Summary:
As the precocious heir of a diamond magnate and a famous designer, Arthur lived his entire life sheltered, protected, nurtured and spoiled. He always knew that he would have to step out from behind the scenes and into the limelight to run the family business some day, but he never expected that it would happen so soon or that he would encounter resistance from a board of directors who believe that his disability makes him unfit to lead.
Merlin has stood on every stage in every city in the world, performing to critical acclaim, but after years of globetrotting, he’s well and truly burnt out. He didn’t quit — he ran away from stardom, dropping to obscurity in the blink of an eye, forgotten, just another face in the crowd. He’s aimless and without purpose until a friend asks him to fill in on a job.
Neither Arthur nor Merlin are looking for salvation. They don’t think there’s any for them, that things are just too rotten, too far gone. But in the end, Arthur’s quiet strength will be a balm to Merlin’s broken soul, and it will be in Merlin’s steadfast faith that Arthur finds courage.
Author: Footloose
Found in: AO3