[ of course they are, at this point he's attached in his own way, even Merlin considers him a friend at this point. I mean, Clonco was a huge help in getting Athena blindfolded for her surprise that time and all.
He lets her pull him along too, looking at the box of cookies with a small smile. It means that their friends really did try hard for them, after all. ] the cookies are more than enough.
[ What a weirdo-- he tries to put her down gently, but there's still a bit of a bounce when she lands on the bed. ]
Why wouldn't I?
[ Not like he stays there once she's down though, instead making sure he picks the wine up from the door to put it on a table, then he goes to his bag to pull out snacks.
[ just cookies it is, then! she opens the fridge to grab two small cartons of milk, one for each of them. there's a straw glued to the back of the carton that they won't need glasses. it saves her the time to grab those from the cupboard.
the milk gets put on top of the tupperware and she slides it against her side so she can carry it without having to let go of merlin. then she calls clonco over and tells him to get some rest soon. there's some small chatter after that and merlin would really be able to tell that she's cheered up by the way she talks. when clonco's wheeled away... ]
[ These children... He throws the pocky (two boxes, chocolate and white chocolate) onto the bed then gets two glasses to finish off the wine bottle. They're fairly big glasses, but it's fine. ]
I'll catch up in a minute.
[ Glasses on the side tables, he reaches to tug off his jacket to get more comfortable, hanging it up carefully so it doesn't wrinkle. When he finally sit down he's only missed 5-10 minutes of it. ]
[ Athena's still chatting away when half way through his head drops against her shoulder. It probably seems like he's tired at first, but hopefully when he leaves a light kiss on her neck she'll realise he's just overwhelmed again. It's mostly because he can feel the difference now. This is much better. ]
I'm following. [ It's all he says before he gives her a short open mouthed kiss. Ah. ]
[ i can barely remember what happens in the first 10 mins of the little mermaid but let's pretend it's the part with the storm and ariel saves eric.
either way, athena seems really delighted because movies about princesses!! they're always fun. she she's happily munching away on a stick of the chocolate flavoured pocky, too. ]
[ her hold on the box of cookies loosens but at least she doesn't drop them, or the milk. she just ends up stopping and staring at merlin once the kiss is done, though. he's really warm. and for her, it's only been a few days, but she still really missed him anyway. ]
I love you, [ she blurts out, only for her to turn really red seconds later as if she's never said those three words before. ]
[ He half laughs when she only flusters herself, laughing into her skin with a wide smile on his face. Well, it's much better to hear than what was said earlier. Instead of answering rit away though he nuzzles her neck, shifting to kiss along her jaw a few times...
Good job Clonco wheeled away tbh ]
I love you too. [ It's then that he leans to give her a kiss on the lips, lingering but sweet. Ah. At least he didn't cry this time... ]
[ Look he couldn't help but be distracted when she looked smokin' hot okay. She does now, but he's also more relaxed now that she fell face first on the floor... ]
A singing crab... [ He raises an eyebrow and takes a sip of his wine. ] And here I thought neither of us were drunk.
[ if only she could let go of the cookies tbh but ah... he may not be crying but she is. with the cookies and milk on one hand and his on her other, she can't exactly wipe it away though. which is why she just laughs about it when she pulls away. ]
The stuff I said earlier, and when I shouted, I— I was just scared, okay? [ please forget about it. ] I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm sorry.
[ even if they were drunk they'd still be watching talking animals. even if they watched finding nemo, that'd still be the same thing dsagsdk THERE IS NO ESCAPE. ]
I think it's a bad idea to get drunk now. Unless you want to puke all over the pools tomorrow.
[ lbr that's pretty gross. ]
Hey, we're not going anywhere tonight anymore, right? I think I'm going to go get changed.
But ew?? He pulls a face at her with what she says though. ]
No thanks... We only have this one glass then it's finished anyway. [ Which is fair enough really. They've drank more on dates before. ] But I don't think so, go ahead.
[ Wipe it away? Eh. Honestly? He leans to kiss where the tears started up, squeezes her hand gently before his free hand reaches to wipe her eyes clean. ]
Let's just forget about it, it couldn't have been easy to deal with, I know.
[ before getting up, she actually downs all of her wine again. ah... look, with what she'll be doing next, she needs it tbh. though before getting up, she slides her hand on his as if to say she'll be back soon.
not that she'll be far away anyway??? but ah, athena... she fishes out her sleepwear from her luggage and heads to the bathroom. there's a laundry bag there so that's where she puts the dress she's wearing instead of putting it back in with her other clothes. she lets her hair down now, brushing it a bit to get ready for bed. and while she usually wears just a tank top and shorts to bed, she actually wanted to buy cute pyjamas for this trip but got salestalked by the lady at the store into buying something else.
"your boyfriend will love it!" she said.
it's a cute kind of sleepwear though, so athena doesn't totally mind. and with what she wants merlin to think, she thinks this might help. ]
Do I have to take off the ring when we go swimming tomorrow? [ it's such a casual question that she asks when she opens the door and steps out. her arm is stretched out as she walks back over to the bed, staring at the ring.
but ah, she is definitely wearing something different tonight. ]
[ still. she was serious that time at the rooftop. when she had told him that she loves him for the first time ever. when she said that if she ever hurts him, she'll go away. she's only waiting for merlin to tell her to go now, which is why something like that doesn't exactly boost her self-esteem. but she'll do her best this time. it won't happen again.
she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath to calm herself down. with merlin having wiped the tears away, she can see better now. it should be fine to start walking back to the rooftop. ]
You're really amazing, did you know that? [ it's a conversation she starts once they start going up the stairs now. ] Not just because of what you can do, but because of who you are.
[ she's already told him that he's amazing before but this is more of her way of saying she's thankful that he's been so patient with her all this time. ]
[ He opens his mouth to warn her to be steady with the wine because they don't have more, but it's already too late. Off she goes. Well, he manages to give her hamd a quick squeeze beforehand, but maybe it was a mistake to let her go now.
While she gets ready, he gets comfortable on the bed, head resting back against the headboard as he watches the screen. At first he doesn't look towards her (he's definitely gotten into it while she's been in the bathroom) and actually starts to answer her. ]
It's white gold so you shouldn't need to, it's just if you might los--
[ Only when he finally glances at her and what shes wearing it's while he's taking a sip of wine and he chokes. His hand has to cover his mouth as it goes down his throat the wrong way, and even though he feels like he can't breathe he can't turn his eyes away either... What a wreck. ]
[ Well, if people ran away from their problems nothing would ever get done... Especially him. Being told things had hurt, of course they did, but it isn't anything like what he's had to deal with from Morgana. Athena, too, is also alive. She's there. Physical. Real.
He hasn't had to place her body in a boat and watch it go up in flames, hasn't had to deal with the fact that she won't come back. Why risk all that by being overly touchy over her fear of losing him? It makes no sense. ]
That's not really it either but... I won't give up that easily.
[ it comes out like a whine. that didn't go as planned?!?! she looks down at her clothes and even turns to check her back but she looks okay?! it's cute! and it's not like there's anybody else here... ]
The lady at the store said you'd love it.
[ she should probably be more concerned that he's choking but priorities... ]
[ look??? don't question her logic?! she nudges him playfully by bumping her shoulder against his as they go up the stairs. it's not forceful so he shouldn't end up being sent down or anything. ]
[ He ends up squeezing his eyes shut and almost falls off the bed whilst reaching for water. His face is definitely red too now that he's torn his eyes away, to the point that even his ears and neck are flushing.
[ Thankfully it really is light, but it still makes him confused when he glances back at her. It's cute though, now that she's stopped angsting anyway. ]
It's fine. [ Because he doesn't know what else to say really, feeling a little heavy hearted despite himself. ] Thank you too... I guess?
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