Like the Tide

“Arthur!” Merlin calls, waving as he strides over.He makes it across the square easily enough, but Arthur doesn’t watch his approach with his usual smile.“Who the fuck are you?” he asks instead, scowling.Merlin’s steps falter, just for a moment. He trips through various explanations – he’s got the wrong person, Arthur’s lost his memories, Arthur’s playing a prank – before he, hesitating, takes a closer look. Because this Arthur is younger than the one he knows, the one he’s come to know. He is, dare Merlin say it, young.“Wait, wait,” Merlin says, laughing. “Is this our first interaction in your timeline? Am I meeting itty bitty baby Arthur right now?”