chapter11

Arthur sat in the uncomfortable hospital chair in front of Merlin, who was laying on the bed. The younger man had to get stitches on his forehead from when he hit his head on the wall trying to dodge Uther's bullet; bruises all over his body, a bump in the back of his head, and a bite mark on his chest. The physical appearance of the victim, plus the eye-witness, Arthur Pendragon, Uther would be put away for some time.

Merlin gulped nervously as he stared at nothing but darkness. "I've known your father for quite some time...A few years." He added low.

Arthur nodded in understanding, just listening to all his love had to say.

"It was about four years ago that I worked for him. I was 18 and I needed a job to pay for rent. It took me by surprise when he agreed a little too quickly when I applied, but... everyone wanted to work for Uther Pendragon." He scoffed. "I took the job and shortly after that he started harassing me."

Arthur's brows narrowed. "...What did he do?" He asked, not really wanting an answer.

Merlin exhaled deeply. "He started calling me in the middle of the night, just...asking unprofessional questions; What was I doing? Was I with anybody?" He shook his head. "Flowers came every single day to my house; Balloons, cards, chocolates." He exhaled. "I finally got tired and I confronted him. I told him that we would never happen; He was my boss and that was it, nothing would ever happen."

Arthur looked down at his folded hands. "He didn't stop?"

Merlin shook his head and made a sound close to a scoff and a sob. "Instead he came over bringing dinner, wine...movies that I would never watch." He said lower.

Arthur's eyes trailed back to the boy.

"One day it become too much, he kissed me. I threatened to call the cops."

"Why didn't you?" Arthur asked low.

Merlin licked his dry lips. "I needed the job."

Arthur brows narrowed more. So Uther took advantage.

"I was just starting college." Merlin continued. "I needed money. And at first my threat seemed to go through. But then one night, I was working late, and the receptionist asked me to take something to Uther's office, I could have sworn he'd gone home already. When I opened the door, it was to hear to shots, and to see..."

Arthur suddenly sat back in his seat. "Merlin... Are...Are you telling me..."

"I saw your father kill someone." Merlin whispered so Arthur almost didn't hear. Almost. "I ran. I didn't know what to do. We were in the 20th floor, and I took the stairs to the lower levels." He gulped thickly. "Uther's men were already there waiting for me. I tried going back up, but the men held the door open while Uther pulled me out and forced me inside his limo where he told me he would do the same to me as he did to the man if I ever told about the harassment." He sniffled. "It spent the next hour kissing and touching me, in the middle of the parking garage."

Arthur exhaled a deep angry breath and stared at Merlin. His heart beating with anger and sudden hatred for his father. So this wasn't something new, it had gone on since before Arthur was a part of the company.

"Please say something, Arthur?"

"What do you want me to say?" The blond whispered.

Merlin suddenly had tears running down his cheeks. "That you believe me." He sobbed. "You won't leave me. That it wasn't my fault...Anything?" He begged.

Arthur felt his own tears fall and he forced a smile Merlin couldn't see then stood up. Arthur walked over to the bed and sat down, his arms wrapping around the thin body, his lips lingering on Merlin's head for a few long seconds.

"What did you do after the garage?" He whispered into the head.

Merlin held on tight to the man's shirt. "Uther told me that if I let him bed me, he would take it slower. I told him I had to think about it. He drove me home and the moment he was gone, I packed my bags and took the next plane out of the city."

Arthur's brows narrowed once again. "You ran." He whispered.

Merlin nodded. "I thought I was out, but during the plane ride I got a phone call; It was him. He told me that everything was over, I would be dead and nobody would tell his secrets. Next thing I knew there was an explosion."

Merlin's eyes moved blindly. "I remember people screaming, and I remember... falling, hitting the ground and blackness."

Arthur nodded slowly.

"I was so alone." Merlin sobbed. "I could barely hear noises I couldn't see, smelled the blood on my skin. I decided that I would give up and I just lay on the floor, waiting for the noises to take me. When I felt a wet nose on my face I knew I was in the woods, I knew what it was sniffing me, probably looking for food." He laughed half-heartedly and reached out on the bed feeling for Cheetos' fur. "I just didn't realize that she was protecting me, not trying to look for the best way to eat me."

Arthur finally smiled and hummed.

"Cheeto, she helped me find water and food, then she helped me find a way out of the woods, and she led me to Morgana."

Arthur nodded and suddenly frowned. "I think we should call her."

Merlin shook his head and sighed exasperated. "She's going to have my head."

Arthur laughed. "I'll take your word on that. She is pretty scary."

Merlin laughed too.

"But she looks out for you. And for that, I'll take it upon myself to like her."

Merlin hummed. Arthur smiled then reached under Merlin's chin and lifted his head. "I'm going to kiss you, Merlin." He whispered. "Don't be frightened."

Merlin smiled and shut his eyes just before the soft lips met his own. His hand trailed up and grabbed on to the straight and blond locks. Their lips glued together and unmoving, just a soft sweep of lips.

Arthur pulled back, sent one more kiss before humming. "After we call Morgana, would you like some dinner?"

Merlin hummed. "Seeing as we couldn't finish our date..."

Arthur smiled. "Let's get the hospital to sign you out, then." He whispered before getting off the bed and walking towards the room door.

When Merlin heard the door shut, he smiled. "You don't have to watch over me alone anymore, Cheeto. Arthur will take care of us both."

A/N: Ok, one more chapter left. In order for my last chapter to work it will have to be M rated, so you don't have to read the last chapter if you don't want to read SEX... I will put that chapter tonight.

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