Hold me

Coffee?

"Merlin, I'm up. Sort me some waffles?"
"Of course sir."
As usual, despite the casual manner with which Arthur spoke to Merlin, he didn't attempt to make eye contact, or smile. Merlin arranged Arthur's clothes on the end of his bed, and nodded as he backed out of the room. Arthur sat down, clicking at something on his phone.

Merlin had gradually come to fall in love with his master, despite the rudeness, insults, incessant demands. But he knew for a fact that Arthur didn't return these feelings. He'd made the decision to set his sights a little lower than the multi-millionaire businessman sat in the next room. Mixing the batter, he thought about the man he'd seen the other day working at the coffee shop. He desperately wanted to see him again, but couldn't for the life of him remember his name.

Carrying the tray through to the breakfast room, Merlin noticed that Arthur wasn't in there. Of course he wasn't. Sunday mornings were lazy mornings, and that meant Arthur would be in the den. As Merlin ducked through the doorway, he moved to place the tray down on the table. Owing to Merlin's chaotic week, if was covered in mugs and plates. "Oh yeah Merlin, can you move them?"
"Of course sir." Arthur reached out to take the tray, and Merlin gathered up as many of the plates as he could.
"Coffee?" Merlin tensed as he realized he had, in fact, forgotten Arthur's morning coffee.
"Sorry sir, I'll just grab it."
"Acctually, do we have any of that, like Christmas hot chocolate left?"
"Yep, I think we have some."
"Great." Arthur snuggled back into the sofa, putting his feet up on the table, powering up his phone.

"Merlin, can you buy Christmas decorations today?"
"Umm, sure. Anything specific?" Merlin carefully put the cup down on the table, careful not to touch Arthur's blanket.
"Yeah, like red and gold kind of thing. Traditional."
"Sounds good. Should I get a tree?"
"Nah, don't worry. We'll go out tomorrow to get one." Merlin nodded again, and left the room.
"Take my card!"
"Where is it sir?"
"My bedroom I guess?"

Merlin climbed the stairs, opening the door to Arthur's room. He opened the curtains, throwing pale winter light across the room. His wallet was on the bedside table. Late night online shopping was a habit of Arthur's. Not necessarily one of his worse ones. Merlin took out the right card, and slid it into his own wallet. It wasn't quite as nice as Arthur's. He straightened out the bed covers before heading up to his own room. He unplugged his phone from the wall.

Slipping into his leather jacket, the burning image of coffee shop boy in his head, he went down the stairs, back into the den. "Merlin can you grab me a DVD?"
"Which one sir?"
"I don't know, something Christmassy." Merlin walked across the room to the extensive collection of films.
"Grinch?" Arthur grinned.
"I'm always a slut for the grinch."
Merlin giggled, setting up the film for Arthur to watch. "Be back before 12 Merlin."
"Yes sir."