?" Merlin nods towards where Morgause is just entering the hall, two black clad bodyguards by her side, wearing tall heels that could crush a person's windpipe and a scowl that could crush their morals.
Arthur groans and Merlin chuckles at that. The asshole.
"I would advise you to get some liquid courage but it's nine in the morning. A bit too early for that."
"Shut up, will you." Arthur snaps, and gets up to try.
He approaches the table Morgause is just settling herself on, and gives her the most charming smile he can muster. He has been told it's irresistible.
"Excuse me. Can I join you?" He inquires sweetly. "I prefer to drink my morning coffee with someone refreshing."
Morgause raises her eyes at him, and he has to fight not to cower.
"You are the Pendragon Heir right?" She asks flatly.
"Yep. Arthur Pendragon. The one and only."
"Well, Arthur. I would allow you to sit here, but I prefer to drink my coffee in peace actually. No, wait. I won't allow you to sit here even if I didn't." She says in completely sweet voice.
Arthur jerks back as if slapped and she just looks away, motioning towards one of the waiters to take her order.
When Arthur gets back to his table, it's to find Merlin giggling into his fourth cup of coffee. Arthur reaches forward and takes the cup away in spite, but even that cannot manage to quell Merlin's mirth.
"I told you she is scary."
"And I told you, I can handle her."
"Oh yeah. I saw you do an excellent job of that."
"The day is still young Merlin. The plan will work. Just wait and watch."
The night life in Fyrien castle was loud and full of bodies writhing out of beat to the music. The club is a big hall on second floor, obviously re-purposed for the special times of the year when Cenred and his wife invited people from around the world. The atmosphere is dark and multicolored streaks of disco lights do not do anything to improve visibility. It takes Arthur a few minutes to spot his mark, helped by the fact that there is an empty space around her and the guards, everyone unconsciously giving her a wide berth. She is standing near the bar counter, leaning against the wood behind her, her gaze roaming across the room like a hawk.
Arthur picks two blue candy colored drinks off the tray carried by the servers, drops a small pill of the drug Merlin has given him, and waits. When he notices the drink in Morgause's hand finish, and she puts it on the counter behind her, he slinks up next to her, mimicking her pose and languidly leaning back.
"Pendragon." She acknowledges.
"My lady." He deepens his voice, gives his head a tilt, and stares in the crowd.
"What are you doing here?"
"Enjoying the pleasant evening, in a pleasant company of course."
"Flatterer." Arthur can hear the amusement in her voice, and takes a sip of his drink in celebration.
"I can't help but notice that your drink is finished."
"Liar. You came here knowing my drink is finished."
"You got me." Arthur finally turns around, raises both his hands holding the drinks in mock surrender. "You can't take the anger out on poor drinks though. They haven't done anything wrong." And with that he offers her the spiked drink. Belatedly, he notices the sparkle in her eyes.
"Yeah. You're right." And then with terrifying smirk, she reaches out and takes Arthur's drink from his hand, and raising it in toast.
"Uh?"
"I saw you sip it. I don't drink anything that's not tested for poison." She cocked an eyebrow, and Arthur knows he has been had. He doesn't have a choice other than toasting his own doom and gulping down the liquid. If he tries to back out, he suspects he would be leaving here with gun on his forehead.
"Now." She laughs, "Fuck off, and let me drink in peace."
"The plan will not work." Arthur declares, sinking into the bed and hiding his face into the pillow.
"There, there." Merlin consoles in mock sympathy, patting his shoulder. Arthur feels like melting into the bed and moaning. He feels like asking Merlin to keep touching him, to never stop, to stroke stronger and broader, but the hand has already left. "There has to be some people immune to my charm."
"She told me she eats kids like me for breakfast. That has never happened before." Arthur is still indignant about that. "I am 28!"
Merlin laughs and Arthur just sputters and sits up in bed to look at him in betrayal. Merlin is grinning at him from where he is standing near the bed, looking deliciously unkempt. Arthur wants to get up and run his fingers through his hair, messing them up even more, sating his long standing curiosity about their texture.
"Are your hair as soft as they look?" he asks before he could stop himself.
"What?" Merlin wrinkles his nose adorably, and Arthur catches himself.
"Never mind. I don't even know what I did wrong. I was suave and offered her a drink. Isn't she a lonely wife of a tyrant King, needing someone new in her bed? How did I understand it wrong?"
"Didn't the drug help?"
Oh!
He finally understands why it is more difficult than usual to try to keep his fingers from itching to trace the outline of Merlin's lips. He burrows his head in the pillow and groans.
"I take it to mean she didn't have any inhibitions stopping her from climbing you like a tree. She just didn't have any inclination."
"Damn it." Arthur isn't thinking about Morgause at the moment. He is wondering how to do damage control. He doesn't think he can take it if Merlin laughs at how spectacularly he failed.
"If it's any consolation, it's not your fault."
"What?"
"I don't think its men she is looking for in her bed."
"What?" Arthur states in shock. How has he missed that?
"Yeah."
"You sure?"
"I have an impeccable gay-dar." Merlin grins, and his smile stretched lips taunts Arthur. Arthur wants to kiss him.
"Why is she married to Cenred then?" He can't help wondering aloud.
"You really think they married each other for love? I mean… Cenred hits on anything that moves, and Morgause wants to kill anything that breathes. Now if you had approached the man of the hour himself..." he raises his eyebrow in almost accurate copy of Gaius and Arthur finds it disturbingly attractive.
"Oh Shut up Merlin.
"Shutting up."
"But this makes sense."
"Yes. Of course. Your irresistible streak is still preserved, don't worry."
"You think I am irresistible?" Arthur flirts, warmth filling his heart. He has been shot down twice today and maybe third time is the charm. There is no one else he wants more than Merlin anyway.
"No. I think you are intolerable. But people have questionable choices." Merlin shrugs and heads into the open bathroom door to brush his teeth.
"Give a man something to hold on to. Geez. Did you have to crush my self-confidence like this?"
"Your ego could do with some decline to be honest. I am not even sorry."
"Forget it. What now?"
"Time for plan B, I guess." Merlin calls out from inside.
"Yeah. Do be careful."
"I can work with technology Arthur. Relax."
"Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow."
Merlin comes back out a few minutes later and snuggles under the sheets. Arthur can't stop himself from staring.
"What?" Merlin notices and grumbles.
"Your skin is so fair." Arthur turns to his side, facing Merlin. "I wonder if it's smooth… and warm." Arthur raises his hand, irresistibly drawn.
"Uh… Arthur?" Merlin asks, worried.
"Can I just… Please?" Arthur brings his hand to ghost over Merlin's cheek. Suddenly, Merlin flinches, and it's like someone poured a bucket of ice cold water on his head. He jerks away, and turns to the other side.
"Arthur? Are you okay?" Merlin's tone is cautious, and Arthur tries to ignore it.
"I am okay Merlin. Just drank too much. Go to sleep." He snaps. Merlin does not deserve his foul mood but it's the best Arthur can do right now.
Merlin mumbles a quiet okay, and settles himself in. Arthur thinks he can feel the atmosphere expand and contract with every breath of the man behind him; feels like he is being drawn back like gravity, craving the warmth that he is separated from and can feel against his skin if he scoots back just a few inches. He is sure Merlin is attracted to him as well, and how bad would it be to turn around and press their lips together, to bite his neck and leave marks that everyone can see tomorrow, marking Merlin as his.
Abruptly, he gets up from the bed and walks towards the washroom. Merlin startles and starts "Hey?"
"I am gonna sleep in the tub." Arthur says, without turning back. He enters the washroom and locks the door. Then he bangs his head against the closed wood lightly, resting his forehead against it and trying to get his breathing even.
Damn it.
A/N:I am sorry, but the next chapter may take a while. I am feeling quite under the weather, and usually I write two chapter drafts ahead of the one I am posting, but because of being sick, I have been lagging behind. Hopefully if i feel better over the weekend I will write faster.
In the mean time, enjoy a slightly longer chapter and plz leave comments. They are like medicine for my soul.