amarie_authielTitle: I go La la la. (Momo 10)
Rating: PG-13
Pairing/s:
Character/s: Merlin, Arthur.
Summary: Arthur doesn’t like what he hears and Merlin doesn’t like what he sees.
Warnings: Tiny bit of swearing.
Word Count: ~750
Prompt: #84 Interest
Author's Notes: Title/inspiration is from La la la by Naughty Boy and Sam Smith.
"I'm covering my ears like a kid / When your words mean nothing I go La la la."
Part 1: Momo
Part 2: Observation
Part 3: Revelation
Part 4: The Hunter
Part 5: The Thief
Part 6: Face to face
Part 7: Retreat and regroup
Part 8: To bare your soul or to sell it
Part 9: So here we are
Merlin could almost heard the sound of the man's spine clicking into position as Arthur's back straightened and his jaw lifted slightly, assuming defense mode once again.
- Lies.
For a brief second Merlin imagined Mordred like that. He saw his Momo all grown up, cold and distant, with Aggravaine whispering in his ear. The new Pendragon heir.
Merlin let out a shaky breath and tried to shake the image. He held his palms in front of him and stepped sideways to move around Arthur who stood as frozen as his voice had been.
- Whatever. I'm done. It will be a cold day in Hell before I let Mordred go anywhere near that manipulating asshole. And here I was thinking you and your father were my biggest worry. You will be talking to us through Social Services or via my lawyer.
- My lawyers will tear you to shreds.
Merlin laughed humorless and looked back at Arthur, who still hadn't moved.
- I know, and I will drag you down with me. I am sure your business partners and foes shit themselves when you pull that line, but what makes you think I am worried about what will happen to me?
Arthur stared ahead of him, listening as Merlin moved towards the door, hearing the scratch of coat hangers and the door opening. His eyes drifted towards the paper on the table, his fingers drums against his leg. Why is uncle a manipulating asshole if he helped Morgana?
- Wait!
The door closes. Arthur knows Merlin ignored him on purpose. He rolls his eyes and swears out loud. Can't the man just do what he's told? He grabs the paper and runs to the door. Merlin hadn’t gone far, but he didn’t turn when Arthur called again. Arthur went after him, he was not used to being ignored. He realized his mistake a few steps into his stride as the door closed behind him. His hands curled into white knuckled fists, crushing the paper in one hand. The perfect insult - which certainly would have made Merlin turn – died on his lips. And of course it is the small click of a door lock and Arthur’s silence which makes Merlin turn around.
Arthur pads the pockets of his dressing gown and where the pyjamas' pockets would have been had there been any, but he knows it's of no use. He leans against the wall, his arms folded over his chest, one slipper wearing foot crossing the other. Merlin’s smile is wide, smug to the core. He returns, mirroring Arthur’s position leaning against the wall across the corridor of him.
- Not your day, is it?
Arthur scowls.
- It is your fault for making me run after you.
- Keep your voice down, scoffed Merlin. Sounds like I've just dumped you or something.
Arthur frowns at the way Merlin looks around as to see if anyone has heard them. There were loads of people who love it if such an assumption had been made about them. Not that Arthur wanted assumptions made but he was a catch, damn it!
- God help me, it’s hereditary!
Arthur looks up at the disbelieving face across the corridor.
- What is?
- The pout. It’s genetic.
- I do not pout.
- You are doing it now! Why… Did you get yourself locked out just so you could argue with me?
Arthur did most certainly not pout when he replied.
- No.
- Then what do you want?
Arthur could hear that this was his last chance. It must have cost him a lot to come here, Arthur couldn’t decide if he was stupid or brave to do so. He didn’t know if he himself was stupid or brave. Hopefully this was not a mistake. If it was then he alone was to bear the blame. He had been warned.
He puts the crumbled paper in his pocket.
- Because Morgana chose you and… I don’t trust my writer to tell me why.
Merlin tilts his head and looks at Arthur with that mind-reading gaze again. Then he sighed loudly and knocked the back of his head against the wall three times. Arthur wished he had some mind-reading skills of his own when Merlin takes out his phone and makes a call.
- Hey Will, are you working today? Good, good. I need to ask you a favor. Do you have a few minutes?
Part 11