The sky shook with anger and sadness as the rain and thunder came down. "Well, we're staying in today." Merlin deadpans. The wind howls as Astrina sighed. "Was the wind that just did that?" Arthur asks as the power goes out. Astrina calls Reliania in the room and she purrs at Astrina. Astrina gets on her phone and starts reading something and giggles at her phone. Arthur gives her a look, but Merlin just shakes his head and told Arthur to let it be. Arthur, not listening, perches over Astrina and begins to read. "What. Are. You. Reading." Arthur looks at her with a confused face. "Oh, well I decided to read some merthur. Merlin, can you explain it to Arthur? I don't feel like it." Astrina asks, Arthur looks back at Merlin who is beet red and looking at his shoes. "It's, um, how to but this, merthur is a ship name. The names are yours and mine. For some reason people think we're a couple." Merlin says sheepishly. Arthur gives him a questioning look, then it hits him. "Why would people think these things? Astrina, will you answer that question?" Arthur demands of her, folding his arms across his chest. "Easy, the minds of today people are more perverted and more tolerant than it was so long ago. Guys can actually get married, and no one would say a thing. Now, some of the people may hate the gays, but most don't care if you're gay, bi, lesbian, no one really judges." Astrina answers with a smile. "When did this happen?" Arthur asks curious. "Oh, a few years back." Merlin states before Astrina says anything. Wide eyed, Arthur looks at them, "Merlin, did you ever marry?"
"Well, I met a person once, but nope. Never married." Merlin answers. "You wish you did marry that 'person' though. And don't you lie Merlin." Astrina says waving a finger at Merlin, who just blushes really bad. "Shut up Astrina, or I'll make sure that you will never speak again." Merlin whines. "Who was it? Sorry, you don't have to tell me. That's your personal life." Arthur says as lighting strikes the ground. "Oh, well the person that I met was nice, some times could have been stubborn, like you almost." Merlin says trending lightly on the subject. "It was a guy, if that was your next question. Don't look at me like that, you shouldn't be ashamed. You even went on the marches and petitions to get it passed." Astrina says proudly. "I'm going to kill you myself." Merlin growls. "Oh, you love me and you know it." Astrina points out. "You're gay?" Was all that Arthur says and they look at his face and shock mirrored the shame Merlin felt. But there was something else, Merlin didn't catch it but Astrina did. Maybe it was hope?
