Authors Note: Hello! Sorry it took so long but I just finished and wanted to put it up straight away! Life and courses and hangovers get in the way of writing sometimes... This is probably going to be the last chapter, maybe I'll do an epilogue later? But, I already have the idea for a new story so you can look for that. I really enjoy Merthur Hurt/Comfort as a heads up. Let me know if you have any prompts!

Chapter 7: Going Home

When they arrived at Arthur's flat his lack of vision didn't hinder his understanding of how expensive it all was. The blurry shapes, which still scared him despite the doctor's assurance, gleamed and shimmered with the glint of money and style. Arthur left him for a moment to turn on the lights and Merlin decided to try walking, immediately regretting the decision as he missed the change in flooring, tripped and gasped as the movement jarred his injuries.

"Merlin!" Arthur ran over, tossing his coat and bag on the chair, "Just don't move okay, be careful." He grabbed his arm carefully and lead him forward, "Here, don't try it alone, I'm here and just hold on to me instead." Merlin smiled at the concern he'd rarely seen on Arthur.

"You're kind of sweet when you actually show that you're capable of caring."

"Your balance actually isn't worse than usual." Arthur replied, teasing the man as he let go and stepped away, smiling at the fact that Merlin could still jest. But that suddenly changed as Merlin lurched forward,

"Arthur! Please, please I can't see." Panic laced his voice as Arthur quickly stepped forward,

"I'm here." Taking him into his arms he pulled him to his chest, "I'm here Merlin." And the two of them thought that maybe it was more than just being there, at that moment, that he meant. Arthur let his hands run down Merlin's side, wrapping them carefully around his waist. They stayed that way for awhile, Arthur holding Merlin to his chest while he rocked back and forth soothingly. Now that the adrenaline had run out of their blood the two men were exhausted, slumped against one another in the middle of the kitchen. Arthur had moved, his back pressing against the granite countertop as he thought about making them something to eat. But looking down at Merlin who was almost asleep, he knew they both truly needed bed. Bed, Arthur's bed, both of them. He wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around the man all night, to have a warm bed, not cold and alone. It was so new to Arthur this feeling of belonging, desire in a way that craved a partner and not simply passion. Two weeks ago he couldn't have ever imagined this, feeling like this and in a way it scared him being this vulnerable. Arthur had enough fear for the day and he carefully moved his arm and rubbed his eyes, looking down at Merlin,

"Come on, stop lazing around," his voice soft and caring, "Time for bed."

"Bed?"

"Yes, is your hearing impaired as well?"

"Clotpole."

"Idiot." He whispered, kissing his forehead over the black fringe.

"I'll sleep on the couch then."

"No, you'll sleep in my bed."

"No, I, that -"

"I'll take the couch Merlin."

"No, I couldn't take your bed Arthur, I've done enough tonight..."

"It wasn't your fault you know, now go, it's fine."

"But."

"Merlin, I"ll sleep in Gwaine's bed, he's out."

"But Arthur."

"Merlin."

"What."

"Shut up." He said, kissing him softly and pushing him towards the bedroom. After walking him to his room, telling him where things would be should he need to get up and helping him in, Arthur sat on the edge of the bed. They looked at one another a moment, Arthur tentatively reached out and moved a tendril of black hair away from the bandage on the side of his forehead, and Merlin in turn took his hand and kissed it softly,

"Arthur?"

"What?"

"Thank you..." He replied as Arthur got up and somehow managed to pull himself and leave the room. Now he had to pick his way through Gwaine's mess of a room to find the bed. Stripping off his clothes he raised an eyebrow at the bed and wondered what had possibly occurred there, and then decided he wouldn't want to know.

Laying in Gwaine's bed Arthur felt strangely alone. He wanted nothing more than to have just taken Merlin to bed, helped him into his pyjamas and held him. Held him all night against his chest so that he would know that he was safe and that he wasn't going to hurt him. It may have taken two weeks, but Arthur had realised that that was all he truly wanted and though it was hard to admit, he'd fallen hard for the tall spindly man. Turning over he tried not to think about how often Gwaine's bed had been used and how scarcely it was probably washed as he tried to close his eyes and sleep. But the fight kept replaying in his head, he'd see Valiant at the door of the club and then it would change scenes and he'd be outside, seeing Merlin's bloodied figure falling into the car and he would jolt awake, hearing Merlin calling out his name softly.

Yet this time he realised it wasn't the dream and that he had actually heard someone calling for him. Sitting up he glanced towards the door which he had left half open. The light from the kitchen filtered into the room lazily but the streak of light was interrupted by a dark shadow and even though he had looked over expecting to find someone, it surprised him none the less.

"Arthur?" Merlin called again, sounding regretful.

"Merlin? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine I just, well, I..."

"Don't worry, don't move let me get up and come to you." Quickly Arthur shed the heavy duvet and swung his muscled legs over the side of the bed. He'd stripped down to his boxers but hadn't felt like disturbing Merlin to get any of his sleeping clothes. Padding across the carpeted floor he came to the door, opening it carefully and reaching out, "I"m going to take your hand."

"Okay." Merlin responded, grateful that Arthur had the forethought to warn him. While his vision seemed to be getting better the dark confounded his senses and he was grateful for the warm and steady hand that met his.

"Are you hurting? I just threw your medications on the chair when we came in, I didn't think to get them out."

"Don't worry, I don't hurt, I..." he sounded embarrassed, "I had a nightmare and well." Merlin wasn't sure that he wanted to admit to Arthur that he wanted him to be there. It wasn't often that Merlin admitted to needing help, rather choosing to plod on through the difficulties that he faced on his own. But now Arthur was here, and that changed everything, and he wasn't sure how it was supposed to work now. Was Arthur his boyfriend?

"Are you my boyfriend?" Both of the men looked a bit taken back at the question Merlin asked. Merlin was shocked he'd let himself say it and Arthur hadn't thought about it. They were supposed to go out on their first real date this evening and it had gone horribly wrong. But having it go wrong, seeing Merlin like that, how he reacted...

"Yes, I am, if you want me to be."

"I do."

"Then I am. And since I am we're going to go back to my room and we'll both get some sleep."

"I would really like that." With that Arthur wrapped a careful arm around Merlin's waist and walked back to his bedroom. The hardwood floor was cold on his feet as he walked down the hall looking at Merlin. He was also in his boxer shorts and his pale flesh almost seemed to glow in the dim light of the hallway as they made it back to his bedroom. Moving across the threshold Arthur pushed the door closed and helped Merlin into bed. Arthur lay on his back for a moment as Merlin situated himself to the left of him a few inches. The young man turned onto his side and curled upon himself softly, tugging the blankets to his chest. They stayed like this for awhile, both breathing softly into the night air as if they didn't know how to proceed. Arthur sighed and smiled,

"Merlin, come here." And with that he snaked an arm out, pulled Merlin to his side and settled down, holding the man until they both fell asleep.

Arthur didn't want to get out of bed that morning. When he awoke it was a confusing moment of trying to figure out how he had gone to bed with a black mop. But when the sleep in his eyes faded and he realised that black mop was Merlin's bed head he couldn't even begin to contain his smile. His large fingers carded through the man's hair softly, flattening it down with each stroke, touching his ears softly, letting his fingers find their way down the his neck to lay on the flat of his back. It was warm, and comfortable and silent in the room, save the sound of both of them breathing.

Merlin looked so young like this, his cheek pressed to Arthur's chest, his shoulder up under his arm. A pale white arm snaked out over Arthur's stomach and curled loosely in the blanket on the other side. With a sigh Arthur looked at the time and decided that he would have more mornings like this as he disentangled his boyfriend. Boyfriend. He shook his head as he got up, leaning down and pulling the duvet back up around Merlin.

"What have you done to me? Tucking you in..." Tossing on a pair of pyjama pants Arthur made his way to the kitchen, picking up the phone as he went. It took a few well placed phone calls but by the time it was ten Arthur had manipulated the legal proceedings surrounding Valiant and was sitting at the counter with a cup of coffee. The cold hand that found his shoulder drew him from his thoughts as he turned around to meet Merlin's blue eyes,

"Morning."

"How are you feeling?"

"Like I got beat up by a six foot four ruffian...oh wait."

"Merlin." Arthur laughed, getting up and wrapping the man up into a hug. He breathed into his hair and planted a soft kiss there, squeezing him gently. "Come on, let's get some breakfast before you disappear on me." Arthur patted his ribs gingerly to emphasise his point before pulling him into the kitchen. Merlin sat down on a stool on the other side of the counter and watched his boyfriend. Boyfriend...He grinned, wide and uninhibited at that wonderful thought. Arthur Pendragon. A rich, spoiled, arrogant prat, but he was his prat, and that was all that mattered. Watching the man in front of him he couldn't help but keep the smile as Arthur got a mug out of the cupboard and poured Merlin a cup of coffee.

"Here, you drink that and I'll get your medication. The doctor said you need to take it twice a day and then -"

"You're rambling."

"Rambling? I am not. Pendragon's do not ramble." Came the indignant reply.

"Yes Sire. My medication?"

"Yes your bloody medication." The pill bottles were set in front of him as Arthur turned his attention to the cupboards and fridge. He didn't really cook in the apartment much, or at least he ordered takeaway or brought things home from the corner Waitrose pre-packaged.

"I can cook breakfast, if you know, you don't know how." Merlin offered after Arthur had planted himself in front of the fridge for a few minutes.

"Are you implying I don't know how to cook?"

"Yes."

"And you call me rude!"

"It's not rude if it's true." He replied as Arthur shut the fridge, watching Merlin try not to giggle. He came around the corner and grabbed the man up into his arms, hugging him tight, waiting until the tension in Merlin's body dissipated before he kissed him softly, "I just don't have anything in the flat."

"You know those rumours about bachelor's and their kitchens..."

"Are completely true, now why don't I take you out to breakfast."

"Full english?"

"What else?" With that Merlin kissed him back softly. He could get used to this.

"What about Valiant?" The questioned was quiet, laced with uncertainty as Merlin and Arthur left the restaurant. They began to walk along the street as Arthur ate a baguette he couldn't help but buy after breakfast, his spare hand found Merlin's and held onto it tightly. This seemed to ground him as he moved closer to Arthur.

"It's taken care of."

"Did you do something you shouldn't have?"

"I'm a lawyer Merlin, not part of the mafia."

"You didn't have to do that for me."

"Merlin." Arthur stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, "I'm your boyfriend now. I don't know who you've dated before me, honestly, I don't know much about you at all. But that doesn't change the fact that now that you're mine I'm going to be here for you. And that includes helping you with blokes like that. Okay?"

Merlin leaned up and tried to kiss him but the busy street traffic jostled them sideways. Taking his hand Arthur pulled him into a small park, holding his hand as they walked along the edge of a small duck pond.

"I was born in a small town called Ealdor up north, nothing much than a few farms and more sheep than people. My father died when I was young and it was just my Mum and I until I was able to get a bursary to attend Albion, where I am now. I don't have much and I'm okay with that." It made him feel nervous, knowing he was now going to be dating someone with a lot of money. What if Arthur thought he was after that, and not him? Sure, Arthur had a point, they didn't know each other, but Merlin had it in his head that he wanted nothing more than to try.

"I'm not worried about what you have or what you don't have." They stopped along the side where the slightest bit of snow edged along the wall to the pond and a variety of water fowl moved back and forth in the water, vying for the attention of passer bys."

Looking at one another they knew in that moment that they were going to try, despite their differences. Because they already argued, they'd already been through hell, and they were both fighters and that would get them through it. And it made them smile.

Leaning down Arthur kissed Merlin again, pulling the thin man to his chest, "We can go on a proper date tonight, I know a wonderful Italian pl-" But Arthur was cut off from the details of his romantic plans when Merlin snatched his bread out of his hand, pulling away.

"Merlin what are you doing!"

"Look at that little duck Arthur!"

"Duck?"

"Yes! Look at it." He gesticulated towards a small runt of a mallard trying to fight for a share of the food being thrown by a small child.

"What about it? That's my bread!" Cried Arthur as Merlin began luring the smaller duck over to a more quiet corner,

"And he's probably hungry and cold! Look at the poor thing."

"It's not that cold out!"

"Well he doesn't have a huge inflated ego to keep him warm, do you." He cooed at the mallard as Arthur gaped.

"Merlin you're talking to it."

"Obviously."

"You dimwit."

"Idiot."

But Arthur smiled as Merlin rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to tearing up pieces of his still warm baguette. They were going to be okay.