Arthur looks up from a report and glances across the room absentmindedly to Merlin holding a dagger he was polishing in his lap as he watches Arthur with a tilt of his head.
Arthur huffs a laugh, "Is it that you're secretly a girl?"
Merlin's lips tick upward for just a moment before continuing his stare.
Arthur watches him for a few moments, and then puts his quill down.
"You have a secret." Arthur repeats seriously.
Merlin just smiles, a small one, "I have a secret. It's an important one. But I can't tell you the secret. And I can't tell you why I can't tell you."
Arthur squints his eyes as Merlin looks down to keep polishing.
Merlin pauses to think which makes Arthur clench his fists in worry, not that he'd say that.
"...I suppose," He says slowly, thinking over his words, "But it's to my understanding- at this time at least -that it's no more or less dangerous for me whether you know or not. I do think it may be more dangerous for you if you know though."
Arthur hums and watches Merlin's face but sees nothing but earnestness as they meet eyes across the room.
"And why do you tell me this?"
Merlin just smiles again, but bigger this time, "I've decided I trust you with it. I trusted you before of course," he add hurriedly as if Arthur would ever think otherwise,
"But I just realized that I trust you with this, too. And this is something I've never trusted anyone enough to share it with- before I mean. And if it comes up, well, I'd rather be able to tell you that I can't tell you then to lie to you. So, this is me telling you there's a secret."
Arthur looks thoughtfully before raising one eyebrow along with a ghost of a smirk on his face, "So you have a secret you can't tell me. But you trust me with it. When do I get to hear the secret?"
Merlin leans his head on his hand as he looks sideways at him impishly, "I will tell you no lie if you ask."
Arthur hears the unspoken words bright as day:
I'm not going to say anything by myself cause I don't think it's time yet, but I will tell you the truth regardless if you so choose.
Arthur hums to himself before nodding once and then twice, ignoring the giddiness in his heart.
Picking up his quill again, he says, "You missed a spot," so he can hear his manservant squawk from across the room, "I'm not finished yet, you prat!"
They meet gazes one more time with matching fire in their eyes and grins on their faces before resuming their activities.
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