Rating K

Word Count: 300

Challenge Given: Write about one character complaining about another. Whether they're silently fuming, commiserating with a friend, or grousing so loudly that the entire kingdom can hear them, let them vent their frustrations through you!

Info: Set a couple of months after Merlin arrived in Camelot.

~o~0~o~

He Hates Me

Leon walked into the armoury to return his crossbow late one night to discovered a familiar figure with black hair and tatty brown jacket, hunched over a sword.

"Merlin?"

"Oh, hello, Sir Leon," the boy sighed dramatically.

"What is it? Is something wrong?"

"He hates me."

"Who does?"

"Arthur."

"Why would you say that?"

Merlin looked up from his task and shot the knight a look of total disbelief. "Seriously? You must have heard him. He shouts at me, insults me and then gives me all these extra chores even though he knows I have to work for Gaius too."

"Merlin, trust me. Arthur doesn't hate you. If he did you'd have been fired after a week."

"He's probably thinking about it," Merlin continued morosely.

"Now, I'll tell you who he really does hate," Leon continued. "Sir Robert."

"Really? I don't think I've seen him interact with that knight much."

"Exactly, that's the point." Leon sat on the other side of the bench and smiled at Merlin's confused expression.

"I still don't understand."

"He confessed it to me recently, although I can't remember why the subject came up now. Anyway, I expressed my surprise and made much the same observation as you just have and, do you know what he said to me?"

"No."

"To be honest, Sir Leon, I can't be bothered to think up insults for a low life like him. I'd rather save my breath for someone who's worth the effort."

"What? You're telling me that all abuse he gives me is his way of showing he cares?"

"Of course. I thought you understood that. I always assumed you were insulting him for exactly the same reason."

~o~0~o~

A/N: I know we didn't see Leon until Series 2 but in 3.13 we learn that he grew up with Gwen so I like to think that he's always been there in the background somewhere.