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Language:
English
Series:
Part 2 of July Break Bingo 2023 , Part 14 of Merlin Bingo 2023 , Part 3 of Gwaine/Merlin stories
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July Break Bingo, Merlin Bingo
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Published:
2023-07-01
Words:
469
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1/1
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17
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137
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12
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2,232

Call me your friend, treat me like one

Summary:

Gwaine had only had one great friend in his life, Merlin.

But had he been an equally true friend to him?

Notes:

So....I don't know if you can really see that as a dysfunctional relationship, but I thought even a friendship that was adrift was a relationship that just wasn't working right. No? *pikachu face*.

Merlin deserves some real friends, and it annoys me that no one, and I mean no one, has even questioned Gwen's words.

I mean, she was under a spell, so okay, she couldn't defend Merlin.

But everyone else????

Okay, now that the author's personal outburst has come to an end, this is for July Break Bingo's What happened to us? and Merlin Bingo's dysfunctional relationships.

I hope you enjoy!

Work Text:

Call me your friend, treat me like one

Merlin was adjusting Arthur's armor when Gwaine sat down beside him, his armor unbalanced
.

"Merls!" Gwaine smiled, deserving only a nod from Merlin and little other consideration. "What's up, man?"

"Nothing, Sir Gwaine." Merlin replied laconically.

"I do not understand." Gwaine murmured, seeing how Merlin arranged all his things to leave quickly, even though some pieces of the armor were still missing to polish. "I don't understand when we changed."

"When did you join the knights and decide you were too good for me, maybe?" Merlin proposed and Gwaine shook his head. "I could never think I'm too good for you, Merlin! You're the one who gave me hope! Who gave me a future!"

"Well, apparently that's not true, or you'd think more of me, all things considered."

"I don't understand what you mean. I have consideration for you." Gwaine insisted and Merlin crossed his arms over his chest. "Do you have it? Are you sure?"

"Sure I have!"

"Well, what about when you were enchanted by the Lamia?"

"I have no memory of that moment." Gwaine tried to defend himself.

"Did you even ask? Did you ask what Gwen and I had to go through while you knights played the great heroes? Did you ask why my cheek was burned, my back was bruised?"

"Merlin..."

"Did you notice when I was acting strange, after being kidnapped by Morgana and used to try to kill Arthur? Did you notice that I wasn’t myself, that I asked for a crossbow?"

"I..."

"Did you at least look when you left me behind where Morgana was, in the caves where Arthur and I came to rescue you? Did you check that I was there, instead of leaving without even looking for me?"

"You're always with Arthur, I just thought..."

"Did you even try to challenge Gwen when she accused me of being responsible for Arthur's murder? As if I could ever do that, as if it was even possible to contemplate the possibility that I would ever kill him!"
Merlin was breathing heavily.
"Nobody argued anything, but of all people I expected you to do that! I expected you to point out that I could never do that!"
Merlin looked away.
"Lancelot would have pointed this out, and if he failed, he would have broken me out and run away with me."

Gwaine felt a weight on his stomach. "I'm not Lancelot."

"No. You could never be." Merlin nodded. "Lancelot never turned his back on me, he never left me alone when I needed him."
He looked at Gwaine.
"I can't say the same about you."

Merlin finished collecting his stuff, leaving Gwaine alone, in an empty armory, with his armor in his hand and a sense of guilt that threatened to suffocate him.