dancing partners

1,2,3;1,2,3

Gwaine had been wandering around the castle almost all day, looking for Merlin. The man was really hard to find when he wanted to. Always running errands for the king and the physician. Never a dull moment.

"Ah! Merlin. There you are." He eventually found him hiding in Gaius' chambers, nose deep in a dusty book.

Merlin closed the book and made a discontented sound that made Gwaine look at him confused. "Is Arthur looking for me?"

"None of the sort." Gwaine smiled and waved him off. "I have something to propose to you." He said, his smile shifted into something more mischievous. Merlin gave him a look that made him look almost similar to Gaius.

"What have you done?" The tone intended to scold the knight, but Merlin wasn't able to hide the smile on his face. Merlin was always down to some mischief with him. He just couldn't show it right away. It was all part of their act.

"I'm innocent, my friend...for now," Gwaine put his hands up and came close to Merlin to get a peek at what the book he still held in his hands was about while giving him his most charming smile. "I just have a proposition for you."

"What is it?" Merlin raised his head curiously.

Gwaine got even closer to the raven haired boy. "I am going to teach you how to dance." It wasn't a request, he was going to do it. To Merlin it almost came off more as a threat.

"No." Was Merlin's firm answer as he went back to his reading as if the interaction between the two had never occurred.

Gwaine joined his hands in a half prayer. "Oh please, I need a dance partner."

"I am sure many ladies would be delighted to dance with you." He once again tore his eyes from the pages and got up to put the book under his bed.

But I want to dance with you lingered on Gwaine's lips. Instead he said this: "You always tell me you don't know how to dance when people ask you - which i know full well to be a good excuse you sly little thing" He said in a condescending tone and Merlin opened his mouth to contestareAFK "but you're my best friend and i'm sure it'll be funnier to dance with you."

"Funny in the way that I will be made a laughing stock with how badly I dance?"

"I would never make a laughing stock of you." Gwaine's voice was tender as he said this. Like he meant it profoundly "Especially because then I'd have to get rid of all those people who laugh at you and that wouldn't be very honourable of me. Now that I'm a knight I have a reputation to uphold."

"As if you cared about this sort of things." Merlin smiled at him. "Why are you proposing this to me anyway?"

"I have already told you," He huffed. "I'm just tired of you saying that you don't know how to dance."

Merlin seemed to be considering this.

"I can teach you. Here. This instant." Gwaine got close to Merlin and offered his hands. "Gaius is not even here right now."

They both shared a quick glance between the two of them.

Merlin sighed. "Only until Gaius gets back." He finally conceded and placed his hands in Gwaine's.

He was so happy he could jump, but simply smiled and held Merlin's hands tight when the raven haired man gave in. He guided one up around his neck and the other he held it in his still. Gwaine's now free hand found its way on Merlin's hip.

Merlin huffed. "Why am I the girl?"

Gwaine shrugged, grinning. "Why not?"

Then Merlin shook his head and resigned. "Whatever you say. There's no music though."

"We don't really need it. I'm still teaching you so we are going to be slow."

"Fine." Sighed Merlin. "I've officially just ran out of good excuses."

Gwaine started laughing. "Right, and now you start trying to distract me."

"Maybe." Teased Merlin, smiling.

Eventually they started moving rhythmically as Gwaine was humming the first song that came to mind. Merlin's eyes were directed downward, on their moving feet. He was a little clumsy and seemed unsure in his steps but it was manageable.

"You have to look at your partner while you dance."

Merlin did and Gwaine was not able to look anywhere else other than into the ocean. He even noticed some speck of gold. He always thought it was as if the sun left some of its rays into Merlin's eyes like a blessing. He was the most spectacular man in Gwaine's eyes.

"And now?" Asked Merlin. They both got so caught up into each other that they eventually slowed down to a stop.

"And now the magic begins." Gwaine said jokingly.

"I didn't know you were a sorcerer. Do I have to report you?" Merlin played along.

"Oh no please don't" he chuckled. "What would you do without me, then?"

"I think I will manage perfectly fine."

They were the only two people in the room, but they were whispering, their faces so close they could feel each other's breaths as they shared a secretive smile.

It might have been quite selfish of him, but Gwaine loved being the only one - along with Lancelot - who knew his secret. It made him feel special and it made it easier for the knight to protect him if needed. Merlin never let him, but Gwaine would have done anything for him, he promised.Maybe not openly and maybe not to Merlin directly, but he swore.

They went back to dancing and as they were turning and twirling, Merlin started to interlace his fingers through Gwaine's hair with the hand that was around his neck. Gwaine was so very close to losing all of his concentration.

"Merlin, you're not supposed to play with your partner's hair when you dance. I would very much like it if you didn't step on my toes because of this."

"Quite sensible, are you?" Merlin teased. Gwaine swallowed the lump in his throat. Part of him was starting to regret all of this, and part of him was suggesting that he stopped before doing anything stupid – more than usual, that is – the other part of him was enjoying all of this a little bit too much.

It was made obvious which one was the winning side when Gwaine tightened his grip on Merlin's waist and held him even closer.

"You're not as bad as you say you are Merlin." Whispers Gwaine.

"I do have many talents actually, but you lots never listen."

"I'll have to admit, modestly isn't really your thing sometimes."

Gwaine's eyes suddenly fell on Merlin's lips, but he quickly brought them back up just to catch Merlin's eyes doing the same. They stare into each other's eyes for an infinite and immeasurable amount of time until they both had to snap out of it.

"Merlin!" It wasn't difficult to know who the scream came from. Merlin swiftly slipped away from Gwaine's arms as the king unceremoniously busted the door open. "Here you are! Always wasting your time instead of doing your chores!"

"What is it?" Asked Merlin, nonplussed by all of that. Arthur had a weird look as his eyes wandered from Merlin to Gwaine. The king and his knight shared a dense look.

"I..need you.." He moved his eyes back to an oblivious Merlin. "I need to put on my armour. Come quick!"

"Sorry Gwaine," said Merlin with an apologetic smile. "duty calls." and followed Arthur out of the door as the sound of the two of them bickering faded away.

Gwaine just stood there alone in the empty room, thinking of how stupid he had been.

the ending myght be a little bit meh but i did it on purpose, cuz i'm writing the second part right now anyways i hope you liked it leave a comment to let me know!