beach day merthur cuz its hot asf where im at

Night patrols

The first time Merlin and Arthur talk, it's due to a seating chart.

One moment Merlin is sitting with Will and talking about anything that isn't Biology, and the other he's sitting next to the football captain who- if he's being honest with himself - intimidates him just a little bit.

Because Arthur is all blonde hair and blue eyes and arms as thick as Merlin's thighs, and Merlin is just Merlin - some boy in the back of the class who never speaks.

Arthur is surprisingly nice, although a little bit egotistical at times. He's kind, and when he smiles Merlin can see his canines that kind of make him look like an overgrown puppy (Merlin tries not to think about why he's been so focused on Arthur's smile or his teeth because that's a little bit creepy).

They switch seats again once the semester's over, and Merlin figures that that would be the end of that.

Because Arthur is all laughing with friends and doing sports and having girls faint at his feet, and Merlin is just Merlin. Arthur has no real reason to associate with Merlin after this, so Merlin just lifts his bag and sits next to some girl with brown hair as he silently mourns his silly little crush on the football captain.

Only, it doesn't end there.

The second time Merlin and Arthur talk, Merlin is standing in front of his locker.

Merlin is putting away things from his last period when he gets tapped on the shoulder. He expects Gwen or Will, and is ready to complain to them about some random assignment when he is faced with blonde hair and blue eyes instead.

Arthur asks Merlin if he'd like to come to his next football game. Merlin has no idea what's happening, but Arthur is blushing and looking away and running his hands through his hair, and Merlin responds yes before processing anything.

Merlin goes to the game. He has no idea what's happening for the entirety of it, but Arthur smiles at him from the field and Merlin can feel his heart pounding in his ears.

The third time Merlin and Arthur talk, Merlin doesn't quite understand what's going on.

Arthur puts his lunch tray down in front of the seat that is next to Merlin's like he's sat there every day for the past four years. Merlin is a little confused, and wishes that Gwen and Will would stop waggling their eyebrows at him like they're having multiple strokes. When he looks back at the table where Arthur usually sits with his teammates, he can see Gwaine winking at him and making a gesture that should not be made in the school cafeteria.

Merlin is now more than a little bit confused, but he simply eats his soggy slice of pizza and ignores it when Gwen and Will suspiciously has to leave together for some very important business that must be handled together and will take the entirety of the rest of the lunch period.

Arthur is also staring at Merlin weirdly intensely, but Merlin is also staring right back.

Because Arthur is gorgeous and good-looking and built like a Greek god, and you can't really blame Merlin for staring when he's right there.

The next time Merlin and Arthur talk, Merlin is so darn confused he thinks he's losing his mind.

Arthur asks Merlin out for winter formal. Merlin checks behind him for a possible game of truth or dare around the corner, and blinks at Arthur when he doesn't find anything.

When Arthur grows visibly more and more upset at Merlin's silence, Merlin can't stand the kicked puppy expression that he has and straight up asks Arthur if this is a prank. Arthur says no, and Merlin asks why.

Because Arthur is beautiful and handsome and smiles like he's the sun, and Merlin is just Merlin. Arthur could have anyone he'd like in the school, so certainly he would not like the weirdly quiet boy who has holes in his jeans and rips in his sweaters.

Only, he does.

Because Arthur tells Merlin that, to Arthur, Merlin isn't just some boy in the back of the class who never speaks, and he isn't the weirdly quiet boy who has holes in his jeans and rips in his sweaters.

To Arthur, Merlin is the boy whose nose scrunches up adorably when he's focused on a Biology paper. He's the boy that Arthur had been looking at from the other side of the Biology classroom long before they got put together in the seating chart, and the boy that made Arthur's heart drop when he realized that he had no actual reason to talk to anymore after they switched seats.

He's the boy who Arthur is sure that his friends are sick of hearing about. The boy with the sassy remarks that make Arthur wants to kiss him, and the boy who Arthur wants to make smile all the time, whose hands Arthur wants to hold.

Merlin kisses him right there in the hallway, because if he held himself back for one more second he might've actually exploded. Arthur kisses him back.

The next time Merlin and Arthur talk (around half a minute after their kiss), Arthur asks Merlin to be his boyfriend. Merlin says yes, and Arthur smiles so bright that Merlin thinks of the puppy again.

Merlin goes with Arthur to the winter formal, even if the tickets are outrageously expensive. Merlin attends every single one of Arthur's games just to be kissed after them, and as he is laying in bed one day with Arthur's chest pressed up to his back and Arthur's strong arms around his waist, Merlin thinks about writing a thank-you note to his Biology teacher.

And while Arthur is still all blonde hair and blue eyes and arms as thick as Merlin's thighs, and Merlin is still just Merlin, Arthur loves Merlin, and Merlin loves him right back.

Arthur hates his job. He hates the extra hours he has to put in every day and he hates that he hardly has any time to see his friends but, above all, he hates working for his father, but a strange sense of honor prevents him from resigning as if by doing so he could say he has failed. He is lonely and feels powerless but one day, almost as if by a miracle, he meets Merlin. Merlin is a few years younger than him, a university senior, and works full-time in a cafeteria that pays him less than he deserves but turns a blind eye if he has to leave early to take an exam. They became inseparable in less than twenty-four hours and got together in less than a week (a miracle, according to all their friends) Arthur does not talk about the problems he has at work at first because he does not want to burden the initial conversations and then he does not talk about them because he does not want to worry Merlin. He complains occasionally about his father but tries not to show how much it is weighing on him. Despite everything Merlin makes him realize that he should just quit, find another firm or at least take a leave of absence from work and really think about what he wants to do.

Arthur, for the first time, really thinks about it. Months go by and Arthur continues to be indecisive, Merlin doesn't pressure him in any way and just supports him, and Arthur is almost convinced that it's okay to go on like this, at least until his father gives him a further two-hour lecture on how inadequate he is, how the firm is not going well because of mistakes Arthur has made (he hasn't made any mistakes) and, to Arthur's horror, Uther brings up Merlin saying that it's definitely that boy's fault that Arthur isn't giving it his all. Arthur decided at that moment that he would resign at the end of the week. He wants to talk to Merlin, he wants to celebrate with Merlin, and so he sends him a message if they can meet. Merlin replies that he is at home and can drop by whenever he wants, Arthur reads the message and thinks there is something strange in the tone of the conversation.

He realizes what it is the moment Merlin opens the door for him and his eyes are red with tears. "They reduced my working hours," he says as he runs his hands through his hair and starts explaining how he doesn't have time to find another job on the spur of the moment, how he can't even think about having to find a second one but that he can't ask his mother for money because she doesn't have any, but the rent is too expensive, the bills don't pay themselves and he has absolutely no idea what to do with the university because his lecturer is an ass. "Come live with me" Arthur says this without even realizing it, he knows it's early, he knows they haven't been together for even a year, but he has no second thoughts. It's what he wants. Merlin looks at him as if he has gone mad and is about to say something but Arthur raises a hand and nips any protest in the bud. "You won't have to pay rent, you won't have to pay bills. If it makes you feel better you can buy your own groceries, but fewer hours at work means you can study more and take your time, I think that's the best solution for everyone." Merlin grabs him and takes him into the bedroom. Arthur has nothing to complain about. Arthur sucks it up and continues to work for his father. He doesn't quit his job because he knows he won't find another one as lucrative and Merlin deserves the world. More months pass and it is almost time for Merlin to graduate and Arthur is happy to see Merlin's dream come true. Unlike him, his father continues to be manic in his demands and Arthur is increasingly tired. And it is with a sense of horror that Arthur, having finished another tirade from his father, is told by Gwen that Merlin has gone to find him on his lunch break and chatted with Gwen about how Arthur is doing at work.

Back home Arthur also receives a lecture from his boyfriend.

"You stupid clotpole, damned dollophead, how could you do this to yourself?" And Merlin spends the rest of the evening telling him what an idiot Arthur is, repeating how much he loves him, throwing blows to the back of his head and later hugging him without letting go. Arthur is a little doubtful about what is going on but when he is hugged he hugs back, putting his head in the crook of Merlin's neck and feeling strangely safe. On the day of Merlin's graduation, Merlin forces Arthur to resign. They can live in a much smaller house, they can live off their savings until Merlin gets a job, but most importantly, Arthur can get a part-time job and go back to university to study what he really wanted to do. Now Merlin will be in charge of him.

Merlin and Arthur get married the day after Arthur's graduation

Arthur grew up around both homophobia and pride parades. As such, he's been trying to be a good ally in school while avoid being ridiculed by his father for allying.

When he finally goes to study law at the local (but like, prestige) university, he meets Merlin and his friends. Like normal students they talk about their lives at a party and Arthur mentions who his dad is and Merlin is outraged because he knows who Uther Pendragon is. During the next truth or dare, Merlin (to test Arthur), dares Arthur to kiss him.

Arthur is flustered and asks him why and Merlin says "to see if you're all talk." So they kiss and something in Arthur clicks.

It's not that it's Merlin who does it he's sure, it's just the kiss itself that irreversibly changes him. After the party, Arthur confesses to Merlin that he's confused now and if Merlin would like to help him figure out his feelings.

Merlin, medicine student and hobby fassade climber also known as Emrys on the street, and openly hater Uther Pendragon, agrees.

M: I always wanted a secret closeted boyfriend

A: you don't have to be so sarcastic

M: no no no. I'm serious. I like break and entering and to piss off homophobic dads.

A: break and- never mind

To Arthur's shock, Merlin is very good at break and entering and sometimes he just suddenly walks around in the Pendragon mansion into Arthur's room, a stolen coke from the kitchen in hand.

It would be a lie to say Arthur didn't complain. But the bickering pales because he also fell brutally in love with Merlin.

au where arthur returns. rises out of the lake. and people just think he's jesus. he's all over the news as the second coming of christ. his ego's at an all time high. he's so fucking confused. he goes on the graham norton show and graham norton introduces him as jesus.

merlin has no idea about any of this until he sees arthur on the news and goes batshit

I cant stop thinking ab the idea of merlin one day post s5, where they all survived, becoming really secretive and protective of his room and not telling anyone at all whats inside. Not even gaius. He even gets a lock installed and whenever anybody asks he brushes it off with jokes like “its to stop arthur from finding me” or smth.

he also unrelatedly really hates any talk of destiny, going to war, and anytime morgana mentions her fear of her magic turning her merlin slightly freaks out.

That is until one day gaius manages to catch merlin off guard while hes rushing between the main room and his bedroom and walks in.

Only to see a whole bunch of stuff that hes never seen before.

Merlin freaks out, tries to play it off as some weird experiments and stuff hes been collecting but gaius can feel it, somethings different about these items, not wrong but not right. Not really magic either.

It takes 3 weeks of gaius pestering him before merlin breaks and explains to him that he IS A TIME TRAVELER. after the battle of camlan as we know it that lead to arthurs death, merlin did wait, he really did, but in the year 2020 when arthur didnt return for yet another global crisis, merlin broke and did spell upon spell until he figured out how throw himself back in time.

And holy shit did it work well. He managed to come back just at the perfect time to change everything that needed to be done to assure that everyone lives happily and safely, and when he realises hes done it, he decides to stay in this time. See his friends and family grow old as they should have. See arthur rule as he should have. Live the life he has been craving to go back to for centuries now.

Until a month in he realises how old everything is. Sure merlin can survive without his phone and stuff but theres a few things he really misses. Like his slippers, his potato peeler, his favourite hoodie, and especially his favourite tea flavours.

So once in a while he allowed himself to go back to the modern day and bring one thing back. He started with a scented candle, because candles exist in camelot and having one here shouldn’t mess up time right? Then moved onto a herbal tea that he knows if he traveled past the boarders he may be able to find similar ingredients.

Then he brings a new release of his favourite book series because he cant help it and realises small things like that dont change time.

And so thats what he’s been hiding away in his room, all of his modern day stuff. Ranging from trinkets hes collected over his life to his favourite scarf to his stuffed lion that he won at a fair in the 80s. He doesn’t go back often, only when his tea runs out or he really needs something, he tries to limit it he really does.

It takes gaius another 4 weeks to wrap his head around it all. Another 2 weeks after that to touch merlins stuffed lion thinking it may attack him at any moment.

He makes gaius promise to not tell a soul, offering him tea bags as payment. They have a nice system from then on, gaius would try a new flavour of tea everytime merlin returned, once in a while he would also bring a modern day snack (gaius yelled when he first tried salt and vinegar crisps).

A yell which led to leon finding out. And so a cycle began.

*appears out of the ether to give you this*

I redrew that one drawing I made like, I think 2 years ago, Originally Arthur wasn't supposed to be shirtless but I got so proud of that arm that I decided not to cover it up

here's a close up

I ALSO DID A TIMELAPSE(half-way through cuz its when I remembered)

and if for some reason you want to know I was listening to Kids Again by Artist vs Poet (its in my merthur playlist)

cozy merthur cuddle time

the barbenheimer dispute has been solved!

Avalon12 au

And here are the plot thoughts so far

Like I said, Kilgharrah is magical, well-informed and well-connected. The concern towards magic grows, the incidents get bigger, so a major counteroperation begins under top secrecy. Along with it, the army signs their so far longest contract with Avalon12 — they get constant assignments to seemingly random missions that have an underlying motive; to eliminate and destroy the magical threat without disclosing information. The squad gets new efficient training and the most important weapon — Merlin

Their dynamic is similar to the show. Kilgharrah reveals himself to Merlin and explains his transfer. Now, Merlin has to, somehow, lead 12 killing machines of soldiers to clean up sites of magical experiments gone wrong (this is where the horror creatures come in) and eliminate sorcerers that are preparing a magical war and armageddon, all that without exactly letting them know what's happening before shit absolutely hits the fan and no other way is left. (Which doesn't really work out for long)

I'm also thinking about keeping Morgana as a sort of antagonist/antihero, who discovers her own magic, in her desire to ruin Uther's business, makes a deal with the magicals. That comes back, biting her in the ass and she ends up having to choose between ensuring Gwen's or Arthur's safety. She chooses Gwen

headcanon that merlin once played stimulation videos for babies and dogs for arthur for the meme and THEY ACTUALLY WORKED

like that man is ENTRANCED as pineapples and strawberries bounce across the screen. and merlin is of course silently laughing his ass off in a corner

rise and shine !!! ☀️

As I was just about to post this, the song that was playing on my phone was like: "But never, my wizard brother, will you find yourself a queen, and I will never find myself a king", and I thought the coincidence was absolutely hilarious :"D

Florist Merlin: [doodling flowers into his art journal]

Lawyer Arthur: [leans against the counter] Merlin.

Florist Merlin: [Keeps drawing without looking up at Arthur] Hm?

Lawyer Arthur: [stares at Merlin wanting his friend to look back at him] Stop drawing and pay attention to your loyal customer. [Slightly frowning]

Florist Merlin: No. I'm on break. [Starts drawing cats surrounded by flowers]

Lawyer Arthur: [reaches out to tip Merlin's face up to gaze at him, and felt himself smirk] There we go. [His smirk turns into a smile] Hello my bluebell.

Florist Merlin: [flustered, blushing] Ugh, stop calling me that. [Pushes Arthur's hand away] You're such a prat Arthur.

Arthur finding out what Merlin’s actual birth name is:

Arthur: MERLIN! Merlin: *appears* Yes? Arthur: Your name ISN’T MERLIN?? Merlin: I don’t know what you mean Arthur: I just got off the phone with your Mother Merlin: Mmmmm, she promised she wouldn’t tell you Arthur: YOUR NAME IS MYRDDIN WYLLT?? Merlin: Ah, she told you my last name too...got it Arthur: We’ve been dating for 3 years, and you didn’t tell me??