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Chapter Text

   Merlin was fresh out of college, having just completed his Literature and Creative Writing diploma, when his Uncle Gaius made the decision that he was simply getting too old to be living on his own anymore. The house and yard work was beginning to be a little too much for him to keep on top off. With Merlin no longer able to stay in the campus dorms and subsequently looking for a place to live, the solution became obvious. Merlin could live in his Uncle's small cottage on the outskirts of the city for free, so long as he kept on top of all the work that needed done around the place, and Gaius would move in with Merlin's mother in Ealdor so neither one had to be alone.

   The arrangement, at first, worked wonderfully. Merlin was able to find steady income by writing and submitting articles and columns for various journals and magazines, and the peace and calm of the location lent itself nicely to getting started on the novel Merlin had always dreamed of writing. For the first time in his life, Merlin was alone. He was free to keep whatever schedule he wanted, and write to his heart's content, in between household chores and tending to the yard and garden sprawled out through the cottage's modest plot of land. In short, it was heaven, and Merlin had never been happier.

   But, as things always do, it slowly turned sour. Though he still had all the time in the world to write, he began to feel lonely. While in college, Merlin had shared a dorm with his good friend, Gwaine. Through Gwaine, Merlin had met a whole score of other friends. Lance, Percy, Leon, Elyan and Gwen, and of course, the infamous Pendragon half siblings, Morgana and Arthur.

   Though coming from vastly different backgrounds and being almost complete opposites in practically every way, Merlin and Arthur had struck up a fast friendship that only grew stronger the longer the two knew each other. By the time they both graduated from their respective college programs, they were nearly inseparable. They walked to class together, had lunch together, studied and did homework after class together. They attended parties, went out for brunch, joined their other friends out on pub nights. Merlin had grown so used to Arthur's companionship and presence by his side, that graduating from college had been a bit of a shock. For them both.

   At first, they had both made strong efforts to see each other as much as possible. They made plans throughout the week, spent their weekends together. But gradually, Merlin would have to cancel a night to work on a last minute story. Arthur's father began expecting more from him, more effort and work, longer days, extra shifts. Eventually their carefully planned weeks turned into promises to see each other the next day, until they were lucky to meet up once a week.

   Merlin threw himself into his work and his novel to fill the void that Arthur had left behind. He tended to Gaius' garden, and even transplanted some herb clippings into little pots he placed on the window sill in the kitchen, so he could use fresh herbs in his cooking without having to go all the way out to the garden outside. His days very much all looked the same. Wake up, shower, have breakfast, tackle his next article or column. On days he remembered, he'd have lunch, then go back to work. Next came weeding the garden, routine house chores, dinner, then working on his novel. He would keep in touch with all his friends from school via text, but everyone moved on to their own jobs and their own lives. Merlin, living further away than anyone else, so often ended up left behind. Which was why, unbeknownst to Merlin, Arthur was getting worried.

~~~

   The sound of his phone going off startles Merlin from where he had draped himself over his desk to nap. He has to blink a few times to focus his eyes before he can grab his phone and check to see who had disturbed him. Arthur's name is lit up on the screen, and Merlin feels an involuntary flutter in his chest as a smile tugs at his lips. He had, had a very mild, easily ignored, crush on the blond since first meeting him, but it was true what they said about distance making the heart grow fonder.

   Swiping to answer the call, he lifts his cell to his ear and says, "Hi, Arthur."

   There's a brief, somehow amused, pause over the line before his best friend replies, "I woke you up, didn't I?"

   "No." Merlin instantly denies, using his free hand to rub the sleep from his eyes.

   "You're a terrible liar, Merlin." Arthur replies. "Anyway, I'm assuming you're home? I'm on my way with a surprise and just wanted to make sure you were available when I get there."

   A surprise? Merlin furrows his brow in confusion, but replies, "Yeah, course I'm home. Where else would I be?"

   The pause now is decidedly less amused and much more on the concerned and worried spectrum. Merlin kicks himself for letting his tone of voice betray his inner thoughts like that. He opens his mouth to say something else, to lighten the mood and shift to another topic, if nothing else, but Arthur interrupts him before he has the chance.

   "Right, well, I'll be there in twenty." Arthur says, meaning he was calling Merlin from the road. "Shit. My father needs me to call him, so I gotta go, but I'll see you soon."

   The line goes dead, and Merlin pulls his phone away to stare at it. What could Arthur possibly be bringing him as a surprise? And why? Sure, Arthur could come off as prickly and a bit arrogant upon first meeting him, but he was actually a very caring person and always looked out for those closest to him. But that didn't mean he often went around buying gifts for people, and especially not Merlin, who had told him off very early in their friendship for flaunting his money as if it was nothing.

   He blinks out of his reverie and looks around the small, homey cottage. There are a few dishes piling up on the counter next to the sink, and a handful of clothes strewn over various furniture. With a sigh, he pushes himself away from his desk, and his untouched novel (writer's block had hit him hard recently and he was struggling to write even one word, let alone a full sentence or page), and slowly moves around the cozy living room, warmed by the fireplace in one corner, picking up sweaters and socks and discarded shoes.

   He's just contemplating the dishes when he hears Arthur's car pull up to the side of the cottage, the engine cutting off before he hears the driver door open and close. Normally, he would just let Arthur walk right in on his own, but this time his curiosity is piqued, so he makes his way to the door and pulls it open, peeking out at his best friend walking up to the door. In his hands, is a cardboard box. He frowns.

   "What are you up to, Pendragon?" He asks. Arthur shoots him an indignant look.

   "I buy you a gift and you treat me with suspicion? I'm truly wounded, Merlin. Don't you trust me?" He retorts.

   Merlin can feel the amused smile tugging at his lips. "If you need to ask that question, then you probably already know the answer."

   He steps back, out of the doorway, when Arthur gets close enough, allowing him entrance to the cottage. He tries to peek into the box as the blond passes, but he has the top covered, save for one corner that's been pulled back to allow air and light inside. Even more confused now than he was before, he closes the front door and follows Arthur into the little living room, now looking much cleaner than it had even just ten minutes previous.

   As he settles down on the sofa, he gets a good look at Arthur, and is surprised to find his best friend almost... nervous. "Arthur, are you going to tell me why you're here?"

   "Every day on my way to work, I pass the local pet store." Arthur begins, only making Merlin more confused. What did that have to do with anything? "I've never had a reason to stop and go in. I've never even thought about it, barely even looked at it. We were never allowed pets as children, and my schedule simply doesn't allow for one."

   He trails off, and when no more is forthcoming after a minute or two, Merlin says, "Right? And what does that have to do with me?"

   Arthur shoots him an annoyed look. "Last week, there was a new sign up. It caught my eye, though I'm not sure why, exactly. I drove by it, to and from work, every day for a week before I finally decided to stop and go in." He pauses again, swallows. "Someone had rescued some kittens from the side of the road, left there in a cardboard box to die. They were looked over by the vet, given all their necessary shots and other vet nonsense, and then okayed for adoption."

   A sudden scuffling sound comes from the box, and Merlin's eyes drop down to it. No. No way. "Arthur, what's in the box?"

   To Merlin's surprise, Arthur bites his lower lip, the tips of his ears going red. He waits a moment longer before pulling back the cover over the top of the box and reaching one hand inside. When he pulls it out again, a small, grey kitten is draped over his palm. Its two front paws are white, with white stretching up its back legs to its hocks, making it look as if it were wearing little white stockings. A splash of white covers both sides of its muzzle, extending down its chin and throat to taper off on its chest. Big green, blue eyes blink around its new surroundings, the long, grey tail twitching with interest. 

   "Merlin, meet Cornelius." Arthur states. Merlin isn't sure if it's the shock of what Arthur had done or the absurdity of the name, but he bursts out laughing. For a moment, Arthur looks taken aback, then it morphs into something that could only be described was poorly veiled hurt. "If you don't like the name, you can change it."

   Frantically, Merlin shakes his head no. "No, Cornelius is perfect, I love it." He rises to his feet and approaches where his best friend is holding the kitten close to his chest on the armchair opposite the sofa. Crouching down, he holds out a hand for the kitten to sniff, delighted when he bats at his hand with his tiny paws playfully. He reaches out the other hand to gently pet over the soft looking fur, unable to contain his grin as the small kitten begins to purr.

   He readily accepts the small bundle of fluff as Arthur hands him over, clutching him close to his chest as he looks back up at the blond in wonder. "You bought me a kitten?"

   Arthur's face softens into something not quite worried, but fairly close to. "I know you've been getting lonely out here all by yourself, and that you can't always make the drive into the city to see everyone else. I didn't want you to be alone anymore. Not completely."

   If Merlin had been a more daring person, he would've kissed Arthur then and there. As it is, he struggles to reign in the urge, looking back down at his new kitten instead. Very softly, he replies, "Thank you, Arthur."

   A gentle palm landing on his forearm makes him look back up. The look in Arthur's eyes is unlike anything that Merlin has ever seen before, and frankly, it's a little too much to even try to puzzle out. Arthur gives his arm a soft squeeze, pursing his lips into a small, barely there smile. His blue eyes even look different, more open, more vulnerable, more expressive. Arthur so rarely let people see this side of him, the truly sensitive and caring side, that Merlin barely dares to breath.

   With a nod, Arthur pulls his hand away, leaving Merlin's arm feeling cold. "You're very welcome, Merlin."

   And just like that, the moment is gone. Arthur is pushing himself up onto his feet and wandering into Merlin's kitchen to help himself to some tea, leaving Merlin to stare down at the beautiful gift in his arms. His very own kitten, bought for him by his best friend, because he didn't want Merlin to feel truly and completely alone. He had wanted to cheer him up. Merlin sighs softly, tickling Cornelius under the chin with one finger. He hadn't realized that he could fall any more in love with Arthur Pendragon, but as he looks up again, eyes landing on him in the kitchen, he knows that he has.

Chapter Text

   The light coming in through the half closed curtains is grey and gloomy, the heavy clouds outside threatening rain. Merlin barely notices as he sits at his desk, glaring at his laptop. It's been two weeks since Arthur got him Cornelius, and just over that since Merlin was able to make any progress on his novel. The blank document open on the screen is practically staring back at him mockingly, silently judging him and laughing at his inability to string two simple words together.

   The tinkle of a bell and the soft whoosh of the cat door he had installed stirs him from his futile attempts at getting any work done. He glances over just in time to see a sleek, grey tail disappear down the hall towards the bathroom and the two bedrooms. Thinking nothing of it, Merlin leans back in his chair and scrubs tiredly at his face. He hadn't been sleeping well the past couple nights, and he refused to acknowledge that it might have something to do with the fact that he hasn't seen Arthur since the day Cornelius came into his life. Something had come up at the office, and Arhtur's father had taken up all of his son's time with trying to sort through it. Merlin couldn't help but miss his best friend.

   A weird scuffle comes from down the hall, breaking into Merlin's thoughts. Frowning, he holds his breath, trying to listen for any further disturbances. After a moment or two, the sound comes again, like the tiny scrabbling of paws over hardwood.

   "Cornelius, what are you up to?" Merlin calls out as he gets to his feet and follows where the kitten had disappeared. The scrambling scuffle seems to intensify the closer to his bedroom he gets, and he quickens his pace. Had the small kitten gotten stuck somewhere? Was he hurt? Was he simply getting into something he shouldn't be?

   "Cornel-" He begins, pushing his bedroom door open all the way, instead of it just being ajar like it had been, but his voice dies away as he sees a small, white mouse scurry frantically under his dresser, his cat pouncing happily after it, swiping one paw under the furniture after it. Merlin stands there for a moment, mouth open in surprise as he watches the scene unfold before him.

   Finally, he bursts out, "Did you bring a mouse into my house, young man?!"

   Cornelius pulls his paw back, settling back on his haunches as he turns his head to look at Merlin. He twitches one ear, tail curling around him to settle over his dainty front paws. He stares for a moment before making a very uncatlike chirrup sound in his throat.

   Stepping fully into his room, Merlin brandishes a warning finger at him. "Don't try to play innocent with me! Why did you bring that into the house? It's going to get into everything!"

   A streak of white races out from under the dresser, dashing madly across the floor. Merlin is moving before he's even consciously aware that he has made the decision, diving toward the floor to try to catch the unintentional intruder. Cornelius pounces at the same time, causing the mouse to swerve off its original path and make a break for the open closet. Merlin lands hard on the floor, empty handed.

   "No!" He cries in despair as he watches the small rodent disappear into the chaos of his closet. Cornelius bounds over excitedly, diving into the mess of clothes, papers, shoes, and other assorted possessions that Merlin could just never seem to bring himself to part with.

   Rolling onto his back, he struggles his phone from his pocket, pressing the speed dial button before bringing it to his ear. He listens to it ring, crossing his fingers and praying that Arthur picks up.

   He thinks it's going to ring right to voicemail when he hears a very flustered, "Hello?"

   "Arthur, please tell me you're not busy." Merlin says, skipping the pleasantries as he cranes his head around to watch Cornelius madly burrow through his things.

   There's a pause before he hears a sigh down the line. "That depends. What's up?"

   "Cornelius brought a mouse into the cottage." Merlin replies, wincing as he hears something solid tumble over in the closet. The pause from Arthur's end of the conversation is very brief before he hears very badly stifled laughter over the line. Really, the man wasn't even trying.

   "I think that counts as an emergency." Arthur finally says, very clearly amused. "I'll be there shortly."

   The line goes dead, and Merlin presses the end call button on his end before turning his phone off and tossing it onto the bed. Forlornly, he sits up and looks at his closet. Damn it, he was going to have to haul everything out of it. A shrill, panicked squeak catches his attention and he hurriedly rises to his feet to join Cornelius at the closet, already reaching for a rumpled pair of jeans with one hand, a light rain jacket with the other.

~~~

   When Arthur arrives at Merlin's cozy, little home thirty minutes later, he immediately feels himself relax. His father had openly and publicly berated him for leaving, despite the fact that his son had spent nearly every waking moment for the past week and a half in the office going over documents, poring over numbers, and overseeing other employees doing much the same work, on a lesser scale. He hadn't told his father what the "emergency" was, knowing that his father would not agree, but saying Merlin's name had been enough. Uther Pendragon had curled his lip in distaste, his disapproval all too obvious in his eyes. It had left Arthur feeling tense and snappy since leaving the building. Until now, that is. Peering out of the windshield, through the pouring rain, at the quaint cottage before him, he smiles.

   'Home.' Arthur thinks. And not just the cottage, but Merlin himself. Wherever Merlin was felt more like home to Arthur than the pristine, showroom-esque penthouse flat that he had in the city. Barely lived in, kept unnaturally tidy by the hired cleaners every day. There was nothing there to make it feel like home. Not like there was here.

   Arthur feels the throb of his heart in his chest and swallows thickly. Shoving those thoughts of his best friend aside, he unbuckles his seatbelt and opens the car door, stepping out into the deluge. He slams the car door shut and makes a run for the front door, but within seconds, he can feel his hair plastered to his head, water running down the neck of his shirt, past the collar of his rain coat. His trousers and shoes are equally wet by the time he reaches the door and twists the knob, nearly falling through the door as it opens in his haste to get out of the wet.

   "Merlin?" He calls out, closing the door behind him and toeing off his wet shoes. He shrugs out of his jacket next, hanging his dark grey suit jacket up next to his stylish (but not overly functional) rain coat on Merlin's coat rack.

   "Oh, thank god, you're here." Merlin says, suddenly appearing out from the kitchen. His dark hair is awry, sticking up in random tufts as if he had been crawling through every possession he owned. Then again, Arthur notes as he looks around at the chaos around him, perhaps he had.

   An amused grin tugs at the corner go Arthur's mouth. "So," he says, "have you found the thing yet?"

   "No." Merlin replies, almost petulantly, nearly making Arthur burst out laughing. "I'm blaming you for this, by the way, the cat was your idea."

   Arthur doesn't bother pointing out that Merlin adores Cornelius, just as much as Arthur, himself, did (not that he would ever admit that). Rolling up his shirt sleeves, he says, "Come on, then. Let's get to it. No sense just standing around. Really Merlin, were you just going to stand there and let me do all the work?"

   He dodges the box of tissues Merlin throws at him, finally letting his delighted laugher burst free. He was never happier than he was when he was with merlin, the one person he had ever truly loved.

~~~

   After an hour, Arthur's amusement has faded. Dozens of near misses, countless times hitting his head on various things, and at least a few pulled muscles would do that to a person. Exhausted, he's sprawled flat out on his back on the living room floor, taking a breather before getting back to work. Still, he feels oddly satisfied. Here, the scathing words of Uther Pendragon are muted in his head. Here, Merlin's head is pillowed on his lower legs as he catches his breath as well.

   A gentle, throaty, mewling sounds comes from Arthur's left and he turns his head to look. There stands Cornelius, four white feet standing primly on the glossy hardwood floor, tail twitching back and forth behind his head. He's almost preening, proud of himself. And there, clutched surprisingly gently between his sharp, feline teeth, is a little, squirming, white mouse. The poor thing is clearly so panicked at its current situation that it isn't even making any noise anymore.

   Arthur huffs out a disbelieving laugh. He feels Merlin shift from where his head is resting on his legs, clearly shuffling around without getting up to see what had caught Arthur's attention, and his amusement. Arthur knows the moment he has spotted Cornelius and their uninvited guest, because he lets out a tired, indignant squawk.

   "Cornelius, you couldn't have done that an hour ago?" Merlin all but whines pathetically, only making Arthur laugh more. The kitten simply tilts his head inquisitively, looking from first Arthur then to Merlin. If Arthur didn't know better, he would say the cat looked expectant, like he was waiting for something carefully planned to happen.

   With a groan, Arthur sits up, patting the top of Merlin's head. "Come on, up you get. Let's get Cornelius and his friend outside before he sets it down in here again."

   Merlin answers the statement with a groan of his own, but pushes himself up onto his feet anyway. Arthur stays seated on the floor, watching as his best friend sweeps his kitten up into his arms. He buries his nose in the soft, grey fur, murmuring something that Arthur can't quite catch. As Merlin walks away towards the door, Arthur gets to his feet, stretching out his sore muscles. He wouldn't have to hit the gym tonight, at least, he notes with a wry grin.

   He listens to the door open and close twice, looking up as Merlin reenters the cottage. He smiles as he meets Merlin's eyes, slightly worried about how utterly fond it feels. Merlin smiles back, soft and almost inviting, and Arthur feels that familiar flutter begin to stir in his chest.

   "Thank you, Arthur, for leaving work and coming to help. I'm sure your father wasn't too happy about it." Merlin says apologetically. Arthur is convinced he deserves an award for not physically flinching as he suddenly remembers his father's stony anger from earlier.

   "It's no trouble, Merlin." He replies. "You're my best friend, I'm always going to be here for you."

   In three, long strides, Merlin crosses the distance between them and wraps Arthur up in a strong, warm hug. He hooks his chin over Arthur's shoulder and snuggles in close. In his chest, Arthur's heart explodes in a rapid, staccato beat that he is sure Merlin can feel from where his own body is pressed tightly to his.

   'I could do it right now.' He thinks as he wraps his arms around Merlin's back, returning the embrace. 'I could kiss him right now. It'd be easy. Just one turn of the head and it would be done.'

   He closes his eyes and curls his nose into Merlin's neck instead. He couldn't. Merlin meant everything to him. To lose him over one not-so-simple kiss wasn't worth it. He would be content to have Merlin just like this, close but still an arms length away. He could be content with this. He had to be.

   Little did he know that Merlin was having the exact same thoughts, dancing along the edge, but never quite brave enough to take the final jump.

Chapter Text

   A gentle breeze is catching Merlin's dark locks, ruffling them slightly and reminding him that he needs a hair cut. Reaching up, he brushes the strands out of his eyes and leans back down to grip the stem of the next weed, giving it a firm tug to pull the roots out of the soil. He will never understand how weeds grew and sprung up so quickly. It literally felt like overnight there was a whole new crop of unwanted plants thriving in the garden. He pulls one more then straightens up, arching his back as he stretches out his back muscles. It never mattered how often he worked in his Uncle's garden, he would never get used to it.

   The light wind brings with it the tickle of the bell around Cornelius' neck, and Merlin glances in the direction of the sound to check on him. He smiles as he watches the kitten rear up on his hind legs, front paws batting through the air after a butterfly that was clearly taunting him. His heart swells with affection, both for his pet and for the man who had gifted him to Merlin. The crisis at the office had been averted, but Uther Pendragon was still finding ways to monopolize his son's time. Merlin had a sneaking suspicion that is was because Arthur's father didn't approve go him, he never had. Merlin was too far down the social ladder to be seen with the likes of a Pendragon, and it irked him that his son didn't share his point of view on the matter.

   Still, Merlin smiles as he closes his eyes and tips his head back, basking in the sun that shines down over him, warming his face and neck. He ignores the trickle of sweat he can already feel inching down his back from the physical labour of pulling the weeds. Instead, he listens to the birds singing in the trees, to the bees buzzing from flower to flower around him, to Cornelius investigating his home and chasing after anything that catches his eye. He was happy, despite everything else.

   With a sigh, he opens his eyes and stares down at the garden spread out around him. Halfway done, halfway to go. Shoving his sleeves messily up his arms, he bends over to continue his work, whistling gently under his breath as he lets his mind wander to the piece he is currently working on for a small magazine. Nothing major, just a local thing that had reached out to him because they liked his work. Even now, that knowledge makes him feel almost giddy.

   The repetitive motions almost lull him into a sort of trance. Lean down, grip stem, pull, place in the basket, repeat. He loses track of how much time as passed, only blinking out of his stupor-like state when he hears a pitiful, almost distressed meow.

   "Cornelius?" Merlin asks, immediately straightening up and looking around. When he doesn't see him right away, his heart begins to race as anxiety prickles at his mind. "Cornelius?"

   The same unhappy meow sounds again, and Merlin looks around, trying to pinpoint where the sound is coming from. His eyes drift over the house quickly before stopping. He looks back and feels his stomach drop. Up on the roof of the cottage is a little bundle of grey and white, tail lashing unhappily back and forth.

   "How did you get up there?" He exclaims. "Get back down here!"

   The meow that comes in return sounds almost pathetic, almost as if the cat were actually trying to communicate the words, "I can't!"

   Pinching the bridge of his nose, Merlin closes his eyes and takes a few deep breaths. Ever since he was five years old and he had broken his arm by falling off the roof of the shed in their small backyard at the time, he had avoided heights. Just the thought of climbing onto the cottage roof, which was easily twice as high as that shed roof had been, makes his stomach curl and churn in protest.

   Reopening his eyes, Merlin throws his arms out to the sides helplessly, and says, "What if he's busy? How am I supposed to get you down?" The answering meow makes his heart hurt.

   Grumbling under his breath, Merlin pulls his phone out, speed dialling Arthur for the second time about his cat. This time, at least, Arthur answers on the second ring.

   "Merlin, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Arthur's voice sounds relaxed, much more so than the last time they talked.

   Merlin blurts out his reply in a mad rush. "Cornelius is up on the roof and he can't get down. I have no idea how he even got up there, but I don't know what to do. You know how heights make me uneasy. I'm sorry, it's just you live the closest and I didn't know what to do."

   "Merlin, breath." Arthur says, somehow calming, firm, and serious all at once. Merlin inhales deeply through his nose, and lets it out past his parted lips. His eyes stay glued to his kitten the whole time. "Good. Now, stop panicking, that'll help nothing. Keep your eye on him, and I'll be there as soon as I can. Okay?"

   Merlin nods before realizing that Arthur can't see him. "Yeah, okay."

   "Okay, I'll see you soon." Arthur replies, then the dial tone sounds. Merlin pulls his phone away from his ear and stares forlornly up at his cat.

   "Why are you always getting into trouble?" He groans. Cornelius gives a plaintive cry in response.

~~~

   Arthur wastes no time in shutting off the engine and jumping out as soon as his car is in park. His quickened steps carry him over to where Merlin is standing in the sunshine, chewing on his blunt fingernails anxiously, eyes glued to the roof. Arthur follows his gaze and spots Cornelius hunched over and clinging to the shingles. As soon as the kitten catches sight of him, he lets out an unhappy yowl, making Merlin flinch before tearing his eyes away from the cottage to look at his friend instead.

   Clasping Merlin firmly on the shoulder, Arthur says, "It's going to be fine, Merlin. I'll get him down, and he'll be none the worse for wear. I promise."

   Merlin nods silently. Arthur gives him a tense, taut smile, and squeezes his should reassuringly before pulling away. He scans the area, looking for a ladder or a stool or literally any way to get up to the roof. He only finds the sturdy overhanging arch above the front door, the eavestrough within reach just above it. He frowns in concentration, letting his eyes wander over the building as he calculates a route up onto the roof, to Cornelius, and then safely back down for the both of them.

   Nodding with a confidence that he hopes is real and not faked, he makes his way over to the front door, reaching up for the wooden arch as he lifts a leg to step up onto the flower pot next to the door. Merlin's voice behind him makes him pause and look back at his friend behind him.

   "Be careful, Arthur. Please don't get hurt because of me." He sounds so genuinely worried that Arthur can't help but smile.

   "You know me, Merlin." He says, heaving himself up onto the flower pot and gripping the arch with both hands. "I'm always careful." He shoots Merlin a grin and a wink (to which Merlin blushes) before turning back to focus on what he is doing. Using his upper body strength, he hauls himself up closer to the arch, feet leaving the pot to scramble up the side of the house. Upon reaching the top of the arch, he pauses to take a breath before doing the same thing with the slightly more rickety eavestrough. His heart lurches into his throat as it groans under his weight and shifts slightly, but it holds enough for him to scrabble up onto the roof itself entirely.

   Glancing back at Merlin discreetly, he finds the man staring at him wide-eyed, and he has to consciously fight the urge to show off and preen. Looking away, he searches the roof for the object of this climb. He spots Cornelius not far away, nails clearly dug into the material of the shingles and staring at him forlornly.

   "Hey, nothing to worry about. I'll have you down before you know it." He eases himself up onto his feet, taking a couple steps forward to find his balance on the slanted footing. The slightly worn soles of his shoes slip a bit as he progresses across the roof, and he grits his teeth in concentration and determination.

   After one particularly good slide, he hears Merlin cry out, "God, be careful, Arthur!"

   Choosing not to reply, Arthur creeps forward, inching closer and closer to his quarry. As he gets within a couple arms lengths away, Cornelius rises up onto his feet, staring up at Arthur almost hopefully. Arthur crouches, so as to be more on his level, as he gains ground.

   "Cornelius, you rascal." He greets once he's close enough to reach out and pet him. The little body is trembling sightly under his fingertips. "What do you say, do you trust me?" Arthur asks. The kitten looks up at him with big eyes, and Arthur is sure he is telling him yes.

   With a nod, he carefully curls the fingers of one hand around Cornelius' middle, using his other hand to brace himself against the roof. He brings the kitten close to his chest, both to try to maintain his centre of gravity and to help the poor thing feel a little more safe and secure. He feels Cornelius burrow into the fabric of his t-shirt and sucks in a breath. Now, he just had to get them both back down onto solid ground. No problem.

   Very slowly, Arthur turns around, eyes focussed on the part of the roof he had clambered up onto. They way back seemed a lot longer than the way to Cornelius had been. Biting his lower lip, he begins to make his way back, one small step after one small step. He sucks in a sharp lungful of air every time one foot slips the tiniest amount.

   "Merlin, meet me by the door. I'm going to get down onto the arch and pass him to you." He orders. The sound of hurried feet is his only reply. Satisfied that Merlin has listened, Arthur focuses all his attention and energy on simply getting down past the eavestrough and onto the arch above the door. He inhales deeply to try to relax as he peers over the edge to find his way down, Merlin's anxious face peering up at him. He gives Merlin a silent nod, receives one in return, thens shifts Cornelius into the crook of his arm to protect him better as he turns around to slide down onto the arched top that suddenly looked a lot farther down than it had from the ground. Holding his breath, he eases over the edge, stretching his toes down to feel for something other than thin air under him. As soon as he does, he grits his teeth and lowers himself down one handed.

   "Here." He says as soon as both feet are on the arch, blindly holding Cornelius out. As soon as his weight disappears, he crouches down, shimmies back, grabs the ledge, and pushes off, holding his weight on the edge for a moment before letting go and jumping off.

   As soon as his feet are on solid ground, he turns to look at Merlin. His eyes land on his best friend, finds him and Cornelius practically clinging to each other. Merlin lifts his eyes to look at him, relief and gratefulness and something else shining in his eyes. He barely hears Merlin as he breathes out a quiet, "Thank you."

   Arthur purses his lips and nods back. "How about some tea, yeah?" He asks, hoping to try to calm Merlin down. Merlin nods back but doesn't move, just hugs his pet closer to his chest. With a renewed fondness thrumming in his chest, Arthur settles a hand on Merlin's back and steers him towards the front door, pulling it open and ushering Merlin in before him.

   "Go sit. I'll take care of it." He orders, giving Merlin a gentle push towards the sofa as he continues on towards the kitchen to get the water on to boil. He can feel Merlin's gaze on him, practically burning two holes into his back, but refuses to turn around, to look at him, too afraid of what his own features will give away. Had he looked back, however, he would have seen the raw adoration swimming so clearly in Merlin's eyes, showing nothing but love for his friend. 

Chapter Text

   The mug of coffee on the kitchen table is growing cold, long forgotten about. The very tip of Merlin's tongue is poking out past his lips as he narrows his eyes at his laptop screen, carefully reading over the paragraphs he has written so far. He had managed to pick up a weekly column in a local magazine about herbs and their care, uses, and varieties. Certainly not what he had been expecting to end up doing with his schooling, but he had more than enough experience to do it well thanks to Gaius' garden and carefully laid out instructions when he had first moved in. Merlin always made sure to credit his Uncle whenever he used one of his helpful tips.

   Absently, Merlin reaches out blindly to pet Cornelius, curled up on the window sill beside him. Only his fingers never meet soft fur. They fall through the air to land on the sun warmed wood of the ledge. This pulls Merlin's attention away from the screen in front of him, and he looks around curiously. He hadn't even heard Cornelius get up and leave. He shrugs to himself and looks back at what he has written so far. He's about two hundred words shorter than he usually is, but his mind is refusing to supply him with more ideas.

   He hardly notices the sound of the cat door opening and closing, or the sound of the little bell around Cornelius' neck, except to register that his cat has returned and is okay. After the roof incident, he had become a little more overprotective of the kitten. He had become quite attached to him in a very short time, and the thought of anything happening to him was simply unthinkable. He has only just recently, in the past few days, begun to relax.

   His eyes scan over the last paragraph, and he wracks his brain to try to come up with something else to add. Inhaling deeply, he furrows his brow. It takes a moment for his nose to wrinkle as his brain processes the nasty smell now permeating through the room. He sighs and leans back in his chair.

   "Cornelius, what have you gotten into now?" He speaks aloud as he cranes his head to scan his immediate vicinity. He doesn't see the kitten, but he does spot a distinct trail of muddy paw prints leading from the cat door into the cottage. Merlin lets out a defeated groan.

   Pushing away from the table, he calls out, "Alright, here kitty, kitty. Time to clean you up."

   Keeping his eyes drifting over the floor and into obvious nooks and crannies between furniture, he begins the search for Cornelius. He also follows his nose, the smell of rotting plant life and what Merlin can only describe (but sincerely hopes it isn't) as animal excrement gets stronger the closer he gets. Unfortunately, Cornelius apparently enjoys his current state, as he keeps moving out of sight and just out of reach. Before too long, it turns into a mad hunt, one in which the kitten derives a little too much amusement. Muddy paw prints criss-cross the hardwood floor, a streak of discolouration splashed across a wall or the side of the sofa or a table leg every now and then. The impending potential for a muddy, trashed disaster gets closer every second, and Merlin huffs in annoyance and pulls out his phone. 

To: Arthur, 11:34 AM
Get your arse over here NOW!!

   Shoving his phone back into his pocket, he makes his way into the kitchen and pulls out the small bag of cat treats. He walks back out into the middle of the living room and shakes the bag hopefully.

   "Here, Cornelius! You'll get a yummy treat!" He waits a moment, listening. When only silence answers back, his shoulders slump in defeat. "Oh, bugger."

~~~

   Merlin barely hears the sound of the front door open, or the sound of Arthur stepping inside and calling out his name. He's too busy laying flat on the floor of his bedroom, stretching his arm underneath his bed as far as it'll go, fingers wiggling desperately as he tries to reach for Cornelius sitting just outside his arms length. The smell wafting off of his damp and mud caked fur is utterly atrocious, and Merlin is trying to breath as little as possible, despite the physical effort. 

   "Merlin, what on earth are you doing?" Comes Arthur's amused voice just inside his bedroom door. Merlin lets out a surprised yelp and jumps slightly, smacking his head on the bedframe. He swears he hears both Arthur and Cornelius laugh at him. Fixing a glare on his face, he wriggles out from under the bed.

   "You could warn a guy that you're here." Merlin grouches, rubbing the sore spot on his head.

   Arthur hooks his thumbs into the pockets of his jeans and stares down at him, one eyebrow raised. "I did. It's not my fault you didn't hear me. Now, are you going to tell me what was so important that I had to drop everything I was doing to rush over here at once?"

   Merlin continues to glare. "Cornelius got into something outside and now smells like the walking dead. I need help catching him, bathing him, and preferably help cleaning up all of his little footprints around the whole damn cottage."

   "Ah." Arthur rocks back onto his heels as he nods his head, looking around with laughter filled eyes. "I was wondering about the new embellishments. I thought maybe that was just your odd way of redecorating. You never can tell with you, you always have been a weird one. Never quite fathomed you out."

   A burst of laughter fills the air as Merlin grabs his pillow and throws it at the blond. "Shut it, you arse. Now, are you going to help me, or what? Or are you not brave enough to help me bath a cat?"

   The blond narrows his eyes at the playful barb and Merlin knows that he has won. Really, Arthur was just too easy sometimes.

   Rolling up his sleeves, Arthur approaches the other side of the bed and squats down. "You're such a girl, Merlin. Honestly, how hard can it be?"

   It takes another half an hour before the two of them manage to corner the filthy cat, and another five after that before one of them successfully grabs him. Just as Cornelius had been about to make a break for the kitchen again, Arthur dove to the floor and wrapped one hand around the small chest while his other arm curled completely around him, pulling him close to his own chest. Soggy mud seeps into his shirt as tiny claws scrape madly over the skin of his forearms. Merlin winces in sympathy. 

   "Okay, perfect." He says over a sigh of exhaustion and relief. "Let's get him to the bathroom before he can wriggle away." Arthur nods, struggling up onto his feet and shifting Cornelius so he is as trapped as possible. Merlin tries not to notice how beautiful Arthur looks, cheeks a little flushed and golden hair ruffled. Even clothed in damp, muddy clothes, he looked perfect. 

   Biting his lower lip as his cheeks flush a little red, he leads the way to the bathroom. He can hear Arthur's hurried steps behind him, and as soon as the bathroom door is closed, sealing the three of them inside, he lets Cornelius go. The kitten scrambles on the tiled floor, racing around the perimeter of the small room before scurrying behind the toilet and glaring ferociously up at his captors.

   "This is your own fault." Merlin tells him as he leans over the tub to get the water going. He adjusts the temperature until it's warm, but not too hot. Once satisfied, he looks back over his shoulder at Arthur. "You ready?"

   Arthur nods, face serious, as if he were going into battle instead of just bathing a kitten. "Ready."

   This time, it's Merlin who makes a grab for Cornelius, just managing to wrap his hands around his lithe, little body before he can slip away. Behind him, Arthur switches over to the shower head in the tub, pulling the handheld nozzle from its hook on the wall of the bathroom and lowering the hose enough to reach the bottom of the tub. Merlin grits his teeth as sharp claws dig into his forearms, struggling to get free, as he carries his kitten over to the tub.

   An ungodly, feline scream fills the bathroom as Merlin shoves Cornelius under the water. He begins to struggle madly, his wet, slick fur now making it even harder to hold him.

   "Shampoo! Now!" Merlin cries as Cornelius resorts to biting now, gnawing on his knuckles. Arthur hurries to squeeze a dollop of cat shampoo into one palm, closing the bottle with a snap and setting it aside before rubbing his palms together, spreading the soap between them.

   Cornelius hisses as Arthur darts in and starts scrubbing his hands over his fur. He squirms and bites and swipes with his claws, tearing up Merlin's knuckles, hands, and forearms even more. Arthur sucks in a pained breath between his teeth as the kitten's sharp claws drag across his own skin, red beading up to the skin before the water washes it away. Still, he continues working the shampoo through Cornelius' soiled coat as Merlin shifts his hold to allow Arthur to get every inch clean. He has to take several deep breaths to calm his racing pulse every time Arthur's hands and wrists bump his own. God, he really was utterly gone on his best friend. 

   "Good!" Arthur calls out triumphantly, reaching for the handheld shower head. He aims it at Cornelius and begins to spray him down, rinsing the soap out of his fur. The water going down the drain is dark brown. Cornelius continues squirming, hitting the shower head several times, just enough to get a good spray headed in Merlin's direction instead. Arthur laughs, bright and free and happy, every time.

   As the last of the soap rinses free, Merlin directs Arthur to the hall to grab a towel, lifting a soggy, angry kitten out of the tub. Arthur returns to the bathroom and begins to towel his fur dry, making Cornelius protest vocally, as loudly as possible. Finally, having had enough, he plants all four feet on Merlin's chest, pushing off with all his strength. Merlin loses his grip, and both he and Arthur are helpless but to watch him gracefully land on his feet and streak out of the bathroom.

   Silence reigns in the air, broken only by the two men's panting breaths. They raise their eyes, look at each other. There's a brief pause, a short heartbeat of time, then they both promptly burst out into laughter. Arthur throws his head back, his distinct laughter filling the small room as Merlin's eyes narrow into little half moons. The pair of them truly look ridiculous. Messy hair, damp, dirty clothes, faint scratches and tooth marks running up their hands and arms.

   As their laughter quiets down, Arthur looks at Merlin from across the small room, a small smile still tugging up the corners of his mouth. He's close enough that Merlin can smell his aftershave, the scent of his shampoo, and the uniquely Arthur scent that always makes him a little weak at the knees. Merlin looks away, hoping he can play off the blush on his cheeks as simply being from exertion, but a soft sigh brings his eyes back. For a moment, their eyes meet, and Merlin's blood buzzes through his veins as Arthur really looks at him. He blinks and it's gone, leaving his wondering if it had just been his imagination.

   Clearing his throat, Arthur says, "You mentioned something about cleaning up paw prints?"

   "Uh." Merlin blinks again. "Yeah. It would be appreciated."

   Arthur shoots him a cheeky grin. "Next time this happens, call Gwaine. I'm sure he'd love to help."

   Merlin can't help the chuckle that passes his lips at the thought of their fun-loving, easy-going friend struggling with a thrashing, angry cat. Arthur looks pleased with himself, though for what, Merlin couldn't say. He doesn't comment on it as he follows Arthur out into the hall, where he pulls open his cupboard to haul out his broom, mop, and cleaning supplies. Arthur takes one without comment.

   As they begin scrubbing at the muddy marks everywhere, Merlin glances over at Arthur and says, "Thank you."

   Arthur looks back at his steadily. "You're welcome. Like I've told you before, no matter what you need, I'll always be here for you. Always."

Chapter Text

   "He's gone." 

   All it takes is two words to get Arthur up on his feet and walking out of his office to make his way down to the underground carpark. Two words to have him completely blow off a meeting with his father. Two words to make his heart race painfully and his blood rush in his ears.

   The drive out of the city and to Merlin's cottage passes in a blur, his conversation with Merlin playing on repeat. Apparently, that morning had started like any other. Merlin had gotten up, filled up Cornelius' food and water dishes, and then he had made breakfast and sat down with his coffee to write. He had gotten up for a beverage refill about two and a half hours later, and had noticed that the food dish was untouched. Upon searching for his kitten, Merlin had found his pale yellow collar snagged on the branches of a bush outside. After a panicked search, Merlin had phoned Arthur, distraught and in tears. Arthur had quite literally dropped everything just at the sound of his voice.

   'He's gone. He's gone. He's gone.' Those two terrible words echo through his mind.

   Merlin is waiting for him by the front door when he pulls into the yard. His arms are wrapped protectively around himself, cheeks splotchy and eyes red and puffy. His hair is a mess, his clothes rumpled and sporting a stray leaf here and there. The closer that Arthur gets, the more he can tell, like the way Merlin's shoulders are visibly shaking.

   As soon as the car is in park and the engine is off, Arthur is out the door, striding towards Merlin. Once he's within reach, he grabs him by the shoulders and tugs him bodily into a hug. He curls his arms around Merlin's back, gathering fistfuls of his light sweater into his hands. Merlin buries his nose in Arthur's neck, breathing shakily.

   Turning his head, Arthur whispers into Merlin's hair, "It's going to be okay. We're going to find him. We'll bring our boy home, I promise."

   Merlin nods silently, but continues to shake slightly. Giving him a firm squeeze, Arthur pulls away, resettling his hands on his slim shoulders as he meets his misty eyes. "Now, where have you checked so far?"

   After a thick swallow, Merlin replies, "Everywhere in the house, the garden, and the bushes where I found his collar." His voice is hoarse and scratchy, and makes Arthur's heart hurt even more.

   Nodding, he gently says, "Okay, let's split up, start searching areas farther and farther from the house. We'll go out in sections, make sure we don't miss anything. You take that half and I'll take this half."

   A miserable nod is his only reply, Merlin's head dipping to stare down at their shoes. Arthur cups one cheek in his palm, gently urging Merlin's head up. "You have my word, we will find him."

   Merlin inhales shakily, leaning into Arthur's touch for a moment before pulling away. Without a word, he turns and makes his way towards the other side of the cottage. Taking a deep breath, Arthur turns away and squares his shoulders. He had a poorly made promise to keep.

   With purposeful strides, he makes his way over to the trees and bushes that bordered the cottage's small plot of land. It may not have been huge, but it was still large enough, however, to very easily hide a kitten for a long time. Stopping at the vague treeline, Arthur cups his hands around his mouth and calls out Cornelius' name. Nothing happens. Nothing moves or makes a sound. With a sigh, he pulls back a few small branches and steps into the vegetation.

   Arthur fights his way through the slowly thickening trees, getting closer and closer to the edge of the property. He pulls back every branch, crouches to look under every bush, peers around every rock. No fluffy, grey kitten is waiting for him. He wonders how Merlin is making out, if he's found him yet and is simply waiting for Arthur to reappear to share the relieved news. Or maybe he's been as successful as Arthur has, and has that sinking, sick feeling blossoming in his stomach.

   "Cornelius, where are you?" He asks desperately out loud, stopping to stare around him, turning in a slow circle as he scans the ground and trees surrounding him. He hadn't forgotten the roof incident, and so was not ruling out the kitten having climbed a tree and now was unable to get himself down.

   Spotting nothing, he continues on, heart growing heavy in his chest as he spots the sun passing its midway point in the sky. Setting his jaw, he resigns himself to trying harder, looking more carefully, being more thorough. He had to find Cornelius. There were no other acceptable options.

   Ducking under a branch, he spots slight movement off to his left. He looks over, heart in his mouth, but sees nothing other than a rock, a stray ray of sunshine pouring through the leaves above and warming it. His shoulders deflate and he turns to go when he spots the movement again. The twitch of the end of a long, grey tail. Holding his breath, Arthur creeps over, crossing his fingers as he looks at the other side of the rock. He could cry from sheer relief when his eyes land on what's there.

   Cornelius, seemingly oblivious to the panic he has caused, is happily sleeping pressed up as close to the rock as he can get, soaking up what warmth he can from it. He twitches his tail or an ear every now and then as an insect grows too close.

   Very slowly, Arthur reaches down to brush his fingers over the small, grey head. A quiet chirrup sounds through the air as Cornelius opens his eyes and looks up at him. He promptly scratches his head over Arthur's fingers, purring happily. Arthur huffs out a relieved, slightly choked, laugh, and reaches out both hands to grab him, cradling him close to his chest and nuzzling his nose into his soft fur the way he's seen his best friend do on numerous occasions.

   "Thank god you're okay." He breathes, closing his eyes to compose himself before turning back towards the house. He holds Cornelius securely with both hands to prevent losing him again. Not that Cornelius seems to have any urge to go anywhere. He leans into Arthur's chest quite happily, purring the whole time.

   As the cottage comes back into view, Arthur calls out, "Merlin!"

   It takes a moment for Merlin's harried form to appear around the side of the cottage. His mouth is open, as if ready to say something, but then his eyes fall to Arthur's arms, where Cornelius is safely curled up against Arthur's chest. He freezes there, unmoving and almost barely daring to breath. He just stares, mouth slightly parted, and then he takes a few steps closer, as if unwilling to let himself truly believe that his kitten was now safe and sound again. The closer he gets, the more Arthur can see the tears glistening in his eyes.

   "He's okay." He says quietly, gently. Merlin still flinches and jumps slightly. "We found him, just like I promised."

   Merlin's eyes flick up to his, the blue depths swimming with unshed tears and something more. Arthur can't quite place what it is. He holds his own breath, staring back. Cornelius remains unmoving in his arms, content to stay put for now.

   A silent moment passes, then another, and another, and then Merlin is moving. He strides closer, eyes brilliant and relieved, and Arthur begins to shift the kitten in his arms, to hand him over, but never gets the chance. Once Merlin is close enough, he reaches up both hands to cup either side of Arthur's face, and then kisses him full on the mouth. Arthur's eyes widen in surprise for a moment, his whole body freezing in what could only be labelled as shock. It takes a moment for his body to relax, for his brain to unfreeze, but by the time it does, it's too late. Merlin is already pulling away, looking horrified.

   "Oh my god, I just did that. Why did I just do that?" Merlin says, panicky and apologetic and slightly hysterical. "God, I am so stupid. I am so sorry. I don't know why I did that. I shouldn't've done that. Shit, Arthur, I am so sor-"

   Arthur cuts him off by curling one hand around the back of his head, letting his fingers slide through the dark locks as he hauls him back in for another kiss. A proper one. One he whole-heartedly and enthusiastically reciprocates this time. Merlin grunts as he's cut off and then groans as he relaxes into Arthur's embrace, kissing him back with just a hint of the desperate, hysterical tone had had just been speaking with. But Arthur kisses him calmly, methodically, easing him off the edge he had been teetering on ever since Cornelius had gone missing. He's just swiping his tongue over Merlin's lower lip, feeling Merlin shiver against him, when he feels Cornelius shift in his one armed hold.

   Pulling away from Merlin's mouth with a huffed laugh, he looks down at the kitten held snugly between them. He peers up at them unblinkingly. Shaking his head, Arthur looks back up at Merlin.

   "Perhaps we should get him inside. I'm willing to be that he's a little on the hungry side." Arthur says. Cornelius makes an agreeable sounds, making Merlin let out a wet laugh too.

   "Yeah, okay." He steps back from Arthur, but snags his hand before he turns to lead the way toward the cottage. Arthur curls his fingers so they lace with Merlin's, enjoying the way Merlin's ears turn a little pink at the tips. He has a sudden urge to lick them, but files it away for later. Now was not the time.

   Inside, Arthur carries Cornelius to his bowl, setting him down. He begins to eat immediately, a contented rumble filling his chest that makes Arthur grin. When he straightens up, he finds Merlin leaning against the kitchen counter nearby, chewing on his lower lip uncertainty. A soft smile settles over Arthur's mouth as their eyes meet, replacing his grin from mere moments before.

   "Come here." Arthur says, holding his arms open in invitation. Merlin barely hesitates a moment before complying, stepping back into Arthur's space and snuggling into his chest as Arthur curls his arms around him.

   "Thank you." Merlin mumbles against his neck, sending a spark of heat dancing up and down Arthur's spine.

   Taking a leap of faith, Arthur kisses the side of Merlin's head, keeping his lips pressed there as he murmurs, "I love you, Merlin. There is nothing I wouldn't do for you."

   Merlin shudders in his arms, and for a moment, Arthur is worried that he said the wrong thing, but then he hears Merlin reply, "I love you, too. I always have."

   Arthur closes his eyes, lets Merlin's words wash over him, and then he starts to chuckle. God, they had been so stupid for so long. The significant looks Morgana always gave him whenever she spent any time with Arthur and Merlin together suddenly make a lot more sense. Or the soft, knowing smiles Gwen would give them, or the approving nods from Lance, the lewd smiles from Gwaine.

   "What?" Merlin asks, pulling away.

   Arthur lifts a hand to brush over the tear tracks on Merlin's cheeks. "We're both idiots. It took a cat to get us to realize what everyone else has seen all along."

   Merlin wrinkles his nose, looking ready to protest, before he stops, looks thoughtful. A red blush rises to Merlin's cheeks as he chuckles bashfully. "Yeah, I suppose you're right. This time."

   A snarky retort is ready on Arthur's tongue, but when he opens his mouth to reply, the words that come out instead are, "I love you."

   A grin pulls at Merlin's lips. "So you've said." He surges forward to kiss Arthur again, stealing away any further words that are waiting to be spoken. Arthur finds that he doesn't much mind. He tangles his fingers into Merlin's hair, kissing him soundly in the kitchen of his small cottage, blood buzzing through his veins as Merlin wraps his arms around him tighter, pulling him impossibly closer. And through it all, Cornelius purrs happily, satisfied and content as he curls on up the back of the sofa.