October 2005

Merlin had never felt like this before. He couldn't go a moment without thinking about Michael. He constantly wanted to feel the warmth of his hand in his, or the touch of his lips to his own. Michael been round to his and Gwen's flat almost every single day. Only when Merlin was working was when Michael wouldn't come over, but then he'd always meet Merlin after work and take him for a walk along the beach, or down to the pier where they'd sit and talk about everything.

"So, what is Gaius to you?" Michael asked one evening, as they sat with the wind whipping through both of their dark, curly locks. A large gust of wind swept through them, and Michael tightened his grip on Merlin's hand.

"He's my boss." Merlin smiled. "Used to be my guardian." He looked at Michael and received a flow of sympathy coming from his eyes, "until I became of age, of course."

Michael just nodded. "Your parents died?" He whispered silently.

Merlin looked at Michael, nodded back, and then dropped his eyes into his own lap. Michael squeezed Merlin's hand gently and Merlin felt a warmth rush through him, leading from Michael's fingertips all the way to Merlin's chest. Merlin suddenly found himself talking without realising it – he must have just instinctively trusted Michael, right? "My Mother, I still don't know what happened to her." Merlin murmured. "She ran away, supposedly thought to be dead. Even Gaius doesn't know." Michael squeezed Merlin's hand again, another rush of warmth flowed through his skin, lifting every hair on his arm, and causing him to shiver due to the contrast of his warmth and the cold of the sea breeze.

"It's okay." Michael whispered, smiling at Merlin. Merlin nodded. "Your Father?"

"Murdered."

"Who by?" Michael said slowly. Merlin looked at him, eyes wide. Michael had asked the question so calmly that Merlin had wondered whether he'd even heard what Merlin had said. "Sorry…" Michael hastily added, realising his tone. "That was insensitive." He shook his head, and whispered under his own breath "Too soon."

"What?" Merlin asked, having not heard Michaels murmurs. He looked at Merlin, and shook his head with a smile on his face, telling Merlin not to worry. He let go of Merlin's hand and Merlin felt the warmth and tugging leave his heart, and he let out a breath of air that he had not realised he was holding. "I will walk you back to yours."

The walk home had been a silent one. Merlin could feel tension between them; Michael was not even holding his hand. He wanted to ask him what was wrong. What had Merlin said to upset him? They turned the corner, walking up Merlin's road, past the corner shop. Merlin waved sadly to Mr Smith as he passed, receiving a stern look from Michael.

"Michael, what's wrong?" Merlin asked, reaching his hand out to touch his shoulder but deciding against it he drew his hand back and stuffed it into his pocket.

"Nothing is."

"But-"

"Merlin." He stated harshly. Merlin watched as he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. "Let's just get you back shall we?" He smiled sweetly at Merlin, and brought his hand up and placed it on Merlin's shoulder, just like Merlin wanted to do to him. He lifted his fingers, tickling Merlin's cheek and jawline softly and Merlin felt himself lean into Michael's fingers and all fear of the tension swept away.

"Okay."

They arrived on Merlin's doorstep, and Merlin turned to face Michael, his back to his door.

"Do you want to come in?" Merlin smiled, fiddling with his keys in his hands.

"Not today." Michael stood, arms behind his back, shaking his head and looking down at the floor.

Merlin rolled his eyes, no longer feeling warmth for Michael, but instead look at him as though he was that stranger he met in the café almost two months ago.

"Michael, what the fuck is your problem?" Merlin had hardly finished his sentence and he had no time to react when Michael had him pinned up against the door, hands gripping his shoulders so tight that Merlin knew they would bruise. He looked at Michael and watched and swore that his eyes flashed red in anger. "Michael?"

"Look Merlin, you don't know what the fuck you're dealing with, okay?" He pulled at Merlin and pushed at him again, slamming his head against the door.

"Michael, I don't under-"

"Don't talk to me like that. Ever. Again." Merlin just nodded, shaking, his eyes filling with tears, fearing for his own safety, which is something, Merlin has never had to do whilst living in this small seaside town. "Do you not trust me, Merlin?" His voice dropped, becoming softer, though his hands were still tight against his shoulders and getting closer to his throat.

Merlin nodded hastily, "I do, I do," though Merlin knew he could not believe his own words.

"Why not tell me about your Father then? That's all I wanted to know, dammit!" Michael's eyes flashed red once more, Merlin was sure of it this time. Was Michael? No, he couldn't be like Merlin. Could Michael have…magic?

"Michael, your eyes!" Merlin blurted, a small voice in his head reminding him that Michael must not know about him, and about his secret.

"Shit!" Michael cursed, letting Merlin go, allowing him to rub his bruised shoulders to sooth them, though not for long.

Merlin looked up at Michael to ask him of his eyes, to act an innocent in all of this, to act naïve like all of those times before but looked up to Michaels eyes once again shining red, and his hand out in front of him, palm facing Merlin.

Merlin stepped back, back slamming into the door.

"Who are you?" He asked him, whispering, suddenly worried for the noise he and Michael were making. He didn't want to worry Gwen.

"I am like you, Merlin…" Michael took a step towards him.

"I don't know what you mean." Merlin shook his head.

"I think you do. All I need is for you to admit it, for you to admit your destiny, for you to admit your allegiance to Arthur."

"Arthur?" This time Merlin wasn't acting naïve. He had never known anyone under the name of Arthur, and Merlin had never heard anyone spoke of his destiny – he was just a tea boy with an extraordinary gift.

"Don't act the fool, Merlin."

"I'm not!" Merlin held out his hands in peace, knowing that if he had to use his magic then he will, especially to save Gwen. "I swear to you, I know nothing of Arthur, I have never known anyone by the name." Michael's eyes flashed to normal for just a second and Merlin knew that he believed him.

"But you know what you are. You are like me, merlin. We have the gift."

"What gift?" Merlin shouted, pulling on his lying talents once again, "I am just a tea boy. Living in this tiny seaside town. Living to work. I have no gift."

Once again, Michael's eyes flashed to that striking blue colour that Merlin had fell for, and Merlin let out a small sigh of relief.

"Perhaps I am too soon, perhaps you do not even know…"

Merlin raised an eyebrow, letting his hand fall as Michaels did as well. "Know what?"

"That you and I are the same, Merlin. We are creatures of the old religion. And if what you state is true, and that you really know nothing…"

"I don't, I don't…" Merlin flailed, "I don't know what you're going on about…" A quiver in his voice helped convince Michael of the truth – and it was, Merlin had no clue about Arthur or his 'destiny'.

"Well, then I am surely too soon." Michael stepped back, his face full of anger and his feet stamping the floor, "I was so sure, fuck!" Merlin slowly took a step forward, but too quick that Michael noticed and the strange man lifted his hand again, aiming his palm at Merlin and Merlin could see that it was glowing red, "You must forget this." Michael stated.

"No, wait! Who are you?" Merlin panicked, the first question coming to his head. From what he had heard about the old religion from Gaius, Michael was not a name from that realm.

Michael smiled cruelly, "No harm in telling you. You won't even remember."

Merlin frowned, realising the truth in his words – he had no knowledge of memory charms, no knowledge of how to counter them, he was useless.

Michael murmured a curse under his breath, conjuring the magic into his palm.

"I…" Michael took a step closer to Merlin, and Merlin held his hand in front of him stiffy.

"Am…" Michael raised his palm above him and Merlin could see the mighty ball of magic within his hand as it started to hurtle towards him.

"Mordred."