Summary: Arthur has a talk with Merlin. Unsurprisingly Merlin doesn't answer him back.


Arthur didn't say much. His hangover had cleared up, but his confusion just deepened the longer he thought about Merlin and magic and what was going on. In his heart of hearts, he still couldn't believe in all that nonsense, but his eyes hadn't deceived him. His Once and Future TH White book had floated and flapped earlier that morning, and even now he was staring at one of his ship bottles, the wreckage sealed inside.

Absentmindedly, he stroked Merlin's fur, enjoying the way it felt under his hand, silky and warm. Merlin was half-asleep, twisting around to let Arthur give him a belly rub, purring a little as he did. When Arthur stopped, his silly cat nipped at Arthur's thumb, pulling at the skin until Arthur got the message and started petting him again. "You are a cabbage-head, you know," Arthur muttered. "And demanding as hell. What if I had other things to do? I can't be sitting here all day. Magic cat or not."

Merlin blinked, his eyes narrowing, then he gave a little sniff and batted at Arthur's hand to keep the belly rubs coming. "Little hedonist. I swear if you were a human, you'd be lounging around, eating bonbons, and demanding that I wait on you, hand and foot." Arthur gave a little laugh. "Oh, wait, I do that now."

Purring, Merlin butted his chin into Arthur's side, giving Arthur's wrist a lick, then sat up and began cleaning himself, still perched on Arthur's lap as if Merlin were king of all he surveyed and Arthur the poor peasant, catering to His Royal Highness's every whim.

"Merlin, if you are a magic cat…." Merlin looked up at that, intent and unblinking, his fur cleaning forgotten, and stared into Arthur's eyes. "Merlin, I don't know what to do. Magic is just ridiculous but if it's real, and I'm not saying it is, I haven't a clue where to even start."

Giving a little 'meep', Merlin stood up, his back paws digging hard into Arthur's thighs and softer parts, his front paw patting at Arthur's face. It almost seemed like Merlin was thanking him, but that wasn't possible, was it?

Rubbing Merlin's head, pulling at Merlin's pointed and overlarge ears a little, watching Merlin's eyes shut in delight, Arthur said, "I suppose I'll have to talk to Morgana." Arthur gave a great, long, and hard groan at that. "But you know she will never let me hear the end of it. I'll be harassed and harangued about it on my deathbed, I swear."

Merlin's eyes opened at that, hissing. If Arthur didn't know better, he would say that Merlin was upset about something, but his idiot cat soon settled back down and demanded more ear rubs. "I suppose I'll give her a call later today and…. well, I won't say I'm wrong. That's a bridge too far, but she'll gloat anyway."

Leaning over, Arthur's chin nudged Merlin's head, whispering into the warm fur, "You are the worst and the best of all the cats in the universe, you know. And I'll be your protector against the world, magic cat or not."

As Merlin pushed his head into Arthur's face, Arthur just grinned. "Okay, okay, I get the message. Rubs now, calling later. So do you want me to open another can of tuna or not?"

Merlin hopped off that that, his tail high as he ran into the kitchen.

"I guess I have my answer."