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It wasn't often Merlin tries to pull the wool over Gaius's eyes, hell he isn't entirely sure if such a thing is possible! But today he's woken up achey and exhausted, both physically and magically.
Merlin has never used so much magic nor energy in the sixteen years hes been alive, sure he woke up early and worked hard in the fields back in Ealdor, but he had his mother looking out for him and shooing him off to get water or check on their apple trees when she saw him getting tired.
Now he has no one but himself to look out for him when hes overworking himself to the point he collapses in servant hallways. So, in some strange roundabout idea that he's hoping works, Merlin presses his head against the pillow as hard and as long as he can, so that his face is bright red and he's breathless.
He also uses his magic to bring some water to him, which he quickly uses to make a sheen of sweat on his face and neck. He used to do something like this when he was younger and didn't want to go out into the village and hear what the people were saying about him, he isnt sure if his mother actually fell for it or if she knew what he was doing, but she would dote on him every single time he did it.
Now though, he couldn't take any chances, Gaius was a physician and a damn good one at that. Merlin had to get this perfect otherwise Gaius would just give him the eyebrow of doom and send him on his way after a long lecture.
So, Merlin lets out a quiet groan, followed by a semi realistic cough as he burrowed back under the covers with a soft whine. Gaius, as expected comes in a few seconds later "Merlin it's time to-" he gets cut off by another bout of Merlin's semi realistic coughing before he peaks his head out of the blanket just enough for Gaius to see how 'unwell' he looks.
For a few seconds, Merlin thinks his mentor has caught onto what he's doing, but then he clicks his tongue and comes closer "are you alright, my boy?" He asks softly, placing a gentle hand on Merlin's forehead, which he makes a show of flinching about before sighing and leaning into as it's suprisingly cool "dont feel good uncle Gaius" he says in a whispered, raspy tone and he accounts that to the fact that he's only just woke up.
He isnt sure if its the kicked puppy look or the fact that he's just called Gaius 'uncle', something he doesn't do unless hes upset or in some kind of discomfort, but Gaius smiles softly at him "I'll let Arthur know that you wont be working today" he says quietly, probably thinking Merlin has a headache, which he isnt that far off about.
Gaius disapears for a few minutes, before returning with his medication bag and sits down beside him. Its then Merlin realises that Gaius has never actually seen him sick before, injured and almost on his death bed, yes but not sick enough to spend a day in bed.
He gets given a tincture for all of his aches, which settle down after a few minutes "i noticed you seemed to be carrying your weight differently these past few days" Gaius explains, as he downs the thing quickly and without complaint, something his mentor knows he doesnt do unless he has to or it actually hurts.
He also gets a tincture for the slight headache he now realises he has, before he sits up and drinks an entire cup of water to wash down the taste. It isn't until he's padded down to the main room and sat at the table that he realises that Gaius is watching him in fond amusement.
He makes a small show of flinching at the light thats flooding in, putting his head on the table before sighing quietly "im assuming you do feel a little under the weather for you to go to such lengths for a day off?" Gaius asks, tone playful and slightly stern, because he wouldn't be pleased if Merlin was merely messing around.
At his quiet nod and soft "that tincture for aches and pains was a god send, thank you" Gaius hums softly, placing a comforting hand on his nephews back "i don't think ive ever felt so tired either" the boy adds after a few seconds, his voice even softer than before and if Gaius hadn't seen the fact that he was falling asleep at the table the night before, not to mention so quiet that the physician had to check that he hadn't passed out sitting up, because he had done that before, then he'd merely have thought that Merlin hadnt gotten enough sleep.
Instead, he feeds his boy some meat and bread before sending him back to bed, not suprised in the slightest when Merlin fell asleep within minutes. He doesn't wake again until the next morning, which more than shows Gaius, who's glad he hadn't just brushed the boy off when he immediately clocked that he wasn't actually sick, that he was in desperate need of some rest.
The next time Merlin acts sick to get some time off, he isnt quite as extra about it, though it amuses Gaius nonetheless.