1 || Video

[damnidjits]

[The video clicks on to reveal an extremely pissed off Bobby Singer, and anyone with a semblance of a brain would know it would be in their best interests to cooperate and quickly.]

Don’t try to pull this high and mighty shit on me! You think you can waltz on in and screw with our lives? I’m sick of all the hissy fits some high powered dicks think they can threaten me with.

[Bobby doesn’t have time for this bullshit, especially when his boys’ lives are on the line. There would be hell to pay if they get eaten because some petty gods couldn’t fix their own goddamn messes.]

Well let me tell you somethin’. Stop screwin’ with me or I’m gonna find and gank your asses.

[With that, the feed cuts off.]

Comments

[minifridge]

Don't. Don't be.

[She irrationally wants him to yell at her or tell her she's wrong, or tell her it's her fault. That's why she keeps talking.]

It's my own fault anyway. I did this.

[dragonspeak]

It's not your fault. I don't think you would have left your sons, but sometimes, things just...happen.

[He's very tempted to shake her, but all he does is tug her into a hug. Because she obviously needs it.]

Don't blame yourself for what hasn't happened yet.

[minifridge]

[Mary folds into the hug easily, but there's still a very harsh edge to her voice.]

It's not just the future. I already did it. I'm gonna die- and it's because of something I did the day I came here.

[dragonspeak]

[The words of comfort die in his throat.]

Mary, what it is?

[minifridge]

[She pulls out of the hug and wraps her arms around herself, leaning against the banister.]

I made a deal with a demon.

[dragonspeak]

[He lets his arms fall to his side, but doesn't move either.]

You made it here, in Asgard?

[If there's someone making unfair bargains here, too...]

[minifridge]

No- at home, just before I showed up here. It killed my parents and my boyfriend then made a deal to bring one of them back.

[Saying it like that, so baldly, is such a shock that she actually feels sick and presses the back of her hand to her mouth.]

[dragonspeak]

That's...that's terrible!

[The cruelty of that choice, and the thought that something could be powerful enough to bring back the dead shocks him.

Then it really clicks, and perhaps it isn't as different from what he's seen before in his world. He puts a hand on her elbow.]

You bargained your life? Your life for one of theirs.

[minifridge]

[nodding tearfully] I think so.

It was really- weird. It didn't want my soul. But deals go for ten years, and...

[Shrug. Ten years in, then your number comes up: Mary knows well enough that she's dead at home, so obviously it did come for her.]

I didn't want to. I didn't want to be alone. I chose John over my own parents.

[And she isn't so sure anymore that it was the right choice. Not with how much it hurts, how much she misses them every second of every day.]

[dragonspeak]

It's not your fault. [He's quick to reassure her, shaking his head.] The demon put you in that position, killing the people you cared about.

You just wanted to help, and [Merlin hesitates for a second] when it comes to people that mean a lot to you, you'd do anything. Even if you know you shouldn't.

[minifridge]

[With how scattered and messed up she is, Mary forgets most times that the demon didn't even give her a choice- it's that level of guilt. She feels on some fundamental level that she did them wrong and it's enough that she tries to wave off his reassurances, even as she starts to tear up.]

I shouldn't have taken the deal, I knew better than that.

[dragonspeak]

It doesn't matter. If you're waiting for me to change my mind and tell you otherwise, it's not going to happen.

[This kind of guilt--Merlin understands it really well. And even if he can't convince himself to forgive some of the things he's done, he can at least convince others. Like Mary.]

Whatever happened, whatever's waiting for you back in your world, we can try to figure it out. So many of our timelines aren't matching up, we might even be able to change something just by being here. So...let's focus on Asgard's war, and see if we can't do something about that deal of yours after. All right?

[minifridge]

[Mary's gonna have something really super smart to say to that, but then she finds herself stepping forward and pulling him in for a tight hug.]

[dragonspeak]

[Merlin returns it without hesitation, bringing his hands up to rest on her upper back.]

Have you...talked to Sam and Dean about this? Even if you don't know them that well now, this might be a good opportunity. Anyway, your sons are pretty reliable and smart, and they might have some ideas, too.

[minifridge]

There's nothing they can do. They're the ones who told me I'm dead- I died when Sam was a baby.

[Past tense, future tense, present tense- it gives her a fucking headache and she can't even think right now, she just wants to bury her face in his shoulder and forget.]

[dragonspeak]

Don't give up yet, all right?

[He keeps his hold on her, giving her whatever comfort she needs.]

We don't know what will happen when we win the war and the gods send us back home.