Chapter Text
Today was the day. Today was a new start. That's what Arthur kept telling himself as he walked up the steps to his new flat. He checked his watch. 11:56. He should have arrived earlier, he knew. Morgana had been up at 7 doing her make-up and then she was out the door at 8. She must have arrived about 2 hours ago. He took a breath and lifted his suitcases up the stairs.
"Hey Gaius." The old man looked up from the counter where he was pouring a cup of coffee.
"Arthur, what a pleasure to see you again. Would you like a coffee? I've just brewed some more."
"No thanks, Gaius." He lifted up his suitcases. "My hands are full." Gaius shook his head and huffed.
"I'll bring it up." He beamed at him and walked upstairs. He could hear Morgana's speakers blasting out some rock'n'roll tune. He knocked and pushed the door open. The 19 year old woman was lain on her bed in white blouse and dark, denim shorts. He smirked and left. He entered his room and his smirk increased. The room was clean. A phone vibrated against his leg. He picked it up.
"Hey, father."
"Arthur. Have you arrived yet?" He bellowed down the phone. His father had never really understood the phrase 'volume control' so Arthur had to hold the receiver about five metres away from his eat.
"Yes. You sent the maid." He heard a tsk on the end of the line.
"Morgana's idea." Arthur chuckled.
"Mollycoddler." Uther laughed. He heard the door open and he turned. Gaius was setting the coffee on the bedside table. "Yeah. She's here too. Not right now but in the other room."
"I know, Arthur. Unlike you, she calls people when they tell her to." He shook his head. Morgana could say whatever she god damn liked about him being Uther's favourite but she could never deny: he definitely thought better of her.
"Yeah. Merlin, Gwen, you and everyone other sod she knows."
"Don't forget Morgause." Arthur's lips tightened. He clenched his fist around the phone.
"I couldn't forget Morgause if I tried." He could hear Uther's smirk on the other end of the line.
"That's explains why I found her earrings in your room. You realise she's virtually your sister?" Arthur rolled his eyes. Trust her. She always did this. Made sure she left some little hint that she had been there. Although, most of the time, those hunts were left on him.
"They were Morgana's."
"Morgana doesn't wear studs," Arthur bit his lip.
"No. Just sleeps with them."
"Arthur, I have to go. Finance meeting. I'll send her ladyship's earrings your way. I'm sure as hell not giving them her." Then the line fell dead. Arthur sighed. He should probably ring Morgause. But then he'd end up yelling and then she'd tell Morgana and she would get annoyed and Morgause would come over and then the line of events repeats itself. So he dropped the phone on his bed and sat down. There was a knock at the door. He smiled. Merlin. He opened up and saw the dorky kid. To be fair, Merlin was the same age he was but he looked like he hadn't aged since year 9. The dark haired boy saw his exasperated face and sighed.
"Your father?" Arthur nodded. "At least you're out of his hair now." Merlin lifted the battered suitcase onto his bed and opened it. Arthur's eyes widened.
"Your mother?" Merlin grinned. The suitcase was immaculate. No surprise, Arthur thought. Merlin's life was organised by his mother. Gwen helped. Gwen's life too, was immaculate. It was just the Pendragons' that was messy. Morgana's revolved around her many ex-boyfriends, her exit from her Victoria's Secret modelling job and her frequent and potent rows with Uther. Arthur's life mess was due to his lack of a decent girlfriend, money and prospects. And fucking Morgause. He groaned. Definitely not the right word to use there.