"Wanna dance?"

Arthur turned, shocked expression on his face. There stood his best friend Merlin, blushing a very deep color.

They were at the fifth grade school dance, where no one really did any dancing. The most people did was bop their heads to the music. It was casual (trying getting a bunch of ten-to-eleven year olds to dress up without a "real" reason) and nobody seemed to be having fun. The DJ had started to play some slow songs as the night drew on.

"As friends, of course!" Merlin said quickly, his face way too red. At the beginning of the year, they learned what "gay" meant and they both didn't want the popular kids to pick on them just because of one dance. "Look, some of the girls are doing it!"

Arthur looked, and sure enough, some very giggly girls were doing a mock tango or salsa with each other. With further investigation, he saw Percival and Gwaine trying to slow dance, with Lancelot and Gwen copying their moves. Morgana was off sulking in a corner and Elyan was trying to get Leon to go and talk to her.

Arthur smiled. "Sure." He grabbed Merlin by the waist and pushed him onto the dance floor. The raven's breathing ceased for a moment before he smiled and snaked his arms around his blonde friend's shoulders. "You know Merlin," Arthur said, after a moment or two. "You're not that bad of a dancer."

Merlin smiled. "Thanks. You're not too bad yourself."

The blonde suddenly felt strange. Merlin…..Merlin, he looked, well, beautiful. His blue eyes were sparkling with excitement and happiness. His hair, oh his hair, was shining and dark as night. His face wasn't formed as a model's would be, but it was somehow perfect. Merlin was also a really great person too. He was always smiling, always there for his friends, and was one of the kindest people Arthur had ever met. Arthur suddenly realized what was happening.

"Even though it used to seem so wrong
I've taken you for granted for far too long
I'm falling right into the denouement
And now I'm breaking ground."

The music playing even seemed to sense his mood. The blonde pulled his friend closer, a heavy blush covering his face.

"Even though I felt it from the start
It's only now were beating with one heart
I'm sure that now it's the time
'Cause I know that I'm…"

Merlin was oblivious to what was taking place in Arthur's heart. The blonde leaned in, eyes closed.

"I'm coming around."

The song ended and the spell was broken. Their lips were inches apart. Arthur opened his eyes to find Merlin very red, but with a smile on his face. The blonde broke free, but kept an arm around his friend. The walked off the dance floor and collapsed in some seats. Merlin rested his head on Arthur's shoulder (as was normal for one of them to do to each other; personal space was not an issue) and the blonde's heart froze.

"M-Merlin," Arthur managed out. The raven looked up at him, eyes soft and smile inviting. Arthur squeezed his friend tighter and took his hand in his. The blonde suddenly wasn't in control of what he was doing. With a shaking hand, he brought Merlin's up to his mouth and pressed a sweet, innocence kiss to it.

Realization hit Arthur like a ton of bricks, but instead of being disgusted or showing any emotion besides a small blush and sigh, Merlin didn't do anything.

After a few minutes of just holding Merlin, blue eyes met Arthur's. "Want to get out of here?" Merlin asked, mischief laid in his voice. Arthur nodded, glad he hadn't mentioned what had just taken place. Heart still beating rapidly, the blonde stood up and followed the raven.

Merlin and Arthur sneaked past the chaperons' harpy eyes and slinked out the door, thick as thieves. They laughed about how they were probably going to get in trouble later and how their friends would be jealous that they hadn't been invited. Walking and gazing at stars, they found themselves in the glow of the town convenience store. Pulling money out of their pockets and pooling it together, they found they had enough for two Cokes. They walked in causally, as if they were not some fifth graders that just escaped the horror of school dances.

They headed to the back, where the fridges were, and got out two drinks. A voice suddenly called out. "Merlin?"

The boy turned, eyes wide. A look of brief terror flickered across his face, but was soon masked into indifference. "Cenred," he said back, nodding, then added in a whispered side note to Arthur, "He's my step-father."

Arthur nodded and the man Cenred came over. He smiled widely at both of them and fondly ruffled Merlin's hair. "Aren't you supposed to be at the dance?" he jokingly asked, eyebrows raised. Before Merlin could answer, Cenred laughed. "I was like that as a boy; always sneaking off. You're alright, Merlin." He suddenly noticed Arthur. "And you must be Arthur. Merlin's always going on and on about you." He smiled.

Arthur just returned the smile and nodded back. Cenred seemed nice enough.

"I want you home early tonight, Merly," continued Merlin's step-father. Again, the slightest bit of terror crossed his face, but was soon covered up. The raven's breathing hiked up when Cenred called him "Merly." He apprehensively eyed the beer's his step-father held.

"Okay," Merlin said, voice empty of any emotion. "I'll be there at my usual time."

Cenred nodded and gave them on last smile before paying for his liquor and buying a box of cigarettes. Merlin's mask broke and, out of the blue, hugged Arthur very tightly. He pulled away and acted like nothing happened.

"Merlin-" Arthur started uncertainly. His friend just shook his head.

"C'mon," Merlin mumbled. "Let's get out of here."

They paid for their Cokes and walked out, planning on going to the park. On the trip over, Merlin held Arthur's hand briefly and gave him a look filled with affection. The blonde's heart wouldn't stop beating loudly and the blush would never leave his face. They collapsed under their tree and Merlin snuggled up to Arthur.

"Arthur," Merlin breathed out. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For being my best friend."

"Merlin," Arthur said tenderly. "Thank you. For being my best friend."

It was a few days later when Arthur heard it.

"Faggot." They whispered, pointing their fingers and laughing. It wasn't even directed at him.

"Merlin Emrys," they would sneer. "What a faggot."

Arthur knew this would be aimed at him too. He had danced with Merlin at the dance. He had kissed his best friend's hand. But his father had influence in this school, so they were dared not to say anything. So they picked on Merlin.

"Hey, fag!" Cedric cried, throwing a paper ball at Merlin's head. The raven ignored him. Arthur wasn't here to help get him out of this situation. "Fag!"

Merlin walked on, but was soon face to face with the giant form of Valiant, another bully. He sucked in a breath and put on a bored expression.

"Hello Valiant, hello Cedric. I know you're just going to call me a fag and try to make me feel like it's the worst thing that could happen in the world, but honestly it's the truth; I'm a fag," he said, rolling his eyes as they gawped. Actually, Merlin wasn't entirely sure if he was, but he had the feeling he would be.

"He even admits it!" Cedric cried. "The gay-wad admits it!"

Valiant smiled maliciously and cracked his knuckles. He suddenly pulled Merlin by the neckerchief, the one Arthur had given him all those years ago. "He didn't need to admit it!" said the bully. "This fag-scarf says it all!" Merlin felt himself being pushed into the wall. Valiant was very close to him now. "But we can fix that."

Hands suddenly pulled him away, freeing Merlin. A voice was screaming in the empty hallway. "Take it back! Take it back, you son of a bitch!"

Arthur.

The blonde was currently holding back Valiant as Cedric held his bloody nose. Arthur pulled back his fist. "And it's not a scarf." He punched. "It's – a – neckerchief!"

Arthur turned to Merlin eyes saying an unspoken massage; run now, they bounce back hard. Merlin nodded and took a few steps away before Arthur followed him. They ran.

"This was all my fault," Merlin sadly said when they were a safe distance away.

"It's their fault," Arthur declared. "They are just two big assholes."

Merlin shook his head again. "It's mine. If I wasn't-"

Arthur stopped him. "Never apologize for who you are."

Merlin smiled and Arthur took his hand, noticing how the raven winced when he did so. The blonde raised his eyebrows and rolled up Merlin's shirt sleeve.

"Merlin – did-did they do that?" he asked, horror and fury slashing through him. Merlin's arm was purple from all the bruises there.

Merlin shook his head, eyes very wide. "N-n-n-no. I f-f-f-fell down the s-s-stairs."

"Merlin."

The raven shook his head. "I fell down the stairs," he whispered.

"I'll kill them," Arthur snarled.

"They didn't do," the raven whispered. "I fell down the stairs."

"Are you sure?"

Merlin sighed and closed his eyes. "Yes."

"Merlin-"

"I fell down the damn stairs, okay?!" Merlin exploded. He then burst into tears and launched himself at Arthur. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry for everything!"

"Merlin, you haven't done anything worth apologizing for!"

The raven stopped, but pulled Arthur tighter. "Then why? Why does he-" Merlin stopped, looking very stricken.

"Merlin?" Arthur tried again. Merlin shook his head against the blonde's chest. His eyes were closed. "Merlin?"

"Shhhhh," he said back, in almost a determined way. "Quiet, I'm trying to listening to your heartbeat."

"Why?"

"Because." There was suddenly a small, sad smile on Merlin's face. "It makes everything better."

"It-it does?"

Merlin nodded and kept his ear on the left side of Arthur chest. "When we have a sleepover and I have a nightmare, I wake up and just under my ear is a thumping noise; your heartbeat. We something bad happens, you pull me close to your chest and wrap your arms around me. I can then hear your heartbeat. It lets me know you're alive and real. It always makes everything better. You always make everything better."

A/N: Blaaaarg! It took me at least three tries and several days to get this one right! And I'm still not so sure about it...Oh, well!

I know what you're thinking; Cenred seems okay, not like he's abusive. WRONG! Never judge a book by it's cover.

And thank you sooo much to all the reviewers! May the magics be with you and may they ever be in your favor! *makes Vulcan "live long and prosper" hand motion*