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“Do I really need a reason to treat you?”
Merlin doesn’t even look up, eyes still fixed on the labelled box on their coffee table. He’s been staring at it since he walked through the front door ten minutes ago. “I mean… no, but that doesn’t look like a ‘treat’, that’s, like, something my dad would get my mum for their anniversary.”
“Pretend it’s an anniversary then, if it makes you feel better.”
Finally, Merlin drags his attention up and across the room to where Arthur is cooking dinner like nothing’s happening. He looks patently ridiculous, wearing a “Kiss the Chef” apron that Merlin got him as a joke as he stirs a pot that smells unfairly good already.
“But it’s not, though. It’s not even close to anything.” He pauses, only continuing when he realises that he’s not getting a response. “It’s Tuesday!”
Arthur laughs brightly, and even through the confusion, Merlin has to admit that Arthur’s laugh might be one of the most beautiful sounds he’s ever heard. His eyes drift back to the box, small and emblazoned with the Penguin Random House logo. It’s not just a box, either, it’s nice packaging, the type that never carries anything worth less than 500 pounds.
“Seriously, Merlin, it’s nothing special, I just wanted to do something nice, alright?” In his awe, he doesn’t notice Arthur’s approach until the man’s arm winds around his waist. A glass of wine gets pushed into one hand just as Arthur’s lips settle at his neck. “All I want is to spoil you for a night. Dinner, wine, a film, whatever you want.”
He’s still incredibly confused, but he relaxes back into his boyfriend’s hold and takes a slow sip of the wine. “Why, though? Oh Christ, wait, this is the good stuff, isn’t it?”
Arthur hums softly in acknowledgement, and with Merlin having a grasp on the wine, he settles into fully hugging Merlin from behind. “Don’t know, just cause?”
“I… alright, yeah, I suppose.” He tilts his head back enough to be able to look at Arthur. “You’re getting all soft on me, Pendragon.”
“Well, not all soft.” Arthur grins and shoots him a menacing wink.
“Oh, you arse!” Merlin shoves him back with an elbow and rolls his eyes. “Go finish dinner or whatever, prat.”
Still grinning like an idiot, Arthur manages to swoop in for a kiss, only letting him go when breathing starts becoming an issue. “Yes, of course, my lord. Anything else while I’m at it?”
“Could you find me a boyfriend who’s not an utter idiot?”
“Unfortunately, they were out of stock last time I checked. Mind settling for a different model?”
Merlin lets out a dramatic sigh, then pulls Arthur into a quick kiss. “Suppose I can make do.”
———
Dinner is absolutely amazing, and Arthur sits there grinning like an idiot the entire time because Merlin starts going on a tangent about some magical artefact, and there’s little he loves more than Merlin’s tangents.
Eventually, they migrate to the sofa, fresh glasses of wine in hand as they curl up around each other. The Penguin Random House box still sits on the table, holding what he hopes is the book Merlin’s been looking for for years. He’d spent enough time tracking it down and calling in favours that if it’s the wrong book, he might just lose his mind.
Merlin seems content on ignoring it for the moment, still rambling happily about whatever bullshit Jonathan from the Business school said today. He’s happy to relax and listen, soaking in the excess joy coming off of Merlin in waves.
It’s only once Merlin has finished the story of his day that he clocks the box again, eyes widening as he looks over at it. “So…”
“Would you like to open your gift, Merlin?”
“Yes, yeah, I really would, what the hell did you get me?”
Arthur just grabs Merlin’s wine out of his hand and nudges him towards it with a smile. He watches, excitement bubbling underneath the surface as Merlin works at the packaging.
He can tell the moment that Merlin puts the pieces together because his body goes tense, thrumming with energy. “Arthur, is this…”
“Jo Flynt’s Analysis and Treaty on Natural Magic, First Edition.” He pauses to watch the way Merlin runs his hand over the spine, with the same care and softness as everything else he touches. “Might actually be signed as well…”
There’s nothing but silence for a long moment, long enough for Arthur to start doubting his choices. Merlin is just holding the book and staring at it, but the angle is all wrong and Arthur can’t see him well enough to figure out how he’s feeling.
Arthur is about five seconds away from breaking down and asking if Merlin’s still alive when the brunette turns and all but jumps onto him, the book dropped to the couch cushion and forgotten.
“You absolute arse, fuck you for this, oh my god.” Merlin grabs his face and kisses him before he even gets a chance to respond. “You can’t just get me stuff like that on a bloody Tuesday, for fuck’s sake!”
“I- I mean, I don’t think it was Tuesday when I bought it, if that helps?” Arthur’s 90 percent sure that Merlin’s not actually mad, but he’s got a rather sudden armful of Merlin, so his processing skills have taken a sharp dip.
Merlin laughs, though, eyes bright even with how they’ve started to well up. “Gods, I love you, you utter idiot. I just- What’s all this about?”
“Nothing?” It’s evidently not the answer Merlin wants, but it’s all he can really give. “I just remember you talking about the book and thought I could track it down for you, so I did.”
“Christ. Only you could casually hunt down an ancient magic tome just ‘cause.”
Merlin still looks gobsmacked, but there’s a fondness in his eyes that helps ease Arthur’s nerves. “You do like it, though?”
“Seriously? I love it, Arthur, it’s just… way too much! I don’t need fancy stuff like this, alright?”
“Maybe not, but you deserve it.” Merlin’s eyes widen a bit more, and as soon as he opens his mouth, Arthur just knows he’s about to be ridiculous. “No, hey, you do! And I want to give you nice things, things that make you happy. Cause, I mean… you make me happy.”
It’s such a cheesy line that, after a moment of processing it, the two of them both groan. It breaks the tension, though, and Arthur takes the chance to pull Merlin further into his lap, tucking his head into the crook of Merlin’s neck.
“So, maybe when you’re done freaking out about this, think you could read me some stuff about magic?”
He can feel Merlin’s smile, lips spreading before pressing a soft kiss to the top of Arthur’s head. “Maybe after another glass of wine?”
Arthur acquiesces, and for a long moment, they hold each other, breathing each other in with nothing but the hum of the ceiling fan to fill the silence. It’s soft, and quiet, and it’s perfect, especially when Merlin adds, in a hushed tone:
“For what it’s worth, you make me happy too.”