On The Same Page
Nov. 14th, 2017 09:50 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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camelot_drabbleAuthor: Loopstagirl
Title: On The Same Page
Rating: PG
Pairing/s: Merlin/Arthur, Gwen/Lancelot
Character/s: Arthur, Merlin, Gwen, Lancelot, Gwaine, Freya, Uther
Summary: Arthur meets the others at the river.
Warnings: None
Word Count: 1000
Prompt: Unpredictable
Author's Notes: Continuation of last week's Breathing Space
Arthur hesitated outside of his father’s room. He knocked, pushing open the door when he was bid to do so. His father was, of course, sitting at the small desk in his room, pouring over a document. Arthur sighed. They had planned to hire bikes today and explore some of the trails around the forest. He wasn’t surprised his father had changed plans without telling Arthur.
“I’m going down to the river,” Arthur announced. He was seventeen – he refused to ask permission to go out when his father had forgotten his existence.
His father slowly looked around, an annoyed expression on his face because of the interruption.
“Why?”
“So I can practice my rowing for when I get into Oxford or Cambridge,” Arthur said drily. His father frowned.
“Sarcasm is not befitting, Arthur.”
Arthur knew that joking about his future was not a good topic; his father had mapped out his entire life since before Arthur could walk. He still hadn’t plucked up the courage to tell the man he hadn’t applied to the two universities Uther insisted that he was going to attend.
“I’m going out, Dad,” Arthur said, “just thought I’d let you know. In case, you know, you remembered I was here.”
“Arthur!”
But Arthur had already closed the door. He couldn’t face another lecture about how important his father’s work was or that the man had given him a roof over his head etc because of that commitment.
He moved through the lodge fast, running by the time he reached the door. He didn’t know if his father would follow him or not, but Arthur wasn’t waiting around to find out.
It took him a few false turns before he reached the river. The others were waiting for him and unless Arthur was mistaken, Merlin’s smile became even wider when he saw Arthur hurrying up the path towards them.
“Sorry I’m late,” Arthur began but Gwaine punched him on the arm.
“Have you seen these boats?” he said, glossing over Arthur’s apology. Arthur followed his gaze to the water’s edge and grinned. They were old fashioned rowing boats, two to a boat and a grinning lifeguard waiting to see them off.
The group hurried down to the water’s edge and Arthur fell into step with Merlin.
“Did you invite me just because you have odd numbers?”
Merlin grinned. “Busted. I refuse to go out with Gwaine again: Freya is the only one with a chance of stopping him from capsizing the whole thing.”
“I’m with you then?” Arthur said, smiling. Merlin blushed but shot him a sideways look.
“If you can keep up with me.”
“Bring it on.”
Their joking continued even as the lifeguard sorted them out and told them they had two hours out on the water and ran through the normal safety checks.
It was everything Arthur predicted and hoped it would be; a lot of messing around and even more laughter. He completely relaxed, forgetting about his father’s mood and the fact that his sister had deserted him.
Just as he guessed, the time went quickly and it wasn’t long before they were splashing their way out of the lake, hungry and flushed with laughter.
“Thanks for letting me tag along,” Arthur said to Lance. Again, however, Gwaine punched him on the arm.
“You’re not our charity case, princess,” he said, “you don’t have to say thank you every time we hang out.”
Arthur flushed, not knowing what to say but Gwaine had already moved off to talk to Merlin.
Arthur thought he was beginning to suss Merlin out – two hours in a small boat with him had that effect. Merlin was happy and easy-going, so when Arthur saw him in a serious conversation with Gwaine, it took him by surprise.
“Is he okay?” Arthur asked of no one in particular. Gwen and Freya exchanged looks before Gwen looped her arm through Arthur’s and drew him off to one side.
“He likes you,” she said. Arthur blushed but shrugged.
“I guessed – he told me I was cute last night.”
“That’s because he didn’t really expect you to turn up today,” Gwen said. Arthur started.
“What? Why?”
“You only met us last night. You’re here with your family; you might have had other plans.”
“I’m not following.”
“Merlin’s had some trouble in the past for liking the wrong person,” Freya said carefully. Arthur stared at her, then it clicked.
“For liking another bloke?”
Both girls nodded.
“Now he likes you and he is terrified about doing anything about it. Flirting by firelight is one thing. Asking you out in broad daylight is another.”
“Right,” Arthur said, his mind racing. Merlin wasn’t the only one nervous; Arthur had never let himself get close to anyone – his father always insisted his schoolwork and extra-curricular activities came first. But knowing that Merlin was worried about Arthur’s reaction made up his mind for him.
Arthur knew he was boring and predictable – his father was to thank for that. Arthur didn’t have Morgana’s courage to stand up to him. This holiday was already out of the norm for Arthur.
But now he decided it was his turn to be unpredictable.
He broke away from the girls and walked up to Merlin. Gwaine backed off a pace and Arthur stopped.
“Do you fancy lunch?” he said boldly. “Just us?”
Merlin’s eyes lit up even though his expression was still worried.
“Really?”
“Or am I just cute in the firelight?” Arthur said, mimicking Gwen’s words. Merlin smiled shyly and shook his head.
“On one condition though,” Arthur continued. Merlin looked worried again and Arthur grinned. “It’s the guy I met last night who blatantly flirted with me. Not someone worried about my reaction.”
Merlin properly smiled, the frown disappearing and the easy smile returning.
“Deal,” he said. He nudged Arthur with his arm, jostling him lightly. “You’re unpredictable, you know that, Arthur?”
“I only wish that were true,” Arthur laughed, deciding that was biggest compliment he had ever been paid.
Title: On The Same Page
Rating: PG
Pairing/s: Merlin/Arthur, Gwen/Lancelot
Character/s: Arthur, Merlin, Gwen, Lancelot, Gwaine, Freya, Uther
Summary: Arthur meets the others at the river.
Warnings: None
Word Count: 1000
Prompt: Unpredictable
Author's Notes: Continuation of last week's Breathing Space
Arthur hesitated outside of his father’s room. He knocked, pushing open the door when he was bid to do so. His father was, of course, sitting at the small desk in his room, pouring over a document. Arthur sighed. They had planned to hire bikes today and explore some of the trails around the forest. He wasn’t surprised his father had changed plans without telling Arthur.
“I’m going down to the river,” Arthur announced. He was seventeen – he refused to ask permission to go out when his father had forgotten his existence.
His father slowly looked around, an annoyed expression on his face because of the interruption.
“Why?”
“So I can practice my rowing for when I get into Oxford or Cambridge,” Arthur said drily. His father frowned.
“Sarcasm is not befitting, Arthur.”
Arthur knew that joking about his future was not a good topic; his father had mapped out his entire life since before Arthur could walk. He still hadn’t plucked up the courage to tell the man he hadn’t applied to the two universities Uther insisted that he was going to attend.
“I’m going out, Dad,” Arthur said, “just thought I’d let you know. In case, you know, you remembered I was here.”
“Arthur!”
But Arthur had already closed the door. He couldn’t face another lecture about how important his father’s work was or that the man had given him a roof over his head etc because of that commitment.
He moved through the lodge fast, running by the time he reached the door. He didn’t know if his father would follow him or not, but Arthur wasn’t waiting around to find out.
It took him a few false turns before he reached the river. The others were waiting for him and unless Arthur was mistaken, Merlin’s smile became even wider when he saw Arthur hurrying up the path towards them.
“Sorry I’m late,” Arthur began but Gwaine punched him on the arm.
“Have you seen these boats?” he said, glossing over Arthur’s apology. Arthur followed his gaze to the water’s edge and grinned. They were old fashioned rowing boats, two to a boat and a grinning lifeguard waiting to see them off.
The group hurried down to the water’s edge and Arthur fell into step with Merlin.
“Did you invite me just because you have odd numbers?”
Merlin grinned. “Busted. I refuse to go out with Gwaine again: Freya is the only one with a chance of stopping him from capsizing the whole thing.”
“I’m with you then?” Arthur said, smiling. Merlin blushed but shot him a sideways look.
“If you can keep up with me.”
“Bring it on.”
Their joking continued even as the lifeguard sorted them out and told them they had two hours out on the water and ran through the normal safety checks.
It was everything Arthur predicted and hoped it would be; a lot of messing around and even more laughter. He completely relaxed, forgetting about his father’s mood and the fact that his sister had deserted him.
Just as he guessed, the time went quickly and it wasn’t long before they were splashing their way out of the lake, hungry and flushed with laughter.
“Thanks for letting me tag along,” Arthur said to Lance. Again, however, Gwaine punched him on the arm.
“You’re not our charity case, princess,” he said, “you don’t have to say thank you every time we hang out.”
Arthur flushed, not knowing what to say but Gwaine had already moved off to talk to Merlin.
Arthur thought he was beginning to suss Merlin out – two hours in a small boat with him had that effect. Merlin was happy and easy-going, so when Arthur saw him in a serious conversation with Gwaine, it took him by surprise.
“Is he okay?” Arthur asked of no one in particular. Gwen and Freya exchanged looks before Gwen looped her arm through Arthur’s and drew him off to one side.
“He likes you,” she said. Arthur blushed but shrugged.
“I guessed – he told me I was cute last night.”
“That’s because he didn’t really expect you to turn up today,” Gwen said. Arthur started.
“What? Why?”
“You only met us last night. You’re here with your family; you might have had other plans.”
“I’m not following.”
“Merlin’s had some trouble in the past for liking the wrong person,” Freya said carefully. Arthur stared at her, then it clicked.
“For liking another bloke?”
Both girls nodded.
“Now he likes you and he is terrified about doing anything about it. Flirting by firelight is one thing. Asking you out in broad daylight is another.”
“Right,” Arthur said, his mind racing. Merlin wasn’t the only one nervous; Arthur had never let himself get close to anyone – his father always insisted his schoolwork and extra-curricular activities came first. But knowing that Merlin was worried about Arthur’s reaction made up his mind for him.
Arthur knew he was boring and predictable – his father was to thank for that. Arthur didn’t have Morgana’s courage to stand up to him. This holiday was already out of the norm for Arthur.
But now he decided it was his turn to be unpredictable.
He broke away from the girls and walked up to Merlin. Gwaine backed off a pace and Arthur stopped.
“Do you fancy lunch?” he said boldly. “Just us?”
Merlin’s eyes lit up even though his expression was still worried.
“Really?”
“Or am I just cute in the firelight?” Arthur said, mimicking Gwen’s words. Merlin smiled shyly and shook his head.
“On one condition though,” Arthur continued. Merlin looked worried again and Arthur grinned. “It’s the guy I met last night who blatantly flirted with me. Not someone worried about my reaction.”
Merlin properly smiled, the frown disappearing and the easy smile returning.
“Deal,” he said. He nudged Arthur with his arm, jostling him lightly. “You’re unpredictable, you know that, Arthur?”
“I only wish that were true,” Arthur laughed, deciding that was biggest compliment he had ever been paid.
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Date: 2017-11-14 09:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-11-17 03:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-11-15 12:30 am (UTC)Awww, I so love it when our boys get past their hang ups and just go for it!
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Date: 2017-11-17 03:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-11-17 03:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-11-17 03:16 pm (UTC)