Merlin closed the front door of his apartment with an 'oompfh' and put his keys in the bowl on the table next to the door. Finally home, he thought as he raised his arms above his head and stretched as far as he could. He could hear a crack in his lower back and let his arms down again, shaking them for a second to relieve the tension. He then went to cracks his fingers.

He loved his work, he really did. But the downfall to it was that he had to sit, stand and bend all day long and that wasn't exactly the best thing for his body. And certainly not when he had just finished a double shift.

He walked into the dark kitchen where the digital clock on the wall told him that it was 2:43 am. He could barely hold his eyes open, but he was hungry for some food. When he opened the fridge he realised how empty it really was; there were only three water bottles, some left over Chinese food and a carton of his favourite orange juice.

He almost completely closed the fridge door to write on the notepad, that hung on the refrigerator's door, that he should get some groceries and then grabbed the left over Chinese food and the carton with OJ.

Setting the timer of the microwave on five minutes, he made his way to the living room. It was a big open space with a big black leather couch, a huge TV, some trumpery his mother bought (well his mother had done most of the decorating anyways) and there was a little bar in the corner. There was also quite a mess in the room; medical books and magazines were scattered all over the coffee table and floor, some empty glasses on the sidetable table, and there were even some crumbs on the floor -which Merlin suspects were from the crisps he ate last night.

Merlin was a messy person in general, always had been, always will be. The only time he could manage being tidy was when he was at work.

But, to give him some credit, he did he did a good sweep through his apartment once in a while. After all, he had promised his parents to keep the apartment tidy. They had given him the apartment as a present when he graduated from Medical school.

Merlin was grinning. He really loved his parents, he wouldn't be able to live without them.

Granted, they were a bit shocked when Merlin told them he was gay at the age of fifteen, but they were really supportive from the start. Everyone around him was really supportive actually. Well, there was of course his best friend since kindergarten, Will. Will had always an opinion about everyone and everything and Merlin was probably most afraid of his reaction, next to his parents' reaction.

Merlin chuckled as he thought back at the moment he came out to Will.

Flashback
Merlin was fidgeting with his hands as he sat on his bed. Will was playing a game on the computer.

"Will, I need to tell you something." Merlin finally said.

Will had paused the game and turned the swivel chair to face him. He raised an eyebrow and Merlin knew that was Will's way of saying that he could start talking.

Merlin licked his lips. "I… erm. Will, I'm gay."

And now he waited, anxiously.

Will hadn't said anything, he just stood up from the chair, and Merlin thought he would angrily walk out of the house. He already let his head hang, but was then surprised to feel the matrass dip slightly and when he looked up he saw his best friend sitting next to him. A small grin on his lips.

"Well…" Will began softly, looking intensely at Merlin. Then he shrugged. "I had my suspicions, and I'm glad you finally decided that you could tell me."

Merlin was surprised. "Wait, you knew!"

"As I said," Will said slowly. "I had my suspicions. But seriously mate. I'm fine with it, if you were worried about that."

"I was a bit." Merlin replied softly.

Will clapped his best friend on the back. "Well, as long as you don't start hitting on me, you'll be fine." Will said with a smirk. "Everyone knows I'm a ladies man, there is no room for manly affections."

Will bursted out laughing after he said it, then he clenched Merlin's head in the crook of his elbow and scrunched his knuckles over Merlin's scalp. In a way, that was Will's way of saying that he didn't care what kind of person Merlin was attracted to, he would still be his best friend.
End Flashback

Merlin heard the microwave beeping and snapped out of the memory and back to the now. Sluggishly he dragged himself to the kitchen and got his late dinner, or perhaps it was his early breakfast? Merlin couldn't even think rationally right now. He just sat himself at his large dining table, that could fit up to eight people around it.

His body was more or less going on automatic. Picking up his fork and bringing it to his mouth and then taking a sip of his orange juice.

His mind was still a bit more active and he thought back at the events of that day. The most prominent memory was the one of Uther, who was playing like a kid in kindergarten. He nearly chocked into his juice thinking about that.

It didn't took long before his mind wandered off to the moment he met Uther's son. "Arthur Pendragon." He breathed the name out like some lovesick teenager.

I wonder if he called yet. Merlin wondered and grabbed his Blackberry out of his bag. To his surprise he saw that he had two voicemail messages. His heart skipped a beat. Could it be him?

He called his voicemail and listened to the first message.

"Hey fuckerrr! How are you doing, still playing doctor are we?" Merlin shook his head playfully, Will would never change. He continued to listen. "Anyways mate, I'm in Amsterdam now, well more like AmsterDAMN! The ladies are very nice, if you catch my drift." Merlin heard his friend chuckle over the phone and he couldn't stop himself from rolling his eyes. Will came out a very wealthy family and probably hadn't worked a day in his entire life. He lived life like he was some kind of Prince.

And while he was also from a quite wealthy family, he still loved to work for his money. He didn't mind that Will went on a holiday whenever he fancied, it was Will's life, he could do whatever he liked with it.

Merlin listened to the end of the message. "Well, next to me in the plane sat this guy, Leon. He's a pretty great bloke and he invited me to a party this Saturday in his mansion. Do you wanna come with? Just let me know, have to go now, the ladies are waiting. Bye.

A party? Merlin repeated in his head. He wasn't really in the mood, but he really should go out again. It has been some time since he gone out, and who knows, maybe he even meets a nice guy on this party.

Nodding his head to himself, he decided to go to that party. He would give Will a call tomorrow, or well later today.

Anxiously he went to listen to the second voicemail. Maybe this was Arthur.

"Merlin, it's Morgana… you know your sister. I have the feeling we haven't talked since we shared a womb together! No but in all seriousness, I'd really like to get together some time and mum also wants to see you again. What do you think about a lunch at mum and dad's this Sunday, let's say twelve-ish? Hope you can make it!"

Merlin breathed deeply in. It would be a busy weekend for him if he would accept this offer too. Well, it wasn't like he had to work this weekend, so that was good.

And while he sees his father at work almost on a daily base, he hadn't seen his mum and sister in quite some while. He made up his mind, he'd go to the lunch too.

Merlin made sure that he saved both dates on the calendar on his phone. He really should get a phone for private, and decided to get one tomorrow before he'd go to work.

Yawning, Merlin looked at the clock and decided it was best to get to bed now, or otherwise he would just collapse here and now. He started to drag himself to his bedroom and didn't bother to take his clothes off. He just plunged down on his bed and the minute his face touches the pillow he was vastly sleeping.

~oOoOo~

"Arthur?" a drowsy voice came from upstairs. Arthur didn't respond.

"Arthur." the voice became a bit louder.

Arthur's eyes cracked open and he realised that he was lying on the couch. He must've fallen asleep on it last night while watching TV. He yawned and sat up, running a hand over his sleepy face. His eyes finally started to focus and to his surprise it was already 10:54 am when he looked at the time on his phone.

"Arthur!" The voice now sounded impatient.

"Father?" Arthur questioned, and sleepily walked towards the stairs. "What's wrong?' He said, yawning again. He slowly made his way up the stairs and towards his father's room When he opened the door he saw his father lying in the way oversized bed, his face in pain.

"Get my pills." Uther snarled. "I'm dying over here!"

Arthur didn't even flinch to the tone his father used. He was used to these mood swings anyways, so he didn't took it personally when his father was in one of his moods again. He just replied with, "Yes father." and made his way to the en suite bathroom.

Everything in his father's bathroom was really neat and organised, so Arthur didn't had a problem finding what he was looking for.

He took a plastic cup and filled it with water. He stared at the package with pills and was trying to remember if he was supposed to give one or two pills. As he did, he closed his eyes and thought back at what Merlin said, but all that popped up were those bright blue eyes of Merlin and his shock black hair, his dorky ears and then finally the moment where Merlin laid his hand on his bicep. Arthur shook his head, making himself focus on his current task.

He put his hands on the sink and supports his body on them, then remembered that he was supposed to give two pills. He popped two pills out, only to see one of them fall between his fingers and into the drain. "Great… just. fucking. great." Arthur mumbled and sighed. He carefully took another pill out.

When he walked back into the room again, his father's face looked even more unhappy. "What the hell took you so long Arthur?!"

Arthur just inhaled deeply and silently passed the pills to his father.

"I'll be out, just call me on my mobile when you need me." Arthur heard his father grumble under his breath.

Arthur knew that it was best to keep out of his father's sight when he was in one of his moods. Some space between them was always the key to keep the peace between them.

Arthur walked back to his own room and changed out of his day old clothes and into some clean jeans and a t-shirt and he put on his favourite black leather jacket. Lastly he pushed his wallet into his back pocket. He grabbed the only set of keys from the small hook that was crammed into the wall and put it in his front pocket. The eighteen carat golden keychain in the shape of a crown dangled out of his pocket. It was a gift that his father gave him when he won his first race. After scanning his room real quickly to see if he hadn't forgot anything, he made his way to the garage.

He switched the lights on. They lightened up on one by one.

And then, there it was at the back of the garage. His glory, his love, and most of all, his passion; tucked away neatly underneath a specially made protection cover.

He smiled as he pulled the cover off in one single smooth motion and it revealed his black with yellow striped Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR. Shining like it just came out of the store. The sight of it got Arthur beaming. He let his hand slide over the length of the motorcycle before lifting his right leg and putting it on the other side of the motorcycle. "Hey baby, ready for a ride?" Arthur murmured, knowing he won't get an answer.

His helmet was just one arm length away. It was all black, except for the little red banner with a yellow dragon on the back of it. His coach thought it was a nice touch since his name was Pendragon. And to make matters even worse, his coached nicknamed his motorcycle 'Excalibur'.

Arthur had stopped fighting against these 'King Arthur' references a long time ago and even embraced his nickname now. After all he was the reigning champion, so it was suiting.

Arthur slid his helmet on and closed the visor. He pushed the button for the garage door to open and sunlight started to stream in. It was a beautiful day for a ride.

Arthur pushed the kickstand up with his foot, simultaneously starting the ignition. The engine immediately started to roar to life and Arthur smiled at hearing the sound. He gently started to twist the throttle and within seconds he took off on the long driveway from the Pendragon mansion. And right now, it was only Arthur and his motorcycle.

~oOoOo~

Arthur looked around him. He had no idea how and why he chose to go here, but he was in the park. And now he was there, he'd better make it worthwhile. He parked his motorcycle behind of one of the benches, took off his helmet and sat himself down on one of the benches and started to admire the view of the grand fountain in front of him. The sun was shining on his blonde hair and all he wanted to do was to close his eyes and just enjoy the warmth penetrating his skin.

Some peace and quiet was always welcome, since he usually had quite a busy schedule. Arthur leaned back at the bench and closed his eyes. Listening to the soft trickling of the water from the fountain.

~oOoOo~

Merlin reached in his pocket and pulled out a wrinkled piece of paper where he scribbled on stuff he had to do that morning. Groceries were first on his list, but since it was such a beautiful day, he decided to go through the park and maybe even sit down on his favourite bench that was opposite to the large fountain.

Merlin saw the big fountain from a distant and picked his pace up a bit. Coming closer and closer, he saw that someone else was already sitting on his favourite bench.

Dammit. He thought, but it didn't stop him from walking right up the bench. As he neared it, he recognized the person occupying his favourite bench and his heart started to pound a bit harder against his rib cage. Off all people, Arthur Pendragon was sitting right in front of him and now his own shadow was starting to fall over Arthur's body.

While he was thinking to himself whether he should greet Arthur, or just move along, he was being addressed to.

"Can I help you?" Arthur said annoyed with his eyes still closed. Merlin startled at the sudden sound and was about to apologize when Arthur opened his eyes and squinted them to dull out the bright sunlight. After his eyes adjusted to the light, he could clearly see the face of the person standing in front and it made his eyes fly open and he immediately went to sit up straight. "Doctor Emrys?" He asked with a crack in his voice.

Merlin just stared at Arthur for a few moments before finding enough confidence to say, "Please, just call me Merlin. May I?" He gestured to the empty spot on the bench.

Arthur scooted a bit to the left and extended his hand to the spot. "Of course, be my guest."

Merlin gave a tiny smile and sat down in the opposite corner of the bench. Now he was on perfect eyelevel with Arthur.

"Sooo." Arthur began. "Why were you sneaking up on me like that?"

"I wasn't, I swear!" Merlin defended quickly. "It's just, ugh this is going to sound really stupid, but this bench is my favourite bench of the whole park. I just automatically walk towards it whenever I'm here."

Arthur's eyes crinkled as he smiled. "It's not stupid Merlin."

There was an awkward silence between the two men. Merlin was sliding his foot back and forth in the sand and looked around him, the first thing that caught his eye was the black with yellow motorcycle. "Yours?" He said, jerking his head in the direction of the motorcycle.

Arthur looked at what Merlin pointed too and nodded. "She is." Arthur answered. "Now this might sound stupid, but she's my baby."

Merlin glanced at the motorcycle again. "So you're motorcycle is a girl, well she is really cute."

Arthur snorted at this. "Oh god, it does sound stupid." He shrugged. "But then again, she'll probably be the only girl in my life who will get my love." Arthur had said it, before he even realised what he said. His eyes widened and he hoped that Merlin didn't heard that.

But Merlin did, and now Merlin didn't know if this was Arthur's way of saying he was gay, or if it was just some mocking. He couldn't make anything out of it.

Arthur soon realized that Merlin heard his slip up and cleared his throat, his head turned slightly red.

Besides his closest friends, Arthur hadn't told anyone else that he was gay. Luckily the press hadn't caught up with that yet, because he was not ready yet to come out publically. Especially not to his father. His father would probably strangle him if he would find out that his only son was gay.

Arthur had known he was gay from an early age, but he had also denied himself from feeling that way for most of his life. He only really had accepted his homosexuality since about three years.

Arthur didn't want to think too much about it and tried to change the subject into a bit more neutral subject. "Don't you have to work today?"

Merlin nodded his head. "Have the evening shift, I don't start until five."

There was a long silence again and Merlin hated that. He couldn't handle silences. "How's your father doing?" Merlin asked to break the silence.

"He's doing... okay. I mean he was fine until those pills you gave him stopped working. Once that happened, he was his old self again, blaming me for everything. I needed some air and so I got on my motorcycle and started driving. And well, I somehow winded up here."

"Ah, I see." Merlin said. Thinking for a moment, he asked, "You still live at home?"

Arthur blushed, a twenty-eight year old still living at home wasn't something you heard every day. "I, uh, yes." Arthur finally admitted. "It's just that, well I travel. A lot. I'm hardly at home and when I am, I'm mostly training. It just a waste of money to own a house or apartment when I'm never there. And if I need some time alone, I'll just book a hotel room or whatever."

Merlin nodded, it sounded legit. And it wasn't any of his business, so he just left it. Instead he asked, "Your father, he wasn't in too much pain when you left, I hope? If so you know you could've called me" The worry on Merlin's face was clearly visible.

"No. Well I don't think so, I gave him two new pills before I left and he would call me if he needed help. But since he hasn't called so far, I assume those magic pills of yours are working."

Merlin laughed out loud, shaking his head playfully. "I don't think it's magic. I'm not that Merlin."

Arthur grinned. "I'm sorry if it sounds rude, but I just have to ask this. Who came up with the name?"

"How do I get rid of it, is a better question" Merlin laughed, but turned a bit more serious. "Well, since my mother married my father -whose name is, as you might've guessed, Emrys- my mother got really interested in the Arthurian legend. And when me and my twin sister came along, it didn't took her long to name us Merlin and Morgana. I still can't believe she actually named us like that!" Merlin started laughing again. "And I'm sure she'll turn crazy if she finds out that I've met an Arthur, and a Pendragon at that.

"Wait, what… twin sister? So you're a twin?"

"Yes, captain obvious. I'm the younger one if you must know, but just by two minutes and nineteen seconds!" Merlin said in his defence. He narrowed his brows and pouted. "She always thinks she's the better one, just because she's a couple of minutes older."

"Aww." Arthur placed his hand on Merlin's knee. Merlin felt a tingle going through his whole body and was a bit surprised by that. It felt a bit like a shock, but different. He jumped up from his seat, scratching his neck. "I… I really should get going Arthur, it was nice to see you again. " Merlin quickly passed Arthur. "Tell your father I said hi."

Arthur was still trying to wrap his head around ,on what just happened and then stood up as well, grasping Merlin's arm at the elbow. "Wait, where do you have to go? At least let me give you a ride."

Merlin turned around and first looked down at Arthur's hand that was gripping him, before actually looking up at Arthur. "I, erm. I just have to go to the supermarket. It's not that far, a fifteen minute walk perhaps."

"Please, I insist." Arthur let go of Merlin's elbow and walked towards his motorcycle where he pulled an extra helmet out of the saddle and pointed it to Merlin.

Merlin bit his lip and is fidgeting with his hands as he looked from Arthur to the motorcycle and then back to Arthur again. He is a professional motorcyclist, I'm sure he knows what he's doing. Merlin thought. He had seen plenty of victims from motorcycle accidents and to be honest, they didn't always looked pretty.

After a moment of consideration Merlin finally accepted Arthur's offer and walked forward to grab the helmet out of Arthur's hand. Earning himself a grin from ear to ear from said person.

Before he actually got up on the bike, he pointed the helmet to Arthur. "But if you try any stunts, I will never look at you again, you hear Pendragon! Just drive the normal speed and no tricks!"

"Aye aye sir!" Arthur saluted.

"It's not funny! I mean it!"

"Okay, okay. I promise." Arthur said truthfully and closed the short distance between him and Merlin. "Here, let me." Arthur whispered and took the helmet out of Merlin's hand and gently placed it over Merlin's head. His hands gently and softly slid down towards Merlin's neck to fasten the buckle. Their eyes locked and Arthur swallowed deeply. He couldn't get enough of those eyes.

He forced himself to look away and took a step back. "There, all done." He quickly went to put his own helmet on and took a seat on his motorcycle. Arthur looked over his shoulder towards Merlin. "Well... are you coming, or will you just stand there the whole day with a helmet on your head?"

Merlin harrumphed and mounted the seat behind Arthur. Their bodies were awkwardly close now. Merlin was looking down at his hands and didn't exactly know where he should place them. Arthur noticed this. "You can just wrap your arms around me, or hold on to the tail." He started to grin and hoped that Merlin would pick option one. Thankfully he had his helmet on so Merlin couldn't see the glint in his eyes.

"Erm... okay" Merlin nervously replied. With a little hesitation he wrapped his arms around Arthur's torso. He could feel Arthur's defined six-pack through the thin t-shirt that Arthur was wearing. Merlin gulped and started to lean more closely against Arthur. Their bodies were now definitely touching and Merlin was sure that Arthur could feel the fast beating of his heart.

"Are you ready?" Arthur asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Hmm-m. Ready as I'll ever be" Merlin answered, still a little bit nervous.

Arthur took a deep breath and took off.

The engine was roaring and they sifted through the wind with great speed. Merlin was enjoying this, maybe even a bit too much, but perhaps it was Arthur who was giving him that feeling. Well, he actually didn't knew what he exactly felt right now and he didn't knew what to think of it.

Merlin let his head rest against Arthur's leather clad back. If this was the only opportunity to be close to Arthur than he would better take it.

Wind was still passing them. And when Arthur felt Merlin lean even more against him, he turned to glance over his shoulder and smiled. But to all that came an far too quick end. Arthur soon steered his motorcycle to the kerb in front of the supermarket and Merlin got off as soon as the machine was turned off.

"Great, now I have helmet hair." Merlin murmured when he took off his helmet and saw his reflection in the supermarket's window.

Arthur took off his own helmet and let out a laugh. He couldn't help himself and reached out one hand to ruffle through Merlin's hair. "There. Never better."

"Hey!" Merlin slapped Arthur's hand away. "No one can touch my hair but me!"

"Is that so?" Arthur just ruffled Merlin's hair again for good measurement. "It's not that bad, I think I prefer it this way actually."

Arthur's compliment fell on deaf ears as Merlin was too busy at looking in the window of the supermarket until he caught his reflection and styled his hair as it was.

"Is my lord ready with his hair?" Arthur mocked and was about to get off his motorcycle, when his phone starts beeping. Arthur sighed, the text message couldn't have a worse timing. He grabbed his phone out of his pocket and looked at the screen where the word father was flashing on the screen. When he opened the message, it just said; come home.

"I'm really sorry Merlin, but I have to go." Arthur said, looking hurt that his time with Merlin has been cut short. "It's my father, he's asking me to come home. Are you sure you can manage from here?"

"I'll try." Merlin said sarcastically, then he waved his hand. "Just go and see what your father wants. He might be in pain. And you know it, eh. You can call me. Any time." Merlin secretly hoped that Arthur would get that hint. Even though he was still not hundred per cent certain about whether or not Arthur was gay. He could only hope.

"You're right." Arthur nodded his head. "I should check on him. But it was really great to see you again, Merlin." Arthur added with an almost shy smile.

Arthur put his helmet on again, gave a two finger salute and took off. Merlin could only watch how Arthur was moving further away from him. Again!