I'm back again! :] I apologize for all grammatical errors that I did not happen to catch.

Onwards.

Just please don't say you love me,
'cause I might not say it back,
doesn't mean my heart stops skipping when you look at me like that.

- Gabrielle Aplin, "Please Don't Say You Love Me"

Part 2

Mordred pulled his apron off, running a hand through his fluffy hair with a loud sigh. Morgause raised an eyebrow at him.

"What's up with you?" she asked while wiping down the counters. She was taking care of the last couple of things before they closed, but she had gone ahead and let Mordred clock out anyway.

"Tired," Mordred responded, rolling his shoulders a bit before he was stilled by a yawn. Morgause smiled slightly.

"Then go on and get out of here," she said with a flick of her wrist, and Mordred nodded to her before hurrying out the front door after flipping the sign over to closed. Mordred was surprised to find Merlin standing there and waiting for him.

"Merlin?" Mordred said cautiously, and Merlin had a tight frown on his face as if he was trying to hold something back. He shook his head with a low sigh.

"Let's go play some games," Merlin muttered softly, bumping his shoulder against Mordred's accidentally. Mordred merely nodded following Merlin.

Mordred had been right. Merlin did have a crush the size of Texas on Arthur, and it wasn't like he could make it go away in the blink of an eye or when Arthur had decided to start dating again after things with Mithian simply didn't work out. Merlin had been hoping to possibly woo Arthur himself, but Arthur was really straighter than a pole.

He didn't know why he had reached out to Mordred, of all people, for emotional support. If anything, Gwaine was probably a more sure fire way to cheer him up, except that he wanted it to be Mordred that he could lean on, what with Gwaine busy with his new boyfriend after all.

More than anything, Merlin felt lonely and starved for touch. After so many years of pining for Arthur, he had found himself with little in the ways of prospects. So he had, for whatever strange reason, decided that Mordred was the best choice for his age-old sob story.

.

It was around three A.M. when Arthur stumbled into the apartment with a giggle on his lips, and Gwen supporting him

"Shh!" he laughed, "Don't wake up, Merlin!" and Gwen rolled her eyes. Merlin stirred at all the noise and froze when he heard Arthur's voice. Merlin had been playing Minecraft with Mordred, but it looked like they'd both fallen asleep and died.

Then Merlin noticed how close Mordred was, his soft, wavy hair just within Merlin's reach, and he was kind of tempted. Another gaggle of laughter erupted from Arthur's room, and Merlin went for it. He reached his hand forward slowly and slid his fingers through Mordred's soft hair. Mordred unconsciously leaned into the touch, and Merlin was a little encouraged though his cheeks burned red. He shouldn't be violating Mordred's personal space like this, and it wasn't like he could even pretend it would be anything like running his fingers through Arthur's hair.

He sucked in a shallow breath of air at the sound of the first moan. Mordred decided to stir then, and Merlin drew his hand back to his chest at fast as he could. Mordred turned toward Merlin, squinting in the darkness.

"What time is it?" he whispered, and Merlin pulled his phone out to look before showing it to Mordred who drew back, scrunching up his nose in displeasure.

"I need to go home," he said then and started to stand, but Merlin grabbed his wrist.

"No!" he protested quietly as more noises filtered through Arthur's door. Mordred glanced toward it with a frown then down at Merlin and sighed.

"Okay..." he sat back down on the floor, leaning against the sofa until Merlin coaxed him up next to him. They sat next to each other in silence for a long moment before Mordred turned toward Merlin, opening his mouth to say something.

"Can I kiss you?" Merlin asked, and all words Mordred might have been about to use were lost into the abyss of his mind, "I mean, it doesn't have to mean anything... I just..."

"O-okay," Mordred barely choked out, and he wasn't sure why he agreed to it. Merlin swallowed, licking his lips.

"It won't mean anything," he asserted, and Mordred nodded albeit a little sadly. Merlin moved quickly with the asserting, grasping Mordred and pulling Mordred over toward him. Mordred made a noise of surprise just before their lips collided, and Mordred reacted enthusiastically.

Merlin's fingers moved through the soft waves of Mordred's hair as he licked and nibbled at Mordred's lower lip, hoping Mordred would give into the intrusion. Merlin was pressed into the cushions of the couch then, Mordred's warmth encompassing him.

Mordred moaned into the kiss suddenly, and Merlin took his chance. He slipped his tongue into Mordred's mouth and began to explore. Then Mordred pulled away. Merlin let out a whine of protest, and Mordred didn't even look at him.

"Sorry," he muttered, standing suddenly. Merlin sat up, staring at Mordred in confusion.

"What do you mean? That you're not gay?" Merlin asked after a moment. Mordred stiffened slightly at the question.

"That's... not the problem," Mordred said after a moment. Merlin furrowed his eyebrows.

"Then what is?" Merlin pressed, "We're just messing around." He tossed that out there as if it solved everything, but it made it worse for Mordred.

"I'm just gonna go now," Mordred replied then and left before Merlin could protest anymore. The cold air outside filled Mordred with relief. He began the slow walk home, his mind full of thoughts that reminded him he was bettered suited for longing for those he could not have.

Merlin let his face fall into his hands with a quiet groan. He figured he had ruined another friendship for not respecting boundaries. His mind flickered briefly back to Lancelot, and Merlin shook his head quickly. He had to make amends with Mordred before he lost another decent friend.

Thoughts and opinions are always appreciated.

~Minatu