moar hijinx for Tommy

[mysticism]

Becoming a healer was inevitable, really. Magic was a much stronger suit for Merlin than any of his academic subjects, and his only real reason to focus on them. Healers' licensing isn't as stringent as the training medics have to undertake, but it's still a degree's worth of work, followed by an apprenticeship under an experienced practitioner. 

That's where he is now, in Gaius' infirmary in Birmingham; he's technically not meant to practice alone until next year, but Gaius has a tendency to wander off for home visits and Merlin has a tendency to let him. It's a clear day for appointments, and the door is open for walk-ins for minor ailments.

He reads a textbook between visitors, tries to keep busy. 

Comments

[bleak_midwinter]

Tommy has spent all of the time between his arrival and his appointment smoking in front of the porch. He's not a great advertisement for the practice, considering the work they do also involves kicking addictions.

Tommy isn't there for that. He looks at his watch, stubs out his cigarette and walks inside. He's wearing a very sharp suit, his hair is freshly cut and slicked back, but he's got deep circles underneath his eyes and that slightly crazed look of the sleep-deprived.

He walks up to Merlin and nods at him. "I had an appointment at three. Shelby."

[mysticism]

Merlin glances at their book - they really should get an online booking system, but Gaius would probably have people checking in on clay tablets if he could get away with it - then nods.

"Of course. One moment -"

He gestures at the front door; it closes, latches, and the sign flips from OPEN to WITH A PATIENT - BACK SOON. Then there's a few standard questions to confirm his full name, date of birth, address.

"Oh, completely forgot - my name's Merlin. Just step through to the consulting room, Mister Shelby?"

He's nice. Handsome.

[bleak_midwinter]

Tommy would have noticed that Merlin's not bad himself, only his brain is close to being in survival mode. No time to notice things like handsome young wizards with nice voices - he just wants to sleep.

He nods and steps through, taking off his coat in the process. "Merlin. Bit on the nose, isn't it?"

[mysticism]

"I've got some comment cards if you want to fill one out to send to my mum," he says, with a half smile. He closes the door of the consulting room and sits down at the other side of the desk.

"What can I do for you, Mister Shelby?"

[bleak_midwinter]

That actually does get Tommy to relax a little - he probably hears this shit all the time, it's a clever response.

He sits down and puts his coat over his knees. "I can't sleep," he says. He gives the impression of generally being a man who doesn't do small talk very well, and he's here for a reason. "I can't remember the last time I felt rested. Regular GP's been useless, and I've had my fill of herbal teas."

[mysticism]

Merlin nods solemnly. They get a fair few patients like this - insomnia, chronic pain, the kinds of maladies whose pharmacological treatments tend to be habit forming.

"Okay. I, uh, I know you just said you can't remember, but if you had to think of it in terms of...are we talking weeks, months...?"

Years?

[bleak_midwinter]

"Months since it's gotten bad enough I went to see anyone about it."

He isn't going to sound pitiful, but years of bad sleep.

[mysticism]

Merlin makes a mental note which amounts to: tries very hard to be manly and brave and is probably understating symptoms.

"And is it physical discomfort, or racing thoughts, or....? If you had to identify one or two things which stopped you sleeping."

[bleak_midwinter]

"It isn't physical. Any physical discomfort I experience is a result of the sleeplessness."

He smooths his hand over the gloves he's got lying on his lap, not looking away from Merlin. He's straight-backed - disciplined.

"I have nightmares. The night feels hostile."

[bleak_midwinter]

They spend two more days exclusively in each other's company. Tommy texts his family he's alright, just incommunicado for a few days; Merlin calls Gaius, quickly explains, then hangs up before things can get awkward.

Eventually, though, they do have to go out again. The moment they have to say goodbye feels physically painful, and they're both half an hour late to their appointments as a consequence.

It's a terrible day, productivity-wise. They've agreed to go to Merlin's that evening, for a change of surroundings, and Tommy's so distracted thinking about him that he just takes public transport there. He doesn't trust himself in the car right now, and walking is far too slow.

[mysticism]

Merlin only had a half-day at the clinic, which is just as well, because he needed the other half to clean up his flat. It's not unclean - a bit dusty, maybe - but he has a tendency to let clutter accumulate on the premise that he knows where things are when he needs them. Having a bit of time lets him tidy up, run a vacuum cleaner around, clean the bathroom, change the bedsheets. He even runs a bit of beeswax polish over the woodwork and lights a scented candle so it smells nice by the time he's buzzing Tommy in at the front door.

He's on the third floor, but luckily the lift is working this week.

[bleak_midwinter]

It feels like the thread, stretched taut all day, is relaxing the closer he gets. He feels that tell-tale sign of fresh love in his stomach, excitement, almost nausea at the prospect of seeing him again.

It's strange to feel quite so giddy. When he knocks on the door he feels ready to just burst.

[mysticism]

When Merlin opens the door and sees him, it's like the bond forming all over again, bright and new - and he knows this is insane, it's been so brief a time apart and yet he feels like he's starved.

"Hi, Tommy."

He leans across the threshold for a kiss before he can even think to step back and usher him inside.

[bleak_midwinter]

He grins against his mouth, giddy like a man much younger than he is. He kisses him and steps inside without breaking the contact between them.

"Hello, you. You look good."

[mysticism]

"You too. Missed you."

He knows he's being ridiculous, but he can't help it.

"Come in, make yourself at home - d'you want a drink?"

[bleak_midwinter]

"I'll have some water. Took the bus here, I couldn't concentrate on the road."

He keeps a point of contact at all times. He can't bear not to be touching him now that he can.

[mysticism]

"I've been having to do housework to keep busy," he laughs, guiding Tommy through by the hand: the kitchen and living space are two halves of one big room, with the bedroom and bathroom leading off to one side. "That's why it's so nice right now. I'm not usually this tidy."

[mysticism]

The final apprenticeship exam - a combination of essay questions, ingredient formulae, multiple-choice testing and practical demonstrations - is punishing. Merlin as good as falls off the radar for a week prior, while he's getting in his last bits of revision, and then the three days of the exam itself. Most of his texts to Tommy are just checking that he's okay, interspersed with some fairly dire emojis when he's asked about himself.

When he leaves the testing centre, he's not really expecting to feel relieved. Not yet. There's two weeks for scoring and assessing, and if anything the wait promises to be even worse. He won't know if he's a qualified healer for another fortnight, and now it's completely out of his hands. The uncertainty started chewing at him the moment he handed in his final paper.

He gulps down the cold air outside and reaches for his phone.

Hi Tommy!! Exams are FINISHED

[bleak_midwinter]

Hello Merlin. Finally, eh? Come to the office, we'll celebrate.

Tommy isn't exactly an impassioned texter, but he feels so relieved to hear from him. They've been together a few months so the separation didn't feel quite as dire as it once did, but it wasn't enjoyable. Besides, he's been worried- not about his results, since he's sure he'll make it, but about his mental and physical state.

[mysticism]

Merlin responds to say that he'll catch the bus - a sign of ongoing anxiety, since he can teleport just about anywhere within the city unless he's feeling truly scattered. He arrives maybe half an hour later, with a bright broad smile and dark shadows under his eyes like he's forgotten what a good night's sleep is.

[bleak_midwinter]

Tommy's worked the last half hour to finish up today's work. Not entirely successful- people have stopped cutting him slack on account of the new bond, and most of all he's stopped cutting himself that slack. So he's slipped his laptop into his bag, for the moments when Merlin will be fast asleep.

Lizzie's sitting outside of Tommy's office and makes a face at Merlin when he walks in. "You look awful. I'll make you some tea, Merlin."

She's halfway out of her seat when Tommy comes out of his office and tells her: "It's alright, Lizzie. I'll be taking him home."

[mysticism]

Merlin smiles gratefully at her, all the same; he likes Lizzie.

"I'm alright," he tells her. "Just had a full-on week, but it's all done now."

[bleak_midwinter]

He kisses him - fairly chastely, because he's sure Lizzie used to have a thing for him - and puts a hand on Merlin's waist.

"I'm proud of you for getting through it. Just the waiting, now?"

[mysticism]

"Just the waiting," Merlin says, although he clearly doesn't see it as just. "Are you sure you're alright to head out?"

[bleak_midwinter]

"More than alright. You're vibrating out of your skin."

He slips his hand to Merlin's lower back, taking subtle control of him. "See you after the week-end, Lizzie," he calls. She gives him a sympathetic smile with just a hint of sadness, and he steers Merlin out of the building.

"Come on. I'll drive us home."