UNFLAPPABLE

Pairing: Arthur/Merlin

Rating: K+

Summary: Merlin helps Arthur dress.

Spoilers: Nothing specific. Probably set after episode two.

Disclaimer: Show, characters, concept etc are not mine and never will be. All for fun and not for profit.

Beta: The fabulous Kate.

Notes: I started playing around with an idea like this after the second episode but I never got around to writing it. Then, yesterday, I was suddenly inspired.

It was generally accepted by those that lived within Camelot’s walls that Arthur was unflappable. This was a belief that the prince liked to perpetuate as much as he possibly could. He had battled in tourneys, negotiated with foreign kings, and wooed so many pretty girls that his father had been forced to remonstrate with him over his behaviour on more than one occasion. He had, in short, faced most of the situations that a young prince might be expected to deal with. What was more, he had done it coolly and confidently.

As Merlin’s hands drifted lower, however, skimming over the front of his shirt to tug at the bottom of it, Arthur felt anything but composed.

In fact, he felt the rather sudden desire to hop backwards before another need he was feeling became too obvious.

“That’s enough,” he ordered, turning away.

“But…”

“Enough!”

“Well, if you want to go out looking like that I suppose I can’t stop you. Who knows - maybe you’ll start a new trend or something.”

Arthur frowned and glanced down. He then promptly jumped as he felt Merlin’s fingers move over his shoulders, stroking downwards. His touch was gentle yet firm; it left the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. If there was one thing that Arthur had already managed to discover about his new servant, it was that Merlin had yet to learn when enough was enough. Sometimes Arthur even felt almost certain that Merlin was doing it on purpose just to see what his reaction would be.

Sometimes he was certain that was precisely why he was doing it.

It was as he felt Merlin take a strong hold on his shoulders that he decided that he needed to act. Turning abruptly, he opened his mouth to reprimand his servant only to stop sharply.

Merlin was standing closer than he had expected – much closer. Indeed, considering their relative positions, Arthur was practically standing in the other man’s arms. Lowering his eyes, he coughed awkwardly, becoming uncomfortably aware that warmth was seeping over his features. His feet had apparently been momentarily disconnected from his mind - there was no other explanation for why he had not stepped away already.

“Cosy,” Merlin observed lightly, never once taking his eyes off Arthur’s face. He could feel them cataloguing the each line, curve, and wretched variation in colour.

Arthur breathed deeply.

He was unflappable.

He was.

Merlin’s lips twitched, as if he was attempting to suppress a grin. Arthur suddenly realised that he had been neglecting the urge to breathe.

Why did he never feel like this around anyone else?

And, by ‘anyone else’, he meant girls.

A knock at the door startled them apart. Arthur coughed and then looked over at the intruder as they entered. Morgana looked radiant but the sight of her made his heart sink.

“You’re not ready?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. There was a clear challenge in her words, much as there always was.

Arthur rolled his eyes, accidentally catching sight of Merlin’s amused expression as he did so.

Merlin, he thought, was the one who was truly unflappable.

END