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merlin_holidaysTitle: The Three Times Merlin and Arthur Wanted To Kiss Each Other and The One Time They Did
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arithilim
Author:analise010
Rating: PG
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur
Word Count: 1670
Warnings: None
Summary: Arthur and Merlin both go to the same university and decide that they hate each other, but philosophy class gradually changes that idea.
Author’s Notes: I changed this fic at least 5 times before I came up with this plot, which happened to be a combination of all of them. I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: The characters depicted herein belong to Shine and BBC. I make no profit from this endeavor.
ONE – Philosophy Class
After a month in his 9am, Intro to Philosophy class, Arthur decides that he hates the dark-haired guy sitting next to him for his methods of overachieving every class period. He knows that this student’s name is Merlin from on the number of times that Dr. Geoffrey has praised him for doing absolutely nothing but quoting back text with some irrelevant insight. Somehow, he always makes class go over time, but that’s still better than when he’s absent (though Arthur won’t admit it). Those days are like pulling teeth.
Today though, Arthur can’t take it. He doesn’t do it because he wants to outshine this little idiot sitting next to him or because he’s sick of not being the center of attention. He answers first simply because he wants to make a meaningful contribution to class discussion. So when his professor starts harping on and on about the Turing test and a machine’s capability to personify human consciousness, Arthur says, “Well, by that same token, couldn’t we say that Merlin isn’t actually a good student, but a computer, programmed to give the right answer?”
For a moment, Arthur thinks that he’s judged the moment incorrectly and that he won’t be well received, until everyone chuckles, including the teacher.
Merlin seems slightly affronted, but replies, “If I’m a computer, does that mean you’re a projection of my mind?”
“Absolutely not,” Arthur scolds. “Your mind could never project someone as perfect as me.”
Merlin almost looks like he wants to comment, but Dr. Geoffrey takes control of the class again. Arthur feels something in his stomach knot when Merlin glances over to him, eyes glittering. He tries to shrug it off, but can’t get that face out of his head.
TWO – Movie Night
“But really Gwen, you should have heard the things he was saying today in Philosophy,” Merlin practically yells toward the living room. It’s the Thursday movie night that they’ve done as long as Merlin can remember. Sometimes it’s the only night he can pry Gwen away from Lance and he pops popcorn and they sit together on the couch to watch some outrageously girly movie.
“Oh, Merlin, not this again,” she sighs from the sofa.
“What are you talking about?”
“Ever since Arthur spoke up that day in Philosophy three weeks ago, I might add, all you’ve done is brag about him, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.”
“But, you should hear things he says about Kant. He actually tried to disprove the existence of time yesterday so that we would never have class again,” Merlin supplied.
“If I were him, I might do the same thing,” Gwen speculated.
“And did I mention that he related Kant to Doctor Who? Nothing against David Tennant, but 'wibbley, wobbley, timey, wimey stuff’ is not a justification.”
“It sounds like you’re impressed,” Gwen says, smirking devilishly. She and Lance think that Arthur and Merlin have some legitimate sexual tension between them, but neither have said anything yet.
“I’m not impressed. He’s a prat and an idiot who thinks that he can says anything he wants and call it ‘philosophical.’ It doesn’t work that way. You have to have some kind of justification,”
“Does he?”
“He’s pretty. He probably thinks that’s enough,”
“Oh, so you do think that he’s cute?” Gwen preens, happy to have coaxed Merlin into a confession.
“Cute, arrogant, and utterly ridiculous. Now can we please drop this and watch Pride and Prejudice? Matthew Macfayden awaits.”
He thinks he hears Gwen mutter something about the parallels between him and Arthur and Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, but the end sound on the microwave makes it hard to tell.
THREE – Study Session
They’re in the library together, studying for the philosophy final. It’s not that they’re exactly friends at this point, but they both silently acknowledge that they are the top two students in the class. Studying with anyone else would bore them to tears and probably lower their grades.
“We’ve covered Descartes, Plato, Aristotle, Locke, and Nietzsche, but we still need to review Russell.”
“Bertrand Russell?”
“No, Russell Crowe, Merlin. We’re studying Russell Crowe.”
“What?” He looks up, eyes glazed.
“Merlin, are you even paying attention?”
Merlin hadn’t been paying attention for some time. He had been watching Arthur study because of the dream from the night before. Arthur may be lounging on the chaise in a polo and jeans, but in Merlin’s mind, he’s completely naked, and eager to please.
He can still imagine the way that Arthur smiles in that dream when Merlin finally concedes, pure and radiant with a touch of satisfaction. Most of all Merlin remembers how much he wanted to take that mouth and every other part of Arthur, before the fucking alarm destroyed his paradise.
He hadn’t really wanted to take his chances in the small, cozy library, but Arthur had insisted. Now, Merlin hopes that he won’t spill every emotion he had into Arthur’s lap right now, so he remains silent. And apparently inattentive.
Though he’d rather give Dr. Geoffrey a lap dance before admitting any of that.
So he settled for, “Of course I’m paying attention. I do have an A in this class. I just need to stretch my legs a bit.”
Merlin forgets the pencil that he dropped on the floor over an hour ago, which is how he ends up heading face first toward the carpet.
Reflexively, Arthur jumps up to slide his arm around Merlin’s waist. The two end up in an awkward embrace that practically presses their noses together. Merlin shares a breath with Arthur before realizing how much he should not be enjoying this.
“Are you okay?” Arthur whispers, making no move to let go.
“I…” Merlin starts, but the sound of the librarian shocks them.
“Maybe we should call it a night and study Russell on our own,” Arthur suggests.
Merlin agrees, unsure of what could happen otherwise. And whether or not he wants it to.
+1 – Snowball Fight
They pack up their things, silently agreeing to ignore the almost kiss that passed between them. Arthur carefully places his books in his bag, not daring to glance at Merlin, should he lose control of himself, something he’s not done in a very long time. Though, if he’s honest, he’d say that he started losing control ever since he met Merlin, from that first day in Philosophy. His father had always taught him to shine on his own, with no care of how others reacted, but somehow, over the course of the semester, he found himself wanting Merlin to notice him, another thing he had never cared about before.
“Let’s go,” he said.
The two walked in silence until they reached the door.
“It’s snowing,” Merlin remarks.
“I can see that,” Arthur deadpanned.
“How long were we in there? Look how deep it’s gotten.”
“It can’t be more than four inches.”
“It’s still four inches that we didn’t have before,” Merlin said.
“Look, the sooner we get out of here, the sooner we can get back to our dorms. Can we go now?” Arthur huffs. This trip needs to be over at light speed so that he can curl up in his bed with Bertrand Russell and a strong cup of tea.
But not Merlin, a voice in his head supplies. He ignores the tendril of disappointment that threatened to choke him.
They venture into the cold, with Arthur walking a little bit ahead. He’s always hated the cold. It reminds him too much of his house, where no warmth existed.
“This is all your fault, you know,” Merlin accuses.
“And how is that?”
“If we had left the library an hour ago – like I suggested – we would have missed this snowstorm,”
“This is hardly a snowstorm, Merlin. It’s simply a few – ”
But Arthur doesn’t get to finish his sentence because a snowball hits him squarely in the face. He hears Merlin laughing and tackles him to the ground before the other man can find more ammunition.
They wrestle in the snow simply to revel in the joy of a winter’s first snow and, much to Arthur’s surprise, Merlin twines their legs together and pins Arthur to the ground. Arthur looks up at Merlin, his face rosy from wrestling, triumphant grin on his face, when it finally dawns on him.
He’s in love with Merlin.
He recalls the banter, the light touches, and the almost-kiss with stark clarity. With very little deliberation, he cups Merlin’s neck as much as he can through the winter clothing and presses their mouths together. Arthur can feel the moment he yields, twining their legs together in a completely different way.
Merlin tries to pull away, to say something, but Arthur bites his lower lip, making all of his words dissolve into a moan. Taking full control of the situation, Arthur flips them over so that Merlin is pinned underneath him. He pulls back just a little, giving Merlin the opportunity to talk.
“Arthur, we can’t. We have to study,” he murmurs.
Oh. Right. That test hasn’t happened yet, has it? Arthur pouts a bit, wondering if there’s a way for him to change Merlin’s mind. He weighs how badly he wants in his bed with how badly he wants to pass philosophy.
“After the test?” he asks, his lips passing over Merlin’s throat.
“You mean at 9:50am?” he goads.
“Shut up, Merlin.”
Recipient:
arithilimAuthor:
analise010Rating: PG
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur
Word Count: 1670
Warnings: None
Summary: Arthur and Merlin both go to the same university and decide that they hate each other, but philosophy class gradually changes that idea.
Author’s Notes: I changed this fic at least 5 times before I came up with this plot, which happened to be a combination of all of them. I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: The characters depicted herein belong to Shine and BBC. I make no profit from this endeavor.
ONE – Philosophy Class
After a month in his 9am, Intro to Philosophy class, Arthur decides that he hates the dark-haired guy sitting next to him for his methods of overachieving every class period. He knows that this student’s name is Merlin from on the number of times that Dr. Geoffrey has praised him for doing absolutely nothing but quoting back text with some irrelevant insight. Somehow, he always makes class go over time, but that’s still better than when he’s absent (though Arthur won’t admit it). Those days are like pulling teeth.
Today though, Arthur can’t take it. He doesn’t do it because he wants to outshine this little idiot sitting next to him or because he’s sick of not being the center of attention. He answers first simply because he wants to make a meaningful contribution to class discussion. So when his professor starts harping on and on about the Turing test and a machine’s capability to personify human consciousness, Arthur says, “Well, by that same token, couldn’t we say that Merlin isn’t actually a good student, but a computer, programmed to give the right answer?”
For a moment, Arthur thinks that he’s judged the moment incorrectly and that he won’t be well received, until everyone chuckles, including the teacher.
Merlin seems slightly affronted, but replies, “If I’m a computer, does that mean you’re a projection of my mind?”
“Absolutely not,” Arthur scolds. “Your mind could never project someone as perfect as me.”
Merlin almost looks like he wants to comment, but Dr. Geoffrey takes control of the class again. Arthur feels something in his stomach knot when Merlin glances over to him, eyes glittering. He tries to shrug it off, but can’t get that face out of his head.
TWO – Movie Night
“But really Gwen, you should have heard the things he was saying today in Philosophy,” Merlin practically yells toward the living room. It’s the Thursday movie night that they’ve done as long as Merlin can remember. Sometimes it’s the only night he can pry Gwen away from Lance and he pops popcorn and they sit together on the couch to watch some outrageously girly movie.
“Oh, Merlin, not this again,” she sighs from the sofa.
“What are you talking about?”
“Ever since Arthur spoke up that day in Philosophy three weeks ago, I might add, all you’ve done is brag about him, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.”
“But, you should hear things he says about Kant. He actually tried to disprove the existence of time yesterday so that we would never have class again,” Merlin supplied.
“If I were him, I might do the same thing,” Gwen speculated.
“And did I mention that he related Kant to Doctor Who? Nothing against David Tennant, but 'wibbley, wobbley, timey, wimey stuff’ is not a justification.”
“It sounds like you’re impressed,” Gwen says, smirking devilishly. She and Lance think that Arthur and Merlin have some legitimate sexual tension between them, but neither have said anything yet.
“I’m not impressed. He’s a prat and an idiot who thinks that he can says anything he wants and call it ‘philosophical.’ It doesn’t work that way. You have to have some kind of justification,”
“Does he?”
“He’s pretty. He probably thinks that’s enough,”
“Oh, so you do think that he’s cute?” Gwen preens, happy to have coaxed Merlin into a confession.
“Cute, arrogant, and utterly ridiculous. Now can we please drop this and watch Pride and Prejudice? Matthew Macfayden awaits.”
He thinks he hears Gwen mutter something about the parallels between him and Arthur and Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, but the end sound on the microwave makes it hard to tell.
THREE – Study Session
They’re in the library together, studying for the philosophy final. It’s not that they’re exactly friends at this point, but they both silently acknowledge that they are the top two students in the class. Studying with anyone else would bore them to tears and probably lower their grades.
“We’ve covered Descartes, Plato, Aristotle, Locke, and Nietzsche, but we still need to review Russell.”
“Bertrand Russell?”
“No, Russell Crowe, Merlin. We’re studying Russell Crowe.”
“What?” He looks up, eyes glazed.
“Merlin, are you even paying attention?”
Merlin hadn’t been paying attention for some time. He had been watching Arthur study because of the dream from the night before. Arthur may be lounging on the chaise in a polo and jeans, but in Merlin’s mind, he’s completely naked, and eager to please.
He can still imagine the way that Arthur smiles in that dream when Merlin finally concedes, pure and radiant with a touch of satisfaction. Most of all Merlin remembers how much he wanted to take that mouth and every other part of Arthur, before the fucking alarm destroyed his paradise.
He hadn’t really wanted to take his chances in the small, cozy library, but Arthur had insisted. Now, Merlin hopes that he won’t spill every emotion he had into Arthur’s lap right now, so he remains silent. And apparently inattentive.
Though he’d rather give Dr. Geoffrey a lap dance before admitting any of that.
So he settled for, “Of course I’m paying attention. I do have an A in this class. I just need to stretch my legs a bit.”
Merlin forgets the pencil that he dropped on the floor over an hour ago, which is how he ends up heading face first toward the carpet.
Reflexively, Arthur jumps up to slide his arm around Merlin’s waist. The two end up in an awkward embrace that practically presses their noses together. Merlin shares a breath with Arthur before realizing how much he should not be enjoying this.
“Are you okay?” Arthur whispers, making no move to let go.
“I…” Merlin starts, but the sound of the librarian shocks them.
“Maybe we should call it a night and study Russell on our own,” Arthur suggests.
Merlin agrees, unsure of what could happen otherwise. And whether or not he wants it to.
+1 – Snowball Fight
They pack up their things, silently agreeing to ignore the almost kiss that passed between them. Arthur carefully places his books in his bag, not daring to glance at Merlin, should he lose control of himself, something he’s not done in a very long time. Though, if he’s honest, he’d say that he started losing control ever since he met Merlin, from that first day in Philosophy. His father had always taught him to shine on his own, with no care of how others reacted, but somehow, over the course of the semester, he found himself wanting Merlin to notice him, another thing he had never cared about before.
“Let’s go,” he said.
The two walked in silence until they reached the door.
“It’s snowing,” Merlin remarks.
“I can see that,” Arthur deadpanned.
“How long were we in there? Look how deep it’s gotten.”
“It can’t be more than four inches.”
“It’s still four inches that we didn’t have before,” Merlin said.
“Look, the sooner we get out of here, the sooner we can get back to our dorms. Can we go now?” Arthur huffs. This trip needs to be over at light speed so that he can curl up in his bed with Bertrand Russell and a strong cup of tea.
But not Merlin, a voice in his head supplies. He ignores the tendril of disappointment that threatened to choke him.
They venture into the cold, with Arthur walking a little bit ahead. He’s always hated the cold. It reminds him too much of his house, where no warmth existed.
“This is all your fault, you know,” Merlin accuses.
“And how is that?”
“If we had left the library an hour ago – like I suggested – we would have missed this snowstorm,”
“This is hardly a snowstorm, Merlin. It’s simply a few – ”
But Arthur doesn’t get to finish his sentence because a snowball hits him squarely in the face. He hears Merlin laughing and tackles him to the ground before the other man can find more ammunition.
They wrestle in the snow simply to revel in the joy of a winter’s first snow and, much to Arthur’s surprise, Merlin twines their legs together and pins Arthur to the ground. Arthur looks up at Merlin, his face rosy from wrestling, triumphant grin on his face, when it finally dawns on him.
He’s in love with Merlin.
He recalls the banter, the light touches, and the almost-kiss with stark clarity. With very little deliberation, he cups Merlin’s neck as much as he can through the winter clothing and presses their mouths together. Arthur can feel the moment he yields, twining their legs together in a completely different way.
Merlin tries to pull away, to say something, but Arthur bites his lower lip, making all of his words dissolve into a moan. Taking full control of the situation, Arthur flips them over so that Merlin is pinned underneath him. He pulls back just a little, giving Merlin the opportunity to talk.
“Arthur, we can’t. We have to study,” he murmurs.
Oh. Right. That test hasn’t happened yet, has it? Arthur pouts a bit, wondering if there’s a way for him to change Merlin’s mind. He weighs how badly he wants in his bed with how badly he wants to pass philosophy.
“After the test?” he asks, his lips passing over Merlin’s throat.
“You mean at 9:50am?” he goads.
“Shut up, Merlin.”
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