Spellbound

[ayoungboy]

This week has been fucking exhausting. He'd been consuling all week and dealing with a threat over in Norway. Somebody trying to brew mind control potions, again. Why couldn't everybody just get along and stop fussing? He's finally back home, in England, heading up the wizarding council while they go over worldwide news, and he gets an invite - no, it isn't that. It's more of a demand, from King Pendragon.

He's a bit tired, really, and didn't feel like dealing with it. "Not now, thank you. Politely decline, for me?" He told the runner. "Send him some magical candy."

He just wanted to go home and finish his book, thank you. He didn't ask for these powers, but if he took a holiday the world would flip out. People held him in high regard for some reason - he wasn't that wise, or old. He was just a young man trying to do right. Yet somehow the King was demanding his presence.

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[royalpratness]

Slowly, Arthur opens his eyes again, feeling only a little woozy this time. "I wonder if I'll ever get used to this..."

[ayoungboy]

"Don't let go yet," Merlin's hand tightens on Arthur's, a warning. "Maybe. Maybe not. It's...pure natural energy."

[royalpratness]

"Uhm, okay." Arthur keeps holding onto Merlin's hand. "It reminds me of being sea sick."

[ayoungboy]

Merlin's grip finally loosens, and he smiles a little. "It can do that, yes."

[royalpratness]

Arthur clears his throat, looking around awkwardly. "So. This picture is going to show up on the internet sooner or later... are you sure you want me to say you're my secret boyfriend?"

[ayoungboy]

"If you don't mind being publicly attached to average-me, I'm fine covering your arse. I don't have anybody that would care about my picture plastered on bloody tabloids." Merlin laughs, hand still wrapped around Arthur's. He probably wouldn't have anybody either. "The council will know what it's for. They won't tell anybody. Very secretive, that lot."

[royalpratness]

"Okay then. It's an honor to call you my fake-boyfriend." Arthur winks, squeezing Merlin's hand before letting go of it.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin snorts skeptically. "Just don't give them my name and ask that they leave me alone so as not to scare me off."

[royalpratness]

"Will do. I'll have to tell my PR team the truth though. Or at least part of it. I won't tell them who you really are." Arthur flops down on his bed, yawning.

[ayoungboy]

"Tell them you're paying me or summat. I'm sure you'll think of something." Merlin takes a step back. "Goodbye, Arthur."

[royalpratness]

"I will." Arthur gives him a little wave. "Bye Merlin. Take care."

[ayoungboy]

Merlin disappears into thin air once more, leaving behind an empty space in the blink of an eye.

The next day, the papers are plastered with the pictures. Apparently, they'd been posted on someone's Tumblr and gotten notes like wildfire.

[royalpratness]

Arthur sits at breakfast, sighing as he reads the newspaper article about himself. He had already spoken to his PR people and the palace would issue an official statement later that day. He hopes that will help to get the press to back off. There's one part of the article that catches his eye. Grinning, he takes out his phone and snaps a picture of the paragraph, sending it to Merlin. It says '... the unknown, very handsome young men who has been spottet in the company of King Arthur...'

[ayoungboy]

The first reply that comes back is, This thing gets pictures?

Then, Haha, I suppose that journalist is blind, then?

[royalpratness]

It can snap pictures and videos. You should read the manual. And no, she's not. It's the general consensus in all the papers that you're quite a catch.

[ayoungboy]

Then I suppose we can start sexting. Merlin jokes dryly. Want to see my wand?

Yeah, right. And David Tennant leaving Doctor Who didn't almost start a riot.

[royalpratness]

Arthur laughs. Sorry, I still don't put out until the third date. Though I suppose, having magic could make things interesting in the bedroom.

[ayoungboy]

I didn't say you had to put out. I was just going to send you a picture of my wand. There's a picture message attached. It's literally a picture of a stick Merlin probably pulled off a tree branch, wherever he was at the moment.

You have no idea what I can do.

[royalpratness]

That's not a very impressive wand, Merlin. No, I don't. Care to share?

[ayoungboy]

The next message is entirely blank. Just a picture of an enormous tree trunk.

It's best when it's shown, sire.

[royalpratness]

Arthur chuckles, shaking his head in amusement. Show off. Is that an invitation?

[ayoungboy]

Depends. If you accept, I've got plenty more to show off. Merlin snorts at his phone, actually smiling. He's trekking through the bloody wilderness looking for an old hermit, and Arthur's keeping him happily occupied.

[royalpratness]

Arthur is sitting on his private jet, on his way to Edinburgh to meet with members of the Scottish parlament. Oh I bet you do.

[ayoungboy]

Open-ended offer. Keep it in mind, sire. Merlin shakes his head, grinning to himself. I'll be off, Arthur, I've reached my destination.

[royalpratness]

Be careful, I might take you up on it. Okay, be careful. Don't get your face bashed in again. Arthur frowns, hoping that Merlin isn't putting himself into any kind of mortal danger again.