Fanfiction: Merlin, Arthur/Merlin, PG-13, The one where Arthur is a prat..oh wait
The one where Arthur is a prat...oh wait, PG-13, Arthur/Merlin
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: none at all
Paring: Arthur/Merlin, minor Lancelot/Gwen
Summary: Arthur/Merlin modern AU with Merlin running a bakery
Notes: For the lovely its_not_wrong who has been waiting for this long enough. Beta'd by the equally lovely kidscrappy who is my internet girlfriend and would never be mean to me but knows how to correct my awkward sentences. Thanks for the beta job darling. :)
Oh and any suggestions for a different title or any criticism you have or mistake you catch please comment. Thank you. :)
The one where Arthur is a prat...oh waitChapter One
When Merlin heaved himself out of bed on a Monday morning he thought this would just be a regular day in his life. He washed, dressed and then went down to the bakery that was situated in the shop under his flat. He had grown up in that flat and his mother Hunith had used to live there too. After giving him the bakery she had moved into a smaller flat against all his protests.
She had said that it was shameful for a man his age - honestly he was only 25 - to still live with his mother. And then she had gone on making subtle remarks if he wasn't going to find a nice boy soon who could move in with him. It had been one of the most embarrassing conversation he ever had. But he did feel the loneliness every now and then, like when he came home for a nap in the afternoon and no one was there to greet him.
It was a wonder he hadn't grown fat with all the sugary baked good available and so many woes. But he still had that wiry, somewhat awkward frame that was better suited for a teenager who would thankfully grow out of it.
His mother called it slim when she wanted to make him feel better and skinny when she wanted to get him to eat more. Gwen said it worked for him but that she was still jealous of the way he could eat without gaining a pound. Though Merlin didn't know what she had got to complain about. She had a handsome boyfriend who picked her up from work almost every single day and while Merlin had no romantic interest in girls he could appreciate that Gwen was quite a beauty.
Lost in gloomy thoughts he closed the door to the flat behind him and locked it, he went down the steps that lead to the bakery front room. Gwen was already waiting in front of the shop and he let her in.
“Have you been waiting for a long time?”
Gwen smiled unconcerned. “Not at all. And I'm used to being early. You know I always have to be on time and end up being earlier most of them time anyway.” Merlin smiled back and nodded. “Well if that's the case I can sleep a bit longer next time right?”
Gwen glared at him briefly “Don't you dare, it's bloody freezing out there. Lance brought me but only because today is out anniversary. Otherwise you can't get him out of bed this early.”
At her words Merlin glanced briefly out of the glass door and saw that the sun was, as always, not yet up and that the street lights were still lit. Not a single man or woman was out around this time. Except of course the bakers who had to prepare the goods for the day.
“So I assume I can let you go earlier today?”
Gwen turned around to Merlin since she had passed him while he had looked out the door. “Really? That would be great. But it's really busy around this time of year in the afternoon. Even company slaves need comfort food in the dark time.”She giggled.
“Should I tell your boyfriend about you calling him a company slave? Preferably before the two of you go for a romantic candlelight dinner tonight or whatever one does to celebrate a relationship these days?” Merlin asked grinning.
Gwen rolled her eyes at him. “Honestly you act like your a 80 year old woman with 20 cats way past any chance of finding love. And even those woman still have a shot. And no you're not going to tell Lance about it. And even if you did he would forgive me.”
For a moment her face showed a slight look of uncertainty, that made Merlin worry for a moment that his comment had seriously offended her. But he was reassured when Gwen spoke again. “Besides I think tonight is the night.”
Merlin recognized the expression as a mix of excitement and freight. It had been the same look Gwen had sometimes worn when she and Lance hadn't been official yet. Though it had been clear to everybody else around them that they adored each other and the boyfriend girlfriend thing was only a formality for them.
“It was really only a matter of time Gwen, I'm glad for you though. Just make sure to invite me to the wedding.” Gwen held up her hands in protest. “Don't jinx it! He might just want to give me a ring.” Merlin smiled “So you snooped around. Typical. But I guess he expects it by now.” Gwen shrugged. “I have to look my best after all. I ought to know.” Merlin nodded “Anyway you can go early. It's no trouble.” Gwen smiled at him. “Thank you Merlin.” - “Don't mention it”, Merlin said and began pulling out the ingredients for all they had to prepare.
They finally finished and Merlin had just put the last cupcakes into the display when Gwen opened the shop door and switched the sign to "Open".It was 9 o'clock and already there were a few customers waiting outside to purchase something on the way to work. After the stream of customers had decreased Gwen and Merlin drank their morning coffee like usually.
“Speaking of you behaving like 80 year old woman with 20 cats...” Gwen started but Merlin interrupted her “Which we weren't. At least not for a good four hours.”
Gwen grinned “You know me. I'm like an elephant I never forget anything witty I say.” “Because it's so rare?” Merlin quipped. Gwen ignored the remark and went on. “I spoke to your mother during the Christmas party last week and she told me she was worried about your love life - which was horrifying because let's face it she's your mother - but I can definitely see why she is. You need to get out more. I can see that you are lonely Merlin.”
“Why would I be lonely? I have you and my other friends.” Merlin smiled. “I'm not saying I don't miss certain acts of affections but with my job it's hard to go out and party.” Gwen looked at him annoyed. “You know as well as I do that you're not the type to find some guy at a bar for an one-night-stand. I've seen you with boys, you get attached. All or nothing. You need to find a keeper.”
“Hey I can support myself you know.” Merlin said.
She gave him a look. “I don't mean financially. I meant emotionally. Someone to share your life with.” Gwen clarified.
Merlin was starting to get annoyed with everyone telling him what he supposedly needed. “Gwen, I'm a grown man. I'm not entirely hopeless but I guess that for now it would be better to focus on the shop. I don't think I would have any time to spare anyway.”
“That's a lie and you know it. You have no time because you don't want to have time so you don't have to think about this. I don't think everyone needs someone to feel complete but I think it's high time a sweet, loving person like you found the someone you deserve.”
Merlin felt his anger melting away. “Sorry for lashing out at you. I'm just high strung about the topic these days.” - “I know and I'm sure you're doing fine. We just worry because you're our friend. But maybe one day your Prince Charming will simply walk through the door of the shop one day. With your love of fairy tales and fantasy stories it could happen.”
“Is this shop opened or do you people here just gossip away all day like teenage girls?”
Surprised, because usually none of their regular customers came by during this time and they had time for a break, both Merlin and Gwen looked up. In the door stood a striking man with glowing blonde hair in what was no doubt a suit that cost more than Merlin's entire yearly earnings.
Forcing a smile on his face Merlin stood up to serve the man, feeling annoyed about having been interrupted with Gwen.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: none at all
Paring: Arthur/Merlin, minor Lancelot/Gwen
Summary: Arthur/Merlin modern AU with Merlin running a bakery
Notes: For the lovely its_not_wrong who has been waiting for this long enough. Beta'd by the equally lovely kidscrappy who is my internet girlfriend and would never be mean to me but knows how to correct my awkward sentences. Thanks for the beta job darling. :)
Oh and any suggestions for a different title or any criticism you have or mistake you catch please comment. Thank you. :)
The one where Arthur is a prat...oh waitChapter One
When Merlin heaved himself out of bed on a Monday morning he thought this would just be a regular day in his life. He washed, dressed and then went down to the bakery that was situated in the shop under his flat. He had grown up in that flat and his mother Hunith had used to live there too. After giving him the bakery she had moved into a smaller flat against all his protests.
She had said that it was shameful for a man his age - honestly he was only 25 - to still live with his mother. And then she had gone on making subtle remarks if he wasn't going to find a nice boy soon who could move in with him. It had been one of the most embarrassing conversation he ever had. But he did feel the loneliness every now and then, like when he came home for a nap in the afternoon and no one was there to greet him.
It was a wonder he hadn't grown fat with all the sugary baked good available and so many woes. But he still had that wiry, somewhat awkward frame that was better suited for a teenager who would thankfully grow out of it.
His mother called it slim when she wanted to make him feel better and skinny when she wanted to get him to eat more. Gwen said it worked for him but that she was still jealous of the way he could eat without gaining a pound. Though Merlin didn't know what she had got to complain about. She had a handsome boyfriend who picked her up from work almost every single day and while Merlin had no romantic interest in girls he could appreciate that Gwen was quite a beauty.
Lost in gloomy thoughts he closed the door to the flat behind him and locked it, he went down the steps that lead to the bakery front room. Gwen was already waiting in front of the shop and he let her in.
“Have you been waiting for a long time?”
Gwen smiled unconcerned. “Not at all. And I'm used to being early. You know I always have to be on time and end up being earlier most of them time anyway.” Merlin smiled back and nodded. “Well if that's the case I can sleep a bit longer next time right?”
Gwen glared at him briefly “Don't you dare, it's bloody freezing out there. Lance brought me but only because today is out anniversary. Otherwise you can't get him out of bed this early.”
At her words Merlin glanced briefly out of the glass door and saw that the sun was, as always, not yet up and that the street lights were still lit. Not a single man or woman was out around this time. Except of course the bakers who had to prepare the goods for the day.
“So I assume I can let you go earlier today?”
Gwen turned around to Merlin since she had passed him while he had looked out the door. “Really? That would be great. But it's really busy around this time of year in the afternoon. Even company slaves need comfort food in the dark time.”She giggled.
“Should I tell your boyfriend about you calling him a company slave? Preferably before the two of you go for a romantic candlelight dinner tonight or whatever one does to celebrate a relationship these days?” Merlin asked grinning.
Gwen rolled her eyes at him. “Honestly you act like your a 80 year old woman with 20 cats way past any chance of finding love. And even those woman still have a shot. And no you're not going to tell Lance about it. And even if you did he would forgive me.”
For a moment her face showed a slight look of uncertainty, that made Merlin worry for a moment that his comment had seriously offended her. But he was reassured when Gwen spoke again. “Besides I think tonight is the night.”
Merlin recognized the expression as a mix of excitement and freight. It had been the same look Gwen had sometimes worn when she and Lance hadn't been official yet. Though it had been clear to everybody else around them that they adored each other and the boyfriend girlfriend thing was only a formality for them.
“It was really only a matter of time Gwen, I'm glad for you though. Just make sure to invite me to the wedding.” Gwen held up her hands in protest. “Don't jinx it! He might just want to give me a ring.” Merlin smiled “So you snooped around. Typical. But I guess he expects it by now.” Gwen shrugged. “I have to look my best after all. I ought to know.” Merlin nodded “Anyway you can go early. It's no trouble.” Gwen smiled at him. “Thank you Merlin.” - “Don't mention it”, Merlin said and began pulling out the ingredients for all they had to prepare.
They finally finished and Merlin had just put the last cupcakes into the display when Gwen opened the shop door and switched the sign to "Open".It was 9 o'clock and already there were a few customers waiting outside to purchase something on the way to work. After the stream of customers had decreased Gwen and Merlin drank their morning coffee like usually.
“Speaking of you behaving like 80 year old woman with 20 cats...” Gwen started but Merlin interrupted her “Which we weren't. At least not for a good four hours.”
Gwen grinned “You know me. I'm like an elephant I never forget anything witty I say.” “Because it's so rare?” Merlin quipped. Gwen ignored the remark and went on. “I spoke to your mother during the Christmas party last week and she told me she was worried about your love life - which was horrifying because let's face it she's your mother - but I can definitely see why she is. You need to get out more. I can see that you are lonely Merlin.”
“Why would I be lonely? I have you and my other friends.” Merlin smiled. “I'm not saying I don't miss certain acts of affections but with my job it's hard to go out and party.” Gwen looked at him annoyed. “You know as well as I do that you're not the type to find some guy at a bar for an one-night-stand. I've seen you with boys, you get attached. All or nothing. You need to find a keeper.”
“Hey I can support myself you know.” Merlin said.
She gave him a look. “I don't mean financially. I meant emotionally. Someone to share your life with.” Gwen clarified.
Merlin was starting to get annoyed with everyone telling him what he supposedly needed. “Gwen, I'm a grown man. I'm not entirely hopeless but I guess that for now it would be better to focus on the shop. I don't think I would have any time to spare anyway.”
“That's a lie and you know it. You have no time because you don't want to have time so you don't have to think about this. I don't think everyone needs someone to feel complete but I think it's high time a sweet, loving person like you found the someone you deserve.”
Merlin felt his anger melting away. “Sorry for lashing out at you. I'm just high strung about the topic these days.” - “I know and I'm sure you're doing fine. We just worry because you're our friend. But maybe one day your Prince Charming will simply walk through the door of the shop one day. With your love of fairy tales and fantasy stories it could happen.”
“Is this shop opened or do you people here just gossip away all day like teenage girls?”
Surprised, because usually none of their regular customers came by during this time and they had time for a break, both Merlin and Gwen looked up. In the door stood a striking man with glowing blonde hair in what was no doubt a suit that cost more than Merlin's entire yearly earnings.
Forcing a smile on his face Merlin stood up to serve the man, feeling annoyed about having been interrupted with Gwen.