He likes you.

I liked it from the first meeting.

Gaius had something to say, and West had finally heard it by now. Where is the old man talking about cats, he said that he is obviously a certain archmage like Abby, sullen and dark-bellied, born with a well-behaved appearance, but he hides deadly claws, but it is just like a cat, which makes people depressed and helpless.

And, listening to Daddy, Merlin seems to have fallen in love with him at first sight?

Fake it.

Dazedly looked up at the mage who was waiting for him to follow at the top of the stairs, the expression on his face was after all the romance of falling in love, and it was clearly more like the bitter hatred that wanted to send him to hell. The hermit twitched the corners of his mouth, and he was still thinking hard about how to get close to Merlin, but he had already taken the initiative to go to the Tao, this pie was too big, and it smashed directly from the sky to his mouth, he was really a little confused.

Did Gaius know Merlin to think so? Or do you just think so?

And what about Merlin? Even if a thousand years have passed, even if there is no memory of him, will he still retain the same feelings as then?

West wasn't sure.

But it is undeniable that in some corners of his heart that he doesn't want to admit, he can't help but rejoice in this possibility - he never dares to underestimate his obsession with Merlin. I thought I would have to carry it alone in the endless years, but I was able to walk with him again, even if I still couldn't come together in the end, it was enough to comfort him for the rest of his long life.

"Alright, let's go have a good talk. I'm an old man, so I won't bother. ”

Reluctant to keep West tossing his cat, or most likely unable to withstand the glare of some 'greatest magician of all time', Gaius finally reached out and hugged the cutie off the boy's lap. Although Abby still hummed and chirped and was reluctant to move, and desperately stretched out his paws to hook West's valuable slacks, he still couldn't resist the doctor, and squatted in the corner to sulk.

Oh.

I don't think that 'have a good chat' is a good word. West got up with a wooden face, nodded, and walked towards the second floor in a daze as Merlin stared at him meaninglessly.

… …

Gaius and Merlin's house is a duplex house, which is in the same block as the villa that Iron Man gave to the hermit, and the layout is basically the same, showing the taste of the local tyrant to the fullest. It's just that this kind of place is very deserted whether West's own or the doctor and the tenant live together, but they get together, three people and a cat, which makes the whole room a little warmer.

Merlin's room was at the end of the second floor, a great spot to get the sun most of the time, a huge floor-to-ceiling window, and even an open balcony. Lush creepers and wisteria flowers clinged to the white-edged balustrades, and a small beech coffee table was placed in the center of the balcony, with teacups and a few books of poetry in hand, as if the owner of the place often sat in the shade and sunshine, reading these beautiful words that soaked the human soul, and constantly recording all the bright and brilliant lines of poetry in life.

It's a pity that it's getting late now, otherwise he would really want to go there to see the scenery.

Thinking so, although his house was exactly the same, he was too lazy to take care of it, and West was finally frustrated and found that his requirements for quality of life were too low.

"You sit as you like."

Because he was still angry, Merlin's face was still extremely ugly at the moment, so he just dropped this sentence and went to the closet to find clothes for West. Anyway, his room was covered with soft wool carpets and cushions scattered all over the place, and the mage wasn't worried about the guy sitting in any uncomfortable place.

Shrinking his neck, knowing that his stubborn refusal not to go to the hospital at the bar must have Merlin, West has been unusually obedient since he went home with him. Seeing that he was embarrassed, the young man hesitated, but he really didn't have the courage to sit on the big bed, which looked unusually comfortable, but pulled a pillow casually, stood in front of the desk, and waited obediently for the mage to turn back.

"Whoa." Pulling out a half-new white shirt, Merlin turned and handed it over, then poured him another glass of water. As a result, when he looked up after he was done, he found that West was still standing still, and the shirt was in his hand, looking a little embarrassed.

"What, doesn't it fit?" The mage frowned slightly. This guy is logically about the same size as him, or even a little thinner. The dress was a little small for him to wear, and it should be just right for West.

"Not ......"

As if he didn't know how to speak, West hesitated for a moment, and finally sighed as if he compromised when he saw the mage's expression becoming more and more confused.

- He didn't want Merlin to see his ugly side, the traces of his blood and hatred that proved he had been alive and well in every inch of his life...... Obviously, they all have a peaceful and peaceful life in this life, and he, an outlaw who crawled out of hell, should not be blasphemed with ugliness at all.

Although, there is no way around it.

The slender fingers unbuttoned the buttons, which were obviously just normal movements, but because of the slow speed, they bordered on teasing. A little helplessly pressed the corner of his forehead, and said that when will this guy know that his every move is teasing, Merlin was about to turn his head politely, but suddenly paused, and could no longer look away.

West was born quite delicate. The skin is delicate and fair, and the muscles are well-proportioned, just like the Chinese porcelain on display in the museum, and there are almost no blemishes. But now, this natural perfection has been broken by several hideous scars, and the tangled texture after healing is like a centipede coiling from the shoulder to the lumbar vertebrae, all over the back, making people's throats tight, and it is impossible to imagine what kind of injury will create this terrible scar that can never be erased.

The mage's chest froze. Although West quickly put on a new shirt to cover up the ugly scars, the scar was enough to impress Merlin.

He knew that West was unusual, but he never thought that his unusualness would bring him such a terrible disaster.

It was as if there was a fire burning in his chest, burning his blood all over his body. Merlin had few regrets, but now he regretted why he hadn't met West earlier, and hadn't stood by his side to protect him when he needed it, so that it was too late to meet, and he had nothing to give but heartache and remorse.

No wonder, he was dismissive of the wound on his arm.

No wonder, he stubbornly didn't go to the hospital to bandage, saying that he could handle it.

That's not because he has actually endured a thousandfold of pain, so heavy that he has long been numb, and he regards pain as leisure.

"Merlin."

One look at his expression knew he must be feeling sorry for himself. West snapped the last button, paused, and turned quietly to call.

The mage slowly raised his head.

"Even though we only met for the first time today, you were very nice to me......"

He remembered that he was angry that he had not eaten lunch, that he was furious when he saw that he was injured, that he was saddened by the old scars on his body. There seemed to be a glint in West's pupils, and he looked straight into the mage's eyes, as if he was uneasy, but more like anticipation.

Merlin.

“…… Why the hell are you being so nice to me? ”

The air in the room seemed to condense together, and it was so oppressive that one could not breathe. He also quietly looked back at the young man's clear eyes as blue as the sea, vaguely like the spring of a sage who once knew everything in the depths of the Ukiyo Forest. Merlin sighed softly, like an unexpected torrential rain in the middle of summer, drenching his eyes and dripping into the boy's restless heart.

"Don't you know?"

In a calm tone, West heard Merlin speak.

Think of it as the first encounter, as if it was love at first sight. He hesitated for countless days and nights, wandering in every corner of the world, but only by this person's side was he willing to melt the loneliness wrapped in the layers of his heart again.

He couldn't wait.

He didn't want to wait any longer.

"You know, Will." As if smiling, the mage repeated it slowly.

Thousands of years ago, and now.

I like you all.

I like it more than anyone else in the world.

“……”

The heartbeat was like a drum, deafening, but it was also silent in the quiet blank around it. West stood stunned, his eyes seemed to be dotted with stars, and a glimmer of brilliance gradually emerged.

Taking in the boy's reaction, now that he has made this head, the rest is very simple for Merlin. After hesitating, he took a few steps forward and stood still in front of West. As if he was afraid that he would turn his head and run, the mage couldn't help but say that he held the wrist that was not injured:

"It may seem abrupt to you, but I'm not lying...... Even if we've only known each other for less than a day, I still like you. ”

Lowering his eyelids to hide the tension flowing from under his eyes, Merlin didn't give West any chance to speak, and had already planned a change of reaction for him:

"Don't be nervous, don't be stressed...... I know it's not good to say this just after we met, but I really just want you to know that it doesn't mean anything else and doesn't need you to respond to me anything. ”

He just wanted a justifiable reason to be around him. Accompany him, take care of him, protect him, and make up for so many missed moments.

As for whether West can accept him or not, and how long it will take, it is not a question worth caring.

"But, I ......"

"No, but."

His face suddenly became a little complicated. West hesitated for a moment, took a deep breath, and finally had the courage to speak, only to be interrupted at the first word.

I don't think it's going to be followed by any good words. Clenching his shoulders, Merlin looked directly into the young man's eyes rather oppressively, his face was full of non-refusal, but a trace of panic was quietly leaked in his tone:

"I said, you don't have to do anything, just know that I like you...... Don't you even accept this? ”

He's given in to this extent, given enough freedom and time for West, is he so desperate that he won't even give him a chance?

"No, Merlin!"

I couldn't laugh or cry because of the mage's brain. West had to raise his voice and put his finger on Merlin's lips to earn himself a chance to speak.

"You've got to finish it."

The softness that touched under their fingertips made both of them tremble. Realizing that this action was too ambiguous, the hermit coughed lightly, withdrew his fingers, and sighed slightly:

"I mean, you don't have to bother that much......"

frowned, and wanted to open his mouth to grab the white. West quickly covered Merlin's mouth with his entire palm, making sure that he couldn't make any sound, and finally continued helplessly:

Gaius was right that no one should say that you can't like someone when you meet for the first time. Otherwise, where in the world is there so much love at first sight—"

"Even if it's the first time we've met and we don't know each other at all, it doesn't mean we can't try to get closer and think about whether it's a good fit."

Although many times it is not possible to stay together without feelings.

But you like me, and I like you, and that's enough.

So.

"Let's be together, Merlin."