*.*.*.*.*

Arthur sat two plates down on the counter not too long later, followed by the silverware and two beers, one for himself and one for Merlin. He gave Merlin a teasing sort of grin as he opened them, pushed Merlin's over to him, perhaps remembering that he had always been piss poor at holding his alcohol and banking on the fact that some things, no matter how much time has gone by, never change.

Merlin shook his head in good humor and drank the beer anyway, a light fuzzy sort of feeling flowing through him by the time he had only finished the one. But, he wouldn't quite give Arthur the satisfaction of letting on to that.

As they ate, Arthur told him about work, about his day, asking Merlin's opinion and advice every few minutes on the odd subject he thought he might have an opinion on. Merlin was more than willing to comply, to give Arthur everything he could ever want. And the way Arthur's eyes lit up when he talked to Merlin was everything he would ever want and more.

"Can I ask you something, Merlin?" Arthur asked once the meal was finished and he moved about to clear their plates.

"Hm?"

"Why is it," he paused, hands resting on his hips for a moment. "You've been here for over a week and I don't think I've seen you do magic once?"

Merlin shrugged. He had asked himself that very same question too many times in the short days they had been together again. He still had control of his magic, obviously, still did it when Arthur wasn't around or looking, but he could never seem to bring himself to do even the simplest of spells when Arthur was nearby. "I thought... That maybe you wouldn't want me to." He admitted, a touch of shame in his voice.

"Merlin." Arthur scolded, a small smile on his face. "I told you: I don't want you to ever change for anyone. I want you to always be you. The you you've always been, the you I've always..." he shook his head, catching himself on a lump in his throat that Merlin was all too familiar with.

Merlin pushed back from the counter and had his arms around Arthur in half a second, holding him tight and close until Arthur's sniffling stopped and he brought a hand up to card through Merlin's hair, tucking himself against him quite comfortably for a long time until they pulled apart and Arthur pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.

After that moment, Merlin was never shy about his magic around Arthur again.

*.*.*.*.*