I don't own Merlin sadly, belongs to the BBC
This is a story for TashaHill, an apology for having to wait so long for a snarry she asked for, honestly she must have the patience of a saint! This is dedicated to her. Hope you enjoy x
Warning: AU, Malexmale, Ygraine alive.
Rated M for swear words. This will have four chapters, one a day x
Summary: Back in college Merlin and Arthur were happy and in love, until Merlin left without a word to Arthur, it is now nine years later and after signing a deal with etg hnew football club Arthur meets the club's doctor. Merlin. Arthur wants answers.
I apologise in advance for any mistakes I may have made
Merlin closed his case and stood up from his desk when a knock sounded at his door. "Doc?"
"Enter." Merlin said, sitting down again, looking up at the man who walked in.
"Merlin you are not off yet are you? We have a new player coming, just signed the papers this morning, I tell you he is a great player, Albion will be a better football team with him on board and playing for us."
"No Tristan I am just going for some dinner and I will be back in just over an hour where I will check him over then and report back to you."
Tristan nodded. "Thank you Merlin, and thank you for helping Gwaine, I don't know what you did but he is getting better with his training, his ankle seems to be healing a lot quicker, you sure you don't have magic in your fingers?"
Merlin laughed and stood up. "Just go and let me get some food and I will see your new player in just over an hour." he said and left the office.
Twenty six year Arthur burst into the home of his parents asking his parents and Uncle and sister to be there as he had great news, he ran into the dining room and saw them all sat at the table and held up a contract. "Guess who now plays for Albion?"
Ygraine stood up and hurried over to her son hugging him tight. "Oh congratulations love, all that hard work and training has finally paid off."
"Yep. I signed a four year contract with them, but hopefully that's it now mum, growing up I wanted to play for them, I am not leaving them unless I have absolutely no choice."
Agravaine clapped his nephew on the back. "I told you to train more and you will be recognised, I told you remember."
Arthur rolled his eyes. "Yes Uncle I know, you have trained me since college and pushed and pushed me and I am glad you did, I now play for one of the best football clubs."
"I will continue to train you Arthur."
Uther scowled. "There will be no need for that, Albion have the best people there, they can train Arthur, you got him to where you said you would now you let Arthur take it from here, it is his life now."
"Thank you dad and sorry Uncle but dad is right, you have got me to where I wanted to be, I am very grateful for all you have done and look how rich you are, so you haven't done it all for nothing." Arthur said as he hugged Morgana, missing the scowl Agravaine gave once his back was turned.
"Right well I have to see Albion's personal doctor in an hour so I am going to go for a run, shower and then introduce myself, see you all later, bye!" he beamed as he left the house.
Morgana walked over to her uncle and smirked. "I saw the scowl, I hope you have been wise and saved your money as you won't get another penny from Arthur." she said and walked away, chuckling quietly.
Arthur, after shaking everyone's hand and thanking them after being welcomed started to look for the doctor's office, he came to an open door and saw someone with their back against it. "Hey I don't suppose you could tell me where the doctor's office is can you?"
Percival chuckled and shook Arthur's hand with his left hand seeing as his right one was bandaged up. "Nice to meet you at last, I have seen you play you will fit in well here, the doc is in, just bandaged up my right hand. Percival's the name, goalkeeper, see you on the training field."
Arthur smiled and walked in the office shutting the door behind him.
Merlin washed his hands and picked up his cup before making himself be seen to the new player, smile on his face he cleared his throat. "Welcome to Albion, I am doct- Arthur!" Merlin gasped as he dropped his cup, making it smash to pieces as it came in contact with the floor, not noticed by the two men in the room as they stood feet from each other, looking at each other in shock.
Nine years earlier...
Seventeen year old Merlin was sitting on the side bench, book on knee, glasses on face as he read, looking up every few minutes to see Arthur running about and training looking at him every now and then to either wink or blow him a kiss.
Merlin blushed and looked back down at his book only to feel something hit him hard at the side of the head causing his glasses to fall off and land on the open book. "Ow." he said as he rubbed the side of his head before looking at his hand to see if there was blood there. He looked up to see Valiant laughing with Cenred.
"Oh I am sorry." Valiant laughed, not sounding the least bit sorry. "My ball slipped from my hands."
Arthur seeing this stopped training and aiming the ball he booted it and shouted Valiant after he kicked it.
Valiant turned at his name being shouted and dropped to his knees when the ball he was too late to stop hit him , he cried out holding himself and looked up when Arthur approached.
"Oh I am sorry." Arthur said not meaning it at all. "The ball went where I didn't mean to kick it." he said as he sat down on the bench next to Merlin and checked his head as the brunet put his glasses back on. "No bump Merlin." he whispered kissing him.
Agravaine looked around when he couldn't see Arthur training and cringed when he saw Arthur kiss Merlin as he wrapped his arms around him. "Oh for fuck's sake. No more distractions Arthur, you can hardly make me rich snuggling up to that freak!" he said to himself before storming over.
"Arthur you are to be training what are you doing?"
"I want a five minute rest Uncle I have been training for two hours straight, my legs are hurting a little."
"I can help Arthur. I will massage them for you."
Ignoring his uncle Arthur laid across the bench draping his calfs over Merlin's legs, "massage away doctor Emrys."
Merlin laughed as he gently started to knead the muscle. "I am not a doctor yet."
Present day...
Arthur cleared his throat. "You erm... you became a doctor then."
"I did. And you are the football player you have always wanted to be."
Arthur shook his head and moved over to Merlin. "Married?"
"No." Merlin answered.
"Seeing anyone?"
"No." the brunet repeated.
Arthur sighed in relief and took Merlin's hands in his. "What happened Merlin? Why did you leave? Did I do something wrong? Did I -"
Merlin stopped Arthur from talking by placing a finger on the blonds lips. "Arthur you did nothing wrong. I left because I had to not because I wanted to. I left without telling you because I had no choice. I hated to do it but I had to." Merlin sniffed. "I had no choice." he whispered.
"Merlin..."
Merlin cleared his throat. "Sorry already not behaving like a professional. Hop on the bed Arthur and let me examine you."
Arthur started to strip as Merlin washed his hands and dried them he turned just in time to see Arthur in his boxer briefs, his hands on the hem about to pull them down. "No!"
Arthur stopped and looked up. "What?"
"You can leave those on, you don't have to go starkers."
"Oh, oh okay then, how do you want me on my front or back?"
"Front first." Merlin said and took a deep breath before he started to examine Arthur.
Twenty minutes later Merlin told Arthur to dress once more as he washed his hands and sat down. "You are in good health Arthur and fit, only thing is your calves but I will be here when you are having trouble." Merlin said as he wrote down his number and pushed the paper over to Arthur. "This is my mobile, twenty four hours you have trouble with your calves give me a ring and I will come as soon as I can."
Arthur picked it up and typed in the number on his phone. "This just for emergencies?"
Merlin looked at Arthur, the question taking him back...
Nine years earlier...
Merlin was kneeling on the football field massaging Arthur's calf. "What happened?" he asked.
"We were just training and he went down, just told me to get you." Jacob explained.
Merlin nodded and continued to massage Arthur's leg, slapping his arse when the blond groaned. "Oh hush you big baby. It's only cramp."
"I tried ringing you but no answer." Arthur mumbled.
"I don't have my phone on when in class, I do have a pager number though that I keep on me in class, it doesn't beep when I get a page but it does vibrate, I will give you the number and when in class and this happens again just page me okay? I will come as soon as I can."
"This just for emergencies?"
Present day
"My answer is same as it was all those years ago when I first gave you my pager number. Yes."
Arthur looked at Merlin. "You remember everything from all those years ago?"
"I do."
Arthur nodded. "I am glad I am not the only one."
Merlin cleared his throat. "Um, how are your parents? Morgana?"
"They are well, them and my Uncle are pleased I got to play for Albion."
Merlin shuddered. "You give my regards to your parents and Morgana, I hope they all keep well."
"And my uncle? Surely you remember Agravaine?"
"Oh I remember him alright, hard to forget him, you say he is happy with you being at Albion?"
"Very happy." Arthur frowned, not understanding Merlin's sudden change in mood.
"I am willinging to bet all the money I have that he tries to get you to leave this club once he learns I am your doctor."
Arthur's stood up. "You are wrong, Merlin when you just left with no word he supported me, helped me get through the heartache."
Merlin stood up also. "By training you and not letting you take a break I bet."
"How did you-"
"I know a lot more about that man then you think, you know I never used to lie to you so you should believe me, you really want to know why I left all those years ago?"
"Yes Merlin. I haven't been the same since you went."
"Then I suggest you start with your uncle, just mention in passing I am now your doctor and you watch his face when he thinks you are not looking."
Before Arthur could answer Tristan walked in. "Ah Arthur." he said shaking the blonds hand. "Welcome to Albion." he said before looking at Merlin. "All well?"
"Yes Tristan, just his right calf but with daily massages from me and what you all call my magic fingers he will be fine." Merlin smiled.
"Good good, you will be in safe hands with Merlin here Arthur, we were lucky to get him." Tristan said before leaving once more.
"Magic fingers Merlin?" Arthur asked once he was sure no one could hear them.
Merlin just smirked. "Magic fingers Arthur."
Arthur went to his parents that Sunday to have his weekly dinner and saw Agravaine looking at the sports news with a glass of whiskey in his hand, he looked up when he saw Arthur walk in. "You are on telly, talking about you signing on with Albion and who you have played for before joining one of the best teams."
"Oh right. Well now I am there I am definitely not leaving now."
Uther and Ygraine walked in the living room closely followed by Morgana.
"What makes you say that Arthur?"
Arthur turned and smiled at them all. "Well I went to their personal doctor for him to examine me and you will never guess. It's Merlin! Merlin is Albion's doctor!"
"Ha!" Morgana said, grinning at Agravaine which Arthur saw and made a note to ask her about it later.
"Oh Arthur I bet you are pleased." Uther said, "Did he say why he left?"
"No, he just said past is in the past. Wouldn't say any more, but he sends his regards to you all." Arthur smiled at his mother but looked sideways at his uncle and saw he looked relieved when he announced that Merlin never said why he left. Arthur couldn't understand, he remembered how his uncle was when Merlin left, could he have had something to do with it?
What do you think?
Chapter two up tomorrow :D
Review? x