Fic: Cover Up The Damage
Title: Cover Up The Damage
Author: elphie_uk
Fandom: Merlin
Rating: M
Characters/Pairings: Morgana/Arthur, Merlin (More in later chapters)
Disclaimer: Not mine!
Summary: The public believe that Morgana le Fay has it all; she’s stunningly beautiful, envied by most women and fancied by most men, she’s going out with ‘Britain’s sexiest man’ and she’s a world-renowned classical pianist. But something has just blown her world apart.
Warnings: Pre-fic Incest (nothing graphic). Expletives. Modern AU.
A/N: Beta'd by thelovelylaura
1. Prologue
Merlin lay in bed, staring up at the murky ceiling. He started to notice random patches of… something forming that he hadn't noticed before. Great.
He sighed as the eleven o'clock Paddington to Plymouth ran past his window, making his entire bedroom shake. The joys of being a student! Still, at least maybe now he could get some sleep.
"Or maybe not." He said aloud as he heard a knock at the door, "Who is it?"
"Merlin?" A familiar Irish lilt came from outside the door, "Merlin it's me. Can I come in?"
He sat up sharply and started to fumble around for the light switch and a pair of pants.
"Sure, yes, Morgana, come in!"
The door opened to reveal the raven-haired beauty. Her hair was a mess, her eyes were bright red and she seemed as miserable as hell. And yet somehow, she seemed even more beautiful than ever.
"Do you mind… do you mind if I stay here for the night?"
"Sure, yes. Are you alright?" He stood up and went over to her.
She nodded, closing the door. "I'm fine… I don't want to talk about it."
He went over to the kettle and filled it with water. His mum had always told him that a good cup of tea could brighten up anyone's day. Morgana had been entertained by near royalty, but he knew that whilst she was sat there sipping champagne with some of the biggest names in the world of classical music, a part of her would rather be at home with a cup of tea. Not that she didn't love all of the attention and the grandeur in her life. Merlin brought his attention back to the version of Morgana who was stood here in front of him now, "Is it Arthur?" It was always Arthur with Morgana, "Have you… have you and Arthur broken up or something?"
She suddenly burst into tears.
"I'll take that as a yes." He went over to Morgana and took her to his bed. His nose wrinkled, "Have you been sick?"
"Yes," she murmured.
"Have you been drinking?" he asked. Morgana shook her head, "Are you pregnant?" he asked.
Her eyes widened, "Oh God… I think I'm going to be sick again!"
He ran and got her a bucket, placing it at the side of the bed, "Are you going to be okay?"
"I'll take the sofa Merlin; I can't boot you out of your own bed." She started to stand up but Merlin pushed her back down.
"Don't worry about it. I mean, I know that this doesn't quite compare to what you're used to; the posh hotels or your mansion up the road, but-"
"It's not that bad Merlin." She tried to smile.
"Your twelve bedroom mansion compared to my scuzzy little bed sit?"
"It's not a mansion!" she said defensively.
"It's got twelve bedrooms!" he argued while getting out two mismatched, chipped mugs.
She sighed, lying down, "Why is everything so shit Merlin?"
"That's just the way it is I'm afraid." He stirred the one and a half sugars into the milky cup of tea, just the way she liked it. "If you need to talk Morgana, I'm here for you."
"I'm fine." She replied, her voice cracking. She thanked Merlin as he handed her the cup of tea. She took a sip but found that it made her want to throw up again.
"Okay." Merlin took the mug back from her and poured it back down the sink. "Do you want anything to eat? It might make you feel better."
She shook her head, pulling the blanket up to her chin, "No thank you, I'd really just rather get to sleep."
"Sure." Merlin pulled his damp, old sleeping bag out of the cupboard and dragged it over to the sagging sofa.
"Thank you so much for this Merlin." She laid back, took a deep breath, and tried not to cry.
He smiled sympathetically before he switched out the light, "Goodnight Morgana."
*****
Hours passed. Morgana and Merlin lay wide awake, staring at the dark ceiling. Merlin heard the occasional sniffle coming from the bed. He was desperate to know what was wrong; Morgana le Fay didn't get upset like that, not even over Arthur Pendragon. In fact, he couldn't remember ever seeing her like that before.
The mutual silence went on. Merlin wondered if it was something to do with Uther; he hadn't exactly been comfortable with the idea of Morgana and Arthur dating, but it had been over a year now. Surely he'd come to terms with the relationship by now?
"Arthur's my brother," came a quiet voice from the other side of the room.
Merlin wondered if he was fully awake. "Sorry?"
"My mother had an affair, Gorlois wasn't my dad, Uther is." Her voice had a calm tone to it.
Merlin was more or less speechless; "Oh shit" was his response.
"Yeah." Morgana agreed.
"Shit." He couldn't think of anything else to say.
Morgana turned over, "I can't say that that was my reaction exactly, but I definitely see where you're coming from. This is so fucked up." Her throat filled with sobs.
It was now Merlin's turn to reply, "Yeah."