A/N: *whispers in your ear* this is my first fic please be nice
Nah I'm kidding be as harsh as you want - this was just a random idea I had...I've always liked second person for some reason, so I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin - if I did we'd still have a show to watch every Saturday *breaks down in tears*

Chapter 1

You first saw them up ahead of you on the street corner.

Not really paying attention at first, you continue walking; your eyes drifting over the bright shop windows, your fingers protesting under the strain of your heavy shopping bags. It's not until you hear raised voices up ahead that your gaze turns to the scene in front of you.

"-CAN'T JUST LAND SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON SOMEONE AND JUST EXPECT THEM TO BE OKAY WITH IT!"

"OH, SO YOU WANT ME TO KEEP STUFF FROM YOU NOW? WHAT HAPPENED TO 'YOU CAN TELL ME ANYTHING?!'"

You stop. You're aware that you're slowly approaching a fight, so you stop, just a few meters away. You feel that walking any further would be an evasion of their privacy – despite that several oblivious shoppers still streamed past the pair without a second glance. But to you, it just feels wrong.

It takes a few minutes for you to realize that standing awkwardly in the middle of a busy pavement probably isn't the best idea – already many disgruntled shoppers have pushed and shoved past or nudged your shoulder. You walk over to lean against a shop window, not taking your eyes of the argument a few meters away. They are still within earshot.

"-NOT LIKE I DIDN'T WANT TO TELL YOU, I JUST-"

"WHAT. JUST WHAT MERLIN?"

You've now got a good steady view of the scene unfolding in front of you – occasionally interrupted when a clump of people trudged past. Curiosity building, you begin to study the two men more closely.

The first man, who is screaming at the other, is a tall attractive blond, with a strong, broad chest under his white-buttoned shirt – he has probably recently come from work, what with his polished black shoes and ironed trousers. Unless he usually dresses that smart. You watch as he runs his long fingers through that perfect golden mess on top of his head, and he paces around for a second before turning to face the other man.

The second man is about the same height as the blond, but that's where the similarities end. He's skinny, lankier in frame with long angular arms that are currently gesturing wildly at the other man trying to prove a point. You notice his ridiculous ears, which stick out a little and remind you of a mouse – but accompanied with his dark brown hair that curls around those ears, the result is quite endearing. This man, with his youthful face, stunning cheekbones and raven hair, is apparently called Merlin – if the yells from the blond were anything to go by.

"YOU SHOULD HAVE TRUSTED ME MERLIN, THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE-" the blond starts, but the other man, Merlin, cuts him off.

"NO! YOU DON'T GET TO SAY THAT NOW, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, YOU.." Merlin shakes as he screams across the street. "IT'S NOT- IT'S NOT THAT EASY," His voice cracks at the end from over use. He too starts to pace up and down the pavement, shoulders hunched over and shaking a little – and…is that? Is he? Yes, he is…the poor guy is trying not to cry, looking anywhere but the man a few meters away from him.

The blond seems to soften at the image, tilting his head as he hesitantly approaches his friend. You see his lips move as he slowly reaches out to Merlin, his words swallowed up in the noises of the street bustling around you. They have stopped shouting. You watch intently as he rests a gentle hand on Merlin's shoulder, his eyes staring at the back of Merlin's neck – but whatever the man said clearly isn't good enough. Merlin flinches away at the touch and steps out of the blond's reach, glaring back intensely. You inch a couple of steps closer now that the pair had stopped yelling, keen to hear more.

"That's NOT going to work, and you should know that," Merlin announces loud and calm. The sudden change in emotion is frightening – you can almost see the walls the dark haired boy is hiding behind as he puts more space between himself and the blond. Somehow, this is more terrifying, more powerful than when the two were yelling. Merlin's eyes bore into the blond's.

"You can't POSSIBLY understand, so don't even try. I knew I couldn't trust you with this, I knew that when you found out I-"

A car rushes past on the road next to them, drowning out Merlin's words.

"And I- I can't do this Arthur, I-" His voice quivers for a second, and you catch a glimpse of the raw pain and hurt behind this calm and collected act Merlin is putting on…then he clears his throat and delivers those final words.

"I'm done."

And with that single sentence, Merlin turns and walks down the street, jumps in a nearby taxi and is whisked away without a second glance for the blond.