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

[royalpratness]

"I really wouldn't want to impose." Arthur folds his hands, thinking that he'd much rather stay on Merlin's couch for the time being than return to his own flat.

[ayoungboy]

"Enough about it." Merlin smiles brightly at him. "Can't have my future roommate out in the cold. You're staying."

[royalpratness]

"If you insist." Arthur grins up at him. "Thank you."

[ayoungboy]

"I absolutely insist." Merlin smiles back warmly. "Anytime. Pack your things, I'll go and let Charles know right now."

[royalpratness]

"Thank you, Merlin. Really." Arthur beams at the prospect of getting away from his current flatmate. He squeezes Merlin's shoulder. "I'll go pack my stuff. See you later!"

[ayoungboy]

"See you," Merlin waves and heads back towards his room.

[royalpratness]

Arthur goes back to his place, stuffs his few belongings there into two bags and leaves a note for his flatmate, letting him know that he has moved out.

Two hours later, he's back at Merlin's apartment, carrying his things and a six pack of beer.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin has cleared the extra bunk in their room of their things, carefully setting Charles' papers - mostly compositions - on the desk and clearing his own books to a shelf. He's sprawled across his own bed when Arthur knocks, thumbing through Atlas Shrugged idly.

[royalpratness]

"I come bearing gifts!" Arthur announces with a grin, holding up the beer as he steps into the room, closing the door behind him.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin laughs, surprised, and gestures grandly to the room. "Welcome to my humble abode."

[royalpratness]

"Thanks." Arthur walks over to the bed and puts down his bag, hanging Merlin a bottle of beer. "Did you talk to your flatmate?"

[ayoungboy]

"He said it was fine, but if he asks you what you're doing here three times before he remembers who you are, don't worry about it. He's a bot absent-minded." Merlin accepts the beer gratefully, cracking the top off on the foot of his bed.

[royalpratness]

"He sounds..interesting." Arthur chuckles, opening his own beer and sitting down on the edge of Merlin's bed. "Thanks again for taking me in."

[ayoungboy]

"He's a musician. I'm told they're all like that." Merlin leans back, tipping back the beer and kicking his feet up against the wall to give Arthur more room to sit. "Sure thing. I suppose we'd better get used to living with each other sooner rather than later anyway."

[royalpratness]

"Yeah, only that I hope to have a bed rather than a couch to sleep on eventually." Arthur grins over the rim of his beer bottle.

[ayoungboy]

"That's a hefty order." Merlin jokes, brushing his bangs out of his eyes. "My couch is pretty damn comfortable you know."

[royalpratness]

"It better be." Arthur teases. "Or I'll have to kick you out of your bed."

[ayoungboy]

"I'd like to see you try. I can be quite a heavy sleeper." Merlin makes a face at him.

[royalpratness]

"I'll keep that in mind." Arthur yawns, finishing his beer. "Talking about sleeping... do you mind if I turn in for the night? I'm knackered."

[ayoungboy]

"By all means," Merlin makes a grand sweeping gesture and tips back another long swallow of beer. "I'll be up a bit longer with this reading but I won't be long with the light."

[royalpratness]

"No problem." Arthur pushes himself up, pulling a towel and a pair of sweatpants from his bag. With another yawns, he disappears into the bathroom to take a quick shower.

Ten minutes later, Arthur reappears, rolling out his sleeping bag on the couch.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin is pouring over his textbook, scribbling illegible notes on a legal pad.

[royalpratness]

"Do you have a spare pillow?" Arthur asks, slipping into his sleeping bag.

[ayoungboy]

"Hm? Oh, yes, should have one on Charles' bed."

[royalpratness]

"Are you sure?" Arthur hesitates. "I don't want to steal your room mates pillows." He mostly doesn't want to make a bad impression, as he's a guest here.