"invite me" with merthur? maybe merlin recognizes arthur's reincarnation and tries to initiate a connection? or "value me" with a ship of your choice. :D
First of all, thank you for giving me this :-) I want to hug you. Secondly, I'll take the 'invite me' thing because IT SOUNDS PERFECT FOR THE MERLIN PROMPT. And thirdly, I know I was supposed to write this in the morning but I woke up at 11 and I decided to watch 'this means war' on tv because I've never seen it until today. ANYWAYS, HERE IT IS.
Have you ever felt so sure of something, that you swear to every other form of higher being up there that you would be willing to sacrifice pretty much anything if you were wrong?
Merlin should really know by now, that asking ridiculously thought-provoking life questions was probably not the best way to kick start a conversation. Of any type. Ever. Unless you were attending a seminar on the Origins of the Universe and Other Spiritual Beings and Matters. So he cringes immediately after the words spill out of his mouth, and bites his tongue just to make sure nothing else comes out.
Yep, that was a valid enough response.
Merlin smacks on a grin and replies, "Nothing! Never mind. I just thought I saw you - well, I did see you from over there actually and it's funny because-"
"Uh, maybe. I mean, no? But I know you, since I think you're on my guest list." He shows the man in front of him his entire guest list on his clipboard, and points to his name. "Here, that's you right?"
After a quick look, the man nods. He's just as beautiful as Merlin remembers him; bright blue eyes, blonde hair, and the steadfast look of a brave king. Except now - there is no cape, no crown, no horses, and certainly no kingdom to rule. He's just a man in a suit, attending a company dinner, waiting to be seated at a table.
He is still waiting to be seated at a table.
He raises an eyebrow at Merlin, "Are you going to show me where my table is?"
"Right - guest, table, of couse. Right this way!" Merlin says quickly. He leads the man over to a table in front, near the stage and podium. He whips out a pen and a piece of paper as the man takes a seat. "Is there anything you need, sir?"
"Actually, there is something," the man replies. "Two things, actually. First, I need drinks for everyone who will be sitting at this table. And second, I think I need to know your name."
Merlin freezes, because shit, this wasn't on the job description at all. He can't remember anything that said: Possible encounter with Arthur Pendragon, be prepared to initiate a connection with your long-lost partner.
What's bothering Merlin the most, is the heartbreaking possibility that he might just look like Arthur, he might sound like Arthur, but he might not be Arthur. For starters, his name is already Anthony. Anthony Pevensie. And if Merlin isn't mistaken, he's pretty sure that that's the surname of a fictional character from the Chronicles of Narnia. So either Arthur has reincarnated himself into the descendant of a fucking fictional character (which, might not even be fictional at all), or he simply isn't Arthur anymore.
It's no contest that the latter sounds more terrifying.
"Oi," Arthur-or-Anthony snaps at Merlin. "Your name? You're not deaf, aren't you, because you keep slipping into some sort of trance every five seconds."
"Prat," he replies, rolling his eyes.
Anthony's eyes widen. "What did you call me?"
"I called you a prat, and you should be happy because congratulations - that's who you are! After all these years, I can see that you haven't changed a bit."
Anthony-or-Arthur (Merlin really feels like his brain is about to combust deciding which name to use) gets out of his seat before Merlin even has time to take a step back. "It's you."
"Yes, it's me," Merlin sighs, because really, can they just get on with it? He's been waiting long enough, all the dramatics can wait.
"I can't believe it took you that long," Merlin says. He can't help but crack a smile as Arthur leans in closer until their noses touch. Merlin instinctively slides a hand up Arthur's shoulder, closing his eyes for a brief moment before pulling away.
"For God's sake, Merlin, what do you need, a formal invitation?" Arthur grits between his teeth quietly.
"No," Merlin laughs. He takes quick glance around and notices that the guests are slowly beginning to pour in. A few people are also approaching Arthur's table. "You've got one already, right now."
Arthur raises an eyebrow, "You know that's not what I meant."
"Look, your friends are coming, and I've got a job to do." Merlin smiles reassuringly and says, "But don't worry. I won't let you go this time."
"You never did," Arthur says.
Merlin's feels warm all of a sudden on the inside. Arthur actually remembers. "Right," Merlin eventually replies. "After all this, you can come over to my flat, yeah?"
"I don't even know where you live."
"Oh, you'll find the address on the card in your pocket." His eyes flash gold and with that, Merlin slips away, collecting a handful of drinks from other tables.
"You know what?" Arthur mumbles, with his face buried in Merlin's stomach and a blanket over both of them.
"I'd bet my entire company that you still use your magic to cheat."
Merlin chuckles and buries his fingers in Arthur's hair, lightly stroking it. "Well, that's debatable."
"Pfft," Arthur snorts. "I don't believe you."
"Of course you don't," Merlin says, and kisses the top of Arthur's forehead before whispering a spell and watching the lights in the room fade.
