Chapter 1 Part 2-
"It's a reporter. You know what to do boys"
Merlin didn't understand the context of the situation. What did that man mean? Was this some sort of slang? Should he be afraid of this man? He was already afraid of this man, but he decided to be brave and calmly explain the situation at hand. He gulped.
"Does this suit really look like a reporters? I really tried my hardest to look like one of you…"
'City folk' he wanted to end his sentence with city folk, but Merlin got to nervous and started to laugh. He decided to look back up at the man to find that he hadn't moved a muscle. He definitely was not taking it. He decided to try again as he watched the two men behind the scary alley man shift slowly towards him.
"Is this the Camelot hotel?..."
Merlin wanted to say more. He wanted to say that he was hired to work there. But the intense glare of the alley man stopped him, and he just stood there, gripping the straps of his bag prepared to defend himself even if that meant running away like a coward.
The Alley Man snapped his fingers and pointed towards the boy and immediately the men started to stalk forward towards the terrified Merlin.
"He knows too much, let's take him for a drive" He smiled a crooked and cocky grin at the boy before his goons quickly grabbed the retreating Merlin and then he spun away towards the crates of alcohol to stomp on his cigarette and let out one last long puff. It's been a while since he had gotten to play.
Merlin didn't know where he was. Wherever he was had a cold floor and a sticky atmosphere that he didn't like. He decided to look back to try and figure out why he was here. The last thing he remembered before the alley man's goons knocked him out was the alley man saying something about taking Merlin for a drive. At least that didn't sound too bad. They weren't planning on killing him, or so he hoped. With an old velvet bag that reeked of rum tied over his head and his arms and legs tied up, being hopeful was the only thing he could do.
Suddenly he heard a creak of a door open to the left of him and a mixture of relief and fear ran through him. Maybe they realized their mistake and were going to release him? Or maybe they came to knock him off. Merlin was hoping it was the first one.
"Hello? Whoever is there can you please release me? I-I think there is some mistake." Merlin exhaled in a quick manner.
The bag was forcefully pulled off his head and Merlin caught himself staring into the bluest eyes he had ever seen. The Blue Eyes squinted with playfulness and anger at the boy and Merlin quickly decided that he no longer liked Mr. Blue eyes.
"Have you ever heard of the game Russian roulette?"
Merlin's eyebrows furrowed. Russian roulette? Was this some sort of city game? Whatever it was by the way Mr. Blue eyes' voice sounded, Merlin didn't think it was a game he'd enjoy.
Mr. Blue Eyes leaned back and sat in a chair and Merlin realized that he was the Scary Alley Man. He wore the same silver pinstriped suit and hat that the man now flicked up to get a better view of the now trembling Merlin.
"Judging by your inability to speak I would say you don't know how to play. How about this? I'll go first and show you how it's done. It's really simple actually, you just have to answer my questions correctly."
Merlin silently sighed in relief. Russian roulette isn't going to be so bad then, he has somewhat of a chance to win. But his innocence was soon shattered when he saw the alley man pull out a revolver and place a single bullet inside the gun's cylinder. He decided he didn't like Russian roulette anymore.
Merlin's eyes widened in fear and the Alley man smiled wickedly.
"Oh? Did I forget to mention the catch?" The man spun the gun's cylinder and closed it shut, "If I think you're lying, I'll shoot you. So no baloney" His smile widened and he kneeled down to Merlin's height, pointing the barrel to his head.
"First question" He pulled back the hammer and Merlin gulped, "What do you know?"
"A-about what?"
The man pulled the trigger and Merlin flinched but no pain came.
"Ah, looks like luck's on your side" he chuckled, "Second question, who do you work for?"
"N-nobody yet but-"
The man pulled the trigger and again nothing came out. Merlin started shaking and looked up at the man with tears in his eyes.
"P-please let me explain…" He stared at the Alley man and hoped he would show some sympathy, but he had a hard time reading him.
A tear hit the floor.
"Alright"
The man sat back down on his chair but leaned forward so he could make sure Merlin could still see the gun. Which he could, he was afraid to take his eyes off of the thing.
"I'll give you a minute to explain your story" He leaned in closer to intimidate Merlin further, "You're a lucky fellow, I don't usually give people this chance so do use it wisely, but if I believe even one part of your story is a lie, ha, well, I think you get the picture" He spun his gun on his finger and then settled its sights on Merlin.
"Your minute begins now"
The man starred at Merlin and pulled back the hammer and Merlin quickly sat up and started talking as fast as he could, sweat dropping in beads off his forehead as he did so.
"I-I don't work for anybody because I came here to find work! I found a job at the Camelot Hotel as their new cashier and bartender! T-That's why when I saw you loading up alcohol into what I assume to be the backroom of the Camelot hotel I thought I was in the right place! I am not here to rat you out, I was sent here by Gaius to work at the hotel, m-my name is Merlin Emrys…" Merlin bowed his head a bit, partially to show that he was finished with his story, partially to hide his cheeks that were full of hot red fear.
"Ah horse feathers…"
Merlin looked up in surprise. In normal circumstances Merlin would've believed that 'horse feathers' would've been a term to say he thought Merlin was lying, but the way the alley man said it sounded…embarrassed.
"You're Merlin Emrys huh? Ah applesauce….I goofed." The man ran his fingers through his hair and stopped to scratch the back of his head.
"Well uhm, you see. Uther Pendragon, the man who probably hired you" Merlin nodded softly to that starring at the man completely dumbfounded, "He's my dad and has put me in charge of making sure that no one finds out about our little illegal business, so I guess I got a little excited when I thought you were a reporter? Ha-ha, funny story right? We'll have to add that one to the books. My name's Arthur by the way, Arthur Pendragon, I'll be your boss starting today"
Merlin stared at this Arthur Pendragon in disbelief. This man was less than a minute away from killing him and was now laughing about his mistake, and he didn't even say sorry. Merlin's look of disbelief turned into the look his mother always gave someone when they were being an idiot.
"Hey! Don't you stare at your boss like that or we will play another game of Russian roulette Mrs. Grundy!"
Merlin decided to look away. He didn't need himself getting in trouble again, but at least he knew now that his boss was a hot head and will anger easily. He decided it'd be best if he stayed on his good side, but maybe he could have some layaway with him because Arthur almost killed him by mistake. He looked back up at him.
"Well then, I guess I'll give you a free ride home huh? Come on now." Arthur began walking away and Merlin cleared his throat.
"You may have forgotten, but you bounded my arms and legs" Merlin's voice sounded a little more sarcastic than he had meant it to be, but it was hard not to be sarcastic when one deals with an idiot.
Arthur's nostrils flared and let out a sigh that sounded like a pout. Guess he caught the sarcasm, Merlin thought, or he realized he was an idiot.
"Stupid new bartender." Arthur pouted and knelt down to untie Merlin's ropes. He didn't know how to deal with someone talking back to him. No one ever dared to, no one of lower stature than he that is. Arthur decided that he wasn't going to like this new bartender, he called him out on his idiocy, but although he felt he hated it, deep inside him he was kind of happy to find someone who might be as brave as he.
Arthur finally managed to undo the ropes and held out a hand to Merlin and hosted him up with ease meeting his gaze with Merlin's dark blue one. Merlin looked away shyly and decided he was going to make a joke to make this new meet less awkward.
"So…what do I get as an apology?" He smiled sweetly but jokingly and watched as Arthur turned and puffed away.
"A bed if you're lucky!"
Merlin tried not to chuckle at his bosses embarrassment and quickly followed Arthur out to start his new life as a Chicago bartender.
A/N: Woohoo another chapter, well I guess technically not, I felt that this snip bit belonged in the first chapter and I am sorry, but we will call this Chapter 1 part 2! I'm trying to get in as much writing as I can before I go back to school and cry over exams (o3o) so bear with me lovelies! And as always comment and review! ~ (it helps me write faster) Also, don't be afraid to tell me if any of the characters are a little OOC, or if you think they're not make my night and say how wonderful they are! Stay classy!
INFO: Take him for a drive: Drive him out to the middle of nowhere and kill him.
Bump him off: Kill him
Baloney: nonsense
Horse feathers & Applesauce: Dammit
Mrs. Grundy: A priggish person