[The halls of the Breeding House have no problem carrying Arthur's voice to the kitchen, where a lanky form stands, trying to put together his own breakfast. After a second, Merlin drains the water from his glass, and sets it down on the counter with a soft clink. The hand holding the glass trembles slightly.
It had been different, hadn't it? On the road, traveling as they were, neither Merlin or Arthur had had a chance to probe at each other, test the shift in their relationship, the new boundaries. Would their old routine hold up to it? Now that things had settled again after the Samhain festival and ghost pokemon's tricks, Merlin would find out.
He lets go of the glass before his twitching knocks it off the counter, looking toward the staircase with some trepidation. Better than anyone, Merlin knows that he has to go through with it. Too much has changed between him and Arthur already, and even Arthur can't ignore that things are different, if his reaction to Merlin during their first meeting is a good indication.
Merlin doesn't want to lose Arthur, the closest thing to a best friend he had in Camelot. Still, in all fairness, Merlin supposes he must make Arthur accept that they are friends before he can lose him at all. It might take a long time before Arthur sees a friend--a friend, an equal--standing where his servant used to be, but Merlin's willing to wait.
And so he climbs the stairs and finds the door.]
You called? [Merlin purposely leaves out the customary "sire"--this is his first step forward. From now on, he'll meet Arthur halfway.]
no subject
It had been different, hadn't it? On the road, traveling as they were, neither Merlin or Arthur had had a chance to probe at each other, test the shift in their relationship, the new boundaries. Would their old routine hold up to it? Now that things had settled again after the Samhain festival and ghost pokemon's tricks, Merlin would find out.
He lets go of the glass before his twitching knocks it off the counter, looking toward the staircase with some trepidation. Better than anyone, Merlin knows that he has to go through with it. Too much has changed between him and Arthur already, and even Arthur can't ignore that things are different, if his reaction to Merlin during their first meeting is a good indication.
Merlin doesn't want to lose Arthur, the closest thing to a best friend he had in Camelot. Still, in all fairness, Merlin supposes he must make Arthur accept that they are friends before he can lose him at all. It might take a long time before Arthur sees a friend--a friend, an equal--standing where his servant used to be, but Merlin's willing to wait.
And so he climbs the stairs and finds the door.]
You called? [Merlin purposely leaves out the customary "sire"--this is his first step forward. From now on, he'll meet Arthur halfway.]