Disclaimer: I do not own the series Merlin or the characters from the show.
Word count: 1,732 words
Author's note: Arthur will be in the story soon enough haha.
It was officially a saturday, so Merlin had no school. He had actually finished school, but he had one too many failed classes which he was now obligated to retake. No one would hire a twenty year old with no education or with a poor one.
He worked a lot too, a part from being sacked from his latest job, or at least he really tried to work a lot. It wasn't that he didn't want a job. The first problem was of course, that no one desired to hire him. If they did, the work was always overwhelming with a wage barely enough for Merlin and his siblings to live on. He didn't complain about the hard work though.
He had been at the employment agency countless times, but none of the jobs that actually suited him (not so hard work, but good wage) would ever be his until he actually finished his classes and by that, got his diploma.
Studying after getting his diploma was no choice for Merlin. School just wasn't for him. He wasn't dumb, he really wasn't, but he couldn't cope with deadlines and having to sit through lectures on different subjects for eight hours on a hard chair that made your ass completely sore.
Merlin continued to wander, dragging his tired body from one spot to the other. He hadn't slept yet. He went to the employment agency, knowing fully well he didn't have a scheduled time. But it was the only place he could go to.
It was Saturday, so they opened an hour later than usual. Sadly, he knew their opening hours by heart. There was no need for him to check the opening hours plastered on their door or sign in to their shitty website. Merlin had been there too often.
With nothing to do but wait, Merlin sat outside of the building. He rested his body against the glass window. His body suddenly gave in and he slumbered.
He woke to the sound of clicking heels as well as the noise of someone clearing their throat. When Merlin looked up, he was met by a gorgeous brunette staring down at him.
For some odd reason, he hadn't seen her before. She must've been new or maybe it just happened that Merlin hadn't come across her all those times he was in the employment center.
He suddenly felt ashamed. He pulled himself up quickly, smoothing out the few wrinkles on his jacket and he was thankful that he had showered the day before. He felt very small all of the sudden, like he had been feeling when he was six years old and squeezing his mom's hand as they took their first step in to the country. When everything had been so new, different and scary.
The gorgeous brunette seemed to sense how Merlin tensed, because her posture eased and a smile grew on her face. It made the corner of her eyes wrinkle and Merlin found it to be unbelievably cute.
''We don't open for the next thirty minutes, but you can come on in and wait inside rather than standing out here in the cold,'' she spoke as the automatic doors opened after she held up a card against the machine while mindlessly pressing the code.
''That'd be great, if you don't mind.'' Merlin didn't even hesitate. The lady smiled at him and then entered. Merlin followed her lead. ''You can sit here in the waiting room,'' she said before disappearing in to a staff only room.
Merlin sat down on the blue cushioned couch. His sore back muscles relaxed at the sudden comfortable support. He sighed, squeezing his eyes shut.
How many hours of sleep did he get? Two, maybe three at the most. He was so tired that he was just about to fall asleep again when the lady returned to him.
She had taken off her coat and Merlin read her name tag that was pinned to her white blouse. Mithian, it said.
She held up a plastic bag containing a small pink box. She waved it a bit in front of Merlin. ''You can have my lunch, since I'm guessing you're hungry.''
The way she said or even the way she offered wasn't filled with pity at all, nor was it said in a condescending tone. Merlin knew though that it shouldn't matter, he should refuse and say no, because... manners. But he hadn't eaten since yesterday's lunch.
He also didn't want to take what was hers. Merlin didn't want her to go hungry because of him.
As if she could read thoughts, she suddenly added: ''there's an amazing café nearby, actually right around the corner, that sells the greatest sandwiches. Trust me, I won't go hungry,'' Mithian comforted, easing Merlin's guilt and shame.
He still hesitated, but he honestly couldn't fight the hunger anymore. He could already feel his hands shaking. However, it still didn't make him feel better about accepting or taking her food.
He thought of making the best of the situation, bringing some sarcasm to it. ''What gave me away?'' He asked, playfully raising an eyebrow. Mithian seemed to understand him very well, as she understood what he was doing and decided to play along.
''Oh you know, your stomach growling like a wolf,'' she said, looking towards the ceiling as she said while the lunch box wrapped in the plastic bag still weighed in her hand.
''Seriously?'' Merlin asked. Did his stomach seriously growl when he was asleep? How awkward. Mithian nodded while a laugh escaped her lips. ''Yes, nothing to worry about though. We're all human, yeah?''
Merlin laughed with her. ''Yeah,'' he breathed as he finally took the plastic bag from her. ''Thanks a lot, I'm forever in your debt. I'm Merlin, by the way.'' He held out his hand and Mithian gave it a firm shake. Her shoulders were rolled back, back straight and she looked in to Merlin's eyes. Confidence.
''Nonsense, but nice to meet you, Merlin. I'm Mithian, as this tag beautifully reads,'' she stated as she dramatically gestured her hand across the tag on her chest. It earned her a small laugh from Merlin which caused Mithian to smile.
''Now, do me a favor and enjoy your food while I get to work,'' she winked at him before walking away.
Merlin was left alone to feel ashamed. Even if he played it cool, he couldn't deny those feelings of shame. How it was so obvious that he was hungry, that he was in need...
He knew Mithian didn't look down on him. At least he hoped she didn't look down on him. She didn't seem like such a person, but Merlin himself was still bothered.
The feelings however was soon forgotten once he sat back down and pulled the lunch box and the cutlery out of the plastic bag.
Biting in to the first piece of chicken felt like heaven. He finished the food in a haste, he couldn't help himself. He had been starving.
He got up from the couch, walking over to where Mithian was standing. ''Thank you, again. It wasn't necessary of you to do this.'' Before Merlin could apologize again, Mithian shook her head.
''There's no need to thank me,'' she said as she took the empty lunch box out of Merlin's extended hands. ''Once you get a job and make your first allowance, you can swing by here and take me out for lunch or a drink.''
A huge grin grew on Merlin's face. Was that a date?
''That sounds perfect,'' he said what felt like a bit too quickly.
More workers were dropping in, all of them throwing a glance at Merlin. He couldn't be an employee, not dressed like that. So what was he doing here?
Merlin was thankful that none of them said anything out loud. He wouldn't want Mithian to tell them that she found him sleeping outside and brought him in because he was cold and hungry.
Why no one asked though was beyond Merlin. Either they sensed he was one of the failures from the ghetto so they were scared to say anything (god damn prejudices) or it was actually the way Mithian stood firm. Her face let people know they shouldn't mess with her.
Damn, he liked her so much already.
Five minutes before opening hours, there were already people waiting outside of the agency. Merlin was looking at them through the glass window.
Most of the time you had to have an appointment to be here. But Merlin was too impatient to wait for an appointment. An appointment which he knew he wouldn't get unless he actually kept bothering them about it, leaving them with no choice but to help him.
When the doors were opened and the workers desks were available, everyone had a numbered paper in their hand within the second. Unfortunately for Merlin, he wasn't the first one to pull the paper first so someone else was called to Mithian's desk where the header above her read: ''IN SERVICE: 01''.
Merlin ended up with the help of a man he had encountered at the agency before. The man, whatever his name was, was quite unpleasant and rude. ''Where are your papers?'' He asked with a sharp tone.
Merlin fought the urge to roll his eyes. ''I'm already a registered job seeker. You have a folder with my name, Merlin Emrys. All my papers, as well as my resume is there. You need me to help you to do your job?'' Merlin asked.
If the man was going to give Merlin sass, he'd hand it right back to him.
Merlin saw how the man's left eye twitched. Once he went up to search for Merlin's folder, Merlin was grinning like a fool.
The visit at the employment agency was actually more beneficial than he expected, aside from bickering with the man.
Apparently there was a cleaning company who was in urgned need of employers so Merlin had a good chance of landing the job.
Was it a job he wanted or dreamed of? No, but it was better than nothing and he hoped that he could at least keep this job. Which, when he thought about it, would be forced to do. Whether he wanted to or not. After all, he was officially homeless, although he rather not think about that.