The two men soon became inseparable although Merlin insisted they have some days when they didn't see each other. He felt that it wouldn't last if they were too much together. Gwaine and Will teased him, it was so strange seeing the confident and determined person they knew so well, being so unsure of himself. They knew he had always had difficulties with relationships and never understood just how deep it went.

Merlin was out shopping Saturday morning when he bumped into Jayden. The other man grabbed Medlin's arm as he walked past. "Well if it isn't Merlin, how's your love life? Ready to come back to me yet?" he asked looking Merlin up and down. "I'd be willing to have you back you know."

"No thanks Jayden" Merlin tried to pull his arm away.

"Why not, we had a good thing going." Jayden asked.

"No Jayden we didn't I could stand your possessive behaviour, anyway I'm in a relationship thank you." Merlin tried to remain polite.

"Who with!" the other man demanded.

"It's none of your business, but since you are so curious I'm seeing Arthur Pendragon." Merlin pulled his arm out of Jayden's grasp.

"That won't last you fool. He's slept with more men than you've had hot dinners. Come back to me." Jayden grabbed out at Merlin once more.

Merlin stepped back out of the other mans reach but wasn't quite quick enough. Jayden grabbed Merlin's wrist and held on.

"Let go of me!" Merlin said and pulled away as hard as he could, twisting his wrist round as he did so. As he came free of the other mans grasp Merlin looked him in the eye. "I wouldn't go out with you if you were the only person available so leave me alone." With that he walked away leaving Jayden standing there.

Later when he was carrying his shopping he noticed his wrist was hurting. When he got home he looked at it to find he had a large bruise forming where Jayden had grabbed him. He got the Arnica out of the bathroom cupboard and rubbed some in. By that evening his wrist was swollen and he found a piece of elastic bandage out and put it on as support. Merlin was surprised he hadn't realised how hard Jayden had grabbed him, unfortunately it was his right wrist so would make writing difficult, he hoped it was better by the Monday for work.

Merlin thought no more of it until Arthur picked him up that evening. They were going out for a meal at Morgana and Leon's before going back to Arthur's flat. Arthur as usual opened the car door for Merlin and didn't notice the bandage. However he did notice it as Merlin got out of the car. Arthur stopped Merlin and picked up his arm carefully.

"What have you done?" he asked concern in his voice.

"Oh it's just a bruise; it was a bit swollen so I thought I'd give it a bit of support." Merlin said not wanting to say more.

Arthur wanted to say more but Morgana opened the door just at that moment. She also noticed the bandage and enquired getting the same reply. It wasn't until the two men got back to Arthur's flat that anymore was said. They were sat on the sofa when Arthur lifted Merlin's arm once more.

"Let me have a look at that." He started to peal the elastic bandage back. Merlin tried to pull his hand away.

"It's fine, leave it alone." But Arthur had already seen enough, what he had seen looked like fingerprints. He continued to peel back the bandage. "I don't think it is Merlin, now just what happened? Those are fingerprints, who hurt you!" Arthur was seething, who dared hurt Merlin.

"I told you it's nothing, someone grabbed my hand harder than they meant to that's all, now drop it." Merlin pulled his hand away, wincing as he did so, and replaced the bandage.

Arthur realised he was going to get nowhere for now but had no intention of letting this go. Later on in the evening when the two men were in bed sated from their lovemaking Arthur was looking down at his lover and noticed some more bruises on Merlin upper arm. He looked carefully and they too looked like fingerprints. He traced then with his own fingers and felt rage building up inside him. He needed to know what happened. Merlin stirred at the other mans touch.

"mm whats up?" he asked sleepily looking up at Arthur with half closed eyes.

"Merlin you've got more bruises on your arm, are you going to tell me what happened?"

"I told you it was an accident." Merlin pulled Arthur down next to him and threw his arms around Arthur.

Arthur wasn't about to be put off. "Then tell me who it was." He demanded.

Merlin woke up properly at Arthur's tone of voice. He sat up and looked at Arthur. "No I'm not! I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself Arthur. So drop it. You're not my keeper."

"No, but I am your boyfriend, and if someone is hurting you I have the right to know."

"No you don't! I told you it was nothing so just trust me ok!" Merlin was getting angry. "Don't go getting all caveman on me." With that he sat up and started to get dressed.

"What are you doing?" Arthur asked puzzled.

"Going home, I don't want or need this. Get it in your head I don't need a knight in shining armour. I can look after myself. And don't even think of getting up I'll get myself home just fine." With that he was gone.

Arthur jumped up and got dressed and chased after Merlin but he was gone without trace. Arthur headed to the nearest tube station but couldn't see Merlin anywhere. So he texted Merlin asking him to let him know that he got home ok. Then he went back to the penthouse trying to work out what the hell went wrong.