Chapter Text
Merlin was sitting peacefully minding his business in the library when Arthur jumped scared him from behind. His leg jerked up and hit the table hard, creating a loud thud that echoed in the silent library. Geoffrey, the old librarian, aimed a sharp hush towards his direction and Merlin had to send him an apologetic gesture.
“What are you up to? Merl, my love.” Arthur wrapped his arms around Merlin’s neck from behind and looked at him like a love-struck teenager.
Merlin’s mind went blank. With his best friend, aka secret crush, so close, he could barely breathe. “Wha- Are you sick Arthur?” He sputtered out.
“No, no, no, darling honey boo I’m not sick.” He pinched Merlin’s nose and shook his head. “But it’s so sweet that you care for me.”
Merlin pushed Arthur's hand away in horror but he stood his ground. “What the hell!”
“Don’t fool us, Arthur. Even the blind can see that you two are not a couple.”
Valiant, whom Merlin just noticed his presence, spoke with an arrogance sound. He was standing there with his sidekick, Cedric. His haughty grin made Merlin want to punch him in the face. Valiant did have a green eye though, someone might have done it already.
“Yes, we are!” Arthur replied then turned to whisper in Merlin’s ear through his gritting teeth. “I told him that we’re dating. Play along or I’ll tell everybody that you once....” Merlin sent Arthur a murderous eye, daring him to finish the sentence and Arthur turned back to Valiant with a wide fake smile.
“You need to stop using that against me.” Merlin grumbled just for two of them to hear.
Arthur sat down. The gripped on his shoulder was firmer. Merlin laughed.
“But of course, we are!” Merlin lent closer and nested his hair on Arthur’s shoulder blade.
Valiant didn’t seem to buy it. “How long have you been together?”
Arthur cleared his throat.
“Three…”
Arthur smoothed his hair.
“...months.”
Yes, he and Arthur were that kind of best friend who developed a secret language that only two of them could understand. Just in case they had to lie about something.
“That’s just a lucky guess, isn’t it?” Valiant squinted.
“What? Do you want us do to prove it?” Arthur blurted out before Merlin could reveal the truth.
“How come you’re together that long and we didn’t catch you kissing at least once?”
“Because my Merlin here…” Arthur played with Merlin’s cheek. “...was a shy one.”
Without warning, he gave Merlin a quick kiss on his cheek. Merlin exploded inside and his whole face turned red.
“Arthur!”
“See? That was just a peck and he’s already burning red. If we kiss in public who knows what would happen?” Arthur said while holding Merlin, who was trying to wriggle out of his arm, firmer.
“We’ll keep an eye on you.”
With that last threat Valiant and his sidekick left the library. Merlin pushed Arthur away and this time he didn’t hesitate.
“You better have a damn good explanation for this.”
Arthur scratched his head and was about to say something but then, the school bell rung.
“Oops, gotta go.” He slipped away from Merlin’s stretching hand and jogged to the exit.
“Arthur!”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll tell you when school’s over.”
Merlin sighed and shook his head.