Chapter 4
Merlin's P.O.V
Over the next month or so I found myself watching Arthur more and more which meant I noticed the changes that occurred much earlier than others. The muscle definition that Arthur previously had had slimmed until there was barely anything left. Arthur's weight had also decreased so that in some places he was only skin and bone, finally, his eyes were constantly red rimmed and sometimes accompanied by dark circles layered with exhaustion. The more I watched Arthur the more worried about him I became, what could be so bad in his life that it brought about these changes? Leon cottoned on to the changes in Arthur as well and discussed with me that he was heavily considering getting in touch with Morgana, Arthur's sister.
The other thing I couldn't wrap my head around is why I was so worried about Arthur. I hadn't even known the guy for a whole year and I obsessed over every slight change that occurred in him. I missed the Arthur I had gotten to know in that room, over that day at lunch. What had caused him to disappear? The shell of the Arthur that I once knew was all that wandered through the school these days and I had no idea how to get the real one back.
Leon's P.O.V
"Morgana?" I really didn't want to contact Morgana ever again in my life; she scares the shit out of me. However I knew if anyone could get through to Arthur and figure out what was wrong with him it would be her. Arthur would open up to Morgana, though it would still take him a long time to do so. "Yes Leon?" was the curt reply, she seemed to be fed up with me already and I had been on the phone to her for less than ten seconds. "I'm really worried about Arthur" she sighed heavily; obviously she still didn't believe me about Arthur. That's the problem with Morgana despite the fact she loved her brother she wouldn't come up to see him unless she was absolutely positive there was a problem. "What is up with him now? Started to listen to dear old daddy and won't speak to you anymore? Or has he become even more stuck up and you can't deal with his attitude?" she sneered.
"No actually" I couldn't stop myself from snapping, did she even care?
"What then?"
"Morgana I'm being completely serious there is something wrong with Arthur" - Insert a scoff and a mumbled "I knew that" here – "He's lost at least 2 stone since I last spoke to you and he gets more exhausted by the day and I'm not the only person that has noticed. Merlin, the new guy, has noticed as well and is just as worried as I am!" My voice had risen to a near shout by the end of my rant; I needed to get my point across so Arthur could get some help. "I'm only ringing you about it because I know that Arthur will eventually listen to you and he will tell you what's wrong whereas with me he insists that there isn't a problem."
"He's fine Leon. Just spoilt little rich boy troubles give him some room and he'll get over himself, well maybe" Her cackle of a laugh was the last thing that I heard before the dull resounding beep of the dial tone filled my ears. I slammed the phone down on the counter and stormed out of my house, I would try once again to try and find out what is wrong with Arthur myself.
Arthur's P.O.V
"Arthur" was that father? He didn't want to see me until I stopped being a disappointment and I sure as hell am one still, so why is he shouting me? I left my room as quickly as possible and wound my way through the house to where my father's voice was coming from. As soon as I found him I realised I was still a disappointment to him, Leon was here so father had to keep up the act of loving his perfect son. "Hey dad, hey Leon" I greeted them both in turn with a large smile on my face, for if I looked even the slightest bit upset father was sure to punish me for it later. Leon shot me a shocked and confused look; he hadn't heard me that happy in weeks. What Leon didn't know was that it was all an act for father and that I felt even worse than I had looked for the last couple of weeks. Father left the room leaving me alone in the hallway with a very confused Leon. I led Leon up the stairs and into my room, expected the silence to be broken at any second with one of his many questions; however it was a good ten minutes before either of us spoke. As Leon's mouth opened with his first question I pulled at my sleeves self-consciously begging whoever was listening that my scars would not be seen. Luckily for me Leon saw nothing "So Arthur, I was just wondering why you've been so tired recently?" I just looked down at my hands that were folded in my lap not giving Leon an answer - what answer could I give him? He sighed as though he had never expected me to answer; I looked up at him through my fringe and met his eyes. "Please Arthur; just tell me what is wrong, so I can help you" His voice had begun to crack as he finished off his sentence. Despite how sincere Leon sounded I couldn't bring myself to believe him, no one really cares about me, not even my own father. I tore my eyes away from his and looked down once again, what could I say? That I am a disappointment to everyone I have ever met and that I let everyone down? Therefore I distance myself from people to save them from the pain. To save myself from the pain. That my father abuses me? No, I couldn't tell Leon anything.
Before I could come up with an answer for Leon I heard a loud gasp, looking up I found Leon staring at my arm with abject horror. Glancing down I saw that my sleeve had ridden up and my cuts were on display. I'm pretty sure our facial expressions were identical at that point. How could I be so stupid that I let Leon see them? "Arthur are those cuts?" I shook my head vehemently before coming up with the first lie I could think of "I fell over and grazed my wrist when I was walking home from school the other day". He shot me a disbelieving look, shit I haven't walked home this week Leon gave me a lift every night. "I don't think so Arthur" he reached out and rolled back the long, dark sleeves of my shirt, revealing the scars that lined both of my wrists a gasp escaped from Leon's mouth at the sight before him. Whereas the tears that I had been holding back for so long finally flowed down my face. "Oh Arthur why?" a solitary tear slid down Leon's face before I broke down. Curling up into the foetal position I slowly rocked myself back and forth as I sobbed. Leon's arms encircled me and pulled me close, causing me to jump; however it provided comfort so I cuddled closer and allowed him to hold me as I wept through my pain. His hand worked its way through my hair as he tried to calm me down. "Shhh, Arthur you're okay, it's fine just calm down", Eventually, my sobs slowed and I just lay there in Leon's arms as I grounded myself once again. Once I felt calm enough I separated myself from his embrace, before I could leave it completely however he grabbed my arms "why?"
"Because" hic "I am a disappointment" This statements brought the sobs back.
"Hey look at me Arthur" Leon's hand had slipped under my chin and hefted it up so my eyes met his "You are not a disappointment, especially to me" I may not be a disappointment to Leon (though how could that be true?) but that didn't mean I wasn't one to everyone else I knew, everyone else I would meet for the foreseeable future. "I promise you Arthur" he sounded so sincere that I couldn't let him down by disagreeing with him therefore I met his eyes once more and nodded. "I'm so sorry Arthur but I have to go, just know that I really don't want to leave you" I nodded once more and let out a low "promise", Leon gave me one last hug and a final piece of advice. "Please Arthur go and get something to eat, for me and for you, and then go to sleep, yeah?"
"Yeah of course" I mumbled, returning Leon's hug before he left my room. True to my word around an hour after Leon left I crawled out of bed to go and get some food, even if it was last night's leftovers at least there was something in my system. Once I had eaten I wandered back to my room before collapsing straight into bed, exhausted after the emotional events that had taken place that day.
Leon's P.O.V
I really didn't want to betray Arthur's trust especially with such a large secret but I couldn't keep this to myself, not when Arthur is in so much pain. I knew what I had to do even if I really didn't want to talk to her again. Pulling my phone out of my pocket I prepared myself for the speech ahead, this is going to be some hard news to give, never mind receive over the phone. "What do you want now Leon?" was the ever so polite greeting I got. "Hey sorry to disturb you… again, but this is really, really important Morgana" I really hoped she would pick up on the tone of desperation in my voice and get the grasp of the seriousness of the situation. "What?" The reply wasn't even snapped she sounded slightly worried as though the things I had been saying about Arthur had come to the forefront of her mind. "Morgana, Arthur he… there's no easy way to say this and I'm sorry for that, but Arthur he cuts himself" A sharp gasp was all I heard on the end of the line "I'm so sorry you had to be told this way, I'm hoping you will be able to help him through as he won't talk to me. So please Morgana come back and help Arthur, your brother!"
"I'm on my way"
