Gwen is especially talented at giving a look that conveys a lot of things, but sometimes a facial expression can't capture her true feelings. In that case, she tells Merlin something like this:

"You got to passionately snog with your wank-master, and you're complaining?"

"How can I ever look him in the eye again!" Merlin shouted, gesticulating around him and nearly knocking over the take away Indian food they'd ordered. "And wait, did you just say wank-master?"

"Okay, forget the wank bit, I'll give you that, but focus on the love-of-your-life kissing you. Do you know who my last kiss was? Will. When I was drunk. Will! I could taste the Cheetos he'd been eating for days after. Nobody should have to kiss him. Not even his girlfriend," Gwen cried.

She could always be trusted to make Merlin feel better about himself, mostly because- as much as he loves his mates- he's quite glad he didn't have to lock lips with Will.

"Hey, leave Freya out of this," he defended, words muffled by vegetarian curry. He swallowed and continued on, "Will's a good guy, and besides kissing shuts him up and that's what counts. I'm sorry about your love life, but I'm still stuck in awkward pornographic book cover limbo!" Merlin groaned, and abandoned his food to cover his face.

His roommate snorted, and as per usual, bestowed the surprisingly good advice she was known and loved for.

"When you get back to work, just play it off to your co-workers as if nothing happened, and wait for him to make the first move. If it meant something you two won't be able to avoid it. Worse comes to worse there's always that supposedly handsome author you mentioned, and the big guy you posed with first. Honestly, there is no good reason for you to be complaining. We don't even live in San Francisco, and you're surrounded by hot gay men!"

"Percy maybe, but Lance is strictly a breast man," Merlin sighed.

"Lance? Is that the author?" For the first time in the conversation, Gwen had that look in her eye that meant a special plan was brewing.

"Yeah. He's very attractive- just your type, really. They gave me one of his books, his picture's on the back." He fished a thick paperback from his messenger bag beside the couch, and handed it to her. She glanced at the cover disinterestedly, but her eyes bugged when she spied the full body photo on the back.

"Merlin," she ordered, "you are taking me to this man's studio right now."

"What? Why?"

"Obviously so we can see if Arthur looks sincere in those photos."

"You're an atrocious liar, love." Merlin said, after rolling his eyes.

"Merlin! This is destiny! At least get me his number," she whine, before remembering the problem at hand and adding, "then talk to your heartthrob about what happened. You can't brush this under the rug. It's too important to you, and you'll go crazy trying to analyze it."

"Fuck, I hate it when you're right." Merlin groaned, looking down at his wiggling toes.

"So…All the time then?"

To Gwen's credit, she didn't even stop laughing when Merlin pelted the pillow at her face.

For the first time in months, Merlin showed up to work late. He got to the building early, but was panicking in the stairwell for so long he didn't realize the time till it was ten past. Peeking out of the door, he spied a couple of roaming workers- nobody he knew- and went to make a break for the illustration lab. Fate had already dick-slapped him yesterday, and after surviving that embarrassment he figured he could survive the apocalypse, and be fine with the cockroaches and the twinkies.

Channeling as much ninja stealth as he could, the brunette slunk along the wall, and was almost home free when he turned a corner and bumped face-to-chest into Gwaine.

"Mer! Oh man, you're a regular porn star! Wait till the gang sees you're here, we've been taking bets on how red you'll turn! My money is on fire-engine red, so try and aim for that, alright mate?" Gwaine crowed, pulling Merlin by the arm into a room full of his leering co-workers- and a table entirely covered with yesterday's pictures from the photoshoot. Before the shame and regret kicked in, Merlin had to admit Lance was right about him; he and Arthur looked damn good together.

Eyes were as big as saucers, Merlin dropped his bag to the floor and whined resignedly, "Oh, come on!"

Gwaine was cracking up again, and threw an arm across Merlin's waist. The illustration team all started babbling at once:

"Merlin, you little tart!" Mordred laughed. Waving a photo that proudly displayed Arthur cupping Merlin's arse like he'd paid for it. "Looks like I should have asked you out sooner. Unless, of course, you're willing to share."

Mithian jeered, in her usual holier-than-thou manner, "Well that explains how you managed to keep this job."

"I always thought you were plain, but wearing a blonde boy really suits you!" Gwaine cried, plucking a photo from the table and admiring it in a way that made Merlin more uncomfortable than he ever thought he could be.

Merlin covered his face, hoping this tactic would remove him from the room, and asked, "Why are these even here?!"

"I'm the lucky man who gets to handle the photographed covers, remember? These babies are all mine- and I am definitely keeping the extra copies," Gwaine winked.

Merlin took his seat at the large table, and hit his head against the desk. Hopefully the whole thing would blow over by lunch hour.

It did not blow over by lunch.

In fact, it hadn't even blown over by the end of the day. Even Gaius, head of the Illustration Department, had snorted when he saw the display. The worst of it was when Gwaine and Mordred started re-enacting the photos, with high-pitched sex sounds and exaggerated kissing noises.

He waited until Mithian, always the last to leave, had gathered her things- barked one more laugh- and made her way out the door, all the while wishing Merlin the best of luck with Pendragon.

Speaking of which, Merlin couldn't ignore the fact that he promised to get Gwen a phone number for her hopefully boyfriend-to-be. The only person he knew with that information was the same man he most dreaded talking to.

Arthur.

It had been more than a day, and Merlin was so exasperated with life he didn't think he could make it to his boss's door, much less go inside to chat. But Gwen was finally acting as lovesick as he was, and Merlin wanted the best for her. Lance was a good guy, and if it could happen to anyone it should happen to Gwen.

Merlin sighed, packed his messenger bag up, and slipped on his coat and red scarf. He only needed to ask for a number. It wouldn't take long, and he'd never have to look Arthur in the eye again.

If you asked him, Merlin would swear he didn't steal three of those various photos off the table on his way out. Especially not the one with the arse cupping.

Arthur's office was at the end of the hall. The phrase, "walk of shame," had never felt so apt, and he hadn't even had the pleasure of sex with the guy. The hallway had never felt so long, and Merlin's heart was beating in his ears as the distant voice of his boss drifted towards him.

"Perfect, he's on a phone call. I'll just going to go in, mouth that I need Lance's number, and get out before he has a chance to talk to me…"

The door was ajar, and Merlin peeked in to see Arthur- in just his nicely tailored shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and black slacks- stalking around his office angrily, as he argued into the phone.

"Look, Val. We've published you before, I know that, but just because we did it once does not mean we're going to automatically sign off on a series about werewolves who work at a florists. I mean, seriously, have you even heard yourself?"

Merlin tried to push the door open quietly to get a better look at the attractive man before him, but apparently any sneakiness he had today was cursed, as the door creaked open like a broken siren.

Arthur whipped around, and faced the door, his face an expression of shock that quickly turned into his usual feral amusement. He gestured Merlin into his office with a sensual "come hither" finger curl. Merlin swallowed audibly, and shuffled into the room like he was about to be reprimanded by his school headmaster.

While Arthur continued his business on the phone, Merlin had time to look around the spacious office. Black leather couch, pristine glass desk, and the wall behind his throne-like chair was a large window looking out over the beginnings of a sunset. If it weren't for the football trophies on the elegant bookshelf, he wouldn't have known whose office it was.

"Alright. We'll discuss this further tomorrow, Valiant. I've got three more appointments tonight, and it's already after hours." Arthur's authoritative voice sent shivers down Merlin's spine- it was unfair how much he still adored the man in the face of all the trails he'd been put through by him. It was right as Arthur ended the phone call that Merlin noticed the corner of a familiar photo sticking out from underneath the man's suit jacket.

"What brings you to my office today, Emrys? Have another insult you'd like to throw at me, or is this a request to find you more naked men to pose with?" Arthur quipped, leaning against his desk with an air of royalty.

"Did everyone in this office receive photos of yesterday's embarrassing episode, or am I just lucky enough to find them all?" Merlin asked, pointing to the poorly hidden pictures on Arthur's desk.

"Did you actually come here to complain about a deal you agreed on? I know you're a bit slow, and usually that's cute, but this is a little much." Arthur was good at deflecting the question, and frankly after calling Merlin cute, Arthur could avoid whatever he liked and get away with it.

"Look, I just need Lance's number and then you don't have to see me ever again," Merlin snapped. He could see the slightest sweat beading on that blonde brow before him, and he licked his lips. He needed to get out of there fast, before he said something stupid.

"Lance?" Arthur went from snarky to angry suspicion faster than Merlin could follow. "Why on earth do you need Lance's number? The job is done, you don't have to see him any longer."

"What's got your expensive knickers in a bunch? I just need his number, it's none of your business what it's for!" Merlin argued, hands on his hips and thoroughly fed up with the tantrums Arthur was so good at throwing. This wasn't at all how he'd imagined this man a week ago.

"Throwing yourself at one of my clients like a giant floozy is, in fact, very much my business Merlin." Arthur growled, rising from leaning against the desk to pull himself to full height, mere inches from Merlin. He even looked noble when he was throwing a fit; it was as impressive as it was frustrating.

"A floozy?!" Merlin gasped, "I am not 'throwing myself' at anyone, you pompous prick! My flat mate wants his phone number because she's fallen head over heels for him, you dolt!"

Arthur looked appropriately taken aback. He stood there dumbly, his eyebrows still creased in anger, but his face desperately trying to keep it's stern superiority.

"Ah," he started, "I see." He slowly walked back around his desk, and sat down on his chair with a huff. Idly shoving the incriminating photos further under his suit jacket, he continued to speak without looking Merlin in the eye.

"Well in that case, I'll e-mail it over. Its technically not exactly legal to hand out his phone number, but Lance needs to have sex that he isn't writing himself. Is that all, Emrys?"

"Yeah," Merlin mumbled, "that'd be great. Thanks."

As he turned to leave, he couldn't help but feel disappointed somehow. It wasn't fair that Arthur cared whether or not he wanted Lance, but wouldn't even try to hash out the confusing situation between them. Even though Arthur wasn't the sweet Adonis he'd always imagined, he was better than that perfect fantasy in a lot of ways- and just as insufferable in many others. But that wouldn't be enough to make leaving him behind any easier.

"Emrys."

Merlin turned around, hoping for that penultimate movie scene of love declaration and the promise of a happy ending. It must have shown in his eyes, as Arthur looked down at the papers on his desk again and said, "I'd like it if you could do a couple of other covers. I looked through some of your work, and you weren't lying when you said you were good. If you could handle a few extra books, for some authors I work closely with, i'd be thankful for it."

Merlin blinked stupidly, and prayed to himself that didn't mean anymore modeling.

"Don't worry," Arthur added, "its just a few illustrations. You don't have to kiss me this time." He looked up to meet blue eyes, "Unless you want to."

A heavy pause hung between them.

"You're my boss," Merlin spoke, his brows furrowing more by the second.

"Very observant of you."

"And you're offering to kiss me?"

Arthur crossed his legs under his desk, and rested his head on his hand, saying, "Technically I said you can kiss me, but yes that's the general idea-"

Before he could even finish, Merlin climbed up onto the desk to grab Arthur's face in his hands and kiss him hard enough to hurt.

Backing away for a breath, Arthur stated, "Just so you know, I'm taking that as a yes."

Merlin rolled his eyes, and Arthur was sure he heard a mumbled "you're lucky you're such a handsome prat," before they were kissing again. All tongue and teeth softly biting on lower lips. Small sighs and moans coming from the both of them as it escalated. Mimicking their position from yesterday, Arthur pulled Merlin from the desk onto his lap- his expensive chair creaking beneath them.

Arthur ground his erection against Merlin's, causing both men to groan into the other's mouth. The blonde started pawing at Merlin's coat, pulling it off and attacking the scarf next. Merlin returned the favor by unbuttoning his shirt with shaking hands.

"How long have you wanted this, Merlin?"

"Oh," Merlin said between kisses, "It's probably better not to say."

"That long? We only spoke for the first time a couple of days ago," Arthur arched his eyebrows, pausing their heated actions

"Well, you're hard not to notice," Merlin pouted, trying to restart the touching he was so eager for.

"I could say the same for you," Arthur said, smiling at the squirming boy and kissing him on the corner of his mouth.

"In that case, I've been wanting to suck your cock for the better half of a year," Merlin blurted.

Arthur paused again. Merlin took a quick moment to see what things in the room he could kill himself with to avoid any further embarrassment.

"Ah," Arthur spoke carefully, "I'd recently noticed you had great lips for cock sucking, but I only first saw you a couple of months ago. You were bent over the copier, and your face turned out to be even lovelier than your arse."

"Thank you?" Merlin was just glad he hadn't been pushed out the office door in light of his outburst.

"You were also making a cup of tea for an exhausted personal assistant, and I'm a bit of a sucker for the 'bumbling idiot with a heart of gold' type," Arthur laughed. Merlin just got redder, puffed up his cheeks a bit, and placed both hands against Arthur's chest.

"Considering we're about to do something I've been wanting for a while now, I'm not going to tell you how charmingly rude that was," and with that Merlin undid the other mans tie, and top shirt buttons.

Arthur chuckled, and rested his forehead against Merlin's to whisper, "I really like you too."

Before Merlin could do more than blush and smile goofily, Arthur started to kiss and suck along his neck, dragging his teeth lightly over collarbones and pale skin. Merlin arched into his touch, his hands wrapping around Arthur's neck to bring him closer and feel the man he'd wanted for so long pressed up against him. All the while Arthur had managed to unbutton Merlin's shirt and toss it to the floor. With a growl, he sank his teeth into the new expanse of skin, and lowered his hands to grasp a tight arse.

Merlin was startled to say the least. He hadn't gotten much further than an awkward mutual handjob from a drunken boy at his college- he didn't know what to do with his fantasy now that it was real. He knows he's making little high noises, and moving his hands like he doesn't know what to do with them, but he hopes Arthur doesn't notice.

Arthur does.

"Has it been that long for you, Merlin?"

"Y-you could say that." Merlin tried to make it sound cocky, but it came out as a pathetic whimper.

With as much surprise as lust Arthur bellowed, "My god, you're a virgin."

Merlin considered his options quickly before replying, "If I say yes, will you still fuck me over this desk? Because if not then I do this sex thing all the time."

Arthur practically cackled at the nervous man in front of him, before unzipping Merlin's pants.

"I'll be careful with you, wouldn't want to break such a pretty twink," Arthur joked, putting emphasis on the word he knew would piss Merlin off.

"If you call me that one more time…ah!"

Pulling Merlin out of his pants and gently stroking him to silence, Arthur cooed, "There we go. I'll make you feel wonderful, you'll be begging for it. Just relax, love."

Merlin didn't know he'd like Arthur talking dirty as much as he did, but the second the broader man started speaking hotly in his ear, he began to melt. Not to mention the feel of calloused hands running up and down his shaft.

"Oh, do you like that, Merlin? Haven't even had a proper cock in you, and with just my hand I've tamed the most annoying man in my office. You're really gagging for it, aren't you?"

Merlin couldn't even speak, he just whimpered and nodded against Arthur's neck, while his hands gripped blonde locks. Arthur's smile only got wider.

"That's a good boy. Just let me take care of you. You must be so tired from dreaming about sucking my dick all these months, would you like to remedy that? I think you would."

"Can I?" Merlin dropped to his knees so fast he knew it would bruise. He didn't care if he seemed too desperate. He'd managed to get the love of his life to nearly fuck him in his fancy office, and he was feeling damn proud about it. Screw pride, being a twenty three year old virgin was embarrassing enough.

Arthur chuckled, and fisted his fingers in Merlin's hair, stroking along the kneeling man's jaw with the other hand.

"Pull me out."

Merlin's so excited he can hardly work the zipper, but he finally releases Arthur's cock from his boxers. It's thick, pink, dark, and already wet at the top. Before Arthur can finish asking him to "Suck," Merlin is already lapping at the tip with a serene expression. It tastes like sweat, and skin, and the bitterness doesn't even bother him like he'd expected. He hears a soft moan above him, and works his tongue even harder to get more noises out of the carefully controlled man.

At Arthur's command, he takes more of it into his mouth. Wrapping his lips tightly around the head, and flicking his tongue at the sensitive underside. Bobbing his head further along the shaft each time, his cheeks hallowing, and his eyes half-lidded with desire. The hand in his hair intensified, and Merlin feels like he's won a long battle- in a way, he supposes, he has. The weight on his tongue is comforting. The dildo he's played with at home (Hidden carefully, because he'd never hear the end of it from Gwen if she knew) wasn't this big or so delightfully real. He hadn't known what he'd been missing all these years, and the hopeless romantic part of him was ecstatic that it was Arthur who'd be the first to teach him.

"That's right," Arthur keened, "have you ever done this before?"

Merlin, reluctant to let go of his prize, shook his head no. Arthur let out a pleased moan- something Merlin hoped was the other man being just as glad to be with him during these firsts. The hand in his hair tugged him up to Arthur's face for a gentle kiss. Merlin worried Arthur wouldn't want to taste himself in his mouth, but the embrace was deep and probing.

Arthur parted from the kiss, looking at the man with soft and careful eyes, "You do realize what this is leading to, Merlin." He reached a hand out to stroke the back of his hand against the thinner boys cheek. "This can stop here, if you want. I'm not going to push you if you're uncomfortable."

Merlin was surprised by such a gesture. Things were going so fast, but it felt too right for him to second guess his decision to follow through with this. Arthur's trepidation only made him more aware that he wanted the man. Not just in lustful ways, but in those waking-up-nestled-against-a-boy-you-want-to-make-breakfast-in-bed-for kind of way.

"You're not pushing me into anything. I've already decided, and since then you've only reassured me that I made the right choice. Now, please, for the love of all that's good, touch me?"

Arthur huffed a laugh, and after giving him another sweet kiss he quickly turned Merlin around and bent him over the desk- papers and pens clattering onto the floor.

"As you wish, Merlin. But I don't think I can stop now. I would only get angry if you let anyone else have you. Do you want to be mine, Merlin?"

"Very much, Sir," he whined, pressing his bum against the hard cock behind him.

"How often have you played with this ass, and thought of me, hm? Imagined me fucking you against this very desk, while you beg for more like a slut?"

Now Arthur was just playing dirty, he'd obviously figured out how this affected Merlin and was using it to his advantage. The cold press of Merlin's cock against the glass desk, and the words growled from the man behind him, had him hungrily thrusting back- starved for touch.

"Answer me, Merlin."

"Quite often," he faintly admitted between light gasps as Arthur ground his cock harder against the cleft of Merlin's ass. "I have a feeling you're going to feel a lot better inside of me than my fingers did."

"I can promise it will. But if you keep talking about fingering yourself I'll want this too soon to prepare you properly, so be a good boy and shut up while your boss prepares you."

Being reminded of their office relationship only made Merlin more desperate for Arthur's touch, and he started undoing his belt as fast as he could. Arthur stroked a hand down his side, and pulled the boys slacks and knickers down with a groan of appreciation. Bending over Merlin, he nipped a mark onto the pale arse he was about to be in, marking this man as his own.

"Suck on your fingers, Merlin," Arthur growled, "i've changed my mind. I want to watch you touch yourself before I take you."

Happy to take any orders from Arthur's low commanding voice, Merlin licked his digits thoroughly, and eagerly pushed two fingers in right away. Wincing, he removed one, at Arthur's behest, and slowly pumped in and out of himself. He moaned deeply, thinking of how he was being watched by the object of his affections, and actually feeling the man stroke himself at the sight.

"Good boy, now take that out so I can let you feel the difference."

Pulling open a drawer on his desk, and fishing out some hand lotion, Arthur began to slick up his fingers. One of them began to languorously trail down the crease of Merlin's bum, to circle lightly around his opening. A whine encouraged him to carefully push all the way in to the knuckle, letting Merlin test the feel of another man's hand inside him.

"Oh!" was all Merlin could say, pushing back against the finger, pulling Arthur further in. "This is…so much better with you."

Arthur was pleased it wasn't just better with anyone else's fingers, but specifically with his. After a minute of stretching him with one, he added another and curled them each time he sunk in all the way. Merlin was close to tears, gripping the edge of the table for his life, and moaning with abandon. Two soon become three, and the stretch was no longer painful, but simply deep loving pleasure.

Arthur was breathing heavily, kissing up and down Merlin's back while he fingered him deeply. Sucking marks all over he murmured, "Percy isn't allowed to touch you anymore, unless she's shaking your hand. Okay? I was so angry yesterday, and I didn't understand why until after. You're mine, Merlin. I've got you now. You won't need anyone else, because I'll take care of you. Will you let me keep you? Can I take you now?"

Merlin turned his head and met his eyes with a pleading look, tongue wetting his lips. He wanted to tell Arthur he loved this, that it was better than anything he had thought up alone in bed, that just touching him felt like being wrapped up in a warm blanket on a cold morning, but all he could do was say, "please."

That was all Arthur needed, and he was pulling a condom from his wallet and removing his fingers from Merlin- who sighed sadly at the loss of contact- to lubricate the both of them again. Arthur calmed him with a kiss, and positioned his member against Merlin's hole. The heat and width of it were equally exciting and scary. Merlin wasn't innocent to the fact that it was supposed to hurt, but he knew that once that was over it was supposed to feel good. He was hoping the hurt would be quick. With a nod, Arthur began to enter him.

Merlin felt the cock ease forward, the head slipping in and burning at the stretch. He squeaked at the pain, but Arthur was there, staying still and letting him slowly adjust to the sting, a hand stroking up and down Merlin's spine all the while. When he felt a small push back, Arthur began to slowly drive into him harder.

By the time he had bottomed out inside Merlin, the boy was panting and pressing his face against the glass desk covered with finger prints and steamed up in some places. Arthur bent over him, pushing in a bit further, and cooed into the shaking boys ear, promising to take care of him, to make this good, and most importantly to spoil him for sex with anyone else. Merlin smiled a bit at the last one, and nods at Arthur to continue. The thrusts in and out are unhurried, meant to let Merlin adjust, and he is thankful for it. He feels a little spark of pleasure each time, but he isn't ready for the pounding he'd asked so desperately for.

"So good, Merlin. Nice and tight for me. You're doing really well. Just breathe through it, and think of how good I'm going to make you feel soon. God, you're so hot inside…"

Pleasing Arthur pleased Merlin, and he was happy he hadn't mucked up his first time already. The drag of a hard cock, especially the one he'd dreamed about for months, was quickly becoming a good throbbing ache. As soon as he told Arthur that, the slow pace became a fast but steady rhythm. The pair of them felt like they've done this before, some lifetime ago, and will repeat it again in lifetimes to come.

Arthurs chest is soft against Merlin's sweaty back, and he can't help but feel cherished with this wonderful man holding and fucking him. It doesn't take long for the friction of Arthur, and the press of his bare cock rubbing back and forth against the table with each thrust, to make Merlin begin quietly begging and pleading for more- just the way Arthur told him he would.

In the daze of hard cock against his prostate, and warm pants against his neck, Merlin can't help but confide in him how much he'd always admired Arthur, and watched him be so kind when he thought no one was looking, and how lovingly he held Merlin during the photoshoot where he had formerly been pretending was with Arthur all along.

Merlin can barely speak after his breathy confession, and just arches harder into Arthur's rough thrusts. With a gasp he asks, "Can I please come, Arthur? I need you."

Arthur, as snobbish as he can be, hated to refuse such a polite request. He reaches a hand around Merlin's waist to pump his cock in time to each stab of his prick into the tight heat of the wrecked man beneath him. Merlin cries out, feeling the throb in his balls rise, until he's brokenly shivering against the now come-covered table, with his fingers trying to gain purchase beneath him. Arthur continues the punishing pace, praising Merlin through his orgasm, and feeling the contractions clutch his cock until he was shuddering just as hard against his lover.

Leaning against each other, Merlin and Arthur slowly catch their breath, while slightly nuzzling. The brunette hoped it felt as good to Arthur as it did to him. He could already feel the ache, but he was happy to have the reminder with him when this was over.

"Told you I'd take care of you, Merlin. You were very good. But I can practically hear you worrying, so stop it," Arthur tiredly added, something he followed by kissing both of Merlin's ears.

Pulling himself out slowly, Arthur grabbed some tissues from his desk and cleaned the both of them off carefully. He zipped himself, and then helps Merlin back into his pants.

Merlin is first to break the new silence.

"Um, was this a…one time thing, or do you never want to see me again?" Merlin asked, fiddling with the buttons of his shirt, and not making eye contact. Hoping those words of affection and possessiveness, that Arthur had spoken, wasn't just a spur of the moment feeling.

"Actually, I was hoping you'd be up for dinner tomorrow night. There's a Chinese restaurant near my house. You could stay the night after," he trailed off, "if you want, that is."

The humor came back to Merlin at once, and his eyes lit up.

"Like a sleepover?" He asked.

"Exactly like a sleepover," Arthur smirked.

"It's a date." Merlin chirped, bringing himself closer to Arthur.

"Good," He responded, slipping on his suit jacket and fixing his tie.

"No really, it is a date right?"

"From one prat to the next, Merlin, you're an idiot and- possibly against my better judgment- I adore you. Now let me drive you to your flat and I'll see you tomorrow."

Merlin smiled coyly, full of warmth and shy mirth. "It's pretty late. You could sleepover tonight if you wanted. My roommate won't mind. She's been rooting for us for months, and she owes us one for Lance's number."

"On one condition," Arthur said with a twisted grin.

"Oh God. Not again…" Merlin groaned.

Arthur pulled him into his arms, kissed Merlin's cheek, and whispered, "I get to be the big spoon."