leashy_bebes: (merlin [yay!])
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Shocking and New, PG, Merlin/Gwaine, blink-and-you-miss-it jfc-why-did-we-even-do-that A/M smooch in the past, 1149 words



The thing is, Merlin has known Gwaine since he was eleven years old. On the first day of secondary school, Arthur and Merlin had walked into the playground and Arthur's self-confidence along with...whatever, Merlin's ears or something, had incurred the wrath of some year 10s. Gwaine, in the year above Arthur and Merlin, had flung himself into the fight like he was made to defend little squirts in year seven. They'd ended up friends, sort of, even though Arthur's nose was put a little out of joint at first by being rescued by anyone. It was Gwaine who bought them their first drinks, Gwaine who set Arthur up with his first girlfriend, Gwaine who brought joints into school for them to share at lunchtime once in a while.

And then there was the year after Gwaine left school, when Arthur and Merlin were back to knocking around together alone. Arthur is Merlin's best friend and nothing in the world could ever change that, but Merlin thinks they both missed Gwaine that year. Happily though, Gwaine took a year out, hitchhiking around Europe and sending home postcards that made Merlin's mum almost frantic with worry when she caught a glimpse of the one from Prague. It meant that when Arthur went off to Oxford, Merlin wasn't completely on his own at the local ex-polytechnic, because Gwaine was there too. They were in different halls of residence in first year, but in their second year they managed to find a flat to share.

It was tiny and haphazard, a one bedroom flat with a separate lounge. They took it in turns to sleep on the sofa for a week at a time, tripped over each other in the kitchen, got helplessly drunk together, witnessed each other's shameful breakups and ridiculous romances. Gwaine is ridiculous and exciting, yes, but they're so used to each other that Arthur sometimes says they treat each other like part of the furniture.

They stay living together when they finish their degrees, when Merlin enrols for a masters degree and Gwaine starts scraping together a living with freelance photography. (They do eventually move somewhere with a bed each, though.) Merlin doesn't think anything of coming home for the evening and sprawling on the sofa with his head in Gwaine's lap, bitching about his supervisor and his undergraduate research assistant and everyone in between. People tend to assume they're a couple because they do everything together, and their only reaction is usually to wrinkle their noses and say 'what, him?! naaaah'.

The point is, Gwaine has always been there. He's always been around, funny and loyal and a bit daft, and although he might come up with truly madcap schemes on occasion (like the time he kidnapped - yes kidnapped, damnit - Merlin after he'd had one too many thesis-related meltdowns, dragged him to Paris on the train and not let them come back until Merlin had spent a full two days in a row looking happy) Merlin doesn't think anything Gwaine does actually surprises him anymore.

But then there's this. It happens out of nowhere, when they're cooking dinner together one night (which realistically means Gwaine pokes at a bubbling saucepan of pasta while Merlin mixes a tin of chopped tomatoes with the dusty possibly-oregano he found in the back of the cupboard). Gwaine turns to Merlin and says, "Hey, pass me a fork?"

Merlin rummages in the drawer and when he finally finds a fork that isn't designed for picnics or babies (why do they even have baby cutlery?!), holds it out. Instead of taking it, Gwaine looks at Merlin's outstretched hand for a second, and then glances up at his face with something like a confused frown on his face.

"Wh - " Merlin starts to ask but before he gets the rest of the word out Gwaine's hand closes around his wrist, his thumb moving softly over the inside of Merlin's arm. "Gwaine?"

Gwaine bites his lip in the same way he does when he's working out lighting and angles for a particularly tricky shot. And then he kisses Merlin. Kisses him. Which, in all their years of friendship, is not something they've ever done besides drunkenly off-target 'I love everyone in the world right now and I am going to kiss you on the cheek/eyebrow/ear as a proxy way of kissing every person on the planet' type kisses. If Merlin had ever imagined kissing Gwaine, he would have thought it would be pretty indistinguishable from that one time with Arthur which nobody is allowed to speak about when Arthur was sad about Vivian, and Merlin was sad about Cedric, and sadness on that level meant that kissing someone - anyone - else seemed like an excellent idea. That is to say, Merlin would have thought that kissing Gwaine would be a) uncomfortable, b) weirdweirdweird and c) followed soon after by laughter, a hiccuping sob and an 'ohgodI'mgonnapuke' from one or both parties.

But it's not like that. It's nothing like that. It's as though Gwaine is suddenly not the mouthy 12 year old who rescued Merlin from even mouthier fifteen year olds, not the guy he's lived with and been coming home to every day since he was 19, not the person he knows at all, but a gorgeous, thrilling, brilliant stranger. Gwaine kisses him like a revelation, one hand still clutching Merlin's wrist while the other comes up to touch the side of his throat. Merlin gasps against his mouth and suddenly they're clutching at each other, their feet tangling as they stagger across the room.

They collide with the fridge, magnet letters clattering to the floor and destroying months worth of lewd poetry and then Gwaine's hand tangles in Merlin's t-shirt, near the hem so his knuckles brush over Merlin's stomach. Merlin's breath hitches and he grabs a handful of Gwaine's hair, noting with interest that Gwaine makes this sort of purring, rumbling noise at that. Gwaine presses closer and Merlin slouches a little to put them level. Gwaine nuzzles along his jaw and Merlin shivers at the soft scratch of Gwaine's stubble. Merlin turns his head again, the angle awkward, but he has to get their mouths back together, has to feel the way Gwaine's lips part softly under his own.

Suddenly there's a hissing noise from behind them and they glance around, flustered, to see that the pasta has boiled over. Gwaine looks back to Merlin, his mouth lush and well-kissed, his eyes huge and intent.

"Get a takeaway later?" he suggests.

Merlin nods firmly. "Switch the oven off and meet me in your room?"

Gwaine nods but steals another kiss before he lets Merlin slip past him. "Be naked!" he advises.

Well, Merlin thinks as he hurries down the hall, dragging his shirt over his head. This was a bit of a shock. Kind of brilliant too, though.



Loyalty Rewarded, Arthur/Leon, G, 502 words



Arthur has never known Leon to pick up a serious injury or illness before. He has the smattering of scars that no knight can hope to avoid, of course, but in Arthur's whole life he's never known the man to have so much as a common cold. Maybe that's why, when he succumbs to a virus one winter, he is so utterly miserable. Banned from practice on the grounds that his arms start shaking two minutes after he lifts a sword, lovely, kind, respectful Leon stomps around the castle snarling at everyone except the king.

He insists that he's shaken it off after a week, but Arthur still won't let him rejoin practice with the others. He can still see the tension in Leon's body as he tries to hide the fact that every muscle he has is aching. Leon looks ready to argue but the other knights are milling about, and no matter how annoyed and bored he is, he would never undermine Arthur like that. He looks almost hurt behind the irritation but bows to Arthur and takes his leave anyway.

Later that afternoon Arthur is passing the stables when he hears the swing and thud of a sword hitting one of the stuffed leather bags they use for drilling. Instinct tickles something inside him and he makes his way around the back of the stable block. Sure enough Leon is there, forcing himself through manoeuvres he's clearly not up to strength for. He looks pale and the sheen of sweat on his forehead speaks more of exhaustion than exertion. Arthur should probably be angry that one of his knights has disobeyed a direct order, but all he can find in himself is concern.

Still, when he approaches and clears his throat, Leon looks around guiltily and says, "Oh – Sire, I – "

"You foolish man," Arthur says gently, not meaning a word of it. "Stop, now."

"I need to – " Leon says, breathing hard. "I need to be ready. You might – " Need me.

"Because you'll be so much use to me if you collapse," Arthur says. He squeezes Leon's shoulder and trails his hand down to carefully work Leon's sword out of his hand.

Leon drops his head like he's ashamed of his weakness and something protective curls in Arthur's belly. He raises Leon's gloved hand to his mouth and kisses the back of it, holding it against his lips for a moment before he carefully turns Leon's hand palm up and kisses again, where the leather of his glove gives way to the soft inside of his wrist. He can feel Leon's pulse jumping against his lips, and he can hear the peculiar silence that tells him Leon is carefully holding his breath.

When Arthur looks up, Leon is watching him silently. His throat bobs a couple of times as though he's about to speak, but Arthur squeezes his hand and Leon holds his tongue.

"Get some rest, Sir Leon, or I'll knock you out myself," Arthur promises.



Untitled but way fluffy, Merlin/Gwaine, G, 494 words



When Gwaine gets back from his late shift at the bar, Merlin is asleep for once. The lights are off everywhere and Gwaine trips over a stack of papers – essays or articles or blueprints or whatever mad thing Merlin's been wearing himself out with all day. It's a practiced motion to tap the pile back straight with one foot. The flat's completely silent so Gwaine makes his way to the bathroom in darkness, shedding his jacket and shoes along the way. He brushes his teeth, washes his face, and considers that enough. A shower at this time of night would only wake Merlin, anyway.

In the bedroom the curtains are open, Merlin visible by the weak light of the streetlamp on the opposite side of the street. He's face down in Gwaine's pillow – Gwaine doesn't know how anyone can sleep like that – and the rest of his body is somehow managing to take up almost the whole bed. There's a chill in the air but Gwaine smiles down at the sight for a moment before he changes into fresh boxers and a t-shirt and wonders how to get into bed without waking Merlin.

Bendy little bugger, Gwaine thinks affectionately, thinking of another night spent worming his way in around the angular splay of Merlin's limbs. As it happens though, that's not necessary because Merlin fidgets just a bit, turning his face towards Gwaine.

"Hey," Merlin murmurs, his one visible eye blinking sleepily at Gwaine before he turns over.

"Hi. Early night?"

Merlin nods and reaches for Gwaine as soon as he slides between the sheets, all warm from Merlin's body. "Before two, even," he says proudly.

"Mmm. Accomplishment." Gwaine presses his cold nose to the underside of Merlin's chin. Merlin doesn't even pretend to complain, just arches his neck further. "Get much done?"

"Not a damn thing," Merlin huffs, adding, "I quit," for approximately the fifteenth time Gwaine can think of just off the top of his head.

"Yeah?"

"Uh-huh."

"Candyfloss stall," Merlin mumbles as Gwaine kisses his jaw, his cheek, the edge of his brow. It sounds nonsensical, but Gwaine has heard surf-shop and write porn and competitive stamp collecting before now so he's hardly thrown.

"Well, I expect freebies. Will you also be serving toffee apples? Because if not we might need to have words."

Merlin nods, turning his face to press a clumsy kiss onto Gwaine's mouth. "Mmm. 'course. Will you still love me if I'm not a big fancy doctor with letters after his name?"

"You already have letters," Gwaine points out. "And I think my feelings can probably overcome the loss of a few more, if they're to be replaced by 'candyfloss stall operative'."

Merlin yawns against Gwaine's collarbone and nods, just murmuring something low and happy when Gwaine tightens his arms around Merlin and kisses through his hair.

"Go back to sleep, love, it's almost morning," Gwaine tells him, but Merlin's already huffing and grumbling in his sleep.




  • help, help, writing a 'everyone needs to kneel to merlin' fic
  • also a WHOLE NEW THING where they have modern au knightly adventures as teenagers and forget as soon as they leave the MYSTERIOUS WOODS and then the gang get back together for REASONS and knightly adventures resume and omg so excited but what what what am I even doing?!
  • ilu guys
  • Date: 2011-11-13 06:23 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] ekaterin24.livejournal.com
    ILU too!

    How'd I miss fluffy Merlin/Gwaine the first time? Sweet as toffee apples (Mmmmm...I haven't had any this fall; how sad!)

    And I missed that first Merlin/Gwaine too--Best "surprise! you want each other" story I've read in ages!
    Edited Date: 2011-11-13 06:28 pm (UTC)

    Date: 2011-11-13 09:20 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] leashy-bebes.livejournal.com
    ♥♥

    I have been writing a lot of comment fic lately on various people's LJs so these are all things that have been scattered all over the place.

    Glad you liked them, love :D

    Date: 2011-11-13 06:24 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] lolafeist.livejournal.com
    WHOLE NEW THING where they have modern au knightly adventures as teenagers

    GRABBY, GRABBY HANDS DUDE

    Date: 2011-11-13 09:20 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] leashy-bebes.livejournal.com
    AHHH. I have so many thoughts *flail* My hands are too slow for my brain.

    Date: 2011-11-13 07:55 pm (UTC)
    slightlytookish: John and Gale looking at each other against a blue background (Merlin: Merlin & Gwaine - Heart Eyes)
    From: [personal profile] slightlytookish
    The Merlin/Gwaine ones are making me melt a whole lot. ♥

    Also, the fics you're working on sound amazing!

    Date: 2011-11-13 09:21 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] leashy-bebes.livejournal.com
    They are just too adorable together :D

    Thanks ♥ I went out today to get in the RL-writing groove but then this happened instead haha.

    Date: 2011-11-13 08:07 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] wldcatsprstr-14.livejournal.com
    Loved all of these. Especially the first one. The Arthur/Leon one made my insides mushy too.

    Date: 2011-11-13 09:23 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] leashy-bebes.livejournal.com
    Thanks, hon ♥ Aww, Arthur/Leon. I have such a soft spot for them.

    Date: 2011-11-13 09:55 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] myworldmytrue.livejournal.com
    Oh oh oh, these are all so lovely. AND OMG, MERLIN AND GWAINE, EEEEEEHH!!!

    ♥_____________________♥

    Also, the new fics you speak of, YES PLEASE.

    Date: 2011-11-13 10:27 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] leashy-bebes.livejournal.com
    Heee, thanks you bb. THEY ARE JUST TOO MUCH FOR ME TO DEAL WITH. SOB.

    Aaaah, I have so many other things I should be doing but I am writing lots! It's Arthur/Merlin with Gwaine/Leon, and Gwaine POV has taken over because I love him too much. Mysterious adventures in the SPOOKY forest and then they all meet up again for Arthur and Merlin's engagement party and Gwaine is like "eeeeeh. But Merrrrlin. I don't waaannaaaa see my ex. you are already engaged, Uther's 'I know he's not a gold-digger' party is pointless." "fuckwit, you will NOT miss my engagement party"

    And then ADVENTURES AGAIN. Also, dragons. Somehow. MY WRITING PROCESS IS SO ORGANISED.

    Date: 2011-11-13 10:03 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] tourdefierce.livejournal.com
    I LOVE YOU. KNEELING FIC. KNEELING FIC.

    Date: 2011-11-13 10:27 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] leashy-bebes.livejournal.com
    *kneeeeeeeeeeels*

    Date: 2011-11-14 05:05 am (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] mabonwitch.livejournal.com
    I loved all these things the first time, and they are as happy-making as I remember. Also, this new fic. I WANT IT. Adventures! Knights! Boys in love! Yes please.

    Date: 2011-11-14 10:14 am (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] leashy-bebes.livejournal.com
    Aw, thanks bb. eeee, the new one is making me quite excited already. M/A are about 15 and Gwaine and Leon a couple of years older. G/L are sorta coming to a natural end because Leon's going off to uni and Gwaine isn't and they have to kinda sneak around cause Leon's parents don't approve of Gwaine (nobody approves of Gwaine, my poor bb) and they're out in the woods one night when they hear Merlin dragging Arthur along to investigate some mysterious thing and then MEDIEVAL ADVENTURES IN THE WOODS. And then when they wake up the next morning they have mysterious but convenient amnesia and sorta go their separate ways (except M/A who are goo-goo eyes in love). And then it's M/A's engagement party and everyone goes back home and the adventures start again.

    Also, there will be dragons.

    I rock this planning lark.

    Date: 2011-11-14 02:26 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] red-cortina.livejournal.com
    Love the thing about the magnet letters in the first one, and the whole thing where they're completely oblivious until they're not. And the third one is just incredibly cute.

    And the second one - can just imagine Leon not really being able to cope with being out of action for a cold, and needing looking after.

    Date: 2011-11-18 02:11 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] leashy-bebes.livejournal.com
    Thanks hon :D Ahaha, magnetised poetry is my favourite kid, I love it.

    I'm glad you liked them :D Aww, I would love to imagine Leon as a very bitchy sick person lol.

    drabble repost

    Date: 2011-12-01 08:03 pm (UTC)
    ext_41255: (Default)
    From: [identity profile] joan-waterhouse.livejournal.com
    1: D'aww. Love their history. *sigh*

    2: Oh, that was really sweet.

    3: This is my fav. So domestic, and familiar and lovely. ^-^

    Re: drabble repost

    Date: 2011-12-03 07:45 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] leashy-bebes.livejournal.com
    Thanks :D I'm glad you liked them ♥

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