Chapter Text
Merlin was nervous. It was his first day at Albion University, not to mention, his first week in London. He glanced at his map again, heading to his dorm room.
“Room 206?” He asked hesitantly, peering into the room full of people. This was not going to work. He agreed to one roommate, not the half dozen or so crammed into the room.
“Yeah, sorry. You the roommate? We'll get out of your hair, we were just helping Arthur unpack.” A friendly looking man with bronze curls grinned, gesturing at who Merlin assumed was Arthur. “I'm Leon, these Neanderthals are Gwaine, Percival, Lancelot, and Elyan.” Waves all around.
“I'm Merlin.”
“If Arthur causes any trouble, let us know, we'll deal with it right away.” The one identified as Lancelot said. Arthur scoffed as everyone else filed out.
Merlin placed his suitcase and duffle bag by the door and took a look around the room.
It was bigger than he expected, at least twice the size of his room at home. Well lit with only one issue: the man glaring at him from on top of one of the beds.
“Well don't just stand there, you look like a bloody fool. I'm taking the bed by the window. Don't use up all the hot water. I'll be back later.” Arthur spat with more venom than Merlin thought possible, striding out the door.
The nerve of this guy. Merlin hadn't done anything, and he was still getting hated on. He'd know the guy for less than 5 minutes, the school year would be great.
Merlin quickly unpacked his things, there wasn't much as it was and called Gaius, his mentor and friend.
“Hello my boy. How's the campus?”
“Hey Gaius. It's fine, but my roommate hates me.”
“What did you do?”
“Nothing!”
“Merlin…”
“I didn't do anything. I'll be over in twenty minutes. I'll tell you everything. Bye.” He hurriedly hung up before Gaius could protest.
As Merlin began his walk to Gaius’ pharmacy, he contemplated what to do about Arthur.
It didn't take long to learn how to run Physician's Care, Gaius’ pharmacy. He was old and needed help, so Merlin was working to pay for what his scholarship didn't cover. He would be working afternoons and evenings, as all of his classes were in the morning, so he learned to close the shop and how to not murder rude clients. That last one was still a bit tricky.
It had been two weeks since class started, and Merlin hadn't seen much of Arthur at all. He'd leave breakfast for him in the fridge when he left, that was the closest they got to social interaction. They didn't have any classes together, Arthur slept in until after Merlin left, and with work, by the time Merlin got home, he would need to just hole up in his room to finish his school work before crashing until 5 the next morning to start it all again. On the days that Merlin wasn't at the pharmacy as long, he was with a small study group; just him and two girls from his psychology class, Gwen and Morgana, where he could vent about Arthur and the mess he made around the dorm.
Everything was going great until Arthur decided to break routine. Normally when Merlin would get back at around 10, Arthur would be at rugby practice or out with his friends. On the days he wasn't, he would be in his room. That day though, Arthur was sitting on the couch, holding the breakfast Merlin made that morning in front of him.
“You're out late.” Arthur commented.
“Hello to you too, my day was fine thanks for asking.” Merlin sighed. “It's there something wrong with the food? Do you have any dietary restrictions?”
“No, I just wanted to know why you go to all the trouble to make me breakfast every morning. I was terrible to you that first day, I know, my sister gave me hell about it, and I haven't really seen you around since.” Arthur admitted bashfully.
“It's no trouble. I just pack up some of what I make myself in the mornings. Also, your sister?”
“Morgana” Arthur stated, matter of factly.
Oh crap.
“I just wanted to thank you for this, and for everything else you do around here.” Arthur continued. “I know I'm not the easiest person to live with.”
“I wouldn't know,” Merlin mumbled, slouching into a chair, “I barely see you.”
Arthur laughed, and it made something in Merlin's stomach flutter. “True, what do you do all day? You're gone by the time I'm up, and not back until after dark.”
“Morning classes and then straight to work. The old man who runs the place can't keep up, so I do 10-10, closing up so Gaius doesn't have to.”
“12 hours?!? That's too much dude. I don't take anything longer than 8 hours. Ever.”
“Yeah, well, I need the money, and Gaius needs help. Where do you work?”
“Campus library, the head librarian is the worst. He's literally no help to anyone. Ever.”
Merlin laughed, “Kilgharrah, right? Yeah, we've met.”
“My condolences.” Arthur grinned, and Merlin couldn't help but grin back. The grin quickly turned into a yawn, which Merlin tried to stifle.
“I'll let you get some sleep.” Arthur sighed.
“G’night Arthur.”
“Why didn't you tell me that Arthur is your brother? You let me complain about him so much! Doesn't it bother you?” Merlin asked Morgana the next day.
“Not really, it's nice to see someone stand up to him for a change. I don't want to be defined by my brother or my father. I'm making my own path.” She shrugged, unapologetically.
“I get that, but when I was calling him a dollophead, you could have been like ‘Hey, he's my brother.’ and I'd stop. Well, not stop, but lessen the complaints a bit.”
Gwen and Morgana laughed.
“He's not that bad once you get to know him.” Gwen added, “I mean, look at me. I've known him since we were kids, I'm still here.”
“Not you too!” Merlin groaned. “Is there anything here who isn't personally connected to my roommate?”
“I don't think so, sorry dude.” A voice came from behind Merlin.
“Lance!” Gwen grinned at her boyfriend. “That's my queue to leave. Text me if anything else comes up.”
“Bye.” Merlin and Morgana chorused.
After that, Arthur tended to tidy up after himself more and help out around the dorm. If Arthur was at practice, Merlin would find dinner in the fridge. If Arthur was home, they'd usually eat together, chatting about their days and anything else that came to mind. It was easy to talk with Arthur, and they were becoming fast friends. Which made it so much harder when Merlin realized that he was falling for him.