Lancelot made cups of tea for everyone, trying not to think about what might happen if Merlin was seriously injured. They were all worried for their friend, Arthur seemed especially troubled.
The ambulance came screaming into the street and in a flurry of questions and movement Merlin was transported into it, with Will and Lancelot travelling with him to the hospital. Hunith had been called and was on her way, and the other guys drove as fast as they could to keep up with the flashing lights of the ambulance. Arthur couldn't get the image of Merlin's lax pale face and the blood tricking down his neck onto his hoodie out of his mind, as, he suspected, neither could the others. He was trying to be a strong leader to his band, but inside he was completely falling apart.
Merlin didn't deserve any of this, he was always so sweet and giving and attentive to people's needs, and he had been injured trying to defend his friends. It wasn't right, and it wasn't acceptable. Arthur felt pangs of hatred and anger run through him thinking about the way those fans had acted. Suddenly his interest in picking up members of their fandom disgusted him. How could they treat people they supposedly liked in such an awful way? The mere thought of kissing or touching another fan repulsed Arthur.
None of that mattered now though; all that was important was Merlin and him getting better, the wounds healing and the bones getting fixed. All of the members of the band were nervous wrecks when they did arrive at the hospital, watching as the doctors set to work on observing and making Merlin as comfortable as possible. They were asked to leave the room to give the nurses room to clean up and bandage Merlin's bleeding head and check for fractures and breakages.
Will was shaking and crying in the seat outside Merlin's room, Lancelot dropped to his knees and hugged him tightly, the others tried to make him feel better, but they knew the only thing that would fix it was Merlin being conscious and making stupid jokes again. They all wished for that.
Hunith came rushing down the corridor and into Merlin's room, taking his pale hand in hers and kissing it. She ushered Will into the room and they stood together in a comforting hug for a long time, just looking at their Merlin and how different he looked led there in the white gown.
The doctors gathered the others into the room and explained that Merlin had broken his leg and fractured and cut his skull. He would need to be in hospital for a number of weeks, and likely wouldn't wake up for a day or so. Hunith had sobbed, only to be engulfed by the loving hugs of all of the band and Will.
They were relieved that Merlin would eventually be okay, but until then their tensions couldn't be released. The band had cancelled the rest of their gigs for the next two months, knowing they couldn't focus with Merlin laid up in hospital.
Hunith, Will and Arthur spent the most time at Merlin's bedside. The other's visited as much as they could, as she had other responsibilities to tend to at home to deal with. Hunith slept over at the hospital, and she would watch from the door or Merlin's room as Arthur or Will would speak to her son in hushed gentle tones, telling him about their days and how he needed to get better.
Hunith was most surprised at Arthur's behaviour, she'd known Will would be there as much as he could; being Merlin's best friend and all, but she hadn't thought Arthur that close to her son. She also knew of Merlin's adorable crush on the blonde rocker, but nothing had ever come of it. She hoped that maybe his constant presence meant something positive for Merlin when he came around.
"Mrs. Emrys, it is okay that I spend my days here with Merlin, isn't it? I wouldn't want to over step any boundaries. You can tell me to leave if I'm imposing." Arthur asked on the second day of Merlin being unconscious. Hunith had smiled and stroked his cheek.
"Oh, honey, it's perfectly fine. You can stay as much as you like. You're friends with my Merlin and it's good to know he has such dutiful friends." She'd replied, tucking a lock of dark hair behind her ear as she stared down at her boy. Arthur had relaxed at that. She could tell he'd been worrying about it.
Will had to return home for the rest of the week because his sister was having her baby and he was needed there. He hated to leave Merlin up in London, but there was no other way. Arthur had promised him he would watch over Merlin and keep him fully updated. Hunith quickly decided that this Arthur Merlin often talked to her about was a very decent young man. He looked after his friends and respected people where necessary. Underneath his loud personality he was a great person.
The other band members would pay visits to Merlin's side as often as they could, singing softly to him or playing their guitars, as Merlin had always loved. Lancelot and Gwen would come and change the flowers left in the vase in the clinically-clean room, bringing bright and colourful ones each time.
Percival and Elena visited in the morning of the next day, and Leon Gwaine and Elyan visited in the evening, leaving the night time shift to Hunith and Arthur. Hunith really didn't want to feel hopeless, but she really missed her son's smile and his laugh and his warm personality.
The other guys were missing him too, feeling hollowed out and uncreative by the loss of him in their life. Lancelot found he was unable to write any songs or music, percival's good cheer had dwindled and he had taken to wearing dark sad coloured clothes in contrast to his usually-loud wardrobe.
None of them had laughed or smiled really since the day of the accident. It was imperative that their guardian angel wake up and bring the colour back to their lives.
It was another two days before it finally happened, another two nights of Hunith kissing her silent boy goodnight and leaving Arthur to whisper his lovely lullabies and prayers into her son's large ears. Another two days of the blonde grasping Merlin's limp hand and resting his head on the dark haired boy's shoulder, and crying and pleading for him to wake. It was draining all of them.
When Merlin finally awoke it was to a heavy weight resting on his arm, and warm fingers entwined with his. He peeked his eyes open and was hit with waves of pain from his head and lower leg. He lifted his heavy head slightly and stared around, noticing Arthur at the chair to his side and leaning forwards, sleeping quietly there. Then Lancelot and the others came walking into the room.
"Merlin! Oh my god you're awake! It's so good to see you up." Lancelot said cheerily, running a hand through his hair. Merlin's foggy mind took a while to process his words.
"Uh…yeah I'm awake…what happened? I don't remember…" he asked in a croaky parched voice, noticing the states of his friends and their tired demeanours.
"At the London 02 gig a load of fans ran up on stage ad grabbed for us, when you tried to help they pushed you off stage and you hit your head and broke your leg. You've been in here for a week and a half, unconscious." Gwaine said carefully, taking a seat on the edge of Merlin's mattress at his feet.
"Shit. That sounds like me; such a klutz. Was everyone else alright?" Merlin asked, sitting up as much as he could without waking the sleeping Arthur.
"Are you seriously asking that? We're all fine, Merlin. It's you we worried about." Elyan replied with a chuckle. Even after getting seriously hurt, the boy's first thought was for others? He was too sweet to fathom.
"Crap, you guys are meant to be at a show in Cardiff in an hour or so! If you get the train you might make it-
"Merlin, stop. We don't have any shows to go to. We cancelled them for at least two months until you are back on your feet. Camelot soon realised that we can't function without our guardian angel to help us out." Lancelot cut him off, shaking his head in disbelief.
"I'm not your guardian angel; I'm just a stupid stage hand. You can play without me. Don't miss out on gigs just for me." Merlin insisted, starting to worry that he had ruined their chances of gigging in at least three cities. Leon walked around to the edge of his bed and looked down at him.
"Merlin, hush yourself, don't get worked up. You're our good luck charm, always have been since the first show you helped out at. And we weren't going to leave you here all hurt while we went and played shows here, there and everywhere." The bearded rocker said gently, patting Merlin's hand lightly and smiling at him.
"There is no Camelot without you and Will dragging our sorry asses out of bed and up onto the stage. Arthur named you our lucky charms, and we don't forsake such charms and risk playing without them." Gwaine added matter of factly. Merlin's heart felt incredibly warmed by their loyalty and friendship.
"Thanks. You guys are the best. Seriously." Merlin croaked back, smiling at each of them and blushing at all the praise and sweet comments.
"Besides, we could hardly play any shows when our pretty-boy lead singer is here at your bedside morning, noon and night, could we?" Elyan laughed, nodding his head in Arthur's direction. Merlin gasped and raised his eyebrows. They all just smiled at him knowingly. As if to say 'do you really think we didn't know how you felt about him'. He blushed darker at the suggestion behind their eyes.
"The entire time? But I thought he didn't even know my name." Merlin murmured looking down at the sleeping front man and frowning. This didn't make any sense. Yeah, he was head over heels in love with Arthur and had been for ages, but he had been going on the assumption that Arthur thought he was some stupid kid who followed them around like a puppy dog. Had he really been worried about him? staying at his bedside for over a week?
"Oh Merlin. He's an idiot when it comes to important stuff like this. But he definitely knows your name, probably knows everything about you. He never shuts up talking about you. Rants and raves about how much he'd like to take you out and show you a good time." Lancelot assured him, smiling down at the boy in the hospital bed. Merlin still looks confused, it seemed he might need a bit persuading that Arthur liked him. He opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Elyan.
"Yeah, it's pathetic really. I mean romantic and all, but still. Always going on about how good you looked on this day or that day. How kissable and huggable and cute you are." The drummer insisted, winking at Merlin.
"Always talking about your pretty lips or your cheekbones, or how much he wants you to realise how he feels." Percival piped up, grinning. Merlin shifted in his bed and winced at the pain in his head.
"What are you saying? That he likes me?" Merlin asked, flabbergasted. All the men in the room nodded, smiling knowingly down at Merlin.
"Likes you' is one way of putting it, yeah." Leon replied, scratching his beard absently. Lancelot was nodding enthusiastically.
"Madly in love with you' is another way." He added helpfully, and watched as Merlin dipped his head and blushed pink, staring down at Arthur again with renewed love.
"Wants to fuck your brains out, marry you and have your babies' is another!" Gwaine laughed loudly, making Merlin choke on the sip of water he had just taken.
"Gwaine shut up! This is a hospital; you can't say stuff like that! Arthur will have your bollocks for saying that!" Elyan chided, slapping Gwaine around the head playfully. Gwaine yowled dramatically and Merlin just sat in his bed trying to make his brain start up again.
"Wow. I can't believe- I mean- are you sure? He says shit all the time…it's not just a joke?" Merlin asked in a hollow voice, shaking his head in disbelief. Leon patted him on the shoulder.
"I believe it's real. He doesn't talk about anyone the way he does you." He insisted. Merlin was all of a dither about the news that the beautiful talented singer might actually love him and want him. Will was standing in the corner looking equally shocked. Merlin looked up at his friend, and the only response he got was a shrug of complete incomprehension but still a happy smile.
"Come on, guys; he's only just woken up, we should maybe give him a bit of time to process all that?" Percival asked, nodding to Merlin and smiling sympathetically at him.
"Process all what?" Hunith asked as she walked back into Merlin's room. She looked around at all the boys gathered and settled on Merlin, bounding forwards and wrapping her arms around him and kissing his forehead lightly. The band members and Will all smiled fondly at the scene and started to back towards the doorway.
"So what is my little boy having to process?" Hunith asked, settling at Merlin's side and pulling her cardigan closer around her.
"Oh, just the fact that Arthur loves Merlin and wants to marry him and-mmph-" Lancelot hastily clapped his hand over Gwaine's mouth before he poured out a hundred swear words in front of Merlin's mother and all the other people in the ward. Hunith smiled as the boys got into a little play fight, turning to Merlin and mouthing 'I told you so' while running a hand down the back of Merlin's injured head. They were all so distracted that they hadn't noticed Arthur waking up.
"What did you just say?" he accused groggily, spinning to glare at Gwaine who was rubbing his head from where he had been noogied by Lancelot. Merlin started at seeing Arthur was awake, and the butterflies in his stomach started fluttering like crazy.
"Uh…nothing Arthur. Just about you loving Merlin and wanting him sooo badly." Gwaine called back as he was dragged out of the room by the other guys. Lancelot looked sympathetically towards Arthur and felt his embarrassment.
"Oh god!" Arthur said, looking up at Merlin and dropping his blonde head into his hands.
"Uh Ma'am, is it alright if I have a minute alone with Merlin to explain some stuff? You can have him back as soon as possible. I just need to-um- sort out- what my stupid friends were saying." Arthur said quietly, looking to Hunith hopefully. She smiled at him and kissed Merlin on the cheek.
"Of course darling, take all the time you need. Oh and you can call me Hunith if you like." She replied in a calm voice, giving Merlin a look over before turning and walking out of the room.
"Thank you, Hunith." Arthur murmured, waiting for her to shut the door before turning to Merlin and looking scared. Merlin just stared back at him and smiled weakly, his head aching and rockets of pain shooting down his broken leg. But this conversation was important, it needed to be had.
"Merlin… listen I just wanted to-" Arthur tried to start to explain, but Merlin had to cut him off. They needed to get to the key point and Merlin knew how Arthur was prone to avoid the subject of important things.
"Is it true? What they were saying?" Merlin asked in a rush, reaching out towards Arthur but stopping short, not needing to distract Arthur further. He watched as Arthur scratched at the back of his neck and a blush skittered across his high cheekbones and up into his blue-tinted hair.
"What exactly did they say? I didn't hear most of it." The blonde asked, staring Merlin down as he willed his blush to disappear.
"They said that you want me and love me and have done for a while. So, is it true?" Merlin asked outright, suddenly fearful that Arthur might laugh at him and say it was all a cruel lie the boys had thought up. He thought he might die if that happened.
"I'll start from the beginning; see I noticed you right from the start, Merlin. You came in on your first day working for us and you were wearing this t-shirt and the baggiest jeans I've ever seen, and you tripped over a box of cables and I caught you just as you were about to fall. Remember?" Arthur said, smiling as he remembered the day. Merlin nodded and allowed him to continue.
"I knew then that you were important to us, the band. You and will were there, together, looking after us. You work so hard and you care about us so much. I found myself wanting you, really liking you and everything about you. But you are so close to your boyfriend Will, I don't want to break up a relationship just because I've got a bit of a crush." Arthur carried on, looking guiltily up at Merlin.
"You think…you think that will and I are together?" Merlin confirmed in a shocked voice, feeling his mouth going dry.
"You aren't dating will?" Arthur asked, his voice rising by a few octaves. Merlin shook his head.
"No, not at all. Will is like my brother." Merlin replied in a warm voice, smiling as he thought of will and the relationship they had always shared, it had never been a sexual one though.
"Oh right. I just assumed, sorry." Arthur said in a tiny voice, dipping his head in embarrassment. Merlin just shrugged slightly and patted Arthur on the hand.
"So anyway when you got knocked off stage by the stupid fans it scared the hell out of me. You were here in the bed, all pale and placid and silent, and it killed me to see you like that." Arthur paused to let out a heavy sigh, his throat becoming choked up. Merlin was touched by it.
"And not only that, it silenced us all; the band lost its guardian angel, our favourite little muse. I just wanted to look after you and make you better." Arthur added, flushing dark pink. Merlin couldn't think of a response so he just nodded and smiled.
"I just wanted to be here for you when you woke up. I know if I was in hospital I'd want someone with me. Your mum had to go to work at the studio and will had to go to work too. But I had nothing to keep me away. I liked just holding your hand and feeling your heartbeat." Arthur continued, as if he'd had this speech rehearsed for a while. He laced his fingers with Merlin's shyly as if he might get rejected. Merlin wiggled his fingers and smiled up at the blonde.
Arthur pulled his hand back and frowned, looking down at it and suddenly feeling bereft at the loss of those long fingers entwined with his. Merlin frowned too, wondering what he had done wrong. He didn't need an emotional punch in the gut along with his other injuries.
"I don't expect you to feel anything back for me; I just wanted to let you know. I know I'm arrogant and a massive idiot to you sometimes, and I shouldn't be because you are nothing but great to me. If a little clumsy, but that's more cute than annoying. I just don't want to-" Merlin jumped in and cut Arthur of before he could say anything more,
"Are you blind? You really don't think I like you back? I act like a pathetic teenager with a crush all of the time around you. I thought I was so obvious." Merlin insisted in a shocked voice, looking incredulously at his companion.
"Are you saying…that you…um… like me back?" Arthur asked in a shaking voice, a hint of a smile ghosting his features.
"Yeah I am, you stupid pretty-boy. Come here and kiss me before I die of sexual frustration." Merlin joked, shuffling to the edge of the bed and spreading his knees, pulling Arthur between them. The blonde lifted his hand and stroked across Merlin's cheek gently.
"Oh…uh...yeah right. Kiss you; I can do that." Arthur stuttered back, his heart fluttering hard in his chest as he leaned in and touched their lips together. Merlin's long-fingered hand slid up over his denim-covered hip and up to his chest, gripping lightly.
Arthur kept his hand of Merlin's cheek and cupped it lightly. Arthur thought he would keep the kiss chaste, just a press of lips, but when he felt Merlin's persistent tongue swiping across his own he threw caution to the wind. He wrapped his arms around Merlin's neck and tangled their tongues together, groaning into the kiss.
"Die of sexual frustration huh?" Arthur asked in a breathy voice once they'd broken apart. He pecked Merlin on the nose before stepping back a little to just look at Merlin.
"Yeah, you must know how drop dead gorgeous you look in full punk dress up with the hair and the leather and the boots and the jewellery?" Merlin murmured back, hooking his thumbs in Arthur's belt loops and running his fingers over his warm stomach.
"I do now. Its totally the same for me, seeing you running around in those big boots and jeans and hoodies, just wanting to grab you and snog your face off, I guess I can do that now, huh?" Arthur replied, chuckling and nuzzling his face into Merlin's long neck, placing a light kiss there. Merlin nodded against him.
"Yeah, I implore you to, in fact. But not too much because i do have actual work to do, and you have to put on a show for the fans, and I don't mean a pornographic one." Merlin whispered licking and kissing his way back up to Arthur's enticing pink lips. They kissed for another moment before they had to part for wont of breathing.
"I guess I have my lovely band mates to thank for telling you about my feelings." Arthur said while he touched their foreheads together. Merlin pecked another kiss to Arthur's lips.
"Yeah, did you tell them or did they just guess?" Merlin asked in a jokey way, stroking a hand down Arthur's side again and tickling lightly at his ribs.
"I think they guessed, or I might have let slip while drunk that I loved you." Arthur blurted without thinking, he never even thought about the implications. He saw a ripple of shock flit over Merlin's face.
"Love, huh?" the brunette asked in a serious voice, looking up at Merlin through his dark eyelashes.
"Oh…uh…I mean…is that too much-" Arthur suddenly felt fearful that he'd messed it up already, that he'd scared Merlin off. Then he felt Merlin's hands entwining with his.
"It's not too much, seeing as I love you too, my Arthur. My lovely little punk rocker." Merlin replied in a sweet voice and pulled Arthur close to hug him tightly. Merlin's head was protesting to all the movement but he ignored his body in favour of treating his heart for once.
That was the moment Hunith walked into the room carrying two cups tea for the boys, smiling cheerily once she saw Merlin and Arthur hugging at his bedside.
"Tea, my darlings?" she asked and watched as the boys turned to her and grinned madly. She felt her heart sore at how happy Merlin looked.