Constipated Care Bear

Uther was sitting at his desk in his office while he looked at budget requests. He was debating if the science department's request was reasonable when there was a knock on his door.

"Enter." Uther was surprised when the door was opened to reveal his son. He was even more surprised to see that Arthur looked a little pale. He pretended not to notice or be concerned as he looked back down at the paperwork that was spread out in front of him. He's been distancing himself from his children ever since he'd lost his wife, too worried that he'd loss one of his children and experience the same heartbreak all over again. A few years ago, he had begun to wonder if any amount of distance would lessen that blow, but it had already been too late; both of his children hated him and he didn't know how to make it up to them.

Arthur continued on into his office until he was standing in front of Uther's desk. As he had been approaching he had begun to speak, "Father, I need to tell you something. It's quite important."

He was so disconnected from his children's lives that it was hard for him to guess what it was Arthur would want to tell him. He decided to go with the one thing that he actually knew about and may warrant such a response. "Is it that you're struggling to maintain your position as valedictorian, because I already know. I'm not angry, I knew this Emrys boy would challenge you, but I fully expect you to do your best in maintaining your position."

"Um, well. Okay. That's good to hear... I guess. I'm doing my absolute best, father, but I really don't know who will win out between us. That's not what I wanted to tell you, though. But it does involve him."

"Him?" Uther questioned, not quite following his son.

"Merlin," Arthur clarified.

"Oh, you've met then? Well, I suppose you would have, him being a new student and all. What is it?"

"This may come as a bit of a shock," Arthur insisted.

Uther raised an eyebrow but didn't raise his gaze from the paperwork on his desk.

"He's my boyfriend," Arthur blurted.

Uther stopped what he was doing and raised his head, staring at Arthur intensely. Arthur's voice had wobbled when he'd spoken. It was something that Uther had never heard from his son before.

Looking as if he were about to faint, Arthur promptly plopped down into a nearby chair. At Uther's continued silence he dropped his head between his knees, wishing he could escape the room but knowing he couldn't stand right now, even if he wanted to.

Finally Uther said, "Are you quite alright? You look faint."

At the complete lack of anger, disgust, or whatever it was Arthur had been expecting in Uther's voice, Arthur had lifted his head to look at his father. He looked rather concerned.

"Did you forget to eat lunch or something? Not drinking enough water?"

Arthur stared at him, dumbfounded. After a few seconds he finally asked, "Did you not hear what I said?"

"I'm assuming you mean prior to acting like you were going to faint? Yes, I heard you quite clearly. Were you really so worried about telling me you're dating Mr. Emrys that you nearly collapsed in my office? Is there something I don't know about him? Obnoxious? Rude? Unconvicted serial arsonist?"

"Um..." Arthur said dumbly, "He's a he."

Uther looked at him strangely for a moment then said, "Yes, very keen, son." He sounded so much like Merlin in that moment that it made Arthur's head spin for a brand new reason.

"So..." Arthur drew out, trying to think this through. "You're not... bothered?"

Uther would never admit it out loud, but he was hurt by his son's state. The fact that Arthur had been so afraid to tell him this, that he was so certain he would be disappointed in him... Uther felt the unbearable need to explain his actions, something he rarely ever did. He kept his expression blank and did his best to keep his voice flat as he began explaining himself. "That boy is incredibly intelligent; going places for sure. He may have an interesting... fashion sense, but he seemed well-mannered. Well, he hates me, but most people do. He wasn't very happy about coming here, but graduating from Camelot will really pave the way for him to get into any college he wants. Not that he's not smart enough to do that on his own, but his mother expressed the need for finances and I was able to offer the assurance that colleges would undoubtedly give a full-ride scholarship to a genius-level Camelot graduate. Unfortunately, kids in the same position as Mr. Emrys that graduate from public schools aren't always as fortunate. They just get overlooked. A shame really. That's why I recruited him."

"You... so he..." Arthur blinked a few times before standing up abruptly. "This was a lovely conversation, father, we should talk more often." Then he turned and strode back out of the room.

REFERENCES

somebody else might end up being me -Afraid by The Neighborhood