MERRY CHRISTMAS! Thank you all so much for sticking with me through this story. I know I've been slow and sporadic with updates, but regardless, you all have kept reading. I can't thank you enough for that. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
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August, 2003
"No!" Merlin shouted before his head was down the toilet. He knew it was better not to fight them, and he knew he wasn't going to drown in the swirling water, but it was hard to fight the human urge to get one's head out of whatever was causing them issues to breathe.
He flailed and grabbed the toilet seat and pushed back against his tormentors, but to no avail. Just before the water in the toilet began refilling the basin, he was released and came flying back out of the toilet bowl with a gasp. He coughed a bit of water out and focused on breathing properly as the jocks around him laughed.
"He looks like a drowned rat!" a sophomore named Dan chortled.
Gregory was leading the gang. He sneered. "I could snap you like a twig, twerp," he threatened easily, and Merlin was only mildly surprised by how rough and tough he made himself out to be when Arthur wasn't around. "And only the other rats would miss you."
What a beautiful first day of school.
…
…
"Oh my god, Merlin!" Gwen gasped upon seeing him. "What happened to you?"
Merlin sat in his seat in his last class of the day with a plop, droplets of water running down his neck and wetting his shirt and with his hair all pushed in one direction. He'd done his best to undo the swirl effect before coming to class, but he couldn't get dry and his hair seemed partially stuck that way until he could get some more water on it…like with a shower.
"Ah," Merlin sighed, "Life happened."
Gwen lowered her hands from her mouth with a frown. "Arthur and his goons again?" she asked with a tad of acid in her voice.
Merlin shook his head, a bit of water falling off his head. "Actually, Arthur wasn't even there." He paused a moment. "He was actually in with a councilor the whole time. It was just his goons." He took a deep breath as he pulled his binder from his bag. "You can't blame Arthur for this one."
"Yes we can," Morgana corrected, sitting down in the chair on Merlin's other side with purpose and grace. She'd matured over the summer and was beginning to look like a rich lady now. Merlin had no doubt she would be approached by men for the rest of her life, all wanting just a taste of her graces. "Arthur started this mess. He's teaching everyone to act as he does."
Merlin shook his head, gentler this time so as not to spray the girls with water. "Arthur didn't start this. Cedric started this." He paused. "Well, actually the cheerleader started it. And if you count her, then I actually started it by warning her."
"Merlin," Morgana disagreed.
Before Merlin or Morgana could say anything else, the teacher walked in and class began. She, the teacher, paused a moment to stare oddly at Merlin, who just waved shyly back. The teacher shook her head, 'boys' written clearly on her face, before actually starting class.
Later that day, Morgana would get on to Arthur about his 'thugs' giving Merlin a swirly. The following day, Merlin met Arthur in an unoccupied classroom during lunch. Arthur apologized and Merlin told him it was fine and they kissed and promised a lunch date that Saturday and Merlin said he'd come to Arthur's track meet in two months and everything was O.K.
…
…
It was about a month into the school year and Merlin was sitting on the bleachers by the track where he'd first learned he liked Arthur, doing some homework while he waited for Arthur to finish up practice. He was doing inside practice today with his team, so the actual track was empty and no one would bother Merlin here. He was just finishing his math homework when the feeling trickled in. Merlin let his eyes trail over the field slowly before packing his bag and hurrying as softly as he could down the metal bleachers to the ground.
On either side of the track were the bleachers. On either end of the track were concrete buildings that were used as locker rooms, concession stands, and bathrooms during pep rallies and track races and anything else held on the track. Merlin headed for the building closest to the school and walked into the men's bathroom. And there it was: crying.
The handicapped stall at the end had its door shut, and Merlin set his bag on the ground by the entrance before stepping up to the door. He placed his hands on the wood of the door and quietly called out, "Matthew?"
The sounds of crying stopped abruptly and Merlin heard fabric move as Matthew tried to wipe his eyes dry.
"You can keep crying, Matthew," he said. "I won't tell anyone." He grinned. "Who would listen anyway, right?" He waited for a few moments, but there was no hint of movement in the stall. Merlin stared at the tile where it vanished beneath the stall door. "It's alright. They'll call you names and pick on you, just like they do to me, but you've got to know that it isn't the end of the world." He shut his eyes. "Being gay doesn't change who you are as a person, Matthew. It only means that you're different, but that isn't a bad thing. Never think of it as a bad thing." He took a deep breath and lifted his head a bit so he could lean it on the door. "People are scared. They fear what they don't understand. People like Greg, and Adam, and Dan,….and Cedric….they don't….they don't understand either of us, Matt. But that shouldn't change us. You're stronger than them. You're going to do great things with your life. You're going to go far. So don't let them get you down, because it doesn't matter what they think….as long as you know it isn't true; as long as you keep your head held high and keep moving forward." Merlin waited a moment to let Matthew process what he'd said. "And it's alright to cry, Matt. Crying isn't weakness. If you feel sad, it's alright to let it out. It takes a real man to let himself cry…instead of holding it all inside."
Merlin heard movement from inside the stall, and slow footsteps, before the lock on the door was pulled back. Merlin lifted his head and dropped his hands from the door a moment before it swung slowly open, revealing a teary eyed Matthew. There was a bruise forming on his left cheek and he would have a black eye soon, and his hair was shorter in the front on the left side than on the right by two inches. Merlin gave him a sympathetic smile and reached up to touch where they'd cut his hair.
"It's nothing a trip to the hair dresser won't fix," he assured Matthew softly, practically whispering. "You'll be fine."
Matthew's eyes scrunched up, tears gathering in them anew, and then he threw his arms around Merlin's shoulders, hiding his face between his arm and Merlin's neck, and sobbed. Merlin wrapped his arms around Matthew's waist, holding him surely and securely. It would be fifteen minutes before Matthew was out of tears, and Merlin would stay with him the whole time. Arthur had practice for another hour anyway.
…
…
A week later….
Merlin hit the metal of the lockers and let out a little breath of air. Arthur smirked as the rest of the jocks – football, baseball, soccer, track – all laughed at Merlin's face.
"You seem to like the lockers, Merlin," Arthur half-sneered. "How'd you like to see one from the inside?"
Dan chortled loudly and moved to the front of the group, at Arthur's side. "Sounds like fun," he agreed. "I'll show you to your room," he said to Merlin, grabbing him by the upper right arm in a tight and almost painful grip.
Merlin winced. Knowing how hard someone was going to grab you and actually having them grab you are two totally different things. He glared up at Dan and opened his mouth to say something nasty, like how he was going to fail completely at the next baseball game, but never got the chance. He shut his mouth and looked to his left a moment before Dan's hand was knocked away and Dan himself was shoved away from Merlin.
Everyone stared in shock at the person there. His black hair was in an attractive, boyish cut that ended just at his ears, but it was definitely still-
"Matthew?" Arthur let out. "You cut your hair?" he asked incredulously.
"Oh look," one of the other jocks cooed. "The fairy's back in school."
Arthur blinked, surprise on his face. Matthew was…what? He hadn't heard anything about this! He'd just known that Matthew was out of school for a week.
Matthew smirked, standing tall and proving he was taller than most of the other boys there. "Yea. He is," he said confidently. "And he's gonna kick the ass of every ass that lays a hand on Merlin, got it?"
"Ooh," Dan laughed. "Matthew and Merlin, sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g," he sang.
Arthur's eyes narrowed and he scowled. Matthew shook his head. "Believe what you want, wimp wad. I won't bother telling you it isn't true, because your feeble brain won't comprehend it. Just know that I'm not gonna stand for this behavior anymore." Arthur looked between Merlin and Matthew a few times and Merlin shrugged his shoulders minutely with a tiny smile.
"I'm so scared," another jock laughed. "What are you gonna do? Sprinkle fairy dust on us?"
Matthew shook his head. "Fresh out, sorry," he said with a shrug. "I will totally demolish you on the track though, so watch your back, Fred," he threatened coolly.
Fred bristled. He stepped forward, right into Matthew's personal bubble, and lifted his fist ominously, but the school bell rang then and students began rushing for their classrooms. Fred let out a breath harshly. "You were lucky this time, but just wait until the meet. You'll learn who's boss then."
The jocks all split up, looking equally perturbed, and headed for class. Arthur stood there a moment longer than the others and Matthew gave him an 'I dare you' look. Arthur shook his head and walked away, rubbing the back of his neck in unease. Matthew turned to Merlin with a bright smile.
"That felt really good," he let out with a light laugh.
Merlin smiled back, but not as brightly. "Thanks, Matt." He gave him a once over. "You look good today. The new look suits you."
Matthew blushed and scratched his neck in embarrassment. "Well, it's a new beginning for me." He looked off down the hallway. "I hope I can keep it up…."
Merlin knew what he was actually worried about and clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't worry," he said when Matthew was looking at him again, "Arthur won't let them beat you up as long as he's there. I'm the only one with that privilege," he joked.
"I'll protect you," Matthew promised. "You really helped me out, and I'm gonna help you in return."
"Whatever you want to do," Merlin grinned. "I'll see you at lunch," he said in goodbye before releasing Matthew's shoulder and heading for class.
And, as Merlin had said, Matthew sat with him, Morgana, and Gwen at lunch. And he did the same the next day, and the next, and the next. Soon, Matthew was just as strong a believer in Merlin's gift as Morgana and Gwen. He stood up to the jocks in the halls and showed them up in practice – except for Arthur of course, who beat him every time. And, as Merlin had promised, Arthur never let the other guys lay a hand on Matt. He said it wasn't right to pick on one of their own. Now, if they caught Matt alone and without Arthur around, they let him have it and he showed up the next day with bruises all over. But Matt took it as well as Merlin did and just smiled through it and said he was tougher than any of those 'close minded apes.' And he became a good friend.
…
…
Ding dong!
"Trick or treat!" five little voices yelled at once, all trying to be louder than the rest.
Arthur laughed, showing off his fangs, and knelt down before them. "Well, well, what perfectly frightening monsters we have here," he greeted in a smooth voice. "The hulk, Spiderman, batman, a fairy, and…ooh, Princess Jasmine," he said with interest. Leaning in closer to her he said, "I will give you the choice I…never had…..How would you like to become a vampire, princess?"
He winked and the little girl giggled, shaking her head. "No!" she laughed out.
Arthur put a hand over his heart, stepping back and away from them and looking hurt. "Oh, rejection. Never before-"
"Down boy," Merlin teased, moving passed Arthur with a large orange bowl with black spiders and webs painted on it in his hands. "Who wants candy?" he asked.
The kids, except Spiderman, all jumped with smiles on their faces. "Me! Me!" Spiderman, on the other hand, looked scared. Merlin dropped two pieces of candy into each of their bags and then turned on Spiderman, who flinched.
"What's the matter? Are you scared of the Phantom?" Merlin asked, even though he knew. His costume frightened the boy. Merlin set the bowl down and reached up towards his face, and the boy shook his head 'no', and then pulled the half mask away to reveal his entire face. He smiled. "The Phantom is just a man, see?"
The little boy, maybe six years old, smiled at Merlin's kind reassurance, and nodded. "Yea."
"Now, do you want some candy?" Merlin asked. Spiderman nodded enthusiastically and Merlin dropped three pieces into his bag, to the chagrin of the other kids.
"Hey!"
"Come on, kids, we've got a lot of houses to cover," a woman at the street side called out. They all whined and complained as they walked away and Merlin chuckled, standing back up.
"I told you the Phantom of the Opera would scare little kids," Arthur half-teased him.
Merlin snorted, slipping his mask back on. "That is the point of Halloween, Arthur," he corrected. "To scare away the spirits of the dead."
"What about the spirits of the living?" Arthur asked as they moved back inside of Merlin's house, shutting the door behind them.
Merlin tousled Arthur shoulder length curly blonde hair, stepping in way too close to the point where they were breathing the same air. "Well," he breathed out, "I'd suspect you'd taken care of that, my dear Lestat."
Arthur gulped. He could only see half of Merlin's face with that blasted mask, but the eyes were both visible and they were both staring at him with such intensity. He felt like there wasn't enough air in the room all of a sudden and it seemed to be several degrees hotter than before. Merlin blinked and pulled back a moment before Gaius walked in from the kitchen carrying popcorn.
"Popcorn's ready," he announced, setting the bowl – much smaller than the candy bowl – on the coffee table. Merlin smiled, pulling his mask off once again, and sat down to eat some.
Arthur gulped down one more breath to steady himself before removing his fangs and sitting down next to Merlin. They had finished half the bowl, and played with the other half, by the time the doorbell rang again. Quickly wiping any popcorn from their persons and putting their mask and teeth back in, Arthur answered the door with Merlin close behind him. He jumped back when he saw who was on the other side of the door.
"Ah," he let out.
"Hm?" the woman let out, squinting at him. "Oh!" she cheered. "Arthur! I didn't know you were over tonight!"
"Hello, Mrs. Collins," Arthur greeted warily. He'd met her several times since the first time two years ago, and she'd always creeped him out. She wasn't doing drugs anymore…that they were aware of…but she was still freaky. It didn't help that she was dressed as an evil witch, her hair in disarray and her clothes looking dirty and half burnt on the edges.
"I was just wondering if you and Merlin had some candy to spare," she asked, her voice a bit wheezy. It had always been wheezy and Merlin said it was the drugs that did it.
"We've got plenty," Merlin announced, moving around Arthur and standing like a shield between him and Mary Collins. He held out the huge bowl to her. "Take what you'd like."
Mary's eyes widened and lit up at the sight and she smiled, large and with very crooked teeth. "Thank you," she gushed. "Very much!"
Merlin smiled gently. "I'm happy to help. How's your husband?"
Mary shrugged. "He's having more trouble than me it seems….but he's doing alright by most accounts." She grinned, and it was freaky. "And how are you two doing?" she asked slyly with a wink in Arthur's direction.
Arthur suppressed a shiver. Merlin let out a single, nervous laugh. "We're enjoying Halloween." He nodded to the street. "More kids coming," he noted as four guys dressed in monster costumes turned the corner. Mary jumped a bit and scurried back to her own house with the candy she'd taken from their bowl. Merlin shut the door and set the bowl on the table they'd sat just inside for quick access. "Arthur, go down the hall for a moment, would you?" he mostly stated instead of asked.
With a frown, but not a word, Arthur turned and vanished down the hallway to Merlin's bedroom. Gaius came out of the hallway a breath before the doorbell rang. Merlin jerked his head toward the door and Gaius walked faster, opening the door while Merlin stood to the side by the candy bowl, picking out eight non-chocolate pieces of candy. The door opened, revealing four high school guys dressed as various creatures: a crude version of a swamp thing, a werewolf, the Beast from X-Men, and Solid Snake.
"Trick or Treat, pops," Beast demanded.
Gaius bristled. "Why I-"
"Here you go," Merlin interrupted, pushing past Gaius with a gentle shove. "Alec," he said to the swamp thing as he placed two pieces of candy in his pumpkin bowl. "Greg," two pieces to the werewolf. "Fred," to Solid Snake. "Stuart," to Beast. He smiled, something creepy that the original Phantom would've worn rather than the romantic one, "Have a wonderful rest of the evening, out prowling the dark with all the other creatures of the night." His tone was something ominous and none of the guys said anything, all their jaws dropped to their chests at Merlin's attitude.
Merlin stepped back and further inside and Gaius shut the door before turning to face his nephew. "Merlin, what was that?" he asked. "You gave me the creeps."
Merlin tossed out a shrug. "It's Halloween. I can be creepy and get back at the jocks for one night." He tilted his head toward the door as if listening for a moment before leaning it the opposite direction and calling, "Arthur, you can come out now."
Gaius's eyebrows rose and his mouth formed an 'Oh!' "Those boys were from your school?" he asked incredulously. "That blue man was so rude."
"I will admit my friends aren't the best models of good behavior," Arthur commented upon his return to the living room, "but they aren't always bad guys. Sometimes, with people like themselves, they're really good for moral and physical support. Greg dislocated his knee last year and Dan personally helped him to each and every one of his classes until his knee was better." He shrugged, dropping onto the couch. "I guess it's partly because the athletes at Camelot High are sort of like a pack, and a pack defends its own, you know?"
Gaius shrugged while simultaneously shaking off the encounter. "Bah," he let out, turning away from the living room and heading back for the hallway and his own bedroom. "High school."
Merlin and Arthur glanced at each other for a moment once he was gone before chuckling softly to themselves. Oh the drama.
…
…
Arthur woke up the following morning with Merlin sleeping in the crook of his arm and his own legs encompassing Merlin's. On Merlin's neck were teeth marks and Arthur remembered the wonderful way they'd ended last night, all hands and fiery touches and Arthur getting really into character and biting Merlin's neck all to hell. He let his head fall back against the pillows of Merlin's bed with a sigh. It was a good thing there was no school until Monday, because Arthur was certain there was no way for Merlin to hide those marks completely under his clothes.
He gently ran his hand up and down Merlin's bare back, his own eyes shut tight against the morning light, and let his mind wander. They were lying there, in Merlin's bed, naked, and suddenly Arthur was aware that they'd been dating for nearly two years and they hadn't had sex yet. They'd done amazing things together; really, really good and wonderful and amazing things, but technically….Arthur was pretty sure they were both still considered virgins. It was shocking. And Arthur wanted to, god knew he wanted to, but he was worried. He'd heard about it, read about it, and he knew that if he were the one penetrating Merlin, then Merlin could get hurt, and vice versa, and Arthur never wanted to hurt Merlin and was scared of how bad it would hurt himself. He knew this couldn't go on forever though. One of these days, maybe soon, they would have to break out of this comfort zone and really consummate their relationship.
…
…
Arthur dropped Merlin down gently on a bench and Merlin leaned back with a deep breath. "Whoo…," he let out airily.
Arthur sat next to him, a red cap on his head blocking out the sun and partially hiding who he was even though Merlin had assured him he really didn't need it; no one from Camelot High that 'mattered' besides Gwen or Morgana would come to this fair for the middle and lower class citizens, and no one from their school was there today nor would they take notice of Merlin or Arthur if they were. But Arthur wore the cap anyway.
"I told you riding the cups was a bad idea," Arthur half-grumbled, but with a hint of concern showing through.
Merlin laughed. "I know. But I couldn't help myself," he said with a grin, pressing the heels of his hands into his eyes with his head back and facing the sky. "I love making it spin as fast as it can go."
"Even though you know you'll get sick?" Arthur asked dubiously.
Merlin nodded. "It's strange…I know…..Just give me a minute and we'll ride The Devastator," he said as if answering a question and Arthur looked nonplussed for the briefest of moments before his expression cleared and he smiled. The Devastator was the biggest, fastest ride at the fair; not the most exciting ride ever, but for a traveling fair it was supposed to be something special.
Arthur spread his arms across the back of the bench, bent at the elbows so his left arm wouldn't knock into Merlin, and leaned his head back as well. He squinted his eyes in the sun that was suddenly bypassing the cap and shining directly on his retinas, but quickly closed them to try and block out the light. It didn't help much, but it was a little better. He sighed, laying his right hand over his eyes to make the world dark, and it was a content noise.
"This has been fun," he commented lightly, softly. "Not to say last year wasn't great, because it was. I love catching a movie and I love making out….but it's nice to get to go on an honest to god date with your boyfriend on your anniversary, in the daylight and all….It makes me feel normal," and there was a smile in his voice as he spoke.
Arthur's smile dropped in confusion when he felt something across his left arm and he lifted his hand to look. Merlin had his right arm draped over Arthur's left and, as Arthur watched, he entwined their fingers. It felt like the sun had suddenly taken up residence in Arthur's chest, warmth spreading throughout his body, and a smile lit his face. He leaned over and lifted their hands to place a kiss on the back of Merlin's hand.
"I love you," he whispered against the skin just beyond his lips. Merlin shivered and opened his eyes, turning his head to give Arthur a deep and indescribable look.
The darker of the two teens shifted until he had his head on Arthur's left shoulder, their hands on Arthur's left knee now. "You are the greatest, kindest, most beautiful man I have, or ever will meet," Merlin responded quietly. Arthur blushed, knowing Merlin wasn't kidding or speaking lightly about that fact. After a moment, a precious moment, of stillness and quiet, Merlin planted a quick kiss to Arthur's shoulder beneath his cheek, squeezed his hand, and stood up. "Come on. Let's go ride The Devastator," he urged, a grin on his face.
It took Arthur a moment to gather himself and stand to join his boyfriend. He wrapped his left arm around Merlin's shoulders and leaned in to him as they walked. Barely anyone looked at them as they passed and, for a moment, Arthur wondered if only the rich and infamous cared about a person's sexuality and what his and Merlin's relationship would have been like had they both been middle-class people.
…
…
Matthew walked down the hall at a leisurely pace. Classes were in session but he'd left to use the bathroom and he was taking his sweet time getting back. He hated math with a passion.
Tip tip tip
"Huh?" Matt stopped and looked around. "What?"
Tip tap tip
He faced back the way he'd come. "Hello?" he called softly. What was that noise?
"Hrrr," a voice called and the metallic tapping sound continued, leading him three lockers down the hall to a locker with a big black 'L' written on it. As soon as he stopped in front of it, the tapping stopped.
"Hello?" Matthew asked again. "Is someone in there?"
"Hi, Matt," the familiar voice greeted, sounding muted.
Matt jumped back in shock. "Merlin?" he hissed out. "How'd you get stuck in there?" He glared. "Let me guess-"
"Look," Merlin interrupted easily. "Could you just get me out?" he asked. "The combination's 42, 17, 6."
Matthew quickly grabbed the lock and turned the dial back and forth in the combination Merlin had given him. The lock popped open and he ripped it out of the hole before snapping the door open so fast it banged against the one next to it. Merlin fell backwards out of the locker onto his butt in the middle of the hall. He shook his head and rolled his shoulders.
"Ah," he let out. "Thanks. My shoulders were starting to cramp."
Matthew grabbed Merlin by the hand and hoisted him up with surprising strength. He didn't look happy. "Arthur did this."
Merlin shook his head. "Why does everyone think all the bad things that happen to me are Arthur's fault? He's not the only one upset with me in this school." He shrugged, moving over to his locker and pulling his bookbag out of the bottom of it. "No. It was some of the other jocks."
"Who?" Matthew asked heatedly. "I'll make them pay."
Merlin shouldered his bag and turned a frown on Matt. "No. If you do that it'll become an endless cycle. Violence creating more violence. It's better if it just ends with me," he stated like it was a simple conclusion. He shut his locker and blinked at the letter there. "Can I borrow your marker?"
"What?" Matthew asked before the question registered in his mind. "Oh." Reaching into his jacket pocket, Matt pulled out the fat black marker that his math teacher used as a bathroom pass. It said 'Party Pen' on the side, but 'Party' had been written over with 'Potty.'
Merlin accepted the marker from him, uncapped it, and proceeded to write 'Mer' on one side of the large 'L' and 'in' on the other side. He smiled at his handy work and stepped back to let Matthew appreciate it too. "There. The locker is now officially mine," he joked.
Though Merlin was taking the abuse quite well, he could tell Matthew was not. Matthew returned to math class while Merlin headed to his AP Psychology class. Morgana would know what had happened before next period started and she'd get mad at Arthur for it. Then Merlin would be there for him.
…
…
Merlin sat on the couch that evening watching T.V. with the sound turned almost all the way down. He stood up a moment before the knocking on the door started. When the door swung open, Arthur immediately stepped inside and flung his arms around Merlin's shoulders, hiding his face next to Merlin's and laying his chin on Merlin's left shoulder.
"I'm sorry," he apologized. "It really is all my fault. I cause you more trouble than I'm worth, don't I?"
Merlin let out a breath into Arthur's hair and shut the door with his foot. He gently pushed Arthur away far enough that he could lock eyes with his boyfriend. "Morgana's wrong," he said simply, softly. "Matthew's wrong. Gwen is wrong. They're all wrong, Arthur." He squeezed Arthur's shoulders when Arthur simply looked sadder. "They can blame you only because they don't know the truth. They only see what we let them see; the name calling and the bullying and the way everyone with a problem at school takes out their anger on me. And I don't care what they say," he said with a shake of his head, "because they don't know how happy you make me just by looking at me every day, or how your voice calms me down, or anything at all. They don't know you, Arthur."
"But," Arthur tried futilely. Merlin frowned at him and Arthur shut his mouth. His eyes searched Merlin's for several long moments and then he shut them, sighing deeply. "I understand….That doesn't make it any easier to accept though," he said with a shake of his head, opening his eyes, "when your sister's screaming bloody murder at you for creating the anti-Merlin NAZI group at school."
Merlin snorted. "She really called it that?"
Arthur nodded, a grin creeping onto his face. "Yea. She was really pissed."
Merlin smiled and nodded toward the kitchen. "Come on. Gaius made dinner tonight and there're plenty of leftovers for you."
Two steps into the house, Arthur stopped. "Merlin?" he asked hesitantly.
Merlin turned to face him and nodded. "Sure. You're always welcome to stay over." Arthur would just tell Morgana he had slept in his car.
Arthur's answering smile was sweet and grateful and Merlin couldn't help himself. He moved back to Arthur's side and planted a loving kiss on his boyfriend's lips. Arthur's smile turned blinding.
"Now, about that food."
…
…
Tbc…