#beautifulsouls-devotion

As soon as Merlin opened the motel room, he made sure allphysical entrances were locked and then he cast several protection and securitycharms. He used a cleaning spell on the bed (just in case) and then went intothe bathroom to take a shower. He hadn’t the luxury of a shower very often, notwhen he had to run between the city for information and then return to rebelcamp in the forest.

Just as he was drying off, one of his charms set off making thehair on the back of his neck rise on end. He quickly pulled on his jeans andthen cast out a detection spell.

“It’s just me.” A voice said on the other end of the motelroom door. “Stop with the feel-up detection magic. It’s distracting.”

Merlin couldn’t help the huff of laughter that escaped him. Heopened the door and let Arthur into the room. He looked as disguised as hewould ever get: jeans, chuck taylors, and a jacket with the hood pulled overhis head.

“I’ve told you the hood only makes you look more suspicious.”Merlin said, pulled it down.

“And I’ve told you, it covers my face from my father’s spycameras.”

Merlin rolled his eyes, but didn’t argue. Arthur set down aduffle bag on the motel desk. “Here’s the supplies. I wish it were more.”

Merlin looked through the bag: hygiene products, first-aid,tin cans of food, a couple pieces of clothing and one padded blanket.

“It’s enough for now.”

“Leon has a drop off with Morgana tomorrow.” Arthur informedhim. They couldn’t move anything in groups or with anything too large. It wouldbring suspicion and if this network fell, everything came loose.

Seeing Arthur, in a motel room for ‘for the night’ was not agood plan. They had a lot of lives on the line. Balinor had been furious whenhe discovered that Merlin’s infiltration into Camelot had been ‘corrupted’ whenMerlin had fallen into bed with the enemy. Or rather, the enemy’s son. Arthurwas nothing like his father, which led to this underground network arrangement.It also meant that Merlin rarely saw Arthur at all. If they had only beensleeping together that would have been fine.

But…

Arthur stepped into Merlin’s personal space and thumbedMerlin’s cheek delicately. “You look tired. Have you been sleeping?”

Merlin decided to answer honestly. They had such few momentstogether that he couldn’t afford to play coy. “I’ve been restless. Thinkingabout seeing you.” Merlin ran his hands under the collar of Arthur’s t-shirt sohe could feel the skin of Arthur’s back against his palms. “Missed you.”

Arthur pressed his face against Merlin’s, humming incontentment. “You too.”

“When can you be back?”

“Let’s focus on now.” Which meant he didn’t know, but was sureit was certainly going to be a long time. Arthur’s hands moved down Merlin’sshoulders to his ribs and settled on his hips. “You’re not very dressed.”

“Just finished my shower.” Merlin said, knowing that hisjeans were skimming too low for decency. “Would you rather I get dressed?”

“No, that would waste time.” Arthur said with a clever glintin his eye. “Might want to lean against the dresser.” Then he went to hisknees.

Later (much later) they laid in bed. The little alarm clockon the bedside table read 3am, but they had no plans to sleep. In betweenkissing and pressing as close together as they could, they talked. They ranfingers over skin and they talked about everything: the city, politics, magic,war. They talked about nothing: the way Merlin took his coffee (when he had theluxury), the funny things Arthur had seen on the metro on his way to work, howthe trees looked in the forest under the night sky, that memorable time Arthurfell off the bed and they couldn’t stop laughing.

6:58am. They didn’t have much time left, but they still hadn’tslept a wink. Arthur was pressing as many kisses as he could onto Merlin’smouth.

Merlin held back a sad noise which was building in histhroat. “I wish this moment could last…” He had to bury his face into Arthur’sneck to hide the emotion tearing through him.

Arthur held onto him tightly, until it felt like all the airfrom his lungs was gone.

7:28am. Arthur pressed a kiss to Merlin’s forehead, his handcupping Merlin’s jaw. “I’m afraid I didn’t help you sleep much.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Merlin said, holding Arthur’s wrist so hishand would stay where it was. Arthur moved his hand so that he could holdMerlin’s instead.

“I promise” Arthur said adamantly, “One day we will fallinto bed, I will kiss you goodnight, and we will fall asleep. Then I will wakeup next to you, knowing I don’t have to leave.”

Merlin kissed Arthur’s hand.

“One day.”

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