Work Text:
Merlin used to be a very tactical person, behind Gwen and his own mother, who he got it from. Hell Gwen became known as Camelot's most affectionate queen at the time of her death, the title once belonging to Ygraine which made her all the more beloved.
Merlin however, something changed. It had happend slowly, so slowly he didn't notice it happening. He never did if it wasn't something to do with Arthur. Others noticed it though, he became strangely protective of his chest, in a way he wasn't when he first came to Camelot.
Even Gaius, who thought his ward was just hurting from nimues fire ball burn, wasn't allowed near his chest as Merlin would shy away from the touch, even if he was hurt in that area.
His back was next. After the serket sting, Merlin very rarely let his back be touched, hell in later years he'd keep his back to any surface he could if he was sitting down and he'd run at full speed so no one could give him back pats in the halls of the castle. The other servants got used to it, most of them just thought it was a Merlin thing and found other ways to give him affection. Usually honey cakes or doing his chores when he was busy elsewhere.
Hugging became the next thing he couldn't stand, after Morgause left him in the binds that got tighter every time he tried to break them. After that, hugs felt suffocating and often made Merlin feel anxious, especially if someone did it from behind or without warning.
He found that clasping anothers, usually Arthur's or the rests of the knights, arms was better. Though in the later years, especially after the doroca, Arthur and the knights pulled him into quick hugs, which he found he didn't mind as they didn't last longer than a few seconds, before he was dragged back into the madness that was that quest.
It wasn't until years later, when there was words to explain what certain symptoms meant, that Merlin realised he'd become touch aversed. Which made alot of sense considering the amount of traumatic injuries he got in the 10 years he was in Camelot.