An Interlude || Locked to Saber
Despite Merlin's ability to take almost anything life threw at him and simply roll with the hit, routine had always been something of a comfort to him. It kept his hands busy and his mind free to wander as he wished, to quietly contemplate all that weighed on his mind. Recently, those thoughts had been occupied by his closest friends in Johto and the heartfelt conversations he'd had with more than a few of them.
Life worked in strange ways sometimes. What had once been an attempt to keep Arthur's disappearance from his mind had started the ball rolling, so to speak, and Merlin could scarcely imagine living in Johto without the people he'd spent so much time with in the past few months. He'd done something foolish, he knew now. He'd allowed himself to settle into a routine at the Breeding Centre. It wasn't without a touch of irony that Merlin began turning his thoughts back toward Camelot, away from his new friends. Like Yosuke had said, they'd all have to leave at some point. Whatever had happened here, he had a duty that awaited him in Camelot. Forgetting that was something Merlin could not afford, no matter how difficult it was to convince himself.
And then there was Arturia--the wild card he had never seen coming even while knowing alternate selves existed. How could he discount his ties to her when she was another world's version of Arthur and someone who quickly becoming a close companion? That was one question he would not find the answer to soon, he suspected. It didn't matter now--he didn't want it to matter now. Whether he had realised it then or not, Merlin had stopped looking for a way home months ago. With the rumour about the badges proven false, and time steadily passing by him day by day without a word from Team Rocket, what other leads could he follow? That was what he told himself, at least, with some guilt. When the time came to say his goodbyes...well, he would deal with it then.
--
Expecting the room to be empty during this time of the day, Merlin understandably started upon seeing it occupied by none other than Arturia herself. Merlin shook off the surprise with a rueful smile as he closed the door behind him. His fingers worked at the dark green scarf around his neck until he could pull it off and drape it carefully on his bed.
"Didn't think you'd be in here right now," Merlin commented, gaze curious. "Not interrupting anything, am I?"
Life worked in strange ways sometimes. What had once been an attempt to keep Arthur's disappearance from his mind had started the ball rolling, so to speak, and Merlin could scarcely imagine living in Johto without the people he'd spent so much time with in the past few months. He'd done something foolish, he knew now. He'd allowed himself to settle into a routine at the Breeding Centre. It wasn't without a touch of irony that Merlin began turning his thoughts back toward Camelot, away from his new friends. Like Yosuke had said, they'd all have to leave at some point. Whatever had happened here, he had a duty that awaited him in Camelot. Forgetting that was something Merlin could not afford, no matter how difficult it was to convince himself.
And then there was Arturia--the wild card he had never seen coming even while knowing alternate selves existed. How could he discount his ties to her when she was another world's version of Arthur and someone who quickly becoming a close companion? That was one question he would not find the answer to soon, he suspected. It didn't matter now--he didn't want it to matter now. Whether he had realised it then or not, Merlin had stopped looking for a way home months ago. With the rumour about the badges proven false, and time steadily passing by him day by day without a word from Team Rocket, what other leads could he follow? That was what he told himself, at least, with some guilt. When the time came to say his goodbyes...well, he would deal with it then.
--
Expecting the room to be empty during this time of the day, Merlin understandably started upon seeing it occupied by none other than Arturia herself. Merlin shook off the surprise with a rueful smile as he closed the door behind him. His fingers worked at the dark green scarf around his neck until he could pull it off and drape it carefully on his bed.
"Didn't think you'd be in here right now," Merlin commented, gaze curious. "Not interrupting anything, am I?"