oldestcharm

Title: Streak
Fandom: Merlin
Rating: G
Length: 738 words
Content notes: —
Author notes: Taking half an hour break from graduation stuff & applications.
Summary: He ends up having to tell the truth. He's even on a bit of a streak.

All in all, it's someone else's stupid decisions that end up forcing his hand.

He doesn't mean to tell the truth. He can barely be honest in the privacy of his own head. But there's always someone else with an agenda and there are some curses Merlin isn't able to reverse on his own. The Old Religion truly is frustrating to the core.

So he ends up having to tell the truth. He's even on a bit of a streak. It's certainly the longest he's ever gone saying what he truly means. It makes him a bit difficult to be around.

Gaius examines him, judging him the whole way through and Merlin's barely able to talk himself down from a panic attack.

He can still lie. In fact, it would be easy to lie if the consequences would affect him and him alone.

They don't. As it often goes, Arthur gets caught in whatever spell the sorcerer attempts to cast.

Every time Merlin tells a lie, Arthur gets weaker and weaker and there is little to nothing Merlin can do about it. Well, except for telling the truth.

So he perfects his half truths, omissions and avoidance.

Arthur notices. Merlin knows he does because he's taken to staring at him with a mixture of hurt and confusion. A little while later he seems to soften up and then suddenly he's curious, hesitant and more than a little outraged.

Merlin goes to meet Kilgharrah and tells Arthur he met up with an old friend. Or rather he tries to say so and ends up cutting himself off mid-sentence to go with "an irritating acquaintance" instead. Arthur looks like he's about to ask but then shakes his head and continues with his breakfast.

He practices magic and claims it's meditation and deeply held religious views. He omits the druids but seeing as there's one standing just behind him, it's barely an excuse.

He slaughters a beast and insists he's taken up hunting. Arthur looks like he'd rather like to strangle him.

They're on a hunt when, predictably, the bandits attack. It would be an ordinary occurrence but then Morgana appears and Merlin finds no other option than to conjure a rockfall.

Arthur opens his mouth. Closes it. It's clear he's seen him this time and Merlin's entire body goes cold. He goes through the entire process of grief and when he finally hits acceptance he's ready to chop off his head himself.

"Are you insane?" Arthur hisses at him.

"What do you mean?" Merlin asks, voice wavering.

"Camelot. You're a sorcerer and you came to Camelot."

"Warlock, really," Merlin corrects him and then winces.

Arthur looks hysterical, which is probably why he curls his fingers into Merlin's neckerchief, tugs him down to meet him in an insanely awkward kiss.

Merlin blinks. Clears his throat.

"Are you insane?" he asks. There are several reasons for the question, not least because Morgana's sulking around and Merlin has to commit to the truth.

"Of course not," Arthur says and interestingly, he sounds quite sure of himself.

"You kissed me," Merlin points out, narrowing his eyes. "I have magic and you kissed me."

"I wanted to," Arthur says and pauses. "Quite honestly, I'd do it again."

"Oh," Merlin says, a flush creeping up his neck. "Well, that's... nice. Why are you telling me this again?"

Arthur frowns and chews on his lip. "I think that sorcerer from last week cursed me."

Merlin blinks. "You too?"

Arthur turns his head so fast his neck cracks. "What do you mean, 'you too'?"

Merlin shrugs. "I think it's a truth spell."

"If that's how you tell the truth, I'm worried about it."

"Honestly? Me too."

"Right."

"Quite."

It doesn't get better until they reach Camelot.

It gets better when Arthur suggests they seek out the sorcerer and reverse the spell. Unable to hide his scepticism, Merlin raises an eyebrow.

Arthur shrugs. "I'll trust you to be honest with me from now on."

"Why?" Merlin asks because he just cannot comprehend Arthur not wanting a failsafe.

Arthur smiles, small and genuine. "I just figure you're on a bit of a streak. Wouldn't want to ruin that."

Merlin huffs a laugh and shakes his head. "You just don't want to talk about feelings, do you?"

Arthur snorts and pulls him down into another kiss that tells him all he needs to know without the words.