chapter3

But watching you stand alone, all of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow, one step closer.

Arthur pulled Merlin in the bathroom where Morgana had already turned the warm water on. She turned to see Merlin looking unsure of stepping in the bathroom. The girl smiled. "I'll go get a towel and some clothes."

Merlin smiled when he walked in the bathroom after Arthur. "Pretty." He eyed the frames of colorful bubbles and the dark red shower curtain.

Arthur nodded. "Morgana decorated."

Merlin slid one finger over the marble sink. "Clean too."

Arthur smiled. "I did that."

"Liar."

They looked at Morgana who walked in holding a white towel.

"Um, Arthur, just realized, he'll have to use your clothes."

Arthur nodded. "Look in my closet."

Morgana smiled. "Already did." She lifted a black shirt and a pair of pajama pants in her hand. She lay the clothes on the rack on the door then looked towards the bathtub. The bubbles are going to overfill, you better get in."

Merlin looked down at the floor and blushed.

"Merlin?" Arthur called.

The boy's eyes met his own, and Merlin glanced at Morgana. Arthur suddenly burst out laughing. "Oh. Morgana, he's not going to get in with you here."

"Why not? He doesn't have anything I haven't seen before."

Arthur's eyes widen. "What?"

The girl cleared her throat. "I'm leaving." She turned and left out the bathroom.

Arthur looked back at Merlin who still had a blush on his face.

"Do you want me to leave too?"

Merlin bit his lip again and shook his head. He brought his pale fingers to the buttons of the shirt he wore and unbuttoned them one by one. Half way down, he started get agitated and the stubborn buttons wouldn't let loose.

"Calm down. Here let me do it." Arthur grabbed the shirt and finished unbuttoning them. When the shirt was open Arthur had to hold his breath, while part of the reason was Merlin's naked body, it wasn't the full reason. He stared at the bruises and what looked like bite marks layering the boy's body.

Arthur reached out his hand and ran a finger over a bruise then looked into Merlin's sea-blue eyes. "Do they hurt?" He said low.

Merlin licked his lips and gently nodded. "Some of them."

Arthur gulped and looked down at the thin pale legs. "If you don't mind, which ones are new?"

Merlin blinked.

"Merlin, which ones happened last night, before my father left?"

The boy looked down and grabbed the corners of the shirt and turned around as he let the shirt drop to the floor.

Arthur really couldn't breathe this time. He brought his hand to his mouth and took one big step towards the toilet, almost missing when he threw up what it ate half an hour ago.

Merlin's body started shaking when he started sobbing.

Arthur turned back around and wiped at his mouth with his hand. he couldn't bring himself to look at the bloody red marks that were no doubt made with a belt buckle. He could see the shape on the pale back. The blond sniffled then cleared his throat and forced himself to look at the boy.

"Come on, Merlin get in the tub." He grabbed the boy's arm and gently pulled him inside the water. Merlin stood standing in the water and staring down at the bubbles. "Merlin? Merlin, sit down."

Merlin used his hands to kneel in the water, then gasped when the warmth hit his skin. "It's warm." He smiled but it didn't hide his tremble.

Arthur nodded. "Calm down. You're not going to get in trouble." He said low. "Um... don't get out, I'm only going to look in the mirror." He pointed.

Merlin nodded and watched as Arthur opened the mirror to show small bottles and clean wash cloths. Merlin couldn't help but smile. Arthur was kind and beautiful. He said he wasn't a prince, but Merlin didn't believe that. His whole life... well, since he was 15 he always believed that someone would come rescue him. He always believed that one person would be his knight in shining armor. A prince in disguise.

But then, Arthur wasn't in disguise and he said he wasn't a prince. Plus he's the master's son! Merlin started shaking under the water. What if this was a trick? What if the master made his son fake being nice and the master would pop out any moment and... and...

Merlin was caught from his thoughts when Arthur turned and looked down at him. Arthur smiled and Merlin could have sworn he swooned out loud. The boy smiled back. And when Arthur leaned down and dipped the small towel in the bubbly water, Merlin scoot closer and stared right at Arthur's face. His eyes trailed the blond's features.

"If you're hungry, Morgana can make you something."

Merlin nodded. "I'd like that." He tilted his head so he was even closer to Arthur. "Will you join me?"

Arthur looked into Merlin's eyes. Those big, blue innocent eyes. Those eyes that seemed so lost, so confused and so... glazed. Arthur blinked. He couldn't breathe right. Damn those beautiful eyes! They were so close, he could see himself in them. His reflection was nothing compared to Merlin's.

"Yeah. I'll join you. What do you want?"

Merlin bit his lip again.

Urg! Arthur's cock twitched.

"I can't remember the last time I had something I like for dinner."

Arthur cleared his throat. "What did you eat when you were in the basement?" He said, not really wanting to know.

Merlin took a small breath and looked down at the bubbles. "I don't know what it was. But I was too hungry to complain since I was left without meals for days at a time. I didn't know when my next meal would come. So I ate what I got."

Arthur nodded sadly. Then he forced a small smile. "Whens the last time you had pizza?"

Merlin's smiled back and seemed to get a little jumpy in the water. Over-excitement like a little child. But he seemed to try to hold it back. Arthur smiled more at this. "What do you want on your pizza?"

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