An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
wars of old
Rating: Teen and Up Audiences
Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Fandoms: Percy Jackson and the Olympians - Rick Riordan, Batman - All Media Types
Relationships: Annabeth Chase/Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase & Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase & Thalia Grace (Percy Jackson), Annabeth Chase & Nico di Angelo, Annabeth Chase & Clarisse La Rue, Annabeth Chase & Chiron (Percy Jackson), Dionysus & Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson), Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson) & Alfred Pennyworth, Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson) & Bruce Wayne, Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson) & Dick Grayson, Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson) & Jason Todd, Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson) & Tim Drake, Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson) & Damian Wayne, Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson) & Stephanie Brown, Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson) & Cassandra Cain, Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson) & Duke Thomas, Minor or Background Relationship(s), Bernard Dowd/Tim Drake
Characters: Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson), Percy Jackson, Thalia Grace (Percy Jackson), Nico di Angelo, Clarisse La Rue, Drew Tanaka, Bruce Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown, Duke Thomas, Diana (Wonder Woman), Clark Kent, Background & Cameo Characters, Arthur Curry (DCU), Teen Titans (DCU), Bernard Dowd
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Annabeth Chase is a Wayne, Annabeth Chase Needs a Hug (Percy Jackson), Bruce Wayne Tries to Be a Good Parent, Good Parent Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson Needs a Hug, Prophecy, Secrets, Secret Identity, It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better, Angst, Implied/Referenced Character Death, all the people who died in the PJO and HoO serieses, minor Diana bashing, Protective Dionysus (Percy Jackson), Awesome Alfred Pennyworth, Adopted Sibling Relationship, Batfamily Shenanigans (DCU), Sibling Bonding, Sibling Love, Trauma, Protective Thalia Grace (Percy Jackson), Protective Percy Jackson, Protective Batfamily (DCU), this story is funfetti and my sprinkles are made of trauma and angst, Demigod Bernard Dowd
Chapter Count: 15/15
Part 2 of Series (completed)
Words: 32,249
Summary:
After ten years, Annabeth returns home. The world isn’t done making her fight.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
to reap and reclaim
Fandom: Danny Phantom, Batman - All Media Types
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Relationships: Jazz Fenton/Jason Todd, Danny Fenton & Jazz Fenton, Jazz Fenton & Harleen Quinzel, Batfamily Members (DCU) & Jazz Fenton, Batfamily Members & Jason Todd
Characters: Jazz Fenton, Danny Fenton, Jason Todd, Harleen Quinzel, Lady Gotham (Danny Phantom and DCU), Nicolai Technus, Batfamily Members (DCU)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Bad Parents Jack and Maddie Fenton, Protective Jazz Fenton, Protective Jason Todd, Protective Harleen Quinzel, Chaotic Good Harleen Quinzel, Misunderstandings, Developing Relationship, Good Sibling Jazz Fenton, Hurt Danny Fenton, Hurt Jazz Fenton, Ghost King Danny Fenton, Ecto-Contaminated | Liminal Harleen Quinzel, Good Parent Bruce Wayne, BAMF Jazz Fenton, Jazz Fenton Needs A Hug, Ecto-Contaminated | Liminal Jason Todd (Danny Phantom), Ghost Royalty Jazz Fenton
Chapters: 1/15
Word Count: 2,648
Summary:
The last thing Danny told Jazz as he faded away was, “Run to Gotham.”, so she grabbed her keys, hopped into her car, emergency duffel bag secure in the trunk, and didn’t look back.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
hold hands in the shadows
Fandom: Danny Phantom, Batman - All Media Types
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Danny Fenton/Duke Thomas, Batfamily Members & Duke Thomas, Duke Thomas & Bruce Wayne
Characters: Duke Thomas, Danny Fenton, Bruce Wayne, Jazz Fenton, Tucker Foley, Sam Manson, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Damian Wayne, Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown, Barbara Gordon, Alfred Pennyworth, Valerie Gray, Clockwork (Danny Phantom), Cujo (Danny Phantom)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Forced Marriage, Rituals, Secret Identity, Developing Relationship, Identity Reveal, Identity Porn, Ghost King Danny Fenton, Good Parent Bruce Wayne, Protective Batfamily (DCU), Good Sibling Jazz Fenton, Danielle "Dani" Phantom is Called Ellie, De-Aged Danielle "Dani" Phantom, Good Parent Danny Fenton, Parental Vlad Masters, Tired Danny Fenton, Not Beta Read, Insecure Danny Fenton, Duke Thomas is a Ray of Sunshine, Misunderstandings, Eldritch Danny Fenton, minor worldbuilding, because I cannot resist putting my own twists on things
Chapters: 5/10
Word Count: 8,422
Summary:
In which Duke gets sorta kidnapped and is forced to marry this 'Ghost King' dude.
Overall, it could be worse.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
cracking shells
Fandom: Merlin (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Merlin & Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Gaius & Merlin (Merlin)
Characters: Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Merlin (Merlin)
Additional Tags: Pining Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), King Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Arthur Pendragon Knows About Merlin's Magic (Merlin), Dragonlord Merlin (Merlin), Accidental Kissing, Gaius is So Done (Merlin), Feelings Realization, Denial of Feelings, Angst with a Happy Ending, 3+1 Things
Chapters: 1/1
Word Count: 2,787
Summary:
based on cinnabon-sweetroll-tiramisu's post on tumblr
--
Merlin keeps giving Arthur dragon egg's to watch over, and Arthur keeps struggling with his feelings.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
woe in healing
Fandom: Merlin (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Relationships: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Merlin & Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Gwen & Merlin (Merlin), Morgana & Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)
Characters: Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Merlin (Merlin), Morgana (Merlin), Gwen (Merlin) (briefly), Leon (Merlin) (briefly)
Additional Tags: Pining Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Love Confessions, Good Sibling Morgana (Merlin), (although their siblingship has not been revealed at this point), Supportive Morgana (Merlin), Competent Merlin (Merlin), Angst with a Happy Ending
Chapters: 1/1
Word Count: 2,882
Summary:
based of slice-of-lexie's post
--
Arthur cannot get his feelings for Merlin, Gaius's new assistant, in order.
I am SO sorry that giving a scribble back took this freakin long, my laptop broke down and then I entered a very big art block. But I wasn't about to let this great fanfic go without at least a little drawing for it!!!
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
battles of young
Fandoms: Percy Jackson and the Olympians - Rick Riordan, Batman - All Media Types
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson) & Bruce Wayne, Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson) & Dick Grayson, Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson) & Jason Todd, Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson) & Alfred Pennyworth, Annabeth Chase & Percy Jackson
Characters: Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson), Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson (briefly), Jason Todd (briefly), Tim Drake (briefly), Alfred Pennyworth (briefly), Percy Jackson (mentioned)
Additional Tags: Annabeth Chase is a Wayne, Annabeth Chase Needs a Hug (Percy Jackson), Bruce Wayne Tries to Be a Good Parent, Bruce Wayne is Bad at Feelings, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better, the plot is a work in progress, Timeline What Timeline, Bruce's parenting is 'good intentions spotty execution'
Chapters: 1/1
Word Count: 1,552
Part 1 of Series (ongoing)
Summary:
“What about your dad?” Percy had asked that day.
A million different ways she could answer that raced through her mind on how to answer. How could she say Bruce Wayne was her father when the world barely knew who her father truly was.
“He’s a businessman in Gotham.”
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
wanting (silently, loudly)
Fandom: Merlin (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Merlin & Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)
Characters: Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Merlin (Merlin)
Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Pining, Feelings Realization, Unrequited Love, Not Actually Unrequited Love, Canonical Character Death, Arthur Whump, Good Servant Merlin (Merlin), Merlin's Magic Revealed (Merlin), Merlin Revealed as Emrys (Merlin)
Chapters: 2/2
Word Count: 2,814
Summary:
The first time Arthur realized was when Merlin was leaving his chambers for his own, and the word ‘stay’ was on the tip of his tongue.
—
Three times Arthur realizes he cares about Merlin more than he should, and one time he realizes why.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
woe in healing
Fandom: Merlin (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Relationships: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Merlin & Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Gwen & Merlin (Merlin), Morgana & Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)
Characters: Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Merlin (Merlin), Morgana (Merlin), Gwen (Merlin) (briefly), Leon (Merlin) (briefly)
Additional Tags: Pining Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Love Confessions, Good Sibling Morgana (Merlin), (although their siblingship has not been revealed at this point), Supportive Morgana (Merlin), Competent Merlin (Merlin), Angst with a Happy Ending
Chapters: 1/1
Word Count: 2,882
Summary:
based of slice-of-lexie's post
--
Arthur cannot get his feelings for Merlin, Gaius's new assistant, in order.
Summary: Gaining a pair of dragon wings upon becoming a dragonlord wasn’t all that bad, except for the amount of times he had to sneak away in the middle of the night to let them out. And of course, his increased lying to Arthur.
tags
Merlin looked behind him yet again as he walked into the forest’s empty clearing.
He didn’t think he was being followed, but it didn’t hurt to make sure.
The sky was clear, a dark navy blanket above the world glimmering with stars unknown.
The grass and dirt beneath his feet crunched softly as he stepped further inside, guarding himself in the safety of the trees and leaves.
For the first time in what seemed forever, he could breathe.
Becoming a dragonlord was never something Merlin would ever fathom.
He had barely gotten to know Balinor before the man died, passing onto his son his birthright as he joined the afterlife.
Now Merlin was at an impasse.
His magic on its own had been difficult to control, but the new abilities he acquired had been beyond that.
Before, his powers stayed deep in his core, begging to be tugged at when tension rose.
Nowadays, it seemed to simmer under his skin, creating heat in his blood, demanding to be let out every second.
He fell to his knees, the grass poking into covered skin, and rested his hands on his lap.
He breathed in, then out, letting his magic out, gold swirling around him as the air at his back rippled, revealing the mark of a dragonlord.
Wings.
—
The wings as it were, weren’t all too terrible.
It had been a rather traumatic experience receiving them.
Merely days had passed since Balinor’s demise, and Merlin had thought the itching under his skin and the jitters that raked his body had been due to said events.
That was until he woke up one day with inexplicable pain in his back.
Like all his ailments, Merlin ignored it, going about his usual tasks that came with being Arthur’s manservant.
As the hours slowly ticked by, Merlin could feel the energy drain out from him.
The sweat on his brow dripped down his face, and his hands shook so much he’d spilled Arthur’s water down his armor instead of placing it in his hand.
At that moment, the royal had taken a good look at his manservant and gave him the rest of the day off.
Thinking back on that moment, Merlin was incredibly grateful.
He had barely managed to make it three steps back into Gaius’s thankfully empty chambers when he collapsed to the floor, his straining to keep his face from kissing the ground
Gaius had immediately dropped the potion he’d been brewing, at the side of his apprentice and second.
“Merlin, what—”
“It hurts, gods it hurts.” He cried out, feeling the bones in his back shift, move in ways they weren’t supposed to.
Merlin could only ride the pain, calling on his magic to heal and feeling tears flow down his face as nothing happened.
A sickening crack sounded in the room, vile it’s breaking, and the ripping of fabric sounded.
There was a loud pop, and suddenly the pain he had been facing was merely a phantom, and an odd weight settling at his back.
Gaius carefully helped him to his feet, but Merlin could barely stand, his knees wobbling as he did, the strange weight even more prominent now.
Together they carefully walked into Merlin’s room, and the younger man sat down into his bed as soon it was in reach.
As he blearily looked at the mirror, it seemed impossible for his skin to get even paler, but it did as he caught sight of dragon wings.
They were easily as long as half his body, black fading into deep red, the veiny bones shining the same gold as his magic.
In all honesty, they were beautiful.
“How, what…”
Gaius stared at him with a grim expression.
“I believe it now time we talk about your status as dragonlord.”
—
As it turns out, every dragonlord earned their wings once they came into their title.
It was typically a slower process.
Once the magic user had reached a certain skill set, but as it was, being the most powerful sorcerer to walk the earth, it turns out that Merlin was privy to a more accelerated path.
Gaius had told him that being a dragonlord was hereditary, passed down to the next generation once the previous had met their ultimate demise.
If the fates had not been so cruel, Balinor would have been able to teach Merlin how to control his magic and be a dragonlord.
Their kind were not ones to share information about their status with anyone but their own blood.
And now Merlin, without a father once again, had no way of learning all that he was capable of until he did it.
It was moments like these that Merlin was beyond grateful for the healer’s companionship and guidance.
Together, they spent many hours reading through spell books that would have them on the chopping block if caught.
It was risky in its entirety, but as the night bled into morning, Merlin went with instinct, feeling where his magic had gathered along his shoulders, and tugged in, hearing another pop, a shiver wracking through him as he felt the new bones slide inside and disappear as if they never existed.
He followed the same principle, pushing out again, and with another pop, the wings re-emerged.
Merlin couldn’t wrap his head around how it worked, but at least he didn’t have to figure out how to hide them.
His tunics would permanently have holes from where the appendages protruded, but so long as no one but him or Gauis touched the articles of clothing at any point, but a simple spell would prevent them from being seen while he was dressed, so he didn’t have to sew them up every time.
Looking again in the mirror, the young sorcerer would have believe that they were truly gone, but the weight of them remained, adding to the weight his souls already carried.
—
“You seemed rather tired as of late, Merlin.”
Arthur’s voice is low when he speaks, but the manservant in question still startled.
He’d been tucking the prince into bed for the night.
It had been a long day of Merlin running around, cleaning the stables, polishing armor, washing clothes, gathering herbs, and he still had to spend some time practicing his magic.
He was practically at the end, and while on any other occasion, conversations like this with Arthur were rather pleasant, all Merlin wanted to do was stretch his wings in the safety of his bedroom, feeling an ache tug at his shoulders from how he kept them still as a statue.
“Just a lot on my mind, sire.” Merlin said, biting his tongue when he noticed his misstep.
He never called Arthur sire, and when he did, the older man always caught it.
As expected, the knight’s eyes narrowed, his hand twitching under the thick blanket as if to grab on to Merlin when he took a cautionary step back.
“Very well.” Arthur said.
Merlin swiftly left the crowned prince’s chambers, feeling relieved when he was back in his own room.
—
Lying to Arthur wasn’t pleasant, no matter how much experience he was gaining in it.
The blond always seemed to know when Merlin was trying to hide something, his crystal blue eyes turning sharp, narrowing just the slightest, his whole demeanor shifting as he let it slide with a stiff nod.
At some point, the prince would surely grow tired of it, no longer willing to heal the flimsily excuses Merlin spewed, and the former village boy would be subjected to the stocks, or even a cell, for his daring acts of treason.
But that was an event for the future, and until that happened, Merlin would milk his dishonesty all he could.
Even if Arthur slowly started to look at him like a stranger.
—
Things seemed as if they were improving, and Arthur and him started to move past this tension that had built between them.
They go on a hunting trip, for pleasure rather than one of Uther’s orders.
Just the two of them.
The crown prince appeared at ease, a smile tugging at his red lips and for a brief moment, Merlin mind teases the thought of putting his own of them and seeing how his smile tastes and his wings, still tucked away, flutter inside his skin, and he nearly falls off the log he was sat on.
Arthur looked at him with confusion and Merlin stumbles as he stands, exclaiming something about needing more firewood, walking toward the thick of the forest, completely missing the way Arthur’s expression morphed into one of disappointment.
—
The weeks passed by torturously.
Merlin had never felt a longing as intense as the one he did whenever he looked at the future king.
He often found himself tossing and turning in his bed, daring to imagine what it would be like if he’d actually done it.
They’d been close for years, and it was clear to all that their relationship had surpassed one of simply one of prince and servant.
Perhaps to think they could be something more was pure stupidity, especially while Uther sat on the throne.
But in the dark of the night, alone in company, he could dream.
—
When the weather had started to grow warmer, staying confined to his chambers had become suffocating.
His wings itched to feel the breeze.
That was when he had begun to leave in the middle of the night, when the castle was asleep and there was no threat lingering in the shadows.
It was meant to happen only once, but as the tension between him and Arthur remained, Merlin found himself looking forward to having this semblance of peace every few nights when it all became too much again.
Gauis had caught him early on, and while the physician did not outright forbid him, he did warn his ward to proceed with caution.
Merlin was grateful for the support, and took the opportunity to look for useful plants in the dark, his vision becoming as clear as day, yet another trait of a dragonlord.
His findings had been useful, for whenever he had to sneak away to take care of a threat, he could carefully summon them under his cloak and show them to whichever knight that came to find him.
He’d already spent plenty of time learning the best paths to take when there was something magical wrecking havoc, so it was not difficult for these learned abilities to be transferred for his own personal use.
Truthfully, Merlin thought he deserved it.
A rare moment he could finally let his wings out, feel the way the breeze brushed against them, mimicking flight when he couldn’t, and the weight of the world on his shoulders lessened.
—
More months passed, and things seemed to be okay.
Almost.
But then a sickness had swept through the kingdom.
High fevers, harsh coughs, bouts of vomiting.
Arthur, in his noble glory, had decided to help out the townsfolk, and inevitably caught it all the same.
The prince was now resting in a cot in Gaius’s chambering, his usually tan skin having taken on a telltale pallor, sweat beading at his temples, dampening the golden blond hair that clung to his skin.
It was a sight that had something churning in Merlin’s stomach.
Arthur getting injured in some way or the other wasn’t new by any means, but each additional occurrence did not make it easier the next time it happened.
He carefully wiped cool cloth against his brow and chest.
Merlin and Gaius had already stripped the knight of his armor and tunic, a paste comprised of herbs Merlin had gathered in his nights out smeared on the exposed skin in his neck and collar, helping the royal breath as he slept away.
He tentatively placed a hand on top of Arthur’s own, squeezing lightly, before pulling away, only to startle, when Arthur’s hand moved just a bit, holding his wrist and weakly bringing it to his face.
Merlin’s breath caught in his chest as the prince whispered one thing.
“Stay.”
—
He dared not to bring up the events of that night.
Arthur healed within a week, and the illness that plagued the kingdom disappeared as well.
The two of them went back to their normal routine.
Merlin would spend the day serving Arthur, sticking by his side no matter how much his heart yearned to be impossibly closer, and at night, he snuck away, masked by the shadows and darkness.
He’d been doing it for almost a year at this point, and doing so had become near second nature.
Perhaps that is what had brought his downfall.
Merlin had become more complacent in checking his surroundings, only checking three times instead of every few steps, along with equating the prickling of his skin along his neck to his wings demanding to be let out.
Of course, that hadn’t been the case.
Now, Merlin sat there in the dead of the forest, wings gently flapping at his back, staring into the azure eyes of Arthur Pendragon.
—
“Merlin — what… have you been cursed?”
The young sorcerer would have liked to say that there was no trace of fear etched onto the prince’s face, but that simply wasn’t true.
It was there, and apparent, combined with a healthy amount of confusion and incredulity.
He had a choice here.
To agree with Arthur was implying, pretend this magic he had wasn’t his own, but rather something he’d been inflicted with.
To lie, yet again, to the man he loved.
“No.”
—
“No?”
“No. This isn’t a curse.”
“Then what is it?”
The true answer laid on the tip of his tongue.
To turn back now was impossible.
Merlin started straight into Arthur’s, begging to hear what he was saying, “Magic. My magic.”
“That’s impossible, Merlin. You can’t—”
“But it is. Why can’t you believe that?”
Arthur swallowed thickly, “Because I refuse to accept the fact that someone I care so deeply about would resort to something as such.” Merlin could feel his heart breaking into pieces, but the prince wasn’t done talking, “But I also know that a man like you isn’t capable of being evil, so I am asking you, Merlin, to tell me the truth, and only the truth, before I consider you an enemy.”
“This magic is my own. I was born with it.”
Arthur stares at him, into him, boring into his soul and seeking out what he wants.
“You are telling the truth.”, he said, more to himself than out loud, but Merlin responded regardless.
“I would not lie to you about this, Arthur, I swear. I have only used my magic for you.”
“The wings, then?”
“An unexpected outcome of my powers.”
“It is not common for wizards?”
“Not all magic users are the same.”
Arthur stepped closer, and Merlin held back a flinch as the prince held out a hand to help him up.
Merlin took it, standing still as Arthur continued to hold his hand, his eyes unfocused as he was looking directly at Merlin.
“I believe you.”
The sorcerer gulped audible, feeling tears prickle at his eyes.
Arthur finally let go of his hand, instead brushing his fingers against the tips of Merlin’s wings.
A jolt went through his spine, and for a second, he feared he would fall to his knees from the sensation.
Arthur raised a brow at the unexpected reaction, and Merlin awkwardly cleared his throat, “No one had touched them before.”
“No one? Really?”
“I cannot show them to others, now can I?”
“I suppose that is true. Do they hurt?”
“The first time they appeared, they did.”
“How does it work?” Arthur was now standing even closer, and Merlin, with his ability to see in the dark, could see a light blush tint the man’s cheeks, and felt his own grow warm in response.
“I am not entirely certain, but some of my magic gathers in my shoulders, and they spawn from there.”
Arthur’s touches grew firmer, touching the leathery skin that made up the wings, and Merlin could not hold back a gasp at the notion.
“Sensitive, I see.” the prince says, smirking, before moving impossibly closer, leaving little to no space between them.
Merlin’s hands twitched, unsure of what to do, but ended up resting on the knight’s firm abdomen.
He looked to the side, clearing his throat at the intimacy of the situation.
“You can stop touching them now.” he grumbled, denying the feeling of disappointment when the prat actually listened for once.
“Sorry. They’re beautiful.” Arthur confessed, and Merlin rolled his eyes, yelping when he was pinched on his side.
“Sure, sire.”
“They are, Merlin.” A smile tugged at their lips, and Merlin was fairly sure he was not supposed to hear it when the prince muttered, “Although, that isn’t surprising considering it’s you.”
“And what does that mean, Arthur?” Merlin asked, like the little shit he was, smirking when the prat startled under his touch.
With his ability to see in the dark, he did not miss the Arthur quickly glanced at Merlin’s lips, and Merlin couldn’t help but do the same to Arthurs.
The tension in the air thickened, and Merlin’s breath hitched when Arthur gently placed his hands on his hips, squeezing gently.
A beat passed, and neither of them would be able to tell a soul who moved first, but suddenly their lips were brushing against the others, firm but uncertain.
Merlin was greatly aware of the way his wings were flapping uncontrollably behind him, nearly causing the two of them to float above the ground.
Judging by how Arthur smirked into the kiss, he was aware of it two.
Summary: At some point, Merlin should learn to stop taking the brunt of spells meant for Arthur.
tags
It started off the same way it always does.
There was yet another magical attack on Arthur’s life that Merlin yet again intercepted.
Except it wasn’t that simple.
It could never be.
They had been on a hunting trip with the knights, when the weather had taken an unexpected turn and rain poured down on them in a heavy torrent.
It was clear that this wasn’t a natural occurrence.
Merlin could practically smell the magic laced in the water.
The group stumbled their way through the forest, barely finding shelter before they were ambushed by bandits.
It would have been an easy match, but the bandits had a wizard at their side, one with a profound hatred for the king before them.
With the law still intact, it would be a very one-sided firefight.
The elderly man started to chant words for a spell that Merlin had never heard before, but being magic incarnate, could vaguely understand its intention.
Before the wizard had completed the spell, Gwaine had decided that it was a good idea to tackle the man, and as he fell, stumbled his words and said something entirely different, losing control of the ball of magic in his hand, which promptly headed toward Arthur, before Merlin decided it was a good idea to jump in front of the king.
The rain cleared up and the bandits took their cue to flee, disappearing into the thick of the trees as Arthur crouched to help his manservant.
Merlin groaned as his knees wobbled, barely able to hold himself up from the blast.
The opposing magic settled in his chest as his own tried to heal the damage.
Even with the spell now running through him, it was hard to tell what it was going to do.
The magic settled into the bones of his back, and he heard the breaking before he felt the pain.
And what pain it was.
White hot fire licked through his shoulders, and he face plants into the mud, his fingers digging into the ground as he tried to ride through it, grimacing as blood trickled down from wear he felt his flesh tearing open.
It seemed like an eternity passed before it ended, and an odd weight settled behind him.
The knights gasped, and Merlin tentatively looked up at them, the horror visibly etched on Arthur’s face making him panic.
It’s Percival, sweet Percival, that helps Merlin to his feet.
Instantly, he can feel that his balance is off, the pressure at his shoulders even heavier.
He only figures what’s wrong when Gwaine decides to poke the area behind Merlin, and he feels it, a spark crawling through an appendage he does not have and into his spine.
Craning his neck, he can only see a small mass of black fluff.
He reached behind to touch and immediately regretted it as it produces more sparks, and it’s Athur’s arms at his waist that keep him steady when his knees wobble.
He’s keenly aware of how close they are.
“Wings.” the king breathes out, “Merlin, you have wings.”
—
The trip back to the castle takes far too long.
His wings kept getting caught in branches, and the resulting sensitivity was bordering on painful.
It’s a quarter way into the journey when Arthur shucked off his cloak and wrapped it around Merlin.
(“It’s thicker than the others.” he mumbles before marching forward).
Surprisingly, the additional pressure brought relief, and it did well to keep anything else from brushing against them.
They barely spent a second at the gates before heading straight toward Gaius’s chambers.
Arthur tries to get the knights to leave, but the men linger outside the door, even when Arthur shuts it, worried for their friend.
The old healer goes right into assessing the situation, watching as the cloak is removed to reveal the evening’s aftermath.
The wings are rather small in size, and despite the rich black color, when Merlin strained to look in the mirror, he could pick out each individual feather. There’s holes in his tunic from where they protrude from, and the blood has dried into the fabric, possibly staining it.
If he were in a mood to joke, he’d make a comment about getting his falcon wings.
Although, he wouldn’t relate them to belonging to a bird.
Something about them was ethereal, and if getting or having them hadn’t hurt so badly, he wouldn’t mind the new addition.
But right now all Merlin wanted was them gone.
He grit his teeth as Gaius gently poked and prodded at the organ, feeling it and the area it was connected to grow increasingly tender, until the first set of tears fell from his eyes and all he could do was move away.
“Enough.” he said, his voice thick with physical and emotional pain.
The two men in the room startled at the outburst, and took a step back.
“I did not mean to hurt you, Merlin.” Gaius said kindly.
Merlin groaned, “I know, but even merely breathing makes them hurt.”
“I see. Do you remember the spell that had been casted?”
It’s Arthur that speaks up instead, “It seemed the wizard had meant to cast something else, and to me, before he stumbled on his words and said something else entirely.”
Gaius hums in consideration, before picking up a small blade, and Merlin panics for a moment before feeling silly when the man just raises an eyebrow, “Well the tunic is a lost cause, and perhaps adding to the irritation you feel, so I shall have to cut it off.”
Merlin briefly despairs at losing a piece of clothing, but figures the relief would be worth it.
His mentor is careful and precise, only tearing through what is necessary. When he finishes, he places the scraps on the desk and rummages through a drawer, pulling out a small container of what Merlin knew to be a healing balm mixed with mint leaves to cool the skin it was applied to, and handing it to Athur.
“If you do not mind, Sire, could you apply this on Merlin’s back, around the area that the wings spawn from, while I prepare a healing tonic.” Gaius asked, nudging his head toward Merlin’s room.
For once, Arthur did as he was asked without question, placing his hand gently on Merlin’s lower back to guide him.
Merlin sat down, facing the wall and grabbing his pillow in comfort, hissing when Arthur’s fingers made contact with the sore flesh.
The king was uncharacteristically quiet, and while the manservant would usually take joy in that notion, it was off.
“Are you alright?” Merlin asked.
Arthur let out a small snort, “I should be asking you that.”
“What ails you, my lord?”
Arthur did not respond for a moment, focusing on applying the salve, “Just… it seems to always escape me how often you risk your life for me.”
“You are my king.” Merlin retorts. Perhaps it was the wrong thing to say, as Arthur draws back a bit, being distant with his touches. He contemplates for a second before adding, “and my friend.”
Merlin’s eyes wander to his mirror, catching a small smile gracing his lips.
Arthur’s hand spreading out the cooling mixture brings the comfort he was promised and soon Merlin feels his eyes start to droop.
—
When he opens his eyes again, Arthur is gone, and Gaius is handing him the finished tonic, and Merlin tries to not feel disappointment.
—
He wakes up to the soft sound of Gwen placing a breakfast tray on his table.
She looks at him with guilt as he stretches carefully, and as she opens to say sorry, he pins her with a glare.
“Gaius had to step out to deal with a patient, but asked me to give you something to eat and another dose of the tonic. Oh, and His Highness said to tell you that you have today off, and tomorrow as well, if your, er, dilemma, persists.”
He gives her a small smile, “Thank you.”
“How are you feeling, Merlin?”
And how is he feeling?
The sensitivity that plagued him yesterday seems to have receded enough that when his muscles shift underneath his skin, he doesn’t have to fight the urge to claw at his back.
He grabs the vial of tonic Gwen had placed for him, and downs it in one go before tearing off a piece of bread.
It’s surprisingly fresh, not like the stale loaves that he’s usually given, but closer to what he gives Arthur in the morning.
As Gwen stares at him with a kind smile, he’s reminded of his state of undress, bringing his sheets closer to his chest.
The better thing to do would be to put on a tunic, but that is not an option he has.
After he had his meal, Gwen moved the dishes around before grabbing the salve that was there from the night before, and started to gently apply it.
Despite the light touch, his wings kept twitching, nearly hitting his friend in the face, and Merlin apologized profusely but Gwen only laughed.
“They did not do this when Athur was applying last night.” he murmured.
Gwen hummed in amusement, and Merlin rolled his eyes at her unspoken words.
She left shortly after finishing, promising to return with his lunch, and Merlin laid back into his sheets, feeling a strange exhaustion take over him.
—
His impromptu nap was rudely interrupted by the sound of his chamber doors slamming open, Gwaine smiling widely.
Lance and Gwen trailed closely behind, the former shooting his fellow knight a nasty glare at being so disruptful.
Merlin, his mind still foggy with sleep, rolled his eyes at their antics and buried his head back into his pillow.
He has his eyes closed for five seconds before a pain shoots through his wings and into his back and arms and he lets out a hiss, opening his eyes to see Gwaine with his finger extended an inch away from his feathery appendage.
Thankfully, Lance smacked the man upside the head, and Merlin is grateful since he couldn’t do it himself.
“Sorry sorry.” Gwaine mutters, dropping his arm to his side.
“How badly does it hurt, Merlin?” Lance asks, already reaching for the salve.
Merlin shakes his head, “Like sparks of fire crawling down my skin whenever someone touches them.. well except when Ar—” he cut himself off but the others caught on to what he was going to say.
“Except for what, Merlin dearest?” Gwaine asks, a leer etched onto his face that Merlin’s own heating up. It doesn’t help that Lance and Gwen also wore knowing smirks.
“Perhaps,” Lance says, and Merlin is hopeful that he’ll shift the conversation. “His Majesty should be here instead of us.”
Scratch that.
Merlin needs new friends.
He closes his eyes again, willing his guests to leave, and feeling relief when they do.
—
He expects the next person he sees will be Gaius returning from whatever errands the elder man to run.
Merlin does not expect Arthur, dressed not in full king regalia, but a simple tunic and trousers, the sole of his boots cakes with dried mud.
The causality of it all had Merlin's heart flutter and wings twitch, although he quickly smothers any wandering thoughts when he takes in the grim expression his visitor wears, his jaw clenched.
He tries to get up as fast as he can with sore muscles and an added weight he’s not used to, and scoots over just enough for Arthur to be able to sit.
The man does not move, and when he looks Merlin in the eye, the sorcerer can detect anger and frustration.
“What is wrong?” he asks, patting the seat next to him
Arhtur sighs and sits down, “I took a few knights to go and find the wizard that had cursed you, but we failed.”
Oh.
Merlin clears his throat awkwardly, “Well, it is no matter. I am sure that this spell will wear off soon enough.”
“You are in pain, Merlin. You should not have to wait it out if we can help it.”
“I am perfectly capable of bearing the pain I am in, sire. I may not be a knight, but I am not weak.” His words are perhaps bitter, but there is little that he currently has patience for.
“Mer–”
“You find the wizard, a wizard, and then what? Execute them? Do the exact thing that they harm you for?”
Arthur grabs his shoulders, his fingers brushing the tips of the wings, and the sparks that follow are not painful like usual, but instead ignite a heat somewhere else that Merlin can only ignore.
“If they heal you, and promise to never attack us again, I would let them go. I thought you of all people knew that I am not a replica of my father.”
Before he can think of doing otherwise, Merlin places his own hands on Arthur’s wrists and leans in for their foreheads to touch, “I know you are not.”
“Then?”
“But the people do not, and it is when things like this happen, and how you react to it, that will let them know. You cannot let the anger you have over magic dictate how you treat those you those that wield it, Arthur. It is a weapon the same way a sword is, and a knight can choose to swing or to block.”
The silence in the room was thick, and Merlin feared he crossed a line when Arthur pulled back slightly, and his heart catches in his chest when there’s a gentle touch of the king's lips on Merlin’s forehead, and his magic hums in his veins.
A beat passes, and he cries out, gripping tightly at Arthur’s wrists, when the bones in his back are shifting again, and a pop sounds in the room, and the added weight he bore disappeared.
He spares a glance in the mirror and the wings are gone.
Merlin rotates his shoulders, feeling relief when there are no sparks.
Arthur looks just as relieved, his hands leaving Merlin’s shoulders and instead wrapping around his waist, hefting him into a tight hug, burying his face in the crook of Merlin’s neck.
Merlin’s melts into the embrace.
They have much to discuss, but that will be for a later time.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
count your blessings not your flaws
Fandoms: Teen Wolf (TV), The Vampire Diaries (TV), The Originals (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Archive Warning: Major Character Death
Relationships: Klaus Mikaelson & Claudia Stilinski, Klaus Mikaelson & Stiles Stilinski, Minor or Background Relationship(s), Talia Hale & Claudia Stilinski, Claudia Stilinski/Sheriff Stilinski Characters: Klaus Mikaelson, Claudia Stilinski, Stiles Stilinski, Sheriff Stilinski (Teen Wolf) (briefly)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Good Parent Klaus Mikaelson, Protective Klaus Mikaelson, Family Feels, Grandfather Klaus Mikaelson, Canonical Character Death, Klaus Mikaelson Has A Heart, Crossover, Timeline What Timeline
Chapters: 1/1
Word Count: 3,490
Part 2 of Series (ongoing)
Summary:
Klaus stumbles upon a little girl in the woods, forever changing the course of his immortal life.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
hearts in our chest (on our sleeves)
Fandoms: Merlin (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Categories: Gen
Relationships: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin) | Merlin & Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)
Characters: Merlin (Merlin) | Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)
Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort | Hurt Merlin (Merlin) | Assassination Attempt(s) | King Arthur Pendragon (Merlin) | Dragonlord Merlin (Merlin) | Serious Injuries | Whump | Hopeful Ending | Developing Relationship | Pre-Relationship | Canon Compliant | Secrets | Based on a Tumblr Post
Chapter Count: 1/1
Word Count: 1,199
Summary:
based on tamaha's on tumblr
--
Like dragon’s themselves, dragonlord’s have their hearts on the right side. For Merlin, this had unexpected consequences.
Characters: Stiles Stilinski | Klaus Mikaelson | Derek Hale | Peter Hale | Deucalion (Teen Wolf) | Claudia Stilinski | Background & Cameo Characters | Deucalion's Alpha Pack Members (Teen Wolf) | Derek Hale's Pack Members | Scott McCall (Teen Wolf) | Erica Reyes | Vernon Boyd | Isaac Lahey | Allison Argent
Additional Tags: Pre-Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski | Magical Stiles Stilinski | Alpha Derek Hale | Dead Claudia Stilinski | Good Klaus Mikaelson | Good Parent Klaus Mikaelson | Good Parent Sheriff Stilinski | Sheriff Stilinski's Name is Noah | Grandfather Klaus Mikaelson | Protective Klaus Mikaelson | Protective Derek Hale | Protective Stiles Stilinski | Protective Sheriff Stilinski | Family Secrets | Canon-Typical Violence | Canonical Character Death | Hybrid Klaus Mikaelson | Timeline What Timeline | Alternate Timelines | Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence | these tags are a mess and im too lazy to make them organized | Not Beta Read | rating changed to m for violence in chapter two | Out of Character | Klaus Mikaelson Has A Heart
Chapter Count: 3/3
Word Count: 10,061
Part 1 of Series (ongoing)
Summary:
With the alpha pack making themselves known in Beacon Hills and causing chaos, Stiles has no choice, but to reach out to the only person he knows that’s stronger.
__
Or, Claudia's childhood is a carefully kept secret, one that her son stumbles upon years after her death.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
the weight we carry
Fandoms: Merlin (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Categories: M/M
Relationships: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin) | Merlin & Arthur Pendragon (Merlin) | Gaius & Merlin (Merlin)
Characters: Merlin (Merlin) | Arthur Pendragon (Merlin) | Gaius (Merlin) | Balinor (Merlin) (mentioned)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence | Canon Compliant | Wingfic | Dragonlord Merlin (Merlin) | Canonical Character Death | Angst | Angst with a Happy Ending | Falling In Love | Idiots in Love | Caring Arthur Pendragon (Merlin) | First Kiss | Merlin's Magic Revealed (Merlin)
Chapter Count: 1/1
Word Count: 2,967
Summary:
Gaining a pair of dragon wings upon becoming a dragonlord wasn’t all that bad, except for the amount of times he had to sneak away in the middle of the night to let them out. And of course, his increased lying to Arthur.
baratheonpilled
blakekathryn
jacobvanloon
vaporwave
romaincrisis