"Merlin would have to be at it for an hour before he actually caused damage to your laces."

His bark is bigger than his bite, for sure. The only thing he ever really does damage to is the paper sliding door upstairs.

That's a tale that he can't explain to Takao, or anyone, ever, so Takao will simply have to experience it himself whenever he tries to get some privacy from Merlin for the first time.

Once they're all checked out, he turns to head out of the store and falls quiet.