After they returned to the estate, everyone was exhausted. The couples and singles returned to their rooms to take a shower and get changed. On the plans for the afternoon was to play poker together.

That's how Arthur came out of the shower, a towel around his waist and one around his neck. He felt glorious today. Something he couldn't quite name gave him energy and he hadn't felt this alive in quite a while. Maybe ever. He opened the door to their bedroom and found Merlin in the process of grabbing his things for his turn to use the shower.

Arthur stopped short at the door, half smirking.

Because he expected Merlin to glance him over. Arthur was under no illusion that he was attractive. More than enough people had boosted his confidence and he couldn't deny that he liked the attention. And Arthur thought it would be funny to tease Merlin about his wandering gaze. Arthur may be arrogant, but he wasn't blind and he also wasn't wrong. Almost everyone in their friend circle was into men, except Morgana, Arthur himself and Leon, therefore Arthur had been at the receiving end of subtle glances more than once. Which was, obviously, fuel to his self confidence. In Gwaine's case, the glances had never even been subtle.

When Merlin turned around, however, he was averting Arthur's gaze. Arthur, on the other hand, felt rooted to the spot. All previous thoughts were practically wiped from his mind in an instant.

Merlin had taken his shirt off.

Everyone in their friend circle was into men except Arthur? Suddenly, Arthur felt hot. It was the rarest, yet fiercest tug he had ever felt in his stomach area, as his eyes scanned every inch of Merlin's visible torso. He had known that Merlin worked out and even noticed it when the man wore a simple shirt. Right now, however, he could basically count his abs if he wanted to. Not that they were very visible, but Merlin had grown firm and strong. A heated blush creeped onto Arthur's face and he had to blink his stupor away.

'What the heck?'

"I hope you left some hot water for me." Merlin said as he moved past Arthur. Arthur was too slow to respond and suddenly the bathroom door clicked shut behind the surgeon.

Arthur covered his mouth. Will's words from the ride echoed in his head but Arthur shook it off. Arthur hadn't felt anything like this before, yet he felt like it had always kind of been there. Maybe he was reading too much into this.... Was that sexual attraction just now?! The very present urge in his mind to touch spoke volumes.

Arthur shook his head. It was probably a fluke. Will's words were messing with his head. And if it weren't... Merlin was a good man. There were worse people to be attracted to. And finding someone attractive didn't mean you were in love. Arthur calmed his racing heart, surprised that it had sped up in the first place.

A different feeling settled in as he closed his eyes, warm and soft and proud. Arthur exhaled a deep breath. If he truly had a crush on Merlin, he'd feel uncomfortable around him, right? He'd be nervous and overwhelmed for sure. Instead, he usually felt like everything was easier, simpler with him. If this were love, Arthur thought, if he truly were in love with Merlin, then love wasn't as scary as he knew it to be.

Arthur shook it off and got dressed.

. . .

On the other side of the bathroom door, Merlin turned the water on cold. He tried not to think and not to close his eyes. The sight of Arthur after a shower had burned itself in his mind. And it had been much worse than what he had imagined while the door had been closed to begin with! He had done his damn hardest to avert his gaze, yet he had been able to see him from his peripheral. Merlin felt the sudden urge to hit his head against the bathroom tiles.

Had he fallen into a parallel universe? One in which it made total sense for him to be attracted to Arthur fucking Pendragon? Was he insane? Merlin groaned and let the cold water wash over his head. It nearly froze his brain shut and he wished it did.

It wasn't like Merlin hadn't considered Arthur attractive before. There had been a few times in which Merlin had appreciated Arthur's frame. But those had been far more superficial than whatever was happening today.

The change, Merlin thought, was in the way Arthur talked. And how much closer they were now. Merlin found the way Arthur bickered with him, complimented and defended him far more attractive than any personality trait his exes had had. Merlin had liked people for far less. Merlin pulled at his hair. He liked Arthur's PERSONALITY.

Jesus Christ, he was done for!

The problem was, now Merlin could imagine it. Holding hands, kissing, making out, even... Everything he imagined seemed tangible and just within reach. He knew how Arthur smiled at him when they bickered, even knew what it was like to live with him. He knew what it looked like to wake up beside him, knew what it felt like when Arthur went out of his way just to spent time with him. Not making excuses so he could get a break like Freya had in the end. Merlin knew that Arthur would be there should he have any problems. He would be patient and respect Merlin's boundaries, might even find them endearing. Because Arthur, despite all the pretence, had made it very clear that he enjoyed being around Merlin.

And to Arthur this was just how friends behaved. Merlin literally hit his head against the wet tiles of the shower now. He was beginning to freeze, yet his face burned. Merlin was LONGING, he was PINING and he felt like a total idiot. This was ARTHUR. What on earth was he thinking?

And what was Will thinking, pretty much approving of Arthur? This wasn't helping his situation at all! It wasn't like Arthur would ever like him back anyway. Not like this. Not to mention how much Merlin already owed him.

Arthur's intense expression, of when he had firmly told Merlin to never think THAT, crossed Merlin's mind and he took a deep breath. Then he shook his head and turned the water hot, so he could clean himself without dying. It was no use thinking about this.

Alright, Arthur was hot, Arthur was kind, Arthur looked at Merlin like he meant the world to him. That didn't mean anything. It couldn't mean that anything was ever going to happen between them because... because they were friends. Except, they'd grown closer and if Arthur would look at him like that every day, thinking of them as friends, Merlin might actually die. If Merlin fell in love with him, he wouldn't be able to bear it. Not when being friends meant that Arthur's eyes locked with his, so bright and glazing with affection. The smile stretched and meant only for Merlin to see.

Merlin's heart tripped and his eyes widened. Almost in slow motion he felt like he was falling.

He was doomed. Merlin was utterly and completely doomed.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Merlin was a mess. While they entered the entrance hall that had been transformed into a small casino, with decorated tables and some of the staff members posing as game makers, Arthur had his arm placed around Merlin's waist. His side was pressing against him and Merlin's mind was swimming with a dozen contradicting thoughts.

Arthur was wearing a nice suit, because of course he had packed one. He looked formal and handsome and Merlin felt completely underdressed in his best black jeans and the white button up shirt. He felt like he belonged more to the waiting staff than at Arthur's side.

Arthur made sure to publicly disagree because he led Merlin around to talk with all of Merlin's old classmates. While Merlin's mind was a lovesick fool making him unable to speak, Arthur was questioning them all about what they were all doing and finding seemingly everything they said genuinely interesting. And whenever they asked about whatever project Arthur was working on, he'd respond with his return to the Pendragon company and how hard it was to argue with his father. And of course, of BLOODY course, he would talk about their weekly meet ups at the Rising Sun and state how his friends gave him life.

Eventually, they would ask about what Merlin did, and that's when the real trouble really began, because while Merlin tried to be modest and hold himself back, Arthur BRAGGED.

Apparently, Arthur had been listening to all of Merlin's drunken complaints at the Rising Sun, because he could tell them nearly every problem and hindrance that he had overcome at the hospital. Merlin felt out of place. He should be parading ARTHUR around. Arthur was meant to be the trophy boyfriend. Instead, Merlin was presented like a painting at the Louvre. Only that Arthur seemed genuinely excited and proud. Merlin wanted to melt into the ground.

What was even worse, Merlin's old classmates sent Merlin smiles that looked like they were genuinely happy for him. Or like Arthur's antics amused them.

Merlin was suddenly reminded that the chances were high that someone would quote and film Arthur during this event. Magazines would talk about them. Interviewers would want to speak with Merlin. Online articles would features them together and paint him, Merlin Emrys, as Arthur's new boyfriend. His coming out story. And if they captured them both in one of THESE moments, then Merlin would probably do something stupid like cut out the pictures and put them in a scrapbook.

Thankfully, at least, no one asked them about their sex life. Merlin decided that he hung out too much with Gwaine. He had almost been prepared to lie about how good Arthur was in bed while fighting himself not to imagine it. People didn't ask these questions. Not when they had learned how to be properly polite. And in this company... they were.

Merlin was starting to sweat anyway when they were finally told to go to a table and start playing.

Arthur's eyes were glinting. "Merlin, wish me good luck?" He looked at him expectantly.

Merlin's heart burst. He knew what Arthur was asking of him. But it was stupid. Arthur's question was stupid. All of this was stupid and perfect for the cover story and Merlin HATED that Arthur was such a natural at this. This was something Gwaine would do. It was an inside joke within their friend group that Merlin's kisses brought them luck in games like these. Just that Arthur used to make fun of that tradition, even though he lost ALL the time. They all lost to whoever Merlin was siding with for reasons Merlin didn't even know himself. Elian had once won two hundred bucks and was convinced it was because Merlin kissed his lottery ticket.

Merlin gathered all the confidence he could muster to stay cool. "Sure." Merlin's voice sounded more relaxed than he felt. He leaned over to Arthur's face and innocently blinked at him. "Where do you want your luck, my lord?" He didn't know why he said 'my lord', nor how he managed to act normal. It almost felt like an oddly fitting pet name, making Merlin flush just the slightest bit. His heart was fluttering, because this felt weirdly natural to do.

Arthur glanced back unimpressed. "My hand, Merlin. The thing I'm grabbing the cards with."

Merlin snorted despite himself. He could hear a couple beside them laughing at their small exchange. Merlin blinked again. "I thought you don't believe I was a good luck charm."

Arthur refused to twitch a smile, even though Merlin could see it in his eyes. "You're neither lucky nor charming. But I do have the suspicion you're using magic to win. And I would like some of that."

"I'm sure it's not your hands I've enchanted." Not knowing why he was doing this at all, yet ultimately feeling like he didn't have a choice, Merlin grabbed Arthur's hand and softly kissed his fingers. He made sure to keep his eyes locked with Arthur and found, to his own surprise, that Arthur was blushing. There was still affection there, his smile just slightly brightening. It almost caught Merlin off guard.

Arthur stared at him. He seemed to twitch with something but it wasn't a laugh or anything, it looked like he was holding himself back from doing something else. "Maybe we should ask Valiant if this counts as cheating."

"If luck in a game of luck is illegal, then I think we should play somewhere else."

"Good point." Arthur grabbed his cards, clearing his throat, while Merlin sat beside him, only to watch him for a while. Merlin didn't often gamble. People often accused him of cheating, even though he (almost) never did. Arthur began to play while Merlin ignored everything that was going on. His eyes were trained on Arthur, watching how his expressions changed only subtly. His pokerface may be something for the other people at the table, but Merlin could read him like a comic relief.

When Merlin turned around, he found Will watching them both. He had a brow raised at him. Merlin flushed and glared back, then shook his head. "I urgh-," he said to Arthur, making the man instantly turn to him. It was almost eerie, the way Arthur gave Merlin 120% of his attention whenever he was given the chance. "I'll get myself a drink. Do you... want one?"

Arthur looked like a puppy, with his eyes wide and trained on Merlin like that. "Get me whatever you get."

"Eh..." Merlin paused. "You hate everything I like."

"Which means I won't drink as fast and one of us needs to stay sober."

Merlin couldn't argue with that logic, really. "Okay... fine." Then, Merlin slipped out of his seat and hurried to get to the bar. He needed some air. Fresh and cleansed from Arthur's loving nature. Merlin was pretty sure he needed to get drunk to get through the afternoon.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Arthur's POV

The moment Merlin left was the moment Penelope Noire slid into the seat beside him. Arthur hummed, tearing his eyes away from Merlin's disappearing figure for a second. In that moment, they were told to open their cards and Arthur realised to his own surprise, that he had won with a royal flush. He had WON! Arthur never won anything! Especially not in poker! He turned around in searching for Merlin one last time. Maybe it was time he believed in Merlin's impeccable lucky charms. It would explain a lot.

Penelope giggled. "He's been gone for a minute, Arthur. He'll be back."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Arthur shook his head, feeling caught, and turned back to her. "Well, Pen, what brings you here?"

She snorted. "This is my husband's house."

"True-." Arthur chuckled slightly before signing the guy with the cards that he would skip out on the next round to be able to properly talk to Penelope. "But you hate gambling."

"Yeah yeah." She waved it off and smiled. "But Valiant loves it. And I would like to talk to you about him, actually."

Arthur's interest was piqued. "He's not hurting you, is he?"

"What? NO!" She looked genuinely shocked at the suggestion. "Valiant is the kindest most forthcoming and generous man I've ever been with!" She paused. "But I guess, if I were getting hurt, it would be nice of you to check in. That said, why do you distrust him so much?"

Arthur frowned. "Because he's mean to Merlin."

She raised both her eyebrows. "Arthur, darling, Valiant is being childish and desperate for attention but that doesn't make him a bad person." She shook her head. "It really bothers him that you dislike him this much. Just like it bothers him that Merlin keeps overshadowing him."

Arthur frowned. "So what? You want me to leave, so he can hold his career and money over Merlin's head?"

"Arthur!" Arthur felt genuinely guilty as he heard her exclaim his name like that, so full of judgement. "Isn't it the same way the other way around? Merlin came here with YOU! Don't you think that to everyone else, it looks like he's holding your relationship over everyone else? Valiant worked hard to get where he is now, and then comes Merlin who just caught up to him by latching on to you."

"Excuse you?" Now it was Arthur who was gaping. "Merlin worked himself up from the street! The case on his back put him off for a good year or so, but then he picked up and reached the top by himself! He didn't latch on to me! He'd NEVER allow me to support him with my money! Didn't Valiant latch on to YOU?"

Penelope frowned. "No?" She paused, then sighed, head tilted deep in thought. "He worked himself up from the small firm his parents owned and made a fortune with it."

"His parents had a firm!" Arthur sent her a frown. That didn't sound like he came from nothing.

She seemed to be guessing his thoughts and rolled his eyes. "They were bankrupt. He worked it all out and made it big, despite the concurrence. You have to understand... Valiant may really like the attention, but that is how he defines his self worth. His parents weren't very kind. They were pretty strict, had some really high expectations that he couldn't meet, even after he technically exceeded them. This -" She pointed around them, showing Arthur once again how big the residence was, "Is how he's trying to prove that he made it."

"Then why does he compare himself to Merlin? Why would he expose Merlin's problems in front of everyone at the last anniversary?" Arthur felt the itch to say something rude, but he pressed his lips together. Penelope was a good person and was usually better at reading people than Arthur was. He hoped that she was happy and safe here, but he wasn't sure she could trust Valiant.

"Is that what Merlin told you?" Penelope looked somewhat sad now. "Well, that's understandable from his point of view. The truth is-" She sighed deeply. "The last time Valiant was only pretending that his firm was doing well."

Arthur's eyes widened in surprise. He adjusted his seat, now genuinely curious.

Penelope smiled sadly. "At the time, he had just taken over the company and was drowning in problems. He and Merlin had this whole rivalry going on since they were children. About grades, sports, art, anything you can imagine and Valiant had always lost to these things. He even told me how Merlin had never even seen him as a challenge. Personally, I think, Merlin probably never really saw him as a rival. Valiant told me about how the comparison had always upset and stressed him. His parents also played a part in that, but I think Valiant was mostly pressuring himself with it. For the anniversay, he'd been wasting company money he didn't have to host everyone and pretend he made it. And he had heard Merlin was becoming a surgeon and of course he knew how smart Merlin was. He was upset. He was under a lot of pressure and he told me that a part of him had WANTED Merlin to hold it over his head." She sighed again. "He didn't mean to out Merlin to the rest of his classmates. He wanted to hear that Merlin was doing well. He wanted Merlin to knock him down so that he didn't see the uncertainty hanging over his head anymore. He was anticipating Merlin to expose him, he didn't know about Merlin's problems. After the whole thing escalated, he offered to help Merlin find a place to live but Merlin declined."

"He did?" Arthur's eyes went wide. "Seriously?"

She nodded. "My husband is a show off and doesn't take well to rejection. I do admit that he's a real child sometimes, but he has a good heart." She smiled to herself and stirred around in her cocktail. "Valiant isn't a complicated man. Which means that he does foolish things sometimes."

Arthur leaned against the counter. "You must really like him if you can excuse all of these things so easily."

Penelope's eyes softened. "I feel about him the same way you do about Merlin."

Arthur nodded instinctively, before his mind caught up to the words. He ignored it. This was part of the act. He was Merlin's boyfriend, it was his job to be in love with him. If he could convince even himself, then he could convince everyone else too. Arthur relaxed. Still... "You think so?"

"I've seen how you look at him when he's not there. Or at that photograph in your wallet. You rarely smiled this genuinely for a long time. It's a good look on you. I'm happy for you."

Arthur looked up. "Huh?" He paused, trying to figure out how to dissect that comment. "What photograph?" He didn't carry a photograph around.

Penelope blinked slowly. "Well, that photograph you've been carrying around for years! You look at it during your breaks at work. Lately more than ever."

Arthur needed a moment to figure out what she meant, then hesitated. Could she mean... He pulled out his wallet and opened it. "If you're referring to this... it's not a photograph."

"No?" She said curiously and blinked a couple times as Arthur handed it to her. "That..." She turned the piece of paper around. "A free delivery ticket?" She frowned. "I don't understand." Her thumb trailed over the slightly abused laminated plastic.

Arthur smiled softly at it. "It's... a joke. Between Merlin and me." He bit his lip. He knew this was good for their story, but it was also very emotional. He almost itched to take it away from her.

She looked up at him. "Did he work in delivery service?"

Arthur shook his head. "No. No, that's not..." Arthur sighed. "He gave this to me after he won the police case. To tell me that I didn't need to worry about him anymore and that he would make it on his own. It was a sign to tell me that he got his student place at the uni back."

"Huh." She blinked. "That's ... I don't think I get it."

That didn't surprise him. "When we first met, I was quite stressed and got mad at him. And he told me that with all my coffee consume, I would need a liver transplant one day. He said I should treat him, an ongoing surgeon, kindly, or else he'd botch up my surgery." Arthur smiled softly at the memory. "With this, he basically told me that he would be there should I ever need him."

"Oh." Penelope blinked again, this time probably to hide her emotion. "It's not delivery as in deliver you something, but as in 'replace your liver'?."

"Yeah." Arthur whispered the answer.

"I sure hope you won't have to use it." She smiled encouragingly but Arthur's smile fell.

Arthur took the ticket back and looked at it. "I already do."

Penelope paused. "You... But you're healthy? Why would you need to..."

Arthur shook his head. "That doesn't matter. What does matter is... I should be giving this back. Merlin has always been there for me ever since and he shouldn't feel like he owed me. I... I just feel like if I- if I hand him the ticket, I'd lose him. For good, you know?"

Penelope watched him curiously. "Why?"

"I don't really know. It would feel... final, I think." Arthur let out a deep breath and looked back at her. "Please don't tell him that."

"Oh, Arthur." Her eyes were shining, that's how touched she felt from Arthur's story. Before he knew it, she was already hugging him. "You're such romantic! I'm sure you don't have to worry about that."

Arthur knew that that was what she would think. And it was a good thing for their cover, he thought as he let her hear his raging heart beat. He didn't even care that Will was listening in on them. But he did mind that 'romantic' didn't quite hold the weight that Arthur associated with this ticket.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

08:16 pm: Merlin POV

Merlin may or may not be drunk. He'd returned to Arthur's place a couple moments after he had left, only to see him chatting away with Penelope and hugging her. Merlin, who had bought three drinks and drunken one on the way, had pointedly sat down on the only available chair left. Namely, Arthur's lap. To your information, Merlin was a lightweight. Plus, the two Margherita's he'd already drunken at the bar had been pretty strong.

The idea had come to him unprompted and he was only faintly aware that it had to do with Penelope being so close to Arthur. Merlin had then undermined their entire conversation with drunk facts about seagulls. Which Penelope was understandably curious about. Arthur just laughed and didn't complain as he let Merlin drink all the drinks he had brought by himself. He never threw him off of his lap, even held him by the stomach to make sure he wouldn't slip off. Merlin knew that technically, Arthur HAD to play along, but he felt a bit possessive. And someone HAD to assert his claim over Arthur, or else Penelope would get ideas. Maybe. Probably not. She was happily married and had been friends with Arthur for longer than Merlin had known him, so obviously not, but still.

The afternoon went by like that. Apart from Poker, which they quickly abandoned, they sat in a corner booth and enjoyed the dinner buffet. Merlin was drinking cocktail after cocktail as Arthur forced him to eat some sandwiches and vegan meat substitutes to keep him from completely wasting himself.

Penelope seemed to have a lot of fun with them while her husband was off entertaining his guests. At some point, Will joined them and then two or three other of Merlin's classmates.

Around 8 pm, Valiant announced to the class that they could now join him for a movie night, or do whatever else. Most people decided to join him to watch a horrible movie about school. If it had been high school musical, Merlin would have insisted on joining, but he didn't recognise the name of this movie and besides, he felt too drunk to properly enjoy the show.

So, Merlin grabbed Arthur by the hand and led him into the kitchen.

"We just ate!" Arthur laughed.

"YES! But!" Merlin theatrically turned around to face Arthur. "Stolen food tastes better!"

Arthur laughed again. "Merlin, Valiant said we can get food from the kitchen whenever we want!"

"Psssht! You can't tell me that, it'll ruin the fun!" Merlin shushed Arthur with a finger to his mouth. That is, Merlin's finger on Arthur's mouth. It was somehow tempting to touch his lips and this was a safe way to do it under the cover of being too drunk to think. Arthur moved backwards a little but kept grinning.

"Well, a little more food and you may be a bit more sober. I don't want you to throw up in our bed."

Merlin grinned and giggled. "And there was only one bed."

Arthur laughed along and followed him into the kitchen. Inside was the pure coordinated chaos. Kitchen staff was hurrying around, into and out of the room, to wash the dishes, dry them, put them in cabinets, etc. It reminded Merlin a bit of his time working at Starbucks. He turned back around to Arthur. "May I make you a deathpresso."

"A what?" Arthur asked.

"A Venty full of espresso. The Deathpresso. My invention. I named it after you."

"Your puns are getting worse when you're drunk." Arthur's incredulity was overshadowed by his amusement. "But sure, I'd like one."

Merlin already turned around. "Where is the Kitchen Queen? Queen of the kitchen! Tho must tell me, where is thy coffee maker!"

A small woman, who must have been a maid giggled at the slurred demand and pointed at a large as espresso machine on the counter top between the fridge and the drying dishes. "There you go, good Sir." She bowed to Merlin, joining in on his ridiculousness.

"PERFECT! Thank you, your majesty." Merlin went and kissed her hand. "Good luck shall befall you." She blushed.

Arthur crossed his arms. "You better believe him. His kisses are magical."

Merlin felt his entire face flush at the compliment. The girl looked just as surprised. In a moment's notice, Merlin turned his back on Arthur, lest he see his reaction and was on the machine to make a soup bowl of coffee, because he couldn't find a normal cup, and besides, he had promised a venti size. Then, he halted and found a radio. Without thinking twice about it, Merlin turned it on.

A catchy tune started to play. It might have been a song by Katie Perry or something, Merlin didn't care as he hummed along to it, moving his hips around as his mind suggested him. Merlin was a happy drunk. Alcohol made him sing and made him dance. He may be terrible at both, but it was fun regardless.

"Oh, please tell me you're not going to dance. Merlin, you suck at dancing," Arthur said but his expression said something else. He looked fond. He always looked fond. It made Merlin drunk on something other than the alcohol.

Merlin turned to Arthur, a determined glance in his eyes. Arthur never danced. So, naturally, Merlin was going to make Arthur dance and embarrass himself. Merlin held out his hand and forced Arthur to take it. Arthur looked somewhat surprised but quickly let himself be led through the kitchen. It was easier to convince him than Merlin had expected. Merlin stepped on Arthur's foot a couple of times, laughing at the way Arthur stumbled after him.

"Merlin!" Arthur laughed. "Hold up!" He grabbed Merlin's hand tighter and forced him to slow down. His left hand found Merlin's waist, shooting electric signals through Merlin's body. Then, Arthur grabbed his hand and pushed them chest to chest. "How about you follow MY lead instead?"

Merlin blinked down at Arthur, only an inch apart. On instinct, Merlin's grip tightened on Arthur's shoulder. "Go on then, my liege. I'm sure you'll lead me into a golden future."

The music switched from Katie Perry to Lady Gaga's "pokerface", making Arthur snort and bury his nose into Merlin's shoulder. "What is with this music?" He quickly gathered himself and put on a semi working pokerface himself before he moved Merlin through the room. It was nice, in a way, to let go of the control he usually preferred. Arthur's movements were clean and wide. He swirled Merlin around, perfectly avoiding Merlin's failed steps and giving him just enough time to adjust to Arthur's movements.

"You can dance?" Merlin's eyes widened. There went his plan to embarrass Arthur.

"I have many talents," said Arthur and grinned so widely at Merlin that Merlin found himself flushing.

Lulled from the alcohol, Merlin's eyes trailed down to Arthur's lips. "Many talents, huh?" Merlin didn't mean to, but his mind did wander. "Didn't know being a prat was a talent." Thankfully, insulting Arthur was an instinct, not a skill.

Arthur sputtered out a laugh, ignoring the way the maids giggled behind them. Suddenly, despite the alcohol, Merlin was hyper aware of them. They were watching. Merlin knew they were watching. But then, Arthur's eyes too, trailed to Merlin's lips. Was this part of the disguise? Probably. Arthur was so good at this, he could even fool Merlin. But drunk Merlin didn't care.

Suddenly, Arthur pushed Merlin into a twirl in tune to the music. Merlin followed against his own volition. A moment later, he was back in Arthur's arms, gasping against his jaw. And it reminded Merlin that Arthur was publicly a private person. He wouldn't kiss Merlin in front of Valiant's serving staff. Not when they held out their iPhones to film them. No matter how disappointing that was.

"And I didn't know someone so smart could be such an idiot." Arthur shot back, but it was a weak retort.

Merlin found himself back in Arthur's space again. "It's just another part of my charm."

Arthur's eyes trailed over Merlin's entire face, his pupils slightly dilated, his cheeks flushed, mouth twitched in an eternal smile. Was he drunk too? He HAD drunken a couple cocktails, but he should be the more sober one out of the two of them. Arthur's grip on Merlin's waist tightened and Merlin hummed at the feeling. Suddenly, Arthur's other hand found Merlin's cheek in a soft caress.

Merlin stupidly smiled up at him. What he wouldn't do to kiss Arthur right now. The moment was perfect, despite the audience. Arthur's face was tilted, just enough that all Merlin would need to do was lean in. Arthur's lips would taste like butter and the sweet cocktail Merlin had forced on him, his lips a bit more chapped than Merlin expected. And Merlin would probably forget to breathe until Arthur's hand moved to properly hold Merlin in place. Pressing impossibly closer, Arthur would take control of the kiss and it would be deeper and more personal than anything he had ever felt.

It took Merlin a moment to realise that this was actually happening.