Hidden Magic • Peter Parker ✓

Chapter 6

Carried on directly from the last chapter

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"I figured." Merlin chuckled with his goofy crooked smile. This is so Merlin, sassy even at the most intimate of times.

I stare into his eyes a little longer until Merlin clears his throat. "Would you care to get me down Spiderboy."

"After that comment I might leave you there." I quip, dropping down to his branch and swinging my legs childishly. I hear him mutter a spell and let out a yelp as I am tugged off the branch and held upside down by my ankles.

"Hey no fair!" I exclaim, crossing my arms like a true five year old.

"Get me down and I might let you go." He says with a smirk. I roll my eyes and pull off the webbing sending Merlin tumbling to the floor. I catch him with a web just before he hits the long dewy grass below.

"Sorry I didn't think that through." I call, lowering him down carefully. He rolls over and smiles up at me, whispering the counter spell that sends me crashing down to earth. I don't catch myself in time and end up face first in the dirt.

"Shit I'm sorry Peter I thought you would catch yourself." Merlin says frantically, checking me over for broken bones or cuts.

"It's okay. I'm fine." I groan, rolling into my back and staring up at him. He looks at me quizzically, eyes glazed over with worry. To lighten the mood I stick my tongue out, making Merlin giggle so much he collapses next to me.

"You're adorable." He says through his giggles, cheeks dusted with the lightest pink I have ever seen.

"Look who's talking." I breathe out, snuggling into his side. The grass tickles at the back of my neck and my clothes are soaked with the morning dew. But I don't care. Nothing can ruin this moment. The moment I have dreamed of since the first day here.

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By nightfall we had moved all of three steps, not really wanting to move all that much. Merlin suggested we camp out for the night but I hastily turned down that offer. No way am I spending the night in a spooky forest. Even if I have the most powerful warlock in the world by my side.

So we make our way back to the citadel, hand in hand and giggling like maniacs.

Something about Merlin is intoxicating, draws me in until I can barely stand. I am beginning to see I have the same effect on him.

We reach Gaius's chambers and fall silent at the scene. Arthur, Gwaine and Lancelot are pacing haphazardly bumping into everything in sight. The other Knights are sat on benches bouncing their legs anxiously.

Merlin clears his throat and all eyes turn to us.

"Where the hell have you been?" Arthur yells causing me to flinch back. I hate it when people yell.

"We told you Gaius that we were going to the forest. Peter wanted to make sure his web things still worked." I had to stifle a laugh at Merlin's lack of technology.

"You have been gone the entire day." Arthur pressed, fury still evident in his unwavering voice.

"We lost track of time. I'm sorry it's my fault. I just miss being Spiderman." I feel a sharp squeeze on my hand and only then do I realise our fingers are still intertwined.

I risk a glance at Merlin who is looking at me with such empathy I want to burst into tears. Obviously I don't, but I'm not completely opposed to the idea.

Arthur sighs and rubs his temple. "Just make sure your back before nightfall next time."

"Next time?" I say with some hope. Arthur looks up slightly shocked.

"Of course next time. What did you think I would say? That you can't go out anymore?" A hint of hurt can be heard although impressively his voice never cracks. How does he do it? Act so tough all the time.

"Well you did lock me in my room for a week." I snap.

"And I'm sorry for that."

"Are you?" I feel my magic bubbling under my skin and focus all my energy on controlling it. "Because this is the first time you have actually bothered to talk to either of us and you are yelling. All because we were enjoying the outside world after you confined us to this room. I don't believe you are sorry because if you were you would have the decency to act like a human being and talk out your problems with us instead of hiding away like a child because Merlin kept a life threatening secret. Grow up Arthur."

I storm past the king and shell shocked Knights and slam the door to Merlin and I's shared bedroom with enough force to splinter the wood. I throw myself on my makeshift bed and let my magic explode. Books go flying into the walls and the small glass window shatters letting the noises of the night flood the room.

The door creaks open and I fight the urge to slam whoever it is into the doorframe. Merlin steps into the room and locks the door behind him.

"Noone has ever stood up to him like that. Not even me and I go against him all the time." Merlin says with appreciation.

"I was a dick. He didn't deserve that."

"I'm pretty sure he did. Everything you said was true. I may or may not have yelled at him some more before joining you. Safe to say he is even more pissed off at the both of us."

"Sorry."

"Stop apologising," the bed dips as he sidles in next to me. "You stood up for yourself and me, for that I am grateful. Besides, the royal prat needs telling off once in a while. He will cool down eventually, just you wait."

I nod and lay back on the pillow. Merlin follows, wrapping us both in the thin, itchy blanket. A downside to life in Camelot. But the warmth exuding from Merlin makes up for it. I melt into his side, feeling safe and loved.

He drapes his arm over my waist pulling me closer to his chest. The rhythmic breaths lull me into a deep sleep, one that I am very very grateful for.

Today has been a rollercoaster.