Chapter Text
Merlin may or may not have put a mistletoe right by the entrance of Arthur’s chambers. With any luck at least one of them will get a kiss. There is even the slightest possibility Merlin might get a kiss from Arthur himself, who knows? Merlin’s been hoping (and waiting quite patiently) for a small friendly hug from the prince but to no avail. He knows Arthur, the prat that he is, is dying for a kiss from him. He can see it in the way his eyes linger slightly on Merlin’s lips when he’s getting him dressed and in the way Arthur’s banter becomes just the tiniest bit more intimate right as Merlin starts saying something that isn’t “You are a prat” or calling him a “clotpole”. No, the moment Merlin says something like “I know it’s hard for you to understand how I feel but I care a hell of a lot about that armor, I’m not gonna let you mess that up” they both know he isn’t really talking about the armor. At the end of the day they both know all too well that both would die for the other, in this life or any other. So when Merlin hangs up the mistletoe right as they start the preparations for the yule celebration he is optimistic that he will at least get a laugh from his ridiculous prince.
“What’s that?” Arthur’s just gotten dressed all by himself this morning and Merlin’s actually quite impressed (although his shirt could be tucked in a little better).
“A mistletoe.”
“No I know it’s a mistletoe, what I meant was, why is there a mistletoe hanging in my room?”
“Oh that's a good question. Maybe Gwaine put it there, seems like something he would do, don't you think.”
“Gwaine did not put a mistletoe in my chambers.”
“You don’t think so? Perhaps it was Percival, or Leon, well probably not Leon. Seems a bit unlikely for Leon to want you to kiss someone.”
“So that’s what this is for? Kissing?” Why does he look so surprised, Merlin thinks, does he not know about this silly but ancient yule tradition?
“Well, yes? What else would it be for?”
“I don’t know, you tell me? You seem to be an expert on… green things.”
“Green things? You mean plants? I’m an expert on plants. Wow, you’re really piling on the compliments now? Did you sleep ok? Eat something funny? This new Arthur seems a bit unlike your usual prattish self.”
“Shut up.” Arthur often tells Merlin to shut up but there is usually a hint of a smile on the prince’s lips and Merlin almost always ignores his orders. This time is no different.
“Well at least we know you still want me to shut up.”
“And you never do.”
“Why should I follow such ridiculous orders?”
“Because I’m your prince and you are my servant? I think it’s the rules.”
“Well then the rules are stupid.”
“You’re saying Camelot’s laws are stupid?”
“The law says a servant must not speak?”
“That’s not quite what I said.”
“That’s more or less what you said.”
“Merlin!”
“Yes?”
“Please.”
“Shut up?”
“You guessed it.”
“But how will you know who put the mistletoe there if you won’t let me speak?”
“Wait, so you’re saying you do know who put it there?”
“Maybe?”
“It’s not laced with magic or anything?”
Why would it be laced with magic, I don’t think anyone wants to kiss you so much that they would put a magical mistletoe in your room. (It wasn’t a magical mistletoe, at least Merlin hadn’t intended on using magic to get Arthur to kiss him like that, it felt cheap he thought, like cheating, not very romantic. However, he was willing to give magic a try if Arthur was going to continue being this thick).
“So you think someone put it there because they want to kiss me?”
“Why else would they put it there?” Merlin sounds exasperated at this point.
“You think Gwaine wants to kiss me?”
“God no, why are you going on about Gwaine, you’re not his type, trust me.”
“I don’t know who wants to kiss me! Literally no one comes in here except you and…”(realization dawns on Arthur’s face and simultaneously he looks so shocked Merlin sort of feels like hiding in the closet next to him (no pun intended).
“Merlin, did you put a mistletoe in my room?”
There is a long silence.
“And what if I did?”
“Why would…”
Merlin stands concerningly still while Arthur starts pacing around the room. Suddenly he stops and turns to face Merlin.
“What do you mean “what if I did”?” Arthur finally asks.
“What would you do if you knew someone who was a complete idiot but also the one person you wanted to spend every waking moment of your life with but you didn’t want to tell them because it might mean they would never speak to you again or send you away or even kill you…”
“I would never do any of that.”
“…and you also know that deep down they wouldn’t but you also don’t know how to say any of that because you’re probably way over your head and…”
“Merlin.”
“…maybe you should just stop wondering why they look at you like that or…”
“Merlin.”
“…why they let you speak to them that way…”
“Merlin!”
“…or why they smile when you do…”
“MERLIN!”
“Yes my lord?”
“You are such an idiot.”
“Well at least I’m not a clotpole like you.”
“Clotpole is not a word, we’ve been over this.”
“Oh it’s definitely a word.”
“A word you invented.”
“I didn’t invent it, but I find that it perfectly describes you.”
“Why are you so irritating?” It’s more a statement than a question.
“If I’m so irritating, then why are you smiling like that?”
“I’m not smiling.”
“Yes you are.”
“Ok I am but so are you.”
They stand still for a moment looking at one another, both waiting for the other to speak.
“So you want me to shut up?” Merlin finally asks.
“You’re never going to, are you?”
“Probably not but there might be a way to shut me up temporarily.”
“Like this?”
Arthur lunges forwards, grabs Merlin’s face and kisses him urgently. With their lips pressed together Merlin can’t help but feel a little victorious, this is in fact slightly more intimate than the hug he’s always been hoping for.
“You may be an idiot Merlin but at least you’re my idiot.”
“Oh how romantic!”
“Shut up!”
“You know how.”
He kisses Merlin again, gentler this time. Merlin’s hands find Arthur’s waist and he slowly pushes him into the wall and kisses the prince’s neck. Kissing Arthur is even better than he had imagined. Neither of them holds back as the kisses become more intense. No one would interrupt them, the doors were in fact laced with magic, just in case. Merlin would have to find a way to tell Arthur his other big secret. “Some other day” he thinks, as a small moan escapes Arthur’s throat. That could wait.
With Arthur’s body crushed against his own he leans his head back enough so their lips part but their chests are still squished together. His eyes are incredibly soft, Merlin remarks. There is a spark in them and his cheeks are flushed. Silently Arthur’s arms wrap around Merlin’s neck. They’re so close Merlin can feel their hearts beating. Finally, he thinks, finally.