Chapter Text
"And there!" you said to yourself as you put the last piece of tape up on the poster. With that you were officially fully moved in and set up, and not to brag, but your dorm was looking pretty good.
Your roommate's stuff was still piled on top of her bed, but once she finished unpacking the dorm would be complete.
You sighed and flopped down on your bed, not really sure what to do next. Your roommate, Gwenhwyfar, had gone out to one last meal with her dad and since it was your first year here after transferring, you didn't really know anyone else. Except vaguely of course that boy who helped you bring stuff in from your car. His name was maybe Lancelot? You figured you could probably walk around campus, try and get to know some people, but also. You were so very tired. Maybe a quick nap was the way to go, and then when Gwen got back she could introduce you to some people.
You took the mandatory pictures of your half the room, then plugged your phone in and flopped on your new bed.
You were almost asleep when you heard a very loud crash from across the hall. Worried someone might be hurt, you jumped up and ran to see.
You knocked on the door. No one answered but whoever was inside were arguing.
"Merlin what the hell? I asked you if you were holding it well and you said yes!"
"I tried but really should you have trusted me? Am I really known for my strength?" You knocked again, louder.
"Just go get the door, Merlin." A second later the door opened to reveal two guys surrounded by the parts of the beds and the mattresses.
"Um, hi. I'm y/n, I'm from across the hall," you said shyly.
"Hi! I'm Merlin," the dark haired boy who opened the door said, "and the grumpy one there is Arthur."
"I am not grumpy!" The one named Arthur pouted. "Nice to meet you, y/n," he added on.
"I heard a loud noise? Are you guys ok?"
Arthur shot a piercing glance at Merlin. "Oh we're just fine. We decided to bunk our beds, and when doing it, Merlin here decided to let one of the pieces go and it fell."
"You act like I did it intentionally!" Merlin shot you an annoyed glance, to which Arthur rolled his eyes.
"Do you guys want any help?" You offered. It's not like you had anything else to do after all.
"Yes, absolutely," Merlin said very quickly.
Arthur picked one of the ladder pieces up off the floor, "Here you can hold this one up with one hand and help Merlin hold up the part that holds the mattress with the other while I screw it all in."
"Yeah, last attempt the ladder piece fell over because I was only holding the mattress frame."
You got into place as Arthur directed. And instantly regretted offering help. The part that help mattress was actually kinda heavy, and it was an awkward position as you were also supporting the ladder. You don't blame Merlin for dropping or knocking over any of the pieces.
"They should really make it easier to lower the mattress on these things," Merlin said, "I'm starting to get tired."
"Is that your way of telling me to hurry up?" Arthur asked.
"Kind of, yeah."
"I'm doing my best, alright Merlin?" Man, this guy was passive aggressive.
After another few minutes, Arthur was finally finished with the screws. However, to your left were the parts for another bed that were going to have to go on top. Thank God Gwen didn't want to bunk your beds.
"I think we'll be able to do the ladder parts first and then you can both hold the mattress frame in while I screw it in." Arthur directed next.
"You know Arthur, as the only one here who does sports, sorry for assuming y/n I just have really seen you around, why are you the one doing the screwing part?"
You just had to laugh at that. Arthur did his pouting face again.
"Would you like to do it then Merlin?"
"Yes actually, I would."
You laughed again as Arthur passed Merlin the allen wrench. You and Arthur moved and picked up the next ladder piece to put on top.
"So y/n, I haven't seen you around before, what do you do here?" Merlin asked as he set to his new task.
"Oh you haven't seen me because I'm a transfer student. It's my first year here."
"Oh really?" Merlin said, "I transferred here last year. It's a lot bigger than the community college I went to in Ealdor."
Maybe Merlin would also be able to help you get over the whole not-knowing-anyone anxiety. "So you get the whole not knowing anyone thing then. How'd you meet people?"
Arthur scoffed. "By interrupting rugby practice and being a nosy, insulting prat."
"I thought you were bullying him ok! It was my right to intervene! And you were just as much an insulting clotpoll!"
There was definitely a story there, but the word choice really interested you in that moment, "Clotpoll?"
"By that he means idiot," Arthur answered. "Our Merlin here studies medieval literature and likes to use insults from it."
Merlin smirked. You and Arthur went to pick up the other ladder part. "You still didn't say what you did here, y/n."
"Oh, I'm also studying literature, just more modern."
"Cool! I might see you in some classes then," Merlin said excitedly.
"Anyone going to ask what I study?" Arthur interrupted. Passive aggressive and also a little egotistical.
"He studies political science. All done with the ladders."
The next part of putting the bed together was quite possibly the worst. You couldn't quite stand on the bottom bunk, so you and Arthur were awkwardly kneeling while supporting the frame above your head. To get the screws in on the side by the wall, Merlin also had to be kneeling on the mattress, and honestly it was very crowded. Thankfully Merlin was faster at screwing the frame in than Arthur was on the bottom bunk. Without hesitation you all moved off the bottom bunk.
"And now you get to go back to lifting." Arthur smirked at Merlin referring to the mattress on the floor. The three of you managed to heave it up there, and by the end of the whole bunk bed building event your arms were sore.
"Thanks for the help, y/n," Merlin said admiring the final result.
"If you want to stay a bit you can," Arthur offered.
"Thanks but, I think I'm going to go see if Gwen's back. She's my roommate."
For some reason Merlin smirked at Arthur. "Oh Gwenhwyfar's your roommate? And you guys are across the hall?"
That was weird. You'd have to ask Gwen about it later. "Yeah. And Morgana's our suite mate. I haven't met her yet, all I know is for some reason she doesn't have a roommate."
"Oh, it's because she has nightmares and wakes up screaming," Merlin answered.
"Merlin would know."
"What's that's supposed to mean?!" Merlin asked, rather aggressively.
"You just had that crush on her last year." Glad to know that's what he was implying and nothing else.
"I did not!"
You laughed. "I'll leave you guys to that argument. See you later."
"Bye y/n," Merlin said.
"Bye," Arthur echoed. You waved as the door shut.