Mermaid romance (one-on-one//closed)

Eventually, Arria pulled away, placing a kiss to Carter's cheek, "Our next problem is getting somewhere we can both have access too… you can't get to the city with no tail… and I can't go on land without legs…" He bit his lip, looking down at their legs and tail.

Carter looked down at himself and Arria’s tail with a small frown. “I guess I might be able to carry you, but…” Carter shook his head. His endurance and general strength declined dramatically due to his odd eating habits that he developed during the past three years. “I have the snorkel still, but I don’t think I could make it to the city unless you wanted to give me mouth to mouth the entire way,” Carter joked with a small laugh.

Arria smirked a little, “Even if we made it, it would be too hard to keep that up,” He ran a hand through his hair, fingers catching on the curls, “Do you… do you think the old cave would still have some potions left? Unless you took them after… you know, the Incident.” He suggested. It was a possibility that some of them were still there, unless Carter has taken them. He doubt anyone else would have.

“I-… I didn’t go back there. I guess there could be some there, if no one took them,” Carter smiled a little. He hadn’t gone back, he couldn’t… well, physically he could. He had certainly thought about driving out to the land entrance to try to find some kinda of comfort in the memories attached to the place, but… Carter felt like he couldn’t go back there when Arria was in danger. The first few weeks, he had held onto that ideology that he needed to devote his time to saving Arria. Then it slowly developed into shame of not being able to save Arria. From there… it developed into shame for not being able to bring himself to have the energy to keep fighting. Either way, he had never gone back to their old home, and now it might be paying off a little if that meant there were potions there.

Arria nodded, slowly beginning to inch himself back into the water, "Okay, we'll give that a shot then." He held out his hand for Carter to take, offering him a smile. They were going to be okay. Yes, their relationship wasn't what it had been, yes they had both changed drastically over the past few years but… they were going to be okay, he was sure of it. Maybe not right now, but soon.

Carter took a deep breath and smiled back at him, taking the merman’s hand and squeezing it. Everything would be okay. Maybe it wouldn’t be okay today, but one day… one day, they would fix everything. No longer would Carter have to wake up every day and panic a little when Arria still wasn’t there. Maybe things would be a bit broken and awkward at first, but Carter hoped one day they’d be back to how they used to be, in true love.

Arria squeezed Carter’s hand back, tugging him into the water with him. He knew they’d have to stay near the surface so Carter could take breaks to breathe. He didn’t actually know how far away the cave was from here. Whether it was a long swim or a short one as long as they got there quick, quick enough to get their wounds tended to as soon as possible. He didn’t want to defend Carter against another shark, not knowing how much energy he’d have for that.

Carter did his best to help swim, though he wasn’t as effective without a tail. He silently cursed himself for being so useless. But as long as they got back to their cave in the end, everything would be fine. Hopefully, they could find the others after Carter and Arria tended to each other’s wounds, and then they could hopefully get better salves. Especially for Arria’s bruises, which Carter was increasingly worried about.

It took the two of them around fifteen minutes, maybe a little less to reach the cave, having to stop every once in a while to let Carter breathe before they continued on. Eventually the two were swimming up and into the old cave. No one had been there, it seemed, as everything was still where they left it three years ago. Arria immediately pushed himself up onto the rocks, wincing though he tried to hide it. He became rifling through their old bags, trying to find something.

Carter was relieved when they finally reached the cave and didn’t hesitate to sit down on solid ground. He caught Arria’s wince and quickly was at his side. “What can I do? You should relax, you practically carried me all the way here,” Carter said, biting his lip with worry. As soon as Carter had his tail back, he’d swim down to the city to get supplies to help Arria.

Arria shook his head, pulling the bag into his lap, “No, no it’s fine, I’m fine,” He was far from fine but he was more worried about Carter’s arm then his bruises. After all, they were just bruises, right? He pulled out a bottle, the tiniest drop of potion left for Carter. Not enough to get them to the city and back in time. He pulled out another, just enough to give Arria legs for a couple hours.

Carter frowned even more. “You’re not fine. You’re worse than me, I just had some glass stuck in my arm and stitches. I even did this to myself, I cut the stitches. It’s really not that bad, you haven’t gotten proper treatment for your injuries at all,” Carter pointed out, chewed the inside of his cheek with worry as he eyed the potions. If he couldn’t get to the city…

“They’re just bruises, Carter,” Arria mumbled, placing the bottles next to him and doing another search, “They probably look worse then they actually are…” After another thorough minute of searching, Arria pulled out another bottle, enough to give Carter a tail. He handed it to the human, “Here, should be enough for one trip.”

Carter bit his lip. He didn’t quite believe Arria. “You’re not fine,” Carter protested softly. He gladly took the potion, relief washing through him to know that yes, this would work. That everything would be okay. “Arria, I saw what you did in there, before I got you out… I saw you hurting yourself and ramming yourself into the glass.” Carter slowly slid one hand across the ground towards Arria, a huge part of him wishing he could hold him right now and another part wishing to examine the merman to make sure there hopefully weren’t other injuries that Arria had given himself.

Arria swallowed, fiddling with a loose pebble he'd found on the ground, "I… I didn't think… I didn't know you saw that…" In truth, there had been there injuries Arria had given himself, and he was ashamed of it. But a bigger part of the merman knew he probably deserved it. After being physically and mentally beaten down for three years? Old habits had arisen again. He knew Carter would figure it out if he didn't tell him, but saying it out loud made it all the more real and he didn't want to lose Carter over this.

Carter took a quiet deep breath and bit the inside of his cheek. He didn’t want Arria to have hurt himself, his made his heart hurt. Carter could’ve been there for him, if only he had tried a little bit harder. If only he had been a little more dedicated. If only he hadn’t given up so easily like he had at Maria’s events or like he had on the boat. “I’m sorry,” Carter whispered gently, “I’m sorry you went through that. I- I want to help you, Arria.” I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you in time. Carter couldn’t stop himself, he just had to lift his hand and ignore the pebble as he grabbed Arria’s hand and squeezed them gently. I’m here for you now. I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you before.

Arria released a shaky breath, squeezing Carter's hand back, "You… you don't… you don't have to- to be sorry," He silently cursed himself for the stutter. He looked down at his lap, trying to keep himself together at least a little. He couldn't let Carter know how bad it actually was. He was worrying enough as it was and Arria hated he was making Carter worry, "It's not your f-fault."

“Arria…” Carter mumbled, then held out his arms in invitation. He wasn’t going to force a hug onto Arria, not right not, but he certainly wanted to hug the male. To wrap the merman in his arms and never let go. “Please. Let’s get you all cleaned up first, let’s get some salve and bandages for you first,” Carter said gently as he inhaled deeply through his nose. He didn’t want to press Arria for answers or force him to talk about it, but he wanted to be there for the merman. And he definitely wanted to take care of Arria before taking care of himself.

One second Arria was fine. He was keeping himself together, keeping all his emotions in check, under control. And then the Arria from before the incident came rushing back, all full of emotion that he couldn't keep bottled up anymore. He whimpered softly, eyes starting to water up as he dove into Carter's arms, hiding his face in the crook of Carter's neck. He hated feeling with weak, not after he'd tried so, so hard to be strong before so long.

Carter caught Arria in his arms and held him tightly without a word. He leaned back to lay on the sand and held Arria so tightly to his chest. Away from the world, away from their worries and fears and pains. “It’s okay. It’s okay,” Carter whispered gently, not moving in the slightest to let Arria go. In fact, he only tightened his grip -careful of Arria’s bruises- around him and pressed his face into the merman’s hair.

Arria didn't want to move. He wanted to stay like this for as long as he could. At least he knew in Carter's arms he was safe. He didn't have to worry about anyone else and their actions. It was like being tucked away into a small bubble of safety, a bubble he didn't want to pop and was afraid it would. Arria curled his tail around Carter's legs, almost as if he was trying to get even closer if that was possible.

Carter wrapped his legs around Arria’s tail and nuzzled his hair. “It’s okay,” He whispered gently again, brushing his hands down Arria’s back gently, “It’s okay.” Carter would stay like this for however long Arria wanted to. He would‘ve probably kissed him too, but he was still cautious. Things had changed, and he wasn’t going to try to take that step and risk wrecking what they had right now, this safety of togetherness.

Arria squeezed his eyes shut tightly. He knew he would be okay, but right now… he wasn't so sure of that. He'd try and be okay, at least for Carter, he'd try and be okay. He shivered under Carter's touches. It'd been too long since someone had held him, touched him in a way that wasn't going to hurt him. It almost felt foreign.

Carter gently rubbed his hand over Arria’s back. “Do you want to talk about it? Or do you want a distraction from it?” Carter asked softly, running a hand through the merman’s hair gently. He would be willing to do either, he be willing to sit here for hours and talk about it, or he would be willing to do whatever it took to distract the merman from those demons.

Arria leaned into Carter's touch, pulling back just a little so he could wipe at his eyes and look at Carter properly, "A… A distraction, please." Talking about it would come later, when he felt slightly better then he did right now.

Carter nodded softly, then gently kissed Arria’s forehead. “Let me be your distraction then,” Carter murmured softly, moving his hands up and down Arria’s back before gently kissing his temple, and then moving to his cheeks to kiss away the tears. He was testing the waters, making sure to keep his arms loose enough so if Arria wanted to pull away he could do it with ease.

Arria didn't want Carter to be gentle, not right now. He wanted to be kissed hard and touched everywhere. He didn't care if his bruises or cuts were touched and it hurt. He wanted to be held tightly and kissed. He cut Carter off, pressing his lips hard against the humans.

(Heya, just checking in to make sure you're okay, haven't heard from you in a little while and I just wanted to make sure everything is all right with you :) No pressure to respond though)

(Hey dude I’m sorry I haven’t been on in a while, I’m feeling a little better now and I’m up for continuing the rp if you are? :)

Arria didn't want Carter to be gentle, not right now. He wanted to be kissed hard and touched everywhere. He didn't care if his bruises or cuts were touched and it hurt. He wanted to be held tightly and kissed. He cut Carter off, pressing his lips hard against the humans.

Carter returned the kiss, and he really couldn’t stop his arm from instinctively wrapping around Arria a little tighter. He missed this. Carter missed kissing Arria like this so, so much. He missed the safety and security that came with it, how he could hold Arria and know that he was right here, real and safe. Carter knew things would never be the same, but right now… he just wanted things to be okay.