After a short 6-year hiatus? I'm back! Yeah so turns out those "couple weeks" became more than half a decade lmao. Let's see if my writing is any better (hopefully please let me know if it's worse). I completed a scientific research degree so I haven't exactly had a chance to work on my creative writing...
Comment please! They feed me and expand my lifespan :D
(Also posted on ao3 under: ru_inn)
Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the tent. Merlin opened his eyes and blinked twice to get the sleep out of his eyes. He felt something firm and warm against his back. He turned his head slightly and caught a glimpse of golden hair. Very familiar golden hair. Was Arthur cuddling him!? What was going on? Merlin moved forward a bit and turned his head fully. Arthur Fucking Pendragon was cuddling him! Merlin's crush of many years was bloody spooning him! What did he do to get to this point?
Merlin felt his breath quicken. He knew he was going to fully freak out if he didn't get himself under control.
Ok, ok breathe. This was probably just a freak accident that happened during the night. Arthur would never do this on purpose. Anyway, it was freezing yesterday. Yeah, that's it! We probably subconsciously came closer because we need to preserve our body heat. It was just a natural survival instinct. Merlin's thoughts raced as his breathing started to settle. He subtly attempted to shift his weight away from the body behind him.
Arthur whined and held on tighter as Merlin attempted to escape from the blonde's arms. Merlin let out a small gasp, as he tried, even more, to wiggle out of his crush's arm. Just as he escaped from the grip, Arthur let out a grunt and started to wake up. It was time to leave.
Merlin quickly gathered his hoodie and bag. Throwing the hoodie on, he slipped out of the tent and half ran to the toilets just to the left of them. His racing heartbeat had finally settled as he opened the toilet door and got a glimpse of himself in the mirror.
His hair was out of place, resembling what could only be described as a rat's nest, and his eyes were blown from sleep or shock. Only God himself would know for sure.
"Mate you look like you had a hell of a night."
Merlin jumped as the sly voice of Gwaine sounded from behind him. He turned to see his smirking friend, looking annoyingly put together and alert at 6 in the morning.
"What the hell do you mean Gwaine." Merlin couldn't help but notice his voice was still rough from sleep but a lot weaker than he would have hoped.
Gwaine only laughed while giving Merlin a wink.
"You know exactly what I mean Merls, is Pendragon really all that?"
Merlin only rolled his eyes and stuck up his middle finger, figuring explaining himself to Gwaine would only lead to digging deeper into a hole.
"Just let me get ready for the day Gwaine," giving him a friendly glare, Merlin grabbed his bag and begin sorting himself out to somewhat resemble a person.
Just as he left the toilets, Merlin ran into the one person he was really hoping to avoid today.
"Good morning, Merlin," Arthur said still half asleep but grinning.
Merlin couldn't help but grin back, it's not his fault Arthur seemed to shine when he was smiling.
"Morning Arthur."
Arthur suddenly seemed to be much closer than he was just a second ago, only a few inches away. He reached his hand forward towards Merlin's hair.
"How is it that even after all these years your hair still has a mind of its own?" Arthur muses as he runs his hands through the hair in a faux attempt to tame it.
Merlin suddenly felt a blush raising, he seemed to be frozen in place. He resisted the urge to lean into the touch, they were stuck at the moment. Arthur brushes the hair and if Merlin wasn't nearly melting, he would notice the blush slowly taking place on the other's face. Arthur seems frozen too, his hands shuddering slightly in the brushing motion.
Suddenly a group of kids run up from the side, breaking whatever spell had taken place. All the sound rushes back at once for Merlin. He feels startlingly alert. Ducking under Arthur's hand he takes a couple of short steps back, creating space without (hopefully) making it feel awkward.
"Prat…" Merlin said giving a shaky smile.
Arthur seemed thrown from the moment too, slowly lowering his hand as if unsure where to put it. It hung on his side fingers flickering. Arthur returns Merlin's smile, a bit nervously (no way, Arthur Pendragon doesn't get nervous).
"Think up a new insult and maybe I'll listen to you for once," Arthur replies seemingly pulling himself together and ending by transforming the smile to his standard smirk.
Merlin couldn't help but laugh, there must be something strange in the air this morning, that's the only explanation.
"Yeah ok, Arthur," turning around Merlin grinned and began to walk away.
"See you later you cabbage head," with that Merlin started off with a run leaving Arthur laughing out of surprise.
"Where does he come up with those?" Merlin hears Arthur ask the air as he gets further away towards the camp centre.
Merlin finds Mr Geoffrey in front of a board, seemingly preparing a plan for the day. Glancing towards his wrist Merlin realised it was already 7 am, breakfast was in half an hour. The best thing to do is wait, so he takes a seat on one of the logs laying around. Closing his eyes for a second in an attempt to calm down, his legs were still shaking from the adrenaline of the morning. He felt someone familiar sit next to him.
"Hey Merlin, I see you survived your night with Pendragon".
"Haha very funny Will, it was perfectly normal thank you very much."
"I don't know mate you didn't seem normal in the toilet just a bit ago," came the amused voice of Gwaine from his other side.
As Gwaine took a seat next to him Will let out a bark of laughter, slightly bumping Merlin.
"Oh really? What's this I hear?" Will teased, and Merlin gave him a glare.
"Oh yeah, Will? Have you seen Freya this morning? I'm sure you can go wax some poetry about how she looks ever so radiant in the morning." Will's face darkened, a blush taking over quickly.
"Shut up Merlin," Will grumbled while Gwaine was cackling.
This led to Merlin swinging towards Gwaine giving him an equal glare.
"And you Gwaine? Don't think you're any better! Anyone can see you mooning over Percy you absolute numpty," Merlin said with a fighting tone.
"Yeah, but I own my mooning Merls, unlike you two, I'm more than happy to announce that if dear Percival would give me just one chance, I'll treat him absolutely right."
Gwaine seemed to be performing to a crowd and as Merlin looked around, he did see the Percival on the log across from them, very obviously avoiding Gwaine's entire being. A brave soldier really, at the rate Gwaine was going Merlin was pretty sure the two of them will at least hook up before the end of camp.
The three friends fell into a warm silence which was interrupted by the arrival of Arthur laughing with his large group of friends. He seemed to be the centre of attention no matter what was happening, leaning against Leon and Lancelot without a care for the world. When another in the group, Vivian started to tell a story about some party, Arthur started to glance around the campsite before meeting Merlin's eyes. He smiled, different from the cocky smile it seemed so sincere, Merlin helplessly returned the smile and Arthur turned away.
Merlin was once again left in confusion. What does any of this mean? After 4 years of near-zero contact getting Arthur's attention seemed overwhelming. It brought back memories of sleepless nights, trying desperately to figure out what he did to have Arthur leave. It also brought back all the feelings that he frantically tried to hide away in a box. More and more the box is breaking, and Merlin didn't know what to do about any of it. A part of him wanted to forget everything. Jump into the deep end of Arthur Pendragon. He may have a crush, but he misses his friend. The friend that pushed him on the swing, watched horror movies with him, stopped the bullies, made up stories of heroes and dragons, and got just as invested in books as Merlin was.
As his thoughts started to race again, Merlin felt Will bump against him. He turned to see his friend's concerned face.
"Hey, you ok Merls?" Will's voice lowered to avoid any unwanted attention.
Merlin could only nod and give a weak smile.
"You sure?" Will seemed to only get more concerned.
"Yeah Will, I'm sure," Merlin replied putting on slightly forced happiness.
Will smiled and nodded, satisfied by the answer.
"Hey if Pendragon is too much, let me know and we can figure something out, ok?" Will asked with underlying protectiveness.
Merlin could feel his heart warm at his friend, Will saw him through thick and thin especially after Arthur disappeared from his life. He would never be able to make up for all Will had given him.
"Thanks, Will," Merlin replied giving his best friend a bright smile.
Will threw his hand around him giving Merlin a slight squeeze, as Mr Geoffrey started to stand up and get ready to address the group of teenagers.
"Ok Year 11s today is going to be a busy day so listen up…"