Arthur's return

The attack

Merlin lived in a small town where everybody knew everybody, and merlin was openly gay, unfortunately there are always going to be some small minded people who don't agree with that.
Whilst merlin was walking back from a phone shop after buying Arthur a phone he was whistling, it was dark and windy but at least the rain had stopped, just as he walked down a small alley way for a shortcut he bumped into a group of rough looking men. Merlin thought he could just say sorry and be on his way, he thought wrong.
"HEY YOU! Aren't you that gay kid?" One of the men shouted, Merlin could feel his magic pulsing through his veins ready to attack, "um yes I guess but I really need to be on my way, Merlin said whilst trying to pass the group "ahh see there's the problem, we might need to teach you a little bit of a lesson, set your head straight" the biggest man of the group sneered, just then did they all start to gather around merlin, circling him.
Merlin was about to use his magic as an escape knowing full well that these men were not supportive of his ways and were not willing to let him go un-bruised, just as he was muttering a spell one of the men thumped the back of his head causing him to stumble a bit, his vision going blurry and him unable to think of any spells that would help him right now.
Another punched his face, whilst two men held him up, Merlin fell to the ground then the men kicked him in the stomach and the head.

After 10 minutes of beating the men left merlin lying lifeless on the ground of a dark alley. Merlin sobbed, he had thought this modern time would be accepting and loving but clearly not. He slowly pulled himself off the ground groaning in pain, he couldn't let Arthur see him like this so he healed minor wounds, despite this he had a black eye, a cut on his cheekbone, footprint shaped bruises along his rib cage and a long gash along his stomach. "Ow uh f...fuck that f..fucking kills" merlin sobs holding his side. "I can't tell arthur why they attacked me, I can't tell him I'm gay yet, he doesn't even know what that is let alone finding out his friend is" merlin sighed and slowly started walking back home. When he got to the door he pulled out the phone he got for Arthur, checking if it was still ok and not broken. Thankfully it wasn't broken.
He slowly pushed open the door, not wanting to make any fast movements to cause him even more pain than he is in. He walks in and sees Arthur sat on the sofa watching brave on Disney, he was too distracted to notice merlin come in until the front door slammed shut.
Arthur turned around with a big smile on his face, but the smile quickly faded when he saw merlin cripple over onto a chair wincing in pain and tears rolling down his face, "MERLIN OH MY GOD WHAT HAPPENED!!" Arthur screamed running to merlin "nothing just some guys looking for a fight, can you please go into the bathroom drawer and find my medbox it's green and has a white cross on it" merlin said whilst taking of his shirt to examine his injuries "yes of course, wait right here DONT move a muscle!" Arthur said clearly concerned for his friend.