The Park, Thursday Afternoon

[bitchprince]

After all of his classes were finished, Arthur could go for a good walk. With his dog. Who had hopefully not been spoiled too much. ...A walk that, coincidentally, also involved his manservant, which was not to say he was specifically stalking the boy, he was just... spending some time with him in a way that didn't involve hovering at all.

"No, Bryn," he called at the dog, "Come back here."

The dog sat down. What had Merlin been feeding it?

[[ thread with arthur locked to the ears, park is an open park ]]

Comments

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"She's doing much better on walks lately," Merlin said brightly. Because she hadn't dragged anyone yet.

Yet.

[bitchprince]

Yes. Yet would be the key word.

"I told him to come here," Arthur shot back. "Bryn!"

Finally, finally the dog came padding towards him.

"You're useless," Arthur muttered, then shot him a slight sideways glance. "Beyond that, how are you feeling?" Not. Hovering.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I'm fine, Arthur. Hardly about to break like a bit of glass, you know," Merlin chided.

[bitchprince]

"How am I to know?" Arthur asked, feigning distance (and failing horribly). "You already look like you're about to blow away with the wind usually, and my dog does need someone to ruin his training."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin rolled his eyes at that, leaning down to rub Bryn's ears. "You're being a bit dramatic there."

[bitchprince]

"Nonsense," Arthur shot back, "I'm being exactly as dramatic as I should be. You were attacked by hostile magics. I think some concern is warranted."

Which was the story he was going to give Uther if he ever asked, dammit.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin frowned, looking a distant for a moment. "I'll see if Tony or Karla knows a way to hide the color."

Because a reason to not be allowed home wasn't exactly the best thing to have on the table.

[bitchprince]

"Merlin," Arthur returned, shooting him a look in complete earnest, "You were attacked by magic. I'm sure my father will make allowances for that. He hardly needs to know why."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"And if he doesn't believe that?"

[bitchprince]

"He'll believe it."

... He'd best.

"I don't think anyone would look at you and assume you held vast magical powers," he continued, a touch light, "You can barely walk straight."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I'm not that bad," Merlin insisted.

[bitchprince]

"Oh, I would say that you are."

... He couldn't quite keep up the banter, though; he kept sneaking looks at Merlin's eyes, weirdly fascinated. "I promise you," he said, "He'll believe it."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin looked away, rather self conscious about them at that. "I think the king will believe what he wants to believe."

[bitchprince]

Had this been private, he might have reached for Merlin's chin. Right now, a coaxing, "Merlin," was the best he had. His second, "Merlin," was meant more as a statement of reassurance. "I did not see you fight off that plague only to be killed for surviving it. I will tell him of the sorcerer that attacked us, and he will believe it."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"You'd lie to your father on behalf of a sorcerer?"

[bitchprince]

Arthur considered the horizon, or the edge of the park, or maybe just the line of Brynmor's bum as he leaned down for a quick wee. "We were attacked by sorcerers," he said, "And you did suffer a magical ailment."

He took another breath, and his eyes flicked back to Merlin once. "And it would hardly be honourable to leave you out in the cold, considering. There are things he doesn't need to know."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin focused very intently on something past the trees. Maybe a rock of some sort. "Dangerous way to think."

[bitchprince]

"I'm the crown prince," Arthur said, tilting his head up in such a way that he looked distant and aristocratic even as his hand very obviously bumped against Merlin's. "I'll be the judge of that."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I'll find a way to hide them just in case," Merlin said, looking down at his and then Arthur's hand.

[bitchprince]

Arthur's hand went up to give his hair a good, manly ruffle, affectionate if you knew how to look. "Be careful."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I like to think I always am," Merlin replied, trying to push his hair back into proper order.

[bitchprince]

"You would," Arthur agreed, pulling an exaggerated face as his arm... fell back to keep bumping lightly against Merlin's as he walked.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"What now?"

[bitchprince]

"Think that you're always careful," he said, glancing at him.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I meant what happens next with going home?"