
“Is that my shirt?” Arthur asked, trying to hold back a laugh. Merlin was using the corner of the faded red shirt to rub at his eyes as he looked blearily towards the doorway of the bedroom.
His cheeks coloured. “I missed you,” he said, in a voice so small and quiet Arthur could barely hear him. He smiled fondly.
“I missed you too,” he sighed, coming to sit on the bed and pulling Merlin into a hug. Merlin hummed, and pressed his lips against Arthur’s neck.
“Don’t go to any more meetings please?” he mumbled, eyes already drooping closed.
“Go back to sleep, Merls.” Arthur laughed as his boyfriend curled up against his side. “I love you,” he added a few seconds later, but Merlin was already asleep.
Author: pensgarth (colinbones)
Artist: alby_mangroves
Pairings/characters: Merlin/Arthur, Gwen/Lance, mentions of Morgana/Leon, Gwaine, Freya, Will, Valiant, Vivian, Valiant, Cenred, Sophia.
Rating: Mature. (There are adult themes but no sex.)
Word Count: ~36k
Warnings: Modern Highschool AU. Self-harm (reasonably graphic), eating disorders (ish), suicide, self-hatred, physical abuse (from a parent), alcohol abuse, homophobia, bullying (physical and mental).
Summary: When his best friend dies, a little bit of Merlin dies with him. He’s struggling with self-harm, Hunith’s struggling with alcoholism and everything seems hopeless. Then he meets Arthur Pendragon, someone who might be able to put him back together. Except Arthur’s got problems too, and not everything is that simple. Can they make it work?
Author’s notes: Inspired by the song Be My Escape by Relient K. I have one billion and one thank you’s to make, and I want to make them properly, so please go here for the extended author’s notes.
Disclaimer: I may consider Merlin, Arthur and the gang my babies but they aren’t, in fact, mine. All rights belong to the BBC. Boo.
~ Art link | Story Link ~

Colin Morgan has the best ears and no-one can convince me otherwise.

He was, in fact, wrapped around somebody else in the manner of an affectionate baby octopus, one leg tangled between theirs, one arm hooked firmly around a neat naked waist and his mouth pressed damply into the warm, soft-sharp curve of a shoulder blade.
And then this happened.