Chapter Text
Merlin is exactly one second away from saving Arthur and Leon both when it happens. His hand is lifted, spelled words crawling off his tongue, eyes sparking with power and-
A blur of pink and brown shoots across his vision. No sooner does he freeze in surprise than suddenly there is a man on top of the bandit who had been threatening a downed Leon and an injured Arthur.
The man takes one punch and crumples to the ground.
“Are you okay?!” The mystery person yells, an odd lilt to his words. And just as he turns to face Arthur to check, Merlin realizes the man hadn’t noticed him. Thankfully. And that.. the pink is his hair?
But the danger isn’t over yet, their new protector surging back up and taking down three more bandits before the rest of the knights are able to rejoin them.
“That was quite a feat there! I’m not sure how to thank you!” Arthur says, already rising to approach the man with a cheerful grin despite his battered chestplate.
The man smiles brightly, “It’s no problem! I’m glad I was fast enough to help!”
Arthur clamps a hand down on his shoulder, “Nonsense! You were great! I should know the name of my savior, who are you?” The man looks distinctly uncomfortable under Arthur’s hold, eyes seeming to flick between the red capes and shining armor as if just noticing them.
“Uh… My name is.. Itadori Yuuji,” He says, stutteringly, “Sir..sama,” he clears his throat, “But you can just call me Yuuji… um, sir.”
Arthur tilts his head, looking the newly named ‘Yuuji’ up and down, “Where are you from? Your words, it is like nothing I have heard before.”
Yuuji winces, “I’m from the far east.” The grimace deepens at Arthur’s raised eyebrow, “the far, far east. Like across the ocean.”
Arthur nods, “That explains it. I wish to thank the man who saved the life of my knights and I,” he already is guiding Yuuji forward as he turns to look for Merlin. Finding him unfortunately quickly and perking up, “Merlin! If you’re done hiding in the bushes, could you get the packs together? We need to get moving back to Camelot.”
Yuuji’s eyes zero in on Merlin with wide eyes, even as the other knights move past him. They are quick to help Leon up, throwing an arm each over Elyan and Gwaine’s shoulders.
“My king, he’ll need to see Gaius when we return,” Elyan says, pausing next to them.
Leon groans, “Nonsense, I’m going to be fine. Just got a knock to the head that’s all,”
Elyan rolls his eyes, “May we ride ahead, sire?”
Arthur nods quickly, and then it’s just Merlin, Arthur, and.. Yuuji. Standing there in the trees. Merlin is hesitant to leave the man alone with him. Not with their history.
Yuuji looks between the both of them with shoulders hiked up to his ears with tension, “You… wouldn’t happen to be.. King Arthur, would you?” Yuuji asks, looking to the man beside him, “As in… I saved the king?”
Arthur laughs, “That you did, Yuuji! And in thanks, I’d like you to come back with us to Camelot.”
Yuuji waves his arms frantically in denial, “Oh! No I can’t! Really I-“
“Please, I insist. At least let us share a meal.”
Yuuji seems to pause. He sighs in resignation, “Fine. It’s not like I can actually refuse the offer of free food,” he says, looking away dismayed by his own admission.
“Great!” Arthur turns to Merlin, “You can take my servant’s horse! Since he’s obviously decided he can carry the packs we lost alone instead of picking them up like I told him to,”
Merlin scowls and turns away to where they’d initially gotten ambushed, grumbling. Fine, maybe he’ll let the newest stranger kill Arthur this time. Certainly would show him.
He glances back to see Yuuji and Arthur a distance behind, already moving towards the horses despite Yuuji’s protests.
Just who was he?