Arthur stood there, looking around the blank countertops and still clean and unused appliances, they wouldn't be like this for much longer, Arthur smiles at the thought. He looks down at the boxes on the blue and red tiel floor and rolls his eyes. It's ugly and doesn't really match, he wants to change them to something nicer, but he's no interior designer, far from it in fact. He was a sixteen year old who had no sense of style in his own clothing choices let alone knew what a place of business needed to look nice, or what the consumer might like. Even so, he thinks the red and blue are ugly together, really, really ugly.

"What are you standing around for?" his mother came in from the stairs behind where he was standing, he looked back, hands going to his hips, he had been moving boxes all day long and he was hot and tired.

"Oi, I was taking a break," Arthur told her, rubbing a hand over his face and pulled a tired expression, trying to convey how very worn out he felt. His mother looked less than concerned.

"When you're done being lazy you've got to go back and get the last of the boxes," she explained, carelessly, as if carrying heavy cooking erumpent from the old store to the car, driving it to the new store and carrying it into said store was a piece of cake, or fun at all…for that matter, which it wasn't.

"I better get something good for this," he muttered, heading toward the door, a new bell already in place, made jingling noises as he pushed the glass forward and walked out.

"A good meal and a job well done!" his mother's voice chased after him and he rolled his eyes, not bothering to comment on that. His mother wouldn't even be cooking the meal, it will probably be Hunith, because if it was his mother who decided to cook the 'good' meal, then, in all honestly, Arthur would rather eat his own shoe. Which, at this point, probably smelled like a fourteen year olds armpit, Arthur would know…he used to be one. (Not an armpit, a fourteen year old.)

Arthur got into the car and drove the three and a half blocks to their old place of business. He parked out front and didn't bother turning off the engine in the car, he wouldn't be too long. He looked across the street, at where a once lively and then burnt down Sugar and Spice used to be. It had been rebuilt and was a flower shop now, the lady, Vivian, who owned the shop was a bit of a pill, but her son was alright. Being several years younger than Arthur, they really didn't mingle much, but they have played ball in the park once or twice, and he was a cool kid. As far as kids go.

Arthur walked into the Debois' for the last time, he hoped anyway, and the bell rang, somehow not as brightly as the one at the new place did. There were still a few things littering the counter and an open box sitting in the middle of the walkway between the counter and the wall.

"I told you all before!" came an annoyed voice. "The coffee maker is gone and I wouldn't sell you anything even if it wasn't!" an annoyed and possibly irate Merlin came from behind the wall and then he faltered, seeing it was Arthur, his anger dissolved. "Oh…I thought you were more annoying people trying to get one last cuppa."

"But you wouldn't sell it to them, would you, Merlin?" Arthur asked, with a raised eyebrow and a smile he was trying to fight away.

"No," Merlin said pointedly, frowning. "They've been driving me crazy; they act like it would kill them to drive three blocks more to the new place…idiots." Arthur laughed at that. "What? I'm serious; everyone's all sad, acting like we'll never be heard from again."

"People take their coffee and baked goods seriously," Arthur told him, walking over and examining the last few things on the counter and in the box. "Are you about done here?"

"Mhm," Merlin mumbles, anger once again leaving, as he turns around and runs to the back, shouting next. "Can we stop by the house before we go there? I want to make sure I got all my stuff."

"I suppose we can, if we really must…" Arthur says, acting like it might actually kill him to sit in the car a few extra minutes to go over to Merlin's old house.

"I am so sorry to inconvenience you," he hears in reply, and any normal person might even think Merlin was actually serious and actually sorry, but Arthur knew him too well for that. He came around the corner with a toaster under his arm and was smirking at Arthur, in the irritating way Arthur didn't like, but really didn't mind that much. "I wouldn't want to break your new dream car."

"Forget it," Arthur contoured. "I'll just charge you for patrol."

"You are so generous," the sarcastic tone that was laced in Merlin's voice was not lost on Arthur and he rolled his eyes. Crossing his arms and leaning against the counter, Arthur enjoyed the fact that someone else was working right now, not just him. Merlin then threw the last few things in the box and shut it, pulling tape from his pocket to seal it.

XXX

Back in the car now, with the last few boxes in the boot, weighing his car down. He ignored how sluggish it was driving now. Merlin sat in the passenger side, bobbing his head to the music playing through the speakers. Arthur wasn't sure, but he thinks it's Taylor Swift playing, Merlin likes Taylor Swift…Arthur doesn't understand why.

He could only imagine the ultimate piss Gwaine would take on Merlin if he found out, the idea made him laugh a bit. Before long, the song had ended though, and Merlin turned the radio back down.

"Are you sad to be moving?" Merlin asked, turning to look at Arthur as he drove. For his part, Arthur only shrugged, he hadn't thought about it much.

"Not really, my family has had the same shop forever, I guess that's why people were freaking out at you," Arthur said, Merlin nodded, Arthur could see him out of the corner of his eye. " But I don't care about it. How 'bout you?"

"No," Merlin smiled, Arthur also caught that from the corner of his eye. "My dad died in that house, I'm happy we're leaving, it'll be good for my mum."

"Hm, I hope," Arthur agreed, things going silent in the car now. That is, until Merlin switched the channel on the radio and the same damn Taylor Swift song boomed through the speakers again.

They arrived at Merlin's soon to be old house and Arthur stopped outside, not bothering to turn off the engine this time either, or get out of the car for that matter. He grinned at Merlin's irritated glare as he got out and headed up the pathway. There was no reason why Arthur had to do more work. No thank you!

By the time Merlin had returned Arthur had been sitting there ten minutes and absentmindedly tapping his foot to the same god damn Taylor Swift song. Merlin jumped back into the car and, by now, his glare had turned into a grin, throwing a small box in the backseat.

"There's a floorboard in my room that I used to hide things in," Merlin explained, even when he didn't have to. "And I used to keep my favorite things in there, like a ball Will won me and a diary."

"A diary, huh?" Arthur smirked, dirtily, switching his car into gear and started down the street.

"I wouldn't look in there if I were you," Merlin warned, even though he looked pretty happy about this fact. "I wrote some nasty things about you."

"You probably wrote how much you love me," Arthur commented, smugly, turning right and heading back passed where the coffee shop used to be. His mother still had to go back and sign papers to the new owner, but Arthur was done there, all the boxes (and Merlin,) collected.

"Not even close!" Merlin was saying now, chuckling deeply. "I mostly wrote about how much I hated you and how much if you got ran over by a train I wouldn't be sorry."

"Ow, gee thanks," Arthur commented, pretending to be wounded by his words. "I never wrote anything like that about you in my dairy…I wrote worse," he lied, because he never kept a diary, but he had done worse, so it all evened out. That thought made him sober and frown.

"I don't doubt that," Merlin said, but he was smiling. "You prat."

Arthur continued on to the new shop and drove around the corner, to the driveway that was behind it, he stopped a good few inches away from where there was a garage, right next to his mum's car. Merlin got out first, grabbing his small box in the backseat and disappearing up the stairs that would lead him to his new house. Arthur rolled his eyes, getting out of the car now too, being left with carrying the last of the boxes in, of bloody course.

XXX

Sitting in the kitchen above the coffee shop, it already looked like Hunith had moved in and took over. She had always been a wonder in the kitchen, he thought maybe Ygraine would pick up a few tips, but her food never tasted any better. Arthur often wondered what Hunith did that his mother didn't. Some people are just natural cooks, he supposes, and then there was his mother…

After they ate Arthur was allowed off the hook from doing the dishes, not by his mother, who seemed to think lately, that her son was her own personal servant, but by Hunith. Who, in turn, forced Merlin to do them, while she and Ygraine chatted at the kitchen table. But Arthur wasn't any fool, he charged from the room so fast after who would do the dishes was announced, before Merlin could give him those sad puppy eyes and force him to do the dishes with him. Arthur was sad to say that has happened more than once. Once you let Merlin in, he doesn't leave, and he could really make your life miserable.

The place used to be an Inn, (and then a Bed and Breakfast, and then a pub for a number of years and then nothing at all, until Hunith and Ygraine decided to buy it,) so there wasn't a flow like in any normal house, just a hall and a series of doors. If you went up the stairs from the shop and opened the door, the door to your left would be the kitchen and the door to your right, the sitting room. If you came in the back door, from the driveway, the door to your left would be Merlin's new room and to your right, a bathroom. Merlin has a small bladder, at least that's what Hunith says, so Merlin likes to be close to a bathroom. Of course, Merlin denied this, but also turned bright pink and then red, so Arthur knew he was lying.

Arthur deiced to go into the living room and sit on the sofa, the room was mostly unpacked, the only thing left was a big box that was labeled DVD'S in Merlin's horrid hand writing. Hunith had already set up her numerous trinkets in a row on the fireplace, making it feel homier. It had actually been her idea to buy a place that had a live-in over top, so that way if someone tried to (Arthur cleared his throat when she mentioned it,) start a fire or break in, there was a big chance they would get caught.

They had just had someone break in in November, before the serious talking about moving shop came into play, none of them knew, except Merlin and Arthur, that it was actually just Gwaine who was high and hungry at four in the morning one night. But the boys were tightlipped about it and agreed that it was a good idea. And it was a good idea, now Arthur didn't have to go out of his way to pick up Merlin or get a good meal, now it was just above the place he worked.

Merlin entered the room a few minutes later, shutting the door behind him, he looked around the room and smiled. He rubbed his dishpan hands together and came to sit next to Arthur on the sofa. Arthur looked over at him.

"Mum says this must've been the honeymoon suit, that's why we've got a fireplace," he commented, Arthur made a face at that. "That's weird, isn't it?"

"I don't really want to think about all the old and possibly….no, most likely dead people who have gotten it on in here."

"Because you're unromantic!" Merlin chided, shaking a finger in his face. "Honeymoons are supposed to be romantic!"

"You thought it too, don't even try to tell me that you didn't think it!" Arthur told him, waving a finger right back. Merlin pulled a face that was a mix between a smile and someone who smelled bad cheese. "See, asshole!"

"Bastard!" Merlin retorted quickly. Arthur rolled his eyes and then scanned around the room, kind of bored, he usually played video games or watched the telly while he was at Merlin's. But the cable guy hadn't been around yet, so no telly. "We could watch a movie," Merlin commented then, on the same page, obviously. "Or I could go try and find the Xbox, but I don't know where mum put it and let's not even mention the games…"

"A movie is fine," Arthur shrugged. He got up and walked over to the DVD box and pulled it open. He picked through a few of the movies and finally settled on a Harry Potter movie, he didn't know which it was, but it didn't matter, Potter was Potter. He tossed it over to Merlin and he, who hadn't been paying attention, let it smack him right in the face.

"What the hell was that for?!" Merlin declared, rubbing the cheek that now had a tiny red mark on it. "Asshole!"

"Well, you shouldn't be such a fucking idiot," Arthur shrugged and went to sit back down, Merlin delivered him a dangerous glare and got up, going to put the DVD in. "No one will be able to see the mark, it just flows with the rest of your ugliness."

"At least I don't look like a buttface," Merlin retorted, not even bothering to face him, just continued to struggle with the cords as he tried to re-hook up the DVD player to the telly. "When you talk it's like someone's farting out of your mouth."

Arthur laughed openly at that. Some might be alarmed at the way the two talked to each other, it seemed their mothers were from time to time, when they forgot they were around and started up with the banter. But it was just the way they talked to each other, sometimes how they communicated, however fucked up it was. Arthur actually enjoyed it most days, and he knew Merlin really didn't think he had a buttface.

"I'm beautiful," he commented, after a long moment and he heard Merlin laugh at this. "Don't be so jealous, Cane, jealousy doesn't suit you."

Merlin didn't comment, only made a loud sound of triumph, having successfully hooked up the DVD player. He put in the DVD, and then came back, and crashed into the couch next to Arthur.

It turned out to be Prisoner of Azkaban, one of Arthur's favorites, and he settled into the sofa, watching as Harry blew up his aunt. But just as Harry had reached Hogwarts the mothers burst in. Well, not actually burst in, but walked in and made Merlin jump, and he paused the movie.

"I'm heading home now," Ygraine said, looking over both boys on the couch. "I suppose you're staying the night, Arthur?"

Arthur shrugged. "I got my own car, if I want to leave I will."

"Sometimes I still forget," Ygraine laughed, turning back to Hunith behind her, who smiled and shook her head. "Well, don't stay up too late."

"It's summer!" Arthur complained.

"Even so, we have a lot of work to get ready for the opening and we need you in some sort of working order." Arthur rolled his eyes, as his mother blew him a kiss. "Goodnight, love."

"Goodnight, mum."

She walked away and Hunith stepped forward, like they had been waiting in line to mother. "I'm going off to bed you two, behave yourselves."

Behave yourselves, they shared a look between each other, sometimes it felt like the mothers thought they were actual four year olds and not both sixteen and not that stupid. Both Hunith and Ygraine left then, shutting the door behind them and Arthur looked at Merlin with a raised eyebrow. Merlin shrugged and resumed the movie.

"Which do you think is the hottest in this movie?" Merlin asked, some time later, as they slumped on the couch, half laying on each other, under one blanket. This sitting room was rather drafty, no wonder so much sex happened in here, they were searching for body heat.

"Um," Arthur thought about it, he had never really considered anyone 'hot' in Harry Potter, or anyone else, (outside of Harry Potter,) for that matter. "They're all thirteen!"

"So what?" Merlin asked, peaking from over the blankets to give Arthur a pointed stare that he could see even in the dark. Lights from the telly flashed over Merlin's face, making him look a bit ghostly and Arthur had to think about it for awhile.

"Hermione, I guess…"

"Hm…" Merlin said, and said no more, turning back toward the movie. But Arthur didn't like being put on spot so much.

"How about you, huh?"

Merlin didn't answer right away, Arthur almost thought he has fallen asleep and then, "Dumbledore, definitely…" he could hear Merlin giggle. "I mean, the flowing, gray beard get's me every time."

"It's pretty sexy," Arthur went along with it. "It's irresistible, really."

"It makes me hard just thinking about it."

Arthur laughed, feeling just a bit pervy at this point. "Shut up, Merlin."

XXX

Arthur woke up with feet nestled against his ass, wiggling toes and all. "Knock it off," he grumbled, pushing his rear back and trapped said feet to the sofa. The other person on the couch made a humming noise and started wiggling his toes again. "Seriously…stop it!"

"My feet are cold!" Merlin whined, kicking his one foot up and somehow managed to get it up the back of Arthur's shirt. Arthur just rolled his eyes and didn't bother complaining.

"What time is it?" Arthur decided to ask, instead, remembering his mother's words about having to be 'in some working order,' not that he really fancied getting up just yet.

"Eight," he heard Merlin mutter, and then whine when Arthur sat up. If he didn't get up now, he would end up falling back asleep. Merlin was always kind of whiny when he was tired, Arthur planned on just ignoring him, but did notice Merlin curling into a ball, stealing the bit of blanket Arthur had used.

Arthur stood up and ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the hairs that were sticking up in the back, angry after the way Arthur had slept on them. He looked back at Merlin as he left the room, to find him cuddled up and in no hurry to get up at all; Arthur rolled his eyes and shut the door behind him.

"Good morning, dear," Hunith greeted him, when he walked into the kitchen; he sat down at the table and smiled at her. "Your mum has gone to finish up the paper work and then she'll be here." Arthur nodded his understanding. "I'm glad you're up, is Merlin still asleep?"

"If he's not, he's trying to be," Arthur commented, making Hunith laugh. Arthur was given a breakfast of eggs and toast soon after and then he and Hunith went down to the shop and started to unpack things. Arthur's mother came in about forty-five minutes later and looked a bit worried, calling Hunith with her, and they both disappeared up stairs. Arthur watched after them, annoyed, being the only one left to unpack...what was he, some sort of mule?

But then, only moments later, Merlin appeared from behind the door, looking puffy-eyed and sleepy. Arthur smirked openly at him. Merlin glared, blue eyes glossy with tiredness. Arthur didn't care, he pushed an open box toward him with his foot and continued pulling out all the gadgets that made up the coffee maker from his own box.

The mothers had been gone awhile.

"Do you know what they're talking about up there?" Arthur asked, looking over to Merlin, to see him sitting on the floor, laying his face on the box like it where his pillow. Fucking lazy plonker.

"Legal stuff," Merlin said and Arthur nodded, turning back to his work. He was currently trying to pick up pieces of glass, the sad remains of a glass vase that somehow got broken in the move. He stabbed himself with a sharp bit of glass and hissed. "Do you need help?"

"No," Arthur chided. "By all means, Merlin, continue being lazy, I'm fine!"

"Okay," Merlin said, and Arthur didn't look, but he could tell Merlin was smirking. "Just let me know if you need anything…"

XXX

It only took one full day to get everything unpacked, and Arthur thanked god, because it seemed to take twice as long to pack the stuff. He was glad the whole moving thing was behind him, now he could properly enjoy his summer break. Or at least he thought he could, his mother seemed to have different plans.

"Look what I've got!" came his mother's voice, as she walked into the coffee shop, carrying a plaque in her hands. Arthur walked over first, while Hunith and Merlin lingered in their conversation about their relative that lived in Sweden, Arthur couldn't remember if it was Merlin's uncle or Hunith's.

He peered over the plaque in Ygraine's hands, while she grinned, turning it so it faced him. It was their new sign, with their new name. Spiced Coffee, it read. It was a brown sign, with white letters and a white coffee cup, that had gold sparkles coming out of it. Arthur couldn't say he loved it, but it was alright.

Hunith and Merlin seemed to like it though, because they both started ewing and awing over it as soon as they saw it.

Arthur was given the job to hang the sign up outside, because he was a mother fucking handy-man or something, while Hunith and Ygraine left to go shop for some tables. But Arthur wasn't the only one left to do work, Merlin was supposed to mop the entire floor, so with that, Arthur really wasn't sure who had the worst job.

As it turned out, there was a ladder in the garage in the back, so Arthur didn't have to go all the way home to get the one there. He dragged it to the front of the building and climbed up it, dragging a screwdriver, a hammer, (just in case,) and the plaque with him.

Getting it up there wasn't as hard as Arthur thought it would be, the worst part was keeping it still while he screwed the screws into the right places. And then taking it off and putting it back on, because he had put it on backwards. He cursed himself.

It was a hot, sunny, summer day and Arthur was sweating by the time he finished with the plaque, he left the ladder against the side of the building and walked inside, to see Merlin mobbing away on the floor.

"How is Cinderella doing in here?" he asked, leaning against the counter with a smirk. Merlin straightened up his spine and glared at Arthur.

"Shut up."

Make me!"

Arthur got a mop in the face, all wet and slimy, dirty water going everywhere. He made a grossed out noise and Merlin laughed. But he wouldn't be for long, if he had anything to do with it. Arthur rolled up his sleeves and picked up the bucket full of water, advancing on Merlin.

"Arthur!" Merlin suddenly stopped laughing, eyes widening. "Don't!"

"Why shouldn't I?" Arthur asked, shrugging, a bit of water slipping out as he did. "You look a little hot, I wanna help cool you down."

"Arthur…" Merlin said, again, a bit breathlessly this time. "Put the bucket down…!"

"Hm…nah, I don't think I will."

"Arthur!" Merlin shrieked this time. But it was too late; Arthur dumped the bucket of water right over his head. Water ran down Merlin, completely soaking his shirt and pants too, he had water running down the bridge of his nose and it dripped into his open and silently screaming mouth. Arthur laughed.

"Cooled off now?"

Merlin was breathing and short huffs, mouth still open, hair flat to his head from the force of the water being dumped on it, Arthur just kept watching, amused. "I'm going to…" He trailed off and Arthur chuckled again. But it was cut short, but a failing thing in front of him and then Merlin was in his arms, rubbing himself all over Arthur's front, like a cat. Like a bloody damn cat! Arthur was frozen, struck by the action, he didn't know what to do, so he did nothing.

"How about you, Arthur, are you cooled off?" Merlin asked, dangerously close to his ear, a bit of water hit Arthur in the neck and ran down his collarbone, slowly. Oh, dear god…

A "hmmhmm," made both of them jump apart, eyes wide, but it wasn't either of their mothers, no, it was a man. A tall, dark haired man, and Arthur barely recognized him, he hadn't seen him since he was ten. "It's nice to see you again, Arthur."

"Uh," Arthur muttered, looking over to Merlin, all wet and just as confused as Arthur felt. "What are you doing here, Uncle Agravaine?"

"I have heard from my lawyer recently that your mother sold part of the company, is this true?" Agravaine asked, eyes narrowing at Arthur.

"Uh, yes, she did…" Arthur trailed off, Agravaine glared. "She sold a share a few months ago."

"As you might not know, I too own a part of DeBois Coffee and I only wonder where my cut is," Agravaine stated, sending a nasty look toward Merlin. "I am owed it."

"Right, well," Arthur shuffled, shoving his hands into his pockets. "It wasn't sold for any money, it was more a gift."

"Yeah," Merlin said, coming from Arthur's left. "It was a gift for my mum."

"This is business, you do not gift shares," Agravaine stated, throwing more nasty looks Merlin's way, but now, even more dark. He turned back to Arthur then. "Where is your mother? I would like to speak with her promptly."

"She's not here," Arthur told him, thinking that it was no wonder he never liked Uncle Agravaine, he was kind of a douche. "She's out table shopping with her co-owner."

Agravaine looked appalled. "Well," he straightened his red tie and took a step back. "Do tell her I stopped by."

"We sure will," Merlin said, before Arthur could agree. Agravaine made a sickened face at Merlin, like he had just insulted his mother's urn, not that he had given any help picking it out.

"Good day," he said then, and walked out.

XXX

Arthur's mother met with Agravaine the next day and his lawyers, and then her lawyers the day after that. But, so it seems Agravaine had given up his rights to the company and had given them all to Ygraine when she first took over, so he wasn't owed anything. Arthur was quite pleased about that fact.

He was even less keen on Uncle Agravaine than when he was ten.

Now he sat in the local mall's food court, with his mates, while Merlin went on about how he had never eaten a taco before. When Arthur had first introduced Merlin to his group of friends he had worried he wouldn't fit in, but how everyone got on swimmingly. In fact, Arthur was pretty sure they all liked Merlin better than him, which is alright…he supposed.

"What the hell do you mean you've never had a taco?" Arthur cut in, giving Merlin a look that said utter disbelief. Merlin shrugged, sipping on his coke.

"Some of us are not as cultured as you, Mister Universe," Merlin retorted, crossing his arms and pretending to pout. This only worked on Gwen, it would never work on Arthur, not ever. (Only that it did, a lot.)

"I've never had a taco either."

"Uncultured losers we hang out with," Gwaine muttered at this, shoving chips into his mouth like he were starving. He took a sip of his drink and burped. "You all need some class or I'm going to have'ta find some new friends."

"No one else will put up with ya, mate," Percy commented, patting on Gwaine's back, good-natured.

"Probably not," Gwaine grinned.

"Have you asked the boys about going to the fair with us yet?" Gwen asked then, turning toward Lance, who looked a bit sheepish, as he regarded the other boys.

"Not exactly," he muttered.

"That sounds like fun!" Merlin said, because he would. Arthur and the lads had stopped going to the summer fair when they were thirteen, because it was boring as hell.

"That actually doesn't sound fun at all," Arthur commented, Gwen glared at him.

"You are just no fun, Arthur Pendragon."

"It's actually his middle name," Merlin pushed Arthur in the shoulder and laughed. "Arthur No-Fun Gregory Pendragon."

"Your middle name is Gregory?!" Leon asked, mouthing the words in Arthur's direction, Arthur only shrugged.

"Aw, those two just share all their secrets with each other, don't they?" Gwaine chided. "Do you paint each others toesies and talk about boys?"

"Nah," Merlin shrugged, slipping his arm around Arthur's shoulders, rubbing the spot he had hit, lightly." Only on Fridays, the other nights we're usually plotting your murder."

"Well, it's always good to take a day off," Gwaine smirked.

"So!" Gwen said, sounding a bit impatient now. "How about the fair...?"

And that's how Arthur got roped into driving car-pool to the fair.

XXX

It was a tight fit. It was Lance, Gwen on his lap, Leon and Gwaine in the backseat. And then Arthur in the driver seat, Percy in the passenger side, (he was a big lad, he should count as two people,) and Merlin squeezed in the middle of them. The whole ride Merlin was elbowing Arthur in the ribs, not that it was his fault, but Arthur complained about it enough to make it seem that way.

When they finally got to the fair, which was an hour drive away, they all scrambled out of the car, after being cramped for so long. Arthur rubbed his ribs and Merlin at least had the decency to look sorry.

"Our entertainment, boys," Gwaine was saying, getting into the cooler that he had forced Arthur to put in the boot. He pulled up a case of beers and pulled one out, handing it to Percy, and then handed one to Leon and Arthur and Merlin, and then Lance and Gwen. "We'll need it, to deal with all the twelve year olds."

Gwen looked offended as Lance opened his beer and took a swig, he shrugged, smiling at her and she turned away, clearly annoyed. Merlin was struggling to open his, so Arthur opened his and shoved his bottle into Merlin's hands, Merlin smiled at him, in thanks, and offered him his bottle in return.

"No thanks," Arthur shook his head. Merlin frowned a little, but took a long drink from his beer and seemingly forgot about it.

They walked into the fair and Gwaine ordered food right away, of course he did, he was a bottomless pit. And Gwen dragged Lance on the fairest wheel. Percy played some strength game and won a giant purple teddy bear. He gave it to Gwen, as any gentleman would do, but not without getting side glances from Lance. But Percy slapped Lance on the back, giving him a winning smile and Lance laughed and proposed Gwen name the bear Percy, which Percy, (the guy, not the bear,) seemed to like a lot.

"Will you go on the roller coaster with me?" Merlin asked, after they had been there about an hour, and after he had drunk three whole beers.

"I don't know if that's a good idea," Arthur said, completely sober, because he hadn't drank a sip and he never did. He took the half-empty bottle from Merlin's hand, he shook his head. "You're pissed, man."

"M'not!" Merlin fought, making grabby-hands at the bottle, like he were a toddler. It wasn't making his argument very convincing. "Plah-ease, please go on the ride with me, Arthur!"

Arthur couldn't really refuse that, now could he? He smiled to himself. Why was Merlin such an idiot?

"Fine," he agreed, trying to look as annoyed about this as possible. "But if you puke on me..!"

"I won't!"

And he didn't, just clutched onto Arthur's hand like they were riding to their deaths. He made little sounds of excitement and little laughing noises when a bug hit Arthur right in the face as they went down the first big hill. He couldn't be aresed enough to care about the bug though. It was fun.

By the time they exited the roller coaster, having gone twice, Merlin was cheering as he ran and dragged Arthur with him, because he still hadn't let go of him. Arthur didn't bother complaining. They reached their group once more and Merlin chatted to Leon about the ride, while Arthur, feeling a bit awkward about it now, slipped his hand from Merlin's, but he didn't even seem to notice, so Arthur went and took a seat at a picnic table next to Gwaine.

Gwaine was drinking his fifth beer.

"Want one?" Gwaine asked, knowing full well Arthur didn't, but they never spoke of why. Though, they both knew what it was.

"Nah," Arthur said, watching as Merlin waved his hands all around, making absurd faces like he did on the ride. Leon was nodding and smiling along with him. "Having fun?" he asked Gwaine.

"Yeah, yeah…it's not bad."

"Yeah, maybe we'll come again next year?"

"Probably will."

Arthur nodded, biting his lip. Merlin had moved on to Percy and was trying to steal the rest of his beer, Percy noticed and just offered it to him. Merlin grinned like he had just received a puppy for Christmas and brought it to his lips. Arthur sighed.

"So," Gwaine said, after a moment. "Did you see the hot blonde girl that followed you lot on the ride?"

"No," Arthur shook his head. He remembered no girl, blonde or otherwise, behind him. "I didn't see her."

"Shame," Gwaine said. "She had huge boobs." Arthur didn't care much about big boobs, so he didn't say anything. "Nice ass too."

Arthur didn't care about her ass either. "So, uh…" he trailed off, trying to think of what else to say that wasn't sexualizing some girl he hadn't even seen. "Nice weather we're having."

Gwaine laughed openly at this. "Oh, mate…"

"What?"

But he never got an answer, because Lance and Gwen were back, from wherever they had gone, and they were all off to the arcade.

XXX

Gwaine had blazed up on the way home, offering everyone a hit, so now Arthur was babysitting a bunch of idiots. The only one half-sane was Gwen. Who, even when a bit drunk, refused to touch any sort of drug. Arthur thanked god for her, and really wondered, what the fuck he ever saw in the stuff in the first place.

"Stop for food!" Gwaine was shouting and hitting Arthur in the head from where he sat behind, in the backseat. But Arthur refused. "STOP FOR FOOD, GOD DAMMIT!"

"I'm taking you home, you moron, I'm not fucking stopping!" Arthur barked back at him. Gwaine aimed a kick to the seat. Arthur rolled his eyes.

"Oh no, I've made Daddy Pendragon mad!" Gwaine goaded, from the back. "I guess I've been a bad boy!"

Merlin giggled from his spot squeezed between Arthur and Percy.

Gwaine was the first to be dropped off; he flipped Arthur off, as they drove away, Merlin giggled again. Next Percy and then Leon. Lance and Gwen got out together, because they lived close and Gwen was sober enough to walk Lance back to his house, from where they were now parked outside of hers. That left Merlin, who once again, giggled, when Arthur pushed him over and into the seat Percy had been occupying. But Merlin only collapsed into his arms and ended up with his head in Arthur's lap as they drove back to the shop.

Arthur just ignored it.

Merlin was snoring by the time they arrived, Arthur shook him awake and pushed him off of his lap, Merlin looked a bit sad now, like he might start crying. And Arthur was really going to have to tell Gwaine to stop drugging Merlin, because Merlin wasn't the best with this stuff.

Merlin leaned forward again, like he had no balance at all, and lay his head on Arthur's shoulder.

"Stay?" he asked, simply enough. Arthur frowned.

Yeah, okay," he agreed. "You just want me to help you up the stairs, don't you?"

Merlin nodded, looking up with a small smile. "I'm cheeky," he muttered.

"Yeah, you are."

XXX

In the morning Arthur woke up alone and that was odd, because he always woke up with Merlin tangled somewhere close and he didn't like it, it wasn't normal and just felt strange. Arthur got up and cursed, because his clothes smelled like they belonged on Gwaine. He continued to the kitchen anyway, hungry. There sat Merlin, looking miserable at the table. At least that explains where he was, but something told Arthur it didn't have anything to do with the hangover he was probably feeling.

"What's the matter?" Arthur asked, sitting down at the table, next to Merlin. He didn't like it when Merlin looked like this. Like a sick kitten.

"My mum went out last night," he said, looking over at Arthur for help. Arthur really didn't know what to say to that. "She didn't even tell me she had a date; it was like she was sneaking around!"

"So?" Arthur asked, his mother never dated, so Arthur never had this problem before, but he supposed he could see where Merlin was coming from.

"So!" Merlin retorted. "If I have to tell her everything, she should tell me!"

"Granted," Arthur nodded.

"I'm sixteen, I'm not a child!"

"Very mature you are, with your bunny slippers."

"Arthur, I'm serious!"

"I can tell," Arthur smiled, using his right hand to rub Merlin's back a little. Merlin smiled at him, but only slightly. "She should've told you."

"That's not even the worst part!" Merlin moaned, leaning over and shoving his face into the cove of Arthur's neck. Arthur just let him. "She brought him home!"

"Ew…" Arthur couldn't help saying, he felt Merlin laugh against him. "Who is the bloke?" Arthur asked then, once Merlin made a sad noise instead of a laugh. "Did you see him?"

"No, mum just came, told me not to come in her room until he was dressed."

"Ew…" Arthur said again, Merlin finally pulled back and gave him a look.

"I KNOW!"

It was at this point that Arthur started laughing, hard, because the whole thing was just so gross and yet funny for some reason. Merlin didn't even look offended, because he knew too, the whole thing was just bloody gross. But the laugh died away from Arthur's lips just as soon as the man, whom Hunith had apparently been with last night, walked into the room.

"Good morning, Arthur," Agravaine said, and both Arthur and Merlin's mouths were on the floor.

"Oh my god!" Merlin moaned out, covering his face with his hands like the Home Alone boy. Arthur was perplexed, he didn't know what to do. So he just watched Merlin freak out. Merlin looked pissed within a second after this, truly enraged, and even with their past, Arthur had never seen Merlin look like that. He got up from his chair and pointed at Agravaine like he were the devil. "You stay the hell away from my mum, you greedy bastard!"

Agravaine looked appalled for a second, before smiling, an oily smile. "What I feel for your mother has nothing to do with her share in my sisters business."

"You don't feel fucking nothing!" Merlin yelled, Arthur wanted to do something. But he couldn't, he had never seen Merlin like this, he just watched, transfixed. "One quick fuck doesn't mean anything. I swear to god, I will kick your ass!"

"How dare you speak to me like that, boy!" Agravaine countered, putting his hand over his chest like he was truly offended. Merlin went to charge around the table but Arthur found himself in that moment, and held him back by the shirt. Even if Merlin was sixteen Avrgaine had good lawyers and would probably sue, without a doubt. It was at this point, that Hunith walked in, looking worried.

"What is going on here?" she asked.

"Well, mother!" Merlin yelled, face all red. Even his ears were turning red now. "You just had sex with the bloke whose trying to get steal all of our money!"

"Excuse me?" Hunith glared at Merlin. "I think you had better calm yourself down, young man, and watch your tone. Just know this, I already asked Ygraine if it was alright and she said it was fine with her."

"So, she knew too?" Merlin yelled, not watching his tone at all. "So did everyone know, and just decide to leave me out of loop?" He wrenched himself out of Arthur's grip and glared down at him. "Did you know too?"

"No," Arthur said, quickly. "I didn't, I would've told you and probably puked after."

"At least I have someone who actually cares about me!"

Merlin made a noise like he was being strangled and promptly ran out of the room then, pushing Agravaine out of his way as he did. Hunith looked at Arthur, eyes wide.

"What's gotten into him?"

"Can you blame him?" Arthur asked, quick to take Merlin's side. "You kept something really important from him and then you go and…go on a date with my uncle?" Arthur shook his head. "Not cool."

"Agravaine is a very kind man, Arthur," Huntih told him, gently. "I understand he might seem a bit rough around the edges, but he's really sweet."

Agrvaine was looking pompous behind Hunith and Arthur couldn't believe her words, even if he wanted to, which he didn't. "I'm just going to go check on Merlin."

XXX

Merlin and his mother didn't speak for a week after that. Alright, it was more like Merlin refused to speak to his mother, even when she tried a few times. Even so, she didn't stop seeing Agrvaine, which Arthur thought was a pretty dick thing to do to your son.

Hunith thought Merlin was being judgmental and rude.

While Merlin thought his mother was an idiot. Arthur could see his point.

Merlin, even after he started to speak to his mother again, he refused to stick around the shop much. When he and Arthur got off at three every day, Merlin always begged him to go to this place or another. And Arthur always took him wherever he wanted to go.

Today they were just driving.

"Hey, you wanker!" Arthur said, turning down the radio and stopping at a stop sign. "When are you going to get your driver's license so I don't have to drive you around anymore?"

"I don't know," Merlin shrugged. "I failed the course."

Arthur had already known that. "And why was that, Merlin?"

"Because me and Gwaine were getting high in the loo."

"And what did you learn from that?"

"Not to listen to Gwaine?" Merlin smiled, innocently at Arthur. Arthur smiled.

"Glad you finally learned that."

"I was thinking," Merlin said then, smiling innocently still. "Maybe you could teach me?"

"What do I look like to you, your bitch?" Arthur retorted, glaring.

"A little bit."

"Asshole!"

"Love you!"

Arthur had no idea what to say to that, so he slammed on the gas, driving away from the stop sign and swerved off to the side of the road. Merlin looked a bit shaken, but eyed Arthur intently all the same.

"Switch seats!" Arthur declared, knocking open his door and staggering a bit as he got out and ran around the car. Merlin had climbed over into his seat by the time he got in the passenger side. "If you wreck my car, Merlin, I will punch you so hard in the face your ears will fall off."

"Duly noted, Captain," Merlin commented, looking like he was about to make love to the steering wheel. "So, what do I do?"

"Bloody hell, how high were you?"

"Pretty high."

(A/N: This was super long, and I don't know what happened, because nothing was even happening and I have so much more to go, so I guess it will be a 4 or 5 shot instead of a 3 shot. I hope no one minds too much! I actually really enjoy writing this so, yeah!)