Happy Merlin Holidays, Everyone!
Dec. 20th, 2011 08:09 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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merlin_holidaysTitle: You are the Bluest Light
Recipient:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
merlin_holidays
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
mightypretty
Rating: R
Pairings: Arthur/Merlin
Word Count: 3,801
Warnings: N/A
Summary: Sometimes all it takes is a spark, or a mini-explosion, to get things going.
Author's Notes: So this is utterly shmoopy and fuzzy but hey, it’s Christmas and everybody wants a bit of fluff in the holidays! ;) Love and kisses to my dear V who keeps encouraging me when I want to give up, and the wonderful R for the amazing last minute beta job and to the lovely B who cast her beta eyes over a previous version, thank you girls ♥
Disclaimer: The characters depicted herein belong to Shine and BBC. I make no profit from this endeavour.
If there were three things you needed to know about Arthur Pendragon, these were it.
One, Arthur Pendragon didn’t pine. At all. For anyone. Contrary to what the two arses he called best friends would like to say. But then Gwaine and Leon spent most of their University days either drunk or high (or drunk and high), and, really, Arthur thought two people who found themselves naked in the town centre fountain most evenings weren’t the best people to pass judgement on his pining abilities.
Number two, Arthur Pendragon certainly never pined over that big-eared, lanky, skater-boy wannabe, Merlin Emrys. No, Arthur had never indulged in thoughts of the slenderness of Merlin’s hips, hidden away under layers of baggy shirts and even baggier jeans. Never had his eyes zoned in on the delicate curve of the boy’s wrists as he fiddled with the leather bands that adorned them, and Arthur had absolutely never found himself sighing wistfully like some swooning school girl when Merlin found his gaze in a crowded room; when his eyes turned an even lighter shade of blue, crinkles forming adorably in the creases. No, Arthur doesn’t notice any of these things you see, because Arthur Pendragon does not pine.
The third, and perhaps most important thing you need to know, is that Arthur Pendragon has a habit of lying.
It had all happened one morning, during yet another of Mr Kilgharrah’s ‘riveting’ Chemistry lectures. Arthur was half dozing at the back of the lab whilst an amused Gwaine stealthily sprinkled pencil shavings in his hair. Arthur wasn’t exactly the most assiduous when it came to his work ethic at Camelot University. But then again it was hard to be motivated when your whole life, as future CEO of Pendragon Inc., was already mapped out ahead of you. He went through the pleasantries, of course. Attended each class, handed each assignment in on time (though, whether it had actually been him to complete said essay was another matter entirely). Nevertheless, he allowed himself to be shepherded through his school day as if he were the model student, when really he could be found, more often than not, sleeping away the hours in his oversized sweatshirt, hood pulled up to cover his brow.
That is until one Thursday afternoon, whilst Mr Kilgharrah was enlightening them all on molecular orbital theory, a bundle of dark raven hair and long tapered limbs came tumbling through the door in a flurry of colour and scarves and roll neck jumpers.
“Sorry Sir, alarm...didn’t...shower...no water…,” the wrapped up mound of a boy panted out between breaths. Words lost as layer upon layer were removed as he manoeuvred down the aisle, until he eventually reached his seat and was left in a soft blue round-neck jumper and dark loose-fitting jeans. The tip of his ears were flushed scarlet, the rosy pink spreading across the cut of his cheekbones and dipping under the base of his neck. Arthur couldn’t help but take notice of this clumsy boy, weary and rambling, and looking utterly gorgeous with it.
“Yes yes, Merlin, if you could just take a seat I could maybe get back to teaching my class?” Mr Kilgharrah had told him, the hint of a smirk on his lips. Merlin nodded silently, and took a stool at the bench in front of Arthur, head burrowed low as he whispered to the girl next to him. Arthur watched them for a moment.
In fact, since that day, Arthur hadn’t stopped watching them.
Well, him. Arthur hadn’t stopped watching him. At first glance Merlin appears unassuming, quiet -- someone who passes you fleetingly in a blur of low hung beanie hats and tattered green pea-coats; and just as quickly as they’d entered your life they leave, without you ever quite knowing they’d been there. With Merlin, however, it was different. Once you stopped to take notice, allowed yourself the time to acknowledge him, you discovered the beauty. The hypnotising deep blue set of his eyes that peeped out of long lashes, the prominent arc of his cheekbones, the warm timbre of his voice or the dimples set in the base of his spine that winked at Arthur as the hem of his shirt rode up. When your body thrummed with energy at all those little movements, Merlin soon became pretty hard to forget.
Arthur didn’t let on though, couldn’t. He may have come across a bit of a player, as captain of the university football team, parties and booze and girls were all major keystones of his life. The idea of Merlin being pressed along his side on those nights, of fingers searching patterns along his hip, of lips pressing warm against his cheek…Arthur would often find himself daydreaming about it in class. And that was all they were, dreams. But when Merlin would turn on his stool and grant Arthur a small smile over his shoulder, it filled him with a pool of warmth that felt a little bit like hope. When Merlin’s eyes trained on Arthur, all his confidence and arrogance slipped away; and as much as he was loath to admit it, (because Gwaine really would never shut up about it) Arthur was absolutely smitten.
His eyes would drop to Merlin’s lips, plump and stained a deep cherry red. They’d linger for a beat, mind offering unhelpful thoughts of, ‘I wonder how soft they are…I wonder how he tastes.’ Then Merlin would swivel back to face forward and Arthur’s left tracking the small droplets of water that cling to the damp hair at the nape of Merlin’s neck.
Arthur closes his eyes, and the curve of Merlin’s lips burn behind his eyelids.
So he may just be slightly pining.
But he was handling it, he was coping. He could allow himself those indulgent moments in lectures so long as that was where it ended. So when Mr Kilgharrah paired them off for their end of term assignment a month later, smirk on his lips as he declared, ’You two will do great work together,’ that’s where things started to get complicated.
Learning to spend every day in Merlin’s company was awkward at first. Arthur tried to fill every possible silence with a joke or witty remark, while Merlin would just smile back at him in that endearing fashion, like he thought Arthur was a little touched in the head but lovely with it. Soon study sessions in the library turned into lunches at the back of the fields, after school dinners at that cheap pizzeria in town, late Friday night drinking sessions in the Rising Sun and one rather eventful ice-skating trip that would be rather best forgotten.
Still, Arthur and Merlin were getting closer. Each waking hour that wasn’t spent in lectures seemed to be passed in each other’s company. Even when the sun had set, they’d sit by the glow of their laptops sending each other stupid YouTube videos, childish comic strips, or sometimes – most times – talking on Skype about anything and everything until Merlin would go silent and Arthur would whisper ‘goodnight’ and the daylight would shine through the cracks in the shutters again.
When the day of the presentation eventually arrived, that was when everything fell apart.
It was a hug; just a quick wrap of long arms around his neck, the briefest of presses against his chest. Arthur had barely the time to slide his own arms around Merlin’s waist before he was bereft of the warmth and Merlin was standing back with a quirk of his lips and a quiet “good luck.”
Merlin had never touched him before.
No friendly pats on the shoulder, no innocuous touches of knees. Not even when he’d fell ass over tit on the ice-rink had he accepted Arthur’s helping hand. So to actually feel the heat of Merlin’s fingertips against the base of his neck, the hair over the curl of his ear flutter with the closeness of Merlin’s breath--it left Arthur’s heart racing ten to the dozen, hands shaking and everything he had learnt, everything they’d rehearsed, flew entirely out the window. Forgetting his words or stumbling over the equations would have been bad enough, mixing the two wrong compounds and creating a mini-explosion, however, was decidedly much much worse. Merlin just about managed to dart under the desk, out of the way of the puff of blue smoke, whilst a dazed Kilgharrah blinked fruitlessly through his smogged-out goggles before loudly dealing them an ‘F’ and walking out the lab.
Then the arguing had started.
Merlin paced nervously between the aisles, shucking off his lab coat in a huff, as he mumbled worries over losing his scholarship under his breath. Arthur tried to calm him, offering apology after apology until Merlin was up in his face, accusing finger and hurt eyes. It was all too close and all too much, then the words were spilling from Arthur’s lips in a wave of emotion and Merlin was just staring back at him confused with those wide guileless eyes, and fuck it all Arthur leaned it and kissed him.
It was just a brief press of lips, but it sent a rush of energy that shot through Arthur’s veins as he grabbed Merlin’s wrist and held on for dear life. His thumb dug into the hollow under Merlin’s palm, grip tight and no doubt bruising, the thought of him marking the pale flawless skin had Arthur swipe his tongue over the jut of Merlin’s lower lip and gently bite down before pulling away in a rush of breath. The noise of students filing up and down the corridor pounded loudly in his head, as Arthur struggled to gulp mouthfuls of air in the room that seemed to be closing in on him inch by inch.
Merlin swayed on the spot, hung in weightlessness until his eyes fluttered open at long last, “You like me?”
Arthur grasped the edge of the bench tightly, he’d just kissed Merlin. Had totally fucked everything up, confessed his stupid feelings and kissed Merlin. He needed to leave, run away. He could transfer, transferring was good, maybe to Scotland? A quick call to his dad and he could be eating haggis and downing scotch in no time. Merlin was watching him cautiously, eyes still wide and honest, his tongue darted out to swipe nervously over his lips, and Arthur helplessly tracked its path.
“’Cause, you know I wouldn’t hate that…exactly,” Merlin continued, taking slow measured steps closer to Arthur.
“Even if I’ve just completely fucked up your degree scholarship?”
Merlin chuckled, hands nervously twiddling with the string of his goggles that hung limp in his fingers. He stopped in front of Arthur and put them on the side. “Yeah, even then.”
Doors banged loudly up and down the hallway, the stirring of students beginning to quiet as lectures finished and the end of the day drew near. Merlin glanced up at Arthur with a hopeful smile, the plump of his lower lip still glistening. Then Merlin’s hand was slipping into his own, long fingers lacing between his and Arthur’s world was thrown entirely off kilter. Merlin’s other hand came to rest on Arthur’s hip, guiding him back until the sharp edge of the wooden bench pressed firmly against his spine and crowded closer.
“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you to do that?” Merlin asked, voice dipped low, rough Irish brogue rumbling through his chest, “how long I’ve been wanting to touch you?” Arthur watched wide-eyed, breath falling in heaving pants as Merlin’s fingers skated up Arthur’s arm and he brought a leg to slot teasingly between Arthur’s own.
“We really shouldn’t be doing this,” he moaned, fingers clutching Merlin’s hand tight, nails digging into his flesh, “Mr Kilgharrah could come back at any minute…”
“We better be quick then,” Merlin smiled, gifting Arthur one more look, one more chance to pull away. He ran his hands up Arthur’s sides, pushing the white lab coat from his shoulders and let it pool at their feet.
“I’m going to kiss you now if that’s okay?” Merlin spoke softly, eyes trained on Arthur as he leaned in gently and left a lingering touch against Arthur’s top lip. It was dry and quick and as Merlin tilted his head to deepen the kiss Arthur turned his face to gasp for air, running the tip of his nose along Merlin’s cheek, heart rate kicking.
“You’re insatiable”
“Mmhmm, now hop on up shorty,” Merlin said against his ear, pushing Arthur further back against the bench; cold fingers trailing up the side of Arthur’s ribs.
“You’re like, an inch taller than me.”
“More like three, but who’s counting,” Merlin smirked, digging his teeth into his lip as if to stop himself from laughing as Arthur grumbled under his breath but jumped up regardless. Merlin took a step closer, palms coming to rest on Arthur’s thighs, so hot and damp that it felt like they were burning through the layer of denim and straight onto his skin. Arthur’s breath hitched as Merlin parted his legs and quickly slotted into the ‘V’ they created, all consuming and suddenly so so close.
“You’re gorgeous, you know that?”
Arthur chuckled, because gorgeous? He’d always thought himself to be good-looking, chiseled and poised and all those types of words that get brandished at you when you’re the son and heir of a tycoon millionaire. But gorgeous? That felt…different somehow, more intimate. By the way Merlin gazed up at him through thick sooty lashes Arthur sensed it felt different for him too. The room was suddenly too quiet, the air stifling and restrictive. There was a weight that sat heavily and waiting in the pit of his stomach, yet Merlin kept staring at him relentlessly, eyes pure and depthless, as though they were scouring Arthur’s features for the very first time. It was unsettling and exposing, and Arthur rested back on his hands to put some space between them, because it was suddenly moving all too quickly and though he’d never say it out loud, he was fucking scared.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” he laughed off.
“No I don’t think you—” Merlin stumbled, taking yet another step forward. The dip of Merlin’s stomach pressed against the rough fabric of Arthur’s jeans, the hem of his shirt riding up to reveal a spattering of dark coarse hair against fair skin. A lump stuck at the back of Arthur’s throat as Merlin dropped his shoulders and lowered his head, the hitched puff of his breath dancing across Arthur’s jaw.
“God, I need to touch you,” the words fell in a breathless rush through Merlin’s lips, eyes cast down watching his fingers as they shakily hovered over the button of Arthur’s jeans, “tell me I can…let me…”
The late winter sun was setting to the west, bathing the lab in the last of its rays. Flecks of sunlight danced along Merlin’s cheekbones, highlighting the delicate line of his nose, the endearing curl of his ears, the softness of his hair. Arthur reached out an unsteady hand to thread his fingers through the thick tufts, stuck up this way and that. A smudge of soot sat in the hollow under Merlin’s eye and Arthur brought up a thumb to delicately wipe it away. Merlin lifted his gaze to watch Arthur’s movements, the black of his pupils blown wide in thirst and desire. It was all there, laced across every feature of Merlin’s face. And Arthur wanted. Then it really wasn’t scary at all to run his hand to the base of Merlin’s neck, cup it firmly and bring their lips together in a flush of deep, urgent need. Groans slipped through the air as Merlin pressed even closer.
"Fuck, I can't believe we're doing this here," Arthur panted into the room, lips swollen and bruised and nipped deep red. Merlin's hands were back at the fly on Arthur's jeans, pausing for only a second longer before, with a flick of his thumb, Merlin slipped the button through the hole and tentatively toyed with the zip.
Arthur's hands were clammy. Beads of sweat formed along the top of his brow and scaled down the bridge of his nose. Merlin's tongue lavishing an exploring trail over the shell of his ear, leaving Arthur all but mute spare the few deep grunts that heaved through his chest. Merlin bit down hard on the tender flesh of Arthur’s earlobe just as his hand slipped deftly into the open cut of Arthur’s jeans and fingered the thin cotton of his boxer briefs.
"You ever done this before?" Merlin asked, fingers teasing, gifting Arthur the barest of touches before casting a hasty retreat.
"Of course."
"With a bloke?" Merlin pushed, rubbing the pad of his thumb gingerly over the head of Arthur's cock, curling thick and hard and dripping at the tip.
Arthur swallowed fast, the dryness in his throat almost unbearable. Then Merlin was up close again, lips spread over Arthur’s, tongue tracing the outline of his mouth. He knew, the fucking bastard. He’d no doubt worked it out from one of their late night Skype sessions, questions of ‘first crushes’ and ‘first kisses’. Arthur was prideful, stubborn, but right then Merlin had his hand down Arthur’s trousers, so close to wrapping tight and warm around his stiff cock, that all sense of entitlement flew out the window and he found himself mumbling, "Yeah, me and -- me and Gwaine, in high school, we fooled around once..." Merlin's hand gripped tighter, "twice...once or twice...nothing serious though, just...rubbing, he never, we never…”
"Never had a guy jerk you off?" Merlin eventually cut in. An air of assertion taking over him that Arthur had never seen before. Merlin was demanding. Curt, but not cold, not harsh, just... confident. It was endearing, intriguing and so completely arousing that Arthur couldn’t help but release a deep guttural moan. Merlin was looking down at him, telltale smirk on his lips. He was waiting. Arthur shook his head, eyes closed.
A second later, Merlin pushed the layer of boxers away, twisting his fingers just so, and Arthur collapsed back against the desk almost whacking his head on the wood. The hot sensation of flesh on flesh was overpowering and when Arthur registered they were Merlin’s long narrowed fingers sliding slowly up and down his shaft--Merlin’s hands on him after so long--it was all Arthur could do not to black out entirely.
“God, you’re fucking good at that,” Arthur gasped, struggling to force himself up on his elbows, because this was a sight he didn’t want to miss. Merlin was leaning over him, hand still pumping fluidly, the other coming to bunch up Arthur’s shirt, revealing a fine smattering of blonde hair that tapered down invitingly.
Merlin grinned at him devilishly, lips pulling over his teeth as he drank in Arthur laid out beneath him, his hand faltering for a beat. “So gorgeous,” he mumbled quietly, reverently, words lost as he dipped his head and darted his tongue to lap over the dips and shallows of Arthur’s stomach. Curses and half-endearments filled the room as Arthur lost himself to the hot pleasure of Merlin’s hands and mouth.
Merlin purred against Arthur’s side, spreading his thumb over the head of Arthur’s cock and using the slick gathering of pre-come to swipe down his length, fingers working him faster as they slid with greater ease. Feather light kisses were placed along the dip in Arthur’s hip, Merlin biting down hard when Arthur’s hand cupped him through his jeans and ran blunt nails over the sensitive bulge. Arthur pushed up, lifting Merlin’s head from the crook of his lap and ploughed his mouth on top of his. Teeth clashed and moans were swallowed as he allowed his tongue to skim over the roof of Merlin’s mouth. Merlin was pulling harder, his strokes coming quicker and messier as he twisted his head from Arthur’s demanding lips and left hot heavy pants against his cheek.
“I don’t—I’m not—” Arthur heaved, digging his nails into the base of Merlin’s skull and tugging his hair tersely. The other still rubbed furiously through Merlin’s trousers, fingers fumbling for the zip but struggling to grab purchase. Merlin nipped along Arthur’s jaw, hips jerking in pleading thrusts as he rutted firmer against Arthur’s hand. It was warm, and muggy, and there wasn’t air to breathe as Arthur wrapped his legs around the underside of Merlin’s arse and brought them even closer together. Merlin gasped against Arthur’s throat, sparks flashing behind his eyes as he growled out his release and pumped once, twice more before Arthur followed him over.
The sound of their deep pants echoed through the empty science lab, chests rising and falling as they slowly came down off their high. They were a mess. Jeans damp and stuck to their thighs, stains starting to streak along the hem of their shirts. It had been fast, and frantic, and totally fucking amazing.
“Come back to mine,” Arthur mumbled groggily, pushing Merlin’s head to the side and resting the top of his chin against the boy’s brow.
“Yeah, yeah ok.”
--
If there were three things you needed to know about Arthur Pendragon, these were it.
One, the best part of his day was waking up. When the cool morning chill seeped under the window pane and the early dawn light pierced through the curtains, Arthur would roll over and press himself tighter against the curve of a warm naked back. He’d slot a knee between the thin wiry thighs in front of him, leave a lingering open mouth kiss against the expanse of creamy skin and wait for Merlin to turn in his sleep and burrow closer.
Another thing you needed to know was that Arthur loved his late-night football training sessions. When the frost bit through his lungs and his legs felt like giving out as the coach urged him to go faster, push harder, be better. But the best part was coming home on those winter evenings to find Merlin curled up on their couch. A bowl of crisps lying abandoned on the floor and a replay of ‘Mock the Week’ casting shadows across his slumbered face. In those quiet moments Arthur would just look at him, smile on his lips as Merlin murmured in his sleep and drew the hood of Arthur’s jumper even further over his head. He’d look, and smile, and relish the thought of his clothes smelling of Merlin come morning.
And finally, and perhaps most importantly, Arthur Pendragon was totally and irreversibly in love.
In fact, that is the only thing you’ll ever need to know about Arthur…because it’s the only one that mattered.
--
fin
Recipient:
merlin_holidaysAuthor:
mightyprettyRating: R
Pairings: Arthur/Merlin
Word Count: 3,801
Warnings: N/A
Summary: Sometimes all it takes is a spark, or a mini-explosion, to get things going.
Author's Notes: So this is utterly shmoopy and fuzzy but hey, it’s Christmas and everybody wants a bit of fluff in the holidays! ;) Love and kisses to my dear V who keeps encouraging me when I want to give up, and the wonderful R for the amazing last minute beta job and to the lovely B who cast her beta eyes over a previous version, thank you girls ♥
Disclaimer: The characters depicted herein belong to Shine and BBC. I make no profit from this endeavour.
If there were three things you needed to know about Arthur Pendragon, these were it.
One, Arthur Pendragon didn’t pine. At all. For anyone. Contrary to what the two arses he called best friends would like to say. But then Gwaine and Leon spent most of their University days either drunk or high (or drunk and high), and, really, Arthur thought two people who found themselves naked in the town centre fountain most evenings weren’t the best people to pass judgement on his pining abilities.
Number two, Arthur Pendragon certainly never pined over that big-eared, lanky, skater-boy wannabe, Merlin Emrys. No, Arthur had never indulged in thoughts of the slenderness of Merlin’s hips, hidden away under layers of baggy shirts and even baggier jeans. Never had his eyes zoned in on the delicate curve of the boy’s wrists as he fiddled with the leather bands that adorned them, and Arthur had absolutely never found himself sighing wistfully like some swooning school girl when Merlin found his gaze in a crowded room; when his eyes turned an even lighter shade of blue, crinkles forming adorably in the creases. No, Arthur doesn’t notice any of these things you see, because Arthur Pendragon does not pine.
The third, and perhaps most important thing you need to know, is that Arthur Pendragon has a habit of lying.
It had all happened one morning, during yet another of Mr Kilgharrah’s ‘riveting’ Chemistry lectures. Arthur was half dozing at the back of the lab whilst an amused Gwaine stealthily sprinkled pencil shavings in his hair. Arthur wasn’t exactly the most assiduous when it came to his work ethic at Camelot University. But then again it was hard to be motivated when your whole life, as future CEO of Pendragon Inc., was already mapped out ahead of you. He went through the pleasantries, of course. Attended each class, handed each assignment in on time (though, whether it had actually been him to complete said essay was another matter entirely). Nevertheless, he allowed himself to be shepherded through his school day as if he were the model student, when really he could be found, more often than not, sleeping away the hours in his oversized sweatshirt, hood pulled up to cover his brow.
That is until one Thursday afternoon, whilst Mr Kilgharrah was enlightening them all on molecular orbital theory, a bundle of dark raven hair and long tapered limbs came tumbling through the door in a flurry of colour and scarves and roll neck jumpers.
“Sorry Sir, alarm...didn’t...shower...no water…,” the wrapped up mound of a boy panted out between breaths. Words lost as layer upon layer were removed as he manoeuvred down the aisle, until he eventually reached his seat and was left in a soft blue round-neck jumper and dark loose-fitting jeans. The tip of his ears were flushed scarlet, the rosy pink spreading across the cut of his cheekbones and dipping under the base of his neck. Arthur couldn’t help but take notice of this clumsy boy, weary and rambling, and looking utterly gorgeous with it.
“Yes yes, Merlin, if you could just take a seat I could maybe get back to teaching my class?” Mr Kilgharrah had told him, the hint of a smirk on his lips. Merlin nodded silently, and took a stool at the bench in front of Arthur, head burrowed low as he whispered to the girl next to him. Arthur watched them for a moment.
In fact, since that day, Arthur hadn’t stopped watching them.
Well, him. Arthur hadn’t stopped watching him. At first glance Merlin appears unassuming, quiet -- someone who passes you fleetingly in a blur of low hung beanie hats and tattered green pea-coats; and just as quickly as they’d entered your life they leave, without you ever quite knowing they’d been there. With Merlin, however, it was different. Once you stopped to take notice, allowed yourself the time to acknowledge him, you discovered the beauty. The hypnotising deep blue set of his eyes that peeped out of long lashes, the prominent arc of his cheekbones, the warm timbre of his voice or the dimples set in the base of his spine that winked at Arthur as the hem of his shirt rode up. When your body thrummed with energy at all those little movements, Merlin soon became pretty hard to forget.
Arthur didn’t let on though, couldn’t. He may have come across a bit of a player, as captain of the university football team, parties and booze and girls were all major keystones of his life. The idea of Merlin being pressed along his side on those nights, of fingers searching patterns along his hip, of lips pressing warm against his cheek…Arthur would often find himself daydreaming about it in class. And that was all they were, dreams. But when Merlin would turn on his stool and grant Arthur a small smile over his shoulder, it filled him with a pool of warmth that felt a little bit like hope. When Merlin’s eyes trained on Arthur, all his confidence and arrogance slipped away; and as much as he was loath to admit it, (because Gwaine really would never shut up about it) Arthur was absolutely smitten.
His eyes would drop to Merlin’s lips, plump and stained a deep cherry red. They’d linger for a beat, mind offering unhelpful thoughts of, ‘I wonder how soft they are…I wonder how he tastes.’ Then Merlin would swivel back to face forward and Arthur’s left tracking the small droplets of water that cling to the damp hair at the nape of Merlin’s neck.
Arthur closes his eyes, and the curve of Merlin’s lips burn behind his eyelids.
So he may just be slightly pining.
But he was handling it, he was coping. He could allow himself those indulgent moments in lectures so long as that was where it ended. So when Mr Kilgharrah paired them off for their end of term assignment a month later, smirk on his lips as he declared, ’You two will do great work together,’ that’s where things started to get complicated.
Learning to spend every day in Merlin’s company was awkward at first. Arthur tried to fill every possible silence with a joke or witty remark, while Merlin would just smile back at him in that endearing fashion, like he thought Arthur was a little touched in the head but lovely with it. Soon study sessions in the library turned into lunches at the back of the fields, after school dinners at that cheap pizzeria in town, late Friday night drinking sessions in the Rising Sun and one rather eventful ice-skating trip that would be rather best forgotten.
Still, Arthur and Merlin were getting closer. Each waking hour that wasn’t spent in lectures seemed to be passed in each other’s company. Even when the sun had set, they’d sit by the glow of their laptops sending each other stupid YouTube videos, childish comic strips, or sometimes – most times – talking on Skype about anything and everything until Merlin would go silent and Arthur would whisper ‘goodnight’ and the daylight would shine through the cracks in the shutters again.
When the day of the presentation eventually arrived, that was when everything fell apart.
It was a hug; just a quick wrap of long arms around his neck, the briefest of presses against his chest. Arthur had barely the time to slide his own arms around Merlin’s waist before he was bereft of the warmth and Merlin was standing back with a quirk of his lips and a quiet “good luck.”
Merlin had never touched him before.
No friendly pats on the shoulder, no innocuous touches of knees. Not even when he’d fell ass over tit on the ice-rink had he accepted Arthur’s helping hand. So to actually feel the heat of Merlin’s fingertips against the base of his neck, the hair over the curl of his ear flutter with the closeness of Merlin’s breath--it left Arthur’s heart racing ten to the dozen, hands shaking and everything he had learnt, everything they’d rehearsed, flew entirely out the window. Forgetting his words or stumbling over the equations would have been bad enough, mixing the two wrong compounds and creating a mini-explosion, however, was decidedly much much worse. Merlin just about managed to dart under the desk, out of the way of the puff of blue smoke, whilst a dazed Kilgharrah blinked fruitlessly through his smogged-out goggles before loudly dealing them an ‘F’ and walking out the lab.
Then the arguing had started.
Merlin paced nervously between the aisles, shucking off his lab coat in a huff, as he mumbled worries over losing his scholarship under his breath. Arthur tried to calm him, offering apology after apology until Merlin was up in his face, accusing finger and hurt eyes. It was all too close and all too much, then the words were spilling from Arthur’s lips in a wave of emotion and Merlin was just staring back at him confused with those wide guileless eyes, and fuck it all Arthur leaned it and kissed him.
It was just a brief press of lips, but it sent a rush of energy that shot through Arthur’s veins as he grabbed Merlin’s wrist and held on for dear life. His thumb dug into the hollow under Merlin’s palm, grip tight and no doubt bruising, the thought of him marking the pale flawless skin had Arthur swipe his tongue over the jut of Merlin’s lower lip and gently bite down before pulling away in a rush of breath. The noise of students filing up and down the corridor pounded loudly in his head, as Arthur struggled to gulp mouthfuls of air in the room that seemed to be closing in on him inch by inch.
Merlin swayed on the spot, hung in weightlessness until his eyes fluttered open at long last, “You like me?”
Arthur grasped the edge of the bench tightly, he’d just kissed Merlin. Had totally fucked everything up, confessed his stupid feelings and kissed Merlin. He needed to leave, run away. He could transfer, transferring was good, maybe to Scotland? A quick call to his dad and he could be eating haggis and downing scotch in no time. Merlin was watching him cautiously, eyes still wide and honest, his tongue darted out to swipe nervously over his lips, and Arthur helplessly tracked its path.
“’Cause, you know I wouldn’t hate that…exactly,” Merlin continued, taking slow measured steps closer to Arthur.
“Even if I’ve just completely fucked up your degree scholarship?”
Merlin chuckled, hands nervously twiddling with the string of his goggles that hung limp in his fingers. He stopped in front of Arthur and put them on the side. “Yeah, even then.”
Doors banged loudly up and down the hallway, the stirring of students beginning to quiet as lectures finished and the end of the day drew near. Merlin glanced up at Arthur with a hopeful smile, the plump of his lower lip still glistening. Then Merlin’s hand was slipping into his own, long fingers lacing between his and Arthur’s world was thrown entirely off kilter. Merlin’s other hand came to rest on Arthur’s hip, guiding him back until the sharp edge of the wooden bench pressed firmly against his spine and crowded closer.
“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you to do that?” Merlin asked, voice dipped low, rough Irish brogue rumbling through his chest, “how long I’ve been wanting to touch you?” Arthur watched wide-eyed, breath falling in heaving pants as Merlin’s fingers skated up Arthur’s arm and he brought a leg to slot teasingly between Arthur’s own.
“We really shouldn’t be doing this,” he moaned, fingers clutching Merlin’s hand tight, nails digging into his flesh, “Mr Kilgharrah could come back at any minute…”
“We better be quick then,” Merlin smiled, gifting Arthur one more look, one more chance to pull away. He ran his hands up Arthur’s sides, pushing the white lab coat from his shoulders and let it pool at their feet.
“I’m going to kiss you now if that’s okay?” Merlin spoke softly, eyes trained on Arthur as he leaned in gently and left a lingering touch against Arthur’s top lip. It was dry and quick and as Merlin tilted his head to deepen the kiss Arthur turned his face to gasp for air, running the tip of his nose along Merlin’s cheek, heart rate kicking.
“You’re insatiable”
“Mmhmm, now hop on up shorty,” Merlin said against his ear, pushing Arthur further back against the bench; cold fingers trailing up the side of Arthur’s ribs.
“You’re like, an inch taller than me.”
“More like three, but who’s counting,” Merlin smirked, digging his teeth into his lip as if to stop himself from laughing as Arthur grumbled under his breath but jumped up regardless. Merlin took a step closer, palms coming to rest on Arthur’s thighs, so hot and damp that it felt like they were burning through the layer of denim and straight onto his skin. Arthur’s breath hitched as Merlin parted his legs and quickly slotted into the ‘V’ they created, all consuming and suddenly so so close.
“You’re gorgeous, you know that?”
Arthur chuckled, because gorgeous? He’d always thought himself to be good-looking, chiseled and poised and all those types of words that get brandished at you when you’re the son and heir of a tycoon millionaire. But gorgeous? That felt…different somehow, more intimate. By the way Merlin gazed up at him through thick sooty lashes Arthur sensed it felt different for him too. The room was suddenly too quiet, the air stifling and restrictive. There was a weight that sat heavily and waiting in the pit of his stomach, yet Merlin kept staring at him relentlessly, eyes pure and depthless, as though they were scouring Arthur’s features for the very first time. It was unsettling and exposing, and Arthur rested back on his hands to put some space between them, because it was suddenly moving all too quickly and though he’d never say it out loud, he was fucking scared.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” he laughed off.
“No I don’t think you—” Merlin stumbled, taking yet another step forward. The dip of Merlin’s stomach pressed against the rough fabric of Arthur’s jeans, the hem of his shirt riding up to reveal a spattering of dark coarse hair against fair skin. A lump stuck at the back of Arthur’s throat as Merlin dropped his shoulders and lowered his head, the hitched puff of his breath dancing across Arthur’s jaw.
“God, I need to touch you,” the words fell in a breathless rush through Merlin’s lips, eyes cast down watching his fingers as they shakily hovered over the button of Arthur’s jeans, “tell me I can…let me…”
The late winter sun was setting to the west, bathing the lab in the last of its rays. Flecks of sunlight danced along Merlin’s cheekbones, highlighting the delicate line of his nose, the endearing curl of his ears, the softness of his hair. Arthur reached out an unsteady hand to thread his fingers through the thick tufts, stuck up this way and that. A smudge of soot sat in the hollow under Merlin’s eye and Arthur brought up a thumb to delicately wipe it away. Merlin lifted his gaze to watch Arthur’s movements, the black of his pupils blown wide in thirst and desire. It was all there, laced across every feature of Merlin’s face. And Arthur wanted. Then it really wasn’t scary at all to run his hand to the base of Merlin’s neck, cup it firmly and bring their lips together in a flush of deep, urgent need. Groans slipped through the air as Merlin pressed even closer.
"Fuck, I can't believe we're doing this here," Arthur panted into the room, lips swollen and bruised and nipped deep red. Merlin's hands were back at the fly on Arthur's jeans, pausing for only a second longer before, with a flick of his thumb, Merlin slipped the button through the hole and tentatively toyed with the zip.
Arthur's hands were clammy. Beads of sweat formed along the top of his brow and scaled down the bridge of his nose. Merlin's tongue lavishing an exploring trail over the shell of his ear, leaving Arthur all but mute spare the few deep grunts that heaved through his chest. Merlin bit down hard on the tender flesh of Arthur’s earlobe just as his hand slipped deftly into the open cut of Arthur’s jeans and fingered the thin cotton of his boxer briefs.
"You ever done this before?" Merlin asked, fingers teasing, gifting Arthur the barest of touches before casting a hasty retreat.
"Of course."
"With a bloke?" Merlin pushed, rubbing the pad of his thumb gingerly over the head of Arthur's cock, curling thick and hard and dripping at the tip.
Arthur swallowed fast, the dryness in his throat almost unbearable. Then Merlin was up close again, lips spread over Arthur’s, tongue tracing the outline of his mouth. He knew, the fucking bastard. He’d no doubt worked it out from one of their late night Skype sessions, questions of ‘first crushes’ and ‘first kisses’. Arthur was prideful, stubborn, but right then Merlin had his hand down Arthur’s trousers, so close to wrapping tight and warm around his stiff cock, that all sense of entitlement flew out the window and he found himself mumbling, "Yeah, me and -- me and Gwaine, in high school, we fooled around once..." Merlin's hand gripped tighter, "twice...once or twice...nothing serious though, just...rubbing, he never, we never…”
"Never had a guy jerk you off?" Merlin eventually cut in. An air of assertion taking over him that Arthur had never seen before. Merlin was demanding. Curt, but not cold, not harsh, just... confident. It was endearing, intriguing and so completely arousing that Arthur couldn’t help but release a deep guttural moan. Merlin was looking down at him, telltale smirk on his lips. He was waiting. Arthur shook his head, eyes closed.
A second later, Merlin pushed the layer of boxers away, twisting his fingers just so, and Arthur collapsed back against the desk almost whacking his head on the wood. The hot sensation of flesh on flesh was overpowering and when Arthur registered they were Merlin’s long narrowed fingers sliding slowly up and down his shaft--Merlin’s hands on him after so long--it was all Arthur could do not to black out entirely.
“God, you’re fucking good at that,” Arthur gasped, struggling to force himself up on his elbows, because this was a sight he didn’t want to miss. Merlin was leaning over him, hand still pumping fluidly, the other coming to bunch up Arthur’s shirt, revealing a fine smattering of blonde hair that tapered down invitingly.
Merlin grinned at him devilishly, lips pulling over his teeth as he drank in Arthur laid out beneath him, his hand faltering for a beat. “So gorgeous,” he mumbled quietly, reverently, words lost as he dipped his head and darted his tongue to lap over the dips and shallows of Arthur’s stomach. Curses and half-endearments filled the room as Arthur lost himself to the hot pleasure of Merlin’s hands and mouth.
Merlin purred against Arthur’s side, spreading his thumb over the head of Arthur’s cock and using the slick gathering of pre-come to swipe down his length, fingers working him faster as they slid with greater ease. Feather light kisses were placed along the dip in Arthur’s hip, Merlin biting down hard when Arthur’s hand cupped him through his jeans and ran blunt nails over the sensitive bulge. Arthur pushed up, lifting Merlin’s head from the crook of his lap and ploughed his mouth on top of his. Teeth clashed and moans were swallowed as he allowed his tongue to skim over the roof of Merlin’s mouth. Merlin was pulling harder, his strokes coming quicker and messier as he twisted his head from Arthur’s demanding lips and left hot heavy pants against his cheek.
“I don’t—I’m not—” Arthur heaved, digging his nails into the base of Merlin’s skull and tugging his hair tersely. The other still rubbed furiously through Merlin’s trousers, fingers fumbling for the zip but struggling to grab purchase. Merlin nipped along Arthur’s jaw, hips jerking in pleading thrusts as he rutted firmer against Arthur’s hand. It was warm, and muggy, and there wasn’t air to breathe as Arthur wrapped his legs around the underside of Merlin’s arse and brought them even closer together. Merlin gasped against Arthur’s throat, sparks flashing behind his eyes as he growled out his release and pumped once, twice more before Arthur followed him over.
The sound of their deep pants echoed through the empty science lab, chests rising and falling as they slowly came down off their high. They were a mess. Jeans damp and stuck to their thighs, stains starting to streak along the hem of their shirts. It had been fast, and frantic, and totally fucking amazing.
“Come back to mine,” Arthur mumbled groggily, pushing Merlin’s head to the side and resting the top of his chin against the boy’s brow.
“Yeah, yeah ok.”
--
If there were three things you needed to know about Arthur Pendragon, these were it.
One, the best part of his day was waking up. When the cool morning chill seeped under the window pane and the early dawn light pierced through the curtains, Arthur would roll over and press himself tighter against the curve of a warm naked back. He’d slot a knee between the thin wiry thighs in front of him, leave a lingering open mouth kiss against the expanse of creamy skin and wait for Merlin to turn in his sleep and burrow closer.
Another thing you needed to know was that Arthur loved his late-night football training sessions. When the frost bit through his lungs and his legs felt like giving out as the coach urged him to go faster, push harder, be better. But the best part was coming home on those winter evenings to find Merlin curled up on their couch. A bowl of crisps lying abandoned on the floor and a replay of ‘Mock the Week’ casting shadows across his slumbered face. In those quiet moments Arthur would just look at him, smile on his lips as Merlin murmured in his sleep and drew the hood of Arthur’s jumper even further over his head. He’d look, and smile, and relish the thought of his clothes smelling of Merlin come morning.
And finally, and perhaps most importantly, Arthur Pendragon was totally and irreversibly in love.
In fact, that is the only thing you’ll ever need to know about Arthur…because it’s the only one that mattered.
--
fin
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no subject
Date: 2011-12-20 01:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-20 01:45 pm (UTC)It is very schmoopy but then again it is the spirit of the season. :D
So, so sweet and warm and lovely. ♥
no subject
Date: 2011-12-20 02:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-20 03:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-20 04:37 pm (UTC)Just... the rutting in a forgotten classroom and then the ending was just so... content and perfect ♥
I'm in love.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-20 06:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-20 07:07 pm (UTC)Truly, Pining!Smitten!Arthur never gets old.. :D
In the end I have only one thing to say... Fluff! Glorious fluff! Gloriously schmoopy fluff! ♥ *rolls in the fluff*
no subject
Date: 2011-12-20 08:45 pm (UTC)meus such delightful, adorable, holiday schmoopiness! Much needed, my dear! I loved the explosion, Arthur's sudden bout of too-freaking-adorable shyness, his outburst declaring his feelings, Merlin's reaction, and Merlin's cool, calm confidence. And the three things at the beginning and end made wonderful bookends to this. Such a lovely, sweet read!no subject
Date: 2011-12-20 11:40 pm (UTC)Curses and half-endearments filled the room as Arthur lost himself to the hot pleasure of Merlin’s hands and mouth.
So hot! Thank you. ♥
no subject
Date: 2011-12-21 01:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-21 07:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-21 05:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-21 07:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-21 09:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-22 12:57 am (UTC)Awww, I love a good serving of fluff. This was super adorable and sweet. Fantastic job author!!
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Date: 2011-12-23 12:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-23 03:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-29 09:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-07 03:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-08 01:02 am (UTC)And classroom sex, HOT. :)
no subject
Date: 2012-01-08 03:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-08 05:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-09 03:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-18 08:14 pm (UTC)