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The trio came stumbling through the door with a crash, Arthur nearly collapsing under Gwaine's weight.
"Best gentlemen ever," Gwaine said with a grin, his eyes glazed over as Merlin and Arthur both started dragging him towards the couch. "That was an epic party, thank god I can drink again."
"Actually, you can't!" Merlin pushed his friend onto the couch. "Your doctor's notes specifically says you need to wait a few weeks post op! Gwaine waved his hand.
"Technicalities, I had to be sober for an entire month, can't blame me for not wanting to wait. Besides, you two are the ones who arranged that party! At a bar! What did you expect?"
"For you to celebrate in a way that doesn't require drinking!"
The three men crashed onto the couch in a tangle of limbs, Gwaine laughing hard while Arthur groaned. Merlin shoved at them both.
“Come on, you gotta sit up, Gwaine, you can't sleep on your back tonight, remember?” It was Gwaine's turn to groan, but he didn't protest as Merlin started to rearrange the throw blankets.
"I think we have a few extra pillows."
Arthur extracted himself from the mess before disappearing down the hallway. Merlin continued to shuffle Gwaine around, making sure to keep him propped up. He tried to pull the blankets around his friend, but he just giggled like a toddler, kicking out just to make Merlin’s life more difficult.
“You really need to grow up.”
“Who says so?”
“I do! Now lay back and go to sleep!”
“Ah, fine, the emotional stress has been enough for today anyways.” Merlin sat on the couch next to Gwaine as he leaned back on the pillows Merlin had stacked.
"You guys are the best friends a man could ask for," Gwaine slurred. "Thanks for coming with me today."
"Of course, Gwaine, we're more than happy to do it." Arthur had come back with a body pillow, tossing it to Merlin to shove behind Gwaine.
Gwaine bobbed his head up and down.
"You're a good man, Arthur, thanks for treating Merls like the absolute treasure he is!" Gwaine shot him a wink and Merlin shook his head with a laugh.
"Seriously, Merls, thanks." Gwaine's tone went serious, his smile more sincere. "I wouldn't be here without you."
“Well, I’m not so sure about that…”
“Oh, but it’s true! Arthur, did you know it was Merlin who figured out I was a dude? I had no idea, I would've never guessed it. Your beautiful boyfriend saved me , I’d probably would’ve just drunk myself to death before the age of twenty if it wasn’t for him.” The man laughed to himself, as if this was the funniest thing ever.
Internally, Merlin sighed to himself. Sadly, he very much believed Gwaine. He’d always been on that slippery slope. So Merlin had taken up the job years ago of making sure his friend never fell. Over the couch, Merlin could see Arthur’s pained expression, certain that it reflected his own. He may have not known Gwaine for as long as Merlin, but he clearly cared for the man. Arthur could never stand to see anyone he loved in pain.
Merlin patted his knee before standing up.
"Get some rest, Gwaine, you need to sleep it off."
“Aye aye, cap’n.” Merlin rolled his eyes at Gwaine’s salute, but was grinning all the same.
In the kitchen, Arthur poured a glass of wine, passing it to Merlin.
"Thanks," Merlin said.
“Big day, huh?”
Merlin laughed. “You can say that again.” He glanced over his shoulder to see Gwaine was already passed out, snoring like a train. “I’ve never seen him like this, he finally seems comfortable in his own skin. He’s actually opening up. Although I could do without the drinking.”
Merlin looked back at Arthur, whose face was all scrunched up. He placed a hand over Arthur’s.
“What is it, love?”
Arthur sighed.
“I just… I worry about him, Merlin. I know he’s your friend and all, but when he says stuff like that… What if something happens to him?”
Merlin didn’t answer right away, because it was a genuine concern, a worry he’d had ever since high school, when Gwaine came out, and when he’d started drinking.
“Honestly, I don’t know,” Merlin said, not meeting Arthur’s eyes. “He’s had it so hard, Arthur, he’s never been able to really be himself. I guess I hope that now that his body matches his actual gender… things will slowly get better.”
“We’ll look after him, together,” Arthur said, his words firm and certain. “It's like taking care of a big baby."
Merlin laughed, smiling at his boyfriend’s attempt to cut the tension.
“I suppose it is,” he said, setting down his glass and moving to loop his arms around Arthur’s. They just stood there a moment, rocking back and forth.
“He’ll get there, Gwaine always has, and always will be a fighter.”