Part 3 please enjoy

Warning: is not that edited... so sorry as well

Part 3: A Chance to Atone for his Sins

Arthur and Merlin was peanut butter and jelly; they were two sides of the same coin; they were brothers from another mother, but they were. For two weeks neither of them talked to each other. Merlin eventually came out of his room and hung with his group, but he was always cautious with Arthur. Lancelot eventually asked what their deal was, but no one knew and no one had the courage to ask. Merlin tried his hardest to avoid Cenred as well. He would leave lecture with the crowd, enter with the crowd; he would avoid his emails and skip office hours, until he received an email from the dean of humanities. His grades in his Lang class was dropping too low for his major. He was to go to office hours and see what he could do to prevent it. Merlin was walking down the hall when he read it, he paused and fear took over.

o.o.o.o.o

"What do you think is wrong with Merlin?" Lancelot asked for the fifth time.

Morgana shrugged, "I don't know, maybe their bickering became too intense." Then flipped through her book. It was finals week and everyone was freaking out - except for Percival and Elyan, they were the smart ones who didn't procrastinate.

"He seemed a little tense around Arthur lately," Leon commented as he came out of his nap. There were bags under his red eyes and his hair was everything but neat and controlled. "Do you think they got into a little brawl? Remember a few weeks ago, Merlin had a bruise on his cheeks."

"Yeah, I was shocked, who in the world in the right mind would hurt those beautiful cheekbones." Gwaine said, he was lying on the library carpet, "Seriously, Merlin has one of the sharpest cheekbones."

Lancelot threw Gwaine's notebook at him, "You should be studying, not playing games on your phone." Then he looked for the subject of the conversation. Merlin was no where to be found. He was supposed to come over and study with them - Arthur too.

"We should have an intervention," Gwen said. She too was worried about their friendship, seriously it was almost impossible to see one without the other.

Just then a blonde haired someone came to the table, "sorry I'm late guys, I had something to do." He looked disheveled and red-faced; he was out of breath and angry.

o.o.o.o.o

(Two hours ago)

Merlin stood in front of Arthur's door with a container filled with food. The boy knew it was time to confront his friend, but he couldn't bring himself to knock on the blue door. He was planning on going to the study group with him and on the way explain everything. For a few more minutes, Merlin held his pose, right arm ready to knock and the other frozen at his side. Suddenly the door swung open and he was face to face with Arthur.

Arthur was surprised as well; they stood silently for what felt like a lifetime. Merlin was the first to break the silence.

"I-I brought food."

"I was about to leave for the study group." Arthur straightened up. He could see the panic is Merlin's eyes.

The younger lowered his eyes and clenched his jaw. "Did you have lunch?" The tension was really thick, it became hard to breath deeply.

"Come in." Arthur motioned.

Merlin went into the kitchen and placed the food on the counter. He was going to reach for a plate, but they were all in the sink. "You really should wash your dishes right after you eat."

"I always get too lazy."

Merlin put on an apron and grabbed the gloves.

Then there was a slam. Merlin jumped.

"Why are you here Merlin?" Arthur was red, he wasn't angry at his friend, he was angry at himself, he wasn't there when Merlin needed it the most and instead of helping him he took advantage of the boy.

"I…" He bit his bottom lip. His back was facing the other. He tried again, "I'm going to confront Cenred today."

It was very awkward. Too many pauses, too much silence.

"Don't." Arthur strained out.

"I'm going to." Merlin whispered.

"Why did you come here?" Arthur huffed, "Why did you come to see me?!"

There was a long pause.

"Because you're my friend."

"Not anymore." Arthur replied. He hated it. He hated causing pain to his friend; he didn't want to deal with it anymore.

o.o.o.o.o

"Welcome Merlin."

'I don't want this, I don't want to go into this room, I feel sick.' He thought. Then he took a deep breath and went into the room again. "Professor, I'm going to get to the point. My paper was not just acceptable, it was good -very good - and…" He whimpered out.

"Oh Merlin, I already knew that… I just wanted to spend time with you." Cenred grew closer and closer. He raised his left hand and brushed Merlin's hair behind his ears. "I was beginning to get sad, you keep avoiding me."

Merlin wanted to escape from his touch and yell, but fear closed his throat.

o.o.o.o.o

"What the heck man, what happened?" Gwaine asked. He got up from the floor and faced the red faced friend. "You alright?"

"Yeah, just fine." Arthur replied. He pulled out the wooden chair and sat down forcefully.

"Oh bitch please, you are not fine, what the hell happened between you and Merlin, you guys were so together it got disgusting." Morgana snapped. She then lowered her voice because people were shushing her. "Tell us the fuck what happened."

"Nothing happened." The blonde said. "Don't worry…" He drifted off. Then out of no where he looked around and then called for Lancelot, "come with me." He pulled the studying man from his seat and dragged him.

When the two were alone, Arthur let out a quiver. "Merlin was raped."

Lancelot's eyes widened and his jaw dropped; he tried to grasp what he just heard.

Arthur looked so ashamed, "I know you're really close to him… Just… I don't know what to do." There was a pause again. "When I learned about it, I kissed him…"

"The fuck?" was the two words Lancelot could get out.

"I don't want to see him again… I don't want to give him pain."

Lancelot froze, wide eyed and could not form a sentence.

"He's going to confront… the guy who raped him… He asked me for help, but I just… told him to go." Arthur hated himself and he wanted Lancelot to go be the hero for Merlin. He felt unworthy to get that close.

Lancelot then landed a punch. "Go to him you fucking asshole!" Then he mouthed ow while walking back to the group.

o.o.o.o.o

Arthur began running to Cenred's office at full speed. It was his turn to take care of Merlin. When they were children, Merlin would always help him out. He would make sure Arthur did his homework, got dressed, and made friends; but now it was now Arthur's turn to care for his friend.

"Cenred you bastard!" He yelled as he slammed the door open.

It was only Merlin in the room. His back was facing Arthur.

"Merlin?" He cautiously walked forward.

Merlin flinched and began wiping his face. "Sorry I was just on my way out." He lowered his head more and tried to walk past Arthur.

The blonde stopped him, "How do you expect to go outside so disoriented?" When he saw Merlin's face pink and his eyes glossy he embraced him. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Merlin tried to push him away. But his arms failed him and hugged Arthur back.

"It's okay, he didn't do much…" He closed his eyes and felt Arthur's warm body fill him with comfort.

Arthur knew exactly what Cenred made Merlin do, he didn't care, he just embraced Merlin like there was no tomorrow.

"I might kill him." Arthur warned. Then he looked at Merlin's eyes. "I'm so sorry; I have been a jerk." Then he leaned in for a kiss.

Merlin turned his head, "No, he made me use my mouth… I'm dirty"

Arthur went in for it anyway. "I don't care, you are not dirty, you're just Merlin."

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