Hello then. So, this is my first modern!AU or maybe it's a future-fic. I don't know. I just hope it's all right. I think it is but that's probably ego talking. LOL. Anyway, please, enjoy.

Standard disclaimers apply.

Pairings: Merlin/Arthur, mentioned Gwaine/Merlin, and, in later chapters, Gwen/Lance and several others.

Rating: M/NC-17

Warnings: Sex, booze, swearing, slash/gay love...All the good stuff. ^_-

Summary: "I've been waiting, of course. I told you I would serve you until the day Idied and I never did, Arthur. I kept living, waiting for your return."

It had been centuries since he last saw his king. His magic had faded long ago yet he lived in the same body, never aging or dying despite numerous close calls. Or really, what should have been close calls but weren't. He fought in wars, a nameless soldier his king would have been proud of. He had lovers, even became engaged once, but none compared to his king and he never loved anyone like he loved his king. He had hundreds of jobs, mostly teaching, but yearned for the purpose he used to have serving the king, protecting the king. He lived so many different lives without having to die or be reborn. With each fourth of a century, he took a new life on. He kept a journal for each name and labelled them as such. However, one day twenty-one years ago, he awoke in a strange body, waving about small hands. The hands of a baby. His mind was intact and he lay on his back, not strong enough to turn over yet, amidst a circle of books and papers. He heard himself crying but didn't understand if he was really doing it. He was a baby, regenerated for the first time since Arthur's death, and there was no one to take care of him, as Gwaine had done the last time when he had suddenly turned into a baby after Arthur's last breath was drawn. He screamed and felt his magic tingle for the first time in a long time. He still remembered that feeling, of course. It was a part of him, just like his life with Arthur.

"Hello?" he heard. His neighbour, Mrs. Gray, called into the apartment. He screamed louder. "Mark? Mark, is that a baby I hear?" She walked through his maze of books and gasped upon seeing him. "Oh, you poor dear!" She bent over and picked him up, wrapping him in his shirt. He snuggled into her warmth, glad to get off the cold, hard ground. "Mark? Mark, where are you?"

He called on his magic and a pen and paper hovered in front of her. She stared at it with wide eyes. He wrote, Old girl, remember the talks we had about Arthur returning and Merlin coming with him? Dear woman, I'm Merlin. I've always been Merlin. I've been regenerated because Arthur has been reborn. Help me, please. –Mark Penn/Merlin

"Oh dear." The dear old woman looked down at him and he tried to smile. He was unsure if he succeeded but she smiled down at him so he guessed that he had. "All right, Merlin. I'm always complaining about my empty nest, after all. What of your apartment?"

I own it. No worries. I'll sign over my money to you. I'm sorry to burden you, ma'am. He felt so guilty. Gwaine's wife had been so troubled, caring for him, and now he had to burden such a kind old woman.

"Nonsense. I'm about to raise the most powerful warlock in the world. I'm honoured. Let's get you into some fitting clothes, shall we? And I think a nap would be good. You're awfully fussy."

That was twenty-one years ago and she had treated him exactly like her son and he like his mother. The day after his "rebirth" he lost his adult-like thoughts and became a real child. Arthur and Camelot became a dream to him. Mrs. Gray, Mama Mary, taught him everything Arthurian, doted on him, brought him up into a proper, smart young man. He was a little spoiled but he was happy and well cared for by his "mother". Now he was twenty-one again and Mary had told him everything. He had reclaimed his apartment, gotten it back into order, and was now living there while attending the university. Mary was over seventy so he didn't dare move far from her. He wanted to care for her, return the favour. He taught her magic and she laughed when he made her dinner without moving from the seat beside her on the couch. She was practically his mother, or perhaps his grandmother, and he loved her like a grandmother.

"Merlin, you'll be late," Mary told him that morning, pushing him gently towards the front door of her home. "Go on. I can get myself breakfast on my own. Go, go." He turned and shook his head. "Yes, Merlin. Go. You need to get to school."

"But Mama, you're sick. I should take care of you," he insisted. Mary shook her head and pushed him firmly. "Mama, please. It'll only be today. I haven't got any exams or anything. I'll burrow someone's notes tomorrow. Just today, I promise."

"No! Sweetheart, please, just go. I've got a feeling about today. Something important is going to happen. You should go. I'll be fine. If I need you, I'll phone." Merlin hesitated but the feeling she spoke of was in him as well and he had to leave, he decided. He kissed her cheek and told her he would call when he got off the bus before snatching up his bag and leaving with a wave. He waved again from the street then ran to catch the bus to Uni. He called her when he arrived and she assured him she was fine, feeling better even. She had taken some medicine and was going to eat then nap. He hung up feeling a lot less worried about the old woman.

He went through his day feeling particularly nostalgic. He missed Arthur and everyone else more than ever, for some reason. He found himself staring at every blonde man that walked passed, some grinning at him or trying to flirt with him while others asked if he had a problem. He would ignore them and continue on, telling them he had mistaken them for someone else and hurrying to get away. The reincarnation of Guinevere in his math class smiled at him for the first time and asked the man that sat beside him if they could trade seats. She introduced herself and asked who he was. He told her his name and her eyes practically bulged out of her head. She ran out in a panic and everyone looked at him curiously. He just shrugged. He never did understand women.

He ran into Lancelot, Gawain, Leon, Kay, and Morgana in the course of the day and, before his last class, Gawain asked him to join them for coffee the next day at a hole-in-the-wall cafe located down the street from campus. He agreed hesitantly and wondered who else attended his school, if they were all there. When he boarded the bus, a young woman with parcels and three fussing children entered behind him. He turned to assist her but a man in a red hoodie was already helping so he got out of the way so they could sit. He gripped the safety handle above his head and turned on his iPod. The hooded man stood beside him and stared at the ground so Merlin couldn't see his face. He wondered briefly why no one ever tried to talk to him on the bus before turning his thoughts to trying to remember a spell to find the spirits of dead loved ones.

"It's not him," he heard from his left. He removed an ear bud and looked around for someone who appeared to be speaking to him. No one did. Only the little baby in the overly-stressed mother's arms was looking at him and he was probably looking at the sparkling ring around his neck. He started to put the headphone back in when he heard, "He may not even be alive. You're getting your hopes up over nothing."

All right, that came from the hooded man, he deduced. But he was looking down at the ground still, scuffing the toe of his sneaker against the floor of the bus. "I'm sorry. Did you say something?" Merlin asked, leaning close to try and see the stranger's face. The man shook his head and turned his body away from Merlin. "Oh. Sorry then. I didn't mean to disturb you."

He put his headphone back in and turned it all the way up, feeling a bit offended at the stranger's behaviour. The rock music was so loud he shouldn't have heard, "But he talks like Merlin too," but he did. That's when he realized the voice was echoing slightly. It was in his head! "And I could swear that's my ring on his neck!"

Merlin looked around for blond on the bus. No one other than the driver and he was definitely not Arthur, all round and old. The stranger was built, beautifully toned from what he could tell, and he didn't appear old. He carried a rucksack so he was probably a uni student. But Merlin couldn't see his face. The bus stopped and the stranger helped the woman off the bus before re-boarding and sinking into her now unoccupied seat. Merlin thought about joining him but didn't. "Hey," he heard before he felt someone poking his side. He looked and found blue eyes gazing up at him from inside the hood. The only part of him he could see though, sadly. "Wanna sit?"

"Sure. Thanks," Merlin replied, taking the seat beside the stranger. "You a uni student?" he asked after a few moments of silence, pausing his music so he could hear properly.

"Yeah," the stranger replied. "You too?" Merlin nodded with a friendly smile. "Huh." Merlin's smile fell and he looked away. "I was supposed to get off with that woman." He looked at the stranger and frowned curiously. "You look like someone I know. Well, used to know, I guess. What's your name?"

"Mark," Merlin replied suspiciously. Who was this kid? He didn't know him, did he?

The stranger sighed. "Then you're really not him. Sorry." He didn't speak for the rest of the trip and Merlin exited the bus gratefully. He had never been so uncomfortable with someone he didn't even know. He did his homework while he made dinner then, after eating; he went to his apartment and prepared to go out. He stuffed his change of clothes in his bag and kissed Mary goodbye. She promised not to wait up and went to bed after he waved from the street. He turned himself invisible to change in an alley and sent his bag home magically before hurrying on. Brandon, his best friend, was waiting at the end of the street in his Mini Cooper and he jumped in the passenger seat. Brandon kissed his cheek, per usual, then turned his attention to the street. Everyone knew Brandon was gay but no one that hadn't known Merlin for years knew his sexuality. He didn't really think it was anyone's business if he was gay, even if he kind of wanted a boyfriend. Because of this, every Friday night Brandon took Merlin with him to a club. A gay club, to be exact. It was harmless fun and Merlin didn't really have time for more, like a serious relationship.

That wasn't true, actually. Merlin had plenty of time. He was just too scared. He always lost everyone he loved so avoiding serious relationships was the safest thing for him. That and a part of him still lived in the Dark Ages when it was illegal to love another man. He had gone to secret meets back then too, brothels and other places. But he wasn't going to keep from jumping Arthur's bones anymore, that was a plus.

"I love your ass in those jeans," Brandon announced on their way into the club. He wrapped his arms around Merlin from behind and kissed the side of his head. "Can you move in them all right?"

"Not really," Merlin joked. Brandon laughed and turned him around to fix his shirt and hair. Merlin wore a tight black shirt with a band logo on it, a blue neckerchief, his favourite black stud earring, black skinny jeans, black boots with easily undone buckles, and wristbands. One blue with black stripes, the other pure black. Arthur's ring was on his finger. Brandon pulled eyeliner from his back pocket and gently applied it to Merlin's eyes. "Do you have to? I'm not emo, Bran."

"I know but you look great with eyeliner. Admit it, babe. You get more play with it on." Merlin shrugged and Brandon laughed. "You can't even deny it, can you?" Merlin smiled at him and the bouncer urged them in. Brandon smiled flirtatiously at him on their way inside. Merlin started for the bar and Brandon headed for the dance floor. Merlin smiled as he ordered their drinks and leaned against the bar to watch Brandon dance. A larger man than Bran quickly found his hand and pulled him into a slow, sensual grind. He looked like Gwaine, Merlin thought with a grin. He knew from experience Gwaine had liked both genders. He had joined him in bed many times before Arthur's death and Gwaine had never been angry when he shouted Arthur's name, something he was always grateful for even when he felt guilty.

Bran came over with his dance partner holding his hand and downed the drink Merlin had ordered him. "Dance, Merlin! Do something! I'll meet up with you in thirty!" he shouted over the noise of the music and cheers. The confetti canons went off and they laughed as confetti and glitter rained down on them, shielding their drinks. "Have fun, okay?"

Merlin nodded and Brandon led his "friend" away. "You too, man whore," Merlin muttered jokingly to himself. By the time Brandon returned to the bar to find him, he was feeling deliciously tipsy and moving in the fray of bodies easily. Someone slid their hand across his thigh and he moved into the touch then another hand moved across his chest, nails scrapping lightly across his skin. He moved into that touch and tried to grab the hand but it vanished. It returned after a moment though, pressing another drink into his hand and grabbing the empty one. He took a sip of the drink and gasped at the sting of alcohol on the back of his throat. Bran took the drink as he passed and winked at him before giving him a push into someone safer looking. But Merlin didn't want safe. He turned back to the man who had given him the drink and grabbed his shoulders. He was blonde and all muscle but not disgustingly so. He was also hard and eager. He grabbed Merlin's hips and pulled him tight against him. They rocked against each other and racked their nails across each other's bodies. "Yeah," Merlin gasped at a particularly harsh thrust against him. "Back rooms?"

"Yeah," the stranger replied. He grabbed Merlin's wrist and pulled him along to the stairs to the back rooms. He led him into one and moved his hands to Merlin's belt. He had them around his ankles in seconds. Merlin was quick to return the favour. Then he was being turned around and bent over the bed. He spread his legs and allowed the stranger to prepare him with the lube he apparently carried with him. He turned his head to watch his partner roll on a condom and slick it up desperately.

"C'mon!" Merlin urged when he saw how big the other man was. "I can take it. Do it!" The stranger took his word for it and shoved himself inside Merlin's slick hole. Merlin was quick with a spell to prevent pain. He rocked back against his lover and heard him groan. "Hard and fast. Now."

"Bossy," the man growled before taking a firm grip on Merlin's hip and shoulder. Then he started thrusting without mercy. He moved like a pro, hitting Merlin's prostate every time, and Merlin cried out his pleasure with each deep, rough thrust. Merlin leaned forward onto his elbows and they both groaned at the easier access. "Shit yeah. You're so tight. This how you like it, babe? You like a little bit of pain?"

"Yes," Merlin breathed. "Harder, please. Harder." His request was eagerly granted and he felt strong fingers slid into his hair. His hair was gripped and pulled hard as the stranger plunged into him repeatedly. "Oh, god," he gasped with a loud groan. "A-Arthur."

"Ah," the stranger moaned. Before Merlin could apologize, he noticed how impassioned the stranger became at the huskily gasped name. "Yes," he groaned. "How...How do you know me name?"

"I didn't," Merlin replied, surprised by the stranger's name.

"Oh," he muttered. "Huh. He better than this?" He pulled all the way out then slammed inside Merlin as hard as he could. Merlin screamed in pleasure, not caring who heard. "Well, is he?"

"No!" Merlin cried, rocking back into Arthur's thrusts. "I wo-wouldn't know. Oh, God!" Arthur was beginning to lose his rhythm and his thrusts were getting harder and so much faster but still right on target. Merlin reached down to stroke himself to the finish but Arthur slapped his hand away. He wrapped his strong, tanned hand around Merlin's shaft and began to slowly pump. Merlin rocked into his touch, trying to reach his orgasm. He was so close he could taste it but Arthur refused to pump him any faster. "Please," he whimpered. "Please, I'm so close. Please, make me come, Arthur."

"God," his lover muttered. He finally started pumping Merlin harder and faster. As Merlin was falling into his orgasm, Arthur choked out, "Merlin! Oh, God, Merlin!" He came harder than ever before, finally feeling as if he was really being made love to be his Arthur. When it was over for both of them, Arthur eased out of him and collapsed on the bed. "Good Lord."

"You know me?" Merlin asked. Arthur gave him a puzzled look. "You knew my name, dude. How? When did we meet?"

"We never did." Arthur turned his back to him after standing and removed the condom. He tied it off and tossed it in the wastebasket before pulling on his jeans and trying to fix his hair. He turned around and looked at Merlin for a minute. Then he leaned over and kissed his forehead. "You're an amazing fuck, mate."

"Thank you, Arthur," Merlin replied with a laugh. He stood up and fixed his own jeans. They left and the maid rushed into the room to clean up. The attendant at the top of the stairs that collected the rental fee for the rooms clapped Arthur on the back and smirked at Merlin. Merlin flushed and hurried away. He didn't see Arthur for the rest of the night and honestly, he didn't look for him.

TBC

Hope you liked the first chapter. I choose not to address them knowing each other's names; decided they would just brush it off as coincidence because they didn't want to get their hopes up. Since they couldn't really see each other, they couldn't really tell if it was just lights and want getting to them, okay? Sorry if that bothers anyone.

Thank you for reading. Reviews are always welcome. :D