Based on this post by @goodoldfashionedengineer
Arthur, leaving his changing screen, happens to glance down and- ?
He tugs gently at his shirt, staring down in disbelief at the embroidered flower etched into the red fabric.
But all he gets is a distracted “hm?” as Merlin barely looks up. He’s too busy sewing something else into Arthur’s clothes like it’s just the thing to do now.
Arthur lays his hand over his shirt, fingers just brushing the yellow thread of the petals. “What’s this, Merlin?” He says to give Merlin one more chance.
Merlin squints at him until he sees- “Oh! It’s a flower!” He says brightly.
Arthur’s running out of patience and sanity. “Yes. I can see that.” He says slowly, miserably. His hands move on their own, begging Merlin to respond rationally. “Why is it here?”
“Wellll…” Merlin leans back. “You had a hole there you see, so I mended it.”
Oh great. Arthur can’t wait to go into his council meetings covered in flowers. Or worse. Run into Gwaine. He’d probably make some comment. Some ‘He really is a princess’ remark that would ruin his life.
Arthur crosses his arms, his heart racing. Merlin and his stupid ideas. Oh I’ve just mended your shirt! Great. “With a flower?” Arthur says. “What will people say?”
Merlin, the ridiculous infuriating goof just shrugs, palms up and suggests, “‘Oh that Arthur?’ ‘He’s so pretty!’ ???”
That little- Arthur opens his mouth to yell to argue to- But he doesn’t have the words. His face flushes bright red as he looks down at the carefully stitched flower on his chest. He wants to be mad but pretty echoes around in his mind and his heart latches onto the idea like it was Merlin’s personal opinion of him. And gods, he’s a wreck about it. Silence passes. Then he clutches his head and has a mini breakdown about it as a treat. “You are the worst servant I’ve ever had.” He groans.
But Merlin grins at him like he’s made of sunshine and Arthur’s heart can’t take it. He tries to look away but once he’s seen, his heart can’t help but skip a beat. Can’t help but love his stupid idiotic servant to bits. No matter how embarrassing he is.
Arthur decides he likes Merlin’s embroidery though
I also have some sketches based on @akelafang ’s idea of Arthur wearing his embroidered outfits to balls/feasts 💕
and @auroraboringaliceinwonderland ’s idea in the tags of Merlin sewing random stuff like cabbages into Arthur’s outfits because he’s a cabbagehead lol XD
I hope it’s okay I ran with this