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Arthur was in one of his bad moods again. It was just a simple request. To save Arthur's back when he had gone to God knows where without his father knowing. Merlin had no idea how Uther found out about it. He didn't let a breath out. Merlin swore. He was the only one who knew about that, and now Arthur's angry at him. He just got lectured by Uther. No harm done. But he was Arthur.
Merlin followed an angry Arthur to his room. He was nervous about what was to come. Arthur must have probably thought that Merlin had told Uther, which he didn't. But that didn't matter to him now, did it?
"How did Uther find out?" Merlin asked, and Arthur gave him a look. He suddenly regretted speaking.
"I don't know. You were the only person who knew," Arthur said bitterly, looking suspiciously at Merlin. Merlin gulped. Sure there was nothing to be scared of when he hadn't done anything wrong. But the way Arthur looked at him, one eyebrow raised, face red with anger, clearly terrified Merlin.
"I didn't tell him," Merlin said defensively, which had worsened Arthur's anger.
"Oh, maybe something you said gave it away" He didn't even try to hide his anger, and Merlin shivered.
"I didn't say anything," Merlin said weakly against Arthur's look.
"You know, Merlin, you couldn't keep a secret if your life depended on it!" Arthur shouted, and Merlin's anger bubbled up. He had no right to say such a thing.
"You'd be surprised!" Merlin shouted back without even realizing it. Shit!
"What's that supposed to mean?" Arthur asked, no longer angry. A sudden curiosity had taken over him. Merlin had never spoken to him in that tone. There was something wrong. Merlin looked like a deer caught in the light.
"Nothing," Merlin quickly said. Liar. Arthur thought.
It should be fine because Merlin says stupid things all the time. But Arthur was no fool. He knew that wasn't just nothing. Merlin looked like he had said something he wasn't supposed to.
Was Merlin hiding a secret from Arthur?
But Arthur had no say in it, did he?
He had secrets too. Like where he had gone today.
He actually went to see Gwen. Of course, Merlin didn't know. They had a nice conversation. About so many things.
Mainly feelings and Merlin.
But this one was different. Arthur needed to know about it. So, Arthur tried again.
"What do you mean, Merlin?" Arthur didn't mean to raise his voice, it just happened, and Merlin flinched. Arthur felt a sudden pain in his heart.
"N-nothing, Sir," Merlin said, head bowing, looking down.
"Look, Merlin. I may not be the greatest friend. But you can talk to me, you know?" Arthur said kindly. There was no way he was letting this go. Merlin stared at him for a long time and sighed.
"It's nothing, Arthur," Merlin whispered, and Arthur's anger was back. He didn't mean to scare Merlin. But when it came to his anger, Arthur had no control over it.
"I may be a prince, but I'm not an idiot, Merlin! What are you hiding from me?" Arthur yelled.
"Can't I just have my own secret, Arthur?" Merlin yelled, matching Arthur's voice.
"I-yes, you can," Arthur said after a while.
"Great. And talking about secrets, where were you today?" Merlin quickly changed the topic.
"Don't think I didn't see the way you changed the topic there, Merlin,"
"You didn't answer the question, Arthur. If you can have secrets, I can too. Don't expect me to tell you everything when you're already hiding something from me, Arthur," Merlin said, dead serious, and Arthur was surprised.
"Are you that afraid of me, Merlin? That you have to keep things away from me?" Arthur asked.
"It's not, you, I'm afraid of Arthur. It's the decisions you'd have to make, I'm afraid of," Merlin didn't hide it anymore. So there was something, and Merlin was afraid to tell Arthur.
"Can we drop this now, please?" Merlin asked. No. Arthur was so close. He wasn't letting that go now.
"If-if I tell you about today, could you consider telling me yours too?" Arthur asked. It was a bold move. Telling the truth meant he had to confess his feelings about Merlin too. But he didn't want Merlin to be scared of him.
"I-I'm not sure-"
"Could you think about it, though? You don't have to tell today, but maybe someday? Like tomorrow or something?" Arthur asked with big eyes, and who was Merlin to resist that.
"O-Okay" Merlin didn't know why he said that. It was like planning his own death. But he couldn't say no to that face.
"Okay" Arthur took a nervous breath.
"Okay"
"I was with Guinevere," Arthur said.
"Oh, I knew you fancy her" Merlin grinned.
"No, I don't. And don't interrupt me, Merlin. And we talked" Arthur took a deep breath.
"We talked about things. You know, feelings. Love. Stuff. You" Arthur hoped Merlin wouldn't hear the last word. Well...Merlin had great ears.
"Me?" Merlin asked, surprised.
"What would you do if I say that I have feelings for you?" Arthur asked, and Merlin's eyes widened. First in shock. Then in fear.
"I-no-you-can't-don't," Merlin started rambling.
"It's true, Merlin. You wanted to know the truth. Here you go. I love you, Merlin!" Arthur yelled against Merlin's endless ramble.
"You can't," Merlin murmured.
"It's the truth, Merlin. I love you," Arthur said again, this time calmly.
"You can't love me! I have magic!" Merlin blurted out, making Arthur's jaw drop.
"You what?" Arthur's voice was barely a whisper. Merlin felt tears building in his eyes. No. He wasn't going to cry. He blinked them away.
"I'm sorry. Please don't kill me," Merlin pleaded, looking down.
Arthur was at a loss for words. He couldn't believe it.
Merlin? Magic?
Merlin! Magic!
Wasn't that the coolest thing ever!?
His father spent his all life hunting sorcerers, and all this time, Merlin was there, just under his nose, and he didn't even notice that! Arthur laughed at that. Merlin looked up only to see Arthur laughing his head off. Merlin looked at him dumbfounded.
"What?" Merlin had the nerve to ask.
"N-Nothing!" Arthur said, shaking his head, still chuckling.
"What!" Merlin asked, annoyed and Arthur quickly stopped.
"No, it's just. My father hunts your kind, and you-you were under his nose all this time! And he didn't even notice!"
"You're not mad?" Merlin asked nervously.
"I'm not my father, Merlin. Of course, I'm not mad. I think it's pretty awesome. Magic," Arthur said honestly, and Merlin beamed with joy.
"Thank you!" Merlin said and hugged Arthur. Merlin was, hoping, for a blow to the head or something, but surprisingly, Arthur hugged him back. Merlin smiled into the hug. He couldn't tell how glad he was.
Merlin never knew Arthur was this understanding. He was so proud of him.
But his chain of thoughts got cut off as Arthur planted a kiss to the side of his neck. Merlin stilled. He wasn't expecting that.
"So, does that mean...I can love you?" Arthur asked smugly. Merlin snorted.
"Shut up"
"That's not an answer" That prat!
"Of course! What kind of question was that? You can love me! And if it'll make you feel any better, I love you too, prat" Merlin smiled.
"I love you too," Arthur said.
"Me too. Now fucking kiss me, will you?" Merlin asked eagerly. And Arthur chuckled.
"Now, now, Merlin, you can't talk to me like that," Arthur said with a smirk but leaned in to kiss Merlin.
"Maybe I should punish you," Arthur mumbled before Merlin took control and started kissing him senseless.