So… here’s a suggestion: Leon and Merlin have been together for centuries, CENTURIES. He’s seen him at his most self-destructive, as well as during his most stable periods of mental health. They’ve lived through wars, pandemics, natural disasters and revolutions side by side.
León has watched Merlin sink into depression for decades and then heal again simply because Arthur didn’t return from the lake. Just as Merlin has watched León attempt risky feats to find out where on earth his immortality came from. They’ve been through a million things, got to know each other, rediscovered each other, hated each other, fought, sought each other out, made friends and learnt to love each other.
And, though somewhat selfish, Leon felt proud to be one of Merlin’s anchors. He discovered he adored how Merlin could focus on him and give him all his love and affection… and his most terrifying side wished and begged that Arthur would never return. And he doesn’t know if it’s out of fear or jealousy, but somehow he tries to distract Merlin.
He takes him on trips to places that once seemed unimaginable, hugs him tightly in bed whenever Merlin mentions he’ll be walking near the lake, changes the subject when someone mentions the Arthurian legends. He can’t help it at times.
Until one day, just as those thoughts return with a vengeance and with fear… he sees Arthur in his sofa. Modern clothes, a different haircut.
It seems Arthur didn’t have to leave the lake, as Merlin and him thought it; Arthur just had to find Merlin again. Who bumped into him whilst doing the shopping.
I thought I might be the first to submit something for your prompt, and just to get some fics on the blog | kinda angsty, just a little. as a treat | CW: Suggestive
What do you do when you're faced with the concept of eternity?
There isn't exactly an answer. How can the human mind be expected to understand something as permanent and yet as abstract as the idea of forever?
It didn't hit him until Guinevere died, honestly. Leon hadn't truly grappled with his immortality until no one was left but him-and Merlin.
There was comfort in that. In each other. They stumbled through the years together, never truly leaving the other's side.
Leon could tell you the day it happened-the day he knew he'd fallen in love with the only other person who could understand his plight.
February 6th roughly 1400 years ago. Honestly he's surprised it took him as long as it did. But perhaps he'd always been a little sweet on Merlin, and it simply wasn't until that day he found himself ready to accept it.
The promise of hell didn't seem as daunting when you knew it didn't exist.
Still. He kept his mouth shut.
Leon could feel the hole left in Merlin's heart by his king. So he didn't say anything.
He did his best to just be there, to hold Merlin the way Merlin had always held him. To repay the years of kindness the sorcerer had bestowed on him and his brothers in arms.
Unfortunately, time does a lot to a man and -occassionally- he breaks.
Leon would like to say he didn't spend the 14th century on what the modern man would describe as a "hundred year bender" but. Well. That'd be a lie.
In his defense, the 14th century really sucked. What is an immortal man to do when the Black Death is killing everyone left and right and then a war that spans a hundred years starts? Be normal? Just be completely fine with the fact that its the darkest moment he's seen out of the world up to that point and Arthur didn't return?
Forgive him for going a little stir crazy.
Gwaine might actually have been proud.
He tried everything he could think of. he enlisted in the war on both sides two different times, and between those enlistments he drank. He drank so much he honestly doesn't remember at least fifty of those hundred years.
When the war came to an end, and he decided to put the bottle down (it didn't last) Merlin was there.
Merlin who had been on the front lines of the Black Plague, Merlin who had spent so long completely alone because Leon decided to fuck off and self destruct. Merlin who had every right to hate Leon for leaving him high and dry during the worst storm they'd ever seen.
Merlin who held Leon as he nursed alcohol poisoning that would have killed a mortal man.
Merlin who kissed him so, so sweetly when he woke up after being passed out for two days.
They were happy for a ling time, actually. After such a heavy rain the flowers bloomed. A time of change-a time that not many people know was magical.
The Renaissance brought a different sort of life to Merlin's eyes. They travelled all over the European continent together, indulged in life's finest pleasures, made a mark on history no one would ever see. But they knew.
A truth shared only by them.
Roughly two hundred years of being wholly wrapped in one another. Obviously, they fought on occasion and there were moments of darkness, but if Leon had to pick a favorite stretch of time it would be the mid 15th century to the late 16th.
But all good things come to an end.
Thirty years war, que Merlin's era of self destruction.
It should have been expected, really.
They did this every so often. A stretch of peace, a stretch of destruction-it typically aligned with the general state of the world. Sometimes even in eras of relative peace being around one another is impossible.
Yet they always come back together, falling into each other's orbit, incapable of truly letting go.
Leon never stopped thinking of Merlin. Sometimes to his own detriment. He'd never planned to fall for a man who- honestly? Wasn't his.
The feeling waxed and wained. That unmistakable dissonance between Merlin's actions and what he told Leon. While he knew Merlin truly cared for him, he knew that the day of Arthur's return would mark the day he forever lost the man's affection.
So maybe-maybe somewhere along the line he started selfishly praying Arthur would never return.
He's not proud of himself, okay? He doesn't know when his love for Merlin started to over rule his loyalty to his king. But Arthur had not been his king for 1500 years. Heavens forbid he stray from his oath-made when he didn't even know he was immortal, mind you. For a man who'd stayed at his side through his darkest moments.
Merlin mentioned Avalon. Not uncommon. Merlin found as much joy in the mystical lake as he did sadness it was a matter of context.
Right now, however, in the middle of a flat they shared side by side at the piano Merlin had insisted upon-Leon refused to take the chance.
They were going on two years of peace together after forty years of barely being able to stand three days together, Leon could not lose this right now. Not with the current state of everything.
Call him selfish if you must.
"Do you remember that one song you played...when was it? 1856 at the opera in Berlin?"
Merlin's eyes danced across the keys, lithe fingers tracing over the notes, "Mm, that was a fun night. But I think you're referring to the night in Vienna, 1842."
A familiar tune filled the space between them. Music had never been one of those things Leon gained an affinity for, not the way Merlin had. He took to it well. Leon lost track of the number of instruments Merlin had mastered over the years. The piano remained a favorite.
It had become one of the few things that removed Merlin from his thoughts about Arthur.
Leon kissed Merlin's temple, slowly wrapping his arm around the man's waist.
A small laugh, a genuinely pleased sound, left Merlin as he leaned into Leon's side. The instrument fell into the foreground as their lips met.
Leon prided himself on knowing every piece of Merlin, from the mundane to very essence of who he was. In this, Leon knew every step he needed to take to make his lover unravel.
Slowly he cupped Merlin's face, biting lightly at his lower lip.
Merlin hummed contently, falling easily into Leon's trap (so to speak).
"I thought about you all day," Leon pulled away slightly, voice just barely a whisper.
Merlin looked up at him with heavy lidded eyes, "Mm all day?"
"Every minute," Leon nodded, capturing Merlin's lips again.
A hand planted itself against his chest, fingers deftly drumming over Leon's heart. "Do you wanna show me what you've been thinking about all day?" Merlin smiled.
He didn't have to ask twice, Leon lifted Merlin into his arms with ease.
So many years together had taught him two things, Merlin liked being thrown around, and Merlin liked being doted over. The latter was as easy as breathing.
Being aggressive was harder, for Leon at least. But he couldn't ignore the obvious pleasure Merlin derived from being manhandled.
He'd never not enjoyed a night spent with Merlin. The man brought out desires in him he'd never even considered he could want. No matter how many times he tries to get lost in someone else no one could bring him that dizzying feeling of being one-unified with another. Not like Merlin.
When the heat of their bodies connected, coming together in something they simply called love, Leon worried not about the world outside. He didn't care if it all fizzled out tomorrow. He'd spent so many years in agony, if his last moments were tangled in Merlin he would die as the happiest man to have walked this eternal plain.
Morning light filtered through the sheer curtains of Leon and Merlin's bedroom. A shared room. The modern world tended to confuse him in many ways, but Leon quite liked the shift to sharing a room with your lover no matter status or class. He liked waking up with Merlin in his arms every morning.
He blinked the sleep from his eyes and looked down at his partner. Merlin was awake, tracing small patterns across Leon's chest. He'd always been an earlier riser. You'd think Leon would be to, considering all the time he'd spent as a knight even after Arthur's death.
"Rise and shine," Merlin smiled up at him upon realizing Leon had woken.
He'd never get tired of hearing that. He'd never get tired of the feeling that swelled in his chest when Merlin smiled so sweetly.
He brushed his fingers through Merlin's hair, it was on the longer side (for Merlin at least) nowadays. Leon liked it. It suited him.
"You look so beautiful," Leon whispered.
Merlin playfully rolled his eyes, "I haven't even showered yet."
Leon rolled over, pinning Merlin beneath him, "Doesn't change the facts."
Fingers entwined themselves in Leon's hair bringing him down for a soft, languid kiss.
"You have that meeting today," Merlin mumbled as they pulled apart for air.
Leon sighed, "Everything was going so well."
Merlin chuckled, "I'm not the one who's on the straight and narrow, Mr. Office job for the past twenty years."
"Hey, Mr. office job pays for this flat," Leon snipped, but there was no real bite to his words. "It also keeps you well and pampered."
Merlin clicked his tongue, drawing Leon back in for another kiss, "And here I thought you liked having me as a kept man."
He absolutely did. Leon was more than ready to take care of Merlin for eternity if thats what he wanted. He'd find a way to get them back in a castle and crown Merlin as a king, all the man had to do was ask. Nothing brought him more satisfaction then coming home to find Merlin plating dinner and informing him of some new project he'd started.
When they'd first moved in, Merlin started a garden that now occupies most of their little patio.
Merlin had also taken to woodworking at some point in the past few centuries, and his little creations were scattered across the flat.
Leon had offered to get a housekeeper so Merlin could dedicate more time to his projects, but he'd declined. Merlin found comfort in the things he'd always done.
Its not even like Merlin didn't work, not only did he take care of the house on top of all his little hobbies he'd taken up tutoring as well.
"Are any of your students coming in today?" Leon asked, finally forcing himself to leave the bed.
"Not today," Merlin shook his head, "I'll be getting a bit of shopping done, do you need anything?"
Leon glanced at himself in the mirror, "Definitely a shower." He cast Merlin a cheeky grin, "Care to join me?"
Merlin considered it for a brief second, eyes trailing over Leon in that calculating fashion, as though assessing him like a product.
"It is very tempting," Merlin slowly pulled himself from the mess of sheets, "but I'm not in the mood for a quickie."
Merlin pulled him down for another kiss, chaste and gentle, "Perhaps when you don't have to leave so soon."
Leon felt that stupid, giddy feeling bubble inside him. And right now, in this moment, nothing could take that away.
The greeting on the tip of his tongue died as he stepped through the threshold of his and Merlin's flat. There were plenty of things he'd expected to see.
Merlin finishing up with dinner.
Maybe cleaning. Perhaps walking back in from the patio after a smoke.
Arthur fucking Pendragon sat like a relic on their couch?
He needed several minutes.
"...Leon?" The very real, very present once and future king of legend squinted at him.
The words "Your Majesty" tumbled from his lips without him granting them permission. Still second nature after so many years.
"Thats-wow I'm not-" Arthur scratched the back of his neck nervously, "that's weird."
Leon stared at the man on his couch as though he were a stranger-except he wasn't a stranger. He was Arthur. King of Camelot-his king.
"You're Merlin's boyfriend? He told me about you, said I might recognize you?" Arthur stood suddenly, extending his hand politely, "I'm Arthur-well actually I think you already know that."
"He told you that?" Leon went Arthur's hand mindlessly, muscle memory kicking as they greeted each other as they would have back in Arthur's kingship.
"He's told me a lot of things," Arthur let out a small, but amused huff.
"That I was his boyfriend?" The word felt remarkably juvenile. Wrong in so many ways but if you really wanted to get technical it wasn't an inaccurate word.
"Yes-well he said partner-are you married? I didn't see a ring?" Arthur would never be so calm about something like this. What was happening?
"No-no we're not," Leon shook his head. "We've been seeing each other for a few years-what do you know?"
"Its patchy," Arthur shrugged, "I knew who Merlin was...I just felt called to him. We've been going over everything I do and don't remember, it's all a bit much. I can't deny it though."
"Called. Right," Leon wanted to pull his hair out.
Of course he did. Of course this new Arthur immediately felt "called" to Merlin.
Speaking of Merlin, he finally appeared from the bedroom, a stack of books in his hands. He nearly dropped them all when he saw Leon.
"You're home," Merlin shoved the books onto the table, beaming.
The next thirty seconds passed faster than Leon could have ever possibly registered as Merlin all but tackled him, threading his hands through his hair and kissing him like it'd been a century.
"I forgot to start dinner," Merlin whispered sheepishly.
"We'll order something," Leon replied breathlessly.
Oh yeah-he was still in the room.
Merlin blinked, "Oh right! Turns out, he was reincarnated, not brought up from the lake. So were Lancelot, Gwaine, Elyan, and Percival."
Leon gaped, "All of them-they're all back?" He put some distance between them, cupping Merlin's face in his hands, "They're all back?!"
"They're all back," Merlin nodded.
Leon kissed Merlin again, forgetting Arthur was in the room-again.
"...do you guys want me to leave? Or?" Arthur awkwardly patted his sides.
"Oh shit-" Merlin pushed Leon fully away from him, "sorry-sorry look it's been 1500 years of wondering if you'd ever come back."
Arthur nodded, though he clearly wasn't grasping. Leon couldn't blame him for that, it's not exactly an easily conceivable amount of time.
Leon almost couldn't believe this was happening-but it had to be. He hadn't seen Merlin this elated, this alive, since Arthur died.
All those years of selfishly praying Arthur would never return weighed on his shoulders-how could he have wished to rob Merlin of this joy?
A ringtone cut through his thoughts, and he watched as Arthur smiled.
"Speak of the devil," he answered the call, putting a bit more distance between himself and the couple.
"...it's a long story...no I haven't...we can...I'm sure...I'll ask," Arthur redirected his attention to them, "Interested in actually seeing them all again?"
Leon reached out to pull Merlin back in, as though to check this was all real and he wasn't finally breaking beyond repair. Merlin laughed, half in disbelief, half amused.
"I never thought we'd see Lancelot again."
"I never thought we'd see any of them again," Leon shook his head, burying himself within the warmth of the crook of Merlin's neck, "I can't believe this is real."
"Yes-we'd like to see them," Merlin finally answered Arthur. The blond looked at them like he was putting a puzzle together, and spoke to whoever he had on the line.
Leon recognized the look in Arthur's eyes. He'd worn it himself many times. His stomach twisted, sick with knowing he'd be wearing it again in the somewhat near future.
