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

Chapter Fourteen

"What? Are you crazy?" Arthur cried, finally giving Merlin his undivided attention, "We barely know each other!"

Merlin's face scrunched, "We were friends the other week according to you." He complained, "And you've kissed me... Twice." He added nonchalantly.

"...yeah, can we not talk about that right now..." He said, holding out his hand to signify a forced end to the conversation, "Besides I'm fine at home." He said, bowing his head again.

"No. You're not. I mean you're so clearly not. Arthur, should we - should I call child line?"

"NO! No. I don't want my dad getting into trouble or for anything I do to ruin the reputation of the family. Look, I won't go home for a day or two if it'll make you happy. Just don't call child line."

"Okay. Okay. I won't. For now. But I can't let you stay there... please..." he pleaded, "at least you'll be safe there. Surprisingly we do have a spare room in my tiny house." He smiled.

Arthur smiled too, despite the circumstances, "I would be safe at home."

"No offence, but evidently not." Merlin stated bluntly, "I mean - I saw what I just saw and you turned up at my house the other day with a hand mark around your neck."

"— okay whatever, I've already agreed to stay with you tonight. You don't have to say anymore."

~~~
Merlin and Arthur walked back together in almost complete silence, the only noise being Merlin asking if Arthur was sure he was okay every other five minutes.

"MERLIN, For gods sake I'm fine. Just a little punctured..." Arthur smiled weakly, oddly amused at Merlins care.

"Okay... well we've got lots of ice packs at home I'll get one for you when we get in." He grinned, Arthur knew it was a false grin because his eyes didn't crinkle and there wasn't a breathy laugh ghosting his lips.

"Yeah sounds fun. Great way to spend my Friday night."

"Well sorry Arthur but it was this or leave you and who knows what would have happened then. I couldn't live with myself if something did." Merlin said, voice saddening.

Arthur sighed, bored of arguing that he would have been 'fine' "you're right... thank you Merlin, for taking me into your home."

"No problem." He chirped, brightening up, not detecting/ignoring the sarcasm in Arthur's voice.

~~~

Merlin sat Arthur down in the dinning room, out of force of habit he sat Arthur in the same chair Arthur sits in every study lesson.

"I'll be right back." He says and skips off to the kitchen.
When he returns he has a bowl of water with a wash cloth balanced on the rim and an ice pack flipped over one arm.
"Here. I got it." He says, crouching in front of Arthur and using the cloth to dab at Arthur's cuts.
Arthur startles when the water stings, "ow."
"I know sorry it stings. You're a pansy so I didn't tell you before I started because you wouldn't have let me do it."
"I'm not a pansy."
Merlin cocked an eyebrow but didn't reply.
"Jesus." He flinched when Merlin dabbed again, "what is that shit?"
"Well it's just water, mixed with a bit of medical alcohol gel that I added to sterilise."

The next five minutes were spent dabbing carefully at Arthur's chest and back and then Merlin moved to his face.
Arthur had a black eye, a split lip and a cut across his forehead.
"The ice pack can be used for your eye. It'll stop the swelling." Merlin stated, having already moved on from the cut across his head. Once he was done uselessly dabbing Arthur's eye he moved onto the lip, dabbing carefully and moving closer subconsciously.