"Is there any particular reason why Arthur Pendragon is in reception wanting to see you?"
Percival lifted his head. He knew his boss intended to pounce on him the moment he finished his called trying to get some bored sounding woman to complete a phone survey. It had been a very boring morning all in all, Percival thought to himself, like most others. Then he had caught sight of his boss lingering just on the periphery of his consciousness. If the man thought he would put Percival off what he was doing then he was very much mistaken. Percival knew not to be intimidated, or at least not to show it. It had been made perfectly plain to Percival that he wasn't liked, but Percival could live with that. To be perfectly honest he could also understand it.
He turned his chair.
"I don't know," Percival said truthfully, before slowly standing up. His boss was only five foot six, so Percival towered over him somewhat. His boss' jaw clenched, he didn't like the disadvantage.
"But only one way to find out," he informed the shorter man. Very deftly he moved around the boss and headed across the room, the eyes of everyone in the room following him. From a space, two rows down on the left, Freya glanced up, giving him a slight smile in support. It had been a difficult week.
He had received some flack for his gesture in the supermarket, since one of the other employees happened to be in the store at the time, and took great pains to tell as many people as possible exactly what happened. Some hadn't commented, but others had. And Freya, when she had done a round of coffee for the people nearest her station gave him two extra biscuits when she had come to him. And given him a secret little smirk.
His booth neighbour Will remained completely convinced that Percival should ask her out, but that was a complication in his life that he didn't feel quite ready to handle, he was only just getting things back on track. Pushing open the double doors he turned into the corridor, heading to the end. Through the glass pane he could see a blond man fiddling with a phone, and occasionally inclining his head as the over made-up girl on the reception desk tried to hold a conversation with him.
Arthur looked up as he heard the door swing open. He stared for a moment taking in the sheer bulk, although Hunith had already described Percival, and also what he had done. Uther had been furious, and Hunith, although not a direct recipient of the anger, had been reduced to tears. Morgana had yelled at Uther. Balinor had been quietly angry. And Merlin had wet the bed on the night after it all happened. He accepted the fussing that followed it and everyone around him was careful not to be upset around him. Arthur had felt bad because he had be nowhere near and tied up with assessments, so he had been forced to wait until Friday to get to Merlin.
He hadn't even done that yet.
Percival hesitated, looking at Arthur with surprised interest. Then Arthur stepped forward, shoving his phone back into his pocket.
"You must be Percival."
"Yes, I am," he said enough confusion in his tone to indicate he wasn't quite sure what Arthur was doing there. Arthur raised his eyebrows, looking at Percival for a moment before saying.
"Hunith is my dad's housekeeper, she told him what you did on Tuesday. My dad wanted to reimburse you."
"Oh," said Percival and then realisation dawned. "Oh, oh right!"
"And he wanted me to thank you," Arthur added.
"Well, anyone would have done the same," Percival said, and then frowned, remembering the incident in question. "If they were me, and only me."
That drew a smirk out of Arthur and he pulled out his wallet and rummaged in it.
"My dad asked me to bring the money. He told me the amount but I rounded it up since I couldn't be bothered to fiddle with change."
Percival sensed a moderate amount of challenge in Arthur's tone and his gaze, as if he seriously did not want to get into a discussion about giving Percival extra as some kind of reward gesture. Even if, Percival thought, adding nine pounds to the total really counted. Rounding it down would have been easier. Still he let it go, despite having a slight physical advantage over Arthur, mentally Percival wasn't sure he'd match up.
"Fair enough," he said, ignoring the little voice telling him where he could use the extra money, and the littler voice adding that he didn't have to take it. "But I still paid for the chocolate bar."
Arthur looked up, blinking in surprise, but he clearly had been given all the facts, as he assessed Percival for a moment before giving a friendly smirk.
"Fair enough," Arthur countered.
The money exchanged hands and Percival stuffed it into his pocket aware of the receptionist listening intently. Percival and Arthur looked at each other, aware that the conversation lacked a little.
"How is the little guy?" Percival asked filling the gap.
Arthur smiled, almost dopily as he thought about Merlin. "He was upset but we'll be more careful with him. Thanks for not letting him get photographed. Although he'll have to start putting up with it at some point."
"Better later than sooner?" Percival asked.
"Yeah, I think he needs a little bit of time first," Arthur said. Poor little Merlin knew nothing of the world. He would have to learn some horrible realities, but for the time being he needed to feel safe, and content, and be able to be a child in his own way.
Again they had a short pause in the conversation, Arthur looked around, and glanced at the company listings on the board behind the reception desk.
"Interesting place to work," Arthur said.
Percival shrugged. "It pays bills."
"Not a career choice?"
"Needs must. It's not all bad, despite the boss being an arse."
Arthur looked shocked and then sniggered. Percival knew the receptionist would no doubt pass on when she had the chance. However, the interesting part was when Arthur stopped laughing and assessed Percival carefully, his eyes losing focus slightly, as if he was working out exactly what Percival might be useful for. It made Percival rile slightly, but he kept himself outwardly calm, although Arthur appeared to sense the agitation. He blinked and looked Percival in the eye again.
"Erm… listen, we're having a barbeque in a couple of weeks time, on the 23rd, it's a Sunday… you're quite welcome to come... if you like... and if you're not doing anything."
Percival blinked, looking fairly awed by the sudden invitation. "Oh, well, yeah, thank you."
"It's sort of an afternoon party, and bring swimming trucks, we pick a day when we can pretty much assume the weather will allow us to use the pool."
Arthur turned and glanced at the reception desk while Percival raised his eyebrows at the casual mention of the pool. He didn't think that he even owned a pair of trunks.
"Have you got a pen and paper?" Arthur asked the receptionist. With a winning smile she produced both.
"Thanks," Arthur said absently and focused on writing on the paper in his large scrawling handwriting. "This is the address, people normally start turning up about two-ish."
"Oh, right, okay." Percival took the piece of paper as Arthur handed it to him.
"And bring your wife, or girlfriend, or whatever," Arthur added and then glanced at his watch. "I have to go. Thanks anyway."
"No, problem," Percival said. Arthur backed off, heading to the door.
"See you then," Arthur announced before disappearing. Through the glass front of the reception Percival watched Arthur head to a flashy, and presumably expensive, car. Then he glanced down at the piece of paper.
"You don't have a girlfriend," the receptionist drawled at him. Percival looked at her.
"Never mind," Percival said turning on his heel and strolling back into work. He didn't tell anyone what Arthur had wanted him for, within an hour the receptionist had done that for him.
To people's irritation, and no one's surprise, Percival himself said nothing. But that didn't mean to say he wasn't thinking about it.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Arthur ambled into the hall, as always he glanced at the picture of his mother that dominated the wall.
"Hello! Conquering hero home!" Arthur bellowed. There didn't appear to be a response until he heard footsteps from the kitchen and his breath caught in his throat. Gwen stepped forward, and Arthur gawped, looking her up and down. Her curly hair fell about her shoulders and her jeans and tee-shirt accentuated her figure. Arthur decided the sun streaming in through the windows had to be making the usually cool hall excessively warm as he felt the heat rush to his cheeks.
"Hi," Arthur said, staring, and wondering what else to say. Whoever she was she certainly looked comfortable in the house holding a glass of milk in one hand and a plate with some biscuits in the other. She gave a smile, which made Arthur's cheeks feel even hotter.
"I'm Gwen," she explained stepping further forward and Arthur's eyes dropped to watch the swing of her hips. "I'm..."
She was about to explain herself to Arthur. Gwen recognised him; pictures of Arthur littered the house, and there was no denying the similarity between him and Igraine Pendragon. Hunith had told Gwen the identity of the pregnant woman in the picture. However, that was as far as she got before they were both distracted by thudding as Merlin ran along the corridor and down the stairs, taking them carefully, one hand firmly holding the banister to get down and greet Arthur. Gwen watched as Arthur grinned brightly at the sight of Merlin, heading towards the steps. Halfway down the lower flight Merlin jumped launching himself forward and Arthur reached to catch him. Both he and Gwen spotted the gold flare in Merlin's eyes as he used magic to propel himself. He landed against Arthur wrapping his arms around Arthur's neck and twining his legs around the blond man's waist giggling as he clung like a limpet.
"Hello!" Arthur said brightly. Merlin giggled and clung harder. "That's what I call a proper greeting."
Arthur turned his head to see Gwen smirking at them both.
"Sooo, who's your lady friend?" Arthur asked Merlin. Merlin lifted his head from Arthur's shoulder and beamed at Gwen.
"I'm Merlin's teacher. I'd just gone to get him a snack."
"Biscuits and milk, yummy," Arthur said causing Merlin to giggle again. Gwen smiled.
"I'll get some more. Merlin, do you want to show Arthur your drawings?"
Merlin's head bobbed up and down with enthusiasm, then he snuggled his face into the crook of Arthur's neck.
"Okay then," Arthur said turning to head up the stairs with Merlin still clinging to him. "Why did they never have teachers like that when I was at school?"
Merlin giggled again.
A room had been set up at the end of the corridor where Morgana and Merlin had their bedrooms. It had been Arthur's old nursery and playroom. Now a table had been set up, with two chairs on one side, one for Merlin and Teddylot sat in the other. Arthur settled himself on Merlin's chair with Merlin on his lap and he looked at the picture that Merlin had been drawing. Arthur raised his eyebrows.
"That's good," he said. He pointed to a person with yellow hair. "Is that me?"
Shifting on Arthur's lap Merlin nodded.
"We were going to write names next weren't we Merlin," Gwen said, she was now carrying a tray with a jug of milk, two glasses and more biscuits on the plate.
"Goody," Arthur said looking down at Merlin buried his face into Arthur's chest. Gwen frowned and looked at the reaction.
"Do you not know how to write names? I can help you," Arthur said. There was a mild amount of wriggling before Merlin shifted around, reaching for a crayon. Gwen raised her eyebrows, but resumed her seat at the side of the small table. Merlin looked at Gwen and then to Arthur.
"Come on, do you know letters?" Arthur asked, hardly making a fuss as he spoke. He lifted Merlin so the little boy sat up on his knee, closer to the table so he could reach. Merlin picked up the crayon and sucked his lower lip in as he frowned in concentration.
"Write Arthur's name first?" Gwen encouraged. "A for Arthur."
Merlin obligingly wrote an 'A', then slowly followed with an 'R'.
"That's good Merlin," Gwen said. "Ar..."
Arthur smiled as Merlin carefully followed the first two words with an 'f', then a 'u' and an 'r'.
"Almost Merlin," Gwen said encouragingly.
"Arfur," Arthur said still grinning. "I want to change the spelling of my name for ever. I will from now on always been known as Arfur."
Merlin frowned at him, his lower lip slowly sticking out. He almost scrubbed out his first attempt but Arthur reached out to stop him.
"Don't do that, leave it there. I like it, but write it properly underneath, just here. Ar...th..."
He carefully exaggerated the phrasing of his name and Merlin carefully wrote the word out carefully. Guinevere used the moment to assess Merlin's lettering. He wrote very clearly and concisely, and the sheer ease with which he had worked out how to write Arthur's name told her he had been taught some basic things.
"And who is this?" Gwen said, pointing at another figure in the drawing. By the look of the long hair Arthur could guess.
"I think that's Morgana."
Merlin nodded, but he waited a moment, his crayon poised, seeing if either Gwen or Arthur would give him some help. Both of them did.
"And that's dad, so write Uther, nearly like my name. Not a 'u' there, that's an 'e'. It sounds a bit like my name though. That's probably why I ended up with it."
Merlin looked up at Arthur with wide eyes.
"It probably is. What about this one, is this Hunith?"
Merlin eagerly finished off the rest of the letters, and started to colour in a new picture of Teddylot. Merlin stuck the tip of his tongue out as he concentrated on colouring in the purple fur and Arthur helped Gwen pin up the pictures.
"Thank you," Gwen said in a low tone.
"For what," Arthur asked pinning his own picture in the centre of the board.
"I couldn't get him to write a thing until you came along. Drawing, playing, painting, even maths, I could get something from him. Just not that."
"We've done quite a bit of that stuff with him ourselves. Maybe he just doesn't want to without us doing it first."
"But he must have seen some of you writing before, so he knows that sort of thing happens. This was like he was scared of it. I thought more practical lessons might be better for him."
Arthur looked at her. "You're the teacher."
"Yes, and I know what I want to do, what I need to teach him, what I need to work out is a little more of the how to."
"As far as I know from what my father said you can do whatever you like to get him learning. He gave you a credit card for expenses didn't he?"
"Yes," Gwen said, sounding awed at the fact. "I'm just a bit worried about using it, in case it doesn't work out."
"Don't be, as long as you try, I think that matters. Merlin will just open up in his own time. When he's ready."
Gwen frowned slightly as Arthur turned away, his voice casually confident, as if he knew something that no one else had, as of yet, found out.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Arthur was not about to tell anyone anything. Gwen had left soon afterwards, finishing up Merlin's lessons for the day, after she had met with Uther. Even over the two days she had been working with Merlin she felt quite confident that he had been given some lessons at the home, but she wanted to start his schooling back at a younger level, just to make sure nothing had been missed.
Uther saw no problem with such an idea. Gwen was the teacher, and she seemed to know what she was doing. Merlin had waved her off quite enthusiastically, having obviously decided he liked her. Plus he was in his home environment, where Uther guessed, he did at least feel safe.
At least he did most of the time.
The weather had slowly been shifting into summer, the last week unbearably muggy, and it broke late that night, almost running into early morning. Arthur hadn't been asleep, he had been desperately trying to finish some of his coursework. At least at home he didn't have the distraction of three housemates, and a myriad of pubs and nightclubs. A combination that always leant to him veering away from some of his work.
As the flash of lightening rippled across the sky Arthur, who had been in the study, paused and decided to go and get his camera. The thunder cracked several seconds later, and the rain started to hammer down. As Arthur headed upstairs, he listened. Morgana was likely to sleep through the whole thing, his father would probably just sit and read if he woke up. Arthur paused as he heard a new sound, as another flash and rumbling crash occurred.
The source of the whimpering was easy enough to find. He went straight into Merlin's room, a hump of duvet quivering as Merlin huddled underneath it, clinging to Teddylot.
"Merlin?"
Arthur crouched down and lifted up the edge of the duvet. The nightlight gave him enough to see Merlin huddled up, gripping tightly to his teddy. He gave another little whimper, hiding his face in the fluffy purple fur, but his eyes stayed on Arthur. As there was another flash Merlin's face disappeared completely.
"Hey, come on, it's only thunder and lightening."
As he spoke Arthur poked his head under the duvet and slithered his arms in reaching for Merlin. As the rumble followed the flash Merlin scrabbled into Arthur's arms, dragging Teddylot along with him as Arthur extracted them both from the bedding. Merlin pressed Teddylot to Arthur's arm and buried his face into Arthur's shoulder. Arthur ran a hand up and down Merlin's back, feeling the lumps of his backbone that still appeared sickeningly prominent. Still it had been less than a month since they had taken Merlin in. Arthur thought about it, in that short time Merlin had grown to trust them. He wondered if there had been someone at the care home that had shown Merlin love. Or maybe he had been so desperate for affection that he had opened up the moment he had received it.
Arthur knew part of it was down to Merlin witnessing him defending him at the school, and producing Teddylot, and fixing action man. He tightened his grip as Merlin snuggled against him.
"All right," Arthur soothed. "It's nothing to be scared of. You come with me."
Standing up Arthur settled Merlin against his chest and carried him through to his own room. He could hear the rain pounding on the conservatory roof, and as he went into his own room the open curtains gave him a perfect view as a flash of forked lightening blasted across the sky, seconds later the thunder roared across the sky. Merlin whimpered again.
"Don't worry about the noise, it's just clouds bumping together."
Merlin gave a confused murmur and his head rose slightly, his eyes peering up at Arthur.
"It is," Arthur announced using one hand to pull the wooden chair out from his desk and he turned it so it faced the window. Then reaching over he grabbed his camera, and sat down. He settled Merlin on his lap and with both arms loosely wrapped around him he fiddled with his focus. Merlin huddled against him as another flash lit up the sky, Arthur pressed the button to take some shots, but as he scrolled back over them, all he had caught was dark sky.
"Damn, we'll try again," Arthur said. "You hold my watch, so I can count how long between flashes."
Merlin took the watch in one hand, holding Teddylot with the other, so he could hide his face in the fur. He didn't look as disturbed as another rumble sounded. Arthur felt his little body tense slightly but aside from that Merlin didn't appear frightened.
Arthur randomly took shots of the night sky, hoping to catch a flash, he was faffing with his camera when the next one rippled across the darkness.
"Damn, how long was that?"
Merlin held up the watch and pressed the button that lit the face up, as Arthur had shown him to.
"Right, what we need to do is time that again, and be ready."
Merlin grinned at him, taking the watch and staring at the face intently as he concentrated on counting the sweep of the second hand on Arthur's watch. Arthur held up his camera as Merlin nudged him.
"Here, you press the button there."
Arthur angled the camera while Merlin leant forward and carefully pressed the button on the top of Arthur's camera to start taking pictures. They watched as another flash shot across the sky, Merlin gave a little squeal and snatched his hand away, however, Arthur grinned as the display told him he had caught exactly what he wanted.
"Look at that Merlin."
Arthur showed him the picture, and Merlin cooed in awe.
"Come on, let's try for another one."
Arthur kept Merlin with him as they sat out the storm and took pictures, Arthur took several of Merlin and then, heart stoppingly - because he was obsessive about his camera equipment - he let Merlin take some pictures of him. Both of them ended up looking sleepy and startled but by the end of it Merlin giggled happily and his fear of thunder appeared to have been defeated.
"Come on, I think it's all over now," Arthur said, shifting Merlin in his grip, intending to take him back to his own room. Merlin grizzled and clung tightly to Arthur.
"Do you want to stay with me?"
Merlin's murmuring tone indicated that was a yes. Arthur smiled to himself, putting his face down into Merlin's hair, taking in the pleasant scent of the shampoo that Merlin had been using.
"Come on then," Arthur said pulled back his duvet and Merlin wriggled, turning in Arthur's arms to flop onto the mattress. Dragging Teddylot with him Merlin snuggled into Arthur's bed.
"Make yourself comfortable, where did you come from?" he asked Kilgharrah who now sprawled on the far corner. Arthur spread his arms out in invitation. "Everyone enter my bed."
Merlin giggled and Arthur frowned as the duvet rippled, something that was not a cat or a child seemed to move the duvet. Arthur looked up and down but neither the cat nor the child seemed bothered by the breeze. Arthur clenched his teeth and carefully got into bed, a little unsure as to what he would find.
Part of it didn't surprise him. Merlin clinging to him didn't but as Merlin tucked himself tightly to Arthur, he knew he hadn't imagined it the first time, and this time it was stronger.
"Thank you, Arthur."