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

Chapter Twenty Four

Before he even opened his eyes a smile was gracing his lips. The hair on Merlin's head was tickling at the sensitive skin of his chin as the boy lay spread across Arthur's chest. Early light was blinking through the thin curtain but already the blond could hear pots and pans being put away or taken out below him in the kitchen - meaning Gaius was already awake. The boy didn't know what had awoken him so early - even before Merlin, who would always rise before him - maybe it was the nagging doubt and fear clawing at the lining of his stomach, maybe it was the thought - that he supposed linked to the same fear - that this was possibly one of the last mornings he would spend with Merlin in his arms. Because, doubtlessly, Gwen would expect Arthur to move, to move to her home that was built so prestigiously, built into a home rather than a house, but Arthur knew he had found his home here and that the house he would move to, in order to not abandon his child, would not be a home to him. He didn't know when Guinevere was going to ask, or if, but in case she was; every moment spent with Merlin was now precious, and maybe that was why he had woken up so early.

It was a while before the even breaths of Merlin's chest against his began to speed up as Merlin woke up himself. Arthur had lay still, creating a sanctuary in the moment, memorising every detail, not only of Merlin, or the feeling he brought to Arthur, but of every corner of the room. Soon, he expected to be trapped within the four pink walls of Gwen's bedroom, for a mistake he had committed once and would have to spend the rest of his life paying the consequences for. Merlin knew, Merlin doubtlessly knew; knew from that night he came home, dishevelled and guiltily pleasured, what act he and Gwen had committed to. Gwen was not his first, and he suspected he wasn't Gwen's, but it was their first and only time together - in the hold of each other's arms, and still it had not meant anything special to Arthur; that day was marked as important because something else - something of greater importance in Arthur's opinion - had been sealed that day, or wordlessly sealed. He and Merlin had admitted to feeling something for one another that was so much more than sex would ever be. Something he had not yet said to Gwen - because he knew it was such a faithless lie - and now he may have to spend the rest of his life pretending to be in that very thing - love.

"Good morning." He whispers, pressing a loving kiss to the skin on Merlin's forehead.

A contented hum slips from Merlin's lips, and like he had the night before, the younger boy bathed in Arthur's body heat - pressing himself impossibly closer to the warm skin.

"Hi." He half groans, stretching his elongated limbs in a effortless tug of his arms behind his head.

"Hungry?" Arthur asks, brushing the hair from Merlin's fringe back to meet the rest of the black mop as Merlin's head moves in a disgruntled nod, "Okay." He chuckles, slipping out from beneath Merlin.

~~~

It was as though the slighter boy knew something was coming - maybe he sensed it from Arthur- because that day he was as glued to the blond as the blond was to him. Hanging himself across his broad shoulders as they walked through the small home, whispering sweet nothings into his ear, his light breath dancing across Arthur's skin, his lips tickling at Arthur's cheek, small kisses lathering his neck and torso as they watched another episode of their latest show. The day was its own sanctuary, Arthur needent search for anything to remember it and should he find himself having to leave this sanctuary within the next few days or weeks or months he was sure he would often find himself thinking back and being thankful for this day that they had together. 

He wishes he could take Merlin out, for something as simple as ice cream but he couldn't bring himself to be so intimate outside of their home and today - this weekend - was about Merlin, about being as close and intimate as possible incase he was ripped away from him at any given moment.