Title: Mistakes
Author: Dark-Dreymer
Pairing: Tommy/Merton, suggested Tommy/Lori
Rating: PG-13
Chapter: 1/2
Summary: If some 16th century witch can use magic to aid her dating why shouldn't Tommy do the same? Set after 'Save the Last Trance.'
Comments: Angsty, not been proofread. Feedback is very much loved!
It was while searching through one of Merton's numerous spell books in hope of finding a way to remove the truth charm Hyacinth had cast upon the goth that Tommy found the spell. Up until that day he'd never really thought about magic, despite coming up against it on numerous occasions it had stayed labeled within the confines of his mind as a complex thing he'd never be able to achieve; and thus he'd always left that side of things to Merton. But after defeating Hyacinth earlier Tommy had been struck by the revelation that he was just as capable of speaking a few keywords as Merton or any of the spell casters they'd met in the past year. So when he found the spell that promised true and everlasting love he'd felt compelled to use it; after all if some sixteenth century witch could use magic to aid her dating why shouldn't he do the same?
Keeping one eye on Merton as the boy read through a number of tomes, Tommy scribbled the basic points of the spell onto a scrap of paper, hardly reading the words as the pen flowed rapidly. Once finished Tommy folded the paper and tucked it away into the pocket of his jeans.
Over the next couple of days Tommy set about subtly gathering the ingredients listed for the spell. The rose petals had been easy enough to acquire, the young girl at the florist had teasingly asked the name of the lucky girl and he'd managed to ramble off some line about a date with a girl. The herbs proved more difficult, in the end he offered to do the grocery shopping for his parents and he spent a long time in one aisle staring at a variety of peculiar spices as he attempted to decode which ones he would need. In place of a mortar and pestle he'd substituted a bowl and spoon hoping it wouldn't make too much of an impact to the effectiveness of the spell.
With everything ready Tommy locked the door to his room, settled on the floor with the required items beside him and started to read the instructions of the spell. He'd so far focused only on the ingredients section and so was slightly annoyed to find that the first entry on the instruction list read: Magic is a powerful tool, but it's energy cannot make a person fall in love if the feelings are not already present. Also if the strength of your emotion is not powerful enough the spell will not take effect, it is therefore best to use a scrying spell before casting this charm. Instructions for a simple scrying spell followed, irritably Tommy scanned the information about scrying and set off to find what he'd need.
His mother's make-up mirror would be easy to use, and she kept a number of scented candles in a cupboard downstairs. Sneaking down the stairs Tommy tried his best not to disturb Dean as he grabbed a candle and returned to his bedroom; it was peach scented but hopefully that wouldn't detract from the romantic power of the magic.
"Oh mirror, mirror let me see. The one whose heart is mine to keep." Tommy had lit the candle and placed the mirror on the floor so he could read the invocation and face it simultaneously, "Oh mirror, mirror let me see. My one true love, my destiny…" For a moment Tommy thought nothing had happened, but then the flickering light from the candle reflected in the mirror began to morph and take on a shape. Leaning in close Tommy began to recognize the shape in the mirror as one of a human, but as the details began to appear Tommy was shocked to find himself staring not at a bubbly blonde with a fiery personality, but at the pale skin, jet black hair and sparkling blue eyes of his best friend; Merton's mouth was curled up into a good humored grin, the sound of his laughter echoing around Tommy like music. The more Tommy stared the more the image seemed to be moving and the less solid the room around him appeared.
With a sudden lurch the mirror Merton seemed to move into his whole view and he was stood in the school corridor, watching Merton laugh at a joke a version of himself had just told. Everything began to move rapidly and Tommy became aware of the fact that no one was aware of his presence; he saw a number of scenarios with both him and Merton and on some occasions Lori too. Tommy wasn't aware he touched Merton quite that much, but as the world continued to flood past he saw hugs, light touches, even an occasional affectionate kiss on the cheek…
When the world shifted again Tommy found the environment was a general blur, but Merton was trapped between TnT; his heart ached the way it always did when Merton was in trouble, but this time the emotion seemed amplified a hundred fold and there was no doubting what it meant. Tommy watched repetitions of the times he'd saved Merton since he'd met him, from a wide range of bad-guys and the responses Merton had each time. When the vision finally faded and Tommy found himself back in his room, sat cross-legged on the floor with the peach scented candle burnt halfway he quickly extinguished the candle, shoved everything away in his desk drawer and sank onto his bed, brain still teeming with the images of his vision.
The next day at school proved a nightmare, within five minutes Tommy could tell that Merton knew something was up but the jock had no idea how he would explain to his friend when his thoughts were still in such a jumble that he was having a hard time deciphering them himself. He managed to dodge the questions all day and make it home without bumping into Merton. Once he was sat in his room, the presence of the spell emanating from the drawer with a malevolent strength Tommy found himself caught up in a moral argument with himself.
Surely it would be wrong to use magic to gain Merton's affection, but the spell did claim to only work when the feelings were reciprocated; so technically he had nothing to worry about if Merton didn't like him… except living with the fact that Merton didn't like him. With each passing moment his resolve got weaker and within half an hour Tommy found himself leaping for the drawer.
Following his scrawled notes Tommy mixed together the paste in the bowl and smeared the sweet smelling mess across both cheeks and the spot over his heart, it was cool and felt strange on his skin but he ignored that as he shut his eyes and pictured a red apple as the spell stated. "Power of the ancient divine, make me shine in Merton's eyes…" The words of the spell flowed easily off Tommy's tongue, he'd worried that he'd mess them up but they'd proven easy to memorize, "Power of the ancient divine, the one I seek; make him mine." As he finished the final words Tommy opened his eyes and was somewhat disappointed by the anticlimax. He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting but after his trip into the scrying mirror he'd been hoping for some sign that the spell had worked.
Cleaning away the stuff he'd used in the spell and taking a shower to remove the drying paste Tommy pushed the ache in his heart as deep as it would go; because some traitorous part of his brain was taunting him with the knowledge that the lack of a response probably meant Merton didn't have any feelings for him and so the spell hadn't worked.
Standing under the pounding water of the shower Tommy lost track of time, only dragged out of his mood when he heard the phone ringing. A burst of hope flourishing in his chest Tommy leapt out, wrapping himself in a towel and charged down the hallway to the phone.
"Hey." He hoped he didn't sound too desperate.
"Hi Tommy." Merton sounded as normal as ever, "I wanted to talk, would it be alright if I came over?"
"No that's fine." Tommy was quick to answer, after a few pleasantries were exchanged both boys hung up. Tommy felt a flutter of nerves in his chest and wondered whether it would be better to dance or to vomit.
Merton arrived ten minutes later, he only had time to knock twice before Tommy opened the door a warm smile lighting his features, "Hey Merton."
"Hi." For his part Merton seemed pretty relaxed, "Listen, I just wanted to talk."
"You might as well come in." Tommy stood aside and somewhat reluctantly Merton entered, "We can talk in my room." Tommy stated, turning to the stairs and bounding up them three at a time, his friend following at a more sedate pace.
"Tommy I need to tell you something." Merton said, tone filled with seriousness, the moment the door to the bedroom closed behind them.
"I need to tell you something too." Tommy said bouncing slightly on the edge of the bed from a mixture of nerves and blind joy.
"Well… maybe you should go first." Merton said, eyes fixed to the floor as he sank onto the mattress beside his friend.
"Okay." Tommy took a breath and turned to look at Merton, "I like you Merton." Just like with the casting of the spell Tommy was surprised by the anticlimactic response. Where as he'd been expecting shock, perhaps excitement and if he really wanted to think it some spontaneous kissing, all he got in response was a quiet, "Oh."
"It's a good thing though, right?" Tommy asked, some of that anxiety from before returning.
"It's a good thing." Merton whispered quietly, "But it means my news is worse than I thought." Looking up at Tommy the goth blinked away tears and said, "I've been offered a place at Heidelberg… and I said yes." Merton looked back down at his lap, a single silvery tear rolling down his cheek and dropping from his chin; and with that simple sentence Tommy's world fell apart.