I can promise updates will be this fast... like... never. I dunno, I think I'm just excited to be writing again. I've missed it more than you could imagine.
battlemaiden518 asked a question I feel is relevant to answer to you guys at large, wondering if there would be slash in this story. Well, honestly? I'm not sure yet. Possibly. I can tell you right now there will be mentions and references to a guy/guy relationship that's pretty integral to the story, but it's not between two of our main characters. Sorry to be cryptic, but I'm not giving anything away ;)
So yeah, I'll be deciding as I go. I'd actually really appreciate it if you guys could help out by letting me know if you would prefer slash or not? I'd be very grateful for the input.
Lancelot had to fight to keep his jaw from dropping as Merlin opened the gate and headed up the path towards his house. Freya followed casually, but Lancelot had to spend a moment just staring.
It was huge.
It was a classic Tudor design that screamed comfortably rich. The right side of the house jutted out in a large two car garage, the main double doors just slightly to the left. It was two stories high with large windows dotting the bricked wall, and an imposing chimney towered over him. Merlin had not given the impression of rich and entitled in his mannerisms, his conversation (did you wanna come over? My house isn't far) or even the clothes he wore, which were simple and fairly plain, if maybe a bit colourful. It just had not been something Lancelot had seen coming.
"Uhh… Lancelot?" Lancelot snapped out of his marvelled daze and followed his new friends, closing the gate behind him. "Sorry, I just… uh… it wasn't what I was expecting."
"Oh?" Merlin looked up at his house, slightly confused, as if expecting to see something there that shouldn't be.
"It's nice," Lancelot quickly reassured, "very nice. Just… not what I was expecting," he finished lamely. Merlin simply shrugged it off with that infectious smile and continued to the front door. It was unlocked and they stepped inside, Lancelot more ready this time for the glamour he would undoubtedly find. But, despite the grand exterior, Merlin's house appeared to be rather… plain. It was all very pleasant, but there were no large paintings on the walls or fancy vases waiting to be accidentally knocked over. It was just nice and simple.
Before he could do much but process this new information, a middle aged, kind looking woman appeared descending the steps. "Merlin," she smiled warmly at him before her eyes fell on his friends. "You've brought friends?"
"Mom, you know Freya," Merlin gestured to the girl standing next to him.
"It's nice to see you, Hunith," she said in a quiet voice.
"You too Freya; Merlin doesn't invite you around nearly enough in my opinion," Hunith replied happily. She then looked at Lancelot. "And who's this?"
"Lancelot, this is my mom Hunith. Mom, this is Lancelot. He's new at school."
"Nice to meet you Lancelot," Hunith said, reaching the bottom of the stairs and offering a hand to him. Unlike her older son's, her handshake was soft and gentle.
"You too Ms Pendragon," he replied respectfully. She let out a small laugh and waved her hand at him.
"Please, Hunith. Don't make me feel older than I am."
Lancelot returned her smile. "Of course, Hunith."
She nodded approvingly before turning back to her adoptive son. "Merlin, I'm just heading out to visit Mary. She's having trouble getting her pumpkins to grow and I promised I would help out."
"Sure thing, Mom."
"Have fun, then" she said, giving a small wave before exiting through the front doors.
"She seems nice," said Lancelot.
Merlin nodded, looking affectionate and fond. "She is. I'm very lucky."
They were soon raiding the pantry, looking for whatever food it offered to hungry teenagers. Merlin let out a yell of triumph as he pulled out several packets of corn chips from behind some spaghetti. Freya laughed. "Those were all originally for you, weren't they?" she asked teasingly. "I can easily see you finishing them off on your own."
Merlin grinned in response. "I simply know not to waste a good thing. Speaking of… Lancelot, there should be some salsa in the fridge."
Lancelot nodded and opened the weirdly large fridge door, scanning the insides. Soon he made a noise of triumph similar to Merlin's and pulled out the jar. "Got it!"
"Excellent," said Merlin. He reached out and grabbed it while still managing to balance the packets of corn chips with impressive skill.
"Are you sure you don't want us to carry something there, Merlin?" asked Lancelot, waiting for the inevitable spill.
"Nah, I'm good."
"Merlin's just worried you'll eat it before he gets a chance to," Freya laughed.
"Mom! I'm home!"
The three of them turned in the direction of the new voice, the underlying chatter of voices telling them Arthur had brought his friends home. Lancelot fought not to wince. This would be awkward.
"Mom?" Arthur sounded closer this time.
If Merlin noticed his hesitation, he didn't say anything. Instead, he just walked out to the dining room to confront his older brother. Lancelot followed unhappily.
"Geeze Merlin, who are you feeding, a whole army?"
"Not exactly," Lancelot interjected, coming out from the kitchen. Arthur's gaze fell on him and it was immediately one of annoyance and suspicion.
"I see," was his clipped response. He then turned back to his brother. "Merlin can I talk to you for a minute?"
Merlin gave Lancelot a shrug as he followed Arthur back into the kitchen, and Lancelot gave a grim smile in return.
Yep. Definitely awkward.
"Arthur." Gwaine stated officially, putting his arm around his friend as they walked out the gates of the school. "Invite us over for the afternoon."
Arthur looked suspiciously at him. "Why?"
"Why?" Gwaine's face showed mock-offence at the question. "Well, because we're your friends and we naturally want to spend all of our time with you." Arthur glanced behind him at the others who looked vaguely confused, and Leon shook his head silently at him. Okay, so they weren't in on this. He turned his gaze back on Gwaine and simply waited expectantly. Finally, his friend gave in. "And also, possibly, because my sister is in town and I'd really rather not be coerced into spending quality time with the toad."
The small group leaned on the outer wall, other students milling around them and chattering excitedly, happy to have survived another day of school. "You really should appreciate her more, Gwaine," Elyan reprimanded. "Family is important."
"Then it's probably important I don't end up filling her bed with worms, isn't it?" said Gwaine reasonably. "What do you say Arthur? Old pal?"
With a sigh, Arthur conceded. "Whatever. It's not like you all aren't there most afternoons anyway." Seeing Gwen on her way over to them, Arthur smiled. Gwaine followed his gaze and shuddered.
"Oh no. You're not going to be spending the whole time getting all cutesy on us are you?"
"What are we planning?" asked Gwen as she walked into the conversation.
"We're heading to Arthur's. You in?" asked Elyan.
Gwen faltered slightly. "Oh, I don't know…"
"Morgana won't be there," interrupted Arthur with a barely suppressed sigh. His older sister and his girlfriend had once been very close, but after the arrival of Morgause to the school, Morgana had changed considerably. For the worse. The friendship had ended quite messily, and now Gwen felt awkward even being around the other girl. In Arthur's opinion it should be Morgana avoiding Gwen, not the other way around, but that didn't stop Gwen from being hesitant.
She smiled an understanding smile at Arthur. "Thanks, but I'd better not anyway. I have a biology assignment due tomorrow that needs some touching up."
Arthur rolled his eyes but Elyan answered before he could. "I don't think you could possibly give the damn thing anymore touching up, Gwen. It's perfect. As are all your assignments. There's a reason Dad sees you as the golden child."
Gwen shook her head at him. "Don't say things like that Elyan, you know he loves you just as much."
"Yeah, whatever," said Elyan, waving his hand apathetically. "My point is, I think you can have a night off."
Arthur was in silent agreement. Gwen was as hard a worker as Leon, if not more so, and her drive for all her subjects almost drove him mad at times. She could never quite appreciate her own work like others did.
But he knew her, very well, and so was not at all surprised when she shook her head again. "I'll give it a miss. Count me in next time though," she added with a smile. Leaning in, she gave Arthur a quick, chaste kiss on the lips before turning and walking to the slowly filling bus. Arthur pretended not to feel the heat in his cheeks as his friends gave the usual cat calls.
"Hey, don't forget who's giving you hospitality this afternoon," Arthur pointed out. It didn't do much to shut them up.
"Mom, I'm home!" Arthur called as he stepped through the front door, his friends following him in. "Well, we're home, I suppose."
The others turned left into the living room, automatically making themselves comfortable, and Arthur continued through to the dining room when he received no response. "Mom?"
"She's at Mary's house. Something about gardening advice, though really I think they just wanted an excuse to catch up." Merlin entered the dining room from the kitchen, his scrawny arms ladled with packets of chips. Arthur's eyebrows went up in surprise.
"Geeze Merlin, who are you feeding, a whole army?"
"Not exactly." Lancelot appeared in the doorway behind Merlin, Freya next to him with a small smile.
Arthur immediately tensed up. "I see," he said flatly. "Merlin, can I talk to you for a minute?"
Merlin rolled his eyes but passed his hoard to Freya and followed his brother into the kitchen. Arthur didn't miss the apologetic shrug Merlin sent Lancelot's way. He pressed his hands on the bench, leaning against it for a moment, before turning on Merlin.
"Really Merlin? You know him for barely a day and you invite him into our house?"
"You'd known Leon for all of five minutes before asking him to your birthday," protested Merlin, looking indignant.
"That's completely different!" hissed Arthur. "Leon's a trustworthy person - "
"So is Lancelot!"
"And he's my own damn age! You probably don't even have anything in common!"
"We get along fine, thank you." Merlin was growing annoyed at his brother's paranoia.
"You don't know him Merlin! You don't know what he… You can't just trust people so easily!"
The defiance practically emanating from Merlin's small body quickly dissipated, leaving him looking slightly sad. Arthur rubbed a hand down his face tiredly, hoping he hadn't crossed a line.
"I understand why you're concerned, Arthur. Really, I do." Merlin stepped forward and lay a hand on his arm. "But this isn't like that. Lancelot isn't like that. What happened… it's not going to happen again."
"Damn right it's not," Arthur growled. An amused half-smile played at Merlin's lips as he observed Arthur, ever the protective brother. Deep down, he was touched by the concern. But enough was enough.
"I promise you, Arthur. I'll be fine. And let's not forget the fact he's already saved me from one bully."
Arthur's eyebrow raised. That still bothered him as well. Merlin was a likeable kid, and had never been bothered by generic bullying before. He hoped it wouldn't turn into a habit. Merlin had made it out like it was no big deal, but it was Merlin, so that was generally meant to be expected...
Seeing Arthur's suspicion, Merlin quickly continued. "Besides, you were right before."
"Excuse me?" was the shocked response.
Merlin ignored it. "He's not my age. He's yours. I was kind of hoping - "
"Oh no, Merlin, don't - "
"I was hoping you guys would get to know him a bit. Make nice and all that. He is new after all… doesn't know that many people…"
"You're seriously asking me to make nice with that guy?"
"That guy is pretty cool. He knows judo, did you know that? He could probably teach you a few moves." Merlin had his pleading face on, the lost puppy one of pursed lips and hopeful eyes. Arthur hated it when he used that face. "Besides, Gwaine did say that any friend of mine - "
"Yes, yes, all right, fine," Arthur conceded unhappily. Merlin's face lit up.
"Thanks, you're the best." Merlin grinned excitedly and made his way back to the dining room. He turned just as he reached the doorway and looked back at his brother happily. "And try not to be too much of a prat, yeah?"
Arthur scoffed. "I'll stop being a prat the day you stop being an idiot."
Merlin just poked his tongue out at him and disappeared.
After a moment of tired hesitation, Arthur followed. Fine, he thought sourly. I can make nice.
Wooo, mysterious angst -waves arms dramatically- Any guesses on the story as to why Arthur is so on edge about the new guy?