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It wasn't unusual for Merlin to be up long before Arthur is on the weekends. But for a change the blonde is awake by the time his boyfriend is making scrambled eggs on toast for the third time this week. So without disturbing their cats Aithusa and Tilly, Arthur slowly makes his way to the kitchen, avoiding all the floorboards that would creak and give him away and stops in the doorway so that he could watch Merlin cook.
He can't help but smile as he hears him humming his favourite song as he goes, it wasn't often that Arthur got to see the man he loves this relaxed, in his own world as he managed to dance and cook at the same time, some how managing to not get food everywhere. He looks on fondly for a few minutes, before moving towards the other man and wrapping his arms around Merlin's waist, startling him enough that he tenses and lets out a quiet squeak, which makes Arthur chuckle quietly.
He holds him close, pressing his face into Merlin's shirt and nuzzling against it for a few seconds. It takes Merlin a while to figure out what's going on, before he relaxes back into his boyfriends arms and holds onto one of Arthur's hands, it wasn't often Arthur did this, hell it wasn't often the two of them shared hugs at all. Arthur didn't really do affection and given who Arthur's father was it wasn't suprising as to why. But when Arthur did do these spur of the moment hugs, kisses and hand holding Merlin cherished each and every moment of it.
He turns the hob off and turns his attention fully back to Arthur as he turns in his arms, smiling softly when Arthur moves to lean against his shoulder and all but hide his face against Merlin's neck "good morning to you as well, Cariad" he says softly, wrapping his arms around his boyfriend. One hand resting above Arthur's heart and the other on his hip, he can't help but smile as his lover presses himself even closer so that Merlin's arms wrap around him just a little bit tighter.
They stay like this for awhile before Arthur pulls his head away, looking up at Merlin with such a loving and vulnerable expression that it takes Merlin's breath away, the hand that was resting on his chest moves to lovingly caress his face as Merlin smiles back at him fondly, pulling him impossibly closer to him. He could see that Arthur was starting to blush, so ducked his head down and gave him a slow but passionate kiss, feeling the begining of a smile growing on Arthur's face before they pulled away "I love you" he mutters quietly as he runs his thumb over his lovers cheek "I love you too" Arthur murmers, sounding a little breathless as he always did whenever Merlin said something like this.
Arthur keeps his arms around Merlin, even as he turns his attention back to the now stone cold eggs, watching in fascination as his boyfriend managed to salvage their breakfast with just a bit more salt, pepper and heat, before he turns his head and gives Arthur another gentle kiss as he plates up their meals and makes the best toast Arthur had ever smelt in his life. When they sit at the table, Arthur is pleased to find that both he and Merlin have the same idea to rest their feet against each other, they each take it in turns to nudge the others foot every so often which ends up in a foot wrestling match and a laughing fit.
As usual Merlin's cooking tastes amazing and Arthur can't help but say so, if only to see his boyfriend blush all the way to the tips of his ears. When the two had finished eating, Merlin puts their plates in the sink to wash later in the day before joining Arthur on the couch, it was one of those rare days where they both got the day off so neither had anything to get ready for or rush around to be out the door for a certain time, so Merlin practically free falls into his spot beside Arthur much to the other man's amusement and exasperation.
The two get comfortable as Arthur searches for a show, smiling when Merlin rests his head on his shoulder and rests his free hand on the one Arthur's left resting on the couch, but as soon as he's found a show he knows the both of them like, Arthur raises his arm and Merlin yelps quietly when he falls against his side, immediately being trapped there by Arthur's arms wrapping around him. Arthur chuckles quietly when he feels him squirming to get comfortable so let's go just enough for Merlin to adjust and curl into him, not thinking of anything other than watching their favourite shows together and snuggling against his boyfriend for the rest of the day.