Chapter Text
“So…how do you want to go about this then? Just bust in there and get him out? Or something…” Morgana’s glare was enough to get him to shut up, so he just returned to staring at the couch table.
“Call him.”
“What?”
“Call Arthur and ask where he is.”
“Wouldn’t it be rude to-”
“Really?? You might be interrupting his murder so call him, Merlin.”
“Geez seems like bossiness runs in the family.” Merlin dialled Arthur’s number and waited until he finally picked up.
“What?”
“And hello to you too. Um, where are you?”
“With Sophia, why?”
“Yeah but like, where. You know. Geographical location.” There was a short silence before Arthur answered again, his words slow and suspicious.
“Why do you need to know that, Merlin?”
“Uh, you know, um something happened and I need you to go to Screwfix.”
“Oh god…” Morgana mumbled and turned away with a roll of her eyes.
“What did you do to my apartment?”
“Nothing serious just-“
“What happened?!” Merlin held the phone away from his ear and gave Morgana a thumbs up.
“I don’t know mate, it just, there was a loud bang and some of the light bulbs just exploded.”
“The light bulbs?”
“Yeah, I know right? But you don’t seem to have any spare ones here and I’m not so sure on how to do anything but I guess I could-“
“Keep your hands away. Jesus I hate you for this. I’ll be there in half an hour.” Merlin hung up the phone and grinned.
“That actually worked?”
“Ah, you know, Arthur’s got a soft spot for me.” Her rising brow was enough to shut Merlin up. “Right. So what now?”
“Well, we will go and hunt down Sophia and make sure she won’t get close to Arthur again.”
“And how will that work exactly? Just, you know, besides hypothetically.”
“I’m sure I’ll think of something and you can…I suppose you can act as distraction.”
“Right, great. Thanks so much.” Morgana rolled her eyes and went off to do god knows what, leaving Merlin behind on the couch. He twiddled his thumb for a while before sighing and standing up, choosing his next victim.
Looking around Merlin decided that perhaps the light bulb by the kitchen area would be great, since you needed the light for basically everything. Focusing on two of the light bulbs above the stove and one from the long lamp hanging above the kitchen island, Merlin make them splinter with just a little bit of magic. They went out with a quite dramatic pop, the glass raining down onto the surface. He was about to clean up with some more magic, when Morgana hurried back again.
“What happened?”
“Uh the light bulbs? If I’m to be the distraction I would like to elongate my lifespan for at least a bit.”
“By damaging his apartment?” This time Merlin rolled his eyes.
“No by assuring that he doesn’t see through my distraction within the first few seconds.”
“What happened?” Merlin looked up from a magazine including an in-depth article about the pharmaceutical industry, which he had been reading up to that point with a fair amount of interest.
“Ah welcome back. Where’s Sophia?”
“Dropped her off at home. I was about to get the light bulbs but you didn’t actually tell me which ones broke so I don't know which size I need to get.” With a sigh Merlin stood up, putting the magazine aside. Meanwhile Arthur threw his jacket on the chair, putting his wallet and phone besides it.
“Look at this.” Arthur stared at the blown out light bulbs, stared at Merlin and turned back again.
“How-“
“Don’t ask me how I managed because it wasn’t my fault.”
“Then why else would my light bulbs suddenly break?! It must have something to do with you!”
“Um this is you apartment? If it’s anyone’s fault then yours because you don’t take care of your things.”
“Excuse you I do ta-“
“Boys!” Both of them turned to look at Morgana who stood at the bottom of the stairs with an annoyed look. “Stop behaving like prats. Arthur, where is Sophia? I hoped to get to know her better.” The slightly glazed look was back over his eyes and he smiled.
“I dropped her off home.”
“Really? She seems like a girl from a good family. Surely she lives accordingly?”
“It was adequate but if she marries me she will never have to worry about materialistic things every again!”
“Gosh Arthur listen to yourself.” Before Arthur could even reply Morgana once more interrupted.
“The light bulbs Arthur, you’ll need to repair them. I think you should go now and buy new ones.”
“But-“
“Now.”
“Why can’t Merlin go and get them? He’s the one who broke them!”
“This is your bloody apartment!”
“Stop! Arthur go and get those light bulbs before I smash something else! Merlin just shut up for once in your life.” Grumbling to himself Merlin crossed his arms and watched as Arthur left the apartment with a venomous glare. Morgana sighed, rubbed the bridge of her nose and turned to Merlin.
“Right so that wasn’t helpful.”
“You did send him away before he could say anything though.”
“As if it would have made a difference. Also he left his phone – I know that he would have used the navigation system on his phone.” Merlin followed her gaze and nodded slowly.
“He also forgot his wallet. We should probably get out before he notices.”
“First good idea you’ve had all day. Let’s go.” Morgana clapped her hands and once again Merlin had no other choice but to grab his jacket and follow.