Gwaine always knew that Merlin was hiding something. Yet he never fully could figure out what it was. He had assumed that at some point his friend yet crush would tell him. However, he also knew that Merlin might fear his reaction. He hoped that his friend would trust him, but he could not blame him for hiding things. Everyone deserves their secrets. So, Gwaine could only hope that his friend would tell him at some point.

Though he had his secret about how much he had fallen for Merlin. Never was he able to tell the man. There was too much prejudice towards this kind of thing. Not only that he wasn't even sure that Merlin was loving him the same way he does. After all, Merlin usually had only eyes on Arthur. Gwaine could not blame his friend, not with how many times Arthur was in trouble. So, he hid his crush.

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His eyes stared widely at what he had just seen. Merlin had used some kind of spell. It was accidental that Gwaine saw this as he had to go. But now that he saw this, many things made sense yet he could not figure out why his friend was hiding this from him. Gwaine never once told anyone that he was against magic.

Yes, magic could be used for evil, but so could be any object, like swords.

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"So Merlin magic?" He nonchalantly decided to ask, as they were alone at the moment.

"Uh, I have no idea what you're talking about, Gwaine."

His brows raised in incredulity at Merlin. The fact that his friend was trying to deny him being able to use it was not something that he was shocked about.

"Look I saw you use it when you protected us against those bandits that evening." He gave Merlin a pointed look.

"Why do you sound fine with this?" Merlin's voice was full of anxiety.

"Do you think I would tell anyone or that I would betray your trust that way?"

"No! Of course not. I just-" Merlin trailed off and Gwaine could not blame his friend for fearing that outcome.

"I won't. Would be a shitty thing to do to the one person that I love." Gwaine decided that he might as well tell Merlin that. Show the same trust, it would at least make this at least less awkward.

The man instantly had a bright blush on his cheeks and looked at him with wide eyes. It seemed that he must have been wrong to assume that his crush wasn't feeling the same way, or why else was Merlin reacting this way?

"Oh, so that is why you stopped flirting much anymore?" Merlin murmured.

"Yeah, kinda figured you did not like this, though I found it cute your jealousy."

"Oh, so you realized that I-"

"I wasn't sure why you reacted that way, but figured that you were just really protective or that you wanted me to have your attention."

Merlin ducked his head looking rather sheepish. "Not really but also sometimes those people had some rather bad things on their mind and did not want you to get hurt." His voice was barely heard by Gwaine.

"Awe, that's sweet of you." He smiled and kissed Merlin on his cheeks. "Thanks, mate, appreciate it."

Merlin blushed more. "So does that mean we are a couple now?" The voice was asked hopeful yet shy.

"Only when you want to and we do not even need to tell anyone yet until you are ready." He reassured Merlin, knowing that this could be bad for both of them.

Gwaine was not even sure how Arthur would react or Leon. The two he was the most worried about, the rest would be fine with this. Gwen would probably even plan a bunch of dates for them, or even maybe want to be the one to plan the wedding. Even though they would not be able to get married legally.

"I don't mind but worry that they won't accept this. It's bad enough about my magic, but this might be too much for them."

"Like I said, we can wait until you are ready because I know how dangerous this is. Though I can bet my lovely apples that Gwen would instantly be onboard with us and even plan dates and our wedding." He mused out loud.

"True, she's awesome and would for sure do that." Merlin snickered. "Okay, Gwen we can tell, and Percy because I know he's your best friend."

Gwaine smiled brightly at this giving Merlin a tight hug, which made Merlin chuckle.

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"So what's up? You both look like someone has gotten killed or badly injured." Gwen jokingly said. Yet it was clear that she was concerned about their expression.

"Yeah, is everything okay?" Percy came next in his soft-spoken voice.

"Of course, we just had to tell you both first. The others we aren't yet. With how they will react to this news." Merlin nervously said.

Gwaine knew that this was nerve-wracking for his lover, and it was not helping with himself. This could go badly and he did not want to lose either of the two.

"I am sure whatever you two are going to tell us, we won't judge, isn't that so Gwen?" Percy reassured.

"Of course not, I assume it has to do with the little crush you had?" Gwen suggestively wiggled her eyebrows.

"Eh, wait, you knew?"

"Oh, hon of course I knew. It was obvious how you reacted at times." Gwen explained yet Percy seemed not to fully get what was meant.

"Huh, I assumed that it was something bad, but hearing what Gwen said, I assumed that whoever you fell for would not be approved by most people." Percy thoughtfully said.

"I mean yeah." He awkwardly yet nervously said, entirely differently than he usually reacted because this time it could end up badly. Gwaine could lose his best friend, a thing that he did not want to happen.

"Well, I will just say it. Gwaine declared his love for me and I accepted." Merlin fidgety said and Gwaine could see trembles going through his lover's body.

"Hah, Arthur owes me ten coins," Gwen said.

"Of course, you bet on my love life. Who else was on it?" Gwaine asked with a wry undertone.

"Mostly Arthur and Leon. Because Leon didn't believe me when I told him that you two would end up being a thing. Arthur assumed that you would stay single for the rest of your life. Because neither of you seemed to be interested in having a relationship that way." Gwen explained.

"Screw the prat of assuming this," Merlin grumbled out. "But also fair enough, I never really had one. The only person I had was Freya and well she's not any longer on this earth." Merlin explained.

"It was the girl that you cried about wasn't it?" He carefully asked.

Merlin swallowed looking down and before nodding. "Oh for fucks sake Arthur. I will have a talk with my dumbass husband about saying stupid things like that." Gwen looked pissed and Gwaine could not blame her for this.

"He sucks at emotional things. You should know that by now, it's alright." Merlin tried to soothe them, but it was not working.

"Not it's alright. What he said hurt you and I can see that." Gwaine's tone made it clear that he was not pleased at all.

"I have to agree with Gwaine and Gwen. What he said to you was not alright. I know she was cursed but still, it was a shitty thing to do." Percy agreed.

"Look, she's at a better place than before. I knew there was not much I could do." Merlin looked dejected.

Gwaine could only soothe his hurt a little bit and Gwen stormed off. For sure going to Arthur and yelling at the king. Either way, a few hours later Arthur arrived and apologized, even when it was clear that he was still not sure how to handle this thing. As well as congratulating them for getting together. 

Leon on the other hand was a bit conflicted but it seemed that he in the end was accepting this. The others of their friends slowly got told and they were happy about this. Yet strangers had yet to be told and Gwaine was sure that with their friends on their side, things would turn out just alright.

A/N When you guys have any other suggestions I am open to them, as I am not having a lot of ideas left. Hope you have a nice day.