Chapter Text
Merlin sits on the floor as he polishes Arthur’s armor. While Arthur shamelessly stares at him, watching as his hands scrub the armor clean, it was oddly distracting but Arthur couldn't find it in himself to pay attention.
The problem is Arthur can’t concentrate. It has nothing to do with the fact that Merlins hair is stupidly long hair. No it does not.
Merlin’s hair is just so distracting it’s fluffy and curly but worst of all it’s soft. Arthur knows for a fact it’s because Merlin uses his shampoo, he’s made Merlin use his leftover bath water enough times to know. It's unhygienic for his manservant to go around smelling like horse dung, even he's the one who told him to clean it.
It's offensive to his nostrils to have to smell manure in the comfort of his bed chambers.
(And Arthur likes that Merlin smells like him. He likes being able to wash Merlin's hair with his shampoo, knowing that Merlin is going to be walking around smelling like him, even if the earthly small Merlin has is always present.)
You see the problem isn’t that Arthur is distracted with Merlin’s hair, because that would imply that his hair is the problem. No, the problem is that he’s supposed to be reading over boring paperwork.
The problem is that its his duty as prince to overlook the report, he can’t just skip it to stare at Merlin’s hair.
And oh how much he just wants to run his finger through those fluffy locks of hair. Every time Merlin shifted or leans forward his hair gets in his face and Merlin bats it away like a cat toying with a string. It’s so adorably endearing arthur finds himself staring, finds himself bearly resisting the urge to walk over there and move Merlin’s hair out of the way himself, the temptation to kneel behind Merlin and play with his hair is strong.
But no.
Arthur must stay strong, he must resist all temptations and attempt to focus on his paperwork. Then Merlin sighs, stealing Arthur’s attention once more and sealing his fate of getting no work done.
Stop being so distracting, is what he wants to say but instead it come out as, “Merlin. Can you not? I’m trying to focus.”
Merlin huffs out an frustrated noise and looks up at Arthur, unintentionally moving his hair back into his face, curly strands getting caught on his eyelashes. Held in place by the air of sheer stubbornness that Merlin radiates. Figures. Merlin’s hair would be as stubborn as him.
Merlin rolls his eyes, “Yes your right sire, forgive me for breathing,” then he brings his hand up and runs it through his hair, Arthur’s eyes following the movement as it passes through those onyx locks.
"You are forgiven," Arthur says in a faux mocking tone, "could you hand me the knights report from this evening?” He asks playfully, voice coated in amusement.
“Not even a please?” Merlin teased as he grabs the offending paper from Arthur’s desk and walks over to Arthur who is sitting on his arm chair in front of the fire.
Arthur rolls his eyes, and makes a move to take the paper when Merlin suddenly pulls back right before Arthur could take it. Frowning Arthur looks up from the report he was reading and tilts his head at Merlin.
“Come on dollophead, say it.”
“Say what, that your an idiot?” Arthur teases as he tries to swipe the paper from Merlin. Unfortunately Merlin moves out of swatting range and smirks at him instead.
“I’m sure you’ve heard the word before, it starts with p and ends with and e. Generally it’s use when you ask for something.” Merlin’s snarks back.
Arthur smiles and then huffs out a laugh of disbelief, then attempts to hide it with a cough. He’s not very successful and he can tell by the way Merlin’s eyes lights up that Merlin caught into his amusement. Straitening up and with his most regal voice he can use arthur turns his nose in the air. “I demand you hand over that paper your holding.”
Merlin mock bows, his fluffy hair moving in his face as he absently brushes it out of his face. “But of corse my lord, anything you wish.” And then hands Arthur a piece of paper.
‘Hmm that was too easy,’ Arthur thought as he looks the paper over. Of course it wasn’t the most recent knight report he wanted and instead was a boring grain report.
Dramatically Arthur let’s out a long suffering sigh, “Merlin give me the knights report.”
Laughing Merlin holds it up, waving it in front of Arthur’s face. Arthur tries to grab it but Merlin was too fast, “Come on Arthur~, I know you know it. what’s the word?”
Arthur groans and slumps back into his chair as he looks at the grain report in his hand. “Fine. Merlin, please give me the knights report from this evening.
There. I said it. Now hand it over you arse.” Arthur demands.
There’s a knock at the door and they both look at it.
“Is that the best you can do?” Merlin says as he walks to open the door. Gwen appeared in the doorway but before she could say anything Merlin walks back to Arthur, paper still in hand, smirking at Arthur’s playful glare.
“I know you can try better than that, maybe even leave out the insult.”
“Fine darling, can you please hand me my report.” Arthur sassed back. "Well why didn't you just say so earlier?" Merlin asks as he fakes confusion and hands it over, ignoring Gwen’s near silent gasp.
Arthur then took the paper and gave Merlin a pointed look of unamusement, they stared at each other, retaining eye contact until Gwen broke the silence by clearing her throat.
The duo looked towards her questioning, and Arthur moved his hand in a motion for Gwen to speak as Merlin walked over to stand behind Arthur’s chair. His hands placed on the back of the chair, Arthur automatically leaned back towards Merlin.
“I apologize for.. interrupting but Lady Morgana wishes for me to inform you that the King wishes to see you.” Gwen said as she looks (discreetly) back and fort from Merlin standing above Arthur to the Prince sitting, leaned back towards his manservant, the word ‘darling’ echoing in her head as she thinks back to the silent conversation (eye fucking) she interrupted only moments before.
She tried not to coo at the fondness in Merlin’s eyes as he ‘discreetly’ plays with a piece of Arthur’s hair and silently ignores the way Arthur shifts to lean his head back to let Merlin do that.