A.N: First of all, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all my readers who are mommies! I wasn't holding this update hostage until today, I promise. I did just finish it and thought I'd post it tomorrow night but I figured what the hell... so while the family is downstairs waiting for me, I've snuck in this little update for you all... Now, I did promise you all Merthur. And I really hope it doesn't disappoint. This update it Merthur Galore. And there's something about Merlin that has been teased over the last 4 chapters that may or may not offend some... but I want you all to know, it's one of the first things I knew would be a big part of why Merlin was shunned the way he was. We all know, he's a recovering addict but there's more to it. I just don't want it to turn into some cliche or comedic thing. Because it's not. This is the chapter that firmly establishes the Merthur friendship though. And I hope you all enjoy it. I'm just sorry it took so long to post. As always, reviews are always welcome. Enjoy!


Chapter 5

Merlin whistled as he strolled into the theater room when he spotted a familiar figure hunched over on the stage already working.

"We've missed you the last couple days…." He greeted loudly watching Arthur jump in surprise.

"Sorry about that… caught a bug… couldn't get out of bed…." Arthur muttered from the small stage.

Merlin frowned at his back that was still facing him before jumping onto the stage. He smirked at Arthur's attire. He was wearing a baseball cap that hooded his eyes under a hoodie jacket that covered most of his face.

"Are you undercover or something…" That's when he saw it. He gasped when he grabbed Arthur's arm and turned to face him. The other man flinched and Merlin let go quickly as if he'd been burned. "What happened?"

"I ran into the door."

"More like the door ran its fist into your face…." Merlin frowned.

"Just don't make a big deal… I'm trying to be out of here before anyone else comes in…" Arthur cringed and rubbed his arm where Merlin had grabbed him.

"Sorry…" Merlin mumbled.

"It's okay…" Arthur tried to smile. "You should see the other guy…"

"Is that why you weren't around the last couple of days?"

Arthur nodded. "Swelling's gone down a bit… I thought I could get by without getting noticed."

"If you weren't on parole and Gaius wasn't looking for an excuse to turn you in, you probably would…" Merlin's frown deepened.

"It did look worse before…." Arthur sighed. "Maybe I should just leave…."

"If you continue to stay missing, they'll get suspicious…." Merlin shook his head. "No… I can fix this."

"What? Are you some sort of magical physician?"

Merlin rolled his eyes. "I'm a makeup artist…."

Arthur eyed him warily. "I'm not putting on makeup…"

Merlin rolled his eyes even more. "Come on! I can cover up the bruising. But hurry… Uncle Gaius is a stickler for being on time."

He grabbed Arthur's hand and pulled him toward the backstage area, sitting him down in a chair in front of him. He brought over some of the makeup that was usually left behind for dress rehearsals and sat in front of Arthur. He'd frown every time Arthur would cringe.

"So… did you win?"

"Excuse me?" Arthur asked as Merlin patted some foundation on his face.

"The fight…." Merlin asked. "I know it's how you got the bruising."

"How did you…?"

"My uncle told me…"

"So Gaius really is your uncle then?"Arthur nodded his understanding. "He tell you about my predicament over dinner?"

"It was before dinner actually…" Merlin smirked. "He told me that I should stay away from you… and that I should keep Gwen from you too…"

"It's sound advice. I'm nothing but trouble anyway…" Arthur mumbled.

"I don't believe that…" Merlin shook his head as he continued working on Arthur's face. "I've seen you around Gwen… you've definitely changed from that hardened angry bloke that we met that first day…"

Arthur frowned.

"Did I hurt your pride?" Merlin winked.

"No…" Arthur said with a sigh. "I just… look… your uncle is right…. Gwen should stay away from me… and you too…"

"Except Gwen is under the impression that you could use a friend…" Merlin shrugged. "That's my Gwen… she's always trying to help people who think they don't need it."

"I don't-"

"Yeah, those are the ones who need it most…. The ones who don't think they do…" Merlin cut him off.

"Your Gwen?" Arthur asked tentatively.

"Oh!" Merlin laughed. "Not my Gwen that way… I prefer a different kind of company…."

Arthur choked on a cough. "I… I'm… I guess I…"

"Didn't realize I was gay?" Merlin asked him without any qualms. "I don't try to hide it… some people just want to pretend that I'm not because it makes them feel more comfortable…" he shrugged. "Screw them. I am who I am."

"That's a great outlook on life." Arthur smiled. "Good for you…"

Merlin laughed. "All done." He lifted up a mirror in front of Arthur. "What do you think?"

Arthur's eyes widened. Merlin had been able to cover the bruising on his face with such expertise that it didn't even look like he was wearing anything on his face. "Wow. You're really good! Guess, I'm not the only artist in these parts."

"Thank you…" Merlin smiled brightly. "Same time tomorrow?"

"What?" Arthur asked looking away from his reflection.

"Well, that bruising isn't going to go down overnight…" Merlin shrugged. "I can cover it up again tomorrow. If you want me to that is… aren't you not supposed to be fighting?"

"No… I'm not…"

"Well, if they see bruises on your face they'll know that you are…" Merlin shrugged. "I can help you keep your secret."

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Arthur asked.

"Gwen said I should befriend you…" Merlin answered while starting to pack up his supplies. "I wanted to anyway… just didn't know how… and now, I guess helping you is the best way I know to do that…. So do you want my help or not?"

Arthur smiled and nodded. "Yeah… thank you."

"Anytime…" Merlin grinned.


The two were walking out from the backstage area when Gwen arrived with Gaius and Lance in tow.

"Arthur!" she beamed walking up to the stage. "You've been out of commission the last few days. Everything alright?"

"He caught a bug, Gwen." Merlin cut in when Arthur didn't speak. "Nothing serious… he just didn't want to spread his germs amongst us all."

Gwen glanced between the two of them. "What was backstage?"

"I was showing Arthur the backstage area…" Merlin sat on the edge of the stage. "He said he hadn't been back there yet in all the time he's been working…"

"I guess we never did give him the grand tour." Gwen shrugged before turning back to the man in question. "Are you staying?"

"I have an appointment…" he lied with a shake of his head. "I was in early to try to make up for my absence, but I'm still a bit under the weather and Merlin convinced me to see a doctor."

"You do look a little pale…" she mumbled reaching up to touch his face before suddenly dropping her hand to her side. "I hope you feel better, Arthur."

"Thank you…" he said with a smile. He picked up his bag and his tools before jumping off the stage and walking past Lance and Gaius who had yet to speak.

Gwen watched him leave, before hopping on the stage and laying her head on Merlin's shoulder. "There was something off about him today…"

"Really?" Merlin asked. "I can't imagine what… aside from feeling under the weather, I mean."

"You're probably right…" she grinned. "Professor Gaius? We're ready for you…"

Lance held the older man's arm as he tried to walk toward the stage.

"I don't trust him, Gaius." He whispered. "Who is he?"

Gaius turned toward the door Arthur had just walked out of and back toward the taller man. "Just someone who is doing us a grand favor, Lance… nothing more."

Lance watched him as he walked toward Gwen and Merlin.

"I really doubt that, old man…."


He'd been lucky. He lay on his bed with his hands crossed behind his head thinking about it. Merlin had covered for him. He couldn't understand why he would. It probably had a lot to do with the skinny man's hero complex. But he couldn't deny he was grateful.

He'd washed his face clean as soon as he got home and noted the difference. Even if the cuts had begun to heal and bruising had gone down some, there was still evidence on his face that could get him in trouble. He didn't know why Merlin had offered to help him but he was glad. Because it was the first time anyone had ever done anything remotely friendly toward him without knowing who he was, or who his father was.

He couldn't tell them. He couldn't tell anyone. They'd never understand.

A knock on the door cut into his thoughts. He looked over and sat up before walking toward the door. He looked the peephole and groaned.

"I heard that, you know…."

He rolled his eyes before opening the door. "What are you doing here?"

Merlin held up a brown paper bag with a cheeky grin. "Dinner."

He walked into the room without an invitation and dropped the greasy bag on the nearby table before looking around at the small space. "Is this where you live?"

Arthur closed the door. "How did you find me?"

"I have my ways." He shrugged before settling in a chair. "Don't worry, I didn't tell anyone. Just figured you could use some company. I didn't think you'd be booking another fight until you'd fully healed anyway."

Arthur sat down across from him and crossed his arms.

"Listen, Clotpole…"

"Clotpole?" Arthur snapped his gaze toward him.

"Yeah, Clotpole… it's a real insult, look it up…" Merlin continued despite Arthur's scowl. "I figured you could use a friend… you don't have very many, I've noticed… and frankly, neither do I…" the skinny man shrugged. "Plus, I wanted to talk to you about Gwen…"

"What about Gwen?" Arthur snapped with a glare.

Merlin pulled out the fish and chips from the bag before settling it front of Arthur. "When's the last time you had a decent meal?"

Arthur ignored his question before asking again, "What about Gwen?"

Merlin took a chip and bit it before continuing. "I think you should tell her… the truth."

Arthur shook his head. "I'm not supposed to… your uncle asked that I keep a lid on how I got the job in the theater department… those were the conditions… I still don't understand why he told you-"

"Not that truth…." Merlin rolled his eyes taking another bite. "Although, that truth is something she should know as well... I'm talking about the part where you fancy her."

Arthur scoffed.

"So you don't fancy her then?"

Arthur stood and walked toward his window. "Goodbye, Merlin."

He opened the window and stepped onto his fire escape.

"Is it really that hard to admit you like her?" Merlin followed him outside.

Arthur frowned.

"Because I know you do… I see the way you look at her when she's not looking…" Merlin said. "It's so obvious a blind man could see it."

"Shut up, Merlin."

"Just admit it already!" Merlin told him.

"I can't!" Arthur screamed with such sadness that Merlin was taken aback completely.

Merlin sat on the windowsill behind Arthur who looked down at the alley below with his hands tightening on the rail. He sat on a staircase in defeat and lowered his gaze to his feet.

"How can I admit… that I think about her all the time…?" Arthur asked.

"Is that what you do?" Merlin countered.

Arthur didn't answer his question. "Nothing could ever happen between us… to admit my feelings knowing that… hurts… too much…"

Merlin turned away from the man in front of him. Arthur leaned forward, crossing his hands in front of him with a frown.

The two men were silent until Merlin spoke up. "Prick."

Arthur gawked at him which caused Merlin to laugh out loud. Arthur shook his head.

"You're very strange, Merlin."

"And you're in love." Merlin countered him. "With Gwen. And if you'd just wake up from your damn pity party, you'd realize that she feels the same…."

Arthur turned away from him.

"I think she deserves to know…" Merlin continued. "If only so she could have a chance to make you happy. Maybe it won't work and you'll both end the potential relationship horribly or maybe you'll get married one day and I'll be your best man at the wedding and we'll both look back on this night and wonder why you were such an idiot once. Either way, at least you'd be able to say you tried. Even if you fail…"

Merlin waited to hear a response from him before stepping back into the apartment. "Enjoy your dinner. It's on me."

Arthur listened for the door and heard it close softly behind Merlin as he left. He frowned stepping back into the apartment and saw the food Merlin had left him. He'd been right about one thing. It had been a few days since Arthur had a decent meal. He'd lost the fight and in turn lost his winnings. He'd been broke all week. Too broke to eat anything other than ramen noodles and tuna if he was lucky. He smiled. Merlin knew. Somehow, he knew that Arthur had lost the fight after seeing him today. He sat down to eat and turned toward the door almost hoping for the younger man to return.

When the door opened and Merlin stood in the doorway, Arthur pushed the plate he'd left behind toward him with a smile.

"Truce?" Arthur asked.

Merlin shook his head. "I'm sorry… I just see you and I see her and it just sucks to not be able to fix everything."

"We don't need fixing, Merlin." Arthur shrugged. "But I do appreciate you trying to take care of me. No one ever has before."

Merlin smiled and sat down in the same chair as earlier. "What are friends for?"

Arthur shrugged. "I wouldn't know. I've never really had any."