"show me some magic," arthur says to him one day on a hunt. it's been weeks since they've last spoken anything more than a necessary formality. arthur's jaw has been set tight the entire time, as if all the tension of learning about merlin's biggest secret has decided to settle there.
"i-- are you sure?"
arthur doesn't even look at him when he waves his hand, get on with it. merlin frowns. stares at a spot on the ground and watches as a flower blooms out of season.
arthur stares at it a moment too long before plucking it from the root. they ride home in silence.
"show me some magic," arthur says a couple nights later. merlin's readying his bath, and he's exhausted, and it's simple to just heat the water with a wave of his hand like he's used to doing in secret.
whatever tension arthur holds in his shoulders bleeds out when he sinks into the water.
"show me some magic," arthur says again, the next day, the next. they're all small acts, and though they haven't begun to really talk yet, it doesn't make things more awkward. in fact, arthur begins to let the sense of wonder play out on his normally unreadable face whenever merlin makes a spark of light appear.
slowly, they find their old repartee. it takes a while, a handful of more magic displays, but arthur finally seems to feel comfortable around merlin again, and it gives him hope that maybe there is a future they can build together, past this seemingly impenetrable wall they've built between them in the mean time.
"show me some magic," arthur says. "i can't sleep."
so merlin does. puts stars in his canopy and shows him fairytale scenes. before arthur dismisses him for the evening, he quietly says, "thank you."
the next day, arthur announces a progressive lift on the magic ban.
"show me some magic," arthur grins as he waves his hand around the tavern. merlin wants to say, here? now? but instead he makes a patron's ale bubble over and a drunkard trip. arthur laughs, then, for the first time in months, uninhibited.
it becomes a part of their routine. arthur likes the small, practical jokes merlin can play, but he also likes the beauty he can create. he asks for both, and merlin gives it to him, because it is for him, after all. all of it.
and the first time arthur calls out "magic!" during battle, merlin is all too ready to show him that, too.
it makes merlin brave, braver than he's ever been. this is arthur, keeper of his kingdom, his heart. merlin has been laid bare before him and arthur keeps asking show me, show me, show me.
"show me some magic," arthur says one night, when they're sitting by the fire that needs to be stoked and sharing the last piece of crusty bread.
merlin pauses. he can easily guide the flames higher. arthur's seen that trick before.
instead, he reaches over the distance between them. ghosts his fingertips over arthur's knuckles, before closing his hand over his.
arthur's brow draws tight, but beneath the confusion is that same sense of wonder that's always been there. there's something about you, merlin.
"what are you doing?" he asks, amusement laced with something daringly hopeful.
"showing you some magic," merlin says, and then kisses him.