Summary: TV business pundit Uther denounces gaydom, but his fencer son has an adoring fan.

The Foible (Part 2: The Match) by frostygossamer

Arthur's showing in the first week of the competition was disappointing. Once a top seed, Arthur's ranking was steadily slipping every year. The joy of the thing was starting to fade for him, and he couldn't seem to reignite the fire he once had for winning.

Merlin sat quietly in the stands willing him on. Arthur was his idol and he wasn't about to give up his adoration yet. What Arthur needed was some confidence in himself. Merlin still had confidence in him. In fact he had confidence enough for two. He just had to get it across to Arthur.

Arthur's main problem was that he was depressed. Not just with his fencing career but with his life. Although he would be the last to admit it, the worst thing was that he was lonely. His fellow fencers were his only friends. He was fast approaching thirty and he was still single. And he didn't meet many likely women on the circuit. Or, well, anyone else.

('o')

When they finally got to the middle weekend, Arthur heaved a sigh of relief. No matches on Sunday, so he could go out for a drink on Saturday night, see a little nightlife. Merlin insisted on coming along. After a few drinks Arthur forgot to mind.

Merlin was sitting opposite him in a garishly lit nightclub, cradling a garishly coloured cocktail. They had both had a few. Merlin was grinning at Arthur like a lunatic.

"What say we pick up a couple of girls, and take them back to the hotel?", Arthur suggested daringly. It wasn't something he was in the habit of doing, but what the hell.

Merlin fidgeted in his seat and avoided Arthur's eyes. "Actually, I'm gay", he admitted, all embarrassed.

Arthur laughed. "You don't need to be ashamed, Merlin", he said. "It's not illegal anymore, not even in Canada."

"It's just that I told your father that I wasn't", Merlin explained. "At the job interview. I know he's a homophobe. I thought you would be the same."

"Hell no!", Arthur denied. "My father's a dinosaur. He still thinks women shouldn't have the vote. I don't think like him. But I'm surprised he asked you. Is that allowed anyway?"

"I suppose he just wanted to know he could trust me with you", Merlin giggled.

"Or me with you", Arthur added.

There was a moment's silence while they considered that idea.

"I didn't tell him I have a humongous crush on you", Merlin blurted out tipsily.

"Let's go back to the hotel", Arthur said jumping up, grabbing Merlin's hand and dragging him along with him.

('o')

When they arrived back at their suite, Arthur was still holding Merlin's hand, a bit too tight. But he had also had time to sober up a little, and bottle out.

Merlin maneuvered Arthur against the wall, and giddily tried to kiss him.

Arthur's whole body tensed. "Merlin", he whispered. "I'm not gay."

Merlin's expression changed to one of disappointment. There was an awkward silence.

It took a minute before Merlin realised that, despite the attempt at kissing, Arthur hadn't punched him, hadn't bitch-slapped him, hadn't stomped out in a pet, hadn't even removed his hand from his.

"Bi-curious is fine", Merlin assured him with a grin, and disappeared into his room.

Arthur lay awake for a long time that night just thinking about that remark.

('o')

Arthur's progress in the second week of the tournament was a huge improvement on the first. Arthur suddenly remembered how to play the game, not just get the points, but play his game. Psychology is very important in any game where one player is pitted against one other. If Arthur's opponent believed he would win, he would win. If Arthur could convince him he would lose, Arthur wouldn't need to win, his opponent would lose.

Arthur was fine on the technical stuff, the attack, the parry, the riposte. But he needed to believe in himself. And with Merlin's encouragement he was beginning to get that belief back.

Between bouts Arthur kept looking up at the stands to find Merlin. Merlin was always there waving back. Arthur remembered when his mother used to come and support him like that, before he lost her. It was nice to have that feeling again.

Arthur won his semifinal. He was very surprised. He had never expected to get that far. Merlin was overjoyed.

"I'm going to ring your father, and make sure he's watching tomorrow", he told him.

"Don't you dare, Merlin", Arthur complained. "He'll put a jinx on it."

That night Arthur was sitting in his room drinking a whiskey, while Merlin packed his bags, to save Arthur's strength for the final in the morning. Merlin was explaining the details of their return journey after the competition, getting everything ironed out so Arthur didn't have to think about anything the next day but winning.

"Tomorrow night you'll be back in London, and I'll be back in Wales", Merlin remarked.

Something about that statement didn't make Arthur feel very happy.

"It's time we got some shut-eye", Arthur said. "Early start tomorrow."

"OK", Merlin agreed, getting up and going towards the door.

He hesitated for a moment, with his hand on the doorknob, and looked back at Arthur, who was watching him with a faintly sad expression on his face.

"Unless you're feeling curious tonight?", Merlin asked hopefully.

Arthur looked away, chuckling. Then he turned back, seeking Merlin's eyes again.

"Not entirely uncurious", he ventured.

"Sweet!", Merlin replied, and between the door and the bed, he somehow managed to lose all his clothes. Slipping between the sheets, he patted the mattress beside him.

"Hurry up then, Slow-coach", he scolded.

Arthur didn't give himself long enough to change his mind, this time. He was in the bed naked, and plastered around Merlin, in a heartbeat.

"I think I may need some special pre-match coaching", he joked, as he pressed a kiss to Merlin's eager lips.

"Don't worry", Merlin eventually answered. "I'll talk you through it", and he pulled his hero down under the duvet with him.

('o')

Arthur was more amazed than anyone when he won the final. The first bouts of the match had been even points, but then he had suddenly got his wind and pulled off a blinder at the end. His fellow finalist, Parsifal, didn't know what hit him.

Arthur hadn't had his hands on the Challenge Cup for three years. The press flocked around him as soon as he walked off the strip, after slipping off his glove to shake hands with his defeated opponent.

He looked around for Merlin, as he repeated his rehearsed sound bites to the microphones. Merlin was nowhere to be seen. He wandered back to the locker room to shower and change for the presentation. He found Merlin sitting quietly watching his things.

"Where were you when I was talking to the press, Merlin?", he asked. "I wanted you to be in the photos."

Merlin looked sheepish. "I thought I'd better keep my face out of the papers. In case they started to ask questions about me. I thought Lord Pendragon wouldn't be very pleased."

Arthur flopped down on the bench beside him. "Dad has never been very bothered about what I thought about what HE says to the press", he pointed out. "I wanted you there."

Merlin squeezed his hand. "I'm glad you won", he said. "I'm very proud of you."

Arthur beamed at him. He hadn't heard those words in a long time.

('o')

Almost a month later, Lord Pendragon rang up his son, and invited him to dine with him at the swankiest celebrity eatery in town. It was to be a little private father and son dinner. And it would be the first time that Arthur had seen his father, face to face, in months.

Arthur arrived late with Merlin in tow. His father was already enjoying an aperitif, or two. He was ushered to a chair opposite Uther. Merlin grabbed a chair from a nearby table and turned it around.

"Arthur", Uther began, affably. "It's quite a while since I last saw you. How have you been?"

"This is Merlin", Arthur said, ignoring the question and indicating his guest. "He's my new..."

"PA", Merlin butted in suddenly.

Arthur gave him a stern look. "He's my new boyfriend", he stated pointedly.

"Oh yes. We've met", Uther replied, unconcerned. "In fact I hired him". Then to Merlin, "You're Gaius' nephew, the great Balinor Emrys' son. I remember seeing your father play at Twickenham."

Merlin blushed. "He wanted me to play rugby too", he said. "But I don't have the shoulders for it". He giggled nervously.

Returning his attention to his son, Uther went on, "I was pleased to hear how well you did at the championship. I watched all the videos that Merlin sent me. All that lunging and thrusting. Nail-biting stuff. Back to your old form, I think."

It was the first time Uther had spoken to his son about his sporting career.

"I'm surprised that you took an interest", Arthur replied.

"Oh, my boy, I've always taken an interest in what you do with your life", Uther insisted, chuckling.

"But I was beginning to worry when your game started to lapse. That's why I sent you a PA. I thought you needed some moral support, and perhaps a little leisure-time company, if you know what I mean."

Arthur looked shocked, "You were actually trying to set us up?"

"And I seem to have succeeded", Uther laughed. "I just put you two together and hoped you would click. Although I had no idea whether or not he was your type."

"B-but I told you I wasn't gay", Merlin interrupted.

"Ah yes, but I'm a fine judge of character, young man", Uther chortled. "And it stood out a mile. You're not exactly a hairy-chested he-man, Merlin. I took a gamble. It seems to have paid off."

"But, Dad, you've always been such an outspoken homophobic bigot", Arthur declared, not mincing his words. "I can't believe you've been playing Cupid for Merlin and me."

Uther laughed loudly. "Arthur, that's just for the cameras", he guffawed. "It gets me TV appearances and column inches. It's invaluable publicity. But it's all play-acting, well, 90 per cent. I have nothing against homosexuals, nothing at all. Well, as long as they keep their hands to themselves."

Arthur was laughing too by now. This was the first time he had seen behind Uther's facade in years.

"I'm just glad that you're happy, Arthur", Uther gasped, rubbing tears of laughter from his eyes. "That's the only thing that really matters to me. That and my year-on-year UPTRAD profits, of course."

"But you tell the media that and I'll disinherit you!"

The End

A/N: Just in case there are any fencers out there, I apologise for any inaccuracies. I've been deliberately unspecific. I thought it was better to be vague than get things wrong.