The voice inside my head.

"Merlin?"

It had been going on for several days now, that insistent voice inside my head. A voice that was as recognisable as my own, but it could only be lack of sleep. I never knew being immortal meant a chronic sleep disorder. No wonder I was hearing voices.

"Leave me alone, Arthur. I need rest, I need sleep, I don't need voices in my head." I wasn't even sure why I answered, but maybe if I did it would go away? This was wishful thinking of course.

"Merlin!" Arthur's voice sounded more demanding than I remembered.

"Not listening. This game show on TV is way more interesting than you." I wasn't even watching the show, but I hoped couch surfing would make me tired enough to sleep for a change.

"Mmmmmeeerlin."

"Will you just," I jumped up in annoyance, "... get out of my head!"

"No way, I am having way too much fun up here."

It was definitely Arthur, no doubt about it. But it couldn't be, why in the world would he be voicing his complaints inside my head? It was ridiculous. The man had been gone for centuries, and believe me I had tried to find clues for his return. But a voice? "Why am I even answering, you are just a figment of my imagination."

"No, Merlin, I am really in your head." Arthur insisted.

I wasn't going to fall for destiny's tricks, it brought me enough pain as it was. If Arthur wanted to come back, he better walk through the door instead of keeping me awake like this. "Gah, destiny is certainly taking this 'two sides of the same coin" very literal. Go away!"

"You can't tell me what to do. I'm your king, you're the servant."

"Not anymore I'm not, so I don't have to answer to you."

"Merlin!"

"Doesn't work!" I fell back down onto the couch, while a grin formed on my lips. "You can't slap me or throw things at my head..."

"But I can keep you awake, all night..." The voice stopped for a second. "Wait a moment, that reminds of something."

"That your head's as big as your waist?" Even if this wasn't real, I couldn't help but enjoy the conversation. I wouldn't want to admit it to anyone, but one of the things I missed the most about Arthur was exactly this. And even after centuries, we hadn't lost our touch it seemed.

"That I will also be in your head while you…" Arthur ignored my remark. "Eeewww."

"What?" I felt alarmed.

"You know, when you…"

"Have to pee?"

"I wish it was only that..."

"So?"

"When you're with a... Ggggirl."

The voice, real or not, sounded disgusted, and it felt as if Arthur was in the room with me. It made me blush violently, thinking about that he was in fact 'with me' and seeing what I was up to. "Oh... OH! I'm so screwed."

"I really hope you're not, for my sake."

"Arthur?" I could only come up with one last desperate action to make this stop. To get some sleep, to forget about Arthur for a while and go back to my life, even if the last century felt like a waste of time.

"Yes Merlin?"

"Shut up."

"Hey, that's my line."

"Can't you just leave my head and come visit?"

"I don't think it works that way, Merlin."

"Do you think it has a meaning?" I didn't want to hope, but I had to ask. Disappointment had been part of me for so long, I didn't know how it felt anymore to have that sparkle of joy and hope.

"What? Me seeing you pick your nose and take a bath, and have a... a girl?"

"Seriously, Arthur." I scowled at the voice. "Albion's time of need? The first step of you returning to the land of the living?"

"If that's true, you will never talk about this awkward conversation again... Ever."

"And if I do?"

"I would have to kill you."

It felt so real, almost like I could touch him. Would it hurt me if I gave this figment of my imagination the benefit of the doubt?

"I missed you too, Arthur."