[ Muscles that aren't there tense beneath the metal and springs. Zero grits her teeth, as if pushing back some great force. ]

Nothing.

[ She says, biting down– if the arm was made of flesh and blood, every hair on her skin would be standing at attention.

Zero makes a strained noise, and then her first unfurls– the force of it knocks her hand away along with Merlin's. The flowers around their feet are displeased, and suddenly they begin to grow and grow, rapidly and anxiously. Once daisies and chrysanthemums and camelias; now grow poison ivy, venus fly traps and ugly plants that leak pus and smell like bile.

Again, her hand curls into a fist, metal coiling dangerously and quickly. Zero's eyes are wide when her hand goes flying, straight towards Merlin. ]

Can't you take a hint, genius? It doesn't like you!

[ She misses, thankfully. The flower is only recently awakened, groggy still and no match for Merlin's quiet agility. ]

It's gotta be the biggest bitch in the room. You're ruining that.