A/N: Prompt 1, beginnings! Modern-day Merthur. Although, this is more like a new beginning but you know. It's rather short but it is only a one shot
A new dawn, a new day
Merlin walked, almost despondently, into the little coffee shop that stood not half a mile from Lake Avalon. Dark blue hoodie wrapped tightly around him and black jeans hugging his legs, he ran a cold hand through his tufty black hair as he entered the glowing warmth of the café. His usual pretty blonde waitress who worked the before dawn shift, Ella, smiled flirtatiously at him as he laid his hands down on the counter.
"The usual, Merlin, darling?"
"You know me, Ella. A stickler for routine," he replied, a half-smile on his face.
"I'll bring it over."
"Thanks." Merlin sat down at the seat nearest the large bay window and gazed out at the pouring rain. He was always the only one in the café at this time of the morning and so Ella brought over his coffee within a minute. She had always flirted with him ever since he staggered in at 5 am 3 years ago, sopping wet and exhausted. Thousands of years waiting for one man do just occasionally get to you. He sipped the scalding coffee and watched the rain fall. Merlin worked nights at the nearby 24-hour garage but he always came here when his shift ended. Ever since Arthur died, Merlin found it difficult to focus on things and the only way to combat this was a tight routine. In Camelot, he had never been a particularly organised person but he found change and blank spots were easy access to memories he did not want to reawaken, like the death he had witness over the centuries. But even when it was raining, he could see the lake from here and that made calm, safe and like he still had a reason to exist.
After he had finished his coffee, Merlin left the café with small smile to Ella. Despairingly, he looked up at the black, thunderous clouds.
"Where are you, Arthur?" he asked. "I have waited for you for so long. Where are you?" Merlin walked slowly, his black hair plastered to his scalp. Keeping his head down as he passed a group of teenagers who held a grudge against him, he bumped into someone.
"Sorry," he said, glancing up and his eyes met a familiar pair of cobalt ones. He wore brightly polished chainmail and a sodden red cape; his blonde hair dripped with rain water.
"Arthur," Merlin gasped. Arthur's eyes focused on Merlin's dark blue ones.
"Merlin! What happened?" Merlin didn't answer; he simply wrapped his arms around Arthur and after a moment's hesitation, he hugged him back.
"I've missed you. And I'll explain everything later." Like a miracle, the sky cleared and the sun began to rise in the East.
"Look, Arthur," Merlin said, pulling back. "It's a new dawn." Arthur grinned and slipped his hand into Merlin's.
"It's a new day."