A/N: I know it's been quite a long time since I updated this story, but it has been really hectic around here (pandemic things aside) and I just haven't had as much time to write as I would have liked. And when I do, I am usually just too exhausted to do so at the end of the day (or as we say here in the south "I'm plumb tuckered out") XD
Last chapter: Merlin is obviously mentally and emotionally overwrought since his argument with Watanuki about the (temporary) cure for Fai, and rightfully so. Arthur and Gwen are worried about their friend, seeing as he has declined healthwise and has become what seems to be a shadow of himself.
Dream Walking
Merlin had, much like Watanuki, done a great deal of dream walking by accident when he was first figuring things out. Iseldir had told him that it was his magic's way of reaching out towards other people, even at night. He knew that his...friend had done it even during the day, to the point that his predecessor had worried that he would stay in that world and disappear. Ironically, that was the way they had first met. They hadn't talked for almost half a year but had seen each other repeatedly in dreams and were more often than not, nightmares of all sorts. Sometimes they were in the forms of memories, and other times they were predictions of the many ripples of possible futures. It was frightening at times, especially at first. Watanuki hadn't particularly enjoyed the many cases of violence he'd had to witness, but Merlin didn't care for what he'd had to see either. But there were the memories and possible futures as well; some felt like some impossible dream, but one that was so pleasant that one never wanted to leave. Others had bloody ends and spoke of nothing but tragedy and death, leaving an overwhelming state of sadness upon waking. It was a remarkable, if not supposedly impossible friendship. He had to admit that he never would have told his closest friend about his magic had it not been for him, but now his friend and so much more was suffering. He felt responsible, and that was a good reason that he couldn't stand sleeping. He didn't want to accidentally stumble across his friend and see what was happening, but after his visit from Arthur, his body had finally given in and collapsed on him. And now he found himself in the one place he didn't want to be.
It started out innocently enough, much as they usually did. It almost always started as if you were stuck in a fog or just had something in your eyes that you were trying to blink away. In a few moments, the picture became more clear, and he saw Watanuki struggling to stay awake and wetting a rag to try and get rid of another fever that Fai had been fighting for almost two days now. After putting the rag on Fai's forehead, he frowned and looked around as if sensing Merlin was there. He usually could without any effort at all, but it was plain to see how exhausted he was. Merlin supposed that he could have tried to make himself more visible, but for some reason, he thought that he needed to see where things were progressing without his friend noticing he was there. He was fairly sure that he wouldn't have sensed him at any rate, with how exhausted he seemed to be. On the other hand, it looked as if Fai looked a bit better, but he hadn't been taking Merlin's treatments that he had so unfortunately recommended. Looking at Fai, the fever appeared to be peaking and would probably be completely gone in the morning if he guessed right. He knew that wouldn't stop his stubborn friend from making him food and probably his tea, regardless of how detrimental it would be to his own health. Merlin sighed, wondering if he should betray his friend's confidence and tell Doumeki before things went too far. He didn't doubt that the man had already noticed something was amiss, whether it was mere exhaustion or magically related. He was sure that Doumeki had seen it but just hadn't figured out what it was yet. Merlin could already feel how badly this could go if he didn't somehow intervene, and yet he knew that their friendship was already so fragile that one misstep could make things irreparable for the rest of their unnatural lives. Looking sadly at his friend one last time, he started to fade back into the waking world before Watanuki looked in his general direction. He had obviously at least somewhat noticed him, even in his fatigued state.
"Merlin, is that you?"
Merlin paused, unsure if he should answer or just make himself disappear entirely. However, he knew his friend was exhausted and could use the support, even if it meant stepping on eggshells in the process. Making himself more visible, he slowly walked towards Watanuki and sat beside him on Fai's bed. He made a conscious effort to not bite his lip out of nervousness, so his friend wouldn't pick up on it. Hopefully.
"I'm here. I guess that I couldn't help but check up on you, even if…' you don't want to be friends with me anymore' Fai isn't technically my patient."
On any other day, he knew that his friend would have noticed the half-truth he had told him. He would have called him out on it and not given in until he knew what was bothering him. Maybe it was because he was so tired that he didn't see it, or perhaps things had just progressed to the point that they had just regressed back to casual acquaintances. Either way, it hurt him deep inside his chest. Watanuki looked at Fai tiredly, with a concerned look in his eyes that made Merlin want to leave. Even if they couldn't go back to the way things were, it hurt that he looked at his patient as a closer friend when they hadn't known each other nearly as long. Thinking about getting up regardless of whatever Watanuki wanted at the moment, he was held still by a hand on his wrist.
"I've been doing my best for his fever and trying to get fluids and such in him regardless of him not really needing it, but it won't go down. What should I do?"
Watanuki looked so desperate at him and it wasn't fair. Was it because of their fight or because Fai had magic too and he just wanted to save him? Regardless, he couldn't turn his back on either one of them, even if after this was over things would be…
"I can tell that his fever will probably be gone by the morning, if not the afternoon. I know that you want to make him tea or food, but you're too tired already. It will serve no purpose for you to just collapse and worry him further." Merlin answered, narrowing his eyes as he finished. He was no better, he knew, but this time it could literally kill him. The shopkeeper or not, he could still die from a magic drain this large as consistent as this one.
Watanuki stared back at him, before shaking his head.
"I know the consequences. You don't need to remind me of that."
Merlin stood abruptly and started to leave, seeing a fight oncoming if he didn't. Facing the door, he sighed and slumped his shoulders.
"If you won't allow me to be your friend, then at least allow Doumeki to. I don't want to watch you fade away and he's not foolish," he told him before fading and waking up, only to see Arthur walking in the door.
Watanuki subconsciously wet Fai's forehead, not thinking about what he was doing as much as his interaction with Merlin. He was feeling so tired, and that probably made him a little snappy towards someone who was once one of his closest friends. He wanted to apologize so very much, especially since he could feel this almost...depressed energy coming from him. It seemed to only escalate when he showed his concern towards Fai's health as if he was sure Watanuki didn't care about him or something. Sure, he was worried about Fai and trying his best to keep him alive, but this made at least two times that Merlin wanted to tell Doumeki and had mentioned not wanting to watch him fade. He knew where this was coming from, though. Exhausted as he may be, Watanuki could still remember a lot of the painful memories that his friend had. Right now, he didn't want to bother thinking about it. All he wanted to do was sleep for days and forget about everything that had been happening. He had been assured that Fai would be okay, and a few hours of sleep never hurt anyone. As he fell asleep on the side of the bed, he just barely registered the door closing and someone covering him with a light blanket.
A/N: I think that I will leave it there for today, as I am trying to get some more of my fics done. I got one of my Arrow/Flash fics accomplished last night, which means I still have plenty of catching up to do. :( Anywho, I really didn't mean for them to have a semi-fight as they did, but I think I need for our stubborn little Watanuki to get it through his head that collapsing is the last thing anyone needs. At least Merlin has his support to help him through things. Both of them are just so stubborn.