Chapter 4:
Beautiful Clusterfucks!
Gwen was nervous, really nervous. She kept glancing at the door, every time it opened her heart leapt and then sank when he didn't walk in.
It was half eight, the party had started at seven; almost everyone was there but him. She was ecstatically happy, had been since the moment Lance had gotten down on one knee and asked her to be his. But she needed one last thing before she could believe her fairy tale had come true, that she had gotten her prince and they could live the dream.
She walked over to the table to pour another drink and glanced around the sitting room; her closest friends, her family away from home were all gathered to congratulate the happy couple and share in on their joy.
She smiled at Morgana, looking beautiful as always in a green hip hugging dress, standing with her arm around Leon's waist. She started to walk over when the door opened and she froze; smiling with relief when she saw it was Merlin, he put a bag on the floor and turned back to the open door.
Gwen started to walk over, nervous smile plastered on her face and Lance fell into step beside her, clutching her hand.
"It'll be fine," he whispered into her ear but she froze when she saw beyond Merlin into the hall; there was some man she didn't know laughing, he turned and left.
Merlin closed the door, turning with a large bouquet of flowers in his hands.
"Look at you!" Merlin exclaimed, kissing her on the cheek and handing the flowers over.
"Thanks," she said, smiling but feeling empty.
"Alone?" Lance asked, clapping him on the shoulder.
"Yes..." Merlin looked confused as he shrugged out of his coat, "was I supposed to bring a date?"
"No," Gwen smiled, her cheeks hurt from all the fake and nervous smiling. "I'll go put these in some water."
"Let me," Lance said, taking them off her and disappearing into the kitchen.
"Let's get you a drink," She pulled Merlin over to the table full of bottles.
"Merlin Merlin Merlin," Gwaine hollered, flinging an arm around his shoulders.
"Gwaine," Merlin chuckled, sipping his cocktail.
"What kept ya?"
"Pratface kept me late working on some stupid report," Merlin rolled his eyes.
"And where exactly is his royal highness?" Gwaine asked, pouring a tray of shots.
"He's not coming..." Gwen clutched the table, her heart plummeting to the floor.
"What do you mean he's not coming?" Morgana angry voice cut in. Gwen wanted the floor to open up and swallow her.
"Oh hello!" Merlin smiled, then frowning as he saw Morganas fierce expression and Leon's scared look. "He... eh... can't make it." Morgana snarled. He looked at Gwaine who was handing a shot to all around the table and then glanced at Gwen. Her eyes were filled with tears and she was biting her lip.
"Oh no no no!" He gasped, waving his arms, "he wants to be here, he told me to apologise..." Gwen sniffed and suddenly Lance was by her side.
"I'm going to kick his ass," Morgana fumed.
"No no no!" Merlin slapped the sides of his face, "he's stuck in the office- has to get this report finished tonight. Uther came down today fuming. I've never heard someone shout so much!"
"It's ok Merlin," Gwen smiled miserably.
"Will you all bloody stop interrupting me?" Merlin shouted, shaking his fists.
"Oh dear... You've broken him," Leon said, looking worried. Gwaine laughed.
"Shut up, Shut up, Shut up!"
"I knew working for Arthur was too stressful for him," Gwaine butt in, shaking his head sadly, "he's gone mental."
"Cheese has definitely slipped off his cracker," Leon added. Gwen laughed. Merlin glared.
"The only stressful thing is having you fuckwits as friends," he turned and grabbed Gwen's hands, looking her straight in the eyes, "he said to say sorry but he can't leave till it's done but he told me to get here and deliver the flowers and tell you – he'll see you in the nightclub."
"Oh!" Gwen smiled her first real smile of the night.
oooOooo
The club was buzzing, people everywhere; the dance floor was a hazy mob of gyrating bodies moving in rhythm to the loud music.
Girls in skimpy dresses, if they could be classified as dresses, tottering around in shoes that didn't look safe and boys trying to catch their attention.
Merlin surveyed the floor from his perch at the railings of the VIP area that had been booked by Morgana for Lance and Gwen. He saw Arthur enter, breath catching in his throat at the sight of the blond, in ass hugging jeans and a gray shirt. He walked over to Gwen at the bar, who turned and beamed at him.
Merlin watched the exchange, smiling when Arthur put his hand on her cheek and leaned in to kiss her forehead – she threw her arms around him, then Gwaine barrelled into them causing Arthur to stagger.
"Shots!" Gwaine roared over the music, throwing his arm around Arthur's shoulder.
Gwen shook her head laughing, collected her own drinks and went in search of her fiancé.
"Two tequilas, slippery nipples and sambukas!" Gwaine shouted at the barman,
Arthur grimaced but he knew he had to play catch up.
"And two lagers," he added, handing his credit card over.
They slammed the empty shot glasses on the bar, Gwaine's eyes losing focus and Arthur enjoying the buzz of alcohol entering his system.
"So..." Gwaine said sliding in close.
"So?" Arthur raised his eyebrow.
"Dance?" Gwaine grinned, Arthur hated dancing but Gwaine had a hold of him dragging him to the dance floor before he could respond.
oooOooo
"Having fun?" Lance asked kissing up Gwen's neck, she tilted her head back to give him better access.
"Yeah..."
"Wanna leave?" He bit her earlobe.
"I don't need to see that shit – she is my sister!"Elyan threw an ice cube at them on the couch. Leon burst out laughing.
"He's just jealous," Morgana smiled wickedly.
"I did always think he had a thing for Lance" Percy laughed at the outraged look on Elyan's face.
"Oh shit..." Morgana trailed off, she was staring at the bar.
"Is that...?" Leon asked.
"Yep."
"Who?" Merlin asked.
No one had a chance to reply as Gwaine tripped up the stairs with Arthur close on his heels, looking over his shoulder. Gwaine landed on his knees and Arthur promptly fell over him.
"Gerroff me," Gwaine wiggled. Arthur rolled off, sitting on the floor next to Percy's chair rubbing his ankle with a scowl on his face.
"What are you doing on the floor?"
"What are you bloody doing on the floor?" Gwaine shot back.
"You got in the way of my feet,"
"I don't see how that's my fault – why don't you look where you're going in future?"
"I didn't bloody expect anyone to be down there!"
"Arthur," a sickly sweet voice purred, all heads whipped around to look at the blond, pretty girl looking down at Arthur with a predatory look on her face.
"Vivian," Arthur smiled, Leon helping him to his feet, "How are you?"
"Good, better now I've bumped into you," she said, touching his arm. Merlin snarled in his head.
"Oh..." Arthur looked panicked.
"Why don't you buy me a drink?"
"Well actually I'm just going to have a sit down with the lads for a minute," she scowled at him, "maybe later?"
"Of course," her smile was wicked; Merlin didn't like her one bit! She leaned up and kissed him lightly on the side of his mouth and left.
Arthur looked terrified, Leon patted his shoulder.
"Best of luck mate."
Arthur glared at them all, pointing his finger out.
"No one is to leave me alone with that woman!"
oooOooo
Gwaine couldn't take his eyes off her, she was pretty in a laid back way. Blond waves falling about her face as she gestured widely, knocking a bottle off the table.
He grinned; she was disaster, she was trying to kick the broken pieces of glass under the table and nearly falling off her chair in the process, pushing her hair out of her flushed face.
She got up and headed for the bar, tripping and crashing into some bloke causing him to spill his pint all over himself. Gwaine laughed, as she used her cardigan to try mop up the mess that was his shirt. The bloke tried to gesture her off but she was having none of it and continued to try to clean his shirt. Eventually the bloke pushed her off and walked away shaking his head. She looked sadly after him.
Gwaine's eyes followed her to the bar, where she elbowed her way in rummaging in her bag and pulling out some money. She turned and crashed into another poor unsuspecting man, Gwaine wanted to hear the rambling lunacy coming out her mouth as the man backed away holding his hands up. She flicked her blond waves out of her face and started walking; Gwaine saw the wet patch on the ground and reached out his hands helplessly, seeing but unable to do anything from the VIP area, above the main floor of the club. He watched as she walked into the wet patch, shoes losing grip on the floor and falling on her ass.
"Disaster, that one," Morgana said, looking down at the poor girl on the floor while someone tried to pick her up.
"Beautiful clusterfuck more like," Gwaine grinned, winking at Morgana and heading off to meet this wonder of incomprehensible chaos.
oooOooo
"Ah Merlin," Arthur sighed walking into the VIP area, his idiot assistant was alone, sitting back on the couch looking very relaxed. Arthur looked him up and down, suppressing a shudder. Merlin looked positively delicious, in black skinny jeans that made his legs look endlessly long and a black shirt. A sudden image of those legs wrapped around his waist made Arthur pause. Maybe he was drunker than he thought.
"Hi," Merlin smiled, patting the spot beside him on the couch. Arthur was only too happy to comply and plonk himself down, enjoying the feel of Merlin pressed into his side.
His arms were along the back of the couch and his hand drifted down to Arthur's shoulder, completely of its own accord but to Merlin's delight Arthur relaxed into him.
"Having fun?"
"Yeah..." Arthur sighed, resting his head on Merlins shoulder.
"So where's your friend?"
"Who?" Arthur asked after a minute.
"The blond one... The pretty girl," He added after a minute.
"Oh Vivian?" He shrugged, "Not a friend, her father is a business partner of my fathers – I've known her for years. She wants me but it's not gonna happen."
"No?" Merlin asked looking at him.
"No, not my type," Arthur looked straight in his eyes and Merlins breath caught.
"What's your type?" Merlin asked quietly after a few minutes, never breaking eye contact. He could feel Arthur's breath on his cheek.
"Someone real," Arthur said, looking away and putting his head back on Merlins shoulder.
oooOooo
"Look at those two," Leon cooed, pointing at Merlin and Arthur on the couch.
"Awwww..." Gwen gasped, "So cute!"
"Did wonder when it'd happen," Lance smiled.
"Nothing's happening," Percy pointed out.
"Well lets give them a helping hand!" Morgana smiled wickedly, walking up the last few steps. "Dance floor!" She cried grabbing Arthurs arm and dragging him to his feet, Elyan right behind her grabbing Merlin.
Both men looked quite pissed off.
"Harpie," Arthur whined but allowed himself to be pulled, clutching on to Merlins shirt.
The music was loud and had a deep beat, the dance floor was packed and they all ended up crushed together. Morgana had her hands in the air, eyes closed and moving with the beat. Leon bobbed from one foot to the other, looking awkward and Elyan, and Percy were instantly pulled in by a group of girls, grin plastered to Elyan's face. Percy, however, for such a large man, looked scared. Gwen and Lance had their arms around each other, moving in sync and lips finding each others.
Merlin and Arthur ended up pressed into each other, Merlin put his hands on his bosses hips and moved in rhythm with him. At some point Arthur turned him around and pulled him back flush against his chest continuing to move to the music. Merlins head was spinning.
Arthur leaned his forehead against the nape of Merlins neck, breathing him in. He smelt like some kind of herbal shampoo, a musky delicious aftershave and sweat. Arthurs head was spinning and he wanted to run his tongue down the delicious pale neck.
Morgana smirked, looking at them and Leon grinned happily.
Suddenly someone crashed into them, Merlin only staying up because of Arthur's arms around his waist.
"Alright?" Arthur panted in his ear. Merlin nodded.
"Drink?" Arthur nodded, grinning shyly at Merlin and they left the dance floor.
"I'll get these," Merlin said.
"Sure, back in a few," he nodded towards the bathrooms.
oooOooo
Arthur froze, staring at Merlin. He was still at the bar and didn't look like he was going anywhere soon. He was talking to some bloke, who had his arm over Merlins shoulder as they leaned in to talk to each other.
Arthur was rooted to the spot, then Merlin laughed, flushing and Arthur felt sick. He had to get away, get outside, get anywhere but here. His chest felt tight and sore and couldn't believe what an idiot he was.
Of course Merlin wasn't interested, he was just being his usual friendly bumbling idiotic self. He turned and came face to face with Vivian.
"There you are," she purred, pressing up close to him.
"Yeah." He ran his hand through him hair, looking at the floor. She rubbed his arm.
"What about that drink then?" She asked. His eyes snapped up to hers and he could see the desire in them. Well here's someone who wants me, he thought.
"Why bother with that?" He said looking her up and down slowly, settling back on her eyes and she smirked pulling him in. He walked her back to the wall and leaned down to catch her lips.
oooOooo
"Listen mate, I have to get back to my friends," Merlin said trying to detangle himself from the man.
"Why?" the man purred in his ear, tickling Merlin who laughed and blushed.
Admittedly the man was very good looking, and Merlin would normally be flattered by the attention but he had to find Arthur. He slipped out from under the mans arm and took a step away but he wasn't having any of it and grabbed Merlins hip.
"Seriously," Merlin said exasperated, the man was persistent; he had crowded Merlin as soon as he stopped at the bar but all Merlin could think of was Arthur. He was excited and nervous and unbearably turned on and all he wanted was the blond.
"Come home with me," the man purred, Merlin shook his head and desperately looked around the room trying to find help. His heart plummeted and his knees went weak.
The mans grip tightened and he looked at Merlin concerned. Merlins eyes were fixed across the floor, the man followed his gaze to see a couple kissing passionately.
"What the fuck?" someone said right beside Merlin, he looked to see Gwaine staring at Arthur and Vivian with a horrified expression on his face. Merlin felt like throwing up,
Gwaine looked at him and shrugged.
"This is Ellie!" He said pulling a pretty girl with blond waves to his side. Merlin smiled weakly at her, glancing back to see Vivian leading Arthur towards the door. Merlin turned back to the man and smiled at him.
"Live close by?" Merlin asked.
"Yeah," the man smiled and took Merlin's hand leading him away.
Gwaine scratched his head, looking about confused – he took Ellie's hand, leading her
over to people who MIGHT actually be interested in meeting her.
"Seen Arthur and Merlin?" Morgana grinned and Leon chuckled. Gwaine looked at them, baffled.
"Yeah. You're not going to believe it..."
"I know!" Morgana shrieked, "can't believe it actually happened!"
"I know" Gwaine laughed, "hold on!" he help up his hands, "thought you hated Vivian?"
"What?" Morgana asked, looking confused.
"Yeah – Arthur just left with her".
"What?" Everyone shouted. Now Gwaine was really, really confused!
"Who are you?" Gwen asked, breaking the suffocating silence.
"Elena, but everyone calls me Ellie!" She said holding out her hand with a big smile and tripped.