modern AU
Merlin was laying on the top of a castle-like tower looking up at the stars. Arthur had been looking for him. Gwaine had been telling Arthur how Merlin was acting a bit funny lately. Arthur bound up the stairs as quietly as he could. He knew Merlin would be here; it was Merlin's favorite place to think.
Merlin's legs were raised and laying against the brick wall so that if you tilted your head 90 degrees to the right it would look like he was sitting on a brick bench. He sat quietly, just thinking, looking up at the night sky cluttered with stars and distant nebulas. Arthur walked over to him.
"You shouldn't be up here so much. You'll catch a cold." Arthur said as he nudged Merlin with his foot. Merlin didn't look surprised to see Arthur. Arthur thought Merlin must have heard him running up the stairs, or walking over.
"You're ruining my thinking spot." Merlin said clearly annoyed by Arthur's presence.
"I don't ruin anything! I make everything better."
Merlin rolled his eyes.
"I think better when I'm alone. So just leave me for a bit. I'm fine I won't catch a cold or anything." Merlin said desperately.
Merlin could tell Arthur clearly had no intention of leaving until he found out what was wrong with him. Instead of leaving, Arthur lay down next to Merlin and lay his legs against the wall next to Merlin's.
They lay in silence.
"It's beautiful here." Arthur said trying to break the silence.
Merlin didn't say anything
"I can see why you come here all the time."
"You don't."
Arthur was surprised at how much those words hurt even though they were said in a neutral tone.
Merlin could see he hurt Arthur.
"I don't come here just because it's so beautiful, which it is." Merlin paused for a second to get the words right in his head. "I come here because I can feel the Earth rotating here. It makes the world feel bigger…like I'm not so alone."
"What do you mean you can feel the Earth rotating?" Arthur turned his head to look at Merlin.
~TO BE CONTINUED~