(no subject)
Title: Library, Part 1.
Fandom: Merlin (pairing: Arthur/Merlin and Gwaine/Merlin)
Rating: PG
Summary: Merlin was only supposed to help show Arthur around the new school. He didn't sign up for detention and he most certainly did NOT sign up to fall in love.
Notes: Written for Lilybell's Fanfic Contest-A-Palooza on Tumblr. Inspired by the picture here
Merlin had a sinking feeling that today was the beginning of the rest of his life. Arthur Pendragon was transferring to his little high school. There were rumors that he was caught in the bedroom of Vivian and in a fit of rage her father, a valued member of the city council, brought it up against Uther Pendragon. So now Arthur was suspended from his own private school and had to come to school with the poor commoners.
Will was the one who suggested that Merlin offer to show him around the school, some crap about looking good on his transcript. So here he was, waiting at the front door, his backpack heavy on his shoulders, waiting for the rich Arthur. It was cold, mid October winds were picking up and Merlin pulled his coat closer to him, watching a few leaves dance across the sidewalk.
There was a purr of a car pulling up in the parking lot. Merlin looked up and gasped. He didn’t know much about cars, but he could tell this car was beautiful. All silver finish and sleek lines. A Lexus. Merlin managed to catch himself gaping and closed his mouth, looking on casually. The door opened and out came Arthur.
Merlin’s breath caught again.
Of course he’d seen pictures. Son of the Mayor meant that he got just enough media attention that everyone had seen him, but not so much that he was out of touch. Those pictures didn’t do him justice. His glowing blond hair and full pink lips. His broad shoulders and long fingered hands. Arthur turned and Merlin saw his eyes. Brilliant, stunning blue.
Shaking himself, Merlin walked to Arthur, hand held out.
“Hi, I’m Merlin, I’m supposed to be showing you around?”
“Hello Merlin,” Arthur said, taking Merlin’s hand, his voice as pompous as his car, “Let’s get this over with.”
Merlin rolled his eyes. Of course. Rich and a prat. School was going to get so much better. Merlin just turned around and started walking, talking about the school. Arthur followed and walked in step next to Merlin. And, because Fate apparently hated Merlin, when they stopped at the office to get him a schedule the secretaries thought it would be unfair for Arthur to have to go to all his classes on his own and gave Arthur the same exact same schedule as Merlin.
“So much for getting rid of you,” Merlin muttered.
“What did you say?” Arthur asked, turning his head sharply to Merlin.
“Nothing. Come on, let’s get to your dorm.”
Arthur followed Merlin through the hallways and Merlin continued to talk, “Most kids live on campus. The ones who can afford it. Since it’s a public school it’s pretty cheap and I’m probably the only one who still lives at home. You’re living in one of the dorms. I’ll let your roommate help you out after that.”
“I have a roommate?”
“Don’t get all posh on me. This is a public school. Get used to it.”
Merlin peeked at Arthur’s schedule, trying to read the dorm number upside down.
“Oh!” he exclaimed, “You’re rooming with my boyfriend.”
“What?” Arthur looked at the number, as if hoping it would explain what Merlin just said.
“Oh don’t tell me you’re a homophobe,” Merlin moaned, “Just… forget it. Gwaine isn’t going to jump you in your sleep or anything. He’s a good person.”
“Dating you? Must be desperate.”
Merlin rolled his eyes, “You’re just a jealous prat.”
“Jealous of what?”
“That I’m in a working relationship and you’re not.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You and Vivian? That was a brilliant move.”
Arthur was going to retort but someone came up and put their arms around Merlin.
“Hey Gwaine,” Merlin laughed, “I got you a roommate.”
“I don’t need a roommate,” Gwaine muttered into Merlin’s shoulder, “I’ve got you.”
“Aw, sweet, but I don’t live here.”
“I’m your roommate,” Arthur spoke up, tired of having Merlin talk for him, “My name’s Arthur. Arthur Pendragon.”
Gwaine’s head shot up. His hair hung in his eyes but he flipped it away and his brown eyes scanned Arthur warily.
“No,” Gwaine said, “I am not sharing a room with this royal prat.”
“Oh yes you are,” Merlin said, sliding from Gwaine’s arms, “Do it. For me.”
“You know I’d do anything for you,” Gwaine reached out for Merlin again.
“Exactly, so be his roommate.”
“Alright,” Gwaine rolled his eyes dramatically, “I’ll be roommates with the poor princess.”
“Thanks,” Merlin leaned up and planted a kiss on his cheek, “I’ve got to head to chemistry. I can’t miss another day.”
Merlin waved at Gwaine and trotted back to class. At least his royal pratness wouldn’t be a problem anymore. But Merlin forgot. They share a schedule. Merlin stopped in the middle of the hallway. He was never getting rid of Arthur. First day of the rest of his life indeed.
Merlin sulked all during Chemistry.
~
At first Arthur wasn’t a problem. He and Gwaine spent their time together outside of his room (much to Gwaine’s disappointment) and once Arthur knew where to go he never bothered Merlin again. They sat on opposite sides of the classroom and if they passed each other in the hallway they made brief eye contact then pushed onwards.
Until he saw the bullying.
He was on his way to Gwaine’s room so they could go watch a movie. On his way he saw the football team practicing, running around and shouting and kicking the infernal ball across the field. Merlin shook his head. He’d probably never understand the appeal of it. One of the younger boys, probably 15 or 16, was dragging a bag across the field, picking up stray balls and hauling it back to the sidelines. Every time he would get near the goal though, Arthur and a couple of the other team members pelted him with the ones he couldn’t get.
“Got ourselves a little bit of goalie practice!” Arthur shouted.
Merlin, Gwaine forgotten, ran up and picked up the ball bag.
“Hey,” Merlin said, “That’s enough.”
“Merlin,” Arthur said, “What brings you here?”
“You’ve had your fun, my friend,” Merlin said, “Let him go.”
“You called me friend,” Arthur noted, stepping closer.
“My mistake.”
“Yes, it was.”
“You’re too much of a prat to be my friend,” Merlin scoffed and turned to walk off the field.
“And you’re too stupid!”
Merlin turned and walked back to Arthur until they were facing each other.
“What are you going to do, hit me?” Arthur taunted.
“Maybe I will,” Merlin said, “Then I could see you and your black eye from across the classroom all day.”
“Go on. Try.”
Merlin hesitated.
“Go on!” Arthur insisted, “Or do you need your boyfriend to come fight for you?”
The team laughed at that and Arthur chuckled with them. Merlin felt furious. His hand was still wrapped tight around the ball bag. With a pull and a swing he threw it against Arthur, knocking him off balance and into the mud.
“How about that?” Merlin smirked, dropping the bag on top of Arthur, balls bouncing across the grass.
He was about to walk away triumphant but he felt fingers on his ankle and, with a shout, he fell face first into the grass. Arthur’s body was on top of his then.
“Give up yet?” Arthur asked, his breath hot against Merlin’s cheek.
“Never.”
Merlin swung his head back, seeing stars when it collided with Arthur’s chin. Pressing his advantage he pushed back and twisted and turned until he was on top of Arthur. But the prat wasn’t having any of that and soon they were rolling around the field, grabbing and pushing and punching, trying to get the upper hand. When they heard a shout and were pulled apart, Arthur had a split lip and a bruise forming on his cheek. Merlin had a bloody nose and was pretty sure he had sprained his wrist.
“Principal’s office, both of you!”
Merlin groaned and shuffled along next to Arthur. He looked back and saw Gwaine, a smirk on his face. He gave Merlin a thumbs up and blew him a kiss. Merlin smiled.
~
The principal’s office wasn’t so bad. It could be worse. Merlin could be suspended. Or expelled. But since he was a good student and since Arthur was the Mayor’s son they got off easy. Other than the fact they both had detention. Together. Not even the nice stay after school for an hour kind of detention. They had to clean the cafeteria after lunch. All week starting next Monday.
“I can’t do this,” Merlin moaned, “We’re missing our history class. I can’t miss a week of it!”
“You should have thought of that before you started a fight,” Arthur said around his ice pack.
“If you weren’t such a prat it wouldn’t be a problem,” Merlin lifted the tissue from his face to check his nose.
Gaius walked into the office. He was the school’s doctor (no one called him a nurse) and a good friend of Merlin’s mother. He checked Arthur’s bruise and gave Merlin a wrist brace.
“I hope you both learned something today,” Gaius said, “If you are feeling better you can go to your room Arthur. I’ll take you home Merlin.”
“Actually Gwaine and I were going to see a movie,” Merlin said, “Thanks.”
Gaius nodded, “If you are both fine then I must go. I have an appointment.”
“Do me a favor,” Arthur said once the door shut behind Gaius.
“Why?”
“Just tell your boyfriend to not kill me in my sleep,” Arthur said.
“No chance,” Merlin stood up to leave, “You’d deserve it.”
“Merlin!”
~
It was a bright morning and the sense of Friday filled Merlin. The weekend. No Arthur anywhere. But he still had to get through today. Gwaine hadn’t killed Arthur which meant that during their shared classes Merlin had the pleasure of looking over and seeing the bruise, already a deep purple, stand out on Arthur’s otherwise perfect features. He overheard a few snatches of conversation of Arthur saying he was surprised by the punch. Merlin scoffed.
At lunch Merlin sat with Will and Gwaine. They both had their school lunches but Merlin couldn’t afford it. Besides, his mother made better sandwiches than the cafeteria. He was in the middle of defending his cookies from Will when he heard Arthur shout.
“Don’t listen to him,” Gwaine said, “He’s just trying to rile you up.”
“Oh, it’s working,” Merlin’s hands tightened around the table.
He ignored a few more jeers but his temper snapped. Just because Arthur was the Mayor’s son and was rich didn’t give him the right to be a prat. Pushing Gwaine’s hand off his arm, he stood up and turned to give Arthur a piece of his mind.
“Look at that,” Arthur smirked, “He’s not deaf.”
“You got your buddies to protect you?” Merlin nodded at the other football players flanking him like bodyguards, “Scared to fight me on your own?”
“I could take you apart with one blow,” Arthur said.
“I can do it in less than that.”
Arthur swung. Merlin ducked and launched forward, grabbing Arthur by the waist until they were both on the ground. This was becoming a habit. The kids around them screeched and shouted, some were cheering and underneath all that Merlin heard Gwaine and Will trying to pull him out.
Geoffrey, the librarian, eventually got to them. He pulled them apart and dragged them by their ears to the principal’s office. Merlin nursed his sprained wrist, having twisted it again. His cheek throbbed from where Arthur elbowed him but from the corner of his eye he noticed that Arthur was limping and had a cut on his forehead. He considered that a victory.
Gaius was not pleased. Merlin and Arthur endured another lecture on fighting in school and they got another week of detention helping to organize the library after school under strict supervision of Geoffrey.
This was all Arthur’s fault. Merlin was a good student, a good person, until Arthur came along and ruined everything. Two weeks of detention with Arthur. One week of missing history. No chance of hiding it from his mum. No doubt Gaius already told her everything. Arthur. Stupid prat, didn’t know how to keep his nose in his own business. Merlin hated him.
Part 2