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[pratentious]

[This time, the recording starts with a long, drawn out sigh. Then, surprisingly, it's still Merlin's voice that rattles off the voicemail in tones of long-suffering.]

Hello, you've reached King Arthur Pr--Pendragon. He isn't here to answer your call because he's incredibly important and busy. If you leave a message here with me, I'll make sure he gets it because I am a good servant--and friend-- [he adds the last bit in a rush, accompanied with a thwap!, an 'ow!' and an 'I heard that,' then forces the rest of the words out through gritted teeth] and will do anything my master asks of me.

[A couple seconds pass, then Merlin speaks again, this time sounding a bit further away, like he isn't speaking into the bracelet anymore.] There, happy now? If you ask me, the other one is still better-- Shut up, Merlin. It's time to do yours next. Wait, what --

[ click! ]

Comments

[dragonspeak]

[Overcome with a sudden bout of nervousness, Merlin actually does as Arthur says and plops down on one of the benches outside, wide eyed.]

Er...right.

[pratentious]

[ He eyes the nervousness in Merlin warily for a second before sighing and sitting down beside him. ]

Right.

[dragonspeak]

[Staring down at his hands, as they fiddle with his sleeves.

After a significant pause, he finally blurts out a few words: ]

I'm sorry.

[pratentious]

[ Arthur blinks. And stares. Then purses his lips. ]

Practise that one, did you? Very eloquent. My old speech instructor would be so proud.

[ He knocks their shoulders together playfully, trying to get him to loosen up and just spill it already. He's tired and this is awkward and he'd rather face whatever horrible things are about to happen head on than dawdle around, waiting in suspense. ]

Let's try that again, yes?

[dragonspeak]

[He's trying to be serious here, Arthur! Merlin just continues staring down stubbornly, though he loosens up enough to rub at his neck, where a flush is becoming visible.]

You were right. I shouldn't have decided for you and the others when I found out.

[Merlin breathes in deeply.] I do respect you...as a friend, as my prince. I guess I just...got so used to making all the decisions back home that I wasn't even thinking when I started doing the same here.

It was wrong of me...I'm sorry.

[pratentious]

[ He stays quiet and lets him speak, watching him carefully. He's still upset, certainly, but he isn't quite mad anymore. There's still a lot to be fixed between them. ]

See, now that was much better.

[ He nods his head once, then looks forward, resting his elbows on his knees and lacing his fingers together. ]

I understand why you did it, I just. I don't need you to protect me, Merlin. I can handle myself perfectly fine without you sheltering me so.

[dragonspeak]

I know...you've shown that you're the great warrior and leader everyone expects you to be. [His voice lowers.] That doesn't mean I'll stop wanting to protect you anyway.

It's just. Sometimes I still forget you already know, that I can talk to you here, when I couldn't before. I've been hiding for years. It's sort of become habit.

[Merlin folds his hands together as he closes his eyes.] I'll...try my best to break it. I want you to trust me, and you can't do that until I stop keeping things from you because I think you're better off not knowing.

[pratentious]

[ That's all he can really ask for, in the end. To try. It's almost frustrating, that it takes this much to get to trying.

Sometimes Arthur questions just where exactly he stands in the eyes of his loved ones. ]

Thank you.

[dragonspeak]

[Despite the effort he's put into saying all this, Merlin still feels like he's failed Arthur somehow. Is it "thank you for trying"? or maybe "thank you, but it still isn't enough"? Merlin can't, for the life of him, derive much from those two words.]

If this is all--[if I am]--too much trouble...

[Something in him twists painfully, and he hunches his shoulder inward, unable to finish.]

[pratentious]

[ He turns his head just enough to see that dejected look of his and frown. ]

Merlin, I'm fairly certain I've faced far more daunting tasks than trying to get on with my idiot manservant. I'd've given up at the magic bit if I didn't think you were worth the headache.

[ Said very matter-of-factly, and he leans back against the bench to stare up at the sky. ]

And you are quite the headache. It's a wonder I've not gone mad yet.

[dragonspeak]

[Merlin looks at him then, searching Arthur's expression for something. When he finds what he's looking for, he turns his eyes toward the sky.]

If you've gone mad, then I probably have, too.

[He gently bumps his shoulder against Arthur's, keeping them pressed together afterward.]

I won't let you down. I don't want to let you down.

[pratentious]

[ He looks over at him and rolls his eyes, then turns back to the sky and closes his eyes. ]

Good. See that you don't.