Music is the key
Title: Music is the key
Theme word/s: Being Human/Secrets
Rating: R
Characters/Pairings: Arthur, Gwen, Merlin, Gwaine, Leon, Elyan, Percy, Uther and minor characters and OCs
Disclaimer: I do not own the show Merlin
Summary: A day in the life of Arthur Penn, popstar extraordinaire.
Author's notes: Written for the ag_fics LC3 challenge.
Truth be told, I think I participate mainly cause the banners are so pretty!
The story was voted Best WIP and I was hoping to complete it before posting it on my journal, but it's turning into a mammoth so needless to say, it won't be finished anytime soon. In the meantime, here's the first part.
-----
Arthur opened tired eyes, the rays of sunshine piercing through thewindow and falling directly onto his pillow. He threw a glance at the alarm clock on Gwen’s side of the bed. 7:40AM. He groaned softly, blinking sluggishly; it was too early to be up, but late enough that he couldn’t and wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep. He turned onto his side, snuggling up to the warm body next to him…since he was up already, there was no reason why he should be the only one. He fit his hips against hers, the move creating delicious friction.
Gwen yawned softly, her arm lifting up out of the bed in a stretch. “You know, I miss the days you would romance me with breakfast in bed, not just nudge me with your hard-on.”
“Face it, those days are long gone.” He fit his mouth against the crook of her neck and let his hand drop down onto her chest, his index finger slipping between the fabric of her nightgown and her skin.
“Though I have to say, this isn’t exactly a bad way to wake up.” Her voice hitched on the last few words, his finger now toying with her right nipple.
“Yeah.” He squeezed the firm flesh in his hand, before moving his head to nip at her earlobe. Her breathing increased in time with his squeezes and she moaned when he flicked the tip with his thumb. She tipped onto her back and he immediately fit himself between her thighs.
He pulled aside the cup of the babydoll, bending his head to latch onto the exposed nipple eagerly. Gwen moaned and her hands laced in his hair, holding him close to her. His hands rucked up her nightie up to her waist, and one drifted to the apex of her thighs. He reached for the bundle of nerves at the top of her mound and she keened, spreading her legs even more.
He circled her clitoris with his thumb, before dipping it into her; her muscles fluttered around his finger and he moaned around the breast in her mouth, before switching to the other one. “God, Arthur.” Her thighs tightened around him, her pelvis rocking against his hard shaft and he groaned,pushing back and letting the hard peak slip from his mouth to drop kisses all over her neck. He slipped another finger in her warm heat and she keened, her breaths getting shallower. “Right there, oh God…right there.”
He pumped his fingers faster, bending his head again to bite the nub pebbling against his tongue and she cried out, her walls contracting around his fingers, her head burrowing into the pillows and her mouth falling open in ecstasy. He eased her through it gently, the caresses soothing when they had been purposeful a few minutes prior, until finally she let out a sublime sigh.
She opened her eyes, a dopey grin turning up her lips and he chuckled. She always turned pliant and languid after an orgasm. He dropped down to his forearms, encasing her between his arms and locked eyes with her.
“Hi.”
“Mmm, hi.” She stretched her arms high above her head, her body molding to his, and her arms folded around his neck when they lowered.Arthur didn’t let her say another word, he claimed her lips with his own, pressing down into her and slowly rolling his hips, reminding them both that he’d yet to reach ecstasy as well. She opened her mouth, her tongue teasing his the way she knew he liked it when the alarm went off. He broke off from the kiss, looking at the red numbers blinking steadily before shutting it off with a loud sigh.
“I was late yesterday and I got reamed out for it.” His expression turned sheepish. “Raincheck?”
“I’ll be sure to cash it soon.” She was pulling him to her again and that was when his cell phone rang. He reached for it on the night table and brought it to his ear. “Alright, I’m awake.” Gwen lightly stroked his chest and he turned on his back, watching her leave the bed. She slipped the straps off her shoulder one after the other, the nightie falling to the floor around her. He groaned audibly and she threw him a sly look over her shoulder before walking into the bathroom. “Yeah, I’m here! You’re where? I’ll hop in the shower. I will! See you in a few.”
He was still toweling his hair dry when he stepped into the kitchen.
Merlin glanced at him quickly then did a double-take. “Dude, you look like crap.”
“Morning to you too, Merlin.” He took the cup of hot coffee Gwen proffered, pecking her lips while doing so.
“Well, you do. Janine’s gonna kill ya.”He picked up an apple from the fruit basket, biting into it with enthusiasm. “You’re ready to go?’
“Can I at least get a minute to enjoy my coffee?” He took a seat at the island. “My deliciously expensive coffee from my ridiculously expensive Italian coffee machine worth every penny, prepared by my wonderful girlfriend?”
“You should have woken up sooner then. The car is waiting outside.”
Arthur closed his eyes as he took his first sip, savoring the smell and flavor of the coffee as it hit his taste buds. “I’m sure I’m the only one you harass like this.”
“That’s because you’re the only one who’s made tardiness an art form. Besides, breakfast is catered, so stop your whining.” Merlin gave Gwen a quick kiss on the cheek on his way out of the door.
Arthur scoffed. “Who even says ‘tardy’ anymore?” He yelled loud enough to make sure the intended party heard him.
“Here.” Gwen transferred the spare cup of coffee into a travel mug, pushing it into Arthur’s hands.
He sighed dramatically. “You’re too good to me.”
“I know.” She smirked in reply and he pecked her lips one last time before slipping his shades on and trailing after Merlin. “Bye.”
The SUV pulled from the curb the moment he slammed the car door shut. “Thank God it’s Friday.”
“Oh, are we working you too hard? You poor, pampered pop star. I feel so sorry for you.” Merlin replied mockingly, then ducked the fist headed for his shoulder. “You’d feel better if you actually slept at night. You were up late again, weren’t you?”
Arthur lay back, settling deeper in the leather seats. “Yeah, I had a song in my head that wouldn’t let me rest until I put it down on paper.”
“How many does that make now, 30? You’re gonna have a lot of material to choose from, when you eventually do decide to go solo.”
Merlin was the only one who knew just how long Arthur had been working on that secret project, the idea which had taken form in his mind and towards which he was working slowly but steadily. The lead singer of the most popular boyband of the decade going solo was an abstract concept that wasn’t guaranteed to ever see the light of day outside of Arthur’s private studio, but one he indulged in nonetheless. He needed an outlet for the stifled creativity the boyband public persona forced upon him. Arthur didn’t know if any of the songs would even ever be released but he enjoyed the writing process anyway. “Yeah, maybe, we’ll see.”
The drive to the high school was mercifully short, the outside surroundings already packed with the camera crew. Arthur made his way inside, the halls bustling with activity already, greetings fusing left and right until he reached the make-up station.
Janine gasped as he sat down in the chair. “Oh my God! Look at those bags under your eyes.”
He burrowed deeper into the chair, slightly chastised. “Nothing you can’t fix, right?”
She huffed. “Buttering me up isn’t going to work.” She walked up to his chair, running her hands through his hair lightly before leaning in to whisper in his ear and meeting his eyes in the mirror. “Long night, huh?” Her tone was salacious enough to convey her meaning.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” He smirked in reply.
She chuckled. “Give Gwen my best when you see her. Now lie back.”
Cucumber slices + expert makeup had him looking like a 20 year old again. A quick walk through wardrobe, which was ultimately pointless but necessary, and he stepped into the classroom they were using for the last time.
“And finally he makes it!” Gwaine bellowed, Percy and Elyanclapping in agreement.
Arthur flipped them the bird, sitting down in the chair desk next to Leon. “They’re still setting up the shot, so suck it.”
He took a bite of the chocolate croissant he’d picked up along his way and sighed as he chewed slowly. The equipment was lying all around the classroom: the umbrellas, the reflectors, the light banks. Zumba records were spending a lot of time and money on the video to make sure they looked good and ultimately that they sold many records. Given their track record, you would think that was a given but the recent shift in music trends towards less standardized pop and more organic sounds had the record company worried.
Looking around at his bandmates, Arthur knew they couldn’t be more of a cliché. Standing around in a high school setting, investing in a video storyboard idea neither of them had contributed to. At least this time they weren’t parts of the action, just mere spectators. Pretending to be enamored with gorgeous models who didn’t want anything more than to be seen on your arms had been fun and he’d even gotten a few memorable lays out of them a few dozen times, but the monotony of it was...well, monotonous.
And there were the outfits. At least now they had the possibility of injecting their own personal styles into the clothes they were told to wear. He mentally shuddered when he remembered the awful getups they’d been forced into at the beginning. Thank God they had a right of veto nowadays, not that it gave them much power. They were still stuck into the molds that had been created for The Knights, successful boyband: there was Percy, the brainless beefcake who could never keep a shirt on, Elyan the clown ready to crack a joke at any moment, Gwaine the charmer who flirted with anything in a skirt, Leon the big brother, serious type and Arthur, the heartthrob, the lead singer prepped within an inch of his life to make all girls swoon. By now, Arthur knew that the record company had taken advantage of their inexperience and eagerness, and exploited them better than any of them could have guessed. The touring schedule, the TV appearances, the videos, the studio time, every single second of their time was scheduled on and off the stage. Which is exactly why he relished in the opportunity to sleep in his own bed, next to his girlfriend and drinking Kenyan coffee from an Italian coffee maker whenever he could.
“Alright, guys, let’s get started!” James shouted, clapping his hands and settling into his director’s chair. Showtime.
-----
Feedback is ♥.
Theme word/s: Being Human/Secrets
Rating: R
Characters/Pairings: Arthur, Gwen, Merlin, Gwaine, Leon, Elyan, Percy, Uther and minor characters and OCs
Disclaimer: I do not own the show Merlin
Summary: A day in the life of Arthur Penn, popstar extraordinaire.
Author's notes: Written for the ag_fics LC3 challenge.
Truth be told, I think I participate mainly cause the banners are so pretty!
The story was voted Best WIP and I was hoping to complete it before posting it on my journal, but it's turning into a mammoth so needless to say, it won't be finished anytime soon. In the meantime, here's the first part.
-----
Arthur opened tired eyes, the rays of sunshine piercing through thewindow and falling directly onto his pillow. He threw a glance at the alarm clock on Gwen’s side of the bed. 7:40AM. He groaned softly, blinking sluggishly; it was too early to be up, but late enough that he couldn’t and wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep. He turned onto his side, snuggling up to the warm body next to him…since he was up already, there was no reason why he should be the only one. He fit his hips against hers, the move creating delicious friction.
Gwen yawned softly, her arm lifting up out of the bed in a stretch. “You know, I miss the days you would romance me with breakfast in bed, not just nudge me with your hard-on.”
“Face it, those days are long gone.” He fit his mouth against the crook of her neck and let his hand drop down onto her chest, his index finger slipping between the fabric of her nightgown and her skin.
“Though I have to say, this isn’t exactly a bad way to wake up.” Her voice hitched on the last few words, his finger now toying with her right nipple.
“Yeah.” He squeezed the firm flesh in his hand, before moving his head to nip at her earlobe. Her breathing increased in time with his squeezes and she moaned when he flicked the tip with his thumb. She tipped onto her back and he immediately fit himself between her thighs.
He pulled aside the cup of the babydoll, bending his head to latch onto the exposed nipple eagerly. Gwen moaned and her hands laced in his hair, holding him close to her. His hands rucked up her nightie up to her waist, and one drifted to the apex of her thighs. He reached for the bundle of nerves at the top of her mound and she keened, spreading her legs even more.
He circled her clitoris with his thumb, before dipping it into her; her muscles fluttered around his finger and he moaned around the breast in her mouth, before switching to the other one. “God, Arthur.” Her thighs tightened around him, her pelvis rocking against his hard shaft and he groaned,pushing back and letting the hard peak slip from his mouth to drop kisses all over her neck. He slipped another finger in her warm heat and she keened, her breaths getting shallower. “Right there, oh God…right there.”
He pumped his fingers faster, bending his head again to bite the nub pebbling against his tongue and she cried out, her walls contracting around his fingers, her head burrowing into the pillows and her mouth falling open in ecstasy. He eased her through it gently, the caresses soothing when they had been purposeful a few minutes prior, until finally she let out a sublime sigh.
She opened her eyes, a dopey grin turning up her lips and he chuckled. She always turned pliant and languid after an orgasm. He dropped down to his forearms, encasing her between his arms and locked eyes with her.
“Hi.”
“Mmm, hi.” She stretched her arms high above her head, her body molding to his, and her arms folded around his neck when they lowered.Arthur didn’t let her say another word, he claimed her lips with his own, pressing down into her and slowly rolling his hips, reminding them both that he’d yet to reach ecstasy as well. She opened her mouth, her tongue teasing his the way she knew he liked it when the alarm went off. He broke off from the kiss, looking at the red numbers blinking steadily before shutting it off with a loud sigh.
“I was late yesterday and I got reamed out for it.” His expression turned sheepish. “Raincheck?”
“I’ll be sure to cash it soon.” She was pulling him to her again and that was when his cell phone rang. He reached for it on the night table and brought it to his ear. “Alright, I’m awake.” Gwen lightly stroked his chest and he turned on his back, watching her leave the bed. She slipped the straps off her shoulder one after the other, the nightie falling to the floor around her. He groaned audibly and she threw him a sly look over her shoulder before walking into the bathroom. “Yeah, I’m here! You’re where? I’ll hop in the shower. I will! See you in a few.”
He was still toweling his hair dry when he stepped into the kitchen.
Merlin glanced at him quickly then did a double-take. “Dude, you look like crap.”
“Morning to you too, Merlin.” He took the cup of hot coffee Gwen proffered, pecking her lips while doing so.
“Well, you do. Janine’s gonna kill ya.”He picked up an apple from the fruit basket, biting into it with enthusiasm. “You’re ready to go?’
“Can I at least get a minute to enjoy my coffee?” He took a seat at the island. “My deliciously expensive coffee from my ridiculously expensive Italian coffee machine worth every penny, prepared by my wonderful girlfriend?”
“You should have woken up sooner then. The car is waiting outside.”
Arthur closed his eyes as he took his first sip, savoring the smell and flavor of the coffee as it hit his taste buds. “I’m sure I’m the only one you harass like this.”
“That’s because you’re the only one who’s made tardiness an art form. Besides, breakfast is catered, so stop your whining.” Merlin gave Gwen a quick kiss on the cheek on his way out of the door.
Arthur scoffed. “Who even says ‘tardy’ anymore?” He yelled loud enough to make sure the intended party heard him.
“Here.” Gwen transferred the spare cup of coffee into a travel mug, pushing it into Arthur’s hands.
He sighed dramatically. “You’re too good to me.”
“I know.” She smirked in reply and he pecked her lips one last time before slipping his shades on and trailing after Merlin. “Bye.”
The SUV pulled from the curb the moment he slammed the car door shut. “Thank God it’s Friday.”
“Oh, are we working you too hard? You poor, pampered pop star. I feel so sorry for you.” Merlin replied mockingly, then ducked the fist headed for his shoulder. “You’d feel better if you actually slept at night. You were up late again, weren’t you?”
Arthur lay back, settling deeper in the leather seats. “Yeah, I had a song in my head that wouldn’t let me rest until I put it down on paper.”
“How many does that make now, 30? You’re gonna have a lot of material to choose from, when you eventually do decide to go solo.”
Merlin was the only one who knew just how long Arthur had been working on that secret project, the idea which had taken form in his mind and towards which he was working slowly but steadily. The lead singer of the most popular boyband of the decade going solo was an abstract concept that wasn’t guaranteed to ever see the light of day outside of Arthur’s private studio, but one he indulged in nonetheless. He needed an outlet for the stifled creativity the boyband public persona forced upon him. Arthur didn’t know if any of the songs would even ever be released but he enjoyed the writing process anyway. “Yeah, maybe, we’ll see.”
The drive to the high school was mercifully short, the outside surroundings already packed with the camera crew. Arthur made his way inside, the halls bustling with activity already, greetings fusing left and right until he reached the make-up station.
Janine gasped as he sat down in the chair. “Oh my God! Look at those bags under your eyes.”
He burrowed deeper into the chair, slightly chastised. “Nothing you can’t fix, right?”
She huffed. “Buttering me up isn’t going to work.” She walked up to his chair, running her hands through his hair lightly before leaning in to whisper in his ear and meeting his eyes in the mirror. “Long night, huh?” Her tone was salacious enough to convey her meaning.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” He smirked in reply.
She chuckled. “Give Gwen my best when you see her. Now lie back.”
Cucumber slices + expert makeup had him looking like a 20 year old again. A quick walk through wardrobe, which was ultimately pointless but necessary, and he stepped into the classroom they were using for the last time.
“And finally he makes it!” Gwaine bellowed, Percy and Elyanclapping in agreement.
Arthur flipped them the bird, sitting down in the chair desk next to Leon. “They’re still setting up the shot, so suck it.”
He took a bite of the chocolate croissant he’d picked up along his way and sighed as he chewed slowly. The equipment was lying all around the classroom: the umbrellas, the reflectors, the light banks. Zumba records were spending a lot of time and money on the video to make sure they looked good and ultimately that they sold many records. Given their track record, you would think that was a given but the recent shift in music trends towards less standardized pop and more organic sounds had the record company worried.
Looking around at his bandmates, Arthur knew they couldn’t be more of a cliché. Standing around in a high school setting, investing in a video storyboard idea neither of them had contributed to. At least this time they weren’t parts of the action, just mere spectators. Pretending to be enamored with gorgeous models who didn’t want anything more than to be seen on your arms had been fun and he’d even gotten a few memorable lays out of them a few dozen times, but the monotony of it was...well, monotonous.
And there were the outfits. At least now they had the possibility of injecting their own personal styles into the clothes they were told to wear. He mentally shuddered when he remembered the awful getups they’d been forced into at the beginning. Thank God they had a right of veto nowadays, not that it gave them much power. They were still stuck into the molds that had been created for The Knights, successful boyband: there was Percy, the brainless beefcake who could never keep a shirt on, Elyan the clown ready to crack a joke at any moment, Gwaine the charmer who flirted with anything in a skirt, Leon the big brother, serious type and Arthur, the heartthrob, the lead singer prepped within an inch of his life to make all girls swoon. By now, Arthur knew that the record company had taken advantage of their inexperience and eagerness, and exploited them better than any of them could have guessed. The touring schedule, the TV appearances, the videos, the studio time, every single second of their time was scheduled on and off the stage. Which is exactly why he relished in the opportunity to sleep in his own bed, next to his girlfriend and drinking Kenyan coffee from an Italian coffee maker whenever he could.
“Alright, guys, let’s get started!” James shouted, clapping his hands and settling into his director’s chair. Showtime.
-----
Feedback is ♥.