Love And Other Things Like It

[hopenight]

Title: Love and Other Things Like It
Author: hopenight
Rating: pg-13
Word Count: 1,433
Fandom: Merlin, Bones
Pairing: Sweets/Merlin
Warning: boy kissing and magic
Summary: Most people can tell that Merlin loves Sweets and that Sweets loves Merlin. Now all they needed was the advice to get together.
A.N.: Two in one day! You know that I'm on a roll baby! Third in the Pretty Damn Close verse.

 

Merlin loved his shop. Destinies: Antiques and Oddities was housed in a beautiful Victorian two story home that the sorcerer had magically painted to look the like the night and day. One side of the house was the sun done in bright colors in human form gazing at the other side of the house which showed the moon in human form done in subdued colors. It was very pretty and attracted gobs of attention to his store.

The residents of the street liked Merlin. Sure they thought he was a little odd but he was a very kind young man with a sweet smile and bright eyes. Plus there was an undeniable quality about him. Something almost magical...

Which was preposterous of course, everyone knows that magic doesn’t exist. Well everyone except the children. See children feel bad for adults because they no longer know. Every child in every time in every century knew that magic existed. It was an undeniable fact in life. Except with any exposure to magic then the belief will dwindle and die. However, children always go looking for magic. It’s something that will never end for all time.

So children went out looking for magic and found Mister Merlin.

They loved Mister Merlin because with his golden eyes and ancient smile, he allowed them to hold onto a lifelong belief in magic. He would weave stories, let them play with the odd bits and bobbles in his shop, pull flowers out of air, ignite sparks at his finger tips, and when he is especially happy that was when he would float. He always seemed to float when Dr. Lance would call him.

Now children aren’t stupid. They know all about Stephen and his two mommies as well as Marcus and his two daddies. It was generally accepted among them that they just accept it. It made their lives easier. So they knew that Mister Merlin liked Dr. Lance. They were young not idiots. The children from the block would tell Mister Merlin how to get Dr. Lance to like him back.

Little Cindy Simons with her missing front teeth and her perpetually messy hair told him to give Dr. Lance a flower. Marcus Brady, who was too tall and thin for his age, said that he should pull his hair to show interest. The children suggested various things: candy, drawings, homemade cards, all very innocent gifts. Gifts you gave out as a child to that special someone. 

Mister Merlin listened to them very seriously. He nodded then began to tell them a story.

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Merlin had children to give him romantic advice. Sweets had someone better.

He had Angela and she knew her romance.

“Angela? Can I talk to you?”

The woman looked up from her sketch. She smiled and it reached her eyes. It reminded him of Merlin a little bit.

“Sure, Sweets. Come in,” gestured the woman.

Sweets hedged in nervously. He licked his lips to relieve the dry, cracked feeling.

“I’m having some…romantic issues. I think.”

“Oh? What’s her name?”

“His name is Merlin.”

Angela blinked, “You’re bi?”

“No. At least I don’t think so. I mean I had a couple crushes on guys but never anything…like this.”

The woman nodded.

“So tell me about him, sweetie.”

“Um well he just moved here from England and owns an antique store. He’s totally awesome like he knows all these random facts and different things. He’s a wicked cook. He’s funny and kind. He has a big heart and…makes me feel so strange. Like…I can’t describe it.”

“Almost like that you’re overflowing in happiness? Like you’re filled up to the top and overwhelmed? Special and just the only person in the world?”

Sweets flushed. He wasn’t going to use such flowery terms. But yeah Merlin did make him feel special.

“Well sweetie, I think I know what’s up with you.”

Sweets looked up hopefully. Angela smiled.

“Honey you’re in love. You’re ga-ga about this Merlin guy.”

“That’s what I was afraid of.”

“Why?”

“I’m the only person he really knows here. I don’t want to take advantage of that.”

“Oh Sweets you’re too nice sometimes. It’s okay to love him. Does he like you back?”

“I think he does.”

“Well then seize the day, carpe diem. Just follow your heart instead of your head.”

Angela knew who he was talking about remembering the strange kid that brought Sweets food a couple weeks ago. She could tell then that they had something different...special almost.

“But how do I…?”

“Well give him flowers maybe. Take him out somewhere nice.”

“That sounds like what you would do with a girl. I’m not sure if he would appreciate that.”

“Really the basic relationship schematics don’t change only the equipment.”

Sweets nodded, “Thanks for the help, Angela. I think.”

Angela smiled, “Good luck, Sweets.”

The psychiatrist gave a tentative smile and left.

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Merlin loved the Botanical Garden almost as much as he loved the shop. It was peaceful place filled with beautiful flowers. It reminded him of sneaking out of the castle after Arthur had been crown king. He would sit among the roots of the trees and freely devour book after book on magic. Of course now he was writing. He liked the store in all but he felt after fifteen centuries of life he could try telling his story.

“I figure that I would find you here.”

The immortal looked up and smiled, “‘Lo Lance. What brings you here?”

“Well I erm brought you some lunch. Not home cooked because I suck at cooking. But I got some sandwiches.”

“Lance! It’s fine! Thank you,” said Merlin with a laugh. The psychiatrist smiled nervously and sat down with the plastic bag. He offered Merlin the bag first. The sorcerer grabbed a turkey sandwich, crisps, and juice. The both ate in a companionable silence.

“So what are you doing?” asked Lance.

“Oh writing. I have an idea for a book series on the King Arthur mythos and I come here when the shop gets slow.”

“You keep strange hours.”

“And yet people keep on coming.”

“I like your shop especially the artwork outside. It’s like a story.”

“It is,” agreed Merlin, “an old one my mother used to tell me.”

“Could…Could I hear it?”

“Well when the Earth was made and humankind populated it. Sun and Moon did not bother with one another. See they were both busy in their own ways. Sun kept the Earth warm and helped the people grow their crops. While Moon kept the paths bright and clear for travelers. However one day as Moon was setting and Sun was beginning to rise, they saw it each other. It was love at first sight. See they were both lonely. So as Sun would rise and Moon would set or vice versa they would talk to each other. Thus making twilight and dawn, it was the time when the two could meet and discuss what happened while the other slept.”

Merlin paused to take a drink and snuck a glance at his companion. Lance looked utterly fascinated. The immortal grinned and continued.

“Well you see one day the Moon could not take it anymore. She was in love with the Sun. So during their meeting, she leaned over and kissed him. Now you see at the time there were no stars in the sky. Only Moon and Sun were the chief sources of light. But the kiss Moon gave Sun was so full of love and hope that it crystallized and glowed becoming the first star.”

“So all the stars in the sky?” questioned Lance moving closer to Merlin. Merlin turned his head. The two of them were so close that they could feel the others hot breath ghost over their skin.

“Are all the kisses the two of them gave each other,” finished Merlin, “The sky is a canvas that shows the love of the Sun and the Moon.”

Both of them stared at each other. Lance murmured as he moved closer, “I’ve never felt like this about another man before. I’m not sure what to do.”

Pretenses dropped easily like a cloak with that statement. Merlin smiled gently.

“Don’t worry. I have. I’ll show you.”

The two leaned together and gently kissed.

That day the science community was stumped. Utterly and totally stumped because at that exact moment every single flower and tree in the Garden burst into full bloom. It was phenomenon that would stump people for the ages.

Merlin just hoped that Lance did not notice they were floating several centimeters from the ground.

Comments

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

That was lovely. Loved the story Merlin told.

[hopenight.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed it. Actually I made up the story Merlin told on the fly. If you can believe it.