TRIGGER WARNINGS: Pedophilia (non-graphic, mild)

Yes, this is dark, but it's part of my vaguely existent plot! Also, I'm not sure what you (the reader) consider graphic in this case. What I essentially mean is that it is a small scene and nothing extremely harmful happens. If this bothers you, please refrain from reading. I'll be posting the next chappy soon, which is not dark, just angsty bromance. I guess. Anyways, here's our boys at seven years old.

Also, Happy Fall Ya'll! (yes I'm southern, I can say this) Aaand sorry for the long wait. :/

Wind battered Arthur's already red face as he and Merlin trudged up the hill to their school. Autumn school days mixed with an excited Arthur made for a happy Merlin, so the two were very prepared to have a nice morning.

"Merlin, come on!" Arthur whined through his smile. Merlin huffed, trying to catch up to his athletic friend. "Guess what? We have a new teacher!"

Merlin frowned with confusion. "How do you know? And why do we have a new-"

"Because Morgana's friend Morgause is the niece of the man who fixes Mrs. Fieldman's car and when he fixed her car she said she was pregnant."

"So? Arthur, please just-"

"So that means Mrs. Fieldman wants to stop working so she can have a baby."

"That's so nice. I wonder if it's a girl or a boy." Merlin sniffed his runny nose as he said this. Autumn had a tendency to give him allergies and red ears. Arthur groaned.

"Don't be such a girl, Merlin." A school bell rang close by, causing Arthur to speed up. "Come on!"

The new teacher introduced herself as Miss Sofia. She was a slender, pale young woman with golden hair she allowed to cascade down her back. She reminded Arthur very much of a fairy from Morgana's story books. Not that he read them, mind you. He wanted all her attention to be on him so, naturally, he did as many things as possible to impress her. His antics were all in vain, it seemed, because she chose to devote her affections to solely Merlin.

"Good job, Merly. That's going to look really nice on our art wall. If you're good I'll even show it to all the parents on parent teacher night!" Miss Sofia cooed over Merlin's drawing of Autumn trees, her hand on the small of his back. Arthur shoved his equally beautiful drawing under her nose, blabbering about its supposed majesty.

"Yes Arthur that's lovely, it will go right next to the others on the art wall, I promise." Miss Sofia rubbed absent-mindedly on Merlin's back as she quelled Arthur.

Later that day, during free time, Arthur voiced his complaints to Merlin.

"Miss Sofia is just horrible. She doesn't even care about us." Merlin heartily agreed.

"I don't like her either. She's too touchy. I keep moving away but she always gets in my personal space. That's what Mummy calls it; she said that if adults get in my personal space, I shouldn't let them and if they won't stop I should tell someone."

"That's stupid."

"Shut up, Arthur!" Merlin fumed at the insult to his mother's wisdom.

"That's too much trouble. Cause every time I tell Father about someone bothering me, he gets mad and makes a big deal."

"You do that too, though."

"You're different. You don't count."

Merlin sighed, and tried to ignore Miss Sofia watching him from across the room. The blonde teacher simply smiled before looking back down at her book.

Toward the end of the day, Arthur finally got the attention he had been searching for. As most of the children filed out of the classroom, Miss Sofia asked Merlin to stay for a while after class. Arthur, finding this the perfect opportunity to impress the object of his affection, (and also be a good friend) , volunteered to stay until Merlin could go home. Miss Sofia didn't seem very keen on that idea.

"Arthur, really dear, your parents are probably waiting for you. You should go home." She had a firm grip on Merlin's shoulder, her expression suddenly stern.

The brief thought of mymothersdeadonlyhaveafather ran through his head, but barely registered as he began to explain.

"No, it's my job to get Merlin safely to his Mum after school. I have to stay with him." Merlin opened his mouth, probably to say that wasn't true, but Miss Sofia interrupted.

"Okay Arthur. I guess you'll have to wait here then. Here, Merlin, help me with this paint." The teacher grabbed two small cans of red paint to hand to her favorite pupil, but Arthur shoved his way in front of Merlin in order to help her. " Arthur-"

Miss Sofia didn't finish her sentence, pausing to give the pushy blonde a once over. Still holding the paint cans, she smiled and started to give them to Arthur, before fumbling and spilling paint all over Arthur's favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shirt.

Merlin exclaimed with an "Oh!" and began rushing to find something to clean his poor friend with. Arthur simply blinked down at himself, not exactly sure how he wanted to react. After all, he was at the awkward age of seven; too old to cry over silly things but young enough to very much want to. Miss Sofia crouched down to a squat, one hand perched daintily over her lips (concealing a smile) and gazed at her student's current state.

"Alright, dear, let's wash up. Come along, now." She swept Arthur's hand into hers and began leading him out of the classroom. Merlin followed, paper towels fluttering within his grasp. "No, Merly! You must stay here! I need you to clean the paint off the floor."

Merlin made a face clearly showing his dislike of that idea (after all, his friend was in need) , but turned to do as he was told. Arthur was led down the hallway by his beautiful teacher, and almost forgot his ruined shirt by the time they reached the boy's bathroom. When they arrived at the door leading in, he pulled his small hand from her grasp and started to go in, only to be startled by her following him.

"Miss Sofia, girls aren't allowed in this bathroom." Arthur stated tentatively. Miss Sofia chuckled.

"Yes, that's right, but I'm a teacher, silly goose! Teachers are allowed anywhere in the school." The sweet smile returned to the woman's face, and she herded him into the bathroom. "Alright, off with your shirt."

She began tugging at Arthur's shirt, and managed to take it off before he could protest. The boy shivered in the suddenly cold room, wrapping an arm around himself. Miss Sofia dropped the shirt in the nearest sink, then reached in her back pocket, producing a chunky, digital camera. Arthur frowned at this, looking at her distrustfully.

"This is my teacher's camera, Arty. I use it to take pictures for the school records. Now, you made a little mess so I have to take a picture that proves it happened. Do you understand?"

Arthur nodded slowly, his brows still furrowed.

"I know it's a little confusing, but it has to do with grown up things. Just trust me, okay? Alright, here, we'll take a picture for the records...juuust a moment," She squinted into the camera, and the flash went off. "There! That should take care of- oh wait. Oh Arthur, you got paint on those pants of yours. Take those off, too."

Arthur immediately shook his head. He already felt incredibly shy, and had another feeling coursing through him; one he couldn't quite decipher.

"Don't be shy, dear. If it'll help, I won't look." Miss Sofia rose from her squatting position, and turned toward the door. Arthur hesitantly took off his pants, looking at his teacher carefully to make sure she didn't turn suddenly.

"Okay." He whispered. The woman wheeled around, crouching again to take a picture. She lowered the camera when she was done, and smiled.

"That will do. Clothes back on, darling. It's time you went home. I won't tell your parents about this, because I don't want you to get in trouble. You and I are friends, aren't we? So that means this is our little secret. Just tell your Mum you had a little accident, I don't mind." All this was said as she helped Arthur back into his clothing, and hustled him out the door. Arthur nodded vehemently, not wanting his father to know he ended up in the school records.

Once back in the classroom, teacher and pupil found Merlin holding all of his and Arthur's things, making his way out the door.

"Merlin! Leaving so soon? Did you clean the floor?" Miss Sofia looked down at the raven head, stroking his hair.

"Yes, Miss Sofia. Me and Arthur haveta go, our parents are waiting."

"They're here?" The teacher's eyes grew wide, her caressing hand stopping abruptly.

"No, they wait at the bottom of the hill."

"Oh! Well then you must go! Have a nice day boys, and Arthur! Remember our deal?" She smiled sweetly, and kissed the top of his head. Arthur nodded as he pulled away, both boys rushing out the door.

Once outside in the crisp Autumn air, Merlin asked what the teacher had meant about their deal. Arthur shook his head in return, avoiding the question.

"Tell me!" Merlin whined. "I told you about the time Gwaine tried to kiss me!"

"This is different, Merlin. I got in trouble."

"What?!"

"I don't want Father to be angry with me. I'll tell you if you just don't tell my-"

"Of course I won't, now tell me!"

Arthur quickly divulged what had happened, speaking quietly so a passerby wouldn't hear.

"What do you mean, school records? I've never heard of that!"

"Yes you have, you just never get in trouble."

"You should tell your dad, I don't think that's a real rule, and I think Miss Sofia's crazy. She cuddles me up all the time like I'm a baby and she goes in boys bathrooms and..." Merlin trailed off when the pair came within hearing distance of their parent's cars.

"I'm calling the police." The rumbling voice of Arthur's father was heard.

"Uther, they're boys! They probably got sidetracked, honestly you- oh there they are!" Hunith waved excitedly to her son.

"Arthur! Where have you been?" Uther's voice boomed at his son. Arthur was about to answer when his father noticed the paint adorning his shirt. "What on earth did you do, child?" Now his tone had softened into a tired mumble. Hunith laughed softly and patted the blonde's shoulder.

"Looks like you've had a full day! We're glad you're okay, boys, but no more lagging behind from now on okay? You had us worried." Uther heartily agreed, mumbling all sorts of threats to the school, police force, all children in general, and his car to boot. Merlin looked up at his mother, his eyes speaking of his tiredness. "Well then, looks like we ought to go home! Have a nice evening, Pendragons!"

Merlin called his goodbye to a silent Arthur, only receiving a farewell from Uther and even Morgana, who was already sitting in the car.

The ride home was a little silent, and Hunith took note of this. "Anything on your mind, Merlin?" Her son looked to be debating something for a moment and, from the way he gently tugged at his ear, she could tell it was a decision between right and wrong. Finally, he spoke.

"Mummy, my new teacher is mean."

"Oh? How so?"

"She put Arthur in the school record, just for spilling some paint."

"Whatever do you mean?" Hunith was honestly perplexed.

"Well, Arthur spilled paint on his shirt. Actually, it was more Miss Sofia's fault but I guess she didn't notice. She took Arthur to the bathroom and she went in with him and he had to take his clothes off so she could take pictures for the school records-"

Hunith practically shrieked "What?!"

Merlin was stunned for a moment, not used to his mother yelling at him. Hunith pulled over and twisted around in her seat to look at him. "Merlin. Dear. Tell me exactly what happened."

"Mummy, Arthur told me not to tell anyone because he doesn't want his father to know. Please don't-"

"No Merlin, this is very, very important. Do you remember our rule about personal space? Well, this has to do with that. You must tell me everything."

So Merlin did, to the best of his abilities. Hunith was a dark shade of red by the time the story was told. The wrathful mother turned her car around and sped to the Pendragon household.

The adults were in Uther's study for barely a few tense minutes before the rage began. As they waited, Merlin tried to apologize to Arthur, who was resolutely not speaking to his best friend. Morgana held tightly to both boy's hands, anticipating the excitement. Suddenly, a muffled shout was heard from within the office, which was followed by a softer pitch, evidently trying to calm. Seconds later, the mahogany doors burst open and a father marched out that radiated righteous fury.

"Arthur! Answer me truthfully. Did your teacher take pictures of you without clothing on?"

Normally Arthur would have made answering a question as difficult as possible, but his father's very being forced out a reply.

"Yes." He answered softly.

"Did she touch you?" The question was ground out through clenched teeth. The innocent boy was silent, not knowing how to answer. "Arthur...what I mean is did she touch your private areas?"

"No, sir." Morgana looked at her brother in shock; he never addressed their father as sir. Uther let out a shaky breath, his eyes focusing on his boy with a loving relief. He promptly stalked back into his study, without another word. Morgana scurried over to Hunith, wanting to know what happened.

Arthur turned to Merlin, his eyes wide. "Do you think I'm in trouble?" He seemed to have forgotten about his resolve to not speak to the other.

"No, you aren't, Miss Sofia is. Mummy says she's a bad lady. Teachers aren't supposed to do that."

"Oh" was all Arthur could say.

After Arthur, Morgana, and Merlin had taken a week off from school, much had happened. Hell rained down on "Miss" Sofia, the school's attendance dropped by half, the aforementioned children were moved to another academy, several seminars were held and attended, and Arthur had returned to himself.

Throughout their lives, Merlin never brought up the incident unless Arthur did. In the event someone used it as ammunition against the golden Pendragon, Merlin never failed to come to a flaming defense. Overall, the very boy who told the secret was the very one who kept it, and never were there better friends.