Merlin!Leeluke au thoughts again.
Luke being washed over with emotions when he learns about Lee having magic.
He's furious at first when it clicks, waiting before they're back in his chambers before confronting Lee about it.
Lee denies it at first, which only makes Luke more upset. Before he realizes it he's cornering him as he continues to push.
Him faltering so quickly when he realizes that Lee looks genuinely scared. Their breathing is uneven and their eyes wide. They're practically begging Luke to bring him in for whatever punishment given for magic usage, but to leave his family out of it. Lee lying and telling Luke that they aren't aware.
They're even using honoraries, like "My Lord" and "Your Highness". Which tells Luke just how frightened Lee really is in this situation. He never thought about magic users in the kingdom, he's seen them punished but never thought too hard about it.
He feels conflicted, but in the end chooses to say nothing much to both of their surprise. He still possessive of Lee as his servant, and rationalize to himself that it could come in handy to understand magic more than what Kronos has told him.
Of course it's also cause he really doesn't like the look of fear on the usually stubborn Lee.
Lee is on edge after that, unsure if and when Luke would suddenly change his mind and tell the king.
He doesn't tell his siblings, not wanting to freak them out, but he does tell Chiron who assures him that it was okay.
He takes Luke becoming more clingy as him trying to keep a closer eye on them after figuring it out.
But really Luke's just more protective, and crushing hard still.
The complicated feelings of Luke's loyalty to Kronos being squashed by how he's fallen for Lee
Vs Lee becoming unsure of Luke out of fear of being taken to the king and exposed.
Gosh...