I'm not here looking for absolution

[ayoungboy]

Merlin had been trying to ignore it for quite a while. People weren't supposed to stick with you like this, were they? You met them, you made acquaintances, and unless they became your friends, you forgot them. Right? Right.

So why the hell was he still thinking about the blond boy in 232?

Merlin groaned and buried his face in his pillow. He met him at the dorm mixer maybe a month and a half ago, and he still couldn't get that stupid face out of his head. Sure, he was attractive - but that wasn't even what was bugging him. It's one thing to drool over a hot guy, but another entirely to be infuriated as you try to remember where in the hell you know him from.

Because he did. He knew Arthur, somehow, some way. And they'd spoken for maybe 5 minutes tops.

Merlin was going crazy.

When he walks down to the washing machines that tuesday, he almost does a 180 and leaves the way he came. Naturally, Arthur was standing there next to the only open machine. Of course.

Comments

[ayoungboy]

"Not bloody likely." Merlin laughs. He doesn't have the fortitude for it. "Yeah? Well that's good on you, following your own path."

[royalpratness]

"Try explaining that to my father." Arthur says, dryly. "He's not a fan of my decision."

[ayoungboy]

"I'd think not. But it's your life, right? Should be your decision."

[royalpratness]

"Should be, yes." In an ideal world, Arthur thinks. "Well, good luck with your laundry." He gestures towards the washing machine and grabs his laundry basket.

[ayoungboy]

"Wait! Uh," Merlin scratches the back of his neck awkwardly. "Just wanted to ask - have we met? Before the mixer, I mean. Something seems familiar about you."

[royalpratness]

"Do you say that that to every handsome man?" Arthur asks, unable to hide his grin. "No, I don't think we've met before."

[ayoungboy]

"Don't flatter yourself." But this is accompanied by a chuckle and warm smile. "No? Just me then. Maybe that's your natural politician."

[royalpratness]

"Must be." Arthur smirks, noticing how Merlin hasn't denied the idea of hitting on him. "See you around, Merlin."

[ayoungboy]

"See you," Merlin smiles back a little, and nope, he didn't even noticed he hadn't denied it. But he can't shake the feeling that he knows Arthur.

[royalpratness]

The next time they run into each other, it's late in the evening in the small, cozy coffee shop on campus. Arthur looks up from his newspaper, smiling when he spots Merlin and lifting his hand in greeting.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin smiles, taking the greeting as invitation and settling in front of Arthur, dropping a textbook onto the table. "Hello. How are you doing this fine evening?"

[royalpratness]

"Hi." Arthur puts down his newspaper. "Slightly disgruntled. I got kicked out of my room 'cause my flatmate wanted to make out with some girl." He rolls his eyes. "How about you?"

[ayoungboy]

"Ah, that stinks." Merlin makes a face, flipping open his textbook. "Have to do some revising. Pop quiz tomorrow and I'm behind. Didn't want to keep my roommate up."

[royalpratness]

"Now that's what a considerate roommate is supposed to be like." Arthur sighs, resting his chin on his hands.

[ayoungboy]

"You don't get along very well with yours?" Merlin's head tilted, observing Arthur pensively.

[royalpratness]

"I hate him but I think that's mutual." Arthur sighs, running a hand over his newspaper. "Philosophy student."

[ayoungboy]

"Ahhh." Merlin nods understandingly. They tended to be...uppity. "That's a shame."

[royalpratness]

"What about you? More luck with your flatmate?"

[ayoungboy]

"Yeah. He's a music major. Fairly easy going."

[royalpratness]

"Lucky you." Arthur leans back in his chair. "I could get my own place, but I don't really want to live by myself. It gets boring." And lonely but that, Arthur doesn't say out loud.

[ayoungboy]

"I was thinking about it." Merlin says, tilting his head back. "But I'd need a flatmate. Don't have enough on my own."

[royalpratness]

"If your current roommate is alright, why not stay there?" Unless Merlin wants to escape the 70s charme of the university accommodation.

[ayoungboy]

"We get along, yeah, but I miss having a home, you know? The dorms are...not exactly homey. The bed isn't very comfortable and space is small." Merlin shrugs. "And we have bloody popcorn ceilings."

[royalpratness]

Arthur chuckles. "The beds are bloody terrible, yeah." He looks Merlin up and down. "We could go looking for a flat. I'll go mad if I have to stay at the dorm all semester."

[ayoungboy]

Merlin glances at Arthur and smiles. "I'd be up for that. You don't have any weird sock collections or anything? You're normal?"