Spellbound

[ayoungboy]

This week has been fucking exhausting. He'd been consuling all week and dealing with a threat over in Norway. Somebody trying to brew mind control potions, again. Why couldn't everybody just get along and stop fussing? He's finally back home, in England, heading up the wizarding council while they go over worldwide news, and he gets an invite - no, it isn't that. It's more of a demand, from King Pendragon.

He's a bit tired, really, and didn't feel like dealing with it. "Not now, thank you. Politely decline, for me?" He told the runner. "Send him some magical candy."

He just wanted to go home and finish his book, thank you. He didn't ask for these powers, but if he took a holiday the world would flip out. People held him in high regard for some reason - he wasn't that wise, or old. He was just a young man trying to do right. Yet somehow the King was demanding his presence.

Comments

[royalpratness]

"I'm glad." He wouldn't want Merlin to leave now. It's way before his usual bed time but he feels pleasantly relaxed and warm in Merlin's presence.

[ayoungboy]

"So...can we, um...are we...?" Merlin isn't sure how to ask, and he wraps his limbs around Arthur tightly.

[royalpratness]

"Huh?" Arthur lifts his head, tilting his head at Merlin.

[ayoungboy]

"...lovers, I guess?" Merlin keeps his eyes closed, unsure if he wants to see Arthur's reaction. "Not...friends with benefits?"

[royalpratness]

"That's what we've agreed on. Did you think I'd change my mind afterwards?" Arthur turns his head, kissing Merlin's temple.

[ayoungboy]

"I don't know," Merlin blushes and smiles, tipping their foreheads together.

[royalpratness]

"I'm a man of my word, Merlin." Arthur strokes his hand down over Merlin's side. "I also really enjoy your company."

[ayoungboy]

"Yeah?" Merlin relaxes into Arthur's touch. "I enjoy your company too."

[royalpratness]

Arthur traces his index finger over the outline of their shared mark on Merlin's skin. "It's so weird. Only a few weeks back, I thought all magic users are vicious and dangerous. And now I have the most powerful one of them naked, in my bed."

[ayoungboy]

"Why did you think that?" Merlin shivers pleasantly when Arthur traces the mark. "Well, only the best for the King, aye?"

[royalpratness]

"Because I didn't know any better. It's all my father ever taught me, to be wary of magic." Arthur chuckles at Merlin's comment. "So modest."

[ayoungboy]

"Wariness and vicious aren't the same. We're dangerous, but most of us mean no harm. The ones that do are the ones that must be taken care of." Merlin laughs and shakes his head. "I was kidding."

[royalpratness]

"Which is basically the same as in the non-magic community." Arthur concludes. "Sure you were." He grins, nudging Merlin playfully.

[ayoungboy]

"I should hope so. Not everybody with a gun is dangerous, are they? Some keep it for self-protection. Some are forced to own it as a family heirloom. It's really no different..."

[royalpratness]

"Well it is, because you can take a gun away from someone but as far as I know, you can't just take someone's magic away."

[ayoungboy]

"It can be done," Merlin admits, even though he shouldn't. That's a secret kept by the high council. "But it's like ripping out an organ. Magic is a part of us, of all of us. It's like cutting off their limb...a very barbaric punishment. Most magicians would rather die."

[royalpratness]

Arthur pulls a face at Merlin's description. "Okay. I wouldn't want to loose a limb."

[ayoungboy]

"Aye. It's taking away something...essential. Killing them is a mercy." Merlin shrugs a little, nuzzling his face into Arthur's neck.

[royalpratness]

Arthur hums, closing his eyes. "Sounds brutal. It is a common punishment?"

[ayoungboy]

"Killing? It is. We don't like to take away magic. It's why we don't make it known to...regular governments. People do things when they think it's self defense..."

[royalpratness]

"I see. I think it's only fair to use it in self defense." Arthur shrugs. "It's like pepper spray." Kinda.

[ayoungboy]

"I don't agree. Cutting off a limb is...an extreme disciplinary measure." Merlin shivers just thinking about it.

[royalpratness]

"Well, yes." Arthur squeezes Merlin's side. "Do you think I should tell my PR team that the fake relationship isn't as fake anymore?"

[ayoungboy]

"If you want to." Merlin smiles softly. "They don't know who I am, do they?"

[royalpratness]

"No, they don't and we should make sure it stays that way." For Merlin's own safety.