az: Odd random thought passed by... and who don't like the old Merlin?


Oddly Botkins

What a good time spent, talking nonsense in the middle of the night while lying beside a campfire

Written by Izzu alias honou-no-izumi

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"Hey, Merlin..."

Merlin looked to his side as Arthur stared back at him. He raised his brow at him. What on earth had got into the head of this prat? It was already night and the rest of the knights had already fallen asleep, save Gwaine who was supposed to be on guard—Merlin turned his eyes to check that Gwaine really was awake—oh good, he was. He turned back towards Arthur.

"Go to sleep... Arthur."

Arthur elbowed him roughly. "I can't sleep, so you shouldn't... either."

"Prat!" Came the reply as Arthur grinned. "... so what was it that the highness wanted from me that he just had to keep someone else awake alongside him?"

Merlin rolled his eyes at him. Arthur cocked his head at him. "Like really... Merlin," Merlin glanced sideways as he waited for Arthur to finish his sentence. "Ever wonder how long could we be able to live? With all these fightings and all I'd be surprised if I could remain alive even for several more years at most..."

Merlin sighed before shaking his head. "I'm sure you'll live long. I'll make sure you do as long as I'm alive so you shouldn't worry about that."

Arthur nodded. "Hmm... I guess so. I can't imagine what'll happen to me if you're gone—hey, doesn't that sounded as if I'm dependant on you to keep being alive?"

Merlin glared at him, looking a slight bit offended but Arthur reacted as if he had not noticed it.

"I wonder how'd I look then... being old..."

Merlin snorted as Arthur kicked him lightly. He took a wary glance towards Gwaine before speaking to Merlin again, this time... with a much softer voice.

"Well... I've already seen how you'd look like when you're really old, no surprise there. Though you might want to remind yourself to brush your teeth more often..." said Arthur before snorting as Merlin pinched him. "I wonder how'd I look at that age."

Merlin snorted. "I bet you'd look as nasty as your father... and even more prattish. Old people tend to get more grumpy after all, what with the old bones and such."

Arthur poked his friend in amusement. "I take that as a personal experience then? You seemed so... knowledgeable about being old."

Both of them went quiet for a while before Arthur whispered to him again.

"Why did you took that appearance anyway?"

Merlin gave him a look that said 'well, you do want to save Gwen that time, right' before shrugging.

"I happened to see an image of me like that at the crystal cave," he said softly before adding. "I can't accuse Morgana openly anyway so I had to create another sorcerer to shift the blame. The only one I know capable of doing that was me... anyway. That plan nearly failed with you almost recognising me..."

Arthur grinned smugly. "Well... don't blame me," he hissed, "Not my fault you had a very beautiful set of eyes..."

Merlin chuckled alongside Arthur before doubling back towards him when he caught the word 'beautiful' on the last sentence. But before he could retort about that statement, Gwaine walked up towards them.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I think I'd look the best when I'm much older compared to the both of you. I should not look too bad with grey hairs or even some bit of balding spots."

Both Arthur and Merlin snorted as they tried to imagine anything balding over Gwaine's head before Merlin spoke. "That'll be interesting. Though truth be told I fear to imagine what really could become of us when we all became older... if we remained the same until then. Can't imagine continuing to bicker with Arthur at that kind of age. We'd look like some odd grumpy old men bickering!"

Arthur chuckled before nudging Merlin. "Why not? You can't not allow me to continue picking on you even when my hair all greyed over and all. That'll be no fun!" He spared a glance towards Gwaine before adding. "At least that's better than having an old Gwaine tagging along with you. He'd might as well bore us all including his children and grandchildren with his boring grandfather stories."

Gwaine shoved Arthur light-heartedly as Merlin chortled.

"Now I wonder how everyone else's going to look like when they're older..." he said before Arthur nudged him again.

"Now who's keeping everyone awake now... Merlin?"