Salt and Pepper

Salt and Pepper

Arthur sat staring at the salt and pepper pots in the centre of the table. Lost in his own thoughts, he slid them towards him.
"Merlin's late. Again." He mumbled resignedly to himself, used to the fact that Merlin was never prompt, it now ceased to irritate him. His thoughts began to drift onto Merlin and his perculiar (yet endearing) little ways. Merlin standing up to him that first day. Merlin then saving his life. Merlin having a strange tendency to run sideways all the time. Without truly being aware of what he was doing, Arthur began pushing the salt and pepper pots around, the pepper doubling as Merlin, the salt as himself. He started re-enacting hunting trips, feasts, discussions, all the things Merlin, just by being there, had made worthwhile. All the times Merlin had been right there and Arthur had just wanted to kiss him, to kiss him senseless. But Arthur was a prince. He couldn't act on his instincts like that. But in his head, he could go wild. Arthur's hands started to move the pots frantically across the table.

Unbeknownst to Arthur, Merlin had chosen that moment to finally make his entrance. He watched silently from behind Arthur for a few seconds before clearing his throat.
"Ummm.... Arthur.... What are you doing....?"
Arthur jumped, dropped the salt and pepper pots, spilled them onto the table, and went totally red within the space of two seconds.
"Arthur..?" Arthur stayed stock still, eyes wide, not daring to turn round and face a baffled Merlin. Merlin walked around to the far end of the table, staring at Arthur quizzically. Arthur snapped out of his stupor almost immediately.
"Just thinking through some military tactics, Merlin... you surprised me, that's all." Arthur kept his gaze firmly fixed on the table, whilst righting the salt and pepper pots and started to sweep up what had been spilt. But Merlin was too quick, their hands clashing as Merlin swept the rest over the table and into his cupped hand. Arthur snatched his hands away as if he had been burnt, his face flushing an even deeper red, Arthur couldn't bear to meet Merlin's eyes.
"Arthur seriously, is there something wrong?" Merlin dropped the salt and pepper onto the floor, reaching out his hand for Arthur's shoulder. Arthur shrunk back from the touch just as Gwen walked in.

"...I did knock, but i got no reply so- Oh! I'm sorry! You're busy-! I hope I'm not interrupting anything-! Not that I thought there was anything that shouldn't be interrupted-!  Not that if there was it shouldn't be happening-! Not that I thought it shouldn't be happening-! Oh no! - Not that I think you two are like that-! Not that I think you're close-! Not that you shouldn't be close-! Not that I thought-! I hoped- Not that i'm saying-!" Gwen fiddled with her hands, looked down, looked up, put a strand of her hair behind her ear, looked down, giggled nevously, fiddled with her hands, stammered a few more "Not that- I thought-! - Not that I -!"'s, shot a last sheepish look at Arthur and Merlin, then dashed from the room.
Now it was Merlin who was turning red. Before either of them could say anything, Gaius had burst in the door.
"Doesn't ANYONE knock anymore?!!" Arthur exclaimed.
"Sorry Sire. I was just delivering a potion to help you sleep..." Gaius placed the small vial he was carrying onto the corner of the table and made a hurried exit backwards.

Arthur shot Merlin a look and they both burst out laughing. Standing there in fits of laughter, Arthur placed his palms on the table to steady himself, bent over with raucous laughs. Merlin was no better at supressing his mirth, one hand on the table, the other on Arthur's back, collapsing into a fit of hysteria.
They laughed themselves hoarse 'til, instead of them bursting into fits of giggles, they burst into fits of coughing. Every time they could've calmed down, all it took was one glance for them to be reduced to shaking wrecks again.
Once they had finally composed themselves they straightened up and wiped their tears from their eyes. They grinned at each other, all the tension from before had disapparated.
"So Arthur, what were you really doing?"
Arthur instinctively started to tense up again, but regained control of himself, swallowing. It was now or never as Arthur locked his eyes to Merlin's.

"I was thinking......what would happen if i were...... to do this -" Merlin was acutely aware of Arthur standing millimetres from him, felt his hot breath on his face. Arthur took Merlin's hands in his, staring deep into Merlin's bright blue eyes. On 'this', Arthur took a deep breath, closed his eyes and pressed his lips tenderly against Merlin's. Arthur pulled back, watching for a reaction, unsure of himself for once, he had never felt as vulnerable as he did now. Merlin's eyes were closed, his breathing unsteady. As Merlin's eyes snapped open, Arthur felt a flash of fear at the intensity of his gaze, before recognising the lust behind it. Kissing Arthur fiercely, Merlin brought their arms up to shoulder height, using them to back Arthur against the stone wall. Merlin untangled his slender fingers from Arthur's, pressing his sweaty palms against the cool stone either side of Arthur's head, leaning over the Prince, teeth bruising lips, tongues intertwined. Arthur's hands were just brushing at the fastening of Merlin's shirt when there was a sharp knock on the door.

The Prince and his manservant burst apart, faces flushed, hair darkened with sweat, both panting slightly to get their breath back.
"Don't come in! Who is it?" Arthur ordered. Completely ignoring Arthur's order and not even bothering to answer, Morgana swept in.
"Morgana. What have I told you about entering without permission... Merlin and I have now had to postpone our... unarmed combat training.... Haven't we, Merlin?"
"Huh?" Arthur kicks Merlin (discreetly of course). "Oh. Yes...!"
Morgana smiles to herself. She (and the rest of the court at Camelot) had seen the looks they gave each other, they reminded her of the dream she had, Arthur and Merlin, ruling side by side over Camelot.
"Arthur. I do believe you are late for a meeting with the King..." Smiling sweetly at them both, Morgana glided out of the room, the always graceful figure of radiant beauty. However, Merlin and Arthur only had eyes for each other. They stood there, hands on each other's hips, simply appreciating their newfound intimacy, until Merlin broke the silence.
"So Arthur, are you going to this meeting or..." Merlin raised one eyebrow questioningly. Arthur copied his expression then laughed.
"I wish. But my father would not be happy with me missing it. He'd probably throw us in jail.... though, that might not be such a bad idea...." Now it was Arthur's turn to raise an eyebrow at Merlin.
"Hah. But no. Arthur, you kinda have to go..."
"As long as when I get back, we can continue from where we left off in our...'unarmed combat training'...but while I'm gone, I expect you to have polished all my armour. I can't have you slacking off!" Merlin stared at the young Prince, disbelieving. Arthur merely grinned at him, kissed him lightly on the lips, winked then hurried out of his chambers.

Merlin was left deliberating whether or not Arthur really did want him to polish his armour...