Sep 15, 2015 21:01
fandom: teen wolf,
huzzah,
fandom: blood ties,
fandom: dcu,
fandom: mcu,
fandom: person of interest,
fandom: 00q,
fandom: merlin,
all the fests all of the time,
fandom: x-men,
fandom: jericho,
fandom: the man from u.n.c.l.e,
lip service commentfest
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The snow fell thickly, edging everything it touched in white and muffling the sounds of the outside world.
“It’s so quiet,” Merlin said to himself absently. He knew the importance of not forgetting words, even if he were the only one to hear them. He hadn’t managed to wean himself out of the habit of talking to himself. Not yet.
As if in defiance to his words, the door opened with a creak. Arthur trudged inside, clumsy in his borrowed boots, his hands full of wet firewood.
Merlin took a breath in an attempt slow his pulse. “Hello,” he called, keeping his voice steady. He moved quietly around the cabin, making sure all the lights were turned off and the appliances were unplugged. He’d shorted out enough of them to be careful by now.
Arthur glanced at him and paused for a moment. Then he stomped his way loudly over to the fireplace to set the damp wood next to the existing pile, leaving wet footprints all over the floor.
“Oi!” Merlin said, sending a glare Arthur’s way. Immune, Arthur returned to the bench by the door to slide off his dripping boots. They were too big for him-they didn’t have conveniently numbered shoe sizes back in Camelot-and Merlin could have magicked them to Arthur’s proper size, but, well.
“Those-” Arthur waved a hand, trying to articulate,“-those power lines are down,” he said, not quite able to hide his pride at remembering the correct words. “I don’t think we’ll get the elec-electricity back any time soon.”
Merlin nodded. “We may as well start the fire before we lose any more heat.”
Arthur grunted in response, moving toward the fireplace in his stockinged feet. He began stacking the dry wood and kindling for lighting. Merlin couldn’t help but stop and watch him work, Arthur’s hands and shoulders and arms moving together as one for a purpose-but apparently to no avail. The pile fell apart twice before Arthur heaved out a great sigh.
“I still know how to build a fire. This would be easier if I could get to the back of it,” Arthur said indignantly, gesturing to the fireplace.
“That was campfires. Fireplaces were a servant’s job,” Merlin said to Arthur’s derisive snort. He turned away, hiding his grin, to wipe up Arthur’s footprints from the floor.
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“As I’ve learned,” Merlin said. He settled next to Arthur on the floor, watching the bright flames flicker and grow.
Arthur scowled at him. “You could’ve done that-used magic-to start the fire.”
Merlin turned to him, surprised. “Would you have wanted me to?”
“No-well,” Arthur said haltingly. “There’s a pleasure in doing things with my own hands. But you feel that way about magic, too, don’t you?”
Merlin nodded. “I used to. But I didn’t think I’d have much use for it in this world.” Not without you he left unsaid.
Arthur pressed on.“I still can’t imagine it. Electricity, the telephone, the internet, even medicine-it all seems like magic to me. How did we ever manage without? And yet none of it is even close to magic at all, is it?”
Merlin’s mouth twitched. “Nothing like it. There’s still so much to show you. If you’re willing,” he said carefully.
“You know, there’s something I’ve been wanting to try,” Arthur said. He shifted closer and placed his hands on Merlin’s shoulders, putting them face to face.
“Magic?” Merlin asked, confused.
Arthur looked irritated. “No, not magic. This,” he said, and with one finger tipped Merlin’s chin up to lean in close and kiss him. His lips were firm against Merlin’s, no hesitation in his movements. He slid his lips slowly across Merlin’s, taking his time to tease and taste with darts of his tongue as he deepened the kiss.
Merlin kissed him back, drawing in as much of Arthur’s breath as he could. He let his eyes close, and tried to forget he’d been afraid of never seeing Arthur’s open again, his fears of losing him again dropping away with each press of Arthur’s lips against his own.
Arthur pulled back softly, letting their lips touch gently until he drew back completely but not away. “Even in this world full of wonders, there’s no one like you, Merlin,” Arthur said softly, touching his forehead to Merlin’s.
For as long as he had lived, Merlin hadn’t remembered that things could still be new for him. His world had seemed to shrink and shrivel without Arthur, but now that he had returned, it was opening up again, bright and ready for them to share.
“As I said,” Merlin told him, smiling, “there’s a lot more to show you.”
Arthur grinned. “I’m willing. With you.”
--
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SWEET FIGURING-THINGS-OUT BOYS
Gah, so much understated heartbreak in Merlin "hadn't managed to wean himself out of the habit of talking to himself." But then comes Arthur, so proud of remembering "power lines", I can see his pleased little face <3 And Arthur vs fires, I love his annoyance at chimneys (and Merlin's quite correct retort!)
It is so right that Arthur a) should look irritated with Merlin right before their first kiss and b) should do it with no hesitation. LOVE.
For as long as he had lived, Merlin hadn’t remembered that things could still be new for him. His world had seemed to shrink and shrivel without Arthur, but now that he had returned, it was opening up again, bright and ready for them to share. MY HEART.
OH AND He let his eyes close, and tried to forget he’d been afraid of never seeing Arthur’s open again
*pets Merlin forever*
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Thank you for the prompt! <333
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i'm all squishy with feelings now
<3333
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