The dice clattered onto the table and with the flicker of gold in Merlin's eyes they miraculously landed on snake eyes, again. The knights chattered excitedly and one patted the boy hard on his back.
"Impossible. You've got to be cheating,"
Arthur scoffed out, locking eyes with the warlock.
"Or maybe-"
Merlin said, picking up the pair of dice,
"I'm betta' than you~"
He sloppily handed the dice to the knight to his left before he leaned across the table and smirked at the prince,
"And you- can't handle it"
The brunettes' hand rested on the table with the weight of his body leaned slightly on it. He looked as though he were about to topple over.
"Better? Really?"
Arthur tilted his head and awaited a response. The brown haired boy tightened his jaw,
"Merlin, maybe it's time we head back,"
The knights exclaimed in disapproval but the servant did not move. He groaned, mumbling something under his breath.
"What was that?"
"I sai-d,"
With the last consonant escaping his mouth, he stood up straight and adjusted his shoulders,
"Tell me that I'm better than you,"
He paused before continuing,
"Tell me you can't stand to see me win because you know that I'm better"
The blonde prince furrowed his brows and crossed his arms, glancing at the knights,
"Go,"
With that one word the knights were gone, scurrying to grab their items and drinks, before moving to their respective places within the bar system. Leon stood a while longer, speaking with Arthur with his eyes before nodding and turning away as well.
"Merlin, what are you getting riled up for? It's just a game,"
"No. It's not. Tell me."
The prince stepped in,
"Alright, fine. You did better than me,"
He looked merlin up and down before continuing,
"Is that all? Can we go? We shouldn't have come here in the first pl-"
"Unbelievable"
The drunken boy slurred,
"Why did you invite me out, Arthur?"
He wasn't expecting this from Merlin, the direct eye contact, the harshness of his tone. The way he spoke down at him instead of to him. His eyes were glossy. He had never been able to see them like this, under the dim bar lights.
He was scared of him. Arthur was afraid of Merlin. Not of what he would do, but instead of what he would say.
"I just wanted to-", The blonde boy paused, he didn't know what to say. He could say, "I know you're hiding something and I want to know what", or "I just wanted to be with you". Neither of these options seemed reasonable.
He searched Merlin's eyes, trying desperately to find the words.
"You know, sometimes you don't make any sense, Arthur".
YOU ARE READING
Under The Influence
FanfictionHe didn't quite get it. Merlin didn't quite understand why Arthur would invite him for a drink with him and his friends, the knights. It's not that he was complaining, but he hadn't done it before so why now? Arthur on the other hand, knew exactly w...
