Last chapter was a little...ramble-y, lol. This is much better.

Reviews and comments are appreciated :]

When the walls begin to creep in
And the sky is fallin down
When I'm swallowed up in feelings
I get lost inside the sound...

Merlin let the feeling of the concerto flow through him. In his old life, music was his only outlet for emotion. He would go for weeks feeling nothing; being completely numb. Now, as his fingers danced across the strings and vibrations travelled from his wrist and onward, Merlin was awash with the hope, the sadness, and the tenacity of the piece.

"Beethoven?" A familiar voice inquired.

Merlin refused to let himself be startled. "Yes, it's one of my favorites." He looked at the clock on his wall; he'd been playing for two hours. With a heavy sigh, he packed up his violin and gently set it aside.

"I didn't take you for a romantic." Arthur intoned.

"Just because the piece is called 'Romance' doesn't mean it's about love." Merlin hummed, as he continued on his task. He attempted to straighten his room for present company. The eyes of the other man never strayed from him. "Please, don't take this the wrong way. How exactly did you get in here?"

Arthur bent down to help collect stray pieces of sheet music. "Your roommate with the funny hat let me in."

"Will." Merlin growled.

The blond just laughed. "He almost didn't, but I calmly explained why I was here. I guess he had a change of heart." He looked at the music he'd just collected. Dance of Goblins, Fϋr Elise, Concerto No. 5-none of these were the piece Merlin had just played.

"Did you play Beethoven's 'Romance for Violin' by memory?"

"Yes."

"But that's piece is over nine minutes long!"

"Yes." Merlin deadpanned. "And you're changing the subject. What exactly did you come over to say?" He watched as his music was set atop his small work desk.

"I came to apologize. I tried to call, but you hung up on me. Repeatedly. I was acting like an ass, which, to you, may seem like par for the course. "I swear I'm not usually like this." Arthur took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. The first time we met, I was ridiculously drunk. I treated you unfairly after you had helped me. I'm also sorry for my behavior at that horrendous lunch. I really do want to get to know you, but I'd asked you out on whim. I didn't know what to do in that situation, so I acted like an ass again."

"I don't really know what you're looking for; what you're asking of me."

Merlin was given another card. Unlike the last one, this card lacked the fancy corporation name and extension number.

"This is my personal number. I want us to be friends," Arthur smirked. "Friends with a possibility for an upgrade. I don't want to push you into anything. I'm just asking for a chance."

Merlin led Arthur towards the front door. "I can't promise you anything beyond friendship. I can barely give you that." Arthur began to protest, but Merlin cut him off. "I'm not saying no. You're sister has been very good to me, so, for her sake, I'll give you your chance." He pushed his unexpected guest into the hallway. "Don't screw it up this time."

The piano in the living room corner called to Merlin. Arthur had cut his practice time in half.

His fingertips ghosted over the black and white keys. A little melody that started in his head was brought to life. It was decidedly more cheerful than his earlier endeavor.

I know that I'm never alone
& I know that my heart is my home
Every missing piece of me
I can find in a melody

Song: Melody by Kate Earl

Also mentioned: Romance for Violin...etc-Beethoven, Fϋr Elise-Beethoven, Dance of Goblins-Bazzini, Concerto No. 5-Beethoven (There's a pattern here ;] )

The actual musical playlist for this verse is almost complete! (There are still like 10+ chapters to write)

Whenever i hear a song shuffle through on my ipod that gets my wheels a-turnin', I look for which lyrics most inspired a scene in my mind and i write them down.