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There was a knock at Gwaine’s door, and as he opened it, he was greeted with the largest bunch of flowers he’d ever seen outside the Great Hall. He recognised most of them; bluebells, dandelions, poppies, cow parsley stems, buttercups, large daisies that he’d never seen as such a size before, some kind of feathery grass that he reached out to touch, and yes, it was as soft as it looked.
Before he could take hold of the bunch and see the face behind them, there was an almighty sneeze and petals went flying. Gwaine closed his eyes at the onslaught, and when opened, so many flowers were gone that he could see the face behind them.
Merlin. Of course it was.
“Merlin.” Gwaine smiled as he took the headless stems from his partner. “I thought we agreed to not do flowers as this always happens!”
Merlin smiled sheepishly and sniffed. “I know,” he looked up at Gwaine through his lashes, “but they looked so lovely in the meadow this morning as I was searching for plants for Gaius, I couldn’t resist, and I knew you’d like them-” Merlin couldn’t hold back another sneeze that he caught with his elbow, “-and I feel bad because I never gift you flowers, and if you’re courting someone that’s such a wonderful way to show appreciation and joy, and you deserve to feel that as much as anyone, and-”
“Merlin.”
The young man stopped in his tracks. The pair shared a moment, smiling, and gazing longingly into each other’s eyes. Gwaine could get lost in Merlin’s blue eyes, he swore they were a colour different to everyone else’s.
“This was a lovely gesture indeed, but you don’t need to do it for the sake of it. I’d much prefer you not snotty.” Gwaine laughed softly and took the bunch into his room and laid them on the side. Merlin followed, closed the door and sniffed again. "I still find it ridiculous that magic incarnate sneezes at flowers."
Merlin huffed. "I don't." He sighed.
Gwaine turned back to his partner and wrapped his arms around him. “You are wonderful, you are brilliant and you’re ever so kind. But, you’re a fool, you know that?” He looked into Merlin’s eyes.
Merlin just smirked back and replied, “But I’m your fool,” with a glint in his eyes
Gwaine laughed. “Ha! That you are.” And he planted a kiss on Merlin’s lips, pulling back to say, “Thank you. It was very sweet of you. Now, kiss me like you mean it, that’s a proper courting ritual.”