A Thousand Ways to Say Hello
A/N [show-me-your-tardis]
Plot – Merlin meets an obnoxious stranger on the train, whom he just can't seem to shake off. This is the tale of a thousand hellos and regrettably a thousand goodbyes.
I felt like it was about time I did the token reunion fic, to be added into the official Merlin fan fic group. So here we are! Basically, when they first meet Arthur and Merlin have no idea of their past lives, sooooooooooo modern!Merlin and modern!Arthur galore! AND brief mention of other characters
Obviously it's a future AU, so if you're looking for some sword fighting and dragon talking, you're in the wrong place.
As always review and ENJOY
Chapter One
"Is this seat taken?" The voice cut through the imagery in Merlin's mind.
Without looking up from the book claiming all his attention, he shook his head. He felt the person sit next to him, the seat cushion compressing in response, but still he did not look up. The book was too thrilling, the tale of dragons and thrones and epic battles. All seemed so magical and faraway, what could real life possibly have to offer him compared to this?
The person next to him, Merlin assumed he was male judging from the clothes he could see in his peripheral vision, pulled out a newspaper and began to rustle through it. Merlin took a deep, calming breath and resisted the urge to get up and move. He knew the other carriage would be emptier and quieter. But he didn't want to offend the man, maybe there was a reason he had chosen this seat. Either way Merlin continued reading the words in front of him.
But the rustling, and the occasional sigh from the man next to him, stopped him from drifting off into the land of myth and time of magic. Instead, he was just a twenty-four year old sat on a train, heading to a boring secretarial job.
Merlin carefully placed his bookmark in the book and clapped it shut. He turned to stare out the window at the blur of buildings.
"Good book?" The same voice pulled him out of his daydream.
"Sorry?" Merlin asked, turning to face the man for the first time.
He had blond hair, slightly damp from the September rain. He was wearing a smart, crisp suit with a red tie.
It was the strangers turn to be occupied, he continued to read the newspaper as he replied, "The book you're reading, is it good?"
Merlin paused, he wasn't used to strangers talking to him on the bus, it wasn't exactly normal, eventually he replied, "Yes."
The man nodded once and turned the page of the newspaper, apparently finished with conversation. Merlin raised one eyebrow at how odd that was, and turned back to the rain dropped window.
The sudden green-ness of trees outside told him he was near his stop. There was just one more stop to go until the end of the park, and the large grey building would leer down at Merlin as he stepped off the train platform.
Merlin sighed, he hated his job. It was dull and repetitive and he was pretty sure Uther, his boss, would fire him at the slightest provocation.
The train slowed and the automated woman's voice announced they were at Picadilly station. Merlin shrank back in his seat, as though this might prevent the train from setting off again. The rustling increased as the man next to him folded up his paper and stood up.
Before leaving he turned to Merlin, and Merlin was suddenly lost in a swirling pool of the brightest blue. Yeah, Merlin's eyes were blue, but they were not this blue.
"What's it called?" He tucked his newspaper under his arm, and at Merlin's confused expression he added, "The book."
The man quickly glanced to the ever shrinking line of people leaving the bus, Picadilly Park was always a popular stop, knowing he had little time before the train would leave again.
"The Lake of Avalon."
For a second, the man got the strangest look on his face, but it was lost before Merlin could decipher it. He smiled and left.
Leaving Merlin subconsciously mirroring that smile for the rest of his shift.
Merlin yawned and stuffed the documents into his backpack. He tugged uncomfortable at the stiff shirt collar around his neck, as he stepped onto the train. He was exhausted, his hair felt dirty even though he had washed it before work, and his stomach rumbled angrily at the absence of lunch.
After a quick inspection of his ticket, Merlin was settled into his usual seat, his head resting against the cold window. The train started and the soft swaying of the carriage rocked Merlin to sleep.
He dreamt of a forest.
He was running, his heart beating harder and louder than ever before. The trees whizzed past and branches snagged at his skin and clothes.
But he wasn't alone. He could feel a warm hand wrapped tightly around his. The person was slightly out of view and Merlin couldn't quite focus on them. All he could see was the hand and the arm, leading him through the forest. Running with him.
Occasionally, an arrow would zoom through the air and stab into a nearby tree. Merlin's heart would jump and sputter each time, but he never feared for his own life. There was just one word pulsing in his head.
Protect, protect, protect.
But protect what, who?
Merlin twisted his head around, confident the hand on his would guide him safely, and saw a group of bandits running after them. They're teeth bared and crossbows aim.
Then suddenly there was a burning sensation across Merlin's chest and a flash of gold. And then they were falling.
Merlin jolted awake, panting heavily. His head was still pressed against the cold window, soothing the heat now spreading across his face. He gulped and shrugged it off, it was just a nightmare.
"Is this seat taken?" That same voice was back.
Merlin decided he should be a little less rude than before. Besides, seeing someone else might take his mind off that nightmare. He offered up the seat with a simple, "No."
"You look tired." The man said after he took his seat.
He pulled out the same newspaper from before and resumed his place.
"I am." Merlin said it, albeit a bit bluntly as he resumed his napping attempt. After all, manners only go so far when you're sleep deprived.
"Tough day at work?" The man turned a page.
"Mmhmm." Merlin hummed in response, hoping the man would shut up.
"Shut up Merlin." Merlin snapped up and glared at the man.
"What did you say." He asked angrily.
The man seemed taken aback by the sharp tone and looked away from the paper. The swirling blue was back, now Merlin could see greys and golds sprinkled in there too. But he refused to be sucked into the galaxy of this man's eyes, he had just been incredibly rude.
"I'm sorry?" The man asked, clearly lost.
"I don't appreciate being told to shut up by strangers! Especially ones who invade my space and don't shut up themselves; asking me about my book or waking me up. Overall acting like a... Like a... Like a royal prat!" Merlin finished his rant with a fold of his arms, and stared forward down the carriage.
He could feel the man staring at him, but he refused to acknowledge him.
Eventually there was a clack of teeth as the man shut his shocked mouth and turned away.
"I didn't say anything." He muttered to his newspaper.
"What?" Merlin said, his arms unfolding slightly.
"I didn't tell you to shut up. Although that rant definitely entertained me, thanks." With that, and an obnoxious wink, the man folded his newspaper and got off at his stop.
He did say shut up. Merlin thought.
Unless...
Maybe I dreamt it, he doesn't even know my name.
Oops...
"We are now arriving at Oxford Road Station, please take all your belongings with you when you depart. Thank you."
That night when Merlin climbed under his sheets, he hoped he wouldn't have that dream again. It was horrible. It wasn't just the bandits and the arrows, it was the pressure he felt. He felt so much weight on his shoulders, it was important he had to protect something. But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't figure out what he needed to forget. The more he pushed to remember, the less of the dream he could actually picture.
He shrugged and pulled the sheet up to his chin.
He drifted off into the land of sleep.
Which looked a lot like a forest...