Chapter Text
New York City. A place full of opportunities and wonders. If you searched it up on Google, you’ll find that it is described as a “pioneering paradise.” But the only thing Merlin could think of when tasked to describe this city, is polluted and crowded.
Merlin scowls as he is maneuvered through the buzzing mass of Fifth Avenue by a hand - belonging to a man named Leon – gripping his arm. “I told you we should have taken a cab, Leon. Look at us now.” Merlin says petulantly as he and Leon finally get to board a train.
“I truly apologize Merlin, if you do not like this mode of transportation. But it is New York City! We must seize every opportunity to try things that are foreign to us. Trains before were never this fast!” Leon says placatingly, as they sat down on the available seats. “And besides, we’ve always taken a cab whenever we are at other countries. It’s time we finally try a train!”
Leon looks around in wonder. Truly, it’s as if the years that they had lived through had forced a personality switch between the two of them. The gaze that was so full of curiosity and the need to know more had been stripped away from Merlin, and can now be seen in Leon, as he stood up to give an elderly woman who had just come in a seat. The serious and wisdom filled eyes were now residing in Merlin’s blue eyes.
Merlin gave Leon a look, crossed his arms over his chest and looked away. Leon chuckled, “You haven’t had your morning coffee, haven’t you?”
Merlin smirked and said, “Was it obvious?”
“No fear. We might pass by a café on our way to the zoo. We’ll get one for you then.” Leon offered a smile to a slowly smiling Merlin.
“Well, alright. ‘S long as we go to see the red pandas first.”
“Whatever you wish for, Emrys.”
“Seriously? That name. You had to use that name.”
“It’s a good name, Merls. Honestly!”
_____
Merlin downs his cup of coffee (hazelnut latte) in one drink, and threw his take-away cup into the trash bin near them. Leon’s eating a bagel. Standing near the entrance of the Zoo, Merlin closed his eyes and let his magic flow over the place around them. Happiness, growth, gas, pollution, heartaches, stress, and longing. A deep and strong longing to go home. He opened his eyes. Was that from the animals inside? He wonders.
“Come now, Merlin. Let us go see your beloved red pandas.” Leon calls as he threw away the paper-bag into the bin. “Your siblings await.” He gives Merlin a devilish grin.
_____
“Well. They look like you.” Leon says as they looked at the red pandas.
“In what way?” Merlin scoffs, face hidden behind his digital camera. Over the years, Merlin had grown to appreciate print media, and especially photos and photography.
“The way they think they’re intimidating with their defensive mode on. Looks like you, let’s be honest.” Leon says in an overly thoughtful manner.
“Har, har. I assure you, I can be pretty intimidating when I want to be.” Merlin says absently as he looks over the shots he’d taken. The red pandas truly are adorable.
“‘Course you do Merlin.”
“Come, let us explore this place more.” And there it was. That Merlin smile. It was rare to see that sight nowadays, and Leon wanted nothing more than seeing his friend smile and feel excited once more.
______
“Oh, look at her! Such a beauty.” Merlin exclaims, and readies his camera.
“Truly. Her colors are one of a kind! Not the usual colors you’d see in a parrot.” Leon says appreciatively, gently moving Merlin aside, as a kid cries and thrashes around. His red panda headband has fallen off his head and was continuously stepped on as people walked through.
“Oh, look! There’s two of them, Leon. How wonderful.” Merlin drew closer and continues to take snaps.
And true enough, the lone blue, white, and black feathered parrot was now accompanied by another of it’s kind. This parrot had striking green and Is that gold?! feathers.
“I wonder how the zoo-keepers managed to get them in there.” Leon says, as he looks around. He was getting a strange feeling nagging his gut. The same feeling you get whenever you sense something amiss.
“Mm.” Merlin only hummed, completely taken by their beauty. Satisfied with the outcome (he had not felt Leon’s hand coming in contact with his shoulder due to his fixation with taking pictures of the birds), Merlin lifted his head and looked at the parrots, only to find that they were already looking at him.
Strange. Merlin thought. And Merlin is Merlin. No matter how his demeanor has changed, his curiosity never left his being. So, naturally, as one might do when face-to-face with something strange, you reach out to it, in pursuit of knowledge. And so his eyes burned gold, the air rippling around them, as he let his magic do what it needs (think best) to do. And the best thing to do, at that moment, according to his magic, was to stop time. As one might do, when face-to-face with something strange. Everyone and everything around them had frozen up, noises and movements ceased. Except for Leon, of course.
“Hello.” Merlin greeted the birds. Leon only inclined his head
The birds, did not respond. As should birds do. They did, however, cock their tiny heads to the left (the parrot’s right, for they do not have the same left nor the same right), at the same time and stared unnervingly on at them. Then all of a sudden, chirps were heard. Leon was absolutely baffled by this. For this was not a sight you see everyday. Two oddly colored and behaved parrots were chirping at them. Leon was about to share his incredulity to Merlin, when, all of a sudden, the twit had chirped back.
The conversation happened for a good ten minutes when Merlin turned to him and said, “They do not belong here, Leon. They are asking me for help. And I will.”
“Go ahead and do what you need to do, Merls. Tell me the details later.” Leon smiled. His friend had always been connected to the animals. Even before, when they were out patrolling the forests around Camelot. Always looked away with a pained expression when they’d shot down a deer, or captured a rabbit, or when he’d make their meals for them during a hunt.
And Merlin did so. He struck both his arms outward and chirped once again.
Come. I shall take you outside. The birds looked at one another and flew into his arms after a moment of consideration (or as far as a moment of consideration you’d think parrots could do). Will you both be alright if I set you free just outside the Zoo? Or do you need us to go somewhere quieter and remote? Merlin asked.
It is quite alright. You have been of much help towards us. Taking notice of our predicament was truly generous of you. The green and gold feathered parrot said, rubbing its beak into Merlin’s hair. Merlin laughed at it’s actions and Leon could only smile as supportive as he could.
Yes. We only need time to be able to soar high where no mere humans can sight us. The blue, white, and black feathered parrot said, holding its beak quite high.
Time? Oh, I can give you time. Merlin smirked at the bird. “Let’s go, Leon. Operation: free the birds has now commenced.”
“Aye-aye, Captain!” Leon threw him a salute.
Much like before, they maneuvered through the crowded Zoo, but much unlike before, there was absolutely no movement nor sound coming from their surroundings. It honestly looked like a picture. Frozen in time.
When they had reached the exit, Merlin had thrust out his arm upward, and said (in English this time, hello Leon), “Safe travels.” The green and gold feathered bird had flown away first, but not after flourishing his wings to both Merlin and Leon. As he flew away, the blue, white, and black feathered bird chirped to get both their attention. Once they looked at it, it thanked them. Like, actually thank them. Not in bird language, but in human language. Specifically English. It’s (her) voice was rather firm and steady. Leon had expected a squeaky voice. “Thank you very much. This act of kindness will not go unrewarded. Our masters will both be pleased. We have been far away far too long. Thank you.” And with that, she sang a wonderful song, a cold and yet soft melody that reminded Merlin of a meadow, and Leon of a beach, and flew away, soaring higher and higher, until she disappeared into the fluffy clouds above them. Merlin and Leon looked at each other and shrugged. “Time to go back home, eh, Merlin?”
As Merlin let time pass again, and as they hailed a cab, and as they go back their hotel to pack their belongings (Merlin had altered the size of a lot of their souvenirs and into something smaller so the luggage can house a lot of their items), they were very unaware of the people oceans apart from them, who had woken up from a strange and long dream. Strange, yet familiar. As if they had lived that very dream of theirs once, long, long ago.