OH MY GOD! SEVEN MONTHS! I am SO sorry, everyone!
The truth is, I had this written ages ago, but my beta couldn't get around to beta-ing it because she was working on finishing up her first novel and other life events and things. So it got put off, and off, and off, and I apologize so much for that. But here you go, and I will try my hardest no to go this long without an update ever again. That's a promise.
I hope you guys are still reading after this long hiatus...:/
February 2004
"Ah!" a girl screamed loudly. "Ew!"
Merlin sighed as he shut his locker. He looked to his left down the hall and saw the new girl, Sophia, glaring at him. Her rich brown hair and designer fashions were covered in white powder and there were frogs on the ground hopping away from her high heeled feet. Merlin sighed again and turned away. She was going to blame him for this. Only the people who didn't listen to him ever blamed him.
Sophia had transferred in shortly after Valentine's Day and taken the school by storm. Her father was a hot shot billionaire who made his fortune selling medicines. Merlin knew the medicines were only half legitimate and that her father also helped sell things on the Black Market, and that Sophia knew it, but he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut about that. In any case, Sophia had taken an instant liking to Arthur and Merlin couldn't blame her. She'd walked into her first class and Arthur had been laughing with his friends. The sight of Arthur smiling made anyone's cold heart melt, and Sophia was no different.
She'd started flirting shamelessly with Arthur at every given opportunity. She wore revealing clothing that was barely allowed by the school dress code. She did her best to always be touching Arthur in some way when she was in reach. While most of Arthur's friends were turned on by her blatant shows of skin and sexuality, Arthur really couldn't care less. He tried to tell Sophia that he wasn't interested, but she wasn't listening to a word he said.
While her advances hadn't upset Arthur too much, there was someone else at the school who was really angry about it. Ever since Sophia first began flirting with Arthur, her locker was sporadically booby trapped, her things would go missing out of her purse and bag, and her desk was defiled. Like Merlin, she was being bullied. Merlin had tried to warn her about the powder and frogs, but she hadn't listened. He'd tried to warn her about all the stuff that kept happening to her, but she never listened. And now she would blame him for planting the traps instead.
"Why is it that everyone who doesn't listen to me when I warn them thinks that I'm behind whatever happened that I warned them about?" Merlin asked as he leaned lazily on his desk in his last class.
Morgana shrugged. "It really is stupid if you think about it," she commented. She was sitting on her own desk. "I mean, really, what kind of an idiot warns you about his own pranks? Consistently?" She shook her head. "Logic says that eventually everyone would know to listen to you because what you say will happen, happens. But all the morons in this school continue to ignore you no matter what."
"I know you're not the one bullying Sophia," Gwen began softly, trying not to draw attention to them at the front of the classroom. "You get bullied all the time. Why would you do it to someone else, right?" she asked rhetorically. "What I want to know is who is actually doing the bullying."
"Well, it's a woman," Morgana stated plainly. Merlin turned to look at her while Gwen seemed surprised. "Women aren't so physical as men. While Arthur and his goons have to physically be there to shove Merlin's head in a toilet or knock him to the ground, Sophia's tormenter leaves traps and vandalism when no one is around to see it. It's like in real world crime. A man will take a gun and start shooting the person who pissed him off. A woman will poison the punch and walk away."
Merlin smiled. "Great job, Morgana," he complimented with a nod, sitting up in his seat. "It is a girl. It's-"
He cut himself off when Vivian streamed through the door. She looked flawless, as always, and smiled when the guys swooned. At sixteen, Vivian was the belle of the school. She and Arthur were already being considered for Prom King and Queen next year.
"Arthur!" she half squealed and hurried to the back of the room where all the jocks sat. "I've got big news."
"Really?" Arthur asked, leaning back in his seat. To most it seemed he was just reclining. To Merlin it looked like he was trying to get away. "What?"
Vivian smiled brightly. "I got daddy to bring sponsors to your next track meet," she told him happily. "If you do well, as we all know you will, you'll get a full scholarship to the college of your choice. Though why you'd go anywhere but Camelot U. is beyond me. It is the best school in the country after all. And," she swayed her hips as she leaned down over Arthur's desk, lowering her voice seductively, "I'll be there so…."
Arthur gave her a polite smile. "I would hardly consider another school," he assured her. Her smile was bright again as she stood up. "And thank your father for the sponsors. That's really great."
"Oh I knew you'd love it," Vivian gushed.
Morgana grimaced. "Let me guess," she said, but didn't guess.
Merlin nodded. "Yep."
There was a long pause between the three friends as they watched Arthur and his buddies play with Vivian. Then Gwen jumped a bit in her seat. "Oh, that's right."
"What?" Morgana asked curiously, slipping off her desk and sitting in her seat just as the teacher entered the room.
"Matthew invited us all to the track meet on Friday, the same one where all the sponsors are going to be," she said. "Do you think he'll get sponsored?"
Both girls turned to Merlin. He shook his head. "Uh-uh. You two told me you wanted some surprise in your life," he dismissed.
Morgana frowned. "But this isn't our life. It's Matt's. Now come on, spill," she ordered.
Before Merlin could shake his head again, the bell had rung and Mr. Carbonell had called the class to order.
…
…
Gwen rushed over to Morgana and Merlin standing at the end of the bleachers. She'd gone to the bathroom as soon as the races were over. When she stopped, she was gasping for breath and had to double over and grab her knees to stay upright.
Morgana frowned. "Gee, Gwen, what's wrong?" she asked uncertainly.
Gwen shook her head, standing up straight. A guy in a Camelot High jersey pushed past her and Gwen stumbled. Morgana glared after him but the guy vanished into the rest of the crowd exiting the bleachers after the meet. Gwen shook her head again and waved her hands in the air a bit to grab Morgana's attention again. Merlin was still watching her curiously.
"No no. I've got big news," she gushed. "You know how Matt got second place?" she asked.
It was nearly a rhetorical question, but both Morgana and Merlin knew that she wouldn't continue until they answered correctly. "Yea," Merlin answered. "Right after Arthur and before Fred Doogle."
Gwen nodded excitedly. "Well, when I left the bathroom, I saw both Matt and Arthur talking to these guys. I got a bit closer and I overheard what they said," she sped out.
"The sponsors," Morgana filled in with a nod. They both knew where this was going, or Morgana was ninety percent sure she knew where this was going, but they let Gwen have her fun.
"Yea," Gwen agreed with a blinding smile. "And Matt's getting a scholarship too!" she cheered. "A full ride to any college!"
Morgana's face split into a grin. "That's wonderful!" She turned to Merlin, who was trying to hold in his laughs. "We should take him out and celebrate tonight."
Merlin shook his head. "Nah. Can't do," he said simply. Both girls frowned. How could he be so cold? "His parents are taking him out tonight." He shrugged. "It'll be the first family outing they've had since his father found out he was gay."
Morgana and Gwen frowned. "Oh," Gwen murmured. "Well, that'll be good."
"Tomorrow night then," Morgana amended with a little smile, looking to Merlin for confirmation.
Merlin smiled alongside her. "Tomorrow is good."
…
…
Merlin was cornered by Arthur and three other track team members by his locker on the last day of school before Spring Break. "Sup, Merlin," Arthur greeted, leaning one hand on the lockers to Merlin's left. "It's been awhile. We don't talk enough these days." Matt kept them away too often.
"Hello, Arthur," Merlin greeted calmly in response. "No practice today?"
"Oh there's practice," a senior named Adam said. "But only after we're finished with you."
Adam grabbed Merlin by the collar of his shirt and ripped him forward. Merlin barely managed to stay standing as he was dragged through the hall, surrounded on all sides by jocks. They were nearly outside when suddenly Sophia was standing in front of them.
"Wait," Sophia ordered. There was a stain down the left side of her green skirt and shirt.
"What, are you trying to stand up for this freak?" Arthur asked incredulously. He'd never imagined that would happen.
Sophia shook her head. "Of course not!" she denied almost violently. "But this loser ruined my new clothes and I want to make him pay for it. I'm sick and tired of him messing with me."
Merlin sighed, shutting his eyes. Things were about to get complicated.
Sophia was shoved to the side and standing in her place was the beautiful Vivian. "What?" Sophia questioned.
Vivian glared. "Oh no, I'm not letting that little monster steal the show," she said angrily, jabbing a finger in Merlin's direction. "I did all the work so I'm taking credit. That dirty little nobody couldn't do half of the things I've done."
Arthur shook his head. "But why?" he asked in confusion. Vivian had always seemed so nice. A bit clingy, but nice.
"Vivian believes that Arthur and she will be the perfect couple, have a perfect relationship, and become the perfect husband and wife," Merlin recited dutifully. "Then Sophia appeared at school and stole all her spotlight and attempted to woo Arthur into being her boyfriend. Like the big cats of the African plains, Vivian got territorial and tried to scare Sophia away with petty pranks and traps, but it didn't work. And now they'll both blame me for the failure of their plans and their wardrobes, because everyone should know that Sophia's skirt alone cost four hundred and sixty-two dollars from a French boutique that her father recently bought out just for her, and now it's stained forever."
And if Merlin was feeling a bit territorial too, well no one needed to know that at all.
Vivian and Sophia responded just as Merlin knew they would. Their faces turned red and they advanced on Merlin all at once. "How dare you!" Vivian hissed.
"You little spy!" Sophia shouted. She made a grab for Merlin but her hand was knocked away as yet another person joined the growing mob.
Matthew stood between Merlin and Sophia, facing Merlin. He grabbed Adam's hand and ripped it from Merlin's shirt easily. Morgana and Gwen pushed through the jocks to stand around Merlin protectively as Matthew turned to face Sophia.
"God, you two piss me off," he nearly spat out. Every one of the jocks, including Arthur, dropped their jaws. "Merlin isn't the cause of your problems. It's your own selfishness and vanity that cause your failures. If you want to be angry at anyone, be mad at each other. Don't involve innocent parties in your petty cat fight." He turned on the jocks. "And I told you I wouldn't let you all bully Merlin any more. Something tells me you didn't take me seriously."
By gosh, if Merlin wasn't already head over heels in love with Arthur, he might just develop a crush on Matthew. Merlin could feel how a girl just outside the circle of jocks swooned at just how noble Matt looked in that moment. It was too bad she wasn't his type. Merlin had to hold back a chuckle.
Morgana placed a hand on Merlin's left shoulder. "Come on, Merlin," she ordered softly. "Let's get out of here before we're infected by their idiocy."
Merlin, Matthew, Morgana, and Gwen walked out of the group and outside. No one tried to stop them. About the time the doors shut, Vivian and Sophia began shouting at each other. The track team members quickly dispersed. Cat fights were some of the most violent fights ever. Merlin and company didn't stop walking until they were next to Matthew's car.
"You all didn't have to do that," Merlin said.
Matthew shook his head. "Merlin, you're my friend. Regardless of the reason, they have no right to pick on you. And since we're friends, I'm duty bound to protect you almost." He shrugged. "I want to do it."
"And I never stick up for you," Gwen began. "It felt nice to finally stand next to you and defend you in public, before the danger's over."
Morgana just smiled and didn't say anything. Matthew unlocked his car and then paused. "Merlin," he began, "do you want a ride home?"
Alarm bells went off in Merlin's head. Riding home with Matthew wouldn't be a good idea. Then Matt would know where he lived and would show up whenever he felt like it. Mrs. Collins would let something about Arthur slip and they'd be found out. Matt would try to be supportive, but he wouldn't understand why they did things the way they did. He'd be nicer to Arthur at school, raising suspicions. A few weeks later, he'd let it slip to Morgana and Gwen, and a few days after that he'd accidentally spill the beans while talking to Arthur at practice.
Merlin shook his head. "No thanks. My house isn't that far away," he declined.
"You sure?"
Merlin nodded. "Yea. I like walking anyway."
Matt looked a bit unsure about Merlin's answer, but after a few seconds he let it be. Morgana shrugged and turned to Gwen. "Gwen, do you wanna come to my house?"
Merlin perked up at that idea. He'd never been to Arthur's house. His enthusiasm quickly killed itself. Not now. He would go to Arthur's house at a later date. Now was not the time.
…
…
Arthur laid back in his bed and sighed. His feet were dangling off the side but he didn't care. All he cared about was the mobile phone at his ear. It rang and rang and-
"Hey, Arthur," Merlin greeted easily, happily.
"I'm never going to survive a week without you," Arthur said glumly, shutting his eyes.
Merlin laughed softly. "You know you're father's been planning this family trip for over a month now," he said logically. "There's no way to get out of it. Besides, you can call me at night from the hotel."
Arthur frowned. "And how do you expect me to do that, Mr. Psychic? I'm sharing with Morgana," he half-whined.
Again Merlin laughed, but only once. "You might be surprised." Arthur heard a soft 'thmp' and brought his eyebrows together.
"Are you studying?" he asked incredulously. "Spring Break just started. Why are you studying?" he asked when Merlin didn't answer immediately.
"Mm." Arthur could practically hear Merlin shrugging. "I hadn't read it yet," he said simply, like that explained everything. "Besides, religion is fascinating."
Arthur heard him get up from his desk, the chair squeaking in protest, and snorted. "Sure it is." He shut his eyes. "People bickering back and forth about what God actually wants for us in this life and the next, whether or not there actually is a God, or many gods, how we should praise our lord and master," he groaned. "Why can't we all just agree that we have no damn clue what the big guy wants, or if it even is a guy, and get over it?" he complained.
Merlin let out a hum. "Very judicious of you, dearest," he complimented. Arthur blushed. "Sadly, the world isn't so simple." Arthur heard a deeper 'thmp' and a content sigh. Merlin had dropped into his bed. "Let's talk about something else. How about how much fun you'll have in California?"
Arthur traced the bumps of his ceiling with sullen eyes. "Not nearly as much as I would have if you were with me," he murmured.
There was silence for a long time, with both boys just listening to each other breathe. Merlin took a deep, quiet breath. "At least you'll be in sunny California. The weatherman said it might snow here," he complained teasingly.
Arthur couldn't help the grin that flashed across his face. "I love you, Merlin."
…
…
As dreadful as a week without Merlin was, Arthur got through it. And Merlin was right: it snowed in Camelot. But then the week was out and Arthur and Merlin both looked forward to Monday morning when Arthur could grab Merlin securely by the shoulders and shove him in his locker. Oh the anticipation.
The moment Merlin walked in to the hallway and saw his locker, he knew the morning wasn't going to go as planned. He walked over to his locker hurriedly and put the combination in faster than he ever had before. Just as he opened the locker door, Merlin leaned to the right. The powder bomb flew just over his left shoulder and Merlin winced just before he heard it land behind him.
"Hey!" Adam shouted indignantly. "What the-"
Merlin turned around slowly, and had to hold in a snort of laughter. Adam, along with two other jocks, were standing just about in the middle of the hallway. Adam was covered in pink powder: a blush from Vivian's personal make-up kit. His whole jersey was coated in the rosy make-up. He turned and landed a harsh glare on Merlin.
"Why you little!" Adam rushed Merlin, knocking him almost completely into his still open locker, and grabbed him roughly by the front of his shirt. "You think this is funny? This is my best jersey, you snot! Where do you get off?" he demanded. He grinned. "You know, this is a nice shirt." He rubbed it between his fingers where he was holding on to Merlin. "Trade me."
Now, it wouldn't be the first time a bully had stolen Merlin's shirt or shoes, but right now Merlin really didn't want to give up his clothes. Besides, Adam planned on handing Merlin the pink jersey in return, and then bullying him into washing and returning it and using it against him forever.
"No," Merlin refused.
"What?" Adam shot out, pushing Merlin a bit further into his locker. His shoulder was caught on the edge though, and it was beginning to hurt from the pressure. "How dare-"
"If you wear my shirt and I wear your jersey, everyone'll know," Merlin interrupted calmly. "One person will think perhaps there's something going on between us. Even though no one else thinks so, when that one person tells their friends about their thoughts, ideas will form in two, then three, then a dozen people's minds. Is Adam dating Merlin? You'll deny it. I'll deny it. But the idea will be there in their minds, festering and growing. Those people will talk to other people and soon the whole school will think, somewhere in their minds, that you're gay and dating the school freak show." He never raised his voice, but he could see that his soft tone was getting to Adam just as much as his words. Merlin waited a few heartbeats and then, "So….About trading shirts with me-" he cut himself off purposefully.
Adam grit hit teeth together so hard Merlin could practically hear them cracking. Then he let out a frustrated growl of a sound and shoved Merlin all the way into his locker. He didn't even bother shutting it before walking away. Merlin pulled himself out of his metal cage and watched Adam stomp away, even as he felt Arthur come up behind him with more of the school's athletes.
"What'd you do to Adam?" Arthur asked, bitterness tinting his voice.
Merlin glanced over at the small group of four and gave a noncommittal sound before looking to Adam's retreating back again. "I told him a little fortune," he said in a quiet yet teasing tone.
"Telling more lies?" Dan accused, stepping forward. "You're not too smart, are you?"
"Yea," a football player named Steve agreed. "Most people would've learned by now to keep their trap shut."
There was a high pitched giggle and all the jocks turned around. Merlin just shifted his gaze. Vivian and Sophia stood just off to the side of Arthur and his goons, so close together that they might have been one person. It was Vivian who was laughing.
"He's not very bright," she chuckled. It was almost endearing. "But I suppose not everyone can be as perfect as dear Arthur here, am I right, Sophia?"
Sophia nodded. "Quite. The leagues between Arthur Pendragon and Merlin….I'm sorry, what's your last name again?" Merlin didn't even attempt to answer because he knew she wasn't going to give him time. She continued immediately. "Well, in any case, they are so many in number that it would be like comparing the Moon to the Milky Way."
Arthur raised an eyebrow at them. "You're on the same side?" he asked, trying to mask a bit of his shock.
Sophia nodded. "Yes. We had quite the Spring Break together, working through our differences."
"One thing we realized was that we both agree that Merlin," Vivian half gagged on his name, "is dirt that needs to be swept out." She nodded approvingly for her own comment and crossed her arms over her chest.
Merlin turned and grabbed his bag from his locker, and his book for his second class. He knew his teacher would run over today and that he wouldn't have time to come back to his locker between classes.
"Hey," Steve let out. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked when Merlin hoisted his bag over his shoulder.
Merlin blinked innocently at him. "Class. The bell's gonna ring in six seconds." Exactly six seconds later, the bell chimed through the halls and students began hurrying into their first period classrooms. Merlin shut the metal door of his locker and turned to walk away.
Arthur reached out and caught him by the left shoulder. To most, his grip looked tight, but it was actually quite gentle. "We're not done with you yet, Emrys," he promised seriously. "I'll see you at lunch." Then he released Merlin's shoulder, letting him walk away.
…
…
It was about a month later and Merlin was standing outside of a fast food restaurant with Gwen, Morgana, and Matthew. Matthew chewed idly on one of his remaining fries, his grip of the fry container nearly bending the cardboard.
"So," he began almost casually. "Where do you guys think you'll go to college?"
Merlin was leaning against the glass wall of the restaurant just out of the way of the door with his eyes closed. Morgana and Gwen looked over at Matt in interest. Merlin barely moved a muscle. Matt was staring at his fries and didn't notice either way.
Gwen spoke up first. "Well…If I get the scholarships I've applied to….I was hoping to go to Camelot University. It's the highest rated school in the country, after all."
Merlin nodded without a word. He opened his eyes to see Morgana as she drew herself up to her full height. She tossed her empty drink cup into the trash can nearby. "Obviously, I'll be attending Camelot University as well. My father would have a heart attack if I went anywhere but the best."
"Not to mention they're well known as one of the best in Criminal Justice programs," Merlin quipped helpfully, smiling even as Morgana threw him a 'be quiet' look.
Matthew glanced up at Merlin through his bangs. "You're attending Camelot University as well, then?" he asked sullenly.
Merlin shrugged sheepishly. "Sorry, Matt." He withheld the information about how he already had a full ride scholarship to Camelot University should he hold his GPA when this school year ended (which he would) and that he would go wherever Arthur went, even if it was a school in Russia and cost him everything he had. "But I'm rooting for you, too. You'll do great. And you can always call or email," Merlin offered kindly.
Gwen and Morgana raised eyebrows. "Merlin, what are you talking about?" Gwen asked. "Matt….," she turned to their newest friend, "you're going to Camelot University too, right?" Even though she knew Merlin wouldn't have said otherwise if he was.
The shameful look that crossed Matt's features confirmed it. He wasn't going to the same college as they were. "I got accepted at Leon Knights University, and I've always dreamed of going there and joining their track team so-"
"But that's all the way across the country!" Morgana interrupted loudly. "And you'll be enemies with CU's track team: which will include all your old teammates!"
"We'll never see you again," Gwen added softly.
Merlin shook his head and smiled. "Sure we will. He'll visit during Spring Break, and we have computers too, you know. You can call people, and even see people, through certain instant messengers now. No matter where we go in life, we'll always be friends."
His words comforted them all: Merlin never lied, and he rarely spoke of things he wasn't certain of. If he said it would be alright….then it would be alright.
He smiled brighter. "Besides, we've got a whole other year before we split ways. We can enjoy seeing each other every day for as long as it lasts, and then deal with what comes next once graduation is over."
…
…
As the end of term neared, Morgana began talking to her counselor a lot more. She set herself up for a few AP courses for senior year. Gwen was with her counselor a lot too. Merlin was the first to hear she'd gotten all the scholarships she'd applied for, except one. Morgana hosted a party to celebrate…at the Pendragon house.
Morgana picked both Gwen and Merlin up in her car, but Matthew drove himself. Arthur was in the kitchen, leaning against the counter and munching on Doritos from the bowl on the island, when they all walked in. Morgana frowned.
"Jesus, Arthur, can't you find your own food instead of eating our party snacks?" she complained, placing her hands on her hips.
Gwen shook her head with a good natured smile. "It's alright, Morgana. There's plenty of food here. I don't mind if Arthur eats some," she insisted.
Morgana let out a huff of air through her nose. Merlin gave a little smile, folded his hands behind his head, and leaned against the kitchen door frame. "Morgana just wishes Arthur would ask before eating the food she put together for her friends."
Everyone turned to look at Merlin, even Arthur. Then all eyes, save Arthur's, turned to the rest of the food in the kitchen. The marble countertops were covered in food. There were three bowls with different kinds of chips, a tray of hand chopped vegetables and handmade dipping sauce, a serving plate of cubes of meats and cheeses with toothpicks in them, a large bowl of salad with tongs and several dressings next to it, and a basket of warm, fresh rolls.
Morgana sighed and gave a half-shrug. "It's true. I also wish Arthur weren't such a pig too, though," she joked, lightening the mood.
Arthur frowned while the others gave little chuckles. Merlin lowered his arms and cast Arthur a light smile and Arthur had to fight to keep his frown in place. In truth, he'd only been eating the food because he was nervous and the food was there. When Morgana told him she was bringing Merlin, Gwen, and Matthew over (only so she could tell him off and make sure he'd behave himself), Arthur had lost his breath. Merlin was coming to his house! Only after Merlin assured him that everything would be fine had he calmed down, but he couldn't help but feel nervous. He let out a forced laugh that caught the attention of the other three people in the room besides him and Merlin.
"Whatever. You geeks enjoy your food," he scoffed, shoving his hands in his pockets and leaving the room. He paused at the door, almost elbow to elbow with Merlin, and turned to face Matthew. "Great job at the competition last week," he said with a nod.
Matthew blinked. "Yea," he accepted with a nod in return. "You, too. After all, you got first place."
Arthur shrugged but didn't say anything. Instead, he spun on his heel, his elbow tapping Merlin's in the process, and vanished from view. Merlin turned a bit to watch Arthur head down the hall and up the stairs. He blinked as the feeling of realization that was not his own struck through him and turned fluidly back around to face his friends. His eyes focused on Matthew, but Matt was stepping up to the salad and picking up the tongs.
"So, let's start, shall we?" he asked with a bright grin. "I don't know about you girls, but I'm starving!"
Merlin's eyes widened slightly while Gwen's jaw dropped. Morgana blinked and chuckled. "So, what? Merlin's a woman now?" She turned to grin at Merlin. "Something you're not telling us, dearest Merlin?"
Merlin grinned in return and shrugged. "Mmm, you never know," he joked back without missing a beat. Gwen gave a laugh while Matthew and Morgana snickered lightly in the background.
As they all moved to collect some food and get the 'party' started, Merlin let his curious eyes follow Matt's movements.
This wouldn't be too bad.
…
…
It was ten at night. The party was over. Gwen was eighty percent asleep in the front seat of Morgana's car, holding her seatbelt like it was a favorite stuffed animal. Morgana shut the passenger door and turned to face Merlin.
"Alright. Let's get going, Merlin," she announced in an authoritative tone of voice.
Merlin shook his head. "Nah. I'm not tired and it's a beautiful night. I feel like walking home."
Morgana raised a curious eyebrow, as did Matthew. "Really? You sure?" she asked.
"Yea." Merlin nodded, slipping his hands behind his back. "It's not that far away. I'll be fine."
For a few moments, Morgana kept her eyes trained on Merlin's. Then she seemed to decide that he knew what he was doing and shrugged in acceptance before moving to the other side of the car. "I'll see you both at school Monday!" she called before slipping into the car and turning it on.
Both boys waved until she was out of sight. Merlin lowered his hand with a gentle smile. "Do you want to talk about it…or should I guess?"
Matthew visibly flinched next to Merlin, his head snapping sideways to look at the shorter teen. He stared for a few seconds, and Merlin could feel the way his mind was racing and trying to decide how to react. Merlin kept his eyes forward toward where Morgana's car had been, the smile on his face never wavering.
The silence of the night was broken, finally, by Matt. "You," he started, but stopped. He took a deep breath and tried again. "You're gay too."
The statement was simple; not accusatory but confused. Merlin turned his head and locked eyes with Matthew. He'd spent the whole party feeling this moment out until he couldn't feel any more. With a small nod, Merlin softly said, "Yes."
Even though he'd been the one to say it, Matthew's eyes still widened at the admission. "And….the one you like…," he trailed off, his gaze turning hopeless.
Merlin cast his eyes to the side and nodded slowly. "Matthew," he said as if stopping someone from walking away, and he was. Matthew was retreating emotionally and he had to stop him. It worked. "I may not have any romantic feelings toward you," he began, and Matthew tensed, "but someone out there does." He locked gazes with Matt again and gave an encouraging smile. "You'll find them and you will love him far more than you care for me."
Unlike Gwen and Morgana, Matthew wasn't to the point where he assumed everything Merlin said was a prophecy. He still looked lost after Merlin's words. "You're just telling me the same thing my mother's told me since I was a kid…What everyone's parent tells them. But what if I don't find them? I like you! I've thought it was impossible to hope, but it's not, because you're like me. So what's wrong with us being together?" he asked heartfully, his gaze sad and his emotions raging.
Merlin frowned. He took the step between them and wrapped his arms around Matt's shoulders. Matthew didn't hesitate before his arms were around Merlin too. He squeezed Merlin tight and Merlin let out a soft sigh near Matthew's ear. "Everyone has a perfect match, Matt. We search forever simply trying to find them….While most people only find someone that is a partial match to their heart, you're different. Before you're out of college, you'll have found your perfect love. I promise." He tightened his hold on Matt a bit and tilted his mouth closer to Matt's ear. "Just keep your nose out and you'll find them soon."
Merlin stepped back away from Matt and the taller, darker teen let him. Merlin could feel Matthew's tumultuous feelings but knew he believed what Merlin had told him. He started backing away slowly, keeping his eyes fixed on Matt's. After a few steps, he raised a finger to his lips and gave a tiny smile.
"Keep this between us, ok?" Merlin asked needlessly. "Morgana would have a fit if she knew I liked her brother."
Matthew watched him take another step backward before nodding. "Yea. Sure….Hey, Merlin!" he asked louder.
Merlin stopped walking and nodded, lowering his finger. "If you find him, I'll let you know. But you have to ask," he said like it was a condition. "You'll probably know without asking though, so don't worry."
Without waiting another moment, Merlin turned away from Matthew and began walking down Dackling Road toward his house. Matthew stood there for several more moments before he managed to make himself leave the Pendragon house. But he left feeling hope growing in his chest. After all, Merlin said it, so it must be true.
What did he mean by 'keep his nose out' though?
…
…
Matthew traveled to Leon Knights University that summer to check out the school he'd be attending soon and to get a feel for the area. His parents paid for his hotel room and stayed with him during the trip, but left him to his own devices during the day. Morgana attended a summer camp type institution about criminal justice. They were both gone for a month. Merlin spent a lot of time at Gwen's house, helping her study and just generally hanging out. Arthur spent that time training.
Arthur spent a week in Ealdor with Merlin and his mom. Any time Merlin wasn't with Gwen in Camelot was spent at home with Arthur. It wasn't the most exciting or adventure filled summer, but both teens enjoyed it for its simplicity and calm.
And that was how Merlin Emrys and Arthur Pendragon began their senior year at Camelot High School.