psycholawgy | ic contact;

[ ... merlin, what. ]

I don't know what you mean, but don't do it again.

[ please ]

[ He pauses then, curling his hand into her hair to keep her there then murmurs softly: ]

We didn't have a choice. It was that, or be stuck there forever as prisoners. No one... had been there in years I don't think. The floors were unstable. Rotten away. It was guarding spirits, not people.

[ all she does is repeat herself as she holds him tighter. her voice is probably so muffled by now that he may not hear her speak, but-- ]

Don't do it again.

[ He can almost feel it though, knowing that she wouldn't change her mind on the necessity of it. Instead he just slides both of his hands to brush over her ears. ]

Sorry for breaking my promise. I'll try harder in future.

[ Because maybe there was another option, but none of them were thinking clearly enough and it had grabbed for him. They'd hit the end of their time limit. ]

[ she wiggles a bit at the contact. it tickles, but she doesn't want to say that now. she just wants to be as close to him as possible. ]

Me too. [ she's sorry, she means. ] I took the bracelet off.

[ He tries to wiggle down a bit, wanting to tangle up with her properly when she mentions the bracelet. He definitely frowns then. ] Why?

[ it's only one question, but she feels like a child being scolded. then again, she is pretty childish and childlike in so many ways. ]

I didn't want to have good dreams. Not without you around.

[ ... Well that is pretty dumb. He gives her head a light flick. ]

...Numpty. [ That just makes him feel worse, wasn't she suffering enough already? ] I told you, I'll come back. I'll always come back.

[ now. now is when she starts crying. it's slow and quiet, and she quickly wipes her tears away, but she can't hide her fear anymore. ]

I was so scared. I was-- I don't want you to go away.

[ It's difficult to try and wiggle down under her even more. His shirt feels twisted and like it's pulled up a bit, but it isn't important compared to moving his hands to cup her face, trying to help her. ]

I know. I'm sorry.

[ Really he's glad he hasn't told her anything more now. This... was probably already more than enough. ]

[ she shakes her head at that, and more tears fall from her eyes. merlin doesn't know. he doesn't know that she fears people being taken away from her. and he's grown to be so important to her that he's the person she'd hate to lose the most. if he ever disappeared or died again, then she would want the same fate. ]

I don't want to be happy. Not without you.

[ He exhales sharply at that, kissing over her eyes slowly. ]

I wouldn't want that. [ His hands hold her close, tightly ] I'd never want that.

Then you can't go...

[ that's all she manages to say before her cries get louder and her shoulders begin to shake. she wouldn't want to be that kind of person either, but merlin is practically her whole life now. to have him be taken away from her is the same thing as plucking her soul away.

she's going to be hella clingy for a while because of this. sorry :( ]

[ Part of him wonders if he made a mistake two months ago, just for the sake of Athena's sanity. For the sake of her heart. It really is too late to wonder about it now, they're already here. Already stupidly in love as teenagers do.

But he's okay with her being clingy too, even if the cries feel like a knife twisting into his chest. Like he's dying all over again. ]

I know... I know.

[ What else can he even say anymore? ]

[ well, it's good that he knows. athena doesn't have to repeat herself, then. she doesn't say anything anymore, trying so hard to control her breathing and to stop herself from crying any more than she already has. her vision's blurry now because of the tears, but she doesn't want to look away from him. not now. ]

[ He tries to brush her tears away for her, keeping his gaze on her just as steady. Hopefully she doesn't find the next thing he says insensitive, but it has a purpose... promise. ]

Have you got a spare toothbrush? [ A wince. ] I want to kiss you, but...

[ He's been dead for 3 days............................ he doesn't know if that transfers over but his mouth definitely tastes like ash (probably from the explosion tbh) so he'd rather not risk it. ]

[ she doesn't find it insensitive at all, but in fact, finds it funny. she hasn't laughed in a while, and even though she coughs a bit while trying to, she manages to let out a giggle in the end. ]

It's a girly toothbrush, though. Is that okay?

[ you know... those toothbrushes with tons of glitter. ]

[ It's a relief after everything just now, actually. If she'd keep laughing he'd cover himself in glitter...whatever. ]

That's fine. Bathroom?

[ that's how people go blind, merlin.

she nuzzles him with her head one last time before she sits up and crawls to the other side of the bed. she may or may not knee merlin in the process, sorry love. but at least she takes his hand and pulls on it lightly! it may just be across the hall but she sure as hell isn't going to let him out of her sight. ]

[ Ow?! There's a yelp as her knee smacks into his calf, but thankfully it passes quickly. It isn't as bad as a broken rib or explosive, anyway.

Though when her hand reaches for his and tugs he does give her a rather fond smile, following without question. Off they go! ]

[ by the time they leave athena's room, clonco can be seen in the living room vacuuming the carpet. what a good robot. athena calls him and waves, and he waves back. THE CUTEST ROBOT!!!

there's a lot of girly stuff in ai and athena's bathroom, though. it's pink and yellow and purple all over, and the shower curtains could not have any more butterflies on them. she has to tiptoe to reach one of the shelves to grab a box. it hasn't been opened yet, so it takes her a while to remove the tape around it and the plastic, but when she does manage to do that, she grabs the electric toothbrush inside and shoves some batteries in it before handing it to merlin. ]

You push the button in the middle and it'll start up.

[ she has two spare electric toothbrushes. MORE REASONS WHY SHE'S BROKE!!! ]

[ He doesn't even have time to greet the cute robot as he's pulled into the backroom. It really is girly in comparison, but really he and Shigeru have separate ones for a different reason. Neither Ai nor Athena have phobias of germs so... It's just easier for him that way.

When she hands over the toothbrush he raises an eyebrow at her. ] I have one like this. [ Probably not... By choice. Caroline probably jqabbed one in his direction before she disappeared tbh. Still, he doesn't waste time in using it, some relief definitely showing when the taste of ash makes way for mint. ]

[ she places the box back on the shelf with some effort, and moves back out into the hallway to give him some privacy. who knows if he wants to pee too????? he hasn't peed in three days?! she has no idea. but at least merlin has a toothbrush in her place now? not that she expects him to use it often, but they did talk about sleeping over at each other's places before things got messy. ]

[ He has a mini wash really, more just splashing water on his face than anything else, using the bottom of his shirt to dry it so he doesn't get the towels dirty. He isn't really all that badly off now but.. It's still something he'll need to change out sooner or later.

He probably pees too i guess??? Why are you making me write this...

He probably looks more of a mess by the time he steps outside tbh. Eh. ]

[ PEOPLE NEED TO PEE????

it's a bit of a reach when she tiptoes again to fluff merlin's hair when he gets out, though. she also didn't expect his hair to be wet so... now her hands are, too. ah... ]

Do you want a towel?

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