Arthur stopped before the secondary school, biting his fist to stop from calling out right away. Leaning back against a light pole, Arthur watched the children laugh as they tumbled out of the school. Cursing his sudden lust, Arthur bit down harder on his fist.

"Merlin!" he called out as a crowd of children streamed through the gate.

One of the adorable small bundles of energy whipped his head around, looking for the source. He found Arthur and grinned, blue eyes intense, a wild shock of unruly black hair on his head. Skipping over, long limbs everywhere at once, Merlin grinned up at Arthur in the suit. "You always did look good in business clothes."

Arthur practically melted. "Dear goodness. Merlin. Look at you."

"What?" He hurried to look. "I'm not a mess, am I?"

Shuddering, Arthur had to look away.

"Arthur? Are you alright, Arthur?"

"Morgan! Morgan, are you coming?" Children's voices hollared.

He rolled his eyes. "I'm not coming today! I'll see you Monday!"

Arthur snuck another look at little Merlin. Still thin as a rail, his cheekbones were hardly as pronounced, cheeks a little round still with baby fat.

"I take it you're taking me home?" Merlin said, shifting his bag from one shoulder to the other.

Arthur's eyes went wide. "God... I can't..." He shook his head.

"Are you sure you're alright? Do you want me to drive? Did you drive at all?" He looked around for an Arthur-like vehicle, but nothing presented itself.

"I didn't drive," Arthur said, not looking at Merlin. That helped. That was definitely easier. "Um. How old are you?"

"I'm thirteen, Arthur," the boy replied, voice laced with amusement.

"Ah."

"Is that the problem here?"

Arthur swallowed. "You could say that. You shouldn't..." He took a deep breath. "You shouldn't come home with me, Merlin."

"I recall saying the same thing all those lives ago, didn't I? Well. Not exactly. You forced my hand," Merlin grinned. "Early 21st century, I dare say."

"Um."

"How old are you, Arthur?"

"Twenty six."

"Yes? Well." Merlin folded his arms—so Merlin—and shrugged, looking so much like an adult. "So where do you live?"

"Nearby." Arthur stared at him, heart thrumming. "I've walked past this school for years and have never seen you, Merlin. I've searched online for you. I've even gone to an honest-to-goodness physical library to find you, Merlin."

"A physical library?" Merlin's brows went up. "I didn't know they had many of them left."

"I had to travel to Washington D.C. across the pond."

Merlin gaped. "Shut up!"

"I did," Arthur said, looking a little flushed with embarrassment. "Let's walk then." He started off and Merlin trotted—trotted—to keep up with him.

"Well, I'm sincerely flattered," he replied smugly. "You're not going to be as bothered by the age things as I was, are you?" Arthur looked at him sideways, all flushed and tense. Following the lines of his body, Merlin smirked. "Right then. I guess not."

Arthur almost moaned. "You have no idea, do you. God, Merlin. You're such an attractive child," he hissed as he power-walked towards his flat.

"Really?" He honestly seemed surprised.

Rolling his eyes at him, Arthur drawled, "Why else do you think I'm in such a state?"

Merlin grinned. "So where's your place?"

Arthur rumbled a string of curses under his breath. "Come on." He dragged Merlin the rest of the way to his building, flashing his security card to get them in and then entering the teleport to his floor: 44.

"Posh. As usual," Merlin commented. He dropped his jacket and schoolbag by the door, toeing off his shoes with the attitude of one who owned the place and padded around.

"Hey! Who said you could just go into my things and invade my privacy."

Merlin looked up at him through his lashes. "I'll be living with you eventually. I'll learn everything, so there's no reason not to learn this-life-you's quirks, is there?"

Arthur flushed, feeling horribly out of his element. This Merlin was clearly focused and very self-aware. Concerning Arthur. "You really should leave. Before... Before I do some—something that I shouldn't."

"Like sex?" Merlin arched a brow.

"Yes, Merlin, like sex," he said, full of exasperation.

He sighed and nodded. "Very well."

Arthur couldn't help the disappointment that flooded through him, though his jaw dropped when he saw Merlin staring at him and carefully—so carefully—undoing his uniform tie and shirt buttons. He gave a strangled noise somewhere in the back of his throat that registered in the recesses of his mind as being undignified. He couldn't really be bothered to care. "Merlin...!"

"Yes, Arthur?"

"You... Sodding..."

"Get it out," he ordered.

Arthur felt his knees go weak. "I'm...being undone," he murmured faintly. Merlin's grin sent him overboard and he flopped back into a chair.

Dropping his shirt, Merlin sauntered over, smooth and sexual, sliding his hands up Arthur's chest to cup his face. "Do you want me to kiss you?" He asked, eyes hooded.

"God yes."

"You're uncharacteristically enthusiastic for this."

"You're beautiful."

This made Merlin flush. But he continued in his course, pushing the jacket off of Arthur's shoulders and then working his way down the buttons. "We could do it in the chair here."

Arthur moaned. "Do something, Merlin. I'm about to come before you've hardly touched me. And that's just embarrassing."

Merlin smirked and then leaned in, pressing his lips to Arthur's before sliding his body up against the other man's. "You like me this way?"

"I like you every way!"

"But you seem particularly...at attention by younger me." Merlin cocked his head. "And you've seen me before as a child."

"But never when I was an adult!"

"True. I supposed I did enjoy it when our positions were flipped."

"Yes," Arthur panted, hips lifting against Merlin's. "Yes you rather did."

"Don't be a tit about it. You enjoyed it too."

"A lot, yes, now get on with it!"

Merlin laughed, lifting one leg and settling his knee next to Arthur's thigh on the chair, effectively baring himself as his eyes flashed and the rest of their clothes disappeared. "No touching," he ordered in that same low voice. "Suck."

Arthur took Merlin's fingers into his mouth immediately, swirling his tongue around them until Merlin pulled them back and reached behind to prep and stretch himself. "Shit, Merlin, shit. Hurry up.

It was strange, the oddly confident gleam in his eye, cheeks flushed now, panting a little as he rocked on his fingers. "Right then... Should be ready."

Arthur pulled him up off his feet bodily and settled him over his lap. Merlin grasped his shoulders, met his gaze and slowly began sinking down onto Arthur's leaking cock. Arthur tried, really tried not to move, panting as Merlin settled, small body shaking. His groan almost set Arthur off, but he forced himself still, waiting on Merlin. "Always waiting on Merlin," he gasped, squeezing his eyes shut.

"Want me to make you wait longer?"

"D-don't you d-dare!" Arthur's eyes flew open.

Merlin grinned, cheeks flushed and eyes hooded. "Fast?"

Arthur nodded desperately.

Merlin leaned in and kissed Arthur slow and filthy, raising his hips and then slamming down.

Arthur keened.

Merlin did it again. And again until Arthur was breathless and repeating his name like a mantra.

Merlin came hard, Arthur following before he was even finished, shuddering and curling around Merlin. Pushing Arthur back against the chair, he winced as he raised himself off Arthur, kissing his lips softly. He staggered towards the bathroom, returning with a wet cloth, cleaning Arthur who sighed, boneless. "To bed, darling." Merlin tugged Arthur's wrists, pulling him up over his shoulder and to the bed.

"God, Merlin... You've really done a number on me," Arthur mumbled as he flopped back onto the bed.

"I know, I know," Merlin soothed, pulling up the covers.

"You coming to bed?"

Merlin smiled fondly down at the kitten-weak man on the bed, flicking off the lights with a flash of golden eyes. "Good night, Arthur."

Arthur woke when his alarm went off. He reached over for Merlin, frown appearing when the boy wasn't there. "Merlin?" Awake now, Arthur slipped out of bed, searching through his apartment. "Merlin? Merlin, are you there?" He frowned again when there was no answer and no sign of him. Cursing, Arthur got ready for work, passing the rest of the day in a foul mood.

He stopped by Merlin's school on the way home again, waiting for the children to come out.

"Merlin," Arthur said crossly at the sight of him. "You left."

"School night," he chirped innocently.

Arthur growled.

"To yours?"

"You're..." Arthur sputtered. "You're cheeky!"

Merlin snorted with a roll of his eyes. "Are we going or no?"

"Morgan! Morgan, footie!"

"Not today!" he shouted back and then turning back to Arthur, a speculative gleam in his eye. "Repeat of yesterday?"

Arthur couldn't suppress the shiver that went down his spine. "What is with you this life, Merlin?" He asked darkly.

"Maybe I'm just hungry."

Arthur made a strangled noise under his breath, grabbing Merlin's shoulder and pushing him towards his flat. "You can't keep doing this," he muttered as he pushed Merlin into his flat. "You're... irresistible."

"Irresistible?" Merlin preened.

"Don't be flattered," Arthur snapped.

"Hard not to," Merlin drawled, lying back on Arthur's bed, undoing his shirt and sliding out of his trousers. "Come on. You want it, don't you?"

He was pretty sure he didn't whimper.

"Come get it, darling."

Arthur went and got it.

He woke again to find Merlin gone. He cursed, passed another miserable day and cursed again when he didn't see Merlin. It wasn't until Friday that he saw Merlin again.

"Arthur."

He turned to face him, just a little past the school. "Now you show?"

"Sorry. Had to catch up on schoolwork."

Arthur snorted. "I don't know why you're being like this, Merlin."

"All to get you going," Merlin said in the same flirty tones that did exactly that. "Yours?"

"No," Arthur snapped. "No. We never do the just casual sex thing. What's going on?"

Merlin just smiled, full of secrets.

"We're going to talk. And discover why you're being...like this."

Merlin rolled his eyes and cocked a skinny hip. Tossing a jacket over his shoulder, he raised an eyebrow suggestively. "Let's go."

"Merlin!" Arthur hissed. "Is it because you're young? What is this—"

"God, Arthur. Shut. Up." He growled and turned on a heel, walking away.

"Merlin, for God's sake, wait." Arthur hurried to catch up, grabbing his shoulder.

"Get off!" he snapped, eyes flashing.

"Morgan what?" Arthur asked.

"What?"

"What's your last name this time."

"Anglynde," Merlin snapped.

Arthur nodded and Merlin's expression went tight-lipped.

"Shit."

"Alright. Let's go back to mine," Arthur breezed.

"Never mind."

Arthur chewed a lip as he watched him go, frowning.

The first thing he did when he got home, after hanging up his jacket and putting his briefcase away, and charging his mobile—okay, maybe the fifth thing he did was look into 'Morgan Anglynde.' There was nothing on the internet other than schools he attended and the science competitions he'd won, a spelling bee win, and a myriad of other school victories. But then, he already knew that Merlin was brilliant. And had centuries of a head start on the subject. It was a wonder their brains didn't explode with all of the memories crammed in there. A testament to the human being.

After an hour and a half of searching, nothing had come up. Nothing that would explain his behaviours. Leaning back in his chair, Arthur massaged his temples. There had to be a reason. There were no articles that suggested he had been...been abused by a stranger. Or anything. Not that Merlin would ever let that happen to himself. Unless—Arthur sat ramrod straight and then relaxed back into his chair. Merlin had magic. He'd seen it. Kind of. But he had it, and therefore, could defend himself.

Popping his knuckles, he chewed at his lip. There had to be something... Arthur looked back at his screen, leaning back to hook his heels over the edge of the desk, typing quickly on the holo-keyboard over his lap. Perhaps the school records held some vital information. Problems with other students. Not that it seemed he had problems. He shrugged off the strange feeling of feeling like a parent. Merlin seemed to get along with the other students. And apparently football, of all things, was not a strange occurrence for Merlin.

Then there it was. His blood froze and he scribbled down the address on the back of his hand before rushing out the door.

"Directions," he snapped at his watch, entering the address and running towards Merlin's flat. It couldn't be too far, Arthur reasoned, seeing as they both walked. He was a bit out of practice, this life, but he grabbed the stair rail for support as he panted outside of Merlin's building. Running his hand down the columns of call-buttons, he tapped a foot, nerves all a-jitter, waiting for someone to let him in. Anyone.

The door finally clicked and he jabbed his finger into the floor 'port button and rushed out, pausing in front of Merlin's—the Anglynde's flat. His fist hovering by the door, he wavered, sparing a glance at his watch. 8:54. It wasn't too late to pay a visit. It wasn't even an inappropriate hour. It was just...

His heart turned over.

Knocked.

Started walking away.

Turned.

Walked back.

"Hello?" a kind-looking woman said as she opened the door.

"Erm. Hello," Arthur managed.

"Can I help you?"

"Actually, I was... um. Hoping to speak to your son?"

The woman's eyebrows shot up. "Morgan?" Then her eyes narrowed. "What business do you have with him?"

"I—erm." He cleared his throat. "I'm—forgive me. My name is Allen Prydden. I am a guidance counsellor at your son's school. Please forgive the late hour. I know this isn't exactly protocol, but I had something of extreme importance to discuss."

"A pleasure, Mr. Prydden," she said hesitantly. "Won't you please come in?"

"Um. Yes. Please. Georgiana, was it?"

"Yes. Tea?"

"No. No, thank you. I merely need to have a word... It concerns a delicate matter."

Mrs. Anglynde read between the lines and gestured down a hall. "His room is the last on the right."

"Thank you." He ducked his head and headed down the hall, rapping sharply on Merlin's door before entering.

Merlin's face screwed up into confusion at the sight of Arthur in his room, of all places, before clearing and settling into bland sullenness. "I suppose you've found out."

"Of course I've found out!" Arthur hissed, throwing his hands at the ceiling. "What the fuck were you thinking, Merlin! Weren't you ever going to tell? What is it with you and secrets!"

He rolled his eyes. "Oh shut up. My mother will hear. No, don't look like that. She already knows, of course—she's my mother, but I don't want her thinking that we're too friendly."

"Of course not," Arthur snapped bitterly. "Too busy worrying about your condition to think about things like that, are we?"

"What do you know," Merlin hissed, face suddenly terrible and frightening for a thirteen-year old. His eyes flashed gold, the papers rustling.

"I know you're keeping things from me. Again. Always with the secrets, Merlin! Always the secrets."

He threw his palm down on the desk, getting to his feet as his eyes flashed gold again. "Where do you get off telling me about my secrets, Arthur!" He yelled, surging to his feet.

"I thought you were worried about your mother," he bit out.

"She can't hear. I've shielded the room, you idiot."

"Excellent. More secrets. Do you lie to everyone?"

"We got over this centuries ago, Arthur. Stop trying to bring it back."

"Bring—bring it back?" Arthur gaped. "Merlin! Merlin, this is not me bringing anything back, this is me having issue with your keeping secrets from me now!"

"So I have an incurable disease, Arthur. You knowing fuck-all about it is hardly going to make a difference, is it."

"It is!"

"Exactly!" Merlin shouted. "Exactly! You'll treat me like some sort of porcelain doll, like I'm all fragile and weak. Well I'm not!"

"I know you're not!" Arthur yelled back, feeling his face heat up in anger. "You're the strongest person I know! So I don't understand why the sodding hell you're hiding it from me!"

"It would be better if you just didn't know." He looked down suddenly, hand gripping his desk very hard.

"Merlin..." Arthur sighed, dragging a hand over his face. "This isn't... Shit. You shouldn't have to face things like this alone."

"I don't," he replied stubbornly, looking more like a child that he was supposed to be.

"Which is why you didn't tell me?" Arthur replied in a voice smaller than he would have liked.

"I have friends."

"And do they know?"

Merlin avoided his eyes, and a moment passed before he finally said, "No."

"You see. The only people that know, I'm sure are school officials, your parents, and...and your doctors!"

"That's not—"

"Don't lie to me again."

Merlin shut his mouth with a clack of teeth, glaring at him furiously. "So now what. Treat me like I'm breakable?"

"I..." He broke off. He didn't really have an answer for that. "I haven't—"

"Because you haven't known."

"No thanks to you!" Arthur snapped. "I had to find out by hacking into your school's bloody system and searching your records!"

"At least it made you use that brain for something," Merlin muttered under his breath, staring a hole in the corner of his room.

"Don't," Arthur huffed dangerously. "Don't do that, Merlin."

"I'm hardly doing anything."

"You're... you're trying to push me away."

"Am not."

"You are!"

"I am not!" Merlin snapped. "You'd hardly leave even if I were!"

"I'm not going to leave you alone!"

"That's what I just said!"

"I know!"

"Fuck!"

"Yes please!"

They stared at one another furiously, shoulders tense and high, huffing. Then Merlin launched himself at Arthur who grabbed ahold of him tightly, falling onto the bed where they were stripped by Merlin's magic. They then spent a few minutes writhing against one another before becoming hopelessly tangled in the bedding, both coming with an anguished sort of cry, and collapsing into the mattress.

"I'm not sorry I know," Arthur said finally into the quiet.

"I still am," Merlin countered. "I could wipe it from your memory."

"You wouldn't," Arthur said confidently, petting Merlin's hair.

A moment of silence passed.

"Merlin. You wouldn't, right?"
Merlin said nothing.

"Merlin?" Arthur said, sitting suddenly, sure his heart missed a beat.

"Shut up, Arthur."

He sighed back against the pillows.

"This is why I didn't want you knowing."

"What."

"You're going to go mental every time I don't answer. You're going to have heart attacks whenever I hurt myself," he said wearily. "It will be bloody miserable."

"Watch your language."

Merlin snorted.

"Very well, Merlin. I endeavour to not treat you like you're glass, if you endeavour to be honest and fair with me in all things."

"That's a little extreme, isn't it?" Merlin said dubiously.

"Just promise me you'll be careful and take your medications, see your doctors, whatever it is that you have to do to stay healthy."

Merlin once again rolled his eyes. "Of course, Sire."

"That's my boy," Arthur said smugly.

"And that's not disturbing at all."

Merlin stayed relatively healthy all the way through Year 11. For his sixteenth birthday and graduation, Arthur had something planned. Picking up Merlin from his flat, he took his hand started walking.

"You know, Arthur, now that I no longer look so much like a child, it's much more obvious why you're holding my hand.

"You still only come up to my nose, Merlin. Relax," Arthur said easily, much too happy to let anything bother him today.

"Where are we going?"

"That's a surprise."

Merlin sighed. "You can't tell me."

"Merlin, what is the definition of a 'surprise.'"

"Something unexpected, causing wonder or awe."

"Exactly. I wouldn't want you to miss out on the 'awe.'"

"Of course not," he muttered wryly.

Arthur directed him down the streets to a tall building, pushing him in the door and into the 'port to Floor 18.

"What's here..." Merlin frowned.

Arthur guided him past shops and finally into an up-scale jeweller. "I wanted to get you something for your birthday."

"Oh Arthur..." Merlin sighed. But a smile tugged at his lips. "You don't have to."

"I know. But I wanted to. Want to. You're special, and I wanted to get you something. Also as a well-done for your schooling. And continued good health," Arthur added, knowing it was something they didn't really speak of.

He flushed and then sighed. "I suppose I won't be able to talk you out of something expensive and utterly ridiculous."

"But full of class and suiting you perfectly, Merlin."

"What have you found?" The question was harsh, but Merlin's grin gave away his pleasure.

"Several things, actually..." Arthur said casually, guiding him to the rather crowded counter.

"Ah, Mr. Prydden," the sales associate said smoothly. "How wonderful to see you again. And this is the recipient of your gift?"

"Yes," Arthur replied, placing a hand lightly on Merlin's shoulder. "This would be Morgan. I'd like him to take a look at the pieces that I've chosen so that he may choose his favourite."

"Of course," he replied with a polite dip of his head and hurried into the back of the store.

"Jewellery, Arthur?"

He smiled. "You'll like my choices, I think."

"Hm..."

The man returned with a small display box, setting it before them.

Merlin's mouth rounded into a soft 'o' as he dipped his head to look at them more closely. "Ar—Allen, these are beautiful!"

The associate smiled. "I'll leave you a few minutes to peruse and be back with you shortly."

"Of course," Arthur murmured, too distracted by Merlin's expression of awe.

"So. What do you think?"

"They're all...lovely." He picked up a ring and slipped it on his finger, turning his hand this way and that to examine it. The gold gleamed, ruby shining brightly amidst the subtle diamonds in the setting. "Your colours, of course."

Arthur smiled.

Merlin picked up the handsome chain, around which was slung a sinuous looking jewelled dragon. Setting it back, he picked up another chain—a bracelet, elegant and simple, puzzle pieces linked together, alternately silver and gold, single rubies and sapphires set into alternate pieces. "These are really lovely, Arthur."

"I'm glad you like them," Arthur replied earnestly. "Do you have a favourite?"

Merlin hummed, fingering the bracelet. "I don't know..."

"The bracelet?"

"I like it."

"We could have matching..."

"Arthur," Merlin huffed, a smile touching his lips all the same. "I—"

"EVERYONE HANDS IN THE AIR! ON YOUR KNEES!" a harsh voice shouted.

Arthur spun, pulling Merlin to his side on instinct.

"On the ground! Everyone on the ground!"

"Shit..." Arthur's face went pale. "Burglary?"

"Sir, I think it's best—" the associate began to say before he was shot.

"Shit!" Arthur dove to the floor, covering Merlin with his own body.

The guns went off into the ceiling, plaster raining down like snow.

"You can't be serious," Merlin hissed.

"Don't do anything," Arthur warned. "Those are particle pistols—"

"Stupid name."

"—and they do real damage, Merlin."

"No talking over there!" The guns turned on them.

Arthur shut his mouth.

"All your valuables, all the jewellery, and all of your money in the bag. Pass it around, no hero stunts," the apparent ring-leader ordered.

A woman near Arthur and Merlin was trying desperately trying to calm her baby while her husband gripped her shoulders.

"Shut that baby up, Ma'am," the thief warned.

"I—" She turned pale, husband edging in front of her. "I'm trying, I promise. I'm sorry, I'm trying. She's just... we've been out all day and—"

"I didn't ask for excuses," he hissed, brandishing the gun at her.

She started crying.

Arthur looked down at the top of Merlin's head, biting his lip, thoughts racing. His eyes caught the bracelet glinting in the bright lights of the shop designed to make everything glisten.

"Mate, she can't help the baby crying," Arthur heard his voice say. "She's just a child. Can't help it!"

The gun swivelled on him as he raised himself to a kneeling position, feeling very much like a prisoner facing a firing squad. He ignored Merlin's horrified expression out of the corner of his eye. "No one asked you. No one likes a hero either."

"Heroes get other people killed," Arthur muttered, ignoring the way Merlin's eyes bugged out in astonishment.

"You looking to die, pretty boy?"

"Not particularly," Arthur said firmly, relaxing a bit now that the couple and their child was out of harm's way. Stalling he could do. He'd had enough practice with politicians, dangerous people, and goodness knows how many other stubborn people, Merlin included, that he could stall until the authorities came to deal with the situation. Merlin looked ready to jump in with magic, but he was wincing suddenly, gripping his head. He frowned. Pain? His heart clutched as he thought of the illness. Suddenly this plan was going a different direction. He smiled up at the people pointing their guns at him.

"Then why are you flapping your mouth?"

Arthur shrugged.

"I think he's looking to die," another man said, edging closer. "I really feel like shooting him."

"No, no. I'm not looking for death," Arthur said pleasantly, smiling.

"Maybe he's just mental..."

"Arthur!" Merlin hissed.

"Who's that then?" The man jerked a head at Merlin who was curled up on the floor next to Arthur, reaching out to grip Arthur's calf painfully.

"No one," Arthur said firmly, edging further in front of Merlin. It was that moment that the baby chose to let out an unholy wail. The guns swerved and Arthur surged to his feet, adrenaline driving him as he got between them and the child, the guns went off and Arthur felt one—two hits, grunting as he fell to the floor. Merlin screamed and the thieves went down as the coppers swarmed into the shop.

"Arthur, you complete and utter bastard!" Merlin sobbed, pulling him into his lap.

"Language, Merlin..." Arthur gasped.

"Sorry, so sorry, I'm sorry!"

"You said you didn't...want to be dying in my arms."

"No, you fool!" Merlin snapped. "Now you're dying in my arms! And I didn't want that either!"

Arthur huffed a laugh and then grunted in pain as he pulled himself into a sitting position against one of the jewellery cases.

"Arthur! Stop moving!" Merlin's face turned as white as Arthur's with the effort.

"Come here," he said gruffly, tugging Merlin's wrist as he fell forward against his chest. He tugged him further into his lap.

"Arthur!"

"There."

"What are you—"

"Now I'm dying with you in my arms."

"As if that—Arthur-you blind fool! That isn't—" He struggled carefully, but Arthur's grip, even weakened was too much for newly sixteen-year old Merlin's strength. "That doesn't fucking make it better!"

"It does...for me..." Arthur said casually.

"We both know I'll go not long after you anyway," Merlin grumbled bitterly.

"But you won't be dying in my arms," Arthur murmured.

"Oh Arthur..." Merlin's voice broke as the reality hit. "You... You did that... on purpose?" His eyes burned with tears again.

"Of course no—b"

"Don't bleeding lie to me!" Merlin hissed tightly, pinching his arm. Neither of them noticed the ambulance being called or the cops cuffing the thieves.

"You get what.. you want...right...?"

"Fucking..." Merlin couldn't continue, burying his face in Arthur's neck as he bawled, oblivious to the approaching sound of sirens.

"Shh..." Arthur soothed weakly.

"You—hic—idiot," Merlin finally managed. "I never... I never wanted...this!" He muttered he foreign words of magic, looking Arthur over.

"Who...would.. Lungs...filling, ripped...viscera..."

"Shut up! I'll still probably die in your arms anyway, only you'll be dead!" he sobbed harder—the spells weren't working. "And that just makes it creepy and leaves me without you as I die!"

"Fickle, fickle," Arthur chided, though his eyes were losing focus and he was feeling rather light-headed. Only Merlin tethered him to the ground. "So sor—sorry, Mer..lin...to do...do this..."

"H-hush!" Merlin screeched in panic. "Don't apologise, Arthur; I love you!" Gripping his bloodied shirt hard, Merlin winced at the pain in his head, tucking it beneath Arthur's chin. "Arthur? Arthur... Arthur!" He groaned at the spiking headache, sobbing all the harder into Arthur's chest as he felt his heart stutter weakly and then not beat again. "A-arth—" Gasping aloud, he could only hold tight as the pain lanced through his body, leaving him feeling numb. God, he was dying too... He settled against Arthur, glad the next wave was swift and knocked him out, murmuring Arthur's name as he passed.