Merlin whinced in pain, gently touching his right cheekbone. This really was a serious problem he and Cenred were in. Arthur never, in the few years they knew each other lay a finger on Merlin. Now, as Merlin wiped at the bottom of his mouth with a trembling hand, he suddenly felt fear he's never felt before. The fear for his own, and Cenred's life.
He looked around the room he'd just realized he was in. Merlin exhaled in exsaparation, shaking his head. He pulled off the way-too-expensive looking blanket off of him. That was when he saw it.
"Really, Arthur?" He breathed as he pulled at the long chain leading to the end bed post. "What the hell is wrong with you?" He whispered.
As if to answer his question, the bedroom door opened revealing a straight faced-looking Arthur, that was until he saw Merlin sitting up and staring back, then he smiled way too big for his medium face. He walked over to the bed, a black tray in hand.
"Have a nice nap?"
Merlin never took his eyes off the blond as he spoke low. "Considering how it happened . . .?"
Arthur gave a small chuckle, and lay the tray on the small lamp table next to the bed. Then he reached and rubbed a thumb across Merlin's right cheekbone, trying to do it gently but failing miserably. Merlin gasped and pulled away.
"It's just a bruise, no broken bones. You'll live." Arthur reached to his left and grabbed a small mug, then he handed to Merlin, who for a moment only stared at the cup warily, before he shook his head.
"I'm not thirsty."
Arthur sighed tiredly. "What, you don't trust me?" Merlin's silence was answer enough. "Look." Arthur brought the cup to his mouth and gulp down whatever the drink was, then smacked his lips in satisfaction. "See?"
Merlin shook his head. "What the hell are you doing?"
Arthur stared confused.
"I'm not here to share a cup of tea, Arthur!" Merlin stated angrily. "Fact is, I'm here against my will, so either tell me what the hell it is you want, or you let us go!" He could see Arthur bite the inside of his bottom lip, and he could see the sudden seriousness on his face.
"Very well." Arthur's seriousness cut in suddenly. "Where is it?"
Merlin stared, squinting. "You have to give me more than that. What is it you think I have."
Arthur snarled annoyed. "My company."
Merlin stared for a short second before he chuckled low. "That's what this is about? And FYI, it's my company. You, Arthur Pendragon, have nothing. I wonder when that started. Let me see . . ." Merlin stated pointingly.
Arthur growled in his throat and brought a his hand to his waist pulling out a walkie-talkie that was hidden under his leather jacket. He brought the device to his mouth. "I need a little persuation here. Bring him in." He order.
Merlin's eyes narrowed at the blond.
"Are you going to tell me or am I going to have to start cutting off his fingers?"
Merlin exchaled in defeat. He shook his head. "I don't know where the papers are."
Arthur crossed his arms at his chest.
"I was robbed, at knife point. I had the papers in my safe at work. . . " Merlin sighed. "I don't know how they knew I had the safe, they just did."
"You expect me to believe that? That, you had my company in a piece of shit safe, in that piece of crap building you call a library?"
"It's a book store!" Merlin corrected forcibly. "And it's the truth!"
Just then, the bedroom door was kicked open, two men held a slightly limp Cenred, whose hands were tied at the wrists in front of him. One of the men who had a grip around his throat with his arm, roughly dropped the limp man to the carpeted floor.
"I'm telling the truth!" Merlin screamed and crawled onto his knees on the bed. He leaned forward, trying to grab Arthur's arm when the blond turned and walked towards the man on the floor.
Merlin could see Cenred look up at Arthur, and the man only chuckled at the blond. "You keep me this way. . . . because . . . you know I will kick your ass, boy." Cenred spat.
"Arthur?" Merlin called worriedly. He was now off the bed, pulling at the chain holding him to the bedpost.
Cenred groaned in pain as he tried to get up on his hands and knees. "Don't worry Merlin, we'll be ok." With that, now on all fours, Cenred rushed towards Arthur. The blond saw the attack coming though, from the slow-moving man. And he was able to see the small knife in Cenred's hand. Arthur grabbed the man's wrist.
Merlin flinched at the sound of the scream coming from Cenred's mouth when he wrist snapped.
Arthur now had the small knife in his hand, eyeing it for a moment before looking to the man man he knew carried the small knife. The man looked down at his belt frightened.
"I don't know how he got th-" He jumped in surprise when the knife came flying at him, he ducked out of the way. He looked at the knife stuck in the wall, then looked at his boss.
"Next time, I won't miss." Arthur threatened. He wiped at his mouth, then turned back to Merlin, who was staring at Cenred moaning in pain, holding his wrist.
"Now, Merlin. What are we going to do about my company?"
Review Please :)