crack_van | Practical Volitation by Allothi (PG)

Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Length: ~8,500
Author on LJ:

allothi
Author Website: Fic tag
Why this must be read:

This fic never fails to make me happy. It's beautifully crafted, and

allothi knows the boys so well and writes them beautifully in-character. Plus, y'know, it's Merlin, learning to fly. Literally. <3 My paltry little write-up cannot possibly explain how wonderful this fic is. So here, have a brief excerpt, instead:

Merlin's third experiment in flying came unexpectedly. It was that same evening, as he sat on his bed and remembered the events by the training field. When he found that he was in fact no longer sitting on the bed, but floating a little way above it, he did not panic this time around. He managed to control the magic well enough to lower himself downwards, little by little, in hesitating increments, touching back down with only the lightest of thumps. It was a relieving improvement in his control.

When, however, he began to float upwards in a similar manner, and for somewhat similar reasons, as he served Arthur his breakfast the following morning, he felt rather more alarmed. Fortunately, his moment of involuntary hovering occurred while Arthur was bent over his breakfast, Merlin standing some way behind him and to his side. Unfortunately, Merlin's fears that he might be seen in his incriminating, elevated position somewhat impaired his newly-developing smooth-landing ability.

Arthur turned round at the thud of Merlin's feet coming back into contact -- hard and slightly painfully: he had dropped himself too fast -- with the floor.

"Merlin, are you jumping?"

"No!" Merlin said. Then he realised the suitability of the explanation. "Yes!"

Arthur left a well-judged beat of comic timing before he asked, "D'you think Gaius will ever find a cure for your severe mental affliction?"

"No, probably not," Merlin conceded.

Practical Volitation