#nancyrosee

The glass in his hand was removed by warm, sure fingers, and then he was being pulled up to sit. He didn't bother to open his eyes. The couch dipped. He was pulled back down again onto a broad, coat-covered chest. Merlin trailed his hands up the lapels of the coat and buried his face in the warm neck above them. He sighed with content at the familiar smell he found there. Expensive cologne. Merlin hated it. But he loved the man it belonged to.

“Hmm. You're home.”

Arthur chuckled tiredly. “Did you just realize it was me?”

“You smell like an ass.”

“You would know.”

Merlin snorted, but he was too tired to snark back. Arthur pet his hair gently and kissed the top of his head, pausing his lips there to murmur, “Sorry I'm late.”

“S'okay,” Merlin answered, nuzzling the spot on Arthur's neck because it was there and it smelled like him and much as he hated that damn cologne, it smelled like home. “You can make it up to me later.”

“I will,” Arthur said quietly, petting Merlin's hair until he finally gave in and fell asleep.

Hours later, when Merlin woke up again, he was still on the couch but the wrapping paper was gone. The TV was off and the smell of pine still clung to the air and the living room was spotless except for Arthur, sitting in the sofa chair across the room, grinning at Merlin like an excited child on Christmas morning.

Merlin blinked dubiously as he took in the immaculate room before him.

“Christ,” he said weakly. “You really do love me, don't you.”

Arthur threw back his head and laughed.

“Well, someone has to. Good lord.”

Without warning, Merlin darted across the room and flopped himself onto Arthur's lap in a decidedly unsexy way (though it made Arthur smile nonetheless) before smacking a kiss on his cheek. “Merry Christmas.”

Arthur squeezed Merlin tight. “Merry Christmas.”

There was silence for a moment, and then-

“Merlin?”

“Hm?”

“Make me breakfast?”

“Oh my god, you're useless.”