Disclaimer: I do not own "Merlin" or "Paperman." All rights belong to the BBC and Disney, respectively.
Merlin fought to keep his eyes open then yawned. He indifferently dreaded the idea of going back to work that hazy Monday morning. His arms were already sore from carrying his large stack of paperwork. It was Merlin's turn to give the monthly status report on a group project he was doing at the office today. Normally, his co-worker Arthur took care of the presentations, but Merlin grew tired of being reprimanded by his boss as being unprepared whenever Arthur forgot to uphold his end of the responsibilities for the project, including providing copies of the material for the remainder of the department. Other times, Arthur wouldn't add Merlin's notes to the PowerPoint in time, so Merlin decided this month that he would just take care of it himself. As he predicted at the last meeting when he announced this, Merlin quickly came to regret the decision.
Merlin hadn't taken off this weekend, and worked several hours overtime to make sure everything was prepared for his presentation that morning, and his body hadn't quite yet re-cooperated from the late nights. He almost fell asleep where he stood, there at the train platform, enjoying the soft summer breeze when, suddenly, a piece of paper smacked right into the side of his. Still too tired to think or react properly, Merlin just stood there dumbfounded. The wind carried the paper away, and the blur of a young woman ran past him in pursuit of the stray paper. Merlin thought she looked beautiful in her pencil skirt and with her wavy mouse brown hair flowing just below her shoulders. It was all Merlin could do but stare.
He looked away in embarrassment, when the young woman caught his eye; although, he was sure that he saw her smile nervously back at him, as she tucked her thick hair behind her ear.
Another gust of wind swept through, carrying one of Merlin's assignments instead this time.
"Sorry!" said Merlin, when the paper hit the woman in the face head on. He pulled the paper away and smiled at her apologetically and slightly mortified.
"Oh, no!" replied the woman blushing. "Really, you don't have to worry about—." The woman cut herself off with a chuckle, nodding toward the paper in his hand.
"What?..." Merlin began, in a small, confused voice. He had to return the laugh when he saw that the woman's lipstick had left its mark on his presentation. "Usually, I take a lady out to dinner before stealing a kiss, but in this case…"
Merlin stopped, confused, and looked around; he hadn't seen her go. It was too late, when he saw her seated on the departing train. Merlin was sure he wasn't imagining the disappointment on her face, as she looked back at him when the trained pulled out of the station.
Merlin's heart sank. He hadn't even gotten her name.
