A/N: This was written for Kinkspiration Round 4 over on LiveJournal. It's my first attempt at writing something in a drabble format, I had fun with it. It was originally intended as a oneshot but it ran away with me, as usual. So is now multichaptered.

Thanks to Mamdi for betaing.

Warnings: This fic contains boys under the age of eighteen doing dirty things. If this will offend you, stop reading now!

Part 1

Arthur introduces himself with all the confidence that comes with wealth and good breeding.

"Hi, I'm Arthur Pendragon." He smiles and extends his hand to the gawky new boy who turns and faces Arthur nervously as he bursts into the room on the first day of term.

"Emrys... Merlin." He replies, his hand slender and cool in Arthur's grip. He's all eyes and cheekbones and messy dark hair.

Arthur barks out a surprised laugh. "Merlin - seriously? Jesus, we'll be a fucking laughing stock. Our house master has a strange sense of humour, putting us in together."

Merlin just flushes and turns back to his half-unpacked suitcase.

XOXOX

They couldn't be more different but somehow they get along despite that, or maybe because of it.

Arthur's sporty, popular, rich. The astronomical school fees barely make a ripple in the Pendragon family coffers. He gets by in class but isn't known for being academic. He doesn't need to shine too brightly. Reasonable grades and his rowing prowess will assure him a place at Oxford anyway.

Merlin's a scholarship boy. His single mother would never be able to send him to a school like this otherwise. He's brilliant, but he works hard too. He doesn't take anything for granted.

XOXOX

They bond over weird things. A shared love of chocolate, some crossover in music tastes, an appreciation for the mad humour of Monty Python.

They rarely spend time together during the school day. They aren't taking many of the same subjects for AS level, and Arthur spends most of his time after school training or racing. But in the evenings when they do prep in their room they break up their studying with idle banter.

Arthur finds himself looking forward to that time. Merlin makes him laugh, but he's opinionated too. When their conversations turn to serious topics, Merlin challenges Arthur. He makes him think and question things he's never doubted before.

XOXOX

Boarding school makes privacy impossible.

Arthur hears the rustle of Merlin's sheets at night and the careful huff of his breath. He knows what Merlin's doing, of course. He does it himself most nights too, and assumes that Merlin can't miss the sound of his bed squeaking rhythmically in time with the movement of his hand. They don't talk about it, unlike some of the other boys who do so quite openly.

Sometimes Arthur finds himself listening for Merlin, waiting to hear the surreptitious sounds of skin on skin before he slides his own hand into his pyjama bottoms to curl around his erection.

XOXOX

It was inevitable that it would happen eventually.

Arthur leaves training early. He's pulled a muscle in his thigh and the coach tells him to go back to the house to stretch and rest it.

He doesn't think to knock; it's his room too. He hears loud music coming from inside and expects that he'll find Merlin curled up with a book as usual, or typing on his laptop.

What he actually finds is Merlin with his skinny legs spread on top of his duvet, trousers and pants round his ankles, fisting his cock like he's trying to start a fire while two fingers of his other hand pump in and out of his arse.

XOXOX

Arthur can't tear his eyes away as the door swings shut behind him.

And Merlin doesn't hear him.

He carries on, head thrown back, his ribcage rising and falling as he gasps. His normally pale skin is flushed, the delicate pink extending down from his cheeks to his neck and collar bones.

Arthur knows that he should say something, or turn and leave.

But he can't move.

So he stands there, hard and helpless, as Merlin's body arches, his fingers thrusting deep and stilling their movement as his cock spurts erratically, painting his chest and belly with white stripes.

XOXOX

"Jesus, fuck, Emrys..." Arthur finally reacts. His mouth dry, heart pounding.

Merlin's eyes fly open in horror and he snaps his legs together, trying to cover his cock where it lies on his belly, hard and wet.

"Shit! Sorry," he stammers, flushed face turning scarlet. "I didn't think you'd be back for ages."

"I left early," Arthur replies pointlessly, stating the obvious.

He doesn't know what else to say so he grabs his towel and wash bag, using them to cover the tent in his shorts before Merlin notices.

"I'm going for a shower."

XOXOX

Arthur stands under the hot spray, the curtain pulled tight in the communal shower room. He doesn't even try to think of anything other than Merlin as he brings himself off, quickly, urgently.

He reaches around with a tentative finger and circles his hole, and just that small touch is all it takes. His whole body convulses as he comes, his legs trembling, barely keeping him upright as his cock jerks in his hand.

He stays in the shower for a long time, trying to gather his muddled thoughts as the water streams over him.

He has little success.

XOXOX

They deal with it by resolutely pretending that nothing happened.

The atmosphere between them is a little strained for a few days as they both try too hard to act normally around each other. Merlin seems to find it hard to look Arthur in the eye, and Arthur finds it hard to look at Merlin without remembering.

And when he remembers, he gets hard almost immediately. He doesn't understand why, because he's never fancied boys before.

He still listens for the rustle of Merlin's bedclothes after lights out. He fists his own cock and wonders whether Merlin's fingers are in his arse as he touches himself.

XOXOX

One night Arthur's been listening to the soft sounds from Merlin's bed for what feels like ages. He's horny, painfully close, desperate to come but he can't quite get there.

"Do you often do that thing with your fingers?" The words escape before he can stop them, ringing loud in the darkness between them.

He lies, waiting. The room utterly silent as the seconds tick away.

"Yeah," Merlin finally replies. His voice barely more than a whisper. "Don't you?"

"No," Arthur admits. "I never really thought about it."

"I'm doing it now." Arthur hears the rustling sounds resume on the opposite side of the room. "You should try it."

XOXOX

Arthur can't breathe. The knowledge that Merlin's doing that, right now, makes him dizzy. He grips his cock harder, slipping his other hand down to cup his balls.

"Tell me how," Arthur's voice is hoarse.

He spreads his legs and waits, hoping.

Finally Merlin speaks. "Lick your fingers first, make them wet. Then just try and relax as you push one in."

Arthur does as he says, it feels strange, unfamiliar. The burning stretch makes him restless, wanting more. He gasps aloud as he pushes in deeper. His cock leaks in his hand.

"Feels good, huh?" Merlin chuckles.

XOXOX

Arthur's tugging on his prick, two fingers pumping slowly in and out of himself. He's so hot inside, so tight.

"Imagine you're trying to touch the base of your cock from the inside," Merlin's voice is breathless, shaky. "Once you find it, you'll know."

Arthur curls his fingers, twisting them experimentally and the shock of sensation makes him whimper.

"Found it then?" Merlin gasps.

"Fuck... yeah," Arthur moans, grazing the spot relentlessly with his fingers on each thrust. "I'm gonna come."

Merlin's answer is a harsh cry and Arthur's cock explodes, pulsing hot and sticky in his hand as his arse spasms around his fingers and his whole body ignites with hot and shameful pleasure.

XOXOX

Arthur lies there; boneless, spent, his thoughts scattered.

As the high of his orgasm passes he feels his cheeks heat with mortification. What the fuck did they just do?

He hears Merlin moving around in the darkness, sitting up, reaching for something on his bedside table, knocking something over. "Bollocks, that was a glass of water. Can I put my light on for a minute?"

"Yeah," Arthur cringes. Not ready to face Merlin without the cover of darkness.

But Merlin jumps out of bed unembarrassed. His arse is small and tight, covered by white briefs. Arthur can't help looking as he kneels down, mops up the spill with a towel.

XOXOX

Crisis averted, Merlin grabs a box of tissues and wipes his hands and belly.

He lifts his head and meets Arthur's eyes. He grins, and chucks the box over to Arthur, who catches them deftly.

"Thanks," he flushes, reaching beneath the duvet to wipe the spunk off his stomach and pull his pants back up.

He balls the dirty tissues up and aims at the bin.

"Nice shot," Merlin nods approvingly.

He gets back into his bed and flips the switch, plunging them back into darkness again.

"Good night." Merlin's voice is light, casual.

Arthur smiles into the darkness. "Night, Merlin." He replies.

A/N: Thanks for reading, please review!