The Barn, Thursday Morning

[bigdamndestiny]

With the puppy still in the process of learning not to piddle indoors, Merlin found himself down in the barn all night to keep her company rather than clean up in the morning. It was actually rather warm even in the cool of the night. All the horses, after all.

And a puppy that decided to sleep curled up on his back.

"Brynne, you're going to make me unable to walk if you do that again," Merlin grumbled, giving her an annoyed look.

[[For one]]

Comments

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"She won't be afraid then," Merlin replied, petting her once.

[bitchprince]

"S-- He will be if you keep encouraging him," Arthur said, and held his hand out for the pup.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Leaving her afraid and alone isn't right."

[bitchprince]

Why not? It was Uther's favorite method.

Rolling his eyes as the dog sniffed his fingers, Arthur remarked, "He'll stop being afraid and alone once he survives to get self-sufficient."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin shot him an annoyed look. "It's cruel. She doesn't know any better."

[bitchprince]

"So she-- he should learn the rules. You can't comfort everyone through their worst days."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"And you can't pretend it doesn't cause them pain because it's convenient for you."

[bitchprince]

Arthur rolled his eyes, but said no more. "Am I going to have to pick you up from the stables every morning, now?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Why? Does your bed need to be changed again?" Merlin snapped, standing up.

[bitchprince]

Oh, now that was nice. Arthur took the blow with only the slightest twitch of a wince, and wondered why he even cared.

"My bed is fine," he said, "If that dog still can't sleep alone at night within a month, however, I fear for it."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"It's not as though her master does," Merlin muttered under his breath. "I will be there this evening to care for your needs if that is why you are here."

[bitchprince]

"I came here to find my errant manservant and perhaps go for a ride," he said, idly, patting the dog's head. He wasn't quite stretching upright yet, keeping a careful eye on Merlin.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Servant found. Shall I prepare a horse for you?"

[bitchprince]

"If you think you're actually capable of it."

Maybe a tad bitchy. But only because he didn't know what bloody else to say.

"Merlin..."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Don't," Merlin said, voice lower and more dangerous than thought possible for someone so scrawny.

[bitchprince]

There was... some small amount of staring. "You do remember that you don't get to tell me what to do, do you?" He wouldn't have bothered if that didn't sound dispairingly like Merlin was trying to threaten him, but.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I can not do this now," Merlin said tightly. He was wound up like a bow string and he was terrified of where this tension could go.

[bitchprince]

"Are you threatening me?" Arthur asked him, sounding a little incredulous.

He wasn't, all things considered, the best in the world at being terrified of Merlin, even if he did wield impossible forces that could if his father were to be believed send the entire kingdom up in a cloud of fire, or something.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"No!" Yes, maybe a little. Sex pollen did strange things to a person who couldn't admit attraction and yet was jealous as all hell. "I think you ought to leave now."

[bitchprince]

"This is not your stable," Arthur informed him. He was starting to rise to his feet, but he wasn't moving, otherwise. "What's gotten into you now?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Then I will," Merlin replied, voice going a bit hoarse as he ignored any of the impulses in his mind.

[bitchprince]

The first instinct Arthur had was to go I thought I told you to prepare my horse, but something about the hoarseness of Merlin's tone was making that response sink far. "Why? What is it?"

The situation struck him as oddly familiar.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Nothing about this bloody well made any sense. He needed... fresh air. Yes.

Despite the building being mostly open.

"I can not be around you. Enjoy yourself today." The last part was snarled and bitter. And yet he was still not going to think about why.

[bitchprince]

"... Are you trying to quit your job?"

Arthur shouldn't be sounding like he was just smacked across the face. It was undignified.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"What?" Arthur was not helping his attempts to flounce storm out of here. "Are you going to sack me?"