Carter blushed a little, but said softly anyways, “Morning love…” He glanced at his pack of shorts again, but Arria was just so snuggly right then, he couldn’t make himself move away just yet no matter how embarrassed he was like that.
Arria moved slightly and it was then that the realisation of Carter’s situation dawned on him, causing him to giggle, “Do you need me to get you your shorts?”
“Well, I didn’t want to wake you up…” Carter explained shyly, laughing a little, “And my bag is all the way over there…” He whined playfully, trying to ignore the heat in his face. He supposed it shouldn’t matter, considering how much they snuggled, but he could stop the blushes anyways.
“Would you rather I stay here then?” Arria teased, a playful grin forming on his face. He didn’t mind Carter’s situation one bit.
Carter buried his reddening face in Arria’s shoulder, whining something inaudible. He continued his whining onto Arria’s skin, “I’m cold. And very naked.” Carter tried to turn a little bit onto his side and cover himself up from the world, turning a shade redder if that was even possible at this point.
Arria giggled, “I don’t mind your nakedness…” He grinned down at Carter, “But if you really want your shorts I’ll get them…”
“Arria!” He squeeked, turning even more red, “This is embarrassing, what would you do if one of your friends came in here?” Carter exclaimed, then muttered somewhat pointedly but somewhat playfully, “Besides, you are the one who gets to wear a tail.”
Arria giggled and rolled his eyes, “Oi, get used to it.” He teased, rolling off of Carter and towards his bag, “This what you want?” He held up with bag with a grin.
“Yes, give it here,” Carter demanded, giving him a look as he rolled so his stomach was against the sand. He hoped the heat would fade from his face soon, but he doubted he looked anything less than a tomato.
“Come and get it.” Arria said, shuffling further away from Carter and leaning against the rock wall behind him, a mischievous grin on his face.
Carter gave him and exasperated look, “Traitor,” And he awkwardly got to his feet, but he hadn’t expected his legs to be so foreign to him. Being in a tail for the past day or so must’ve done something because he tripped and fell when he took a few steps, basically falling on top of Arria. Carter was blushing even more furiously than before, although he wasn’t uncomfortable sprawled in Arria’s arms like that, which made him blush further.
Arria giggled at Carter, his situation becoming funnier by the second, “You’ve forgotten how to walk, love.” He said, biting his lip a little. He couldn’t stop himself from smiling.
Carter forced an eye roll, pointing out somewhat playfully, “That’s your fault.” He sighed through his nose, rolling his eyes again and praying the heat would leave his face, “Now if you please, I’m the only one naked here and I’d like a pair of shorts.” Carter pressed his palms against Arria’s chest, trying to sit up correctly so he could get a handle on himself.
“And like I said before, I don’t mind your nakedness.” Arria muttered onto Carter’s lips before pressing them together for a moment.
Carter kissed him back, pulling Arria closer even he did need to get his shorts. But that thought got lost when he continued to kiss Arria, curling his legs around the merman’s tail. Carter pulled away enough to murmur, “Are you sure your friends aren’t going to come by here and see me naked?”
“I’m sure.” Arria muttered, rubbing his hands through Carter’s hair before kissing him again.
Carter grabbed a random pair of shorts from his bag absentmindedly and draped them over himself without a glance, too in love with Arria to stop kissing him. He moaned a little bit into the kiss, Carter’s hands grabbing at Arria’s tail greedily.
Arria let out a long moan when Carter grabbed at his tail, completely turning to water in his arms. He forgot everything but Carter in that moment, his hands tightening in his hair.
Carter kissed his way down Arria’s jawline and neck, and one of his hands moved to hover above Arria’s bruises. Carter hesitated, only for a second, before moved to light kiss the purplish blackish splotches, murmuring in between, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” I’m sorry I didn’t get there in time, I’m sorry I didn’t stop it, I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.
Arria lifted Carter’s head up so he could look at his face, “You have nothing to be sorry for…” He muttered, connecting their lips gently. His hand cupped Carter’s face softly, rubbing his thumb over his cheek.
Carter kissed Arria, dragging out the moment like it was the final note of a song. He ran a hand through Arria’s hair as he continued to kiss him greedily, his other hand going down Arria’s back. Carter pulled away long enough to mutter, “You were all alone…”
“But I knew you were coming for me…” Arria whispered, kissing Carter again. He knew he’d start crying sooner or later but tried to keep that emotion in check.
“Never again,” Carter promised him once again, rolling over and tugging Arria with him so Arria was laying on Carter’s chest. He curled his legs further around Arria’s tail, protectively wrapping his arms over Arria’s back, “It will never happen again.”
“I know… I trust you.” Arria whispered, wrapping his arms as best he could around Carter and resting his forehead on his. He gave him a wobbly smile before kissing him again.
Carter kissed him, trying to convey every word of comfort he wanted to say into the action of the kiss. He brushed his toes against the tip of Arria’s tail, running a hand through his hair.
Arria kissed him back softly, his hands cupping his cheeks gently. He pulled back a little and rested his forehead on Carter’s, “I love you, I love you so much…” I don’t say that enough…
Carter smiled, brushing a hand down Arria’s chest as he murmured back, “I love you too…” He snuck one last kiss on Arria’s lips, then pulled away to glance over at the water. “We should probably go check and make sure your friends are okay from yesterday.”
Arria rolled his eyes a little before moving off of Carter and sliding his too dry tail into the water, “Probably a good idea, yes.” He slid all the way into the water with a content sigh.
Carter reached over and grabbed himself a potion from his bag. He drank it thirstily, his legs mending over the form a tail. He slipped into the water beside Arria, splashing his sea boy while he was at it.
"Hey!" Arria splashed Carter back with a giggle before quickly swimming under the water before Carter could return it. He looked over his shoulder a little way away to see if his love was following.
