You didn’t expect to become friends with Merlin. At first, it seemed like he kept you around for his own reasons, but as time passed, you noticed the way his gaze softened when you laughed, or how he’d pause, hesitant, like he wanted to say more but couldn’t bring himself to. Over countless small moments, a bond formed between you both—a companionship you hadn’t anticipated.

Today, though, something feels off. You’re in the middle of a trivial argument, something as small as who remembered the directions wrong. It’s light-hearted at first, but he seems unusually tense, his shoulders tight, his responses sharp.

“It’s not that big of a deal, Merlin,” you say, trying to diffuse the tension with a smile. But he looks at you, a mix of frustration and something deeper in his eyes.

“Maybe it is,” he says, voice wavering just slightly. “Maybe it’s a bigger deal than you think.”

You blink, taken aback by the sadness underlying his words. “Why are you so worked up about this?” you ask, feeling something shift in the air.

He hesitates, the silence stretching before he finally mutters, almost as if to himself, “Because… you were supposed to be just a way to break my curse.”

His words hang in the air, and you feel a jolt of shock. He looks down, guilt etched into his expression, like he wishes he could take it back. The room is quiet as you both stand there, suddenly aware of how much you matter to each other, despite the lie that started it all.