WHO: Merlin and Chloe Sullivan WHAT: Two mostly strangers try a date… it does not go as planned. WHEN: Some time ago... WHERE: Out, then in, perhaps WARNINGS: PG STATUS: Closed and Compelte
Merlin smiled as he waited. He had been doing much work of late, accumulating, slowly, the energy and power he needed to make a little magic happen. And he had some to spare for today. He had decided, looking from afar, with her challenging permission, that today would work. For she was home, freshly dressed, if only just, from her shower, had not yet eaten, and was not yet involved in anything.
Which made it a rather perfect moment.
He smirked as he vanished, and reappeared outside a restaurant. He headed inside and a few minutes later, he had a room to himself, a table set, cheesy bread and wine already waiting, and he nodded.
Aloud he spoke, and his magic snapped into action. “Now.”
And the magic reached out, found Chloe, and pulled her, carefully, gently, but with no warning, to the chair opposite him.
He grinned. “Good evening, Miss Sullivan. Surprise.”
***
It wasn’t the first time Chloe had been “yanked” from wherever she was and whatever she’d been doing. Clark used to do that all the time, but sometimes it was the bad guys that took her. Chloe was, understandably, wary when things like this happened.
She appeared barefooted in a tank top that was practically a chamise for as loose as it was and a pair of comfy shorts. It certainly wasn’t fancy dinner wear.
When she heard someone speak she whipped around, aiming a small taser in Merlin’s direction. It was lowered as soon as she recognized him. “That’s a great way to get yourself minorly electrocuted.”
***
Merlin grinned at her. “You did invite it, milady.” He swept her a bow. “I am sorry if I mis understood.” And he was, for she had seemed clear, but he also knew he missed things, now and then.
“Please, make yourself comfortable.” A moment later, there was a sofa near her, and the table closer.
***
“Okay for the record?” Chloe lifted one brow at Merlin as she sat down on the couch, a smirk pulling her lips to the side. “‘Surprise me’ from a girl means you should plan the whole thing without her help, not abduct me from my home just when I was getting ready to binge watch Gordon Ramsey.”
But she obviously wasn’t too mad since she’d sat down.
***
“Ah. Well, for the record, one should be careful when one challenges a wizard. He takes it quite seriously.” His eyes were dancing with warmth and amusement. “Even if he does respect thee, and think you are beautiful.”
He nodded to her, hmmed, then pointed to one corner of the wall. A television blossomed there, and a moment later, with a flickering of channels, he hesitated and glanced at her. “Gordon Ramsey?”
***
“Meddle not in the affairs of wizards?” Chloe chuckled with a sheepish grin coming to her face and a touch of pink to her cheeks. “Flattery won’t get you off the hook for shanghai-ing me.” She shook a finger at him in mock chastisement.
Okay the tv thing made her blink and her lips part in stunned silence. It took a moment before she chuckled again. “That gets you off the hook, though.”
***
“More, be careful how you meddle. Some meddling can be fun, some can make a wizard get… creative.” And when Merlin got creative, things got odd.
“I hope not. I rather look forward to being on your hook.” He smirked at her, eyes dancing with amusement and a little hint of challenge, in return. He liked this woman, and her intellect, and spirit, both. She did not back down, and he liked that a lot.
“I do strive to make you smile, Chloe..” His voice was low, soft, and almost caressed her name. Merlin laughed and swept her a bow. “What channel is he on? This Mister Ramsey?” he snapped his fingers and the remote appeared at her side.
***
There was no denying it now. Chloe was being wooed by the actual Merlin. She didn’t know if that was weird, cool or frightening. Maybe a little of all three, but she definitely never backed down from a challenge. That got her in trouble more often than not, but that never stopped her before.
Without missing a beat, Chloe picked up the remote and went directly to Netflix where she had Gordon Ramsey all queued up for binge watching. “Just remember. You let me do this.”
***
“Why would I not?” Merlin moved to her side, to settle with her to watch this, and the table scooted to them, and shortened to accommodate their current siting height. “Wine?” He grinned, feeling rather bouncy, and possible silly.
The menus were close at hand as he glanced at the television to see what this man on Netflix would be saying and doing.
“How have you been since our encounter last?”
***
“Yes, please,” she said in answer to the offer of wine. Chloe got the episode she was on going. It wouldn’t be long before the angry British cook began shouting and cursing...which was the only reason to watch this show. It was hilarious!
“Good,” she said to Merlin with a smile. “Staying out of trouble. Mostly.” Sometimes it was too tempting to hack into the local banks and rearrange some decimal points.
***
Merlin poured for them both, then watched the show, listening, and nodding. What an odd thing, it was. He handed over her cup as he watched the man admonish, loudly, a student of his on the show. He sounded like a teacher Merlin had once known.
“Good. A little trouble is good for the soul, and the body.” He chuckled.
“What is your favorite food?”
***
“You are a bad influence,” Chloe said. She grinned as she poked Merlin lightly in the shoulder. “My friends would say I don’t need any encouragement to get into trouble. I do just fine on my own.” And she would feel bad if someone else ended up in the hot seat because of her.
Her lips pulled to one side as she gave that some thought. Coffee was her favorite everything, but one couldn’t survive on that alone...as she was constantly reminded. “I like Chinese. Crab rangoon. Shrimp with lobster sauce. Eggrolls. Steamed dumplings.”
***
“I am? I suppose I might be.” he chuckled and poked her back. “Oh really? But trouble can be fun. And if one plans well, one gets out of it as well.”
He couldn’t stop smiling at her.
Merlin nodded, and closed his eyes, then opened them again. “As you wish. Order is placed.” Elsewhere, in the kitchen, the order ticket spat out a ticket with her words on them for two, and the cashier found an order slip filled out and a card resting atop it to pay with.
“That sounds like a very good combination.”
***
“You can’t tell me you’ve never had Chinese food,” Chloe accused. “You probably had it in China. During the Industrial Revolution or something.” Which would have been really cool to witness!
***
“Nay, I meant that I had never had that combination of foods. “ He chuckled. “And your supposition would not be incorrect. I have had many a supper of Chinese food, both in England, and abroad in China.”
He smirked at her, then sorrow filled his eyes. “I was in Africa helping to refertilize some land during the beginning days of China’s Industrial revolution, and thus was not there to stop much of the carnage that ensued.” He had sorrows aplenty for the ages.
“During those days, humanity produced such wonders, and yet had such violence fall over them, as all the forces of darkness and corruptions sought to stem the tide of rising mankind.”
*** “Hey,” Chloe said as she reached out to touch his arm with her fingers in a gesture of reassurance. “Even the Merlin can’t be everywhere all the time. Humanity is going to be stupid to itself until the sun burns out. It’s just how it is.”
***
“I know.” His voice was rough for a moment, but he smiled to her, even so. “Knowing, and not feeling guilty, wishing one could have known, could have been there? That is two different things.” He nodded.
“Tell me more about your job? What drew you to it?”
***
Chloe smiled for the explanation then took her hand back. “The computer job?” She huffed as she rolled her eyes. “It’s the best computer job I could get here, but I can do that stuff in my sleep.” Chloe sighed as she pulled her legs up, wrapping her arms around her knees.
“Back home I was making programs, advanced algorithms. Things that could help the people I knew who did things. Made things safer. I can’t do that here.”
***
Merlin nodded. “I’m sorry. I know something of how being frustrated in doing one’s calling can be. Hopefully, someday, you are freed of this place.” He smiled softly.
“All people deserve a purpose and a place to do it in.” He gently patted her shoulder, squeezing it.
***
Chloe smiled as she huffed again. “Oh, I’m just whining. I’m still finding my feet here, and I don’t hate it. I’ve just been keeping myself busy with my research. There’s a lot of data to go through.”
And if Merlin knew her as well as some of her friends did that translated to Chloe didn’t go out and have a social life much, but it did say a lot that she hasn’t thanked Merlin for the gesture and gone home.
***
“It sounds like you have a fascinating time ahead.” As he spoke, a knock on the door signalled and he knocked on the table in return. In came two waiters with their orders, not blinking at the television and couch now sitting in the room.
“Thank you.” The waiters nodded and left, closing the door behind them.
“Eat up, please.”
He was enjoying himself, so far, quite a lot.
***
Chloe watched all of that happen with a look of open curiosity and amazement. She ended up laughing a bit before looking back to Merlin with a slight chastising smirk on her face. “Isn’t that a blatant misuse of power?” Not that she was really complaining. The waiters didn’t seem coerced or anything.
The dumplings smelled amazing so she reached for them first, settling back with her plate and a small ramekin of dipping sauce.
***
Merlin blinked. “How so? I do not harm them, they are not being ensorcelled, and they work this room like they would any other private room. And they know me,. And know they will be tipped well.” He cocked his head to the side. “How is this a misuse?”
He reached for some food, absentmindedly.
***
Chloe shook her head as she held up a hand to stop Merlin from going on. “I can tell they aren’t controlled or abused. That wasn’t what I meant.” A sheepish and awkward smile settled on her lips as she pushed her hair back. “I meant...it’s kind of like using a pile driver to set a nail. My friend Clark was crazy strong, but he knew the value of doing something without applying his full strength if he didn’t have to.”
Chloe sighed. “Am I making sense?”
***
Merlin blinked. “I… do, but didn’t use magic just then. I arranged with the waiters for a signal, should I be in here, of them knocking to make sure I and my guest were decent. My signal that all was well was a simple knock back that they could hear from the door.”
He rubbed his nose. “I am not sure what I did that made you feel I was applying magic, much less anything remotely like my full strength.”
***
Chloe could tell she’d offended him. She blinked feeling stupid and embarrassed. “I just….I didn’t mean.” She let out with a long sigh as she made to stand up. “And this would be why I shouldn’t be let out of my lab very often. I’ll just...go. Before I….yeah.”
***
Merlin rose and moved to her side, sitting and gently touching her shoulder. “Chloe. I am asking you. Please do not go.”
His voice was gentle and soft. “I am not angry at you, and I would rather clear the air.”
He smiled at her warmly and with hope. “I wont stop you if you want to go, but I hope you wont.”
***
Chloe blinked a couple of times, obviously still uncomfortable, but she wasn’t trying to get up anymore. “I’m….not good at any of this stuff,” she admitted in a quiet voice. “Back home I didn’t date much. In high school it bothered me. College was too busy with classes and stuff. Then after when I was working...it just didn’t seem to be important.”
And no one except Jimmy had been interested in her ever but Chloe wasn’t going to offer that up.
***
Merlin nodded.”I do not mean to make you uncomfortable. For that, I am sorry. I am interested, but… if you do not wish this, I do not… I do not want you to stay only because i want you to.”
He hesitated. “It has been a very long time since I tried… to romance anyone, I fear I may not be great at it.”
***
Chloe chuckled. “We’re both stumbling all over ourselves with this, huh.” And who would have thought the Merlin would be interested in her?! He had Nimue and Morgana and yeesh! No way Chloe could compete! In her mind, anyway.
“Why don’t we try being friends first,” she offered with a smile. “See what happens. To be honest, you’re more than a little intimidating to a girl like me.” She quickly clarified. “Not that I think you’re a creeper or anything! You’ve actually been the perfect gentleman. It’s just you’re...you.” And she was nobody.
***
“A little bit, it seems.” He sighed internally at her words. So be it.
“As you wish, milady.” He smiled a little, and nodded, stepping back. “I am sorry I have intimidated you. I find you fascinating, beautiful, incredibly intelligent, and beholding a spirit unlike most. Twould be an honor, even to be just thy friend.”
He nodded again, for he would try this, and hope she would not forever feel that way.
***
Chloe felt bad for friendzoning Merlin. Sheesh! Only she could manage to do that! But the compliments he was dropping made her blink then blush. “Not that fascinating…” she muttered and once again wondered if she should leave.
***
Merlin facepalmed. “I suppose I am making a hash of this. I apologize.” He smiled wryly.
“Do you wish me to return you to your home, and perhaps we can try a friend type outing another day?” After all, this had been a date, of sorts, in idea. And maybe it was a bad idea to keep on with it so.
***
Chloe let out a breath, then reached out to touch her hand to Merlin’s arm. “I think we’re both screwing up, but let’s finish tonight. You went through all this trouble, and I’d feel bad if some really good Chinese food went to waste.”
Her brows lifted into a pleading look, complete with meek smile. She was trying.
***
Merlin smiled, taking a long breath and nodded. “As you wish, milady. It is good food, and there is yet one more surprise.” He rubbed his nose.
He chuckled as he lifted a single flash drive and held it out to her. “I have laid out everything I know of how magic and technology interact. I thought it might be useful to thee.” Courting or not, he had made it, and intended that she have it.
***
Chloe let out a breath in relief, but as soon as he told her what was on the flashdrive she all but started to salivate. Her eyes locked onto the drive as her lips parted.
“....oh my god,” she said as she lifted a hand to take it, but hesitated as if she wasn’t worthy of this. “This is….whoa! Big! Huge!” Her fingers brushed the drive. “I’ve had access to a lot of cool tech before but never something like this!”
***
Merlin, watching her come alive by that, felt his cheeks flush and his mouth open slightly. Holy Gods, if he had thought she was beautiful before, he knew it now. He managed to shut his mouth and close his eyes.
Then he nodded. “I have been working on it for some time. I thought that you would get more out of it than I, and of course, I can answer any questions you have.”
***
Chloe clutched the drive in her hands as if she were holding the Hope Diamond. “Thank you!” she said earnestly. “I can’t wait to get a look at this then start peppering you with endless questions.”
She chuckled because she knew once she found something that needed solving she could be relentless to get the answers.
***
“I’ll do my best to answer all your questions, with words or demonstrations, as you wish.” His grin was mischievous, but also serious. It could be fun and a learning experience too!
“For now, we should watch more of this odd man yelling at people and eat our food?”
***
“Sounds great!” Chloe wasn’t going to let go of the drive any time soon, but she could wait to get a look at what was on it. She might not get any sleep tonight, but she had a feeling it would be entirely worth it.