#touch starved arthur

[merlinemrys]

re: my last post abt touched starved arthur but merwenthur edition

merlin and gwen being the two most important people in arthur’s life and slowly getting him used to affectionate touches.

gwen has it easier. she lets her fingers graze on arthur’s palms until he shivers. she lets her hands linger in his hair when they kiss. she surprises arthur one day by finding his weak spot and delighting in the fact that he’s ticklish! she presses kisses to his cheek or jaw if they pass one another in the corridors and can’t speak for long. gwen leans her head against his shoulder, his chest whenever she feels the slightest bit tired. she devotes hours of her time tracing all of arthur’s features with the tip of her finger: his hard jawline, the straight line of his nose, the curve of his lips, the shape of his eyes and he just stares at her wide-eyed and so in love he’s sure he’s glowing with it.

and merlin—oh, he is much subtler and much more blatant than gwen could be. his hands would linger when he changes arthur out of his armour or clothes. when arthur was tired enough, merlin was gentle in combing his hair back into something manageable. he always grabs arthur when he needs to say something and he’d let his hand rest on arthur until he had to go away. maybe when arthur gets hurt and merlin’s berating him for “being so stupid, you prat” and merlin leans his forehead down to arthur’s and thumbs away the dirt on arthur’s cheek with such gentleness it makes arthur want to cry.

meanwhile arthur is just so overwhelmed and his desire to reciprocate threatens to swallow him while. but when he finally gives in, merlin and gwen are flooded with his affection. when he and merlin come back from a harrowing patrol, he runs into gwen’s arms and swings her into a hug that makes her squeal and laugh aloud. with merlin, arthur snatches him in the middle of one his his chores to snog him senseless. he wraps one arm around merlin’s shoulder and grins into his hair while his other arm snakes around gwen’s waist to pull her closer. arthur does not hesitate to kiss gwen’s hand at every hello and goodbye. he likes keeping one palm at the back of merlin’s neck because it’s the best way to angle his head into a kiss. and when they’re all entangled in bed, arthur cherishes being in the middle. he loves being by warmth and love and there is no expanse of skin where he is not being touched and loved.

#shows #bbc merlin #merwenthur #mergwenthur #arwenlin #arthur #gwen #merlin #touch starved arthur #text #tais toi lys #lys lb: merlin #arwen #merthur #merlin headcanons #*

[changeofpace]

absolutely adore your art!! and the way you draw characters, may i humbly request a merthur hug

@myoonmii thank you :) hugs for you! and a closeup under the cut.

#poor boy is touch starved please help him #merlin #bbc merlin #merlin emrys #arthur pendragon #merthur #rambles #fanart #reetarts

[whamber]

Arthur, through tears and shaking like a chihuahua: "This better not awaken anything in me"

#merlin #merlin fanart #bbc merlin #merthur #arthur pendragon #touch starved arthur can actually be so personal #my art

[nothankyoudear]

Ever since Merlin was a small child, Hunith had always bombarded him with loving touches. She carried him whenever she could, and when he grew too big to be carried, she left him with warm hugs and soft touches on his cheeks. She wiped his tears when he cried, and intertwined their fingers on cold nights as they slept.

Arthur, on the other hand, could not remember the last time he was touched by his father in any way other than a firm clasp on the shoulder. All his life, he's known nothing but side glances and firm remarks. No one was there to wipe his tears away when he cried, and certainly no one was there to hold him on cold nights as he slept.

He was the prince of Camelot, after all, and everyone knew that princes cannot be soft.

Which was why, the first time that Merlin went in for a hug, Arthur immediately flinched back.

They stood in silence for a few moments before Arthur left, unable to stand the tension in the air. Not thinking much about it, he had rendered it just another one of those awkward little moments with Merlin that would soon dissipate from his memory.

Oh, how wrong he was.

Arthur found himself unable to move on from it. He spent that night turning in his bed, wondering what it would've been like if he accepted Merlin's hug - The warmth and comfort that he had only ever seen given to others. He fell asleep wondering what it would feel like to be embraced by another.

Merlin doesn't do it again, at least not for a while. It was understandable, especially after Arthur reacted so drastically at his first attempt at closeness, but Arthur still couldn't help but spend another few sleepless nights regretting his reaction.

Because he was the prince of Camelot, and if Merlin - irresponsible, reckless, sarcastic Merlin - wasn't willing to touch him, then no one was.

So when the second time came - when Merlin, most likely without thinking ("when does he ever think?"), went in for a hug, Arthur hugged back.

He wrapped Merlin in his arms, and oh, it was bliss. The warmth and the comfort and the closeness that he had heard so much about were all real. He couldn't help but tighten his arms around the other boy's thin body and lean in, rendered helpless by a sense of aching intimacy.

Questions immediately appeared in Arthur's mind: How had he survived up until then without touches like these? If Merlin had never been assigned as his manservant, would he have gone his whole life without experiencing this? And now that he's finally experienced this, how could he go without it for the rest of his life?

The thought pained Arthur, so he squeezed even harder.

They didn't talk about it afterwards, but Arthur knew that Merlin knew. Arthur had exposed the softness underneath his hard exterior, and now Merlin knew.

And lord, was it great.

Their previously rare touches turned more and more common. Soon, putting on Armour turned into lingering touches on Arthur's body, and training sessions turned into Merlin haphazardly wiping the sweat from Arthur's forehead as he leaned into the cooling touch on his skin.

Sometimes, if Arthur was feeling brave, he’d even initiate some of these touches.

He’d hook his finger with Merlin’s as they walked to the stables, running his thumb against whatever skin he could reach. He’d warm Merlin’s seemingly forever cold hands by gently pulling them into his own bigger ones. He’d walk up silently behind Merlin as he’s softly humming a song while polishing Arthur’s armour, and wrap his arms around his waist, burying his head into the crook of Merlin’s shoulder.

It was like Arthur's mind was trying to reclaim all touches lost to the years. He craved skin - Merlin's skin - on his. He craved the way Merlin's fingers ran over his muscles. He craved these moments of intimacy where he wasn't Arthur Pendragon, the prince of Camelot, and he was just Arthur.

And somehow Merlin knew of this insatiable craving of his, because he was always giving and giving and giving. Arthur never openly asked for the tender touches and the soft trails of fingertips against his stomach, but Merlin - lovely, gorgeous, beautiful Merlin - was always there to give.

The love in Merlin was overflowing, and Arthur was there to catch every last drop of it.

And as Arthur was still human (despite how hard he tried), there were times when he wept.

Arthur cried the same way he cried when he was a child - with his shoulder shaking, his eyes shut, and his hands trembling. He also used to sob with his mouth open and with his grief audible like any other child, but that had long been scolded and beaten out of him.

However, despite the habits that he brought into adulthood, the nights when he cried were no longer like the lonely nights that he suffered through as a child - There was no ache in his chest as tears ran down his cheeks. No biting the collar of his shirt as he attempted to stay quiet. No harsh words to keep him silent.

There were, in their place, gentle caresses to his forehead as Merlin smoothed back his hair, murmuring words of comfort under his breath. A warm shoulder to lean on as he cried quietly. Thumbs that wiped under his lashes and nimble fingers that caressed his cheeks.

A voice that cooed and replied, “I'm here, darling” when Arthur whispered, “Merlin, Merlin, Merlin” through his tears. Lips that pressed against his as another sob seeped out. Arms that wrapped around Arthur, and gentle hands that ran themselves comfortingly over the expanse of his back until they both fell asleep.

And what a joy it was, to have someone who wiped his tears away when he cried, and someone to hold him on cold nights as he slept. To be touched and held and loved.

What a joy Merlin was.

#arthur is sad lol #arthur is also touch starved #merlin #merlin bbc #merlin emrys #merlin x arthur #arthur x merlin #arthur pendragon #merthurweek2022 #merthur #bbc merlin #merlin/arthur #arthur #uther pendragon's a+ parenting #oneshot #??? #is this long enough to be considered a oneshot #idk how tumblr works #ficlet #my writing #my posts

[robinfollies]

me when i experience a loving embrace 💖

#touch starved but doesnt know it x cuddlies person ever. does something to my brain chemistry #so anyways personally i think that the arthurstotle dynami*GNOME RUNS PAST* DID ANYONE ELSE SEE RHAT #they makw me SICK THEY MAKE ME ILL #robin’s art #billie bust up #arthurstotle #bbu arthur #bbu aristotle #comicfollies #? i guess it counts. it can go in my comic tag

[emmcfrxst]

unintentionally made arthur sensitive and a little subby in my upcoming smut drabble 🫡

#listen. he’s just very attracted to you and it makes him a little eager and excited. he can’t control it #he’s also incredibly touch starved so he’s extra sensitive to touches <3 #arthur morgan x reader #big strong men who are extremely needy and subby in bed >>>>>>>>>

[camelots-daffodil]

#one of these 2 options has lived touch starved his whole life #and the other lives the most tragic life ever #so #take your pick #bbc merlin #arthur pendragon #merlin x arthur #morgana pendragon #knights of the round table #gwaine #merlin emrys #merthur

[deathdefyinggarlic]

not be a slut on main, but do you ever thing about how so uncommon it is for merlin and arthur to have their skin actually touch? theres always gloves or armor or smth in the way.

arthurs so covered up and merlin wears such loose clothing, arthurs scared of affection and merlin revels in it

#theyre so touch starved #someone hug arthur #bbc merlin #merlin emrys #arthur pendragon #merthur

[junemo10]

Hiii! How about merthur and 13 for the ask game??

Hi!! Thank you so much for the Ask, I hope you are well! This got a little long, but the thoughts kept flowing and I got too excited about it, so I hope you enjoy my spin on the prompt! 💖

Sending you love ❤️💕❤️💕❤️

Ask Game: Write a Kiss…

13. discreetly

Arthur was never raised with the utmost affection. Anyone who had ever met his father could probably guess this. He grew up without affectionate touch, just the strong grip of his father forcing his every thought in the path of his future kingdom and the duties he would fulfill.

Arthur never really thought about it, how much affection a simple touch could hold, how much he desired to know what it felt like to have what most considered a natural way to communicate. Not to be earned through merit and trials, but to be gifted through trust and love.

It truly wasn’t until the worlds most unprofessional manservant was assigned to him that he even began to wonder. From the moment they met, they shared a touch that sent a tingle up Arthur’s arm. Albeit, brief and confrontational, Arthur couldn’t stop thinking about the feeling he had, thinking of the pretty looking man with funny looking ears sticking out the sides of his head.

Once Arthur happened to find himself unwillingly adopting the man into his service, the feeling only increased further. It was clear the man had never been a manservant before. Merlin’s hands were unpracticed and clumsy as he would help the prince into his armor, or tie his tunic, or brush his hair into place. Every slight touch that Merlin’s hands touched Arthur’s skin was a jolt, a shock and a strange curiosity. It wasn’t the practiced precision of the maids Arthur was used to, the slow distanced adjustments and objective necessity. Merlin’s way was always, different.

Though Arthur would never admit it, he didn’t dislike the way Merlin preferred to do things. Merlin’s touch was gentle, it was kind, it was caring- in a way that didn’t say “I’m helping the king-to-be” but almost saying “you are cared for”. Merlin always made him feel cared for, even when he could be the grumpiest, most annoying, Prince in all the lands. Merlin would take a gentle hand, smooth out the wrinkles in Arthur’s shirt, brush a few hairs out of place and put Arthur in place with his words about what a “right prat” he was being. But his comforting touch, never changed. As if Arthur was always worthy of it, no matter what.

As time changed, Merlin got better at his duties. No more was the clumsy grasping hands, or the crash of armor against the ground. Merlin’s hands had become decisive, practiced, and, dare Arthur say it, professional. It was like Arthur was a puzzle that Merlin had mastered again and again, until it was something he could do in his sleep.

Yet, even in the monotony of the task, Merlin found ways to ingrain those caring touches into the work. A swipe of the thumb along his wrist, a brush of his knuckle against his neck, a steadying hand on his back, fingers grazing his forehead as he pushed his hair into place.

Arthur watched Merlin closely with a curious eye, and tried to discern whether he was doing it on purpose. A few times, he would catch Merlin’s eyes, like when he was standing in front of him or when their eyes met in the mirror, and Merlin would blush and look away as if caught in the act. The act in question, Arthur wasn’t quite sure.

That is until all was revealed in an explosive fashion, which happened to be Merlin’s style. The magic reveal, the love confessions, the fear, the shame, the love. Then everything clicked into place and made sense. All the slight touches, they were affection. They were Merlin’s way of showing affection.

Merlin taught Arthur about affection, about how he deserved to be loved, about how a simple unknowing touch could say “I’m worried about you” or “I’m here for you” or “I love you”. Because while in the privacy of Arthur’s chambers they could say and do as they pleased, it was like they were in their own little world.

The world beyond, however, they couldn’t risk it. At least not until Arthur was king. For the sake of keeping Merlin safe, even though to Merlin it was to keep Arthur safe. No one could know that Merlin had magic, or that he had Arthur’s heart.

At first Arthur was anxious, worried if it showed on his face, or in the interactions he and Merlin had. It became clear, though, that they were able to continue their normal habits without anyone being the wiser, as they had always been a peculiarly close pair. A shove to the shoulder, a nudge of a leg, a tap on an arm, a ruffling of hair.

Arthur became more aware of how much more it represented now. Slowly, as they got more comfortable, they got bolder with it too, sneakier. Almost like a game with how affectionate they could be.

This sudden change, also included something they had never done before: kissing.

In the privacy of Arthur’s -their- chambers, they could explore each other with a freeing lack of worry. But outside of the chambers, they had to be more cautious. Arthur never wanted to risk it, for merely attempting to sneak a kiss was too much for Arthur. However, Merlin felt more daring at times, no matter how much Arthur scolded him for it.

It started when Arthur had a bad hunt, out with the knights in the woods. There was no sense of privacy amongst their bedrolls, or sitting near the fire. But when Merlin bent down to hand Arthur his stew, Arthur felt the familiar weight of a kiss pressed to his hair. Fleeting, gone quickly, but comforting nonetheless. Arthur froze, glancing around at the knights, but if anyone had seen it, they made no indication. Arthur raised his eyebrows at Merlin, trying to look stern but he was sure the grateful look in his eyes gave him away by the grin Merlin sported.

From then on it only increased. A kiss to the wrist as Merlin worked Arthur’s glove onto his hand, a peck to the neck as he adjusted Arthur’s armor, lips brushing his hair as he refilled his cup, a quick smooch to a bruise as Merlin tends to an injury on the training field, a touch of lips to his finger when Arthur scolded Merlin in front of the knights and stick it out in front of his face.

Arthur would never get enough of his idiotic warlock, no matter how many heart attacks Merlin would give him.

“One day, I promise you, we won’t have to hide or worry about how much affection we show each other,” Arthur vowed as he laid into their bed and pulled Merlin into his arms. Merlin yawning as he was gently guided, pliant in his tiredness from the day, melted into Arthur’s touch and molded into his side.

“I know, Arthur. I can’t wait for that day,” Merlin smiled brightly, cupping Arthur’s face in his hand. He raised his eyebrow comically, a teasing smirk on his face. “And until then, discreet is my middle name,” finishing off with a wink.

Arthur couldn’t help the cackle that escaped his chest, pulling Merlin’s arm until he was practically laying on top of Arthur.

“My sneaky little warlock, I love you so.” And without any further thought, he pressed his lips to his lover’s, feeling all the love in affection he could ever ask for.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

💖 thank you for reading! Please send me an ask for the ask game: Write a Kiss

#THIS WAS SO FUN #PLEASE SEND ME AN ASK #thank you so much for sending me an ask! #it’s definitely a little silly but I had fun writing #I Hope you enjoy it #June writes #ask game #writing #Merthur fanfic #fanfic #ao3 #one shot #kissing #affection #affectionate touch #touch starved #slow burn #merthur #merlin #arthur pendragon #bbc merlin

[merlinemrys]

touch starved arthur is so so so sooooo important to me considering that his love language is physical touch

#somebody hug that man STAT #shows #bbc merlin #arthur #touch starved arthur #text #tais toi lys #lys lb: merlin #it’s about your body not being your own! it’s about growing up with a distant sort of love! it’s abt desiring so much it becomes unbearable! #it’s about never letting yourself be loved because you never received it!

[jananabananawithnopeel]

Touch starved Arthur qui voudrait prendre Guenièvre dans ses bras.

Touch starved Guenièvre qui voudrait embrasser Arthur sur la joue pour lui souhaiter bonne nuit.

Touch starved idiots qui se promenent ensemble avec la main qui démange de prendre celle de l'autre.

Touch starved idiots qui ont trop peur pour le faire et qui ne font que l'imaginer en soupirant.

#kaamelott #touch starved idiots #arthur x guenièvre #*long sigh* yearning

[hella1975]

i think taob zuko deserves to just be insufferably clingy. like the moment he gets over his issues with touch and gets confident in his place in the group i think he should become the clingiest bitch ever. sokka is not the needy member of zukka. i do think one day zuko is going to try and hug kanut

#like the swt's tactile nature lends itself so well to this and zuko is a touch starved little idiot #who also now has codependent/protective tendencies and struggles to verbalise stuff like he WILL hover the moment he realises it's okay #and the swt are gonna be thrilled bc even with all the hair ruffling and shoulder patting they do anyway #that's them HOLDING BACK bc they know zuko is jumpy. tom nook are going to abuse this new power #and that scene in merlin when arthur goes to pat merlin and merlin thinks he's going in for a hug so he reciprocates #and arthur backs off like 'WOAH ✋' #that's the kanut and zuko hug #taob

[nothankyoudear]

headcanon that arthur LOVES his hair being played with but since he's a prince nobody ever does it

like the last time he's had his hair touched was probably by some maid when he was a toddler

so the first time merlin puts his fingers in arthur's hair while they kiss arthur EXPLODES into flames

merlin's hand would be just pulling on the hair on the back of arthur's neck or something and arthur's knees would legit go weak

merlin realizes and starts playing with arthur's hair every night until he falls asleep and everytime arthur looks at merlin like he hung the stars

#lol what a loser #but its ok hes cute #2am headcanon #my boy is touch starved as hell #merlin #merlin bbc #merlin emrys #merlin x arthur #arthur x merlin #arthur pendragon #merthurweek2022 #merthur #bbc merlin #merlin/arthur #arthur #uther pendragon's a+ parenting #merthur headcanon #headcanon #my posts

[sauraunderscore]

I think that Merlin was aware from the beginning of how Arthur was an abandoned child. That Arthur's egocentric persona was mostly a facade made of hurt and rejected feelings. That's why he stayed.

Merlin is the kind of friend we (abandon children) need to have in our lives, because they're the kind of non imposing person that still sends magic loving vibrations that feel like touch, that are like those feelings we longed to feel. We need them around so badly, but we still reject them because that's how we've been taught to love. 

And that's exactly what Arthur does to Merlin, and only because Merlin loves him and understands him, Merlin never leaves.

#merthur #merlin #merlin bbc #idiots in love #touch starved #Best friends #friends to lovers #arthur pendragon #theory

[bisaster-energy]

Arthur dying "just hold me" when's the last time he was held. as a baby he must've been held but did his father ever hold him. Did his mother get to hold him before she died. Did he let any bed partners hold him from behind. He's dying and it's just him the woods and Merlin. No one else to witness. He's dying and all he asks for is to be held by the man he trusts most despite all the lies. He wants to feel that before he goes

#arthur is the type to be so starving for touch he avoids it when it's offered #but on his death bed he lets himself want that comfort #this dude is so weird about hugging #meanwhile Merlin is so touchy he's tactile he's been waiting so long for Arthur to just ASK #and now he has but it's all over it's the first and last time Arthur will let him do this #bbc merlin #arthur pendragon

[i-swear-to-merlin]

#Touch starved arthur is my jam #I eat it on my toasts everyday #bbc merlin #merthur #arthur pendragon #bbc merthur #merlin #king arthur #art #artists on tumblr #merlin fanart #fanart #BIC only #Once and future touch starved prat