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Leon threw the sheets aside and climbed out of bed. The pouring rain clamored as he ran a hand over his face.
He heard the pounding of the door which had drawn him out of bed in the first place.
“Coming!” He fiddled with the locks. Perhaps it was Ms Wilson and her cat again, though she never had bothered him so late at—
“Leon, I've figured it out!”
He moved out of the way as the all too familiar voice barreled past him and into his living room. He shut the door from the rain and turned on the lamp.
Merlin turned on his heels to face him. His hair was soaked, smushed against his head as his clothes—a tunic and trousers and an out of place trenchcoat—were no better. Water dripped off him as his chest heaved; a wild grin on his face.
“I see you're here.” Leon yawned. “Figured what out?”
“Remember when I told you that—”
He held out his hand. “Jacket.”
Merlin shrugged his arms out and handed it over.
Leon shook it before tossing it over the back of his couch.
“Remember when—
“Shower.” He pointed down the hallway.
“Leon!” Merlin groaned.
“You're soaking my carpet, thank you very much.” Leon gestured to the wet spot below him. “Down the hall, door on the right. Put those clothes in the basket by the corner.”
He watched Merlin and his reluctance disappear down the hall before he made his way into the kitchen. He winced as he switched on the lights and grabbed everything for breakfast. The sound of the shower started as he cracked one too many eggs for just two people.
Two batches of toast had finished as he heard the shower eventually stop. The creak of the bathroom door and sock feet against the kitchen tile followed as he turned off the burner and platted everything.
“Breakfast.” He turned around and put the plate down on the counter. Merlin stood in new clothes and a towel wrapped around his neck. “Didn't know if you wanted coffee, tea, or orange juice so I served you all three.”
Merlin shot him a grin and grabbed the coffee, holding and savoring the warmth before he took a sip. “There were already clothes laid out when I went into the bathroom.”
He watched as Merlin had no regard for pacing as he grabbed his silverware and started to devour the foot on the plate.
Leon cocked his head. “Got a feeling last night. Didn't think I was gonna be right.”
“You never do,” he mumbled from behind the toast and eggs shoved in his mouth.
Leon rolled his eyes. “Chew. Don't need you choking and dying on eggs and toast.”
“Wouldn't be the worst way I've died.” He licked off some yolk that had dropped on his thumb.
He shook his head and leaned back on the counter. “So let's see. Tunic and those shoes I'm guessing, ninth century?”
He cocked a grin and waited for Merlin to tease back or to let him bask in his glory, but it never came.
Merlin slowed down, put down the fork and knife as he slowly finished what was in his mouth. He cleared his throat. “Seventh…”
He felt his heart drop.
“But listen—”
“Listen?” He scoffed. “I lived it, Merlin. Thousand and thousands of years ago. I know why you're here and it doesn't end good.”
“What we talked about—”
“We? You mean the me that was still grieving losing everyone and so desperate to have it all back?” He put down his coffee.
Merlin recoiled. “I thought you would be happy?”
“Merlin…”
“Why did you never tell me about this? Huh?” He retorted. “We could have done it and…”
“We made a deal?” He reminded him. “I never tell you anything that you've done or will do and you don't tell me anything that I will do either. I thought of it for a reason, Merlin.”
“We didn't understand how this all worked then, now we do!”
Leon sighed.
“We can go back!” Merlin continued.
“No, we can't.”
“You don't know—”
“Except, I do!” He tried to reason. “I already lived your future, I know what happens. I understood how it all worked, from that moment on, but I knew you wouldn't until just now. It was to protect you; to protect me too.”
“No,” Merlin continued to protest. “The plan, it's flawless. Nothing can—
“There's nothing left back there, Merlin!” Leon finally snapped. “It's all just memories. Nothing you do will change anything! Nothing will bring them back! No matter what you change, no matter what you do, they all still die.” He let out a scoff. “And I've had to wait decades—centuries, for when they come back just so they all can die again and again.”
He looked at Merlin as he tightened his jaw, clenching as his glossed over eyes broke and his tears fell free.
“Don't you get it…” he softened his voice. “You are going place to place seeing the different versions of them in rapid succession, you haven't lived the space in between where they don't breathe.”
Merlin tightened his fist as his side.
“I'm right here! And so are you!” He continued, bordering on begging. “Isn't that enough?”
Merlin wiped at his face. “I'm sorry.” He stood and walked out of the kitchen.
“Merlin!” He found himself running after him.
“I have to Leon.” He grabbed his coat off the couch.
Leon stopped at the threshold of the living room, not allowing himself to move further. “Don't,” he said.
Merlin put his hand on the doorknob, then paused. “When you see me next, keep our promise. I'm a few thousand years younger and I don't know any of this. I'll go figure out why future-you tended to be a bit more protective and snippy with me.”
“Merlin…” It was all he could say. He couldn't find himself with more to stop him, as if he really could.
“Please, understand.”
He gave Merlin a sad grin, fighting a grimace as he sniffed and looked away. “Then, Go.” He couldn't meet his eyes knowing what happened—what was going to happen all the same.
Merlin nodded, unbothered to wipe away his own tears. “Goodbye, Leon.”
He stayed as if waiting for him to say something, but Leon refused to look up. Eyes pressed shut as he heard Merlin sniffle, the door knob turned and the sound of the storm grew loud before being muffled again by the door closing shut.