In 1930s, kids grow up fast. M/M, hypothetical past AU.
SOLDIERS AND CONS
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On their flight back to Heathrow, Morgana had a dream.
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They play shop in her father's back yard as radios spell crisis in the shadow of the war. The neighborhood children gather at the hill, while their parents build bomb shelters. There kids join their forces, trinkets and toys. Each has their own, but never enough.
Morgana trades apples for kisses. One boy keeps buying the ones from everyone else.
He points at the heap to collect his reward.
'You have no sense of business.' The five-year-old remarks wisely. (Her father sells plywood.)
Merlin does not care. She keeps on paying, long after the apples are gone.
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The boy ignores her advice. The boy goes to war. For the first time in her life Morgana hates being a woman. Hates waiting for news.
Gets rid of the radio.
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Two years later, the man is in her yard again, all uniforms and ties and a basketful of reds.
She observes his tamed black hair, his vivid blue eyes, and frowns.
'The price went up while you were gone. Inflation.'
His smile falters, just a flicker, just a little bit.
'That's alright. I want the whole business.'