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You started it?! [ He isn't entirely sure what she plans on doing next, his hair being messed up definitely wasn't something he'd expect and instantly he tries to sink down out of the way. He isn't as vain as Arthur is with this (he doesn't look at metal trays to check his reflection after all) but he spent time on that today. ]

Stop! [ Ah... too late. His hands try to cover his head before she does too much damage... but alas.

He gives up, and instead twists to reach for her side again, intending on paying her back by tickling her again. This time is probably more embarrassing too because of the fact that this time he'll be able to see her face.

She brought this on herself. ]

[ yeah, too bad merlin. you've decided to pick on the wrong person... it just had to be that person who has to win all the time. ]

Not until you give u— Ahahaha! [ she squirms as she tries to get away from his hold, but now that she's practically kneeling on the couch just to reach his head, it doesn't end well for her. she topples over and ends up hitting her head on his chest, and her arms fall to his shoulders as she tries to balance herself.

she can't even say anything because she tries to catch her breath and not laugh too loudly. ]

[ Too bad she can't win all the time, huh?

It's easy to get caught up in the moment too, laughing along with her even if he isn't the one suffering through it right now. It is way better with her like this, even if she's close again now and he isn't sure if this is crossing too many lines--

--but it doesn't matter considering one hand keeps tickling her while the other noogies her gently, it's enough to mess up her hair too now, anyway. ]

Who's the one who should be giving up, again?

[ she can barely breathe now, and as she gasps for air, she pulls at his shirt in an attempt to stay where she is because she'd fall off the couch otherwise. somebody help her. ]

I can't [ WHEEZE. ] breathe.

[ Her hair sufficiently messed up he lets go of her head at least and instead presses his other hand against her waist to help keep her steady. He doesn't move it, and even his other hand slows a little.

It's all so he can lean down a little, and while he's trying to not laugh at the situation she's found herself in he says into her ear: ] That sounds an awful lot like surrender if you ask me.

[ the whole tickling session's made athena dizzy, as well as breathless, so she tries to calm herself down now that merlin's stopped. inhale, exhale...

and everything seems fine for a few moments, and she thinks she can go back to normal despite how close merlin is being right now. but then she hears the sound of the door opening. she freezes.

and she does the first thing that comes to her mind.

which is push merlin down the sofa and cover his face with a pillow.

now to wait expectantly for ai (hopefully it's ai and not somebody else...) to enter...

sweats... profusely... ]

[The door opens and it's Ai entering inside with a yawn; it's been a long day! She's carrying bags of groceries (real food, not just snacks) and beams at her roommate.]

Hello, Athena! We're going to have rice and chicken stir fry and some vegetable soup on the side! We need to regain our strength after all and-- Oh, is someone else...

[Ai stops when she sees that certain someone being smothered with a pillow... Athena????]

...

I... Um...

[ATHENA PLEASE DON'T COMMIT MURDER IN OUR APARTMENT???]

You... Shouldn't... Do that...

[ Merlin's hearing isn't anywhere near as good as Athena's. He's also distracted, concentrating more on how Athena is getting her breath back. His hands drop, and it's when he lets down his guard she's moving suddenly and he's almost falling off the couch.

He opens his mouth to yell, to ask what she's doing but he just ends up with a mouthful of pillow.

This is what he gets for letting his guard down. A lesson well learned considering he didn't exactly think to take a deep breath before this started. His hands move to try and find Athena's wrists while he's trying to not cough into the material. He's already starting to feel dizzy when he hears Ai speaking and suddenly this makes a little more sense but--

why this?

His hand tries following her arm up, patting at her lightly. It's when Ai suddenly trails off that his breath really is falling short (has it been two minutes? he isn't even sure now) that his hand flails a little to try and push her off, moving through air until he hits something soft. He can't gather his thoughts enough to magic the stupid pillow off, and it's way too close for him to concentrate on it properly.

His hand slumps against her, falling to her lap as he starts blacking out.

R.I.P. ]

[ THIS IS A MESS. athena now looks like she JUST woke up, and now this... she looks down at the hand on her and turns as red as a tomato for a few seconds. when the hand drops, she's painfully relieved for reasons which may be better not being publicised.

but then she realises something... and she blinks once. twice. ]

Ai? [ she slowly lifts the pillow from merlin's face. ] Oh my god-- how do we wake him up?

[ will he wake up if she slaps him?! let's try to find out. ]

Oh, it's Merlin... Wait, Merlin!! Athena, why were you smothering him!?

[DROPPING THE BAGS and rushing over.]

He's still breathing right?!

[ The pillow being removed is the start to his body kicking back in, realising it can reach oxygen again. He sucks in breath while his eyes are still shut, coughing and spluttering his way into consciousness. He can feel the light slaps on his face, but that really didn't do anything.

His hand flops to the side as he tries to roll, his lungs tight. He can hear Ai panicking by this point, but he's struggling to gain consciousness again to tell her he will be if he's given room. ]

[ oh good! he's still alive. athena didn't mean to be too rough on him, truly. so she feels really bad. something like this has never happened before...

she isn't giving him the space he needs, though. instead, she stays where she is--still on the couch and practically looming over him. her plan (which she clearly didn't think about) backfired drastically. and now she's paying for it. ]

Hey. Hey, I'm sorry-- [ this is probably the first time merlin's heard (if he can hear her, anyway) athena sound so concerned.

she then looks at ai, panicking like hell. ]

I think he'll be fine! Could you stay here for a bit? I'll go get some water.

[ athena may have asked a question, but she sure is getting up now and heading to the kitchen. ]

Ah... [Well, there Athena goes, so Ai goes quickly over to Merlin, pulling him so he's sitting straight, back against the couch.]

Merlin, can you hear me? Let me just...!

[One hand moves up to his forehead, the other placed lightly against his throat. Her eyes glow for a moment and Merlin should feel a tingly rush that relieves him of the physical discomfort he just endured.]

[ He tries to move with her, but his foot slips on the floor and he's definitely still woozy. His eyes are a little glassy, but as soon as she reaches for his forhead and throat and does whatever it is she's doing his breath starts to even out and his hand goes to his head.

He blinks at Ai a few times. Slowly. Calmly. It's like he's just trying to catch up until finally he says a soft: ] Thanks.

[ this is like one of those times simon got mad at her. she pulled a prank on him and it was far Too Much. athena can just be so intense...

she doesn't even want to go back to the couch and give him the glass of water. she feels that bad, and mostly scared that he might get mad at her. but she deserves what's coming, anyway. so despite her heart telling her not to go, she does the right thing. ]

I'm sorry. [ she says, offering the glass to him from the back of the couch. ] I was too rough.

And I was nervous.

[Ai sighs in relief when Merlin is back to normal and removes her hands from him with a nod.]

Oh, good! And you're welcome.

[She doesn't want to do this, but Ai turns to cross her arms at Athena.]

I won't ask you why you did that, but I will say that it was probably uncalled for. You said your apology already, so I'll leave it at that.

[ It's. Awkward. He still doesn't understand completely why she did it. He had been nervous before, she knew that, but what kind of person resorts to smothering the other person because their flatmate walked in? Athena, that's who.

His hand rubs over his neck, smoothing up into his hair as he glances at Ai first, at the way she actually scolds Athena. He chews on his lip, tries to figure out how to actually handle this.

Honestly it isn't the first time someone has done something that almost got him killed (something she should know all too well) but it isn't exactly something he expected from her either. ]

Ai... don't worry about it.

[ He reaches out to take the water from Athena though, taking a swig. Ai got rid of the discomfort, but the need for water to try and clear his throat still lingers. He glances up at Athena, then back towards the television. His voice is... flatter. ]

I'm sure I did something to deserve it.

[ That sure is his way of saving what the hell is wrong with you??? ]

[ okay, athena. you can do his. choose your words carefully.

"i already said i'm sorry."

no, that would just make her apology insincere.

"i think i'll just go," and make things more awkward at work? bad idea.

she takes a step back, fidgeting. she tries to think of what to say next, but she manages to blurt it out instead. ]

You didn't. [ oh, shoot. she hadn't thought about what to say after that. come on, athena. think quickly! ] Sorry. [ there it is again. ] Are we still friends?

[ and another step back.

it looks like she's ready to run away from all this. ]

[Ai glances at Merlin, giving him a reassuring smile.

And gently putting one hand on Athena's shoulder ~~so she can never escape~~ so that her friend knows it's going to be okay.]

Athena means it Merlin. I probably walked in on the wrong time so I don't know everything... But I do know that it's necessary to be clear with each other.

[ Why does this feel like a counselling session????

He glances away when Ai smiles at him, though he is grateful that she's stopping Athena from backing into the television or worse. ]

I know that. Just. [ He rubs his hand across his forehead. ] Sit down--not with the pillow though, this time.

[ He leans forward to put the water on the table, then looks towards Ai. ] I brought you pudding to make up for the other day. It should--[ He clears his throat. ] --be in the kitchen.

[ thanks ai, you da bomb... even though you scolded her earlier. it's good to know that ai can pull something like that... she thinks that the ai she knew back then probably wouldn't even dare to reprimand her.

athena looks at anywhere else but the two of them, and inevitably sits down. at the very edge of the sofa, and far from where he is. she says nothing and does nothing but look at her feet. it's not like she has much to say now, unless merlin wants to be constantly bombarded with apologies. ]

[Ai's face lights up and she nods in understanding (and anticipation because pudding) and makes her way to the kitchen to put away the groceries too.

Good luck Athena... It's feels time.]

[ Well he said that to get a little privacy (but Ai is still there for Athena if she's needed, she's still close by). He twists to look over the back of the sofa when she moves to put away the groceries, watching Ai's back for a moment before he finally glances back at Athena.

Her whole stance is like a droopy sunflower, no matter how he looks at it.

With Ai's attention elsewhere his hand reaches out to grip Athena's wrist then he tugs her towards himself. Hopefully he manages to catch her before she goes toppling off the couch or something, but he is aiming for a hug here.

As soon as she has the momentum he lets go of her hand to reach for her back. Hopefully it won't give her a heart attack.

All he actually says though? ] You're such an idiot.

[ Nailed it. ]

[ she's far too upset with herself to even feel giddy or to be flustered by this whole thing. athena's emotions are just always at the point of extremity. when she's happy, she's happier than everyone else, and when she's sad, she'll be down in the dumps no matter what she's unhappy about.

she doesn't return the hug just yet, but what she instead does is rest her head on him.

and as if she's whispering, she answers back: ]

Yeah, I am.

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