Author's note: This is, once again, for Savanah, who planted this idea into my head. I have no idea of the canon times, buy eight hundred years seemed about right. Reviews would be absolutely ten thousand percent amazing, good or bad, and I would like you to hold all questions until the plot develops more. Please though, do tell me if there are any grammar or spelling mistakes and I'll jump into DocX and fix them.
It'd been exactly 292,200 days and fourteen hours since Arthur Pendragon died. 292,200 days of Merlin's heart growing colder each and every second. 7,012,814 hours of grueling unaging immortality. 7,012,814 hours without love. "Eight hundred years..." muttered Merlin, glancing around his new apartment in sadness. "Who's counting though?" he asked himself, smirking slightly, laying back on his mattress, which was placed on the floor, because he had just recently moved in.
Merlin Ambrosius hadn't aged a day in eight hundred years. Arthur was dead. His other half was dead. He literally could not age -or die- without Arthur. He literally couldn't live a fulfilling life with Arthur, which was heartbreaking in it's own special way. Merlin stood, and pulled a red shirt over his head, running a hand through his hair. He'd lost count of how many times he's moved. An unaging boy wouldn't make much sense to people, so after he'd moved from the last remaining sliver of Camelot, he never really settled down. He couldn't settle down.
He was going to stay in today, to light a candle for Arthur- the 1600th candle he'd lit in the King's honor. One on the Anniversary, and one on his birthday.- and stare out the window at the New York skyline he'd be staring at for the next four years, six if he pushed it. He walked into his restroom, looking in the mirror. Still the same Merlin, just... Sunken in a way. He was visibly tired, and the look in his eyes was much much different from the bright wide-eyed Merlin from years past. He sighed as he heard his phone vibrate in the next room.
It was a text with one of his friends from his last home- London. He'd meant to shut his cell phone off- to 'accidentally' cut ties with everyone. In fact, he was positive he'd cut the contact with Sprint. He shrugged, figuring it would take a couple of days to kick in and read the text. "Hey! Hows grad life? I'm in NYC for Semester Break You should come see me, at the Marriott in Time's Square Warning u tho., Parents adopted a 'troubled teen' from C.A.S" Merlin smiled. A last week with Jack. That would be fun. Of course he wasn't gonna go. it was the Anniversary. 799 years of solitude, why change a tradition?
Although, something told him he should go. A little voice inside his head that said 'Go!' and he didn't know why. After ten minutes, he couldn't handle it anymore. He picked up his coat and left the apartment. Guilt set in immediately. What an utter disrespect to Arthur, but he chuckled. Arthur would probably say something sassy and be done with it, and then give him some long chore list. He shook his head and smiled, stepping out into the New York snow. He still wasn't used to all the american accents flooding around him, but he would be soon. As he walked the four blocks to the hotel, he found a strange sense of joy in all the blinking lights, the beautiful technology. The industrial revolution seemed as if it was yesterday. He sighed, and crossed the street at the light, going into the Marquis.
Jack was waiting for him by the elevator. "I knew you'd come!" Merlin's face lit up.
"Jack! Hey!" He hugged him, and the two stepped into the elevator, going up to the top floor, making idle chat until they reached his room. "
The parentals are out with my quote unquote brother" he rolled his eyes. "He's mental! He's constantly acting like he needs to remember something, and he keeps a copy of that T.H. White book Mrs.G forced us to read on his person at all times Not to mention he gets these headaches that make him near-delusional.." Jack scrubbed a hand down his face in frustration.
Merlin fondly remembered reading The Once and Future King in English the last time he'd forced himself through High School. Although wholly inaccurate and kind-of traumatic for him to read, he enjoyed it. "I'm sure he's fine. Give him a chance, Jack." said Merlin, leaning into the wall, examining his environments.
Merlin then heard the door open, and he was immediately pulled into an embrace by Jack's mum, Paige.
"Aww! Merlin! How nice it is to see you! How are you?" she asked, smiling brightly.
"Just fine, . And you?"
"John is out right now." she said, referring to her husband. "Arthur is getting things from the car. He'll be up soon, I'm sure he'd love to meet you." Merlin almost choked when he heard the name, but he knew many Arthurs over the years. It was just a coincidence. He nodded at her, and then Jack dragged him over to play one of those war games he never liked. He got into it, screaming at the T.V when he died, and politely declining mounds of food when offered.
He heard the door open and paused Call of Duty. He turned around, and iy felt like time stopped all at once. Arthur Pendragon was standing in Jack Canton's living room.