Title: Flirtatious Flirts
Rating: PG-13
Pairing/s: Arthur/Merlin
Character/s: Arthur, Merlin, Morgana, Gwen
Summary: His patient's medication was having an interesting effect.
Warnings:
Word Count: 1000
Prompt: I've been checking you out.
Author's Notes: 2 weeks in a row! Go me! I've missed this!
“Right, Mr Pendragon,” Merlin said, his gaze on his clipboard. He nudged open the door even while scanning his notes.
“I’ve been checking you out-,”
“I bet you have.”
“Excuse me?” Merlin looked up. The patient he was checking on was young, male, fit and out of his mind with the pain relief. He had been rushed in early that morning with a burst appendix and hadn’t long been awake. Merlin had checked on him twice already but the man had been too groggy to notice.
“You’ve been eyeing me up. Swooning. Like a girl. Better than a girl. You’re cuter than girls.”
“Right,” Merlin said. He bit his lip, attempting not to laugh. The guy was cute, but Merlin knew how strong the drugs were – the chances were Arthur had no idea what he was saying. Merlin highly doubted he still would think the nurse was cute once he regained his sanity. Months of failed relationships hadn’t done any favours for Merlin’s self-esteem.
“I’ve been checking you out too,” Arthur said. He couldn’t sit up, but that wasn’t stopping him from trying. He listed to the side and Merlin hurried forward, putting the clipboard down as he helped Arthur sit up properly. Then he reached over and subtly adjusted the drip, easing off the medication as he did so. Arthur’s eyes were free from pain but glazed and there was a flush to his cheeks that at least made him look better compared to the deadly pale complexion from earlier.
“Oh yeah?” Merlin said, distracted.
“Mm hmm.” Arthur lent back and tilted his head to one side. “You’ve got a nice arse in those scrubs.”
“Right. Um, thanks?” Merlin felt his flush working up his neck. It was easier to deal with disruptive patients than ones determined to flirt with him while being out of their mind on painkillers.
“You’re pretty.”
“And you need rest,” Merlin said. He moved away, jotting a few things on Arthur’s notes. He couldn’t resist pausing at the door though. “I’ll come and check on you in a few hours.”
“’course you will,” Arthur said happily. His voice was slurring though, exhaustion pulling at him. “You think I’m pretty too.”
Merlin shook his head, rolled his eyes and left, pulling the door shut behind him.
“What happened to you?”
He bumped into Gwen just down the corridor, folding a stack of blankets. Merlin helped her, willing his flaming face to calm down.
“Room three.”
“Ah. Arthur Pendragon. He yelled at Gwaine earlier – told him he wanted the pretty one back. Guessing by that blush you’re who he means?”
“He’s drugged up,” Merlin said, “he doesn’t know what he is saying.”
“He was a perfect gentleman to me,” Gwen argued. “He knows exactly what he is saying.”
Merlin resisted throwing the blanket at her – she really wasn’t helping. Gwen smiled at him, her sympathetic expression revealing she knew what was going through his mind.
“You’ll meet someone,” she said, putting a gentle hand on his arm.
“Maybe. But drugged-up-patients aren’t exactly who I have in mind.”
Knowing he wouldn’t accept anything else she said, Gwen left him to it. Merlin had to steel himself when his rounds took him back to Arthur’s room later that day, but there was an elegant, dark-haired woman sitting in the room when he entered.
Merlin told himself he wasn’t disappointed when he saw her hand covering Arthur’s.
“I just need to check his meds,” Merlin said quietly when he saw Arthur was asleep. The woman nodded but let him do his job. She followed him out of the room though.
“You must be Merlin,” she said, holding out her hand. “Morgana Pendragon.”
“How did you-?”
“My brother kept talking about you. The one with the pretty eyes, I think he put it.”
“It’s a side-effect of the medication,” Merlin said quickly. His heart was pounding. She was his sister!
“Like hell it is,” Morgana said, smirking, “you’re exactly his type.”
“I, um…”
“I hope I haven’t made you uncomfortable?” There was a warning in her voice though and Merlin knew she would protect her brother if he said the wrong thing.
“He’s my patient,” Merlin settled for saying, helpless. He couldn’t admit he thought Arthur was cute. To his surprise, Morgana put a hand on his arm.
“He won’t always be.”
She disappeared back into the room and Merlin continued on his rounds. He didn’t know what he was feeling other than confused!
Just as he prepared to leave for the evening though, Lancelot asked him to check on room three before he left. The man looked harried, rushed off his feet and Merlin agreed before he remembered Arthur’s medication levels would be a lot lower than previously in the day.
He pushed open the door cautiously.
“Mr Pendragon?”
“Kill me now.”
Merlin grinned and stepped into the room. Arthur put the pillow over his head but not before Merlin could see he was blushing.
“It’s alright,” he said, thinking it really wasn’t. “The medication was strong and people always say things they don’t mean.”
“I didn’t though,” Arthur said, his voice muffled.
“Didn’t what?”
“Merlin, you idiot.” Arthur moved the pillow to glare at him. “I meant it. I just wouldn’t have been so forward, so presumptuous, so much of-,”
“A flirt?” Merlin said, grinning. Arthur blushed deeper but nodded. Merlin checked the readings and jotted down a few notes before putting the clipboard down and standing at the end of Arthur’s bed.
“Does that mean you still think I’m cute with pretty eyes?” He wouldn’t normally be so bold, but Arthur had left him squirming all day. It was only fair to repay the favour. At least Arthur could blame a rising temperature on being ill.
Arthur nodded, gaze on the bed rather than facing Merlin. Merlin took pity on him, picked up the notepad and scribbled something down before leaving.
“What was that?”
He winked. “My number. See if you still think so when you’re discharged.”