It was still raining.

It had been since Merlin got home. Maybe mother nature thought it would be a funny joke.

Merlin gathered a body pillow up into his arms, smothering his face in the sinking fabric. "Cabbage head... prat... big fat... prat." he mumbled in between the pitter patter of rain against his window. He shoved his face further into the pillow, as if trying to suffocate himself.

He should have known better then to trust that no good playboy. Arthur Pendragon was after all; football captain, handsome, funny... Merlin squished himself into a tighter ball around his pillow. Why the hell did he believe Arthur's 'love at first sight' babble. It wasn't the least bit believable. That made Merlin the fool.

There wasn't a reason to pity himself, "Toughen up Merlin." He whispered angrily into his pillow, "You're fine."

Merlin didn't even know he'd fallen asleep until his phone started beeping loudly with the Doctor Who theme song. Groaning, he reached for it, flipping the lid grumpily, "Hello?" he answered, voice a bit soar from sleep and tears.

"Merlin..."

He was wide awake now.

"Arthur?" he nearly screeched, sitting up instantly, "W-what are you doing?"

"Can you come to your door?"

Merlin flushed, "What? Why?!"

"Just come let me in."

Flinging his pillow against the wall of his bedroom, Merlin tumbled out of bed, feet crashing against the floor as he rushed for the front door. He nearly tripped on his way down the stairs... twice.

He cradled the phone between his shoulder and ear before pulling the handle sharply, revealing a drenched Arthur, blinking the rainwater out of his eyes, arms wrapped around himself, trying to keep warm.

"Arthur!" Merlin declared, staring him over with concern, "Get in here before you freeze to death!"

"It's not that cold..." he replied, coming in regardless and wiping his feet.

Merlin frowned, "Your clothes will soak through because of the rain! You could have frozen..."

Arthur smiled back at him as he peeled off his coat, "You cared?"

"Shut up and dry off a bit, I'm going to get a towel."

Arthur smirked as he watched him dash off into the hallway. He took a short look around, never having really been in Merlin's house before. The staircase split the front room in half, the side creating an odd hallway. Kitchen on the right, Living room on the left. Plain and simple, but still managing to grasp light elegance. "Nice house.." he muttered when Merlin returned, tossing a towel over his head softly.

"Thanks.. My mom grew up here. She's working late tonight, otherwise I would introduce you." he ruffled Arthur's hair with the towel, trying to get rid of the water. "You're clothes are soaked..."

"I'm fine."

"I've got some clothes you can try.. They should fit."

Arthur let his head hang as Merlin dried him off. Not really knowing why he'd rushed over in the first place. After the incident with Lancelot, he'd spent nearly an hour sitting around in his room wondering what to do. He'd started his car before he really knew what he was doing, and by the time he got to Merlin's doorstep it was too late to turn back.

"How do you know where I live? and for that matter how did you get my number?"

"Lancelot and Gwen." he shrugged, pulling the towel off his head once Merlin was done with it.

Merlin frowned, "When did you meet Lance?"

"We just sorta bumped into each other.." he lied.

They were standing fairly close to each other, and it would have been really easy to kiss... Merlin pushed that thought away with much effort; pointing up the stairs, "Let's go get you some clothes from my room."

Arthur nodded, following Merlin as they climbed the steps. Arthur chuckled when he saw all the posters scattered over Merlin's bedroom walls. It looked like a Merlin type of room, if that made any sense. It just suited him. One wall slanted with the house's roof, a window poking out through it's middle awkwardly, a bed slipped beneath it. The computer desk was littered with papers and pens, as well as broachers for drama classes and plays.

He took a seat on the edge of the bed as Merlin rummaged through his dresser.

"Well, its an old T-shirt, and I didn't know if my jeans would fit so... I sort of had to settle for sweats..."

"Its fine, thanks." Arthur smiled, standing to pull off his shirt.

Merlin blushed, spinning around so quickly he nearly lost balance. "So, umm.. What brings you here?" he asked awkwardly.

"I wanted to talk to you." Arthur replied, pulling the new shirt over his head, happy to be in dry clothes again.

He took a cautious step forward, wrapping his arms around Merlin's chest, resting his chin on the boy's shoulder. It took Merlin by surprise. He reached his hands up to hold Arthur's arms with hesitation. "Arthur.. I really can't deal with this."

"I was lying." he half yelled.

"W-what?"

"When I said I was kidding in the locker room... I was lying."

Merlin frowned, "Why would you do that?!"

Arthur sunk himself more into Merlin's figure, "..Because you looked scared..."

Merlin let his shoulders relax, falling back against Arthur a little more, "What is that supposed to mean? I'm supposed to believe you? Like you really did it for my sake? What the hell!"

"I know."

"I mean," he continued, "Who does something like that! It's a stupid chick flick moment!"

"Merlin?"

Merlin turned to face him better, "What?!"

"Just shut up and kiss me."

Arthur's lip crashed hungrily into Merlin's, making him crane his neck to reach better as they still stood like that, Arthur's arm's greedily hording Merlin, guarding him from the rest of the world. Merlin gripped tighter at those shielding arms, shutting his eyes to bask in the warm kiss. He felt safe in those arms, and within that kiss.