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It was late. Merlin didn't know the time but knew it was late. Something had woken him up, or someone. The sound of his bedroom door opening, had him sitting up and waiting, magic ready at hand to face whoever or whatever was behind the door. The door slowly opened to reveal the body of a man. When he walked further in the room, Merlin was able to see his face in the moonlight coming from the open window. It was none other than his prat of a prince, dressed for bed like Merlin left him hours ago. But no, he actually looked worse, bloodshed eyes and the lines on his beautiful features sharp with tiredness and worry?
Arthur came in the room and closed the door carefully behind him.
"I didn't wake Gaius." He whispered. Merlin nodded his head. Good.
"But you woke me. How may I help you at such an ungodly hour, my lord?" Merlin let his tone to be a little sharp. Arthur was the one to wake him up in the middle of the night, anyway. For some unknown reason that clearly wasn't an emergency because if it was, he was dragged out of bed as soon as his highness set foot in the room.
"I couldn't sleep." Arthur said it like it was obvious and Merlin is an idiot that can't understand the simplest things. Merlin went into physician mode in less than a second. "Okay? So you want something to help you sleep. I think there is some sleeping potion left. Or you can't sleep due to another problem? Is it a headache? Or is that bruise you got today bothering you? I can apply some balm on it if you'd like. It's my own receipt, works like a charm."
"No, I didn't need any medicine, Merlin. I'm fine." Arthur said with a roll of his eyes. Merlin frowned. "Alright, so what do you want? Because I really need to get back to sleep, my lord. And so do you. We have a busy day, tomorrow."
Arthur mumbled something that Merlin didn't hear. He pinched his nose and sighed. He didn't get enough sleep to deal with this. "Louder, my lord. I didn't quite catch that."
"I said can I sleep here?" Arthur said barely louder than a whisper.
Merlin looked at him with raised eyebrows. "What?"
"You deaf, Merlin? I said can I sleep here?"
"But why? You have the softest bed in the whole castle with a hundred pillows."
"It's only twelve pillows and it doesn't matter how soft it is when you're not there."
"What?"
"What?"
"What do you mean Arthur? What does that have to do with me?"
"I mean my bed, my chambers, this whole castle, this city. It all feels empty and cold when you're not there with me. And you retired early tonight and I was there, sitting in my chambers and you weren't there and I missed you and your silly smiles and clever jokes and how you're the only one that can handle me and my moods and how I want you to be there with me all day long and how I just can't even breathe well when you're not near so yeah, that's that. And it's your fault because you couldn't stop being well you and you made me feel all these things I feel for you. So yeah, it's all totally your fault." Arthur stopped talking and he wasn't looking at Merlin all through his long monologue. Merlin smiled softly at realizing what Arthur was implying but he wanted to make sure he wasn't misunderstood.
"And what exactly do I make you feel, Arthur?"
"Don't make me say it, Merlin." Arthur whined.
"Please, Arthur? I need to know."
"Well um I don't know for sure. I never felt this way for anyone. I've had crushes, but never like this. Never something this strong. But um, I think it's uh love?"
"You love me." Merlin couldn't stop grinning if he tried.
"Don't make me say it again, Merlin."
"I love you too, you prat. I have for a long time."
"You do? You really love me?"
"Yes, yes. I love you so much. I probably have since the beginning, but I didn't think you returned my feelings but you do so um it's good, right? Gods I'm so tired for this. Can we have this conversation later? Maybe tomorrow?"
"Depends. Can I stay here tonight?" Arthur asked shyly.
Merlin scooted over and opened a space for Arthur on his small bed. Arthur sat next to Merlin and kicked off his boots. "Merlin?"
"Yes?" Merlin smiled at the feel of Arthur's warm body next to him.
"Can I- um kiss you?" Arthur made himself look at Merlin, who was grinning at him and nodding his head enthusiasticly. Merlin pulled Arthur closer by his shirt collar and pressed their lips together. The kiss was akward and short and unpracticed but it was perfect. Merlin pushed Arthur down on the mattress and pressed their lips together one more time before burying his face in Arthur's neck, breathing in Arthur's special scent.
"Merlin?" Arthur said after a few moments of silence.
"Hmm?"
"I love you."
"I love you too but I'd love you more it you let me sleep." Came Merlin's sleepy response, muffled from where his face was still buried in Arthur's neck.
Arthur chuckled softly and decided to run his fingers in Merlin's hair, instead. Merlin sighed contentedly and cuddled up closer to Arthur. He decided they both could get used to this. Arthur loved him. Arthur actually loved him. And they were gonna have a looong talk tomorrow. For now though, he just kissed Arthur's neck and let sleep take him.