Another Merlin fic. Sigh, I've become obsessed with another show. Anyways, I don't own Merlin, that's BBC's job. [jealous] This will be another rated M fic in my collection, so be warned there will be male sex, violence, and spousal abuse. If you can't read this kind of stuff, than stop and turn around. Anyone else, is welcome of course and I would love reviews.
Until Next Time
~Reiya
xXx
Let Me Be Your Magic
Chapter 9.
Merlin stared at himself in the mirror. Glaring at his reflection, he ran a hand through his hair, trying to get it to look less messy. His efforts were wasted as his hair refused to obey.
There was a sigh to his right and he just ignored it. "Merlin, for the last time. You look fine." Morgana finally shouted at him, frustrated by his nervous fidgeting. He'd been standing there for about ten minutes.
"I just want to make sure it's all perfect." He told her, straitening his collar until it lay flat just right.
"I don't think Arthur's going to care how you look. Hell, he certainly wouldn't mind if you went to this thing naked. It maybe a banquet you two are going to, but it's not a black tie affair. You don't need to worry about your outfit so much." She informed him. Standing up, she came up behind him and grabbed his hands, holding them down at his sides to stop his fidgeting.
"But, what if Arthur get judged because of my outfit…and-"
"Enough! Merlin Emrys, you will shut up this moment and listen." He shut his mouth with a snap. "You will go on this date with Arthur. You will enjoy it, eat, flirt with each other, maybe even kiss…and you will NOT worry about your clothes. Do you understand me?" She asked him, looking him in the eye through the mirrors reflective surface.
He gulped and nodded. He looked at himself in the mirror one more time. Dark blue, long sleeved, button down shirt with form fitting black slacks and dark dress shoes completed the outfit. He knew he looked fine, but that still didn't stop him from being nervous.
Nodding to himself, he let Morgana steer him away from the mirror and out of his apartment. Arthur was waiting in the small parking lot in front of his apartments, leaning against the door of his car. The blond smiled when he saw them coming towards them. Merlin blushed slightly when he looked him up and down, smiling bigger at what he saw.
"You certainly clean up nice, Merlin." He murmured to him. Morgana just gave a snort at the comment and pushed Merlin forward with a gentle shove.
Merlin turned around to glare at her, but she was already walking away towards her own car. Sighing, he looked back at Arthur. He'd unlocked the door and held it open for him. Smiling at him, he slide in and buckled his seat-belt.
They sat there eating in silence as people sat around them chatting. The banquet was being held in Uther's, Arthur's father, newest restaurant. It was some charity thing that Uther held a banquet for every year.
Arthur had explained it to him earlier that his father did in dedication to his now deceased mother. The charity was for a cancer cure research group that had helped them out when his mother had been diagnosed with leukemia.
This made him smile in bitter irony. He was just like Arthur, though his father hadn't died of cancer. He been struck by a drunk driver while he crossed the street. Sighing he took another bite of food, savoring the taste of well cooked and seasoned meat.
It took him a few seconds to notice that Arthur was watching him. "What?" He asked, thinking maybe he had something on his face or worse, on his shirt.
"Are you alright? If you want we can go." Arthur said to him.
"No, no. I'm fine. I'm just not used to this kind of stuff. Just ignore me." He said to him, trying to keep the flush on his face from spreading even more.
"It's hard to ignore you when your right in front of me." He said softly. Merlin looked up and saw the meaning behind the words in his eyes. His battle to keep the blush from spreading was lost and he felt his ears heat up.
"Prat." Arthur just smirked at his victory.
There was a ring of crystal as someone's wine glass was struck. They looked up, their own little bubble shattering as their concentration was broken. Uther stood at the head table, holding his glass. He was an imposing figure, tall and muscled. There were lines on his face, some laugh lines, but mostly those of a long held grief. His short steel gray hair was swept back, out of his face. He spoke aloud.
"I welcome you all here and say thank you for the donations made. With each year passing, we come closer to a cure in this fight to eradicate cancer. So please, enjoy the food and drink. If you have any questions, please ask me or my son Arthur," He pointed to their table where they sat, " and we will answer anything you ask."
"With that, I wish to give one finally thanks. This year, we received a large, generous donation from a very kind person. I wish to give my thanks to Ms. Morgouse Iliad for her donation." There was a polite round of applause as the woman stood up. She was pretty, with light blond hair and blue eyes. Her dress was fitting, if a little revealing.
Merlin sat there watching her. She was smiling radiantly. His eyes shifted to look at the man who sat next to her. His breath seemed to freeze in his lungs as he stared. As if sensing his gaze, blue serpentine-like eyes turned to gaze back. No emotion showed in them as they stared at each other, but a knowing smirk played along thin pale lips.
Merlin. "Merlin!" An urgent hiss of his name brought him back to himself. Arthur was trying to get his attention without making a scene. He blinked almost owlishly, startled by having control over his body again.
"What?" He hissed back.
"Let go of the knife, Merlin." He looked worried.
Merlin blinked again and looked down. In his moment of panic, he forgotten he had the knife in his hand and had somehow grabbed the blade end of it. It was clutched in his hand in a death grip. He slowly loosened his fingers, wincing as the gash on his palm made itself known to him. He stared at it, watching blood well up from the torn flesh.
"Come on." He jumped, having not noticed Arthur's walk over to his side of the table. The blond grabbed his wrist, putting pressure around the thin appendage to stop the bleeding. With a tug, he pulled Merlin from his seat and dragged/guided him from the banquet hall to the restroom.
He turned on a sink and stuck the hand under the flow of water. "Keep it there and wash out the cut. I'll be back in a minute." He walked out.
He stood there, watching his blood mix with water to turn it pink. He felt like he was in some sort of trance. He heard the door open and looked up. He didn't even freeze this time. Just stood there and stared at the man in front of him.
"Hello, Emrys." His voice was easy, as if he was commenting on the weather. He couldn't say anything, just stared at the pale man in front of him. Short black hair and pale blue eyes watched his every move as he stood there with water and blood running down the drain of the sink.
He took this in stride. "You hurt yourself again. You always were too clumsy for your own good. You need to take batter care of yourself." He took a step forward and stood in front of him. "You certainly haven't changed one bit. Big innocent eyes and large ears. Your skin just a smooth and pale. It's as if nothing has changed, has it Merlin?" He asked the question lowly, capturing his eyes and holding him captive like a snake holds it's prey.
He said nothing, just continued to stare. He didn't even feel afraid, or not yet anyways. His heart beat steadily, but an iciness had entered his veins, making him feel detached from his body, like he was a ghost watching this moment.
There was a creak of the door opening and the spell was broken. The man looked behind him to see Arthur walking in with a first aid kit in his hand. He stopped when he saw the scene in front of him. "Excuse me, who are you.?" He asked cautiously.
"Oh, just an old acquaintance of Merlin's." He turned back to Merlin. "It was nice meeting you again. Maybe later, we can get together and talk over old times." He smiled his cold smile, but Merlin said nothing, just nodded weakly. "Oh, and don't say anything to Morgana, please. I want to surprise her later." Again he nodded weakly, seeing the underlying threat.
With that, he swept out of the restroom, ignoring Arthur who followed him with wary eyes. Like a hawk that knows there's a snake in it's nest. He turned back to Merlin, but the man was turned away, head down as he stared at his hand. He walked towards him.
"You alright, Merlin?" He asked.
He nodded. "Yea, just tired all of a sudden." He mumbled, still not looking at him.
This just made Arthur nervous. "You can take you hand out of the water." Merlin shut it off. Arthur walked forward and set the small plastic box on the lip of the sink. "Let me see you hand." He said as he opened it. Merlin held it out, palm up. "We can leave after this if you want. I talked to father and he doesn't mind." Merlin nodded that he wanted to leave.
They stood there in silence as Arthur cleaned and bandaged his hand up. By the time he was done, Merlin looked better, less like a started rabbit anyways. They left the restroom and walked out of the restaurant quietly, none but Uther and the other man noticing their departure. Pale gray eyes watched them leave, noticing something off between them. His eyes turned and saw the other man watching them leave, a smirk on his face. Eyes narrowed, he set his face in his memory as he decided to look in on the man himself.
Arthur walked with him up the steps to his apartment. Unlocking it, he flipped on the light. Arthur followed him in, not trusting the man to be on his own. He seemed even more withdrawn than usual.
Merlin set his things down and walked to his room, sitting down on his bed. He seemed to sink into it, letting it cushion him as if he couldn't hold his own weight up.
Arthur sat down next to him, his arm going around him to pull him close. Merlin just leaned against him, head on his shoulder as they sat in silence. Merlin seemed to finally relax, the tension easing out of his slim body.
He gave a soft sigh and lay back on the bed. Arthur glanced down at his watch. "It late and you should get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow." He told him, kissing him on the cheek as he stood.
He was brought up short by a pale hand gripping his shirt in a death grip. Merlin looked at him pleadingly. "Please, just stay for a little while longer." He seemed to be coming apart at the seams.
Arthur nodded and sat back down. Unlacing his shoes, he kicked them off. Pulling up his legs, he did the same for Merlin. Putting arms underneath him, he lifted and shifted him to lay properly on the bed. Laying down next to him, he brought his head to his shoulder and held him there.
Merlin curled up along him, hands gripping his shirt like it was a life line. He lay there shuddering every once in a while as Arthur just held him, hands stroking up and down his back, trying to sooth him. Merlin finally seemed to calm down, his body going limp as he let his grip go. Arthur just held him as he listened to his breathing start to deepen and even out.
"I'm here, Merlin. I won't let anything happen to you." He kissed him on the forehead, eyelids, cheeks, an finally his lips, just a brush. Merlin sighed and just snuggled closer to him.
xXx
So it's finally coming to a head. Don't worry, you'll find out his name, if you haven't already guess who it s, next chapter. I decided to stop delaying and bring in the plot so, here it is. I don't know what I'll type next, if maybe I'll tell you what happened in his past or just do more foreshadowing, but you'll just have to wait and see. Enjoy.
Until Next Tine
~Reiya
