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The big day had arrived. The quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin. The game that determined who won the quidditch cup for that year.
It was Arthur's last year at Hogwarts and he'd been desperately pushing the team harder during practise. Being the Gryffindor quidditch captain for four years had come with it's privileges, but also left Arthur stressed and under an immense amount of pressure. He felt like everyone was expecting him to be something great, something extraordinary. He was just never sure if he could be that.
His thoughts flipped over in his mind as he sat in the Gryffindor locker room tying his shoelaces. He was extra early to change before the game, ensuring he gave himself enough time to run over their plans through his head. He'd checked them three times already but, just to be safe he'd check them again.
He sat back on the bench and propped his chin on his hand, arm held up by his knee. What if he couldn't do it? What if he wasn't good enough and he'd fail the entire team. The entire house. He wasn't sure he'd be able to take the failure. He was close to panicking when the light crept through the door to the locker room. A familiar brown-haired boy poked his head around the door and looked around. "Arthur?" He whispered for some reason.
Arthur stands back up from the bench and attempts to smile at the boy. "Merlin, I'm here."
The boy, Merlin, leaves the doorway and walks over. "Did you eat? You weren't at breakfast." He hands him some toast from a napkin that he must've taken from the Great Hall.
Arthur looks down at the toast and rolls his eyes, a small smirk on his face. "I appreciate the thought but I'm not hungry."
"You have to eat before a game, remember how you felt the last time." Merlin pushes the toast into Arthur's hand before he could protest.
He considers what Merlin said about the last time he didn't eat before a game. It had lasted for quite a long time and his stomach had felt awful once it was over. They lost that match too, and that was something Arthur was not risking this time. He quickly took a bite of the toast and sat back down on the bench. Merlin sits beside him and looks around the room a little.
"Are you nervous?"
"Of course not Merlin."
Merlin looks at him with an incredulous face. He didn't believe him. Of course he knew Arthur was nervous, how could he not? They'd been quite close friends since first year.
Arthur sighed and scratches his neck a little. "Fine, I am a little... I just- This is our last game. It's my chance to prove I'm a good captain. I don't know what I'd have if I wasn't good enough for this..." He doesn't look at Merlin, he keeps his eyes trained to the floor.
Merlin leans forward a little to see Arthur's face more clearly. "You've always been a good captain Arthur. Your team thinks the same. You were meant for it, and if you didn't have this then, you'd still have me." He smiles a little and nudges Arthur's shoulder jokingly.
How can Merlin always say the right thing? He surprises Arthur constantly with the type of things he says. But he thinks about Merlin's words. Arthur was meant for it...
Even before Hogwarts, he was fascinated by quidditch. His father was in a professional quidditch team for years and years before having Arthur and he'd always wanted his son to take up the mantel. And of course Arthur was more than willing to do so. He'd joined the Gryffindor quidditch team in his second year, much to his father's satisfaction, and continued from there. Merlin had been supportive of every choice Arthur had made. And somehow he gets the feeling that he wouldn't have made it very far without him by his side.
He looks back to Merlin and smiles softly. "Thank you Merlin." He was rewarded with a big grin and sparkling eyes.
In the quiet tent, with the sun peeking through the door and onto Merlin's face, time seemed to slow suddenly and Arthur found himself staring into the boys deep blue eyes. He was entranced, his body taken over by some unknown force. But he didn't want to stop it. He didn't want to look away or move back. He ignored the screaming in his head and embraced the feeling in his veins to just go closer. To close the gap between them. His heart pumping and hands slightly shaking. Merlin looked almost how he felt, scared yet curious. Cautious and intrigued. Arthur didn't protest when Merlin was the first to move forward. He didn't try moving away when Merlin pulled him closer. He didn't break the kiss that Merlin had started. He indulged in it.
He couldn't lie and say that he hadn't thought of doing this for a long time. But he wasn't expecting Merlin to want it too. He was sure that it was a long shot, just another thing to lose in his life. So he didn't bother trying in case he lost Merlin too. He wouldn't know what to do without the clumsy, sarcastic, absolutely gorgeous boy around. He'd surely fail half his classes and be kicked off the quidditch team in a week. He should learn to appreciate what Merlin did for him more. Say thank you more. Kiss him more?
He supposed Merlin was feeling the same way as the kiss continued for a while. But when they finally did break apart, both their faces were flushed and their hair was out of place. Merlin looked up and snort laughed quietly before looking away again.
"What is it?" Arthur asked quickly.
"I just don't think I've seen your hair that messy before."
Arthur laughs along with him, a slight smirk on his face. "Well it's your own fault it's messy."
Merlin rolls his eyes and smiles to the floor.
He couldn't help but stare at him. He wanted to know how long Merlin had wanted to do that, if it was the same as Arthur. If they'd just been lying to themselves and being idiots that weren't together for no reason at all.
His thoughts were interrupted when his teammates came through the door to get ready. How long had they snogging for?!
He sits up a little straighter and clears his throat, ignoring the looks from the team. Merlin stands up and awkwardly avoids eye contact with Arthur. "I-I'll see you after the game then." He starts walking away but Arthur catches his wrist and pulls him out the door quickly.
"You are not just leaving like that before this match." He says quietly with a smirk.
Merlin stares up at him and bites the inside of his cheek to stop himself saying something. However, instead of speaking, he reaches up and places his lips on Arthur's, a lot gentler and more cautious than the first time. But Arthur is definitely not complaining. He'd waited for so long and he'd be happy with anything he got. He wraps his arms around Merlin's waist and backs him up to the wall. The kiss is slow and calm and just perfect. He can feel their hearts beating in time, their bodies pressed together. He wanted him so badly, more and more as they both allowed the kiss to deepen. Both of them out of breath and hands now wandering, they couldn't tear away from each other. That was until they were disturbed by a loud cough behind them. They quickly let go of each other, putting a few steps between each other, and find Gwaine standing there with a large grin on his face.
"It's about time, don't you think? But, it'll have to wait. We have a game to win." He slaps Arthur on the back and starts pulling him inside the locker room again. He just blinks and tries getting back to his senses. He turns to Merlin and smirks again. "See you after." Merlin only nods to answer him, his face still flushed and lips red.
Gwaine pulls Arthur into the locker room and gives him a slap on the back. "Couldn't wait huh?"
Arthur looks at him in confusion. "What?"
Then he noticed the other team members passing around sickles and galleons. Gwaine takes out a few of the coins and tosses them to Leon in the corner.
"What's all this about?" He doesn't really understand but who can blame him? He's not exactly thinking straight right now.
The others roll their eyes and laugh. "If you'd have waited until after this match, I'd have gotten three galleons from Percival and Leon. But you just couldn't wait, could you."
He finally clicks and his mouth falls open. "You bet on me and Merlin?! But- How did y-"
Percival laughs loudly as he picks up a beaters bat. "It was pretty obvious mate."
He couldn't believe they'd all known. He wasn't even sure he'd known... He shakes his head and finishes getting ready for the match. He had to get his mind off of Merlin, or this game might not end well and he was already starting to worry again.
The team line up on their brooms and shoot into the pitch when the whistle sounds. The crowd roars and stomps their feet in anticipation for the last game of the year. He can already feel himself melting into his surroundings, as if he was part of them. He didn't feel like himself out on the pitch. He felt stronger, better. A new person.
The King was his nickname. He had no clue where it had started but suddenly it was like he was a new person. He was more popular, people talked to him and sat with him at his table. And he liked it. So he just went along with everyone else. Until one day he realised it all meant a lot more than the popularity. This was something he could be actually be good at, something he could do in the future.
So he worked harder and made his way here, to this final moment. The last time to show everyone what he and his team were capable of. Merlin's sudden actions had given Arthur a huge confidence boost and he was certain they'd crush Slytherin. So when the whistle blew and the match started, he made sure every move he took was exactly how it should be. Perfect.
His team played flawlessly and although Slytherin were close during the first hour they quickly began falling behind.
Elyan, their seeker, was on his best game today. He was extremely swift on his broom and caught the snitch before the other teams seeker had even caught on.
The game ended and the referee declared Gryffindor the final champions of the year. The red half of the crowd burst into shouts and chants, while the green side sunk in their seats in defeat.
The Gryffindor team landed on the pitch to be greeted by their wild fans. Arthur was immediately lifted up onto the shoulders of Percival and Leon and carried around in celebration, smiles wide on everyone's faces. There was sure to be a huge party later on.
Then he spotted Merlin near the edge of the crowd, cheering loudly and keeping his eyes fixed on Arthur. He tapped his friends shoulders and they let him down. They already knew what he was going to do.
He made his way through the excited students on the pitch. A sea of red and black, signs and flags, blocking him until he reached Merlin. He wasn't sure if he should say anything, or what he would even say. But he didn't have to. Merlin had already pulled him close and whispered in his ear, "I knew you'd win." Then he kissed Arthur again, not caring if anyone saw. And Arthur didn't care either. Now he had everything he could ever ask for.