This is dedicated to two different readers: Kermit Rainbow Connection asked for a rowdy customer while 1monster2 asked for a Percival chapter. So, here you guys go, and I really hope you enjoyed it.

I keep trying to write serious Merlin whump, but my muse just doesn't want to hurt him. That or I am afraid it'll turn into a really long, multi-chapter fic. Oh, well.

So, thanks for the reviews, alerts, and favorites last chapter. I really appreciate them. Remember, the characters are not mine. And leave me a comment if you can (plus anymore ideas because, let's face it, you guys have a hell of a lot more good ideas than I do).

See ya!

Percival hummed an old sea shanty, heading back to the castle after a long night of guarding the gate, when he heard someone screaming obscenities. At first, a smirk on his face, he figured some man had gotten caught cheating on his wife (serves him right), but the smirk slipped off his face when he heard a familiar voice say, "G-Gaius says more will…"

"Gaius jus' doesn' understand," a croaky, slurred voice exclaimed and Percival heard a bottle smash. "Get out and tell 'im I need it."

"I heard you the first time," Merlin tried to reason, "but Gaius says anymore will be fatal to…"

"Shut up!" the croaky voice screamed, another bottle smashing. "Gaius doesn' understand that…"

"Sir, I really don't think you…" Merlin's trailed off into a cry of pain, and Percival knew he had heard enough. He stalked towards the voices, bursting into a small hut just in time to see an elderly man, clearly drunk, standing over Merlin, a slowly dripping knife dangling in his hand.

Merlin lay on the floor, clutching a freely bleeding arm. His blue eyes darted over to Percival before settling on the man again. He glanced up at Percival and screeched, "Yer breaking an' entering into my home!"

"And you just hurt my friend," Percival said dangerously, fighting the urge to remove his sword from his scabbard. Slowly, he ducked down to help Merlin up, not so subtly pushing the smaller man behind him, giving the old man a steely glare. "He's clearly told you, you can't have any more of whatever you want, and if you can't respect that then you need to find another physician to help you."

"My family was a well-respected…"

"Obviously it isn't anymore," Percival snarled slowly backing up, pushing Merlin out the door with him. He made to beckon a couple guards over, but Merlin quickly grabbed his arm and dragged him away, telling him not to bother.

"But Merlin…"

"Just let it go," he insisted continuing to drag the knight away until they were halfway across the courtyard. "I'm fine, he barely hurt me. Just let it go." With a sigh, against his better judgment, Percival nodded. "Thank you."

They walked in silence for a few moments, but the silence was broken by a small hiss and Merlin asking, "Can we not tell Gaius about this? Strictly speaking, I wasn't supposed to be there today, but he had been busy and…"

"Merlin, I think Gaius would want to know one of his customers attacked you," Percival pointed out slowly, but still steered the younger man towards his chambers, walking right past the staircase to Gaius and Merlin's chambers.

"I know," Merlin replied softly, letting his arm go just long enough to untie his neckerchief. "But Gaius has been under a lot of stress lately and I just don't want to add to it."

"Alright, but I'm going to help you with that," Percival agreed nodding towards the wound. Merlin nodded, albeit a little reluctantly, and pressed the red cloth into his arm. "By the way, what did he want?"

"I don't even know," Merlin replied shrugging, "but Gaius swears anymore will kill him."

"Not if I get to him first," Percival muttered lightly touching his sword, half turned to head back to the man's hut.

"Please don't," Merlin begged moving to stand in front of the knight. "Please, just leave him be. He's a drunkard, lonely is all, and in a lot of pain. I don't want to add to that and I definitely don't want you to add to it. So, please don't tell Arthur, either."

"Merlin…"

"I'm fine," he insisted stubbornly. "It's barely a cut."

Again, against his better judgment, Percival agreed, but he couldn't help thinking that Merlin was too damn selfless for his own good.