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“Are you sure?” Arthur asked hesitantly, looking at his boyfriend with concern. “Maybe we should do something a bit… safer?”
“Come on, Arthur, don’t be such a prat!” Merlin brushed him off as he rushed around the hall and pulled on gloves and his warmest knitted hat. “It’s not like I’m suggesting we go base jumping or something like that. It’s just ice skating, everyone can do it.”
“As long as they have a minimum of control over their limbs that is” Arthur pointed out, earning himself a shove from Merlin.
“You clotple! I’ll have you know that I’ve skated loads of times before. I’ll show you…” Merlin muttered as he shoved their skates and warm socks, and a million other things that Arthur couldn’t even begin to understand why they’d need, into a bag.
“Are you coming or what?” Merlin said and impatiently stamped his foot and Arthur couldn’t help but think that his boyfriend really was such a child sometimes.
“Yeah” he answered with a grin. “Can’t wait to see you fall on your ass.” Merlin huffed and slammed the door in Arthur’s face in response.
It turned out that Arthur didn’t have to wait long. Merlin took a cautions step onto the ice, smiled triumphantly and then found himself on his back.
“Ouch” he moaned as Arthur exploded with laughter. “Help me up, you prat. It’s not funny” Merlin pouted and Arthur hauled him to his feet. This time Merlin managed to stand for ten whole seconds before falling again. When he scrambled to get to his feet he fell again. And again. By this point Arthur was on his knees on the ice, laughing so hard that he almost couldn’t breathe. Merlin had lost his hat and his hair was tousled and sweaty, sticking to his forehead. His cheeks were bright red and he looked furious and embarrassed at the same time.
“You’re so mean” he nearly shouted, hitting the ice in frustration. “You pompous, pratty, pillock of a Pendragon.” Merlin’s words were angry but he looked as if he’d start crying soon and Arthur pulled himself together. He offered Merlin his hand and steadied his boyfriend until he’d found his balance.
“All right?” he asked, only getting a stubborn glare in return. They skated together for a while and when it looked like Merlin had gotten the hang of it Arthur decided to take a break, rest his feet and see if there were any of the cookies left in the bag. He undid the laces of the skates and shivered as he pushed his feet into his ice cold shoes but there was at least some room to wriggle his toes that way. Arthur had barely stuffed the first one into his mouth when he heard a loud yell.
“Merlin?” Frantically searching for his boyfriend he pushed the crowd aside and saw Merlin curled up on his side, completely still on the ice. He was holding his left hand to his chest and blood covered his forehead. Arthur dropped to his knees beside him and tried to assess the damage.
“Merlin? Can you hear me?” Arthur lightly shook his shoulder. “Merlin?”
“Hurts” Merlin moaned quietly without opening his eyes and Arthur carefully lifted him into his arms.
“Let’s get you to a hospital.”
“Please, do go on, tell me” Merlin muttered sarcastically from under the hospital blankets. “I can see you’re dying to.” He rearranged the pillow with the arm currently not in a cast and glared at his boyfriend.
“Dying to do what?” Arthur grinned innocently and leaned in closer, resting his elbows on the bed.
“To say ‘I told you so.’ “
“I’d never say that” Arthur protested, kissing Merlin on the lips and then his smile widened. “But I might think it.”