Boy in the bubble (Modern Merthur AU) (Discontinued)

Chapter Nineteen

"On the floor!" Arthur added uselessly from his place on the bed.

"Why..?" The old man inquired sceptically.

"What do you want Gaius?" Merlin asked sharply but with an overbearing sweetness and wide smile.

The was a moments hesitation from the old man as his eyes flicked between the pair of boys that he suspected moments ago hadn't been so far apart, "... I was just wondering if you wanted to watch a movie tonight?"

Merlin nodded, still trying to catch his breath, "yeah sure, we'll be down in a moment."

Once the aged mentor had left the room the pair broke into fits of giggles and sighs of relief, never had they been so close to getting caught, not even during a make out sessions in the bathrooms at school.

~~~

A few stolen, chaste kisses later Merlin arrived downstairs to sit with Gaius.  Flopping onto the leathery couch.

"Is Arthur joining us?" The old mentor asked as Merlin arrived alone.

"Yeah... yeah he is. He's... urrrrm... he said that, errr, he had some work to do but he'd been down soon and we should start without him..." The ward answered and Gaius smiled his acceptance, turning to Netflix and flicking through before the man and teen decided on 'The King'.

When Arthur arrived downstairs his hair was wild and his cheeks where flushed and Merlin had to resist the urge to go over to him and kiss him, fix his hair, snuggle up to him and tell him he loves him but he stayed rooted to his spot next to his near enough father and tried to concentrate on the movie but his mind wandered to how much damage he could do to Arthur by merely kissing him mercilessly and he had to fight a smile off his face.

The movie finished and Merlin smiled contently, "that was good." He commented, "I bloody love Timothée Chalamet."

Arthur's eyes found Merlin's in a playful glare.

"What? He's gorgeous!" He defended himself, "I loooveee boys with brown hair." He added and the smile fell from Arthur's face for the briefest of moments before Merlin scrunched his nose, shook his head and blew a kiss letting Arthur know he was joking, his chin leaning on his forearm that he had rested on the back of the couch, staring lovingly at Arthur who sat indirectly behind them. Gaius was up and about the living room, turning off the lights and the tv and then ushering the boys to their individual rooms.

~~~
That night Merlin lay awake until he heard the snores coming from Gaius' room at which point he snuck across the hall, dodging places he knew would creak if he stepped on them, and into Arthur's room, crawling into his bed and laying his head on Arthur's chest. Instantaneously, Arthur's arm was thrown over Merlin's waist and a soft kiss was being planted into Merlin's hair.

"You okay?" Arthur whispered, voice cloudy with sleep.

"Couldn't sleep." Merlin responded in kind.

And no more was said, the pair fell asleep in each others arms and never had they ever slept so well.

~~~
That day at school went virtually like any other, Merlin met Freya at the gates and Arthur left swiftly but with a longing look left with Merlin, Freya and Merlin separated for form and met up again at break but today was Thursday so at lunch Freya had to go to singing club which left Merlin alone, wandering the halls of the school. Phones were banned and Merlin didn't want to go the library, he couldn't sing and he certainly couldn't hang around with Arthur.
He was in the bottom corridor watching as his rose and fell to a beat as he walked, when someone barged into his shoulder.
"Sorry..." he murmured, continuing forward but fingers brushed against his and he found himself turning around, locking eyes with Arthur who nodded his head suggestively in the direction of the ground floor toilets.

Merlin nodded and gestures for him to go in first and that he'd follow shortly after.

He waited about a minute, doing a lap of the yard before heading in with a surge of need and want. Arthur was waiting in their cubicle, the bathrooms were barren anyway, it was rare anyone used these loos.

As soon as Merlin was in, Arthur's lips were on his and trailing down his neck and Merlin was fighting back a moan as Arthur's teeth grazed his collar bone teasingly.

"I missed you in biology..." Arthur whispered, making his way back to Merlin's lips.

"Mmm." Merlin hummed, trying to force words out of his mouth, "I had - err - I had counselling." He stuttered, sloppily fighting over both of Arthur's lips.

"Yeah. Cursey said."

"You partnered with Freya?" He asked.

"Yeah. She's the closest to you I could get." Arthur chuckled and Merlin blushed with a loving smile.

"Where's your posse?" Merlin asked, adoring smile not quite gone .

"Football. Told them I need the bathroom."

"Awww. I'm your bathroom break. How romantic." Merlin teased.

"You're my everything break." Arthur blushed.

"You make me nauseous." Merlin giggled, cute and innocent and like he had time and time before that.

"You love me for it though." Arthur's smiles.

"I- I think I do... love you..." Merlin stuttered and Arthur's face and movements froze, his whole body stiffening beneath Merlin's fingers.

Just at that moment the main door swung open and a kid could be heard going into the cubicle next to them, and like that Arthur was gone in a flash.

Merlin stood wide eyed, his breathing stunted and his eyes welling with tears. Shit. He still had his back pressed against the toilet cubicle where Arthur had kissed him and tears fell down his cheeks onto his school blazer. He felt sick to his stomach. He thought it was the right time. How could have been so stupid?

AN:

So I promised this chapter last night and I started writing at about 12:30 and then fell asleep at like 1:30 while writing it so sorry about that but here it is.
I was originally going to carry it on but I think I'm going to squeeze another chapter out of it...

Anyway hope you enjoyed!!

Byyyyeeeeeee...