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“So why, exactly, am I pretending to be your boyfriend..? Usually I’m a GFE kind of guy.”
That earns Merlin a glare.
“I told you already, weren’t you listening? It’s almost Valentine’s Day and as a special treat they’re making special couple’s cakes. You can’t get them any other way, so we have to do this.”
This is exactly how Romani ends up in the cafeteria on Valentine’s Day with Merlin’s arm wrapped around him. That Archer in red and Tamamo Cat raise eyebrows but they get the cake so it is worth it in the end.
As soon as they get out of there, though, Romani attempts to break away from that damned Caster’s grip but he’s way stronger than most Casters. With a pitiful yelp, he finds himself teleported into a storage room where Merlin finally lets go.
“Your strength parameter is overkill, I thought you were a Caster?!” Romani questions.
“Just because you were a wimpy one doesn’t mean I am~!”
It earns him a smack even though no one else can hear. There’s no wince, only laughter. They sit in silence for a moment as Romani stares at his cake prize and Merlin examines something the doctor can’t see. It drags on longer, longer.
Well now it’s awkward.
They sit in it until finally neither of them can take it. Merlin blurts something out but quiets, letting Romani speak.
“Why did you even agree to this in the first place? I thought you only would agree if a cute girl asked you.”
The answer he expected, he’s unsure of, but he doesn’t expect Merlin to start laughing again as if he’d told a great joke. He glares yet again.
“You really don’t realize,” he says between giggles, “why I’d say yes?”
The doctor shakes his head. With a sigh he waits for Merlin to calm. It does take a minute.
“You’re one of the most interesting people in all of existence, Romani Archaman.”
Merlin has a way of being flippant and cheerful but flipping effortlessly and suddenly to dead serious. It’s one of these moments.
“I thought Solomon was terribly dull aside from his power. What a boring character,” he says with a small smile.
“But you, Romani, are infinitely more interesting. So much fear. So much care. A coward, sure, but one who can pull himself together and do what he must.”
And then Merlin looks him dead in the eyes. And Romani realizes the depth of his investment in even such stupid things. There are no more words needed. Merlin knows. Perhaps he has always known.
They both know the end is rapidly approaching. But they do not dare acknowledge that.
“I don’t love individual humans. But I’m so very invested in your story, be that the hero’s journey or smaller, quieter interludes. So of course I would agree. You Chaldeans have my attention. I cannot stay away.”
Merlin lies as easily as he breathes. He does care about individual humans.
(Especially this one.)