InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Hey."

Merlin (_twosides) wrote in brightlightlogs,
@ 2010-06-07 18:57:00

Entry tags:

arthur pendragon, merlin

Who: Merlin & Arthur
What: A date that Arthur may or may not know is a date, Merlin's just sort of winging it. Oh, they're going bowling.
When: Sunday night
Where: Their room, then a bowling alley
Rating: PG(?)
Status: Closed, incomplete

After taking a moment to make his grin fade a little, and then another moment to remind himself of all the reasons why this would not be a complete disaster, Merlin put down his little device and went to find Arthur in the living room. Sure enough, one of his shoes was lying overturned by the couch, and the other was sitting by the television. How did that even happen?

Merlin shook his head and went to collect them and put them on, giving Arthur only a passing glance. He very purposefully did not give any more than that.

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	samecoin_ 2010-06-08 12:15 am UTC (link)
	It was no great mystery to Arthur how Merlin's shoes had landed like that as Arthur had very deliberately scattered them in his own self-interest. He lounged on the sofa, shoes on and laces tied long before Merlin had even come out of the next room. "Any day now?" (Reply to this) (Thread)

_twosides
2010-06-08 12:58 am UTC (link)

This time, Merlin looked at him longer, but had no trouble glaring. Gods, this was the person he'd been getting giddy over like a little girl? On that note, what was he feeling like such a girl about this anyway? He and Arthur had already kissed, after all. And then more times as the days went on. And this... whatever it was between them... had pretty much been confirmed, right? So why should it matter if they went bowling together?

"I'm ready," Merlin announced as he finished tying his shoes, breaking himself out of his own obnoxious over-thinking.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

samecoin_
2010-06-08 01:15 am UTC (link)

Merlin was the picture of deep thought, which normally would get a teasing remark or twenty, but Arthur wasn't overly concerned. Whatever it was that had Merlin over-analyzing shoe tying wasn't exactly something he cared to examine with any sort of scrutiny.

He pushed off the sofa and straightened his shirt collar and wiping off his trousers. Living here had slowly been catching up to him, his wardrobe had changed, but the quality of it hadn't lagged. He wasn't going to give up good taste for something as ridiculously tattered as some of the jeans Merlin tugged on in the morning.

Still.

Arthur wrapped his fingers around Merlin's recently healed arm in a light hold, thumb brushing along the clear angle of his bone and sighed.

"You're sure you're up to this?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	_twosides 2010-06-08 01:39 am UTC (link)
	Racing thoughts calming, Merlin smiled to himself and then to Arthur. "Definitely. It feels fine, I promise." Just like that, Arthur reminded him why this was filling his stomach with anxious hummingbirds. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	samecoin_ 2010-06-08 01:43 am UTC (link)
	"And I'm supposed to trust your judgment on this?" Arthur slid his hand down to Merlin's and clasped it. I could snap your arm in two without straining myself." Not that he ever would. He was fairly assured that Merlin wouldn't think he was going to try. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	_twosides 2010-06-08 02:08 am UTC (link)
	Merlin bit his lip, grinning, and easily slipped his fingers through Arthur's. "I'll be fine, mother." He used Arthur's hand to tug himself to his feet. Then he squeezed it. "Should we go?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	samecoin_ 2010-06-08 02:18 am UTC (link)
	This was a date worthy of the doomed expression Arthur wore when he nodded. Merlin's arm had just barley healed and already he was going to test it's strength and capacity. It had so little in the first place. "I hope you know where we're going." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	_twosides 2010-06-08 02:33 am UTC (link)
	"I do, actually," Merlin answered as they walked to the door. "Directions here are much more clear than 'Over the great valley and beyond the white mountain.'" He glanced at Arthur to give him a wink or a smirk, but ended up noticing the frown on Arthur's face instead. "What is it?" he asked, shutting the door behind them. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

samecoin_
2010-06-08 03:07 am UTC (link)

"Those would have been rubbish directions even in Camelot," Arthur said, slipping his arm around Merlin's shoulders. "For one, you forgot the majestic rock and the tree split in a 'v'."

Arthur was not by nature a demonstrative man when it came to affection, despite being tactile. He liked to touch, but loathed to be touched, so when he reached for Merlin's puzzled face, it could have meant anything. But the feather-light kiss to his forehead was hard to misinterpret.

For all his thoughts of doom and disaster and Merlin sitting in the emergency room of the hospital a second time, though conscious, Arthur voiced none.

"Nothing. Now, are we going?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

_twosides
2010-06-08 04:06 am UTC (link)

Merlin laughed and leaned into Arthur, one arm finding its way loosely around his waist. "Fair enough." It still surprised him, sometimes, the way Arthur acted with him when he wasn't being typical prat Arthur. It was always a welcome surprise.

The same sort of surprise he felt when Arthur touched his face and kissed his forehead. He flushed, nearly forgetting what his question had been, then he remembered and smiled, deciding to accept Arthur's answer. "Yeah. Let's go." He pushed the elevator button and waited for the doors to slide open.

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	samecoin_ 2010-06-09 02:59 am UTC (link)
	Arthur's hand slipped down into Merlin's back pocket as they rode the elevator down to the ground floor. It was oddly liberating to know he could get away with that and people would just brush past them without notice, like it wasn't an unusual sight to behold. "You know I refuse to wear the shoes they have there." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	_twosides 2010-06-09 03:08 am UTC (link)
	"You know, I'm fairly certain it's a rule that you have to, and I don't think 'I'm the prince' is going to work here," Merlin laughed, containing a blush at the movement of Arthur's hand. "You may just have to deal with sharing the footwear of commoners, your highness." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	samecoin_ 2010-06-09 03:14 am UTC (link)
	Arthur wrinkled his nose and let out a gusty sigh. He was rapidly running out of flimsy excuses to halt this expedition. Yes, it was foolish paranoia, but at this juncture Arthur thought he was allowed to have some. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

_twosides
2010-06-09 03:31 am UTC (link)

Merlin glanced at him, trying to find where the mock-dramatic in that sigh ended and the genuine began. "We don't have to do this if you don't want to, you know," he offered after a moment. "We could just-- go back to the room, watch the television or play with the bunnies or something." Yes, Merlin had been sick of having no use of his arm, and yes the idea of being out along with Arthur made something nice happen in his chest, but it would hardly satisfy him if Arthur seemed distressed all night.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	samecoin_ 2010-06-09 03:35 am UTC (link)
	"You want to be out." That was plainly obvious. Arthur couldn't fault him for wanting to go and do something outside their flat. "Far be it from me to spoil it for you." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

_twosides
2010-06-09 04:12 am UTC (link)

OOC: Oops, my previous tag should have read 'out alone with Arthur,' not 'along.' OK, carry on!

"Well yes, but mostly I--" Merlin stopped. He really hadn't thought this one through, and suddenly he was terrified he'd regret that. "Do you... have you heard of what they call 'dates' here? Not-- not like the fruit," he added, trying to laugh it off, to ease his own jitters.

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	samecoin_ 2010-06-09 05:04 am UTC (link)
	Arthur's lips twitched and he dragged patience about him like a wool cloak. He had his suspicions, which will shortly be proven true, because Merlin is predictable. But Arthur liked him that way. "Yes, Merlin, I've heard of dates." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	_twosides 2010-06-09 05:12 am UTC (link)
	"Well I just--" Merlin inhaled and found a smile. Arthur knew what it was, and he wasn't laughing or yanking away, so that was worth something. "That's what I wanted. With you. Not-- I mean-- it doesn't really matter where." He stopped there. Out of both utter self-horror and necessity. God only knew what he might say next. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	samecoin_ 2010-06-09 05:23 am UTC (link)
	Merlin looked like he'd swallowed his own tongue in his haste to stop babbling. Arthur found himself pulling Merlin aside and against him. He had thought Merlin might be beyond the stage where he thought he'd be rejected. "And your persistence in going bowling instead of a venue where you might not fracture a weakened arm comes from?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

_twosides
2010-06-09 05:30 am UTC (link)

Resting his face against Arthur's shoulder as his neck and cheeks heated, Merlin snorted. "I dunno. It just... looked like fun, I guess?" Which was true. Merlin couldn't pretend he wasn't curious about the brightly colored building and the white objects you knocked down with shiny, heavy spheres. But Arthur did have a point about his arm. Not that he said that bit aloud. "And my arm is fine."

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	samecoin_ 2010-06-09 05:33 am UTC (link)
	"Your arm is fine enough for that cast to be taken off," And Arthur wasn't sure that was entirely true either. Merlin was a walking, talking human hazard and if that didn't warrant a few extra days in a cast to protect his arm from further abuse, well, Arthur wouldn't have fussed. "That doesn't mean you go and test it out immediately." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	_twosides 2010-06-09 05:41 am UTC (link)
	"Says the man who went back to training his knights two days after recovering from an injured shoulder and a nearly fatal illness," Merlin retorted, but he knew this battle was lost. Not that he'd give it much of a fight. He pulled back. "So... what should we do, then?" he asked. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	samecoin_ 2010-06-09 05:48 am UTC (link)
	"I didn't break anything." A break wouldn't have stopped him either, he likely would have forged onward unless the thing was damn near twisted right around. "We can walk until we find something." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	_twosides 2010-06-09 06:00 am UTC (link)
	Merlin diplomatically chose not to point out that Arthur probably would have done the same even with a break, and just nodded with a smile instead. "That sounds good to me." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	samecoin_ 2010-06-10 03:26 am UTC (link)
	Arthur's look spoke of how much he appreciated Merlin's silence. For once. He just wished he could decipher that smile. "We'll go bowling when your arm isn't a twig any longer." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	_twosides 2010-06-10 04:02 am UTC (link)
	Did Arthur think Merlin was going to be genuinely upset about not bowling, even after he'd explained? Merlin wasn't sure, but he found the reassurance sweet, and kissed Arthur's cheek to indicate as much. "Honestly? Now that I think about it, a walk and something quiet seems like a much nicer idea." He grinned. There was a smile Arthur wouldn't have to decipher. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

samecoin_
2010-06-10 04:05 am UTC (link)

He really needed no deciphering skills at all. Arthur caught Merlin's jaw between his thumb and forefinger and kissed that fond grin from his face. Because he could. Because he wanted to. Because he was damn relieved Merlin wasn't going to pout for the rest of the evening.

Though, the mob-like crowds that roamed the streets weren't exactly Arthur's idea of peace and quiet. He could appreciate the thought.

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	_twosides 2010-06-10 04:11 am UTC (link)
	It wasn't a long kiss at all, but Merlin still felt breathless when it ended. "You--" he started to say, and then realized he had never actually formed a statement even in his mind. "Nevermind," he muttered smilingly, briefly kissing Arthur again. He clutched Arthur's hand. "Let's go." Not that they knew where they were going. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

samecoin_
2010-06-10 04:14 am UTC (link)

Arthur squeezed back and smirked in response to Merlin's flustered reaction.

"Maybe we should find a place to eat." Not that Arthur was particularly hungry, but they could afford to go to a place that was too expensive for words and quiet. Not even poor dress code could prevent people with large amounts of currency from getting what they wanted and Arthur dressed well enough for the both of them.

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_twosides
2010-06-10 04:39 am UTC (link)

"I am sort of hungry," Merlin admitted. It had been a long day, with getting his cast off and all, and he'd apparently forgotten to eat lunch. He watched the brightly lit buildings as they passed them.

Merlin had learned about casinos, but he hadn't been in one yet and was alright with that. They seemed a little confusing, a little intimidating. Still, he liked the lights.

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	samecoin_ 2010-06-10 04:43 am UTC (link)
	He had learned of a place, a little research was useful in these types of situations, that would suit his needs, even if it was a walk to reach it. He didn't mind. Merlin hardly seemed to mind so long as Arthur was right beside him. And the weather wasn't awful. Not that it was incredible either. "Didn't you eat?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	_twosides 2010-06-10 04:48 am UTC (link)
	Merlin grinned sheepishly. "Of course I ate." Which was not a lie. He had eaten, around ten o'clock in the morning. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

samecoin_
2010-06-10 04:50 am UTC (link)

Arthur arched an eyebrow and gave up. Right then and there. A late lunch wasn't not a horrible idea and now that he knew Merlin had forgotten to eat after breakfast, his mind was made up.

And it would give Merlin his walk as well.

Arthur came to the determination not too think overly hard on the number of times his thoughts revolved around accommodating Merlin's potential needs. It was embarrassing.

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_twosides
2010-06-15 02:19 am UTC (link)

After that, Merlin fell quiet, and it was really only a matter of time before Arthur commented on the rarity of it. But his nerves, which he'd been trying dutifully to shove away, seemed to have stolen his flair for talking. For once in all the time they'd known each other, Merlin actually cared whether or not he sounded like an idiot in front of Arthur.

"Where are we going?" he settled on finally, because Arthur seemed to be heading rather purposefully, as though with a destination in mind.

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