Work Text:
"Arthurrrr," Merlin whined as soon as he stepped into their shared flat, dropping his bag and kicking his dress shoes off. He had a large cake box in both hands that he carried into the kitchen, where Arthur was stirring a pot on the stove.
"Merrrrlinnn," Arthur mocked back, turning to smirk at him. "What the hell is that?" he then asked, eyes on the box as Merlin set it down on the counter.
The box was a mess. It was white, but it was also covered in a smeared mess of chocolate frosting, not to mention the fact that it looked like an 18-wheeler had run over it it was so crushed and wrinkled.
"One of my students tried to bribe me into giving them a better mark than they deserve on their paper," he said, slumping down into a seat at the counter across from the stove. "Of course I took the bribe, but I'm not changing their mark."
"Of course," Arthur sarcastically agreed, "and then?" he prompted, pulling the pot off the stove and turning it off. He came around the counter, slipping his hand on Merlin's waist and pecking a kiss on his temple. He then turned so that they were face-to-face and leaned his elbows on the counter.
"It was a pre-sliced chocolate cake. One from that really great, too-expensive bakery that we never go to, you know?" Arthur nodded. "Well, when I got into our building, I decided to take the stairs instead of the lift this time."
"Really, Merlin?" Arthur sighed, already knowing where this was going.
"There was a kitty-cat on the platform of the third floor in the stairwell and it was SO cute, Arthur, I couldn't take my eyes off it! Seriously, when are you gonna let me get a cat?"
Arthur ignored the question. "And then what happened, Merlin?" Arthur said with his all too-familiar sarcastic tone.
"I wasn't looking where I was stepping and my foot missed the step and I tripped up the stairs."
Arthur barked out a laugh. Merlin faux-glared at him. "Only you," he chuckled. "Better not get distracted by cats when you're carrying a cake upstairs, huh, Merlin? Is that what you've learned here today?"
"Yeah, well, whatever," Merlin shrugged. "So the cake got smooshed because I landed on the box and now there's only like a slice left," he sighed dramatically.
Arthur laughed. Merlin faux-glared at him again. "Well, I figured that you landed on it, it explains why it looks like...that," Arthur gestured. "So...I guess we'll have to just share the slice then," he smiled (all too brightly). "C'mon, the soup should be cool enough now. Let's eat."
As Merlin set the table and Arthur brought the spicy chicken tortilla soup over (it was his mother's recipe), Merlin couldn't help but complain that since he was tired and since he was the one who got bribed, it should be his slice of cake. Arthur pulled the "but don't you love me?" card, along with the biggest puppy dog eyes ever, and Merlin resigned himself (with a very overdramatic groan) to his fate of only eating half of the slice.
"How'd your meetings go today?" Merlin asked as they started eating.
"Really well," Arthur nodded, "we should have the deal closed by Friday, finally."
"That's great! So your father hasn't caused any more trouble?"
"Nope. I think he's finally learned that since he made me take over his company, he shouldn't talk me out of the ideas I have for it."
"About time," Merlin snorted.
"Yeah," Arthur agreed.
They ate in companionable silence for a while, both sitting next to each other (More traditionally, they could sit across from each other, but Merlin is sort of clingy and Arthur is sort of protective so they sit side-by-side with no complaints.) and facing the large window that overlooks London. The sun was setting, painting brilliant streaks of gold and orange across the sky as lights turned on and the night began to settle.
"How was work?" Arthur asked.
"Good, I gave the first lecture of the hardest unit of the course, so there were a lot of questions and a lot of students stayed after class or came to office hours. It was nice, I love working one-on-one with them. And it's nice when they actually have questions that I get to answer."
"Yeah that's good. So a lot more participation today?"
"So much more. That's why I love this unit. ...Except it's probably why the students hate it," Merlin chuckled.
They chatted more about their day and their plans for the week - they figured out who should keep Lance out of his flat and distract him for the day while everyone else set up and decorated for his surprise party. Arthur decided that Merlin's job would be the one that involved doing stairs the LEAST, because he wouldn't want him to, god forbid, smash ANOTHER cake as he trips up them.
Merlin (ever so maturely) flipped Arthur off as he stood to take care of their dishes and clean up. Arthur merely grinned back as he stood, sauntering towards the cake box and leaning on the counter as he waited for Merlin.
After rinsing the dishes, Merlin followed suit, though not before pecking a kiss on Arthur's cheek in appreciation for making dinner (and Merlin even earned a kiss too). Then, he carefully opened the box, and, low and behold, there was one slice, perfectly pristine and ready to be eaten. The other ⅞ of the cake were not as pristine, all squished together and crumbling and completely (and sadly) inedible.
Arthur put the slice on a red dessert plate, grabbed two forks, and they both sat down at the table again. Merlin insisted that they split it, so Arthur traced a line down the middle in the chocolate frosting. Merlin's insistence, however, dictated that Arthur pick which half he wants first, and (thank goodness) he chose the half with the least amount of frosting.
They scooted themselves even closer together, so much so that their chairs were touching, and dug in.
Oh, it was delicious.
The chocolate cake was so moist, and it was sweet and insanely chocolatey, and the frosting was rich, but not too rich, and the whole thing blended together spectacularly.
"Mmm, Arthur this is so good, we HAVE to go to this bakery sometime."
"I know, I know," Arthur said, taking another bite, "but it's so expensive."
"I don't care, we have to go. This can't be the only time we'll ever eat from that place."
Arthur smirked. "Well, if we're lucky, maybe we can get our wedding cake from there," he nudged Merlin's side.
Merlin snorted. "We're not even engaged, Arthur, it's too soon to hope for that."
"For what? For us getting married or for the cake?"
"For the cake of course," Merlin nudged him back, a smile forming on his lips.
At that moment, Arthur swiped a glob of frosting from Merlin's side of the cake. Merlin, unfortunately, noticed this.
"Hey, biggo! Stick to your side!"
"Biggo?" Arthur repeated. That was a new one. And definitely not a creative one. "I'm not fat, Merlin," he said, drawing out the r in Merlin's name.
"And we want to keep you that way. So stick to your side," Merlin said, stealing a bite from Arthur's side.
Arthur threw his hands up exasperatedly. "You just took that from MY side!"
"I had to even things out now, didn't I?"
Merlin was right. Arthur groaned. Merlin laughed.
"You were the one who picked the side you wanted," Merlin pointed out. "If you wanted the one with more frosting you could've had it."
"Yes, I know, but I was trying to be a gentleman and give you that side."
"Well, you definitely aren't a gentlemen now," Merlin grumbled, a smile playing on his lips as he crossed his arms and pretended to pout.
They finished the cake shortly after that. The sun had set and now the city was lit up, they could even see Big Ben faintly in the distance. And the best part of it all? It's beautiful like this every night.
Merlin set his head on Arthur's shoulder and wrapped his arm around his back, exhaling deeply. Arthur set his hand on the small of Merlin's back, rubbing it softly, and set his head on top of Merlin's. They both enjoyed the view of the city in their own warm little love bubble, soaking in the other's presence like it was air they needed to breathe.
"What's the next movie in our marathon again?" Merlin asked quietly.
"The Order of the Phoenix," Arthur mumbled into Merlin's hair.
A moment passed. "We should move to the couch then. Start the movie."
"Yes, my liege," Arthur said with an air of elegance.
Merlin stood, offering his hand for Arthur to take. "Come then, sweet damsel."
"I'm not a damsel, Merrrrlinnn," Arthur whined, though he took Merlin's hand and stood.
"Arthurrrr," Merlin mocked, "you ARE a damsel. But at least I called you a sweet one too!"
"Oh, well that makes it so much better," Arthur drawled. Merlin just grinned, pulling him closer and kissing him.
It was a good night indeed.