Merthur/Merlin one shot

Eating disorder

Trigger warnings, to Eating disorders but also, in general mentioning a toxic relationship.

It was not intentional that he started this yet he could not stop this even when he wished that things would be better. Merlin did not enjoy eating, and the reason started with Richard. The male had been his boyfriend at the time and constantly told him how he was eating too much, how his weight was not normal, and that he was too fat.

It caused deep issues that made him conscious and caused him to eat almost nothing. It was not that he did not know what he was doing was wrong, after all, he knew of eating disorders, but he could not get out of this cycle of hell.

It was why after two years of being together with Richard he broke it off. Merlin could not handle this any longer and with him started to have a new workspace where he was a bodyguard of a Prince, which caused him to decide to accept. Not to mention he needed to leave.

It would for sure help, yet he did not know who it was that had contacted him as it was rather cryptic and worried him. But hey, at least he did not need to worry about food, where to sleep and the pay was a lot as well.

Hopefully, this would go well, but he also wasn't that sure about this. After all, he did not know who that prince would be and none knew it either, out of safety precaution. Even now he was astonished how well this Uther look-alike was as a king.

The male was clearly trying his best and this was why the people adored him and also accepted the fact that the Prince would not yet be shown until he was 18, which would happen in two months from now on.

Merlin could just hope that this Prince would not be an utter bloody prat. With a sigh he continued to wait for the person that would pick him up.

.

.

.

His eyes could just stare blankly at the person that stepped out. This person was someone that he had not seen in a very long time. Heart clenched and he swallowed, as hiding fully his feelings behind a polite mask with a polite smile, after all, he did not want to show any recollection of him knowing who this person was.

"Merlin is that you?" Even the voice was familiar and that this person knew who he was, did not help his feelings.

"Uh, yeah..." He winced at his voice crack.

The person in front of him was looking instantly worried and causing him to shuffle around. Lancelot was someone that he had missed the most and seeing him here alive with memories, made him almost break down.

It was not helping when he was pulled into a tight hug. Of course, he hugged back, but he dreaded this. The pause that came with this made him think again about his weight. He would for sure need ot eat even less now. It was not going to be well for him with how he was for sure way too overweight.

"Did you eat enough? Like you are a bit too thin for my liking." There came the question he was dreading.

And as the male pulled away he saw the look that the male has always given whenever he sees something that the male did not like Merlin doing.

"I don't know what you're talking about, I am my normal weight." He huffed out and gave Lancelot a look that said not to argue with him about this.

"You sure about this?" Lancelot looked doubtful but let it go after him fidgeting a minute or two.

Merlin hated when people pointed out his weight and look. His insecurity always hit him hard and he was pretty sure that it had to do with Richard doing it constantly in the two years since getting together. Thinking back on it, it was always something that his ex had done intentionally and it was now that he realizes this.

"Merlin, are you really sure you want to do this?" A shiver went through his body as hearing Richard suddenly coming out of the place where he lived. Even after they broke off, it was difficult for him to find a place yet.