[ that earns merlin a laugh from arthur, though the boy's words also provoke some thought. there had been a time before their relationship—their camaraderie. and though it had been quite a while since he'd first met merlin, not much had changed between them. behavior-wise, at least. the only changes were subtle—taunts and teases now laced with affection, glances spared for just a bit longer.

without even noticing how it had happened, merlin had become a rather large part of his life. and he actually didn't mind it all that much. ]

If I had known you'd taken my words differently than their original intention, believe me, your kneecaps would consistently display bruises— [ he grins fiercely, his own words turning him on further—creating images in his head that he'd love to see become reality ] —and being eye-level with my waist would be more than a familiar view.