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

[mysticism]

Nor can Merlin. It's been a while, and it's exciting - Tommy is a little older, a little more worldly than he's used to. That's all this feeling in his stomach is.

"What about your mum? Is she still local?"

[bleak_midwinter]

He shakes his head. "She passed when I was a teenager. Arthur lives with our aunt, which is why the house was actually clean."

A joke, because dead parents tend to unsettle people.

[mysticism]

Merlin chuckles, letting Tommy shift away from the subject, and bumps his shoulder into his again - another brief shock, like the jump of static.

"Other brothers and sisters?"

[bleak_midwinter]

"Two more brothers, a sister, a cousin, five nephews and nieces. We don't do quiet Christmases in the Shelby household. You're an only child?"

[mysticism]

"Yeah," he says, with a bemused laugh. "And so's Mum, so, very quiet Christmases. I've got a great-aunt I've met a couple of times and that's about it."

[bleak_midwinter]

"Can't imagine that. She must miss you dearly, all the way over here."

[mysticism]

"She does, but - she knows Gaius, they've been in touch for years. It was sort of her idea that I move here and work for him."

So it wasn't as if she could try to guilt trip him for taking her up on it.

[bleak_midwinter]

"Ideas and feelings are quite another thing, aren't they?"

He's surprised to find they're actually going the right way. He's impressed.

[mysticism]

"They are. But - it's been fine. The village is sort of a family, too? And it's not like I've got to tie a note to a pigeon if I want to get in touch," he teases.

[bleak_midwinter]

"But that's the way your people prefer to communicate, I assume."

[mysticism]

Merlin laughs.

"Do you mean sorcerers or Devonians?"

[bleak_midwinter]

"Oh, I meant it as a dig at Devonians, but I'm happy to extend it to sorcerers."

He gives him a grin.

[mysticism]

"Cheek. Anyway, sorcerers prefer to write our letters on parchment borne by ravens fed on human flesh," he says briskly, "I thought everyone knew that."

His eyes glow bright for a moment as he feels out the way ahead, a sort of rapid astral projection letting him test out the junction before he settles on turning left.

[bleak_midwinter]

"The human flesh is disconcerting, but that's none of my business - what was that?"

Not the astral projection - he can't see that. But he could see that glow, and it's fascinating. He hadn't noticed in the warehouse, but he notices it now, in the dark.

[mysticism]

"Magic. You see it with some sorcerers - I'm using it to cheat a bit," he admits, shamelessly. "I can see ahead a couple of streets, make sure I'm on the right track."

[bleak_midwinter]

He barks out a laugh and turns to look at him. "Shameless cheating! I thought I was witnessing the power of memory!"

[mysticism]

Merlin laughs too, loud and bright.

"It's not like Google Maps! This is memory, mostly, I can just do a bit better than second guessing if I'm not sure about a turn."

[bleak_midwinter]

"Well, it's cheating where I'm from," he concludes, firmly. "So tell me how far, still, you big magical cheater?"

[mysticism]

Merlin just shakes his head.

"About three more streets. Am I going to have to get back in your good graces somehow?"

[bleak_midwinter]

"I'll hear a proposal," he says, happily surprised by the playfulness of their conversation.

[mysticism]

"A proposal? Getting married sounds like a bit too much for a first date," he teases. "But maybe when we get to yours, I could work something out?"

[bleak_midwinter]

He laughs, again - he can't remember the last time he laughed this much. "Maybe I'd like to hear that, then. I can wait."

He feels almost giddy with anticipation, knowing he'll kiss him the moment the door closes. He's rattling his keys in his pocket as they go.

[mysticism]

"There's a lot I've missed," Merlin says, biting his lip as he glances over at him. "How late can I keep you up?"

[bleak_midwinter]

"I'm a gentleman," he says, licking his own bottom lip as he looks at Merlin's face. "I made sure to clear my calendar."

[mysticism]

"Perfect. This is you, isn't it?"

Nodding towards a door about twenty paces away that is, indeed, the front door to Tommy's home.