This story is in the same universe as Our Hero where Arthur is a single father and Merlin is a fireman/paramedic but it's not a continuation of that story.
Please forgive any errors I've made about deafness and sign language. Also any errors regarding firemen, paramedics, gunshot wounds and their treatment.
Thanks to my wonderful beta kaseyboy. You're the best!
WARNINGS: Merthur, modern setting, single parent, disability, deafness, gun violence, hostage situation, hospitalization, light angst, romance, happy ending
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You're My Hero
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"Hey Merlin, do you think you could do me a big favor?" Leon asked.
"Sure. What is it?"
"Well, I'm supposed to go to my nephew's school next week. He goes to the School for the Deaf. It's kind of like a career day but not really. Basically, they have people come in and talk, well, sign, to the kids and tell them what they do for a living. Usually it's only the parents or relatives that go and talk to the kids since the kids are deaf but, since you know sign language, I thought maybe you could do it since you're a paramedic. It would be something new for them."
"Um...okay, but I've never signed for more than one person," he said nervously.
Leon knew Merlin was on the shy side so he tried to reassure him. "You'll do fine. It's only going to be around fifteen six-year-olds and their teacher and probably a few other parents."
Merlin took a deep breath before saying, "all right. When do I need to be there?"
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Leon was the fire chief of firehouse twenty-four and had a great group of firemen working for him. They were like one big extended family and Merlin was the newest member of the "family" having been with the department about seven months. Along with being a fireman, he was also a paramedic. He was partnered with Gwaine who was the only other paramedic on their shift.
Leon was married to Morgana Le Fey. They didn't have any children of their own yet but were very close with her nephew Mordred, her half-brother Arthur's son.
Arthur had been raising Mordred on his own since he was just a baby. He was born deaf and Sophia, Arthur's girlfriend at the time, didn't want anything to do with raising a deaf child so she signed over all parental rights to Arthur and hadn't been seen or heard from since. Last Arthur knew, she had moved to the States. Sophia had been an ill-advised attempt to try to convince himself he wasn't gay. After her, he knew he most definitely was. He had no regrets about it though because that's how he got his wonderful son.
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Merlin was a fireman/paramedic in Glasgow before he moved to London. He'd had a bad break-up with his boyfriend and wanted a new start. When he joined Leon's crew, he fit right in and became fast friends with everyone but was especially close to Gwaine, Lance, Percy and Leon.
Leon and the guys, along with their spouses or significant others, often got together for cook-outs or just an evening at the pub. Once Morgana got to know Merlin she absolutely adored him and knew he would be perfect for her brother but unfortunately Arthur really didn't date.
Morgana had set him up on a few blind dates in the past that had turned out horribly. Therefore, a few months ago, when she mentioned to Arthur that there was a new fireman on Leon's crew that would be perfect for him, he absolutely refused to listen to her. Anytime she would bring it up, he would shut her down before she was able to say more than a few words.
She invited Arthur to come along whenever Leon's crew got together so he could meet Merlin but he always refused. He said he felt out of place since everyone there was either a fireman, married to a fireman or dating a fireman.
Morgana finally came up with a plan to get Arthur and Merlin to meet at Mordred's school on career day since Arthur was always there that day. Knowing this, Morgana had Leon ask Merlin to go in his place. She knew the two were perfect for each other and once they met, sparks would fly.
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The following week, Merlin was standing in front of a room of six-year-olds and their parents and teacher.
After the teacher introduced him, Merlin stood and proceeded to sign to the kids for about fifteen minutes telling them what he did as both a fireman and a paramedic. Then he asked if anyone would like to try on his firefighters jacket and helmet. Instantly, all the children raised their hands. He picked Mordred who was jumping with excitement. The teacher asked Merlin to pose for a picture with Mordred dressed in his gear, so he got down on one knee and put his arm around Mordred's shoulders and they both smiled for the camera.
Soon after Merlin had gotten his gear back, his radio went off and he signed to the kids telling them he had to go to the scene of a fire. They all waved goodbye as he rushed out the door and met Gwaine, who had been waiting outside of the building.
As he was rushing out of the school building, Arthur was just pulling up. He had gotten caught in a meeting with his father and was therefore late getting to Mordred's school. He walked into the classroom and spotted Mordred who had a big smile on his face. Arthur walked over to him and he immediately started signing to his dad, telling him how he got to dress up like a real fireman.
The teacher then came over and showed Arthur the picture she had taken of Mordred and Merlin, the fireman. When he saw it, his heart stopped. There was his son smiling brightly with the most gorgeous man Arthur had ever seen smiling just as brightly for the camera.
"Um...can you text me that picture? It's a really cute picture of Mordred," Arthur said to the teacher.
A moment later Arthur's cell phone buzzed and he saved the picture as his new background.