CHAPTER 16 : PLAYING TOURISTS

As they got into the lift, Arthur said, "Yours or mine?"

Merlin smiled "Mine if you like but we'll have to take turns on the bed as it is rather narrow."

"Not ideal! Anyway, my TV's larger and we can watch it before going to bed." He pushed three on the panel and the lift carried them up. At the door Arthur held out his key saying, "Yours or mine?"

Merlin laughed and the next thing he knew he was inside with Arthur holding him against the closed door and just looking at him. "Honestly, I can't believe that someone as perfect as you, is with me. I tried so hard to find you after the rainstorm but no luck…" He kissed Merlin gently and smiled as he felt Merlin's lips smile against his. "I think you and I are going to have lots of fun together. I can't wait to take you back to London, introduce you to my friends and show you all my favourite places, then return to my place…just the two of us."

Merlin slipped his hands around Arthur's neck saying, "Swansea is very nice as well." He kissed him and there was silence for a few minutes.

Then Arthur said teasingly, "If you like swans and the sea."

Merlin retorted proudly, "No, there's lots of other things…we have a premium league football team, we have miles of spectacular coastline and beaches, including Rhossill and a real castle. Dylan Thomas used to live in the Uplands and you could go to Oystermouth Castle nearby to a play or medieval sports."

"I believe you, Merlin I was only teasing."

"We could stay at my place, I know my Mam would let you sleep on the couch."

Arthur looked offended, "…the couch?"

"Well, you can hardly expect her to give up her bed can you?"

"What about yours?"

"Only if you plan to be on your best behaviour as my Mam's room is next door."

Arthur told Merlin what type of behaviour he had in mind and Merlin blushed. Arthur said, "Merlin, do you always blush so beautifully?"

"Arthur, it isn't funny. It's the bane of my life. School was awful, my friends got used to it but I can't hide my feelings as it gives me away. I get embarrassed by something and I can feel the warmth on my face. I've never been any good at lying as stress also triggers it, so I always try to be as truthful as possible that way I blush less often."

"Good thing you're not a second-hand car dealer. You'd be hopeless. Maybe, I will take it upon myself to teach you to lie convincingly!" Merlin gave him a punch on his arm. "No, I'm serious, just white lies that make people feel more comfortable."

"Arthur, I have no intention of taking private lessons in remedial lying." He grinned adding, "Even if you, Oh Great One, are the teacher…" but he got no further as Arthur started to kiss the shell of his ears causing Merlin to shudder.

"Come on, let's get changed and we'll watch a movie."

Unlike Arthur who knew where his clothes were, Merlin took time as he had to search for his. He turfed all the stuff out of his overnight bag and found what he was looking for. He stuffed everything back reminding himself that he'd have to go back to his flat to get clothes for tomorrow. So by the time he was ready, Arthur was ensconced on one of the large leather couches.

As Netflix was not yet available in France, he had a VPN allowing him to bypass the 'geo-targeting' by using a remote server which used his IP to show that he was currently in London, so he was searching through titles.

Merlin walking in made a beeline for the other couch and stretched himself out on it so he could see the TV. Arthur finally looked up, slightly disappointed as his idea had been that they'd share one couch and enjoy not only the movie but being next to each other. He said nothing.

Although they had agreed upon the movie, ten minutes into it Merlin was bored. He looked over at Arthur who seemed engrossed, "May I get myself a drink, Arthur?"

"Sure go ahead, no need to ask, you know where the kitchen is."

Merlin turned saying, "Do you want something?"

"Maybe a bottle of water…"

Returning with a bottle of water, Merlin walked over to Arthur's couch saying, "Only one bottle so we will have to share it and also the couch, I guess."

Arthur's face lit up into a smile, "Finally!"

"Finally what?"

"I wanted you with me over here."

"Why didn't you ask?" Merlin said.

"Because I didn't want to seem demanding."

"Well, move over because demanding or not, the movie sucks and I'm sure that we can think of something more entertaining to do." He climbed over Arthur so he was between him and the back of the couch. He felt safe and secure, squeezed into Arthur's side.

Arthur shoved over and there was plenty of room for him. Merlin snuggled there and sighed. He loved the feel of Arthur against him and was almost in heaven when Arthur slipped his arm around him and blew on the shell of his ear before kissing it. He managed to get one of his legs between Arthur's and their feet entwined. They lay in silence, Merlin trying to understand why his ears had never felt this sensitive before.

Arthur hummed against it and Merlin shuddered. "Like it?" he said. Merlin nodded but turned his head so that Arthur's lips landed on his mouth the next time. The kisses became deeper with Merlin matching Arthur's every move. "Look at me!" said Arthur.

"I can't, we're too close and then I'm looking cross-eyed and everything is fuzzy."

"When we're not kissing…"

Merlin moved his head back slightly and Arthur took advantage of his exposed neck and traced down it with his tongue.

He was being very careful, controlling himself as he knew that if he lost control Merlin would have been on his back ten minutes ago. He had decided that the feelings which he had for Merlin were different. He could only equate it with the feeling of love as apposed to lust. It was new to Merlin and he had an overwhelming desire to protect him. As strange as it sounded, he felt that he was a special gift, a person whom he not only idolised but for whom he would be willing to go to the ends of the earth to protect and love. The companionship was special and he felt that when the time came to ask Merlin for more, the love between them would be sincere and strong.

He had been with others who were demanding never giving a thought to what he would have liked but he remembered one boy, his first real boyfriend who had made him feel not only wanted but respected. He wanted that for Merlin the warm feeling of someone thinking of you not only themselves and caring about how you felt. He smiled, remembering telling that boy that he would make a wonderful teacher and his friend had responded with 'But only because you are a perfect pupil.'

"Arthur, where were you? You've been miles away smiling. What were you thinking about?"

"Predominantly you and how you make me feel. I feel so special that you willingly left that other couch and come to share mine even if it was a necessity as there was only one bottle of water."

Merlin huffed and Arthur looked at the slight tinge of colour which was spreading across his cheeks. "All right," said Arthur, "Either you lied or I have embarrassed you."

"Right on both counts! There is plenty of water in the fridge and I'm embarrassed because I didn't tell the truth that I wanted to share your couch from the very beginning."

Arthur burst out laughing, "Merlin, you're going to be the death of me!"

Merlin stiffened and he could see a dark place, friends being torn apart, one almost dead and the other to live forever. He shivered.

Arthur felt the change in him and said, "Are you alright?"

"Yes, must have been someone crossing my grave…" He snuggled deeper into Arthur who held him tightly until he relaxed and the feelings passed. He finally tilted his head and kissed Arthur below his ear. It made Arthur shudder but Merlin went one further and licked the shell of his ear and blew gently. The feeling of air across his ear hole jolted through Arthur. He smiled letting Merlin have his way. The nibbling, sucking and kissing was sending him crazy. Suddenly Merlin pulled away and said, "I love your ears, Arthur!"

Arthur smiled before straightening up and saying, "Would you like to have a little more fun in bed?" Merlin nodded.

-0-0-

It was a race in the morning to get ready as Merlin ran upstairs for a shower and to get fresh clothes. He met Arthur in his flat afterwards.

"Maybe I should give you a set of drawers and one of the extra wardrobes. You could then move your clothes here and save running up and down stairs." Merlin didn't answer immediately. Arthur's heart dropped and he said, "No pressure, Merlin, it was just an idea…take as long as you need but just remember that I would happily welcome you as a flatmate."

Smiling slightly Merlin said, "I think bedmate would be a better definition." Arlene looked up hopefully as Merlin continued with, "Can I have time to think about it, it seems an awfully big step?" His heart was bouncing all over the place…Arthur wanted him to move in with him. He was thrilled, so excited but also a little worried. What would happen to him if it didn't work out…and…one day Arthur fell for someone else and asked him to move out? He'd die. He'd never felt so close to anyone else in his life. It was as if he were orbiting around a sun, always close, drawn to the heat and not afraid of burning up. He smiled at Arthur and said, "I promise, I will let you know in a few days."

He needed to talk to Leon, this was happening so fast and he was spiralling out of control towards Arthur. He didn't think of it as falling, as Arthur would catch him but there was a little fear involved with taking that big step. He'd have to spend some time away from Arthur and think out all the ramifications, difficult really as he felt lost and insignificant when he was alone. He smiled he had never felt like that before, always quite happy being a loner but now he had a dependency on Arthur which was fulfilling but rather overwhelming. He didn't want to be a satellite to anyone he wanted to be on equal footing and then he looked at Arthur and smiled.

Arthur held open the car door and nodded for Merlin to get in. Merlin smiled, his mother would have appreciated Arthur's good manners. He really wanted her to meet Arthur…Gaius as well. He felt sure that they would both like him and hopefully approve of his choice of a boyfriend.

Gaius had been so supportive when he had told him that he was drawn more to boys than girls. He had answered all his questions and given him the courage to tell his mother. He knew by the way her eyes filled up that she was worried. She'd told him that he had her support and nothing could change the way she loved him. He knew that she was worried that he would face hostility and prejudice. She'd said, "Merlin, Gaius and I will always be here for you. I know you will be sensible and choose your friends carefully. Just know that I'm proud of you!" She had wrapped her arms around and they stayed that way locked in the love that only a parent can give a child. He sniffed…

"Hope you're not coming down with a cold?" a voice said.

He turned smiled at Arthur and said, "Not me! I'm as healthy as an ox and germs are frightened of me." He then sneezed and Arthur burst out laughing at the look of surprise on his face.

-0-0-

Work progressed as normal. Some days were stressful and others less. Finally after the fiasco of the earlier months, everything settled down and it was business as usual. More often than not, Arthur and Lance joined Gawaine, Tom and he at lunch. If time permitted they went out and as the weather was improving they sat on one of the patios of the local restaurants. Merlin felt more comfortable holding Arthur's hand outside work. The restaurant on the twenty-first floor was great but with department heads and their superiors wandering in and out Merlin was nervous. Arthur had finally twigged and suggested that whenever possible they eat away from the building.

Merlin loved Paris in the good weather, everywhere reminded him of photos he'd seen in travel brochures and TV shows. Saturdays, Arthur and he used to walk around playing at being tourists. Their favourite trick was to latch on to a group of tourists who had a guided tour and they would smile at the members of the group and listen to the guide. Merlin always carried his camera and was forever taking shots. A couple of times, they'd be turfed from the group but usually they were not discovered, even chatting to the other people on the tour.

Arthur smiled, people seemed to take to Merlin especially the elderly ladies and on one occasion they were invited to join a husband and wife for lunch as they had presumed that they belonged to their tour. He knew that it was Merlin who was the magnet. He just seemed to know what to say to older people and they told him all about their families and grandsons. It felt strange but if Arthur had been asked how he felt about that he would have answered without hesitation…proud!

Arthur had insisted on paying for the lunch and the gentleman had reciprocated by offering to pay when they got to Rome. Merlin had angelically said, "Richard, that is very kind of you. We would love to accept wouldn't we, Arthur?"

Arthur had nodded. Day by day, the love which he had for this other person was growing stronger and he was beginning to forget what life had been like without Merlin at his side.

That night he had said to Merlin, "…and do you have any grandsons or granddaughters? You must miss seeing them while you are away in Europe."

Merlin snuggled into his chest and said, "One year in school, we had a teacher who told us that the best way to keep a conversation going was to put yourself in the other person's shoes. I did just that. They had grandchildren whom they were obviously proud of so, why not give them the opportunity to share their joy."

"…and are you going to meet them for supper in Rome?"

"What and leave you all on your lonesome? I think I'll give Richard and Nancy a pass." Merlin had become a little more demanding as the weeks had passed and he ran his hand down to Arthur's waist band and pulled him towards him. He had his own way of getting Arthur hot and flustered and he smiled happily as Arthur responded.