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

Chapter Twelve

"Arthur..?" he stretched, continuing to rub his eye with a cute confused look on his face, his t-shirt riding up as he pulled his arms back, showing off his lower stomach and Arthur had to physically force himself to pull his eyes away and look back at Merlin's face.

"Yeah... urm, hey?" The blonde stammered.

"What are you doing here? It's..." he started but realized he didn't know.

"seven am..." Arthur finished for him.

"sev.. SEVEN? What are you doing here at seven? School doesn't even start until 8:40. And even then, shouldn't you be at school, not at my house? And not talking to me as usual?" he smiled cheekily.

"Yeah, I know sorry, I just... wanted to talk?" he said, realizing his stupidity and trying desperately to hold back a blush.

"I don't know why I'm doing this but you look sad so yeah welcome to my humble abode." He said, opening his door wider and appointing Arthur into his hall with a skinny, outstretched, pale arm.

"Thanks." Arthur chuckled, stepping inside and dropping his bag down next to the small table in the hall.

Merlin raised his eyebrow in surprised acknowledgement of the manners and told Arthur to wait in the living room while he made tea.

"Nice pants." Arthur smiles from the other room as Merlin navigates himself around the kitchen in black Pyjama bottoms that had lobsters scattered over as the design and the words 'pinch me... I'm dreaming' written in various places. Merlin calls through with a 'why thank you!' But otherwise continues to make the tea in silence.

"So what's brings you here? To my house. At SEVEn in the morning?" Merlin asked, entering the living room and handing Arthur a mug that read 'yet, despite the look on my face, you're still talking.'

"Fitting..." Arthur failed to hide a laugh, taking a sip out of his mug.

"Well, I thought so." Merlin smiled.

"Are you sure we have time for tea? We have school after all." Arthur asked, breaking a momentary silence.

"1. Since when did you care about being late for school, 2.yeah I don't usually wake up till 8 and I don't leave till 20 past. I don't take long to get ready so I can afford to lay in."

"Is that why you always look like shit?" Arthur laughed. Lie. Merlin never looked like shit.

"You can be a right clotpole sometimes, you know that Pendragon?" Merlin giggled. Such a beautiful sound.

"Some people call it charm." He retorted, taking another sip of tea and sliding further into the couch.

Merlin laughed and took sip out of his own mug. Staring at Arthur over the rim and smiling small, humming breathily before asking Arthur again why he was here.

"Just didn't want to be at home I guess..." he stated sadly, a tad awkwardly, seemingly trying desperately to bury himself behind his cup.

"Well, I'm not going to make you tell me what's going on at home unless you want to," Arthur almost breathed a sigh of relief, "but, and don't take this the wrong way, why come here? To my house? Why not go to one of your friends houses?"

"I...kinda thought... we were friends?" Arthur cringed.

Merlin looked shocked, eyes wide and mouth slacked, "you did..?" He said, face scrunching but when Arthur's face fell glumly Merlin panicked, "NO! I mean we can be... if you want? I just, well you have literally bullied me since I arrived and like the other week you battered me. That meant friendship to you?"