Fostered by rageprufrock (Teen)

[sajee.livejournal.com]

Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Length: 6, 442
Author on LJ: rageprufrock
Author Website: Archive Of Our Own page
Why this must be read:

The Dragon gives Merlin an egg to look after. Merlin (and Arthur) look after the egg. Shenanigans ensue.

For something that sounds like it would be kind of one note but there is so much depth in this fic! As always, rageprufrock's characterisation and pacing is fantastic and there are some serious LOL IRL moments.

It was only then that Merlin recalled where he’d been when the dragon had launched its unprovoked attack and shot up in bed — immediately regretting it as pain lanced down his back — and then suddenly Arthur’s voice was warm in his ear, his hands shockingly soft, easing Merlin back down on the narrow bed as he said, “Stop being such an idiot, Merlin, honestly.”

Merlin blinked back the reflexive wetness in his eyes, tried to catch Arthur’s distracted gaze and figure out why the prince had pinked, just then. “What happened to me?”

Cocking a brow at him, Arthur said, “You don’t remember?”

It wasn’t truly a lie, either! Merlin rejoiced. “No!” he cheered.

After a long minute of looking at Merlin as if he were somewhat unfortunate in the head, Arthur cleared his throat and said, “Well, the dragon attacked you.”

Widening his eyes as much as possible, Merlin gushed, “There is a dragon? In Camelot?” to which Arthur just rolled his blue eyes and said, “You know, it is actually insulting how dim you and my father seem to think I am, in mutually exclusive ways, even,” before he turned round to shuffle for something on the floor by Merlin’s bed.

“Anyway,” Arthur said, righting himself again, arms wrapped around — around an egg the size of a small boulder, “it apparently threw this at you.”

“Oh,” Merlin promised, knee-jerk, “I will have that thing skinned for boots.”

Fostered