Yay! It hasn't been a million years since my last update! Are you proud of me? XD

(-)

When Merlin got back to their apartment, it was starting to get dark. And Arthur had been worried.

"Where were you? I thought my sister had actually kidnapped you!"

Merlin held his hands up in surrender. "Went to the library. Didn't realize I forgot my phone."

"And your bloody jacket. You're shaking!" Arthur reached out to run his strong, callused hands along Merlin's skinny, goose-pimpled arms. Merlin's next shudder had nothing to with cold; the feeling of Arthur's concern and relief surging through their bond was too pleasant to suppress. It was more specific than the feelings had been before, and Merlin wondered if their artificial bond was evolving.

"Sorry. But I'm home now." Merlin couldn't help but close his eyes as Arthur continued to touch him.

The hands immediately withdrew, and Merlin fought not to whimper. When he opened his eyes, Arthur was settling on the couch. Merlin barely had time to feel hurt before Arthur patted the spot next to him. "Good way to get you warm."

Arthur wanted to cuddle. Merlin felt too warm already. He made his way over deliberately, not wanting to seem over-eager. When he sat down, Arthur put an arm around his shoulders and pulled Merlin closer. Merlin, for his part, shifted to face Arthur and put his arms around Arthur's torso. It prompted Arthur to slide his hand down Merlin's side, then repeat the motion in a soothing caress.

Merlin was engulfed in Arthur's warmth, and the warmth of Arthur's feelings. When he lay his head down on Arthur's chest, he could hear Arthur's heartbeat: swift and strong. It told Merlin that Arthur wasn't as relaxed as he seemed. He was very much enjoying cuddling with Merlin. But certainly not as much as Merlin was enjoying cuddling with him.

This was why Merlin could never leave, even if Arthur never wanted him that way. The feeling of rightness and of being whole when they were together was impossible to give up. Merlin would rather die than be without it.

"You want to go see a movie with me?" The question was sudden after their quiet cuddling for the past ten or fifteen minutes. They reluctantly parted as Arthur stretched.

Merlin knew his eyes were wide as he turned to look at Arthur. He was fairly certain his mouth wasn't hanging open, at least. "A movie?"

"Don't give me that look. The Film Club is showing 'Casablanca' in the Student Center this weekend. Wanna come with me?"

Still startled, Merlin's heart picked up its pace, even though Merlin knew he was not being asked out. "Um, I'd love to. But…" One other thing was bothering Merlin about this picture. "You want to see Casablanca?"

Arthur rubbed the back of his neck. "It's actually for class. My Film as Lit professor said everyone needs to go see it this weekend. I think she has an ulterior motive, though: she's the Film Club sponsor."

"Wait, you have Film as Lit?" Something clicked in Merlin's head. "Is that why you're so cool about having movie nights with me?"

Arthur groaned. "That's why I didn't mention the class. I didn't want you to think that I didn't like hanging out with you for the sake of hanging out with you. But, yes, our movie nights have helped me find a lot of different materials for all the papers we have to write. Especially your weird movies; she likes reading about movies she hasn't seen. She even told me that she went out and watched Donnie Darko after reading my paper."

Merlin was sure he had the biggest smile right then. Especially since Arthur had kept him in the dark to make Merlin feel secure in their friendship. "That sounds like fun. I'd love to go."

"Great. If it gets too English-y, I have backup along." Arthur grinned at Merlin.

"When are we going?"

Arthur glanced at him. "There's a showing tonight if you're free."

Merlin mock-frowned. "I don't know, I'm pretty busy with basketball and being president of Balloon Animal Club. But I suppose I could pencil you in."

Arthur barked out a laugh. "Balloon Animal Club?"

"Don't ask."

(-)

Merlin had tried on four outfits so far, all the while berating himself since it was not a date. He settled on his favorite white T-shirt with a unicorn pooping rainbows contrasted by black skinny jeans. Not too dressy, not trying too hard, but something he felt good wearing.

"You ready, Merlin?" Arthur was outside his door.

"Coming." Merlin grabbed his warmest zip-up hoodie, black, and opened his door.

"Nice shirt." Arthur looked highly amused.

"Thanks, it's my favorite." Merlin wondered if maybe he shouldn't have volunteered that information, again not wanting to look like he wanted this to be a date.

"Of course it is. Why would I expect anything else?" The words could have been dismissive, but there was a fondness in Arthur's voice as he said it. Merlin was very glad they had the necklaces so he could allow the warmth to flow through him, unchecked.

Arthur was wearing a dark blue pair of jeans and a bright red T-shirt that said, "Strong is Fighting." He was wearing a leather jacket, but he also looked dressed for not-a-date.

They didn't talk much on the way there, just enjoyed the crisp, cool night air. They found their way to the second floor of the Student Center where the room was. The movie was free, so they just walked in to get their seats.

The room was fuller than Merlin had expected, but he remembered that Arthur's class and probably every other Film as Lit class was assigned to attend, so anyone wanting to get it out of the way would show up tonight.

They got seats in the middle and, after they were settled, Arthur asked Merlin if he knew anything about the movie. Before Merlin could answer, he could hear people talking about them.

"That's Arthur isn't it?"

"Yeah, who's that loser with him?"

"Pendragon seems to have found himself a boyfriend."

"So unfair! Some gay guy keeping Arthur to himself."

"After that article, I wondered if Pendragon was a closet fag."

The last comment came from down the row they were sitting in. And especially after watching Arthur turn red and look intensely uncomfortable hearing that comment, Merlin wasn't going to let it slide.

"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that. What was that you said?" Merlin asked. Simply rude people usually got embarrassed if you called them out. Arseholes took it as a challenge. And Merlin was happy to throw down over this.

"I said, 'I thought Pendragon was a closet fag after I read that article.'" The guy was wearing a letterman jacket as was his friend next to him, who sniggered when the statement was repeated.

"And you say this now because, what, he's sitting next to a guy?" Merlin turned to face the two bullies, both to show he wasn't afraid to face them, and to block Arthur off from having to see the jerks talking about him.

"You're obviously his little fag boyfriend."

Merlin couldn't help it. He laughed a bit. "Did someone drop you on your head, or were you raised in a closet? He's sitting next to a guy, so he must be gay, and we must be dating. You and your friend might make a cute couple if you weren't arseholes. Still, when should we expect a happy announcement?"

The surrounding people also waiting for the movie to start let out a collective "Oooo" at that. The main bully turned red and didn't answer right away, so Merlin continued. "Or maybe you want me to sit next to you so we'll suddenly be dating. Moronic arsehole."

The bully wasn't going to take that. "Let's take this outside so you can say that."

"Nah, you two go ahead. I'm sure it's a terribly romantic evening under the stars, but I came to watch a movie with my friend." The onlookers chuckled at that.

"Fucking fag." The bully seemed unable to think of what else to say.

His friend saved him. "Come on, Turk, I'm getting sick just sitting near them. Fuck this stupid movie."

"Yeah," Turk agreed.

"Have a pleasant evening, gentlemen." Merlin was tempted to add a few more innuendos, but he'd prefer they leave, not attack him. Better to quit while he was ahead. He noticed that while they were talking just about all the seats but the three between him and Turk were filled. People who had apparently been standing filled in the spaces.

The girl who took the seat next to Merlin grinned at him. "Very nice. Wish I saw that more often."

"Wish it happened more often."

Merlin turned back to Arthur. Arthur was hunched over, and Merlin was worried for a second. But then Arthur glanced up at him, grinning with tears in his eyes. He'd obviously been suppressing his laughter, because it came out in full force. It was catching, and anyone who hadn't wanted to laugh in the bullies' faces let it out then.

"That was brilliant." Arthur sounded short of breath.

"Glad you think so." Merlin smiled at how happy Arthur looked as compared to when people were talking about him. Worth it.

"You do realize they'll probably be waiting when we leave, right?"

"It seemed likely. Thank goodness I'm hanging out with a big strong manly man and have a little basic self-defense."

Arthur was sobering a bit as they talked, and the audience went back to its own conversations. "That's good, but it's harder for me to occupy two opponents so they can't come after you. Not that I'm not awesome enough to do it, but…"

"It's riskier." Merlin finished for him. "We could have Lance meet us here and get pizza afterward. Hell, Gwaine and Percy could come. It would be fun."

"I like that idea." Arthur pulled out his phone and sent a group text to the Knights. Merlin didn't read all of it, but he noticed that Arthur mentioned the possibility of a fight.

"Think they'll come for the fight, stay for the pizza?" Merlin asked.

Arthur snorted. "I think if they weren't busy but were feeling too lazy to go out, they'll definitely show up now."

"Good. Tonight is going swimmingly; I'd like it to keep being amazing."

"Agreed." Arthur's eyes met his, and there was something warm and fond in them and that plus the brush of Arthur's hand on his suddenly made it feel very date-like.

'Not a date, not a date, not a date.' Merlin had to keep reminding himself.

A woman that Merlin assumed was Arthur's professor came out to say a few things before the movie started. When the lights went down, Arthur's hand brushed his again, and stayed there. The artificial bond made Merlin's skin hum, so he imagined his feelings were making Arthur's skin hum too. Arthur seemed to shift a little as soon as Merlin felt it.

'This isn't a date.' Merlin just had to make sure he didn't forget.

(-)

Waiting at the doors to exit the Student Center were the Knights. "So, I hear you might have some fun coming your way?" Gwaine said.

"Merlin verbally handed some homophobic pricks their arses. They didn't seem the type to let things go." Arthur was glancing through the glass doors as they spoke.

"And even if they don't show or somehow have the good sense to not pick a fight with four strong, competent-looking fellows, we can catch up over some pizza," Merlin said.

Percy snorted. "And finally spend some time with Arthur. I don't know what you do to make him so attached to you."

Arthur stiffened and wouldn't meet Merlin's eyes, Gwaine smiled slyly at Merlin, and Lancelot looked troubled.

"As I've said, I don't think Arthur staying in our rooms can be blamed on me. All his things are there." Merlin tried hard to brush off Percy's observation, because hope would be crippling.

"Anytime we see him, he talks about you. Maybe we should hang out more, if you're that amazing." Percy kept talking, oblivious to the atmosphere growing around them.

Merlin couldn't help but glance at Arthur, because, was Percy telling the truth? Did Arthur have that much passion and interest in Merlin? Arthur was still avoiding his gaze, and Gwaine cuffed Percy on the back of his head.

"Hey!"

"You really don't have any filter, do you? C'mon, let's see where the night will take us." Gwaine pushed through the doors.

As they walked down the empty mall, Merlin faded the conversations around him into background noise and Listened. He heard some feet moving behind one of the concrete pillars of Faner.

"Little bastard called in back up."

"Let's forget this, Turk. He's not worth the trouble."

"No one talks to me like that and gets away with it."

"Then we can get him later. I really don't think picking a fight with those guys right now would do us any good."

Merlin hadn't realized he'd stopped walking and turned to stare at the pillar the two bullies hid behind until Lance's hand landed on his shoulder. "Merlin?" Lance gave Merlin a look between him and the pillars, the question clear.

Merlin nodded, thinking he was getting sloppy if Lance could catch onto when he was using magic. Of course, that was only because Lance knew he had it. And that would be fine if Gwaine hadn't been right behind Lance and seen the whole exchange, his brow furrowed in thought. Very sloppy.

"Why are we stopping?" Percy wasn't quiet about it.

Merlin Heard the two bullies moving away in a hurry, apparently deciding that attacking the Knights and Merlin was a bad idea. "Nothing. Thought I heard something. Let's go get that pizza." Merlin looked where Arthur was, standing where the Knights had stopped when they realized Merlin wasn't following them. Arthur wouldn't look at him, and it stung.

Of course, would Arthur be so upset and embarrassed by Percy's commentary if there was nothing to it? Merlin hated to get his hopes up, but a lot of things he'd been brushing off as meaningless were beginning to pile up into a heap of meaning something.

Arthur's jealousy over Merlin being with anyone else. How much he enjoyed cuddling with Merlin. Gwaine and Percy's opinions of his behavior. And the biggest thing Merlin had ignored: their destiny. They completed each other. They were meant to be together. He'd been refusing to believe that that meant Arthur would feel the same way about him, but he'd have to, wouldn't he? And he did, didn't he?

As they started walking again, Merlin had an idea. Their necklaces stopped Merlin's power from acting out, but they also linked them together. He concentrated a surge of his confusion through the link to Arthur. Arthur bit his lip when the feelings hit him and looked up at Merlin.

"Are we okay, Arthur?" Merlin asked quietly.

Arthur nodded. "Yeah. Just been a night."

No longer an amazing night. Just a night. Merlin tried not to let disappointment crush him.

And maybe Merlin had been right about how their bond was evolving, because he felt Arthur's guilt. But Arthur looked at him again. "You're so skinny, you won't mind if I only leave you one slice of the pepperoni mushroom pizza, I'm sure."

"I'll fight you for it," Merlin said with a grin. "And I think I've gotten better at figuring out how to win."

Arthur's eyes went wide, and Merlin realized he was remembering their first kiss. "No underhanded tactics at the dinner table, Merlin." Arthur sounded both warning and embarrassed.

"Wait, Merlin beat Arthur? This I want to hear," Percy said.

And, yes, Arthur looked panicked for a few moments before Merlin said, "No way! It's my strategy; I'm not sharing my secret fighting skills with you guys. You have enough of your own."

Lancelot, who was the only one who knew what had happened, was looking between the two with interest. "It's true. Merlin has a technique or two we wouldn't be clever enough to figure out."

"Does that mean you know what it is?" Gwaine asked, looking highly amused. Perhaps he had figured it out for himself, at least the nature of it.

"Why would Merlin share his secret fighting techniques with me?" was all Lancelot said.

Percy grinned. "Maybe because you two were almost dating a few days ago."

Lancelot shrugged. "I'm not sharing my secret fighting moves with Gwen."

"One way or another, anyone who wants to steal all of my pizza instead of sharing has another thing coming." Merlin made himself sound as confident as possible.

"We really do need to have Merlin out with us more often; this is fun," Percy said.

'The Knights really are something special,' Merlin thought. 'You have four buff, straight-looking blokes, and a skinny gay guy with a unicorn pooping rainbows on his shirt is right at home and welcomed among them.'

It still might have been Not-a-Date, but the evening was bloody brilliant none the less.

(-)

I hope you enjoyed their Not-a-Date. Merlin is starting to come around to the idea that Arthur might like him. I'd love to hear your thoughts if you'd care to write me a review. They fill me with feels and encouragement.

Also, being the President of Balloon Animal Club has been an inside joke in my family for years. Mainly because of a Christmas letter bragging on someone's kid achieving such a lofty status.