Chapter Text
“Merlin, I still don’t like this beast,” grumbled Arthur as he sat stiff in his seat.
“I told you, Arthur, its a car. Its how we get around now, so get used to it,” Merlin said with a smirk.
“Fine. But I don’t like it.”
After a moment of trying to figure out “what the bloody hell is a radio? and why do you need it, Merlin?” - “Its for entertainment, Arthur, now sit back.” - Merlin started ticking off things he was going to purchase at the market out loud.
“We need eggs, milk, butter, brea-“
“Stop naming off food, Merlin, I’m starving. Where are we going anyways?”
“We, dear King, are going to the market.”
“The…market? Well at least it will be something familiar.”
“Oh, quite the contrary.”
Just then Merlin pulled into a parking space in front of a large building.
“Asda? Who is this Asda and what part of Albion does he reign?”
Merlin tried to suppress a chuckle, but it slipped passed his lips before he could control himself.
“Asda is the name of the market, not a King,” Merlin said through a smile.
“Oh. Alright then, lead the way.”
Merlin walked around the car to meet Arthur who wore a wide eyed expression as he gazed at their fellow shoppers. His expression turned worried when he bumped into a cart that Merlin was pushing toward the entrance.
Merlin pointed it and simply stated, “cart.”
“Cart,” Arthur repeated with a nod in a dignified voice.
As they reached the entrance another couple walked through the automatic doors and Arthur stopped in his tracks, mouth open, eyes wide, and brow in a furrow.
“wha-what was that, Merlin? How did- did you do that?! With your magic?!”
Merlin could not stop the laugh that erupted from his belly even he did use his magic.
“Merlin. I demand to know what you did,” Arthur said in his most Prat-like Kingly voice.
Merlin scoffed, “its wasn’t me, you git. They’re called ‘automatic doors.’ They open and close when they feel your weight on that pad on the ground there.”
Arthur looked at the ground Merlin pointed at and slowly approached it, as if stalking a deer. He looked back at Merlin for reassurance.
“Well, go on then,” the warlock encouraged.
With a determined face and a quick step, the blond was on the pad and the doors whooshed open.
He turned to face the dark haired man with a beaming smile of accomplishment.
“S’not so bad, eh?” hummed Merlin, joining Arthur through the doors.
As Merlin made his way toward the fruit stands near the entryway, picking grapes and apples, he noticed that his companion was not by his side.
That’s when he heard the faint chuckle of his King. Locating the sound, Merlin was faced with an amused Arthur walking proudly in and out of the automatic doors.
“Merlin! Look! I’m you!” and with that, Arthur waved his hand at the doors and they flew open. He then proceeded to walk through them with a gleeful smile on his face; meeting Merlin by the peach stand.
“Idiot,” Merlin mumbled under his breath with a smile, as they walked further into the market.