Boy in the bubble (Modern Merthur AU) (Discontinued)

Chapter six

When Merlin woke up next, it was on the dingy old couch in his living room. His body felt broken, damaged beyond repair and Merlin didn't want to try and fix it anymore. He cleared his burning throat and tried to sit up but his entire body thrummed to life and began to scream at him.

"Gaius..." he croaked, only fueling the fire alive in his lungs.

The old man hobbled into the room as quick as he could, "Merlin. My boy. How are you?"

"I... what happened?"

"Arthur? I think. The one you tutor. He dropped you off and left. He was quite flustered. Merlin, tell me please, was he the one who did this to you?"

"What?"

"You can tell me if it was. I promise I'll sort it. Do you need to move schools again?"

"What? No! Gaius, it was me. It was my fault. I know not to speak out to them but I did anyway. Give me a couple of days and I'll be fine, back at school. Please don't make me move away again. I have a friend at this school! It's been too long since someone cared! Please!  please don't make me leave! Please Gaius!" He sobbed, he didn't know why, Camelot high wasn't exactly a school he wanted to attend.

"Okay. Its okay Merlin. At least tell me who it was. I can help if you tell me."

"No its fine Gaius. It wont happen again I swear."

It was two days until Merlin went to school again, despite Gaius'  persistent request he at least stay home until his wounds had healed, but he refused, if they saw they had the better of him things could go from worse to hell.  

His heart thrummed in his chest but his head was held high, black eyes on show, arm held firmly in a cast, a cut that had yet to heal was still sliced into his eyebrow and a rather large bruise stood proud on his slightly tender jaw.

"Merlin! Oh god! I was so worried!" Freya screamed, throwing herself at him, "and looks like I was right to be! What happened to you?"

"Not a lot. I'm fine. It's fine. I promise." He smiled. Lots of practice.

"Yeah well..." she rolled her eyes clearly disbelieving and she had a right to be, Merlin was lying to her, "I have all the work you missed if you want to copy up."

"Yeah okay thanks." He cheered, arm slinking round her shoulder as he pulled her forward.

~~~

The day dragged on. The entire school seemed to know what happened and apparently it was very funny because every time someone so much as glanced his way the hall/classroom would be filled with sniggering. Ostensibly, Gwaine and Leon had spread around the places they targeted on his body because they seemed to be the only places people barged into in the corridors.

"You okay?" Freya asks, Merlin looked pale.

"Yep." He grunted, his injuries had been knocked to much, he felt sick to his stomach with pain.

"You sure? Looking a little rough Merlin." She giggled, ever carefree.

"Um-Hum." He squeaked, wincing as yet another person slammed into him laughing manically before yelling at him as though it were his fault.

"Not being funny Merlin, you look like a piece of shit. And not just the average piece of shit, like one that's been left in a HOT sun, with humid air and..."

"Yes okay, thank you, Freya." he chuckled lightly, holding her shoulder as he manoeuvred himself to be on the side where the bars are if the wall and Freya would protect his arm from boisterous bullies.