Merlin continued his day out, driving around the cluttered streets of Camelot, taking in the sights and sounds.

Arthur needed to clear his head. Being around his father was making him nervous, sure he was about to spill something. He made a cheap excuse to get away from the house, anywhere. Of course if he used his car his father would check the milage and see that he was avoiding him, so he went on foot. He enjoyed the bustling sidewalks of Camelot. There were florists, more like girls with baskets, selling their wares to anyone who would listen, men in suits hurrying to offices, dames leisurely strolling with their man. Arthur took it all in with pleasure, simply wishing he could be normal, and not have been raised in a house of crime.

As he was strolling about he recognized scarlet Mercer Series 5, belonging to a certain Merlin Emrys. The car was parked outside some business offices, probably one of Merlin's fronts, Arthur guessed.

Merlin had stopped to visit more of his friends, and upon exiting the building he found a familiar face admiring his car.

"Hello there," he said, a crooked smile on his lips.

Arthur turned in shock, he hadn't meant to get caught here. "Ni-nice car."

Merlin smiled, the man seemed flustered, and he thought that it was adorable. "Thanks, care for a drive? I was just headed to The Rising Sun, myself, and I wouldn't mind some company."

Arthur nodded.

The Rising Sun was a small cafe located near the center of town. It was almost afternoon, and the cafe had settled into a quiet buzz. The morning rush was over, and a few regulars were coming in for lunch.

"Emrys," a pretty waitress said with a big smile. "Who's your friend?"

"Freya, this is Arthur. Arthur Freya," he said with a wry smile.

"I take it you'll want your usual?" she asked cheerily.

"Sounds lovely Freya, and whatever he wants," Merlin hadn't even looked at the menu.

Arthur set it down and ordered a sandwich and coffee. With another smile she whisked away the papers and floated off.

Merlin caught Arthur staring at her. "She's pretty, yeah?"

"Hm?" Arthur looked as if his hand had been caught in a cookie jar. "How do you know her?"

"She's my ward," Merlin replied.

"But –"

"What? We look about the same age?" Arthur nodded. "Well you see we were childhood friends, her and I. Ever since I came to Camelot we'd been real close. Well when her parents were arrested she moved in with my mom and I. They were charged and killed, and my mom died –"

Arthur flushed. He hadn't meant to pry. "I'm sorry."

Merlin smiled sadly. "It's alright. Freya is a little younger than I, and so I became her guardian. Well not legally, but I look out for her."

"And are you interested in her?" asked Arthur, hoping Emrys said no.

"I was, when I was younger. But I realized we aren't right for each other. Anyway I try to keep her out of this part of my life."

Arthur understood. He hated to see his loved ones get hurt in the business.

Merlin seemed to shake off any darkness around him, and his crooked smile tugged at his lips. "So Arthur, what do you do for a living."

Arthur froze. He hadn't been preparing for this contingency, not this early at least. "Uh I sell stocks."

Merlin nodded. "Don't know much about them myself, but Elyan does. Perhaps you should talk to him sometime."

Arthur nodded even though he knew that if he talked to Elyan he'd be screwed. "It's a fair enough trade."

Merlin nodded. Just looking at Arthur gave him the impression of a stocks broker. Arthur wore the finest suits, and his hair was always perfectly styled, unlike Merlin's own. There was an air of goodness, legalness, around the chap. Something Merlin found refreshing.

"And you? How's the business going?" Arthur asked.

Freya came by then, bringing plates heaped with food. "Here you boys go. Will you be wanting anything else."

"No thank you Freya," Merlin said with utter politeness and respect. She bobbed a little curtsey and left.

"Let's not talk business. Not here," Merlin looked about anxiously, before biting into his food.

Arthur seemed to understand, and following his lead, took a huge bite of sandwich. The food was perfectly done, the bread was crispy and the cheese melted in his mouth. They ate mostly in silence. Arthur couldn't help but notice how ravenous the man in front of him was. It was as if he never got enough meals.

Merlin was skinny. That could certainly not be doubted. Everything about him was so angular, so opposite to Arthur. There was something about the boy that drew the heir to the Pendragon Syndicate to him. Every feature of Merlin's told a story, those bony cheekbones, wild hair. Arthur was curious. He led a daring life, and yet it all seemed mundane compared to Emrys. Everything seemed beige when he was in his father's appartments, but with the Druid with him the world was reds and blues. A world full of color.

"Oi, prat, are you alright?"

Arthur jumped, the voice startled him. "What did you call me?"

Merlin swallowed, he hadn't meant to call the stock broker, a man with a legal job, a prat. It had slipped out. "Nothing."

Arthur's eyes narrowed. "Tell me, in your spare time do you just like to make up names for me."

"No," Merlin lied.

"Tell me a few," Arthur sat back with a smug expression.

Merlin sighed. He and Gwaine had gotten really drunk the other night, and had begun bashing Arthur. Well it mostly had been Merlin, Gwaine was too busy laughing at him.

"Well there's clotpole, dollophead, cabbage-head, turnip-head, and er Gwaine calls you princess," Merlin muttered. When he looked up Arthur wasn't angry, well not really.

Arthur wore a look of surprise. "Is you life so dull that you spend your time making up rude names for me?"

"Only when I'm drunk."

Arthur blushed, he didn't even want to think about a drunk Merlin. Cheeks flushed, hands being needy, grabbing his hair and arms. Grabbing everything. Those pouty lips on his own, tasting like champagne...Arthur shook his head. Why was he even thinking those things?

Freya came up, all mirth, laughter bubbling from her lips. "What's this, is Emrys being mean to you?"

Merlin blushed, "you heard that?"

"Half the cafe heard you two," she smiled. "Can I get you boys anything else? Dessert?"

"I think it's best if we go," Merlin said opening his check book.

They paid and departed.

"Where are we going now?" Arthur asked.

"Come, I want to take you to my favorite part of the city," Merlin said getting into his car.

They drove for hours, far away from the bustle of Camelot and its neighboring cities. Arthur snorted, "I thought you were showing me your favorite part of the city."

Merlin just hummed to the radio, a smile on his face. Soon they reached the south most tip of county. A large lake spread before them.

"I come out here to think," Merlin said looking at the calm waters.

Unintentionally they had arrived at sunset, the sun cast beautiful designs in the water.

"What's that building?" Arthur asked. He was referring to a tower that was tumbling down on an island at the center of the lake.

"Dunno, been there for forever."

They sat in silence.

Once the sun had set, an air of awkwardness sunk into the car nestling its way between them.

"We better go back," Arthur said almost regretfully.

Merlin nodded, the silence was soon filled with the sound of the ignition. Arthur turned to glance at the lake one more time. "What's this place called?"

"Avalon."

Arthur looked at it, and felt a chill on the back of his neck. He felt he would return, and when he did it wouldn't be in happy times as these.

Mmmm cliffhanger. Also notice how they are starting to fall for each other? Well sort of. Anyway I finally have an idea for where this story is going. Please review! Thank you to those who have. ~T.W.o.W.