Same Coin -ArthurMerlin- Ch 2

It was the next morning, and the rain still poured down on the gray castle walls of Camelot, drenching all those who dared to venture out into it. The knights were all out in the rain, taking shifts to wait and watch for their prince to return to the safety that the stonewalls provided, but there had been no sign of them, neither the prince, his servant nor the horses. It was why the knights were out, just to watch and wait.

Sir Lancelot, had been one of the unfortunate few that had drawn the first watch, in the early morning with the rain drops as cold as steel and feeling as sharp as needles against what bare skin he had visible. Beneath his armor, he was shivering, though confident that if Arthur and Merlin were trapped somewhere they would be dry. Neither of the boys were foolish enough to stay out in the rain during such a powerful storm, and it was that thought in mind that he returned to his quarters to get out of his sopping wet clothes and freezing armor.

The knight closed the door behind him to his small but comfortable chambers and proceeded to undo his armor and peel off the chainmail. The sound of the door opening caught his attention and he glanced back over his shoulder to see his fellow knight leaning against the wall. "Gwaine, what are you doing here?" he asked in his ever so soft-spoken way.

Gwaine just stood there for a second, a lazy smirk on his lips as he gazed at Lancelot who looked similar to a drowned rat in his current state. "Came to check on you, heard the rain was really coming down out there. Thought you could use some help from your knight in shining armor to get warm again."

As Lancelot gazed at him, flashes of their previous meeting after Lancelot pulled him drunk out of his mind from the Tavern (and paid for his bar tab); Gwaine's lips on his, drunken words whispered into his ear, body flush against his. It was meant to be a one time encounter but it had happened, over and over again. It was like a drug, but for which one of them?

Not him…he had long since given up on Gwen, the pretty servant girl that had seem to stole his heart with a single glance. But she had eyes only for one and that was Arthur. But then there was Gwaine who he knew for a fact had his eyes on another dark haired wonder, of an entirely different class, status, and hell different gender from Gwen.

It was only when he felt Gwaine's rough hand against his cheek did he snap back to reality to look into the other man's eyes, lips so close they could touch and lead to that night's encounter. "I can't Gwaine…" Lancelot whispered to him, his palms pressed to the other male's chest, pushing him back off of him. "You're drunk."

"What's your point?" he asked, tilting his head to the side. "Never stopped you before has it?"

The knight sir Lancelot took a breath and looked at him. "I can't do this because you still love him." Gwaine's body went completely tense against his own. "Don't you?"

Lancelot had no idea what exactly happened between Gwaine and Merlin that caused the falling out between the two of them, but knowing Merlin it probably had something to do with Arthur… Everything that boy did revolved around their once and future king. Or was there a worse reason for their split.

"Maybe, kid's my only friend, first person I cared 'bout in years." There was such sorrow forming in Gwaine's eyes that in made Lancelot's heart ache for the other man. "We were good, Merlin and I, he's the reason I came back to Camelot. For a while, things were good till the night you dragged me from the Tavern."

The realization hit Lancelot like a griffon knocking him back would, and he stared at Gwaine with disbelief. "You're saying he thought you and I…"

Gwaine shook his head running a hand through his hair. "No, he saw when I kissed you, had he stayed longer he would have seen you push me off several times." Again, he shook his head. "I messed up with him, and yes I do still love him, but as you clearly know Merlin has set his eyes for someone else."

He couldn't look at Gwaine, guilt welling up in the pit of his stomach that this was all his fault for Merlin and Gwaine leaving each other. Gwaine touched his chin and gently made him look into his eyes. "It was not your fault. You weren't the one who was drunk, if it hadn't been you, it would have been someone else Lance…" Gwaine moved his hand to brush against Lancelot's damp cheek. "Am I…saddened by the way things happened? Yes, who would not be? I am glad that it was you and not someone else…"

Lancelot took a step back, then another till Gwaine had him pinned to the wall, body pressed fully against him. "This, us, may not have happened in the way either of us would have liked but it did," Gwaine whispered, his breath ghosting against Lancelot's lips. "I'll be kicked out of the knight hood before I screw something that I like up again…"

A shiver ran up Lancelot's body, hands and back pressed against the wall behind him. His heart was pounding hard in his chest, adrenaline rushing through his veins. Gwaine wasn't drunk, he knew when Gwaine was drunk and this was not one of those times, he was too lucid. The knight inhaled as Gwaine's hand slid down from his shoulder to rest on his waist, those warm rough hands… "Gwaine…"

"You can't deny it Lance, you want this as much as I do. Don't push me away," his companion muttered before he pressed his lips to Lancelot's. And that was it everything else was forgotten; their conversation before, the knowledge that the prince was still missing, and the fact that they both had shifts later on the day to keep watch for Arthur. It was just them in the room, their hands touch each other, lips on lips, skin against skin. For that moment in time nothing else mattered to them, just that they were there together.
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"What is he to you Gwaine?" No…it couldn't be…His head ached, he was confused and it shouldn't be happening. Merlin couldn't leave him, he couldn't possibly think that he had cheated... "Answer me! I deserve that much Gwaine, what is Lancelot to you?" Gwaine couldn't answer…

A while later, Gwaine lay beside his sleeping lover, looking at him through half lidded eyes, hand stroking Lancelot's hair softly. He'd let him sleep, he had already been up for so long and in the cold rain, Lance deserved the break. His lips brushed against the other male's bare shoulder, his mind wandering from the situation back to him and Merlin. He couldn't help it it had become an impulse. And in the back of his mind, Sir Gwaine Knight of Camelot, knew that he could move past that whole scenario that fixed moment in his life that would never change or happen again, and start a new part. And perhaps that would be with the man he now held, his chest pressed against his back.

Gwaine nuzzled Lancelot's hair softly. "Sleep my knight," he whispered though he knew Lancelot was already fast asleep. Oh how he would have loved to stay there and lay with him, but it was his turn to go on duty, out into the cold rain.

As he dressed, Gwaine hoped that Merlin was safe, again another impulse on his part, remnants of emotions that he knew would take a while to pass and fade away, and it didn't take long for his mind to drift back to Lancelot. He wouldn't mess up, he'd do right by Lancelot. He had to, he needed the reason to stay besides his duty to the king.

His gaze lingered on the sleeping man, hoping that he would wake to realize that Gwaine had gone to take his shift, instead of just fucked him and left. A last second thought crossed his mind and he went over, brushing his lips against Lancelot's cheek. "Sleep well Lance…I'll return later…" he said softly stroking the man's cheek one last time before he left to head out into the cold rain.

For hours he stood there in the rain, growing more cold and wet by the second but he wouldn't leave his post not till Leon was there to relieve him and then he could return to his chambers, or Lancelot's. An idea had been slowly forming in his mind and he wondered of King Uther would actually agree to send two of his knights out into this storm for the sake of his son. He'd have to ask the king later, judging by how dark the sky was getting, even darker than what the clouds were causing, it would soon be time for the world to sleep. And even kings did need their beauty sleep.

"I can't do this anymore Gwaine…I'm sorry, but I can't. Hurts to much…" It couldn't be happening. "Good bye Gwaine…" The door closed and Merlin's words fell on numb ears. Gwaine could not believe it. He had fucked up again…And this time he had hurt the one he cared about most of all.
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Arthur opened his eyes to see the smoldering ashes of what had been their fire, giving off barely any light, and zero heat. The only warmth came from the body of his servant, and Arthur glanced to see Merlin still asleep in his arms. He looked so peaceful and innocent like that, as if there was not a care in the world (or a storm raging outside of the cave they were in). With cautious fingers he brushed some hair from Merlin's face, watching him for a moment longer before he gingerly laid him down on the ground. He had to get more wood for the fire, and more importantly food.

They had packed some, since it was suppose to be a hunting trip that they were going on, but first he had to light the fire. It proved to be simple enough to get the flames back, just a matter of putting more dried brush and sticks from the cave floor onto the burning embers and ashes. Soon enough it was warm in the cave once again, and Arthur could look through the packs for food. His eyes however were not on the bag, they were fixed on Merlin's still sleeping form.

Silently he hoped that his friend wasn't sick, and was simply really tired. Out of concern for Merlin, Arthur moved to his side and touched his forehead lightly, it didn't feel hot which as far as he knew was the best way to check to see if a person was sick. It was one of those moments that Arthur found himself having so often were he could just lean down and kiss Merlin with no one to be the wiser. But of course that ran the risk of Merlin waking up just as their lips touched and Arthur assumed that would be hard enough to explain that it just wasn't worth it.

Was he attracted to Merlin? Yes, he was in a bad way. Every moment made by his servant he watched with fascination, and each second that past he longed more and more to the one that his beloved friend fell asleep with. Arthur wanted to kiss him, hug him, hold him close while they slept, and hell he wanted it all. Every single part of a relationship that he could have with him, he wanted it, but a part of him knew the risks, namely his father's reaction if anyone found out about them. Then of course there would be the situation after he became king, assuming things would even get that far.

His gaze had been focused on the fire that he didn't hear Merlin wake. "Arthur?"

The prince snapped back to reality and looked down at Merlin, almost instantly cursing himself as he pulled his hand back from Merlin's face. "Good you're awake," he said as he stood back up going to check on the horses. "We need food Merlin. We got some but I'm rubbish with cooking."

Without another word to his servant, Arthur set about brushing down each of the horses, letting Merlin make food for the two of them. He was too close to him…Arthur didn't want to hurt Merlin, but he feared that some how, some day he would.