Merlin would like to think he hated Arthur, but the truth was he didn't. In fact, it was the exact opposite. He couldn't help the insatiable desire he felt towards the blond prat, it was just there. Of course, he just so happened to be best friends with the man, as if things weren't already complicated.
So, obviously, moving in with Arthur is a very very bad idea. Just the thought of sleeping in the room next to him got Merlin's blood pumping faster.
"But you've slept on my couch before."
"We use to share beds back in primary school."
"Merlin, we're best friends, you have to say yes."
Arthur nagged and nagged and nagged until finally, Merling gave in.
"Fine, fine, fine! You ignorant clotpole, I'll move in with you."
And he did. It was hectic the next week with Merlin's boxes of stuff lying around everywhere and Arthur constantly sifting through them.
"Who even owns action figures anymore, honestly Merlin."
"Don't touch that mug, Arth- Arthur! You broke my favorite mug!"
"Sorry."
But a few days after all of the chaos, things were normal. Natural, even.
Arthur woke up before Merlin did because he was -and will most likely forever be- the most annoying morning person to ever walk the face of the earth and because, well, Merlin couldn't even think in the morning. And of course the only thing that could wake Merlin in the morning was food, and because Arthur is a surprisingly great cook, at least for breakfast. Merlin could cook, but he definitely couldn't at 9am.
Arthur made breakfast and Merlin made everything else, and Arthur made wonderful coffee that warmed Merlin's chest as he drank it.
Well, he'd like to think it was the coffee. He'd also like to think he wasn't in love with his best friend.
Priorities.
Besides the fact that Merlin was practically in love with Arthur, things were going great. You know, until they weren't.
Merlin couldn't handle another sleepless, adrenaline-filled night where he tossed and turned in his bed wondering what Arthur was doing in the room next to him. He took matters into his own hands and decided to spend a night away instead.
"What?"
Arthur stared at Merlin in the most confusing way, as if he couldn't believe he was leaving the flat.
"I'm going to Lance's for a night, he just got this awesome new film that I've been dying to see so I thought I'd just crash there for the night. Ya know, so I don't wake you in the middle of the night."
Merlin had his overnight bag slung over his shoulder and a box of popcorn under his arm. The look that Arthur was throwing not only Merlin, but his bag was strange all in itself that Merlin didn't even want to think of it.
"I'll be back around two-ish, goodnight!" Merlin called over his shoulder and shut the door in a hurry to be away from the tension filled room. The only problem was that with every step he took away from Arthur, the lower his stomach dropped.
*****
"That was a great film," Lance stated as he stared at the brunet on his couch.
Merlin hadn't so much as blinked as he watched the screen blankly, his mind still at the flat with his prat of a roommate.
