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I’ve Got Red In My Ledger

Summary:

Merlin thinks Arthur found out about his magic and Arthur thinks Merlin is working for Morgana.

Work Text:

"How could you! I trusted you and you betrayed me." Arthur shouted, pushing Merlin against the wall and punching his face. Just moments earlier, Merlin cleaning up Gaius' workspace, having just used it to clean the small wounds he got from another rogue sorcerer he fought only hours previously.

This was it. Merlin thought. He finally found out about my magic.

"I'm sorry." Merlin whispered while looking towards the ground, blood running down his face from his freshly broken nose.

"Why?" Arthur asked, the plea clear in his voice. He let go of Merlin and went to sit down, burring his head in his hands so Merlin wouldn't see his tears.

"I had no choice." Merlin sobbed out.

"You always have a choice." Arthur half yelled, half sobbed out. Arthur paused before seeming to come to a realization. "Did she threaten you?" Merlin looked at Arthur confused.

"Did who threaten me?" Arthur froze. They both reached the same conclusion at the same time.

"Are we talking about different things right now?" Merlin asked with a small voice. Arthur only nodded in reply. "So... what were you talking about?"

"Morgana. You're working with her." Arthur bit out, his anger still there. Merlin was shocked at first before standing up in anger.

"Morgana! I would never work with her. I may have red in my ledger but I would never stoop to her level. Even if her becoming so dark and twisted is my fault. She's killing innocent people Arthur!"

"What do you mean its your fault." Arthur said slowly as if still processing Merlin's mini rant. "And what do you mean you have red in your ledger." Merlin sighed and sunk to the ground.

"Do you remember when everyone was falling asleep and Morgause was taking over? I found out she had used Morgana for the spell and the only way to stop it was to poison her until Morgause backed down. I was planning to give Morgana the antidote either way but Morgana never forgave me and then she disappeared with Morgause and I allowed her to take her."

"Merlin, how is any of that your fault? You were just trying to save everybody and you said you were going to revive her either way."

"I guess your right." Merlin said, if only to appease Arthur.

"Now what did you mean by you have red in your ledger?"

"Oh I was kinda hopping you would have forgotten I said that?" Arthur glared at Merlin and he just sighed in defeat. "I have magic. There I said it. I'm a monster. I was born this way. I've killed people. But they were trying to hurt you. I'm evil. I had no choice." Merlin ranted on, talking less to Arthur and more to himself after the first sentence.

"Wait what? You have magic. But you were born with it. How is that possible? And you've killed people?" Arthur said, confused and angry before noticing that Merlin was on the ground sobbing and shaking and repeating, 

"I'm a monster and I had no choice" over and over again. Arthur knelt down beside Merlin and hugged him. 

"Hey it's okay, your not a monster, I'm here for you. I love you." Merlin was still shaking and crying so Arthur took a leap of faith and kissed him. Merlin looked up at Arthur when he drew away. "I'm sorry that was a mistake." Merlin got up and walked over to Arthur before kissing him.

"I love you too clot-pole."

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