Rarepair Rowboat: Argwaine | Arthur Pendragon x Gwaine (BBC Merlin)
Requested by @thedragonlies
Steel clashed together, the clang of swords reverberating across the training grounds. Arthur ducked, dodged a blow, then shot back up, sword already swinging. Gwaine managed to knock it from his hands. The tip of his own sword hovered an inch from Arthur's throat. He gently tilted his chin up with it and raised his eyebrows.
Arthur held his hands up and huffed out a chuckle, and Gwaine grinned, triumphant and smug. That was, for the two seconds before Arthur ducked again, disarmed him and put him flat on his back on the ground.
Gwaine huffed, but he nodded. 'Alright. Should've seen that coming.'
'You just lack concentration,' Arthur said. 'You're easily distracted.'
'Well, now, whose fault is that?' Gwaine said dryly.
He pushed himself up onto one elbow and pushed his hair out of his face. He eyed Arthur, squinting up at him from the glare of the sun beating down on them. It was giving him a golden halo of sorts around the edges of his dishevelled hair.
Arthur bit back a smile as he rolled his eyes. Still, he was a courteous opponent. He stuck his hand out and motioned for him to take it.
'You know, I'm not one of your fellow knights. You really should address me with a bit more respect, I mean, I am your king, so, it's not a lot to ask that you--'
The rest of his sentence was knocked out of him as Gwaine yanked him down onto the ground. Somehow, he had him pinned beneath him with a sword to his throat before Arthur had even regained his breath.
'You just lack concentration, sire,' Gwaine teased, his mouth curving into a wicked grin. He tilted his head. 'You're too easily distracted.'
Arthur glared up at him; his heart had quickened and his face was red-hot. It was embarrasment, obviously, at being overpowered by a knight in broad daylight for anyone to see, and because he had, in fact, allowed himself to be distracted. He was just thankful there was no one else around to see it.
And yet, despite that, he found himself smiling. 'You got lucky.'
'What can I say? That's my speciality.'
Gwaine finally got off of him, and he was the one offering his hand this time. Arthur begrudgingly took it. He was still flushed and flustered, and he wasn't sure if it was him or Gwaine that held on a little too long.
'Oh, and Gwaine? You tell anyone about that...'
Gwaine's grin widened. 'Don't worry, sire. I won't tell anyone. Happens to the best of us, right?'
'I mean, it's hardly your fault. Not even royalty are immune to my good looks. You're only human, after all.'
