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The royal chamber was bathed in that cozy twilight of late afternoon. Arthur was reclining on the bed, his fingers drumming absently on a book he wasn't actually reading. Merlin was beside him, his head resting on the king's belly, his eyes half-closed in lazy contentment.
It was then that Arthur broke the silence.
"Merlin..."
"Here we go," murmured the sorcerer, without opening his eyes.
"If you walked into a room and inside were the five most beautiful people in the world..."
Merlin raised an eyebrow, now intrigued.
"Who—"
"It doesn't matter who," Arthur interrupted, his voice too casual. "They're just in there. The five most beautiful people in the world. And they're all completely naked..."
Merlin felt a smile form on his lips. He could sense where Arthur was going with this. His king had been acting even more possessive and jealous than usual since discovering his magical pregnancy.
"Hmmm."
"What would you do in that situation?"
Merlin thought for a moment. Not because he needed to think, but because he wanted to see Arthur squirm.
"Easy," he said finally, his voice drawling. "I'd grab the first person I saw in the room and give them a big kiss."
Arthur fell silent. When Merlin finally opened his eyes and looked up, he found the king with an expression that was a perfect mixture of jealousy and indignation.
"Hm," Arthur grumbled bitterly, crossing his arms.
Merlin bit his lip to keep from laughing.
"They're the five most beautiful people in the world, right?"
"Yes," Arthur replied, his voice tense.
"And they're all naked?"
"Yes, Merlin." Arthur rolled his eyes so hard Merlin wondered if they'd get stuck.
"Then." Merlin turned slowly, his eyes meeting Arthur's. "I'd kiss the most beautiful one of all."
Arthur growled, the sound loud and coming straight from his chest — another consequence of the magical pregnancy, his entire body slowly changing and Arthur increasingly displaying slight dragon traits like Merlin.
"Because clearly the most beautiful person would be you, my king."
The silence that followed was brief, but long enough for Merlin to see the blush spread across Arthur's face.
"Oh," Arthur breathed, surprised and unsure how to respond to that, his growl disappearing into the air.
"But now..." Merlin sat up, turning fully to face the king. "I'm the one asking you. What were you doing in a room with the other four most beautiful people in the world?"
Arthur blinked. "What?"
"You heard me." Merlin crossed his arms. "What were you doing in a room with four other beautiful, naked people?"
"Merlin—"
"Why are you there, sir?"
"I don't—"
"With four people. Naked."
Arthur opened his mouth. Closed it. Looked at the ceiling as if searching for divine answers.
"Don't talk nonsense now, Merlin!"
"No, don't change the subject." Merlin leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of amusement and a hint of jealousy he knew was irrational. "What would you do in a room with four other beautiful, naked people?"
Arthur took a deep breath. Then another. He was caught between feeling annoyed with his favorite idiot and feeling satisfied with the jealousy in Merlin's voice.
"Arthur."
"It's a hypothetical question, Merlin!"
"Then answer me hypothetically."
"You're being ridiculous."
"I'm being ridiculous? You started this conversation!"
"Because I wanted to hear your answer to see if there was any risk of you leaving me for someone else!"
The silence that followed was so absolute that Merlin could hear his own heartbeat.
"What?" he asked, his voice strangely soft.
Arthur looked away, his cheeks now red.
"You always say you love me and find me beautiful," he murmured, his voice almost inaudible. "But I'm going to change now that I'm pregnant, and I don't know what I'll look like after a few months... I just thought maybe you might want to run off with someone more beautiful..."
Merlin felt something tighten in his chest.
"Arthur..."
"And I just wanted—" Arthur gestured, frustrated. "—I just wanted to know. That's all."
Merlin sat there, frozen, processing the information.
"You set up this whole trap," he said slowly, "because you wanted to know if I'd still find you beautiful in a few months?"
"It wasn't a trap."
"Yes, it was."
"No."
"Yes."
Arthur didn't respond. He just kept his gaze fixed on the wall, his ears red.
Merlin felt the smile spread across his face — not the teasing smile from before, but something more genuine, more tender.
"Arthur."
"What?"
"You will always be the most beautiful person I've ever seen."
Arthur turned his head slowly.
"And I'm not just talking about appearance," Merlin continued, his voice lower. "I'm talking about everything. The way you love everyone in your kingdom. The way you care about everyone. The way you try to hide that you're a huge nerd."
Arthur opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
"And if you were in a room with the five most beautiful people in the world," said Merlin, leaning forward, "I wouldn't even glance at the others, because the fact that you're there already makes you the most beautiful of all."
The blush that was already on Arthur's cheeks spread down his neck.
"Merlin..."
"And not just that." Merlin moved even closer. "Even when you look like a beach ball and are carrying our babies, I'll still love you and find you the most handsome man in all the realms."
Arthur stared at him for a long moment. Then, very slowly, his lips curved.
"You're an idiot."
"Your idiot, my king. Always."
Arthur didn't deny it. Instead, he pulled Merlin into a kiss — a slow, deep kiss that said everything words couldn't.
When they parted, both were breathless.
"So," said Merlin, his voice a little rough. "Are you going to tell me what you were doing with the other four beautiful, naked people?"
Arthur threw a pillow at him.
"MERLIN!"
Merlin laughed — a loud, genuine laugh that echoed through the room.
"By the way," Arthur began, his voice suddenly curious, "what's a beach ball?"