Look Before You Leap - The Middle Hop - Part 2

[merthurdreamer]

Look Before You Leap
Chapter 2
The Middle Hop
Part 2
Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
The Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to
Alice In Wonderland

It was lunch, again.
Again, Arthur had a football meeting; Lance was being nice somewhere, Morgana and Morgause were helpfully scheming; which left Merlin with Mithian.

It wasn’t that he didn’t like her, he just wanted to be alone for a bit, but he couldn’t leave the girl alone because then she’d fall into the category of the “my friends hate me” girl.

They were on the small hill which overlooked the school’s PE courts, under a tree in the shade.

Merlin was looking out distantly, caught in a strange spiritual experience about not really being in the present, as if he was some entity which was just passing through almost, while Mithian sat next to him, legs crossed as so to protect her modesty from the skirt, sucking on an orange carton.

Merlin’s eyes felt numb.

‘Hey, Merlin,’ Mithian started, sweetly sounding, ‘You know how Arthur transferred to our school last year? I heard he’d been bouncing around from school to school before that.’

Merlin heard her vaguely, at least enough to catch the main parts of the words she said and the implications and promptings for replies.

‘Apparently,’ the sky was clear today, a beautiful blue, but Merlin couldn’t appreciate it.

‘Do you think the rumours about him living overseas are true?’ Mithian was glancing at the grass.

Merlin produced a massive veggie hamburger from his lap.

He wasn’t comfort eating!

‘I doubt it,’ then bit off a huge chuck and chewed in meditation, between chomps he added, ‘he sucks at languages.’

‘No, huh?’

‘No chance.’

‘I wonder if something happened to him at his last school.’

Merlin wanted to think.

‘Why don’t you ask him?’ he sighed.

‘No, no I couldn’t. I don’t even have his email address, let alone his phone number.’

Why was that relevant? Merlin took another bite.

‘So?’ he said, only thinking afterwards that might have come out a bit exasperated, ‘he’s in our class.’

‘Yeah, I know, but you’re such good friends with him.’

Friends with Arthur? Was she really talking about this now?

The universe was cruel.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand, ‘I wouldn’t ask him something like that.’

Mithian seemed to drop it then, but once they finished their mini makeshift picnic, they made their way back into the school.

The path they chose was one which had a courtyard in the centre, but not the main courtyard previously mentioned. This was on the West Wing of the school, and most of it was just stylised concrete: guys usually used it for basketball.

They were walking on the side so that the courtyard was to their right, pillars of grey separating the path from the open space.

Merlin, still deep in contemplation, thought about his and Arthur’s relationship from a different perspective.

Sure, they hung out a lot, but they didn’t really have heart-to-heart conversations. Merlin thought again about how he didn’t even know if Arthur had any living parents: he didn’t talk about them and no one asked.

Did this mean they weren’t good friends? Good friends talked about this type of thing right?

And besides, if Arthur did have a little drama in his old school, it probably wasn’t worth mentioning since he never told anyone.

He didn’t tell Merlin.

‘I wouldn’t say we’re that close,’ but as soon as he voiced the thought, he knew he was wrong: despite Arthur’s past, Merlin knew everything about Arthur in the present: his hopes and dreams for the future, what he liked to eat, his favourite meals, his favourite colour, his favourite band, his favourite t-shirt even. Merlin knew about Arthur’s points of view on politics, business, ethical issues, even spiritual stuff. But most of all, what Merlin knew distinguished himself from all of Arthur’s other friends, was how Merlin knew about Arthur’s insecurities: he knew about how Arthur thought he wasn’t good enough, how Arthur always tried his best because he thought he had to be the best, he knew that Arthur wanted to shine so that no one else had to, not for selfish reasons, but so they could do what they wanted and not worry about anything else.

Merlin was also the only person Arthur let comfort him. On the very rare occasions he’d seen Arthur upset, Merlin could only name about four times at the most, it was always Merlin’s advice and console which Arthur listened to; Merlin was the only person who could soothe Arthur.

Merlin was also the only person Arthur gave hugs to. Despite Arthur’s friendly nature, he was the type of guy to prefer arm-punches and cheery words, he still did that with Merlin; however he also hugged Merlin, and let Merlin do the same to him.

During this reflection, Merlin again, felt an extreme attachment to Arthur, as if a binding of sharp warm thread was placed around Merlin’s upper body, and now was tugging, and tugging very strongly, so the warmth was squeezed from his heart and chest, and proceeded to saturate his body with the sensation.

He even knew Arthur’s smell.

‘Liar, you two are always together,’ Mithian exploded out with laughter, and Merlin actually jumped from the outburst.

‘Am not!’ he shot back, ‘I mean-’ Merlin would have gone on, whether it was to justify his words or appease Mithian he was unsure, but they were interrupted by a shout from their right, in the concrete courtyard.

Everyone turned to it, and saw Will being sprayed at with water from a hose.

The holders of said hose were Karan and Valiant, with Kay laughing in the background.

They were approaching him with the water blasting out at full force, pinning him up against a pillar due to his inability to see or speak clearly, throwing him into disorientation.

‘Take this you miserable fuck!’

‘You’re a loser man!’

‘Leave him alone!’ Merlin shouted out, but his yells went unheard, because Will fell over himself and landed with his arse in the air, in quite a crude position, so Karan and Valiant laughed louder, aiming the water at his rear.

Kay sounded like he was dying.

But they all stopped, because the water decreased in intensity, then there was none.

‘Who shut it off!’

Arthur did: he was standing by the tape, hands in his pockets, looking completely unaffected by their jeering as he would, but when he looked up they shut themselves up. Merlin could see everything from this angle, and Arthur looked so coldly pissed it could have melted their faces right off if he knew magic.

‘You ‘bout done?’ He said, bored.

They knew, even three against one, Arthur would probably best them.

They walked off, dropping the hose violently as if that showed their inner turmoil for justice being so unrightfully taken was a mockery of God.

‘It’s not over Willy!’ they joked as they left the square, shoving people who were stupid enough not to move.

Merlin was stunned: this is actually what he meant about Arthur’s shining: his need to protect the weak and vulnerable.

Mithian rushed over to Will, who Arthur was standing over now, still looking cool and collected, ‘That’s pretty bad, you’re soaked man,’ he mocked kindly, offering his hand, which Will took with a meek smile.

‘Are you alright, Will? Mithian cooed.

‘Yeah,’ he whined, sounding so very put upon, ‘they threw coke on me yesterday. But I was lucky enough to chuck a latte back.’

Mithian turned her attention to Arthur, while she stroked Will’s arm, ‘You know you’re making it worse doing that, right?’

Turns out, Arthur didn’t hear her, because as soon as he caught sight of Merlin, he casually sped-walked to him, jumping a little bit, hands still in his pockets, ‘Hey, Merlin!’

Merlin did not feel a slight glow at the way Arthur’s face completely lit up and his eyes were suddenly very bright and his face animated.

Merlin then started to panic. He didn’t know what to do about Arthur. He didn’t know how to act, how to say anything, without seeming awkward or distant or just shit scared because he knew now.

He knew that Arthur liked him that way. It all made sense now, those beaming looks Arthur gave him all the time: they were because Merlin was just being Merlin, being there.

Merlin flustered, and turned the other way, not rudely, but as if there was something in his hair.

‘You catch the match last night?’ Arthur smirked at him, hovering around him.

‘Err... no,’

Wherever Arthur moved, Merlin accidently fussed with his hair the other way.

Arthur stopped, ‘Why’d you look away from me?’

‘I didn’t look away!’ Merlin protested as he faced Arthur.

Big mistake...

Merlin couldn’t breathe; his heart was thrashing around wildly in its fleshy cage.

Merlin made the error of looking at Arthur’s eyes, which sent a pang of sensation right from his heart to his toes.

Arthur’s smile too, was radiant.

Merlin blushed, and turned away again.

Arthur chuckled, ‘What are you up to?’

‘Nothing!’

‘Come on, tell me,’ Arthur pushed, nudging into Merlin, knocking him off balance, invading his space, stealing his air, ‘is it something juicy? Come on tell me,’ Arthur continued this little assault, now kneeing Merlin in the tummy gently, hands still in his pockets.

Merlin wondered why that was. But he wondered more why he couldn’t speak with the ghost of Arthur’s touch on him.

‘It’s nothing!’ Merlin cried out, losing the battle, losing the will.

But Arthur didn’t stop, well he did, but he kept on being kind, kept on being so Arthur. He looked suddenly so concerned, his brow frowning with the feeling, his eyes so wondrously earnest, and Merlin just needed some air, his lungs were so strained in his chest, ‘What’s the matter? Merlin, what’s wrong?’ and he got so close to Merlin, pinned him against the wall, and his face was so close, so very close, and Merlin thought he might faint, or do something extremely unbecoming and stupid as to make a public scandal of both of them. Arthur’s body was so near Merlin’s, he could feel Arthur’s warm blood, his body emitting sweet sensations and warm wonders into Merlin’s own. Merlin felt so taunt in all his muscles in Arthur’s presence, but not in a tense, angry way; far from it, actually.

With his mouth agape, almost gasping for air slowly and silently, Merlin was powerless but to gaze back into those watery eyes, those wells which Merlin had fell into long ago.

‘Emrys you jerk!’

Will was cradling his bag.

‘This is your entire fault! You asked me to switch partners the other day! If you didn’t, I wouldn’t be wet like someone just came all over me right now!’

There was such venom in his being.

‘I didn’t think something like this would happen,’ Merlin weakly defended himself.

‘This is all your fault you idiot!’

‘Who are you calling an idiot?!’ Arthur shouted, furious now, raging in fact, slightly stepping in front of Merlin. By this point, Mithian had edged back to Merlin’s side.

Arthur took off his shoe, and Merlin was so confused right now, things were happening too fast.

His mind was blurry as it was!

‘Keep it up and I’ll throw this you ungrateful shit! How dare you talk to someone like that!’ Arthur was very nearly about to lob the trainer at the guy’s face, but Merlin held his arm with a, ‘What are you doing, Arthur? Calm down, I’m fine.’

‘Yeah? I dare you!’

Next thing Merlin knew, there was a red flush covering Will’s face, the size and shape of the bottom of Arthur’s shoe.

‘Oh... I didn’t mean to do that,’ Arthur said guiltily.

‘Stupid!’ Will cursed, and ran off like a scared game animal.

Arthur hopped over to the discarded shoe, ‘That guy’s pretty rude, going around calling everyone names,’ the last bit was strained as he bent down to put his shoe back on. Merlin felt a spasm in his torso: Arthur’s tone was defensive, but his complexion showed he was truly sorry for losing his temper.

‘So?’ Merlin said as he approached Arthur, ‘You’re always calling me an idiot,’ he laughed out, genuinely amused by Arthur’s behaviour.

‘Yeah, but I say it out of love.’

And that’s when Merlin stopped walking, stopped everything.

If he thought he was about to faint before, he was wrong.

If he thought his heart was breaking records with how many beats there were per second, he was wrong.

If he thought he was petrified before, he was wrong.

It seems there were many moments recently which were proving Merlin speechless and thoughtless.

Arthur shuddered out a laugh, ‘Wh-Where’s your comeback? You’re leaving me in the cold here. He’s acting strange today, don’t you think Mithian.’ He bravely pushed out.

Oh Arthur...

‘Yes. Indeed.’

‘Wh-Why the stiff talk?’

‘I’m sorry, it’s just that I’ve never spoken much to you before.’

What the fuck was Arthur doing to Merlin’s head?!

He felt so powerless, so out of control around Arthur: his body shaking slightly yet numb to any commands.

‘Merlin? What’s wrong?’ Arthur softly spoke, looking intently.

‘I have to go! I forgot my pencil in History!’ and, not because he was a coward, but because he just couldn’t be around Arthur without feeling like he was being sucked in, ran off, well, at least made it look like an innocent jog of a forgetful person.

XxXxX

And that’s how most of the next few days went.

Merlin wasn’t proud of himself, his actions or his temperament, but he just couldn’t handle being around Arthur right now, at least while his head was so full.

For example: Arthur in form, found a fantasy book Merlin hadn’t read yet, and came up to him to present his find, but Merlin casually slipped away into the crowd, and went to the toilet.

Another time, was when Merlin saw Arthur walking down the East Wing’s courtyard archway, similar layout to the Central one; so Merlin went the long way round.

Merlin was in Biology, the only subject he and Arthur didn’t have together, but Arthur must of had a free period, because Merlin dashed behind a desk when he saw Arthur peeping through the window.

Merlin didn’t want to do this to Arthur: make him believe or think that he was ignoring him, because hurting Arthur or causing him any misfortune of any kind hurt Merlin, but Arthur did things to Merlin’s mind, and when Merlin was with Arthur, he was the other boy’s puppet, completely malleable to his every whim, and right now, Merlin couldn’t risk that bewitchment. Merlin needed a pause button on his life, so that he could just spend some time in quiet self-reflection, but it seemed to him that his life could only go in fast-forward or rewind, and even that was limited.

Arthur made Merlin feel out of his element, like he was walking on broken glass, like his world was spinning in slow motion, but Arthur was moving too fast.

XxXxX

‘Merlin!’ Arthur crashed through the green iron gate of the court, cycling haphazardly, braking while turning his bike.

Lance was stretching, ‘He’s not here,’

‘But he always meets us here!’ Arthur said, contained distraught.

‘Somethin’ happen?’ Lance asked, as if he’d been through this a thousand times already, his eyes suggestive.

‘Huh?’ Arthur said, his eyes momentarily wide, ‘No, no nothing at all,’ and Arthur cycled to where he usually parked his bike, but instead of putting it down gently, just kind of jumped off it and let it slam, the metal clinging and ringing, reflecting the thoughts behind the crestfallen expression on his face.

‘You must have said something that pissed him off,’ Lance said, trying to help, but not really knowing how to this time, ‘You betta not have said he has big ears, you know he’s self-conscious!’

Arthur was looking completely lost into the distance, then shouted out to Lance, features wild, ‘I didn’t say anything!’ and if it’s true that when people are emotionally tense, they talk in their natural/first accent, then it applies to Arthur now, expect every word was punctuated with perfect diction.

Lance’s face wasn’t buying it.

‘I didn’t!’ Arthur whined, his volume sinking. He then faced Lance completely, about ten metres separating them, while Arthur’s eyes went blurry, ‘at least... I don’t think I did,’ but Lance then threw the ball at him, knowing that a distracted Arthur was better than a wounded one.

‘Toss it back!’

Arthur went to, but stopped, his duffel bag swinging with him, ‘I can’t throw good when I’m thinking!’

He then proceeded to pace, pace and throw the ball between his hands.

‘It’s no use,’ he whispered, ‘I just don’t get it!’ he yelled, then lobbed the ball at Lance, who caught it coolly, but looked disturbed beyond believe.

XxXxX

‘Come on; let’s go, before they all sell out!’

It was the next day, Merlin looking as if he didn’t sleep a wink, which was accurate, because he hadn’t.

Mithian did some sort of suspicious eye moment, then piped up at Merlin, ‘I’m not actually feeling all too good,’

Oh, Merlin thought, that’s a shame, ‘You want to go to the nurse’s office?’

‘Oh!’ Her eyes went wide, scared almost, ‘No, no thanks I’ll be fine; I think I’ll just stay inside today, it’s probably the heat,’

‘Oh... okay then, if you’re sure, ‘then after some reassuring smiles, Merlin made his way outside to eat by himself. Morgana offered on the way out to sit with him on the hill, but he declined politely, saying he wanted to be alone right now.

It wasn’t a complete lie; he just didn’t want Morgana poking her nose where it wasn’t exactly going to help, only infuriate.

So there Merlin was, on the hill, eating his carrot cake, contemplating.

Being with Arthur?

He was frightened by how violently his body reacted in favour of the thought; so violently in fact, he was worried he’d cry in public, with a display visible. As said, Merlin protested vigorously against crying in public, it was only for people seeking attention; so he quickly finished up and went inside.

But when he got to the doorway, on the far wall, amongst the crowd, he saw Mithian giving Arthur something in a brown paper package.

Merlin wasn’t going to cry in public.

Mithian looked up at him hopefully, so filled with nervous excitement. But Arthur just seemed to be a bit shocked: he was nice about it, taking the offering and probably thanking her, but he wasn’t filled with bounties of gratifying gusto.

Either way, Merlin gaped at the scene, feeling an oncoming stimulation to throw up.

However, trying to find the nearest bin was unnecessary, because there was some drama afoot.

People were running, running to the West Wing courtyard. Merlin only went because he saw Arthur go too.

Merlin walked to where he was the other day listening to the gossip, ‘This way! This way!’

‘It’s gonna be epic!’

‘That’ll teach them!’

‘Come on!’

Merlin wondered why they were cheering, but then he had the brain power to actually look in front of him.

He gasped.

Will had a fire extinguisher, and was blasting Valiant and company with the contents.

‘Knock it off, Will!’ They cried, coughing and gasping.

‘Why should I listen to you? You didn’t stop when I asked you to!’ His eyes were crazy, his face portraying a careless desolation as he waved the arm holding the extinguisher’s pipe franticly.

‘Alright we were wrong!’

But this just seemed to anger him more, ‘Then you shouldn’t have done it to begin with!’ His voice, tone, and everything about him, was now not his own, but a force very dangerous. No one came to help this time, only said things as thus:

‘He’s lost it!’

‘Has someone called a teacher?’

‘Give me your phone!’

And some even encouraged him.

Merlin pushed to the front, having enough: Valiant was a dickhead, no question, but doing this wouldn’t help anyone; Merlin was a firm believer that revenge was like a two-headed rat-viper: while you watch your enemy go down, you’re being poisoned yourself.

‘Put it down, Will!’ then Merlin was taken aback for a bit, he noticed that Will was covered in spaghetti Bolognese, but he recovered, ‘Will!’

Will turned round very slowly, looking into Merlin’s eyes through his sauce stained hair, ‘Emrys!’ he spat, ‘Did you just give me an order?’ the volume of the words was deadly, brimmed with provocation.

‘No,’ he was insane right now, Merlin needed to calm him down, ‘It wasn’t like that,’ but he realised he was panicking now, because the glint in Will’s eyes, the way the sunlight reflected over them, proved he was beyond any human reason.

‘Yes you did!’ The crowds got out the way, while Merlin shielded his face.

‘Huh?’

Merlin peeped through his arms, and felt a heavy relief: there was no more agent.

Will, wounded as he was, became even worse, as he tried with might and force to click the tank back into life, but when his efforts proved to be useless and fruitless, carried the metal cylinder into both his hands.

Merlin then registered his intent.

He couldn’t run, that would be ridiculous and he’d look even more so, but he couldn’t let that thing hit him!

He’d have to dodge it... hopefully. There was a thick pillar next to him on his right; he could always go behind that.

‘Don’t do it!’

‘Will: calm down!’

Others had joined the railing, this was going too far, but they couldn’t approach him physically, he was too hazardous for that right now.

But before Merlin could think, Will lunged forward and threw the tank. He saw it glide through the air, Will’s cries distant, but a voice he could hear, was Arthur’s:

‘Merlin!’

And before Merlin could comprehend fully, he opened his eyes when he felt a shadow pass over him, but it wasn’t a red gleaming tank of death, but Arthur, his back turned obviously, about to take the blow.

He must have burst through the crowds.

‘No...’

XxXxX

Merlin found himself rolling, where he wanted to be, and squatted to a stop. Arthur was putting his hand out against the pillar, ready for pain, but with a movement like a crouching tiger, Merlin pounced on him, pushing him out the way and onto the floor.

Once Arthur had recovered, blinking a couple of times, leaning up on his elbows, he gazed at Merlin, eyes wide in shock.

Merlin smiled, whimpered a bit of a laugh out: no bruises or cuts today, only a mild thump of aching here and there.

Arthur smiled back, still a bit out of it but seeming happy, more than.

Merlin was then very aware of their positioning: he was practically straggled on top of his friend, but, right now, he didn’t seem to mind: Arthur’s welfare was more important than fear. Arthur was also very solid against him, Merlin, even through their uniform, could feel Arthur’s soft flesh stretched over firm muscle.

They were very close, breathing each other’s air as their lungs recovered from the exertion and speed of events, but even so, it looked as if Arthur was going to say something, by the way his eyes moved over Merlin, and his forehead creased, it was probably something to do with if Merlin was okay or not.

Merlin was still pleasantly numb by the simple fact Arthur was indeed, a bit cliché like but still very heroically, willing to jump in front of an oncoming projectile for Merlin.

But he didn’t get to say it, because his almost voice was then drowned out by a sudden painful shriek, splitting the air; it was the type of sound that made you cringe.

Merlin’s head instinctively looked to the source, and it was Mithian, on the floor, not moving, the fire extinguisher rolling slowly away from her, as other students crowded around her, some still filming, others trying to make her stand up, failing in the process.

Merlin looked on in horror.

It seemed to him the more he tried to avoid mishaps, the worse things became.

‘Somebody get a bloody teacher!’

XxXxX

They were in the nurse’s office, but she was sick herself today, Merlin thought that was bitterly ironic, so her assistant had to tend to Mithian, Edwin.

He said something about Merlin not being allowed in there because he was a boy, but Mithian said she wanted him there, and due to the state she was in, Edwin wasn’t really one to argue.

Right now, Mithian was on a stool: shirt off, bra straps down, as Edwin was finishing tapping on some sort of large plaster bandage thing to her shoulder: it wasn’t broken, but very nearly was.

He said something about a lot of bruising taking a long time to go, which made Merlin feel even worse.

‘Don’t cry,’ Edwin comforted softly, ‘it’s not that bad, you were very lucky, my dear,’

‘What if it leaves a scar?’ she sobbed.

Merlin, standing behind them, perked up at that, steeling his face into something very determined, very resolute.

‘If it does, I’ll deal with it somehow,’ he didn’t necessarily know how, but he would, he owed her that much.

‘How are you going to do that?’ she asked innocently, adjusting her clothes back on, ‘I’ll handle it, okay?’ he gritted out, unwavering in words, however not in voice.

The nurse door then opened.

It was Arthur, looking grim as Merlin felt.

He looked at Merlin, his eyes softening and Merlin thought maybe Arthur was still getting over Merlin not being damaged, or maybe was kind of twistedly relieved it wasn’t Merlin busted up bone wise.

Merlin smiled back, and had the overpowering urge to hug Arthur.

But he didn’t, it wasn’t really the time or place for that.

But Arthur did, he hugged Merlin.

Very tightly, might he add.

And Merlin, suddenly very full of emotion, wrapped his arms around Arthur’s neck in silent gratitude. The arms around him were warm, bleeding in a magical, glittering affection.

It was short-lived of course; not really being the time or place, but it was sweet while it lasted.

And as Arthur made his way to Mithian, asking if she was okay and if it hurt, Merlin felt cold, and tingly, some might say, was the sensation he felt were Arthur had been.

XxXxX

‘ARHHH!’ Merlin cried as he threw the ball to Lance.

It was just them today.

‘I guess you heard then Merlin,’ Lance said, matter-of-factly and mildly amused.

‘SHUT UP!’ Merlin shouted, catching the ball violently, twisting around, and aiming for Lance’s head.

Lance sighed, ‘How about I say that you miss him?’

‘NO!’ Merlin shot back.

‘It doesn’t mean anything!’ Merlin panted out, arms aching, body sweating, and emotions fried, ‘It doesn’t mean anything, alright? Arthur’s just a nice guy, okay? And Mithian asked him out, need I add!’ The last word was stressed as Merlin lunged to catch Lance’s curveball, Merlin lobbing it for Lance’s chest this time, ‘He doesn’t even like her that way, he told me so himself, very passionately as well! He’s just the nice type of guy who’ll take her on one date, a really nice one, because he knows that the girl’s crazy for him, but he doesn’t feel that way: so yeah, out of sympathy and the good nature of his heart, Arthur will take her on a date, but only one, so she has really sweet memories of their time together,’ He chucked the ball at Lance again, not aiming at all, ‘And at the end of the date, he won’t kiss her on the lips all romantic like, he’ll peck her on the cheek, and give her a look so she understands that he’s sorry, but he doesn’t like her in that way, and Mithian, being a nice girl herself, will accept that fact, and be content with the memories and will swiftly get over him!’

Merlin caught and chucked another ball, panting now, his fight fainting, but the fire still raging silently.

Lance just giggled with his eyes, holding the ball, calling out to Merlin, ‘He tell you all that then?’ his voice was dripping with suggestion, and Merlin hated being ignorant as to Lance’s knowledge of how much Arthur told him, if anything, ‘Most of it, actually, he made himself perfectly clear, caught me after school,’ Merlin remembered how Arthur looked at him, his pupils sheathing right into Merlin’s heart, ‘and he heavily implied the rest!’

If Merlin looked desperate: shoes untied, sleeves creased, hair unfixed, eye blue, complexion blue, then he was none the wiser.

Lance sniggered, ‘Yeah, I know,’

‘What?’ Merlin flinched, and Merlin didn’t know if Lance was saying that Arthur had told him that too, or if he was subtly letting Merlin know that it was okay that he was wrecking himself over this, because he knew that Arthur had feelings for him, and, from Merlin’s very recent rant and display of character, the emphasis on the situation and the obsession in his voice, Merlin’s reciprocating those feelings was very much a probable reality, and even if Merlin tried to deny it, the protest would obviously be a lie, because there was too much testament in his complexion to indicate it was a passion of earnest.

But Lance didn’t make himself clearer, only smiled, knowing something Merlin didn’t.

He walked right into that one...

And, because he had nothing else to throw, Merlin reached for a stone, and made it strike in Lancelot’s direction, the other boy dodging brutally out the way.

Serves him right!

XxXxX

Merlin cycled home, then locked himself in his room. But since his room didn’t have a lock, he pushed his chair against the knob.

Downstairs, when Merlin was called for dinner but didn’t come, apparently having already ate his portion, plus some Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, a banana, some custard pudding, and had stolen the last of the Galaxy Chocolate, Freya was a bit confused, ‘What’s wrong with Merlin?’ she asked, tone high, and actually a bit concerned.

Hunith, after having closed her eyes while sighing, handed Freya her meal, ‘He’s having relationship troubles.’

‘What about? With who?!’ She asked, eager to know from both equal parts curious and mischievous, but Hunith hummed and shock her head once, proceeding to eat to finish further prying.

XxXxX

Merlin was lying on his bed, sideways on its length, so his head and legs dangled off in their respective directions.

His fan was on, humming lowly.

Merlin decided that enough was enough and that he needed to stop avoiding the situation. But that just made him feel worse, because he didn’t feel like he was avoiding the situation; he just hadn’t been in the right frame of mind to confront the issue at hand, or felt like he had enough time to fully consider everything. But he didn’t like to call it an issue, because Arthur was anything but. So for a while, naturally, his mind was filled with thoughts of Arthur. But this time, instead of casting them aside, telling them to shut up, that it was nothing; he let them loose, and while they pranced about, he observed them.

The first throb he immediately felt was that Arthur was on a date with Mithian right now.

Arthur had told him about it, so he couldn’t be annoyed at him on that front. Come to think of it, Merlin couldn’t find any fault in what Arthur had done: he made it explicitly clear to Merlin that he had no romantic or sexual interest in Mithian, his eyes implying the rest, and because Merlin already knew how Arthur felt about him, it didn’t take even Merlin long to figure out Arthur wanted Merlin clean of any thought that he was unattainable.

But this, however sweet, made Merlin realise the only thing keeping Arthur with Merlin, pursuing him, if you will, maybe wooing? He didn’t know exactly the label, but the only thing keeping Arthur close to Merlin was the other boy’s loyalty to his feelings. Which led Merlin to uncover the notion that although he hadn’t lost Arthur this time, and shouldn’t feel any bitter feelings for his actions really; there was still this sleepy, horrible, gnawing darkness making Merlin think that he might not be so lucky next time.

Merlin didn’t believe Arthur was the type to settle for less than what he wanted, or to give in even if what he wanted was unachievable, but Merlin hadn’t seen Arthur in any relationship, so he couldn’t completely judge.

Merlin took some time now to reflect on how Arthur made him feel.

Which was probably not the wisest of decisions to make when he was already emotionally and mentally stretched, because Arthur made Merlin feel many things.

There was warmth to Arthur, the kind that sucked Merlin in, making him believe everything was happy and lovely, when in actuality, shit could be raining on them, but Arthur made Merlin oblivious to the adverse weather.

Merlin was very fond of him, and he felt very tenderly towards everything that made Arthur what he was, because Arthur wasn’t classically perfect or boisterously rudely seductive; he wasn’t even in-between, because Arthur, Merlin thought, really was in a league of his own.

He was good-looking, and definitely had the whole sex appeal thing going for him.

He smiled a lot.

Always smiled a lot at Merlin.

He took the piss out of Merlin a lot, which Merlin didn’t really mind, because he did it to Arthur as well, but he still made it up for it by saying something completely unexpected and out the blue, like, “You are pretty special, Merlin,” or “Your hair looks sexy pushed back” leaving Merlin surprised and unprepared.

Merlin hated feeling unprepared, but the way Arthur did it, it made Merlin, and he grimaced here, because would it really lower his dignity to say in those times, Arthur melted him to goo of sorts?

And, trying to calm himself down, because even thinking about his friend like this seemed to raise him in spirits and nerves , Merlin came to a sudden, and yet already known conclusion that, yes...

He would very much like to be with Arthur always, because he liked him too.

Merlin thought admitting these feelings would be a joyous occasion, a moment in which he’d spring up from his monotonous stance, shout something out in a laugh, and have his eyes brimming with tears.

However, no such occurrence happened.

Instead, Merlin was filled with much dread and fears for the future; sprung up from his monotonous stance and started to breathe quicker, gasp silently, feel as if his head was too full, something brimming out against his very skull.

He wondered if he was having a panic attack.

He didn’t realise, but of course he did now, because with experience, innocence is lost; that once he had pushed that thought, allowed that feeling permission; that it would self-perpetuate.

And Merlin, lying back down, feeling so defeated inside, feared there was no return.

Merlin realised now he was the type to place all his hopes, all his dreams, all his affection, all his smiles, all his emotions into one single being.

And never take them back.

The gates were closed, and he was alone now, alone in the cold of summer.

Merlin couldn’t think anymore: whether this was from over-eating or a headache, he didn’t know, but what he did know, was that this hurt more than it should, and was more complicated in practise than it should be.

He groaned, twisting his head.

Having closed his eyes, he opened them again, and he noticed a birthmark like scar thing on his left bicep, just hidden by his scrunched up sleeves.

He didn’t have any birthmarks...

With new intrigue, he twisted his flesh to see the mark properly, moving his sleeve further up to see it.

It was digits, and to be honest, they kind of looked like the Jokerman font on Word.

They said, “60” with a line above them.

Merlin wondered.

XxXxX

Damn it!

He was there again.

At the museum.

Nimueh had some time off now though, so she suggested walking around the galleries.

The corridors were open, large rooms, art on the walls, sculptures in the centres.

Oranges and browns were the general colour scheme for this room’s art. The floor was hardwood, making people’s footsteps echo quietly around the polished room.

‘Recognise this painting?’

‘Yeah, I do, it’s the one you’ve been trying to restore for so long.’

Mutually they looked at the piece.

On the corners, the way the shades and shapes were painted, it reminded Merlin of Klimt. But as you approached the centre, it was like one of those drawings people did about... “The Hollow Earth Theory?” Merlin guessed: the one where people believe there is another world deep below, filled with lost voices and beautiful landscapes. The blues and reds and greens and yellows merged to form blurry oceans, land, flowers and clouds. And above all this, there was a woman’s face, simply painted, the edges of her complexion dimming into the background, as she gazed upon this paradise. But the smile she wore was bitterly similar to that of the Mona Lisa’s, bitter in the sense she knew something you didn’t, but it didn’t amuse her: it made her sad.

‘The more I look at this painting,’ she breathed in, as if she were by the sea, ‘the more relaxed and comforted you feel, a bit melancholy too, I suppose.’

Merlin hummed his agreement.

‘I still don’t know who the original painter was, but I did learn one thing while working on its restoration,’ she paused, in her own thoughts, ‘this piece was painted during a historical time of famine and war many centuries ago. I do wonder, Merlin,’ and here he looked at her reflection, while still gazing at the art, ‘how someone could paint such a beautiful piece when,’ and Merlin thought she was about to cry, ‘when it must have seemed that the world was coming to an end.’

‘Now,’ she said, snapping out of whatever she was thinking, ‘about Arthur.’

Merlin sighed.

‘Why don’t you just ask him out? You know he’ll say yes’ Nimueh, ever serene and calm in tone, delivered this very moving piece of advice to Merlin.

‘Because,’ Merlin exasperated, at the end of his rope, ‘I don’t want to rush into things. And I don’t know he’ll say yes for certain. It would be like toying with someone’s feelings.’

‘And you couldn’t do such a terrible thing?’

Merlin looked at her, feeling the blood rush from his face.

She only smiled back, ‘Ever since you’ve been leaping into the past, you haven’t exactly shown restraint. You’ve been playing all kinds of mind games with people.’

‘What?!’ Merlin shouted, instantly regretting his discomposure, because for a brief few seconds, he was very famous among the general public.

Nimueh had walked on to another piece.

Merlin marched up to her, embarrassment flaring, ‘Is that how you see it?’ and he purposefully sought for her face, sincerely shocked.

‘More or less,’ she replied, almost sweetly.

Merlin soured in expression, then turned to fester in his thoughts while looking at this new piece.

After a moment, he heard her speak again, this time, almost amused, doting even, ‘Is that what you’re worried about?’ He looked at her, thoroughly perplexed and very vexed: she expanded her point, ‘Wanting it too much? Worrying that in the future he’ll get bored of you?’

How the fuck did she come to that!

She knew she’d hit her mark, but twisted the knife instead of retracting it, ‘Worried that he’ll leave you eventually then you’ll be left alone, unable to restore your health?’

He glared at her, suddenly very hurt, wounded deeply, eyes transformed into dams, ‘SHUT UP!’ he yelled, and yes, his fans were looking at him now, and yes, Nimueh looked stunned, and yes, he wasn’t a fan of public scenes, but he had come here for help and he’d come back injured, ‘You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about! It’s all very easy and well for you to stand there and judge like you do, listening and calculating every time you see me, don’t think I don’t notice it,’ Merlin’s throat felt very unstable, quaked with mucus or whatever made his voice wet, tears maybe, but he refused to let them fall, ‘but this isn’t a game: this is real life, and I can’t fuck this up, because I don’t have a second chance, I can’t take it back if I do anything, so I need to know that I’m willing to take this risk: risk mine and Arthur’s friendship!’ With that, realising he was indeed about to cry, walked extremely quickly away, down several flights of abandoned stairs cases, then pounded through the front doors, gasping for air.

He couldn’t risk Arthur’s friendship: because Arthur was too precious to him, so he needed to think of all the variables that could be present, he needed to consider every single option, he needed to analyse every little step before he took one, because if he lost Arthur, then no amount of romantic novels, no amount of funny films, no amount of friendly helping, no amount of comfort food, would ever bring back Merlin’s heart.

XxXxX

‘What are you going to do Merlin? You’re the only one who hasn’t chosen yet,’

Merlin didn’t hear Dr. Gaius’ voice as it boomed through their form room. It was just them, in some sort of intervention interview to make Merlin decide the Arts or Sciences course.

However, Merlin was too busy trying to look at the strange markings on his bicep, at such an awkward angle that he had to stretch some of the skin and even that didn’t work.

‘Merlin!’

The boy suddenly snapped out of it, looking with wide eyes to the old man in front of him.

‘Don’t get all cocky on me just because you got a good mark on the maths quiz,’ Gaius warned, face stern.

Merlin found this extremely amusing, ‘I won’t,’ he said, smiling slyly.

XxXxX

Merlin still hadn’t chosen, but promised to settle for something by the end of the week.

This meeting took place during lunch, and Merlin still had a few minutes left.

He spent these twisting his arm this way and that to try and look at those digits again, his curiousity growing the more it was left un-nourished.

When you come out of Merlin’s form room, to the left is the extended corridor, to the right is a T-junction, a staircase at the opposite crossing.

Merlin wondered down the block spiral, finally finding an angle that worked both for his arm and head without being too painful.

‘That’s strange,’ Merlin said aloud, because he was going mildly insane nowadays, ‘I’m sure it was ninety last time,’ but when he turned the corridor, he wasn’t given the opportunity to ponder on what it meant, because Morgana and Morgause were at the bottom of the stairs, with a rather timid looking Gwen between them.

They were staring at him.

Merlin let his arm drop slowly.

After a few moments, Morgause pounded up the stairs, driving a very confused Merlin up against the large window.

Morgana sprinted up, looking rather an ominous mix between wanting the same goal as Morgause’s soon to be relieved purpose but thinking her methods were utterly and completely wrong.

Gwen did a little scream.

‘Merlin Emrys!’ Morgause proclaimed, ‘I am a member of the volunteer club and would like to ask you if you know anything of Lancelot’s current dating life, his interests and if he wants to stay single,’

Morgana looked torn, but still shut Merlin in this bubble, while Gwen shouted behind them, ‘It’s nothing really!’ sounding like she was about to faint.

Merlin looked at Morgana, and for a split moment, his thoughts returned to that conversation they had about Arthur.

‘Merlin!’ Morgause caught his attention again, and refused to be put off balance, ‘Do you know if Lancelot is single? Is he going out with anyone?’

Gwen by this point was burying her face in her hands.

‘Is he going out with anyone?!’

XxXxX

They were outside now, at the side of the school which overlooks a field, near the school gates actually; there’s this row of trees and bushes along the path that’s next to the school’s wall, this is where Merlin found himself, brought by three slightly strange girls, all in various kinds and degrees, sitting on a bench, looking at the clouds once more.

Merlin wondered if they were called “cumulus humilis”, from what he recalled vaguely from past geography lessons.

‘It all happened around last summer. Apparently some members from the volunteer club from Ealdor High School went to the District Retirement Home, where my grandmother lives. Grand mum was especially impressed by one of the students, and she spoke to me about him many times. She would go on and on about what a kind and gentle boy he was, she said it over and over.’

Merlin looked at Gwen then, looking out distantly as if she were on top of a cliff.

‘This might sound strange, but she talked about him so often that, I guess I kind of fell in love, even though I never met him.’

She turned round, a little blush on her cheeks. Morgana and Morgause looked at Merlin almost simultaneously and Merlin thought the timing was uncanny.

‘That’s a sweet story,’ Merlin said, a little highly in pitch.

‘When I got back from the summer holidays, and asked around, from his description, I found out that his name was Lancelot du Lac.’

‘Things like that really do happen,’ Merlin said, a bit surprised by his need to submit in this cause.

The girls took over for Gwen.

‘The thing is: Gwen’s shy, she’s afraid of her own shadow.’ One said, the other followed, ‘We’ve been trying to work up her courage,’ and Merlin thought that if Morgana and Morgause turned out to be two halves of a harpy monster like thing, he wouldn’t even bat an eyelid.

Morgause looked pointedly, her pupils tiny in their focus, ‘Then finally, finally, we got her to tell him that she has a crush on him.’

Things started snapping in Merlin’s mind.

‘Oh,’ he started, ‘you mean the other day?’

‘Yeah’ Morgana hastened to interrupt, ‘but according to Lancelot,’ and here, they did a dramatic pause, followed by each giving a melodramatic gesture for their next lines, Morgause proclaiming outward, Morgana crouching down like the thinking man, they both gave voices as if quoting him, ‘I’ve already given my heart to someone!’

‘I am sorry, but I cannot go out with you!’

Wait... What?!

Merlin started to have yet another mini panic attack, as those words meanings started to sink in, but Morgana saved him an epileptic fit of emotional overload, ‘That’s not really how it went,’ she deadpanned.

Merlin breathed slowly, if they were taking the piss out of Lancelot, fine, but if they were mocking Merlin’s nerves, he hoped they burned on a pyre one day. He wanted front row tickets and toffee popcorn.

They resumed their normal positions either side of him, but still putting on the voices,

‘How could a bonehead like that beat me in a maths quiz?’

‘I’ve got to stop slacking off so much, I’m sorry, but I’m unavailable right now.’

‘So he apologised and turned me down,’ Gwen spoke softly, with much dejection, resuming her cliff gaze, the wind casting her hair into waves.

Merlin got up and turned around into the tree, thumbing it nervously, really wanting to leap out this awkward situation, but knowing that would cause more havoc, but still not really wanting to stay, he busted out a nonchalant sentence, completely obviously lacking its original purpose,

‘Who’s the bonehead he was talking about?’

Really? Had Lance turned this girl down because he was upset Merlin beat him in a fucking quiz?!

‘That’s when Lancelot told us,’ Morgause ruptured out, ‘upon us asking him what the frell he was on about, he told us you scored higher than him, but I don’t think a sensible young man like Lancelot would turn down a sweet girl like Gwen down over something so insignificant.’

Morgana probably saw the volcano like reaction in her counterpart but let it happen anyway: she marched Merlin up against the tree, pinning him with her eyes... again, ‘Time to give us an explanation!’

But Merlin cracked, breaking free by carefully and swiftly nudging her out the way, ‘Okay, okay you’ve made your point!’ He shouted, and after a few moments to consider his options, cleared his throat, ‘I’ll deal with this somehow.’

That wasn’t the response any of the girls were expecting,

‘Deal with it?’ Morgana and Morgause said in sync, clearly miffed and a bit mystified.

‘What do you mean by “somehow”?’ Gwen turned.

‘Just trust me!’ he yelled, eyes blazing.

XxXxX

Merlin now, on a very hot afternoon, was finding he was running up some stairs, and to be honest, it was tiring. When he leapt at the top, the running giving him some thrust, he rolled into a couple of rubbish bins.

Not only did it hurt, but scraps of paper, not exactly empty coke cans, old books and wrappers all went straight up in aflutter, then landed near, around and on top of Merlin. But he didn’t worry, oh no, he sprung up, because Merlin Emrys was on a mission.

The stares at him he ignored; some he didn’t even register, as he ran to where he last saw the girls talking to Lancelot; on his jog to the field, he checked it was indeed the right date by looking at the nearest clock.

XxXxX

‘Go on,’ Morgana encouraged, her sweet smile still a bit creepy.

‘Ummm,’ Gwen blushed, finally looking at the kind, expectant Lancelot.

‘Lancelot!’ They heard Merlin shout from behind him, Lance turned, his bag swinging with the motion, ‘Yeah?’ but Merlin then bounced up between them, causing alarm to both parties.

‘Where’d you come from?’ Lance announced, ‘Didn’t you just head to the courtyard with Arthur?’

Merlin was getting tired of hearing people’s inflections rising in astonishment.

‘Never mind that!’ He shouted, then pointed dramatically to Gwen with a cute smile, ‘This girl here was about to tell you about how she’s heard so much about you from her grandmother who’s so grateful towards you for taking care of her in the retirement home, I’m impressed Lancelot,’ and Merlin was about to go on, completely sure this would knock some sense into the sensible lad, but he heard a squeal behind him. He looked at Gwen, whose mouth was agape and looking a bit like Merlin was holding a shotgun to her head.

‘How do you know all about my grandmother?’ she asked, bemused and startled, Morgana and Morgause looking strangely defensive and symmetrically anxious.

Shit...

‘Ahhh, I met her at the bowling alley,’ Merlin covered, scratching his head.

‘But my grandmother’s bedridden!’ Gwen proclaimed, now looking as if Merlin had shot someone next to her to make his point, ‘Oh! Sorry, my mistake,’ he wobbled.

‘Let me know when you’re done alright?’ Lance deadpanned, now walking off while the girls ran away like gazelles, leaving poor little Merlin about ready to self-combust.

XxXxX

One more time!

Again!

This time when Merlin landed from his stair leap, it was into a cupboard filled with brooms and mops and their respective lovers. These items landed on Merlin on various parts of his body, Merlin groaning and grunting at the dull pain from the blunt objects.

This better bloody work, he was going black and blue for these two people and their emotional constipation.

XxXxX

‘Lancelot!’ Merlin yelled, ‘Uh huh?’ Lance replied, turning away to look at his friend, ‘Hold on,’ Merlin moaned as he pulled himself up with a broom, causing mass hysteria among the others.

‘Didn’t you just-’

‘Hold it!’ Merlin loudly beamed and proceeded to point the broom in Lancelot’s face, ‘You’re being such a coward! What’s the point of getting all sulky just because I got a better mark?! This has nothing to do with that!’ Merlin stopped; slamming the broom down with an unsatisfying brush of brittles but in a very satisfying way like it was a staff. Merlin felt like Gandalf for a second.

But Lance, looking as if someone had slapped his face, pushed his hands onto his hips in indignation, ‘What’s your problem showing up and bragging your head off like this!? What has nothing to do with what?’

Merlin, if he turned round and wasn’t glaring at Lancelot, might have seen the three girls looking dumbfounded, and he might have been able to take the warning, however, ‘I’m saying that the test scores and the fact that Gwen here is in love with you have nothing to do with each other.’

Gwen ducked a bit, then burst through her tomato complexion, ‘It’s not true!’ she shouted, voice shaken beyond reasonable belief, ‘It’s not true!’ she repeated as she fled. Morgana and Morgause, having been with Gwen for a while and understanding her anxiety issues, rushed after her.

‘Well you heard what the girl said,’ Lance muttered, only a faint of disappointment leaking through and he headed off, ‘Wait! Come back here Lancelot!’ but his efforts of exertion were fruitless.

Merlin paused, looking around at the mess, and was honestly both equal parts frustrated, disbelieving and exasperated that this was actually taking so long.

He bellowed his fury.

XxXxX

At least Merlin was getting some exercise.

‘I’ve got to take a simpler approach to this’, Merlin thought as he leapt off the swimming team’s diving board, and was for a brief few seconds, actually scared shitless that he was about to fall to his death, but he fell in his pyjamas, relatively dry, onto his bed.

‘What’s with all the commotion? The day’s just getting started,’ Freya stated, much to Merlin’s sudden horror, ‘I went back too far!’ he shouted, ‘and I’m late again!’ he exasperated, while legging it down the stairs, now in uniform, banging open the front door, his mother calling out, ‘The apples, Merlin! The apples!’

XxXxX

During the exam, Merlin wasn’t sleeping, he was resting his eyes.

Something extremely heavy hit his head, a text book, and Merlin found the dropper was in fact Dr. Gaius, who took the liberty to stand over Merlin for a while, until he was thoroughly aware of his inferiority, until he walked away.

Lancelot muttered under his breath, ‘Unbelievable,’ meanwhile, Arthur was chuckling quite loudly.

XxXxX

Merlin didn’t realise that running out into the courtyard would create such attentions toward himself, ‘Quit staring, just carry on!’ he slashed out, making his way toward to tree, ‘Could you move, please, I need this spot,’ and surprisingly, the guys actually did as they were told, much to Merlin’s flustered delight.

He breathed out a quick smile.

XxXxX

‘Gwen?’

‘Yeah?’

‘Someone just told me they want you down in the courtyard.’

‘Who does?’

XxXxX

‘Tell me where we’re going; what are you going to make me do?’ Lance protested as he was being dragged by his wrist by Merlin into the courtyard, ‘I’ll tell you when we get there,’ he silenced, voice leaving no room for augment.

‘Merlin?’ Mithian piped up as she approached him, ‘Later!’ the boy blunted out, marching past a bewildered Mithian.

‘You think this is what he meant by the courtyard?’ Morgana said as he looked around for some indication that they were meant to be there as the three sat under the tree, ‘Who knows?’ Morgause sighed out.

Kay was swinging Valiant by this point.

Merlin saw this, and it was time for the finishing touch to his plan, ‘Staaaand,’ he started, as he manoeuvred Lancelot in front of him with a pull, ‘there,’ ending it with a push.

These actions resulted in Lancelot stumbling into the line of action as Valiant was thrown into him flinging them both into the tree. Morgana and Morgause were able to escape any damage, leaping out the way on their respective sides of Gwen, who, fortunately, didn’t see what was going on, so was crushed.

Merlin backed away from the crowd with a satisfied smile.

‘What the hell’s your problem, get off!’ Lance said, shoving Valiant off him.

‘You’re hurting me,’ Lancelot heard a muffled voice claim, and when he looked down, he saw he was devastating Gwen’s ribcage, he gasped, ‘I’m sorry,’ moving up and out the way, and if Gwen were an anime character, she’d have Xs for eyes right now.

Lance helped her up, tending to her as if she could break at any moment, and when she staggered into his arms, his eyes and mind were fixed upon only her, ‘I think you sprained it,’ he said, nodding to her ankle, supporting her weight, ‘Oh no, it’s fine,’ she sprinted out, but her body disagreed with her mouth profusely, ‘Here, put your arm around me,’ then Lancelot crouched so she could do just that, but Gwen blushed, gasping and gulping, sudden sweat breaking out on her temple, ‘What are you doing?’ But it was quite obvious: he placed her arm around his neck with his left arm, then holding the hand, guided her in the direction of the nurse’s office, cradling her waist with his right arm, ‘Oh... thank you,’ she whispered out, very much like a damsel in distress should to her hero.

Merlin observed all of this, and he was pleased, to say the least.

Morgana looked at the staggering couple, ‘What do you think of this new development?’ she smiled and hinted to her other self, ‘This could be the start of something, the start of something beautiful,’ Morgause mused, both thoroughly self-contented then whispered about their next plans as if London Bridge’s fate was on their shoulders.

Merlin sighed, and allowed himself a little dance of victory, throwing his arms into the air, ‘Alright!’ he proclaimed to nobody in particular, ‘Everything’s good again thanks to yours truly! I can’t remember the last time I was this happy,’ and he ended this little mental display with a giggle.

But something caught his eye, and it was the fact that the Jokerman mark on his bicep now said

10

That line was misleading though, and Merlin decided to go with logic this time, and turned his arm a way so that it was more obvious...

‘1’ he breathed out, all happiness fading out.

Well, Merlin thought sadly, but ignoring the emotion, now that he had one last leap left, then this experience was almost over. Then, on a sudden acknowledgment, he remembered he saw a person this day, when he got the power, and now, deciding he wanted to catch that person, to see if the number really did represent his leaps, and if so, to see if he could get more, because, he thought, no ordinary child could walk through walls, so maybe they knew something about it, and maybe, they could help Merlin somehow.

Why would they have been there in the first place?

He sprinted off in the direction of the science prep room.

Chatper 3 - The Final Step