Work Text:
The car reached 100, 200. The wheels were smoking, car was shaking. He kept his foot on the gas and his eyes screwed shut. His hands didn’t touch the wheel. Linkin Park, Numb was blasting from his busted speakers.
He never saw the wall. Never saw the impact. Never felt any pain.
“Merlin!”
His eyes snapped open.
***
It had been a week since he woke up. A strange place. A strange man. A strange familiarity he couldn’t place. Arthur, his friend, was the crowned Prince. How had he come to be here? It was only a matter of time before they caught on. Realized he was not who they thought.
It had been a month. He was comfortable. Happy would be a stretch. Gaius cared for him, Arthur made him laugh. Gwen was beautiful and kind. Morgana kept him company in the evenings. He was one of them, in a way. His old life felt further and further away.
It had been a year.
Who was he before?
It didn’t matter.
Who was he now?
No one.
He’d lost everything. He stood atop the castle wall facing down oblivion. He’d been here before. The same man, a new name. The same problem, a new face.
He stepped out and fell.
“Merlin?”
His eyes fell shut.