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[ eyes still closed, she asks softly- ]

Can you do me a favour? [ ah, ah, oh my god. this is it. this is it. she is going to ask him. ]

Can you hold my hand? [ a pause. and then she realises what she just said. dear god. her heart beats faster and louder, and her eyes shoot open. ] It's. Getting cold.

[ there are candles everywhere, and it's cold. ok athena. ok. ]

[ They can both be grateful her eyes are closed and his eyes are on the sky instead when she asks that. She can probably hear the jump or perhaps even leap of a beat his heart makes as he makes a soft choked noise in the back of his throat.

...It probably sounds like he's laughing at her, really he's just having a mini heart attack over here. ]

Do you want my... jacket? [ But his hand is sliding against hers, palm warm, fingers shaky. They're so smooth, right... ]

I'm fine.

[ don't smile, athena. don't smile. you're supposed to be co- no... she can't help it. she smiles. but hopefully, merlin is too busy with his weird emotions to see. ]

This is fine. [ and she squeezes his hand. ]

[ Weird emotions? He's not the only one who is currently a mess of feelings. He has no idea which to even stick to as he hasn't even known her that long but somehow his heart is jumping because this is warm. She's happy. He's happy.

It's then that he decides to just yolo it and lay there, soaking that feeling up without really thinking about where thing might be leading to.

There's plenty of time for that in the future, and he definitely doesn't want to ruin this moment. ]

It is. [ Is what he repeats back at her, squeezing her hand back as his heart skips again. ]

[ and then a thought hits her. ]

Hey... [ opening it nicely. . . ] This isn't weird, is it?

Not as weird as you. [ Sorry Athena, but you walked right into that one. It's also a bluff to hide how unsure he is about this whole thing. It is pretty weird. He can't imagine doing this with Guinevere. Even if he'd want to with Morgana to help her feel safe and not alone now he knows her secret he wouldn't be able to.

...it's definitely weird. ]

Does it bother you?

You're weirder than I am, Merlin.

[ she opens her eyes as she thinks, though she just stares at the sky without moving.

it is weird for her too, but she likes it, anyway. the hand isn't familiar in any way, but the sensation is. she knows what it's like to like somebody, and this is it... again. ]

But, no... I'm not bothered. Just- your heart is being weird.

[ and she'd honestly rather not have that. ]

[ Why are you calling him out on it now? ]

Sorry. [ It's the only thing he can think to say, because while she's explained about her own ability it's a little hard to imagine how it must sound. He can't put a name to anything and he doesn't really want her to listen to it either, not until it makes more sense.

But he'd rather keep this moment than lose it by saying something dumb.

So he takes a long breath, focuses on the sky instead until he manages to calm down a little. He has too much to consider to get caught up right now.

But this is a nice feeling. Warm. Caring. Just like her. ]

That's okay. Don't say sorry.

[ now she's feeling bothered, but ah... she won't say anything about it.

let her be selfish just this once, though. ]

[ He quietens for a minute, just to slowly tilt his head to look towards her. Candle light flickers across her face, across her hair and skin. Whatever mix of feelings had been there before (probably a hot mess of happy, sad and shocked) has dulled into a quiet mix of the three that's a lot less deafening.

But it's still present. He can't change that. ]

The last thing I want is to make you uncomfortable. [ It comes out as a murmur. They're close enough like this that it'll be easy for her to hear no matter how quietly he says it anyway. ]

[ she can see him in her periphery, but she doesn't look at him no matter how hard she wants to. he's already uncomfortable, she'd rather not make it worse. the unwanted noises have calmed down a bit, at least, and that eases the heavy feeling in her chest. ]

That's my line. [ and then she closes her eyes again. ] Just tell me if I'm being too much.

I know I can be like that. [ so she's told, anyway. ]

[ He shakes his head slightly, mouth twisting into a faint smile. ] I wouldn't have gotten you to come here if that were true, would I?

[ He squeezes her hand, slides his thumb and fingers against hers to just enjoy the sensation of such an innocent type of comfort. Of touch. ]

Try to not think about it too much, I don't want you to hurt yourself.

[ His heart is definitely showing a little more of the happy side of things now. Stop worrying, numpty. ]

[ that's true. and it makes her feel better upon hearing those words. and she does stop thinking about it, and focuses on the good side of this situation. ]

Thanks... I'll try.

[ she shifts to lie on her side and looks at him briefly.

nope. nope. abort mission. she quickly looks back up, and ends up squeezing his hand tightly. ]

Whoops.

[ He doesn't shift to his side, but he does roll his head to look at her when he feels her body moving next to his and... then the pain that shoots up his hand. ]

Ow?! [ Athena, what is wrong with you??? He almost jerks his hand back. He's definitely looking at her now though, distress at the throbbing in his poor hand. ]

Sorry, sorry! I didn't mean to...

[ she shuts her eyes tight, ashamed with herself. and it only gets worse when a squeaky voice suddenly speaks. ]

It was your face!

[ WIDGET, NO!! ]

[ Well he can believe that something set her off but--

What. ]

My face? [ Widget, yes, apparently!! He does shift onto his side then, leaning onto his arm to look at her, even though her eyes are shut tight. ]

[ she opens an eye, totally uneasy. dear god... what have you done, widget? why do you have to talk when you're not needed? ]

Fine... I'll tell you.

[ with her free hand, she pokes him on his cheek. ]

There was a mushroom on your face.

[ totes. ]

[ Robots... already refusing their master's wishes. What rebels!

When she pokes him in the face and says that the disbelief on his face is considerate. He's not stupid Athena... please. ]

Better than having a... [ He pauses, looking disturbed by his own words when he finishes with: ] potato on my face, I suppose.

[ aka HE DOESN'T BUY THAT AT ALL ]

[ she huffs and puffs her cheeks. while what merlin said made zero sense, it's still a bit insulting!! ]

You're a potato... [ no... athena, don't continue. . . ] on your prince's face.

[ WHY THIS. ]

[ His own free hand reaches out to pat her cheek, attempting to get her to stop puffing them up like a squirrel with food tucked in its pouch. ]

That doesn't even make any sense.

[ Blame Widget... ]

[ why this... why this!! she's totally panicking now, and she's slowly getting dizzy. ]

You don't make sense.

[ in her head, she calls to widget to stop talking, and thankfully, he says nothing more. and so, athena speaks again. ]

May... be we should call it a night.

[ because she doesn't want things to get any more weird. ]

[ He really has no idea what he did wrong here. Since crushing his hand (thanks Athena) she's only been getting weirder and weirder.

Why are girls so complicated. ]

...Not the first time I've heard that. [ He shifts back then though, moving to sit up instead. He rubs at the back of his neck, his other hand that's still connected to hers going slack. ]

And it is getting pretty late I guess.

[ Too late. ]

[ it is getting pretty late, and it shows by how high the moon is... ai would probably worry if she came home late, especially since she didn't say where she was going.

she slides her hand away from merlin's and slowly gets up, even putting on her shoes back in the process. ]

You know, you might be right. I'm really weird.

[ and she picks up her bag, then looks at him. ]

Do you need help with the blanket?

[ It had to be late enough for the candles to show properly really. They need to cool before he can put them away anyway. Once she's up he moves as well, tugging his boots back on and then finally shaking out the blanket. That done, he lays it flat. With a glance and a flash of gold it folds itself.

Guess who uses magic for their chores? This guy. ]

All done.

I need to put this back to normal though first. [His hand moves towards the candles, and with a quick look the lights go out, leaving them mostly in darkness. There's only the light from the moon now. Thankfully it doesn't take long for a candle to cool, especially one that's not really had the flames attached for that long. Sort of.

He dumps them in a bag, then shoves them inside his own bag. The blanket follows after.

If Athena wants to leave in the meantime she's free to go, though he'd obviously(?) prefer it if she didn't. ]

Edited (html.....) 2016-02-21 16:50 (UTC)

[ merlin doesn't have to worry about anything. athena just watches him and waits, and once the candles are out, helps serve as a light with widget on her neck. not that widget really helps a lot in keeping things illuminated, but he's still a source of light. ]

How come you don't always say anything when you use your magic? [ the spells, she means. ]

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