Your Window to Inspiration: Seamlessly Browse Tumblr!
Y’know that one scene in A Servant of Two Masters where Merlin tells Leon he’s off to kill the king and Leon just laughs
What if Merlin realises how much power that actually has and just starts telling Leon the truth instead of coming up with excuses
Like
Leon: Hey Merlin, where are you off to?
Merlin: Just going to fight a gryphon!
Leon: ha! Have fun!
Or
Leon: Merlin, why do you have highly illegal poison?
Merlin: it’s only poison mixed with alcohol, otherwise it’s just great sidhe repellent!
Leon, chuckling fondly: Alright, as you were then.
Or
Leon: Merlin! Where were you?
Merlin: nowhere interesting, just practicing sorcery.
And Leon believes he’s just keeping the gag going every time.
Which also makes the poetry scene so much better because Leon is used to Merlin being funny, never giving proper excuses and joking about high treason crimes.
So when Merlin is so flustered that he blurts out poetry, the only possible explanation can be that something Merthur is happening and Leon wants no part in it.
It also got me thinking about post Camlan when Merlin and Arthur get back to Camelot (I’m in denial, shut up) when Leon finds out Merlin has magic.
He waits at the gates for Merlin with his arms folded looking like a disappointed mother, then Merlin stops and realises every one of his “excuses” came back to bite him in the arse.
Until Leon has to explain to Arthur that he’s known Merlin is a sorcerer for a while now, but always thought it was a joke because “it’s Merlin”
Merlin: in my defence, I never lied.
Leon: you confessed to multiple crimes!
Merlin: you let me get away with them!
Arthur: huh?
Leon: Sire, I can explain.
Merlin: can you?
Leon: can you?!
I’m tempted to turn this into a fanfic if anyone would want to read it