[ ic; contact ]

[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

[pratentious]

[ His breath halts a little, mind wandering to his sister exactly as intended. He thinks of their childhood, wildly out of control and fighting good-naturedly just to best each other at every turn. Of their later years, when duty took its place to harden him and she wore him down like stone on steel to remind him of his humanity. Of here, in Asgard, where they are closer than ever by mercy of a second chance and a forgiveness that aches in Arthur's chest when he thinks on it for too long.

He thinks of the cruelty in her voice and the daggers in her eyes when she took their father's crown and sat upon his throne.

And then there's Merlin. Merlin, who is overly eager, painfully honest, too willing to sacrifice himself for - for what, Arthur couldn't say. He is not a soldier, has not been shaped for war and battle, but sometimes Arthur has to wonder if he isn't the stronger between them. His eyes linger on Merlin's face, pointedly everywhere but his eyes before he can bring himself to see the sincerity there, and then Arthur sighs light-heartedly and gets to his feet. ]

One of these days, I will understand what goes on in that head of yours.

[ He brushes the grass from his backside and grabs another smooth stone, skipping it properly and managing five bounces before it sinks on the sixth. Arms folded across his chest as he watches the ripples pan out and vanish, Arthur swallows against something unpleasant building in his throat. He keeps his back to Merlin when he speaks again. ]

I'm sorry. For teasing you. It was not my place.

[dragonspeak]

You mean you haven't fathomed me out yet?

[The pseudo teasing smile drops as Arthur says his next words, and Merlin shakes his head.]

Don't--I told you: you don't need to apologise.

[Apologising means Arthur making a big deal out of what had happened, and Merlin doesn't want that. It's been two years, he's put it behind him, and he doesn't want to look back (too often). He's made too many mistakes, and he spends too much time considering those "what ifs" on his own without Arthur bringing them up, too.]