"I don't know what to do!" Arthur shouts in the phone, pacing agitatedly.
"Stop acting like a child for a second and listen to me. Is he breathing alright?" Elena answers from the other side, patiently.
"Yes. He is. Like he was the previous five times you asked." Arthur moves to check it again anyway, just to be sure.
"And like every other time, I am telling you, I think it's just shock. He will be okay."
"He doesn't look okay. How can you say that?"
"Uh, because I am the doctor here?"
"Okay then. Doctor. Why don't you do your job and help him?"
"Arthur," Elena's tone is dangerously calm and he stops pacing. "Merlin is hurt, and he means a lot to you. So I am going to let it go. All you can do now is wait. He isn't used to violence like this. It takes its toll."
"But, if nothing is wrong, why isn't he waking up?" Arthur's voice is small. Unsure. He really hates feeling so worried.
"He..."
"Oh never mind. He just opened his eyes." Arthur turns off the call before Elena could say anything else, rushing to kneel at Merlin's side.
Merlin is lying on one of the convertible sofas on the jet. After Merlin had fainted, Arthur had debated going to a doctor, but had decided against that, not willing to trust anyone on enemy territory. Instead, he had chosen to fly out from Esseter as soon as possible. As a result he has been on phone with Elena for the past hour, driving her crazy.
"Hey," he says, soft. Merlin opens his eyes, and one of it is already swelling, heralding an awful black eye in the near future. He squints in the light.
"Arthur?" Merlin sounds confused, which given the last few hours of his life, isn't surprising.
"Yeah. It's me." His voice cracks a little, much to his chagrin.
"So that wasn't a dream," Merlin whispers.
Arthur chuckles helplessly. Merlin turns at that, looking at him, and then winces, "Not a dream at all," he groans, not moving anymore to avoid exacerbating his injuries.
"You scared me there," Arthur admits.
"I scared you?" Merlin's voice rises in pitch. "And what do you think I was, when Morgause was torturing me."
"Shut up Merlin," he sighs. The relief making him weak. If Merlin can whinge like that, he is probably alright.
"Wait, where are we?" Merlin tries to sit up again, forgetting about the pain. This time Arthur helps him, moving cushions and readjusting the couch until Merlin is sitting propped up. He gets up from his crouch and sits with him on the sofa.
"This is the jet? We are in air?" The genius finally manages to get some bearing.
"Yes." Arthur says, amused at seeing the bruised man behave in his familiar idiotic way. His chest feels warm with affection.
"How did we manage to leave?"
"Well. You did provide us with the confession."
"Oh."
"Yeah. You were quite the hero. I sent it to Guinevere and she called the Interpol. Nobody stopped our flight after that. Cenred and Morgause deserve everything that's coming for them. And more." Arthur's tone darkens – it had been difficult to leave Morgause to the authorities with the need for revenge bubbling under his skin.
Merlin sighs in relief. Arthur stays quiet for a while and then grins.
"You were quite the hero, weren't you?"
"Well, I like to think I was. Yes."
"Except the part where you fainted in my arms."
Merlin groans, hiding his face in his hands. Arthur laughs, and pulls them away gently. Merlin is cute when he is blushing.
"What will it take for you to never mention it again?" Merlin pleads.
"Well," Arthur considers this. "A kiss would do the job."
Merlin gapes. His mouth open and his eyes wide.
"What?"
"A kiss Merlin. You must know what that is."
"No, wait a minute, what?"
"You can't be a proper heroic Bond Girl without a kiss from the man himself. This is actually necessary for your character arc," Arthur proclaims, enjoying the look on Merlin's face.
"Only you would be able to come up with something so ridiculous," Merlin huffs, punching Arthur lightheartedly on his shoulder. "Prat."
In Arthur's defense, it sounded better in his head. He can't blame Merlin for not taking him seriously. But this isn't a joke. Arthur feels like he would not be able to find his sanity until he kisses the man. Staying in close proximity with him for three days without touching him has been a torture.
"Come on. I rescued you. Risked my life in heroic feats of bravery. Don't I deserve a kiss as a reward?" Arthur implores.
Merlin looks at him curiously. Wonderingly, he asks, "You're serious."
"Absolutely," Arthur says earnestly.
Merlin stares in his eyes, and then nods. Arthur's heart soars. Not wanting to hurt the man, he is careful as cradles Merlin's face and touches their lips together. Merlin melts into it, letting Arthur take the lead and kiss him long and thorough.
When they part, Merlin looks satisfyingly dazed.
"Wow," he says.
"Yeah," Arthur agrees, before kissing him chastely on lips one more time. He could get used to it. Addicted.
With a sigh, he lets go of Merlin's face, slumping into the sofa, and staring at the wall.
"That went well," Merlin says at length.
"There's no need to sing praises of my kissing prowess Merlin. It's a necessary skill for the job." Arthur smirks, not looking at him. He bites his lips, stifling his laugh, when the punch lands on his shoulder.
"I meant the saving the world bit, clotpole."
"Oh yeah. That went great too."
"No thanks to you," Merlin teases.
"Oi."
"Alright, you helped a little bit." Merlin allows, and Arthur can't even feel offended at that. He is feeling remarkably content with things as they are. Except,
"We didn't manage to get the fusion data though. I am guessing you had to resort to destroying it instead, which is better than it falling into enemy hands but…"
Merlin sudden stillness and silence halts his rambling. He turns around and stares,
"What aren't you telling me Merlin?"
A smile begins to form at the corner of his mouth as he plays with his tie-pin. "Well…"
"What?"
"I might have, a tiny camera in my tie..."
"You little shit."
"And I might have scanned the documents before destroying them."
"You…" Arthur opens and closes his mouth, speechless.
"Surprise," he grins, cheekily.
"I could kiss you right now," Arthur declares.
Merlin's smile suddenly turns sly, and he places a hand on Arthur's cheek, murmuring, "So, what are you waiting for."
Arthur's allows himself a moment to accept the certainty that Merlin acting seductive like this would be the cause of his death. After that, he is too busy kissing the genius to have any more coherent thoughts.